For more of your opinions on stimulus payments, a reader says: Being retired, weve had to run a tighter ship, but we have not been drastically affected FINANCIALLY by this pandemic.

So why not pass the cash on to somebody for whom it would truly make a big difference?

Another reader agrees: We are creating a monster, he says.

I was SHOCKED to hear my in-laws complaining that $600 each wasn't enough for them and how they needed the money much sooner.

Oh, they are retired, receive a pension, get a Social Security check, and have IRA distributions.

They do not need the money.

I pointed this out to them and they immediately shut me down.

Since I don't know how to give my $600 back to Uncle Sam I donated it to a local charity that provides coats, socks and shoes for homeless children.

Youre an inspiration, sir.

Like our reader, if youve had the wherewithal to give to charity during the pandemic, where have you directed your resources?

We could all use some inspiration right about now

Send your opinions to, TheRundownFeedback@SevenFigurePublishing.com.

Your Rundown for Monday, Jan. 11, 2021

Closing the Parler Door

Social media titans are scrambling to dissociate from the Capitol Hill riot amidst accusations platforms including Twitter and Facebook are culpable.

And investors are clearly wary: Twitter (TWTR) shares, in fact, are down more than 10% at the time of writing while Facebook (FB) is down about 3.5%.

For its part, Twitter permanently suspended Trumps account, saying in a statement:

"After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

As for Facebook, the company Zuckerberg built suspended President Trump indefinitely.

Meanwhile, alternative social media platform Parler -- founded in 2018 -- was itself de-platformed this morning by its web-host Amazon Web Services.

Add to that: Google and Apple Inc. kicked Parler from their stores, making it almost impossible to download the app, Bloomberg reports.

So far, Parler hasnt been able to find other web hosting services willing to step in because of the negative publicity stemming from the violence, Bloomberg says, adding violence was organized in part on its own platform.

Ironically enough, Trump wanted to reform Section 230, a liability waiver that social media companies depend upon to allow relatively unfettered speech on their platforms.

And Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham hasnt given up the fight: Im more determined than ever to strip Section 230 protections from Big Tech (Twitter) that let them be immune from lawsuits, he said via Twitter.

All of which, to our way of thinking, raises crucial questions about free speech and social media. What a snarl.

We know you have thoughts. Is the ban hammer on the president -- and Parler -- warranted? Drop us a line

Market Rundown for Monday, Jan. 11, 2021

S&P 500 futures are down 32 points to 3,792.

Oil is down 60 cents to $51.64 for a barrel of West Texas crude.

Gold is down $1.60 to $1,833.80 per ounce.

Bitcoins lost 12%, now down to $32.905.25

Send your comments and questions to, TheRundownFeedback@SevenFigurePublishing.com.

Try to have a good day. Well catch up Wednesday.

For the Rundown,

Aaron Gentzler