Latest business and finance news & analysis
TL;DR: Trump signs the short-term budget – but we have lingering questions. The Big Fork in AI-control is becoming more visible. And holiday plans in the “Who cares?” pile… “Now, Everyone Back to Work…” As you are no doubt aware, Trump signs funding bill, ending historic 43-day US government shutdown. What the (corporate lap-dog) press … Read More
Nearing the destination Stiks south of New Caledonia Iridium’s in: “Slip sliding along on the money course now, just waiting on the wind shift to the east. Tasks today includfe making lunch and dinner from dwindloing fresh goods. The rice and beans are joined by thye millet and quinoa and whatever goes along with them, which … Read More
As taxpayers, we’re not very pleased that returning Federal workers will get all their lost pay from the shutdown, soon. No, we don’t wish anyone ill, but we also think that the FedGov will have, in effect, given a six-week paid vacation on top of the already “nice” federal packages. Once again, it’s an example … Read More
Latest – just before 5 AM Central – from our sailing reader Stiks and crew just south of New Caledonia: “Wind now 20-22 and the ladies had an 11.1 top speed with one reef in. Swell is 2M and 10 seconds. The boat is loving it. Dinner was fancy ramen from whole foods. Evening watch … Read More
From our reader Stiks down near new Caledonia, this just in: “Just when the Garmin decides to find its brain the wind comes back sweet and from exactly the wind bearing you want to go. Pick a side, hopeful of a favorable angle on the other tack when the predicted wind shift happens. The reward … Read More
TL;DR: Unless we get new highs – before Friday of next week – the smell of “we’re toast” will be back. Vets – thank you for your service, now back to work – and at the ranch? Enjoying the “Earth Ride” review. “Toast or Rally?” In modeling the future – which we do almost compulsively … Read More
Just in from Stiks with dawn… Crazy last night. Garmin chart plotter went bonkers leaving us wondering what went wrong. Sort of lost in space in the moonless darkness with the little boat icon wandering all over. Goy out a paper chart and plotted the gps position and course and kept going. Seems there was … Read More
TL;DR: Something here just doesn’t add up. Tariff dividend? BBC flounders rom the top. And with cold temps? Personal appearance changes. That’s Monday for you: tight, bright, and right. Developer Economics Twenty years ago, if you had asked me to explain the difference between being a sci-fi writer and covering finance/economics? Would have been a … Read More
TL;DR: Physics is bound to catch up – one of these days. But they should have been able before me to find the Two Times of physics. (Long – bring extra coffee and a sleeping bag…) Yeah. The Time Machine Project…about that… Every shop has its ghosts. Mine just happen to hum between ten and … Read More
Our long-time reader Stiks, who’s on a sailboat in mid Pacific sent up a position update: “George…we are currently long term floating in a gigantic high pressure zone with almost zero wind and have been pretty much stuck and drifting around for three days. Lots of cool lightning, some heavy squalls to fill the tanks, … Read More
Please, tell me from the headline you can figure out what this morning’s column is about? We could have made up a clever acronym like Y.E.S., but the more you know, the more it’s no, Y.E,S. Dip-Flippers and democrat grifters; financial bumps, not wholly Trumps…and yes, my Longfellows, we do know it. All comes down … Read More
TL;DR: Transports are breaking Dow Theory confirmation even as headlines cheerlead, meaning the market’s “nothing to see here” story is wobbling under the surface. Kazakhstan’s rare-earth pivot toward the Abraham Accords shows the mineral chessboard shifting under China’s feet while we pour coffee and keep an eye on the oxygen gauge. Dow Theory’s Revenge One … Read More
“It was nothing helmsman – steady as she goes. We can’t wake the Capt’n till morning…” On the Wire “U.S.-based employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October, up 175% from the 55,597 cuts announced in October 2024. It is up 183% from the 54,064 job cuts announced one month prior, according to a report released … Read More