News

On the Economics side of things, a quiet morning. First up, there’s the Empire State Manufacturing report:  Here’s the quotable part: “The headline general business conditions index climbed five points to 17.4, its highest level since last summer. New orders increased modestly, and shipments were up substantially. Delivery times continued to lengthen, and inventories were … Read More

Daylight Time dawns over America.  Yet-another example of the Grand National Delusion we’re under. As the Native American  sage explained:  “White man the only ones who cut a foot off the bottom of their blankets and sew it on the top – and then claim their blanket is longer…” Or, as this once IAM-751 R&E … Read More

It’s easy to have “right now” views.  But, how’re they going to look 10-50 or 100-years out?  We “seasoned citizens” are supposed to have a clue on this stuff.  But on issues like climate, urban sprawl, soil depletion and disappearing fresh water? In the Ure family – not over-done just usefully sized – is a … Read More

We will have an exceptionally short column on foodery and cookery this morning – since I haven’t gotten anything from readers this week. This being “Planting Day” – with the new Moon this morning – we will be outside doing the “gardening thing” as soon as the morning dishes are cleared and thrown in the … Read More

No, last night’s Pandemic speech by Joe Biden is not a State of the Union speech.  As this little snip from the U.S. House website here says: “The formal basis for the State of the Union Address is from the U.S. Constitution: The President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the … Read More

Yes:  This means Ewe. Back in 2000 – when the Internet Bubble was blowing up – I noticed several things (even wrote them down) so as not to get “fooled again” by the Financial Crowd.  My Lessons? A new high in a single (or couple) of indexes does NOT mean all is well. Beware of … Read More

No, not a Model 3.  Not a PowerWall. Not another Joe Rogan interview, either.  But this one matters out here in the woods. We’ll explain and put it in some larger contexts (rural and post collapse communications) after a few headlines and our ChartPack which continues its 1929-like track… More for Subscribers  ||| Not a … Read More

“Savior Joe” has not only stopped Covid in its tracks – just days prior to taking the Oath, but by the Hype-Along Headline crowd Monday, he was also bringing fresh confidence to the markets. Typical of Financial Press deceit was this type of headline: Record High?  Isn’t that true? Well, yeah…sort of…um…MISLEADING!!! It’s why we turned … Read More

Wow!  What a computational mess!  Apparently the latest updates to the worldwide beta testers of W10 have left us in some kind of purgatory,  so until we figure WTF, we will keep today shortish and to the pointish. [Hint:  In edge://settings/system turn off running tasks in background, turn off running processes when Edge is closed…and … Read More

One of my favorite “toys” died Saturday.  A mysterious death:  the power would not cycle on for my (formerly) reliable Heathkit SB-220 linear amplifier. Dead as the proverbial door nail. Things like this usually happen when I’m planning something not in agreement with Universe.  Specifically, the Major and I had penciled in a 75-meter ham radio … Read More

The U.S. is going down an inflationary path, now.  It’s just a matter of when it gets here and how hard it will bite. Not only did Congress abdicate its mandated money creation role, but with the Nixon-era slamming of the Gold Window, we have been adrift on a sea of Made Up Policy (e.g. … Read More

While Elaine continues on the mend from hip surgery (we did the P/T deal Friday afternoon), the joy of coming home to good food after just can’t be beat. The kitchen remodel project was, it goes without saying, delayed by the lack of two people to “work the project.”  I can do a lot of … Read More

Ah, wonderful wash-out on Thursday, no? I can almost imagine the conversation now (remember, this is fiction, right?): Some WH Idiot:  “What we need is to have the masks stay on longer, Dr. Powell.  So if you could think of something that would lows down the demasking so the whole CV-19 thing doesn’t look so much … Read More