We are blessed that we have not had to issue the dreaded “Assume the crash position found on the card in the seat pocket in front of you…” advise, yet. But it’s getting closer. A few short headlines before an incredibly serious column today: Russia sends written response to U.S. as Ukraine negotiations continue. Odds … Read More
Early stock futures had the markets set to give-back half the Friday Bear slaughter. We’ll be hoping for more, having thrown in with the negative Nelly’s late last week. We will keep this morning’s column short. Since the major focus around here is still spring cleaning of the office. And getting ready for taxes which … Read More
Two items to go over today. One is the visiting firefighter learns cutting and welding. The other is a longish discussion of tool use. To hell with Covid. I have a bigger problem: Messy Bench Disease. MBD. One of the continuing problems around the ranch – and my office – is that I have a … Read More
As uncomfortable as 2021 was, 2022 is still setting up to be even worse. This as shortages, a trucker’s convoy over Covid, and changes in seasonal weather appear. On top of Russia proximity to Ukraine and Taiwan jitters over what follows the Games. In the meantime, markets seem to have genuinely lost even the last … Read More
Super short column today because we may be down to “short strokes” in terms of “How does all this work out?” Data First: Inflation Shows Labor’s out with Employment Costs – which are one of the price drivers when you go shopping: “Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month … Read More
There is a near-genius level post in the comments section from overnight which has an odd “echo of future” if you read it just so. Fellow noticed the story about a week back that mentions a small flotilla of Russian landing craft had put out to sea; Russia’s Landing Ships Are Headed To The Mediterranean … Read More
Personal Hysteresis and Latency Planning. Which is totally worth (verging on absolutely necessary) considering when markets are running hard and fast while we’re all trying to figure out how to make “the most” out of what have turned into very uncertain times. We’ll begin with some basics of “cause and effect” then move to a … Read More
Just out from Case-Shiller/S&P/CoreLogic: “YEAR-OVER-YEAR The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported an 18.8% annual gain in November, down from 19.0% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 16.8%, down from 17.2% in the previous month. The 20- City Composite … Read More
We sat out the manic Monday market decline – and furious rally that followed Monday – for a number of reasons: Statistical and Medical, mainly. Lot of anti-aging notes at the bottom of this morning’s column (see ATR below). We’ll do the medical in the Around the Ranch section. But, as to the statistical? The … Read More
Or, for the crooked republicrats and democans who squandered America’s future (*open borders, exported super-computers, living beyond on our means, buying elections, gain-of-function, etc. etc.) we could toss-in the supply chain collapse plus any remaining credibility of the once Almighty Dollar. Could have, should have, would have… Sobering Chart, Sucky Data Economic Fractalist’s Black Monday … Read More
Not too long ago – two or three years, was it? – I picked up a half-dozen 55-gallon drums up in Tyler, Texas. It was a deal I couldn’t pass up: $5 bucks each and they’d already had a preliminary rinse-out. Finally, with the old burn barrel sporting a gaping (coffee can size) hole where … Read More
WFA (word frequency analysis) time as we assess the week’s damage to markets. When headlines begin to appear on major (MSM) websites like Drudge, we know enough to be on our toes for a turn… The constant chatter, however, is only one indicator of the changing relationship of “fiat” to Reality. The overnight dip of … Read More
And whether we like it, or not, the high-risk window for a regional war in Europe is here. Reprising, along the way, an event set-up very reminiscent of The Guns of August. Hand me an Archduke? Three, Three, Three Stories in One! Like the Mighty Circus, it’s hard to follow what’s going on in all … Read More