Barking the American Media Circus

Oh, my. Three rings full. More stupid column inches on narcissistic media crap than you can shake a remote at.  We see yet-another proof of our contention that – like the auto industry in the last Depression – the media industry has the same excess capacity and utilization overbuild problem today. (more after ad) In the first ring we have Bill … Read More

Coping: Thursday “Unthinkable” Class

Although we don’t like to talk about real get-down, nitty-gritty urban survival much, the past few weeks have again underscored the wisdom of having a “place in the country” to run to in the event of the ultimate disaster. This is not to claim that nuclear war is imminent, but, if it was, odds are … Read More

Investing: Step-by-Step for Millennials

A beginner’s Guide today.  How much to get started, how to pick an online brokerage, and a ton more including how to make – and read – your own charts. One of our readers – a Millennial at that – asked if I could whip up such a simple, step-by-step guide to how to invest … Read More

Why Average People Are…..Average!

My friend Robin Landry (site) has been managing money for people for about 40-years now.  When I blew out of my long position in the markets a 8-days ago, he advised me to be patient. “Markets climb a ‘Wall of Worry’ most times…” I knew it to be true and it wasn’t the first time I’d … Read More

Coping: Trump Needs Props

While I am working around the ranch – where we mostly raise bugs this time of year – little things go through my mind.  Items from the daily news flow that I can’t get out of my head. Yeah, I should be able to banish them, but stories – like VP Mike Pence going to South Korea to … Read More

Easter Monday: The Dyngus Amongus

This is Dyngus Day.  A tough day to get excited about, with a few local exceptions. Markets are generally closed in Europe because this is “Easter Monday” and a market holiday in places like Germany, France, and the U.K. Oh, and Australian markets were closed overnight, as well. (continues below) “What does this have to do … Read More

Coping: Easter Weekend in the Garden

A number of readers have suggested that we skip the daily sojourn into economics and instead put up an “all Elaine” website. Not a bad idea, but she’s very self conscious.  Except she did permit me to take one snap of her “Daisy-Mae” look while she was working on the garden… Now that we have … Read More

Disappearing Investment Choices

This morning, since it’s a holiday weekend and all, we will focus on the charts and outlooks for next week’s action which will very much hinge on military developments between now and the Monday open. We will also consider the problem of ‘disappearing investment options.”  Sure, things like real estate are still selling, but to … Read More

MOAB but not Utah

I wasn’t going to write a long piece this morning, since it’s a holiday and I have many other things I’d rather be doing. But please take the time to carefully read this morning’s “Coping” section and understand the case I’m making – namely that government is already heavily relying on ‘computational support’ as a … Read More

Thursday Pre-Holiday Blues

Yep… markets will be closed in the U.S. tomorrow and we have a boatload of reasons NOT to want to hold stocks over three days when you’d be “locked in” to holding for the longer term. As we explained to Peoplenomics readers some months back, people have three ways they can “play the market” – even … Read More

Coping: America Needs More Time Off

Don’t we all work hard enough for “the man” as is? Tomorrow is one of those days I hate. It’s a semi-vacation day. The rich (and those who make it possible for them to be so) down on Wall St. will have tomorrow off.  The Bond market will be closed. Worst of all, most Americans … Read More

Times of Economic Self-Preservation

We dispense with all the usual formatics this morning to deal with the One Question that Matters. What’s the right move at this precise time and place that a person trying to preserve their retirement accounts and such MIGHT consider given where we are in the Economic Long Wave? It’s a complex question and while … Read More