Why the Dollar Goes to War: Understanding Today's Conflicts
Vietnam War spending broke the gold-backed dollar in 1971. Fifty years later, the same logic explains Venezuela, Iran, and the GENIUS Act in 2026.
Nick Dimmer
Nick Dimmer writes Life Sufficient, an independent publication on geopolitics, money, privacy, and resilience. A software engineer by background, he reads central bank documents and government reports so you don't have to.
Global Brief: Apr 20 – Apr 26
The Strait of Hormuz closed. Washington invoked wartime production powers. Brussels finalized €90B for Ukraine. One week, three permanent shifts.
Media Ownership and Narrative Control: Who Owns the News?
A handful of families, conglomerates, and asset managers shape what the world reads. Learn how media ownership works — and how to read past it.
Global Brief: Apr 13 – Apr 19
A 44-day Middle East war reshapes global energy markets as the US launches a naval blockade, historic Israel-Lebanon talks, and Iran sanctions blitz.
The EU's Quiet Overhaul of Retail Finance: Five Programs, One Perimeter
MiCA, MiFID II, DORA, PSD3, and the Retail Investment Strategy are reshaping EU retail finance into a single authorised perimeter. Here's how they fit together.
Permaculture Principles for Any Space
Permaculture isn't just for farms. Learn how to apply its core design principles in apartments, balconies, and small urban spaces to build real self-reliance.
The IMF's Middle East War Assessment — What the Energy Shock Means for the Global Economy
IMF Managing Director Georgieva warns the Middle East war has cut 13% of global oil and 20% of LNG flows, reshaping the economic outlook for every country.
Where the EU Gets Its Oil — and Why That Just Became a Crisis
EU oil imports worth EUR 212bn face crisis as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts 20% of global supply. What the data reveals about Europe's energy vulnerability.
Global Brief: Apr 6 – Apr 12
A 38-day US military campaign ends with an Iran ceasefire and Hormuz reopening, while Israeli strikes devastate Beirut and China pivots to services.
Understanding Hypothermia and Hyperthermia
Learn to recognise and respond to hypothermia and hyperthermia. Practical prevention, early warning signs, and effective treatment for both conditions.
Why Civilizations Lose Their Edge
History reveals a recurring pattern: the most successful civilizations often become the most vulnerable. Understanding why helps build lasting resilience.
EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and the Bab el-Mandeb Threat: What the EU Can and Cannot Do
The Houthis are openly discussing closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Here's an honest assessment of what EUNAVFOR ASPIDES can actually do about it — and where its limits lie.