Jobs: It’s All About the Numbers

The main economic data this morning is the Challenger Gray and Christmas job cuts report – so let’s get that out of the way: VCHICAGO, May 5, 2016 – The pace of downsizing increased in April, as US-based employers announced workforce reductions totaling 65,141 during the month, according to the latest report released Thursday from … Read More

Coping: Is Chi (Qi) Energy Ionization?

We were certainly (ahem…) flush with comments when we discussed the idea of shutting the bathroom door in order to keep good Chi (or qi) out of the bedrooms where people sleep. Where things took an interesting turns was when – thanks to comments – I got to looking at a possible relationship between chi … Read More

The Only Options Left?

This morning we pick up on where we visited in the UrbanSurvival column Tuesday:  The looming collapse of multiple pension systems. Oh, sure, we can make a case that banks are never too big to fail.  But what happens if the next round of economic collapse brings us head to head with deciding how to … Read More

You Can Turn Off The News

And why would you want to do that? Well, because I have the week all planned out for us, of course! (Aren’t you on the distro list?) Here’s how it should play out: The market this morning will fall flat on its nose. Why lookie here! Dow futures down 109! Reasons are all over the … Read More

Coping: With Bathroom Feng Shui

Off on a different track this morning. In fact one of the oddest things I have run across since I ran into the “earthing” results. You might remember our discussion about sleeping on a special “grounded half-sheet.” This morning, we get into another one of those little “subtle energy” discussions which has been a remarkable … Read More

So: This is Progress?

I happened to be listening to one of my all-time favorite econ books Sunday and I was reminded of something we try to forget on Mondays. Namely that in hunter/gatherer societies, people only works (on a community average) about 1,000 hours per year. Of course, it depends on what your definition of “work” is, too. … Read More

Coping: Losing Your Senses, Gracefully

I apologize, once again, for the short column that we put up  Friday morning. 2.5 hours on an operating table is, well, a bit less than inspiring – and because the eye patch was still on from the removal of my failed implant (after 25 years, just to be fair) it was Elaine doing the … Read More