As the financial burden of inflation impacts the pocketbooks of commoners in the UK there is cold comfort in the fact that their monarchy faces the same issues.  In the Weekly Market Digest, I review the first half of this chaotic year as we transition from the frying pan (COVID-19 pandemic) into the fire (recession?). The Canadian Venture exchange index (S&P TSXV) drop to one-third of its value year-to-date is a good proxy for junior miners as the retail sector has chosen to use companies’ catalysts as liquidity events to sell its positions instead of ‘buying the dip’.  Today, I also cover the Exploration Insights Portfolio half-year performance. The underperformers were led by companies with management missteps or permitting issues. The least bad performers were copper-focused grassroots explorers and developers. In Stock Talk, I focus on my site visit to the southwest US to review a copper explorer and developer and also review exploration updates from precious and base metal explorers.