WTBU:  “Wake The Brain Up.” As I explained to a long-time reader this morning, you live life in the position of a News (ENG) photographer. You see, field reporters often make a choice: One light? Two? Three?  As I’ve aged, I’ve come to appreciate that is a template for how people think. The “one-light” crowd … Read More

Another World War III weekend, I see:  Ordnance Friday and Saturday then a “peace pause” play. US and Iran pause strikes for third night to make space for talks, US ambassador says. Our (surprisingly keen) observation that WW III would be played as a “weekend war” is turning into a real “NSS” (“No shit Sherlock”) … Read More

Reader Note: This will be my last planned ShopTalk Sunday, as more content will be shifting over to the Peoplenomics.com side of the house. Next month, one regular UrbanSurvival publishing day will disappear into the fog of history. Over time, more of my serious work will migrate to the Peoplenomics side of the house.  Today we … Read More

After being mailed from Denver on July 7, then traveling the midsection of America while trying to find Palestine, Texas, Elaine’s eBay purchase—and our patience while trying to reel in an old but working IBM Selectric II—came to an end overnight. eBay—to their credit—came through with a refund of just over $200. Honestly, we will … Read More

The charts have turned materially more defensive. The Dow is still pretending the party can continue, but the S&P and especially the NASDAQ are telling a rougher story. Our short-term measures now suggest the market may try a brief rally first, but the larger setup favors a harder move down into August rather than a … Read More

Unfricking real: “Latest Update We attempted to deliver your item at 1:00 pm on July 24, 2026 in DENVER, CO 80249 and a notice was left because no secure delivery location was available. You may arrange redelivery by using the Schedule a Redelivery feature on this page or may pick up the item at the … Read More

Waiting for the Bag – who will hold it? , Waiting. It’s what life becomes at certain nodes of hypercomplexity. As a natural-born action figure, days like this make me nuts—and I’m perfectly willing to share. But you come here for brilliant insight, and sorry to report, we’re fresh out. We seem to be sitting … Read More

AAR – After Action Report Today our “flag and pennant” concerns peaked.  Have a look. We won’t offer anyone advice.  Just education and news.  Having said that: Pennants and flags are short-term continuation patterns that appear after a sharp price move, usually called the “flagpole.” A flag forms when price then drifts sideways or slightly … Read More

Skip down to the News Compressor if going out to the working face of the **Reality Mine** isn’t your thing. But there is something going on in the data. We just can’t tell what it is—yet. Months ago, I turned off the outside tracking software and advertising on UrbanSurvival. Since then, I have been using … Read More

Next week’s Fed meeting probably won’t change rates. That doesn’t mean the words around the decision won’t move trillions. Today’s Peoplenomics looks at why the Fed may be reading the AI buildout exactly backward—mistaking construction spending for proof that the promised profits will ever arrive. The ChartPack adds a second warning: tech has lost relative … Read More

This, boys and girls, lads and lassies, is what you call a “Dregs of Summer” column.  Market news is thin, polarization among the people is high, and the summer is approaching Hell’s HVAC settings. What’s a “Face Rally?” Monday.  That’s the template. Monday’s close was 51,839.26, down 307.16; 52,411.90 was the intraday high.  The face-plant-close, … Read More

Take the day off.  In fact, take the rest of the week off. Because we already (sort of) know what to expect. Within a somewhat bounded range the future has been predictable lately.  In a “bring your own NoDoz” way. WW 3 – Another Weekend Some weeks back we said it appeared that World War 3 … Read More