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A Short Course on Judgment As investors, and preppers, we are called on, dozens of times per day to make decisions about whether to “hold ‘em or fold ‘em.” Or, in the prepping context, “What’s the next shoe to drop likely to be?” What makes the difference between a successful survivor or investor and a … Read More

First thing out of the hopper today is the import prices report.  The reason we watch this one so closely is that America has become more and most distanced from self-sufficiency. Because so much of our life is “made elsewhere” watching import prices will often times gives you a good sense of what to anticipate … Read More

Aye, roger that.  To the idea that the 71.916 year war/social cycle could actually be an 80-year cycle. So run this past your first cup this morning: U.S. declared itself in 1776.  But a closer date would be 1780.  By then, it was becoming clear that we were on the hard path to independence. Now … Read More

What does Elaine’s mink jacket have to do with government?  The link is subtle, but important. Transactional economics not monetary. Elaine owns the mink. Government owns us all.  Today, we follow the 250-year trend towards “renting your life.”  It’s a movement that has been gaining ground a lot lately.  That’s because absent new tech breakthroughs, … Read More

The short answer is “Not very sustainable, at all.” Worse?  We lie to ourselves about this whole “sustainability” notion day-in, and day-out.  Don’t even blink an eye about it.  Corporation X-Y-Z says “Yup, we’re “sustainable” and surprise!  No questions asked. That’s because A) most people lie to themselves about how “normal” things are and B) … Read More

Raise your hand, quick, if you know where the most famous statue of legendary wood-cutter Paul Bunyon and his Blue Ox Babe are located. (Hmmm…no hands going up…) Well, this is one of the reasons why Ham Radio is such a cool hobby during times when the End of the World (EotW) is in sight. … Read More

I’d be willing to bet that most Americans have no clue what the Johnson-Reed Act was.  Passed in 1924, and in 1929 setting an annual immigration quota of 150,000, the act was a continuation of restrictive immigration laws that were enacted before 1900.  As the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department site … Read More

Too many subjects and not enough time at Old Man Labs.  But, some of it is just damn useful so we will wade through a nicely sized helping this morning. Talking trees, light crown construction,  and free energy are all on the agenda. After the usual headlines, charts and half-caf. More for Subscribers      |||     SUBSCRIBE … Read More

One of the joys of being an amateur radio operator is that the hobby is really a whole bunch of hobbies all bound-up under one roof. There is, quite literally, something for everybody.  And no Morse code requirement, so that hurdle doesn’t exist like it did for a bunch of us “oldtimers.” It’s also great … Read More

Before we get into the nitus-gritus of the Jobs report from Uncle Fed, a short dissertation on what it all means is in order. The short version?  Normally, when the unemployment rate has hit historically low levels (check), and then begins to rise again (check), when the rate is 1/2 a percentage point higher than … Read More

We think the market may be nearing an important (3-6 month type) peak, although there’s not investment advice, of course. Reason?  Quarterly job cuts just out this morning, are at the highest level since Q1 of 2015.  Read ’em and weep in the Challenger numbers: “U.S.-based employers announced plans to cut 60,587 jobs from their … Read More

Was he a “linguistic magician” or a “mystic linguician?” The latter, linguician, not to be confused with the language and music app for Android, of course. What we deal with today is the logical problem of analyzing what to make of Nostradamus’ work, Especially in light of the fine work on point done by long-time … Read More

“My, what an odd title,” you may be thinking. And you’d be right, of course.  But it sounds more business-like than “Success begins in bed…”  Although, that would at least ensure a following of slimy politicians. But, seriously…Think prepping and anti-aging in the same context. One of the great learnings of 70-years is that there … Read More