News

Whoa! That was sure a “bolt out of the blue.” Had a call this week from a respected colleague who asked me about our “Seven Major Systems of Life.”  Those, in case you forgot, are food, shelter, communications, energy, environment, finance, and transportation (Continues below)   While I can’t tell you who this colleague is, let’s … Read More

The tragedy of San Antonio this week got us started thinking in some unusual ways as we looked at causes of – and future implications – of human trafficking. People will go to great lengths to move to new areas.  Maybe there’s a business model in that? Toss in the ChartPack and some headlines, and … Read More

Just in from S&P/CoreLogic: NEW YORK, JULY 25, 2017 – S&P Dow Jones Indices today released the latest results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices. Data released today for May 2017 shows that home prices continued their rise across the country over the last 12 months. More than … Read More

We think it’s a pretty safe bet that the Fed won’t raise rates this week when their decision is announced on Wednesday.  But it’s also clear to us that the Fed is definitely grinding its foot into the floorboard with printing to keep this ol’ pig of a market going up – for just a … Read More

One of the things that makes us all ‘urban survivors’ is that we have an interest in self-determination. Now, to do this at work is hard, which is why so many of our readers are into gig work, contract work, and consulting.  No boss means more fun….except that then come quarterly taxes, insurance shopping, and … Read More

An intriguing question, for sure.  A few headlines, one of our key indicators flashes a warning, and worries of falling food production from drought… Just the stuff to get the mind on matters other than the battles of the Swamp Critters.  More for Subscribers       ||| SUBSCRIBE NOW!       |||   Subscriber Help Center

Ure is in a sour mood this morning.  No, not your fault.  Mine.  Because I don’t administer an IQ test before letting people read this site. It began  with a piss-ant troll commenting that “You were wrong” in yesterdays pre-opening comment. Oh? (Continues below)   WTF kind of loser would write that?  Sure, the Dow … Read More

You need to flip over first thing this morning to our Rural Pioneer (TM) website where Oilman2 has a dandy article worth a read: “Transhumanism, Robots, AI and Hopium.  Then go read his piece on tax burdens on working Americans. “Our American Burden” ought to raise your BP a few points.  OM2’s a great writer and … Read More

It isn’t that hard to see the future, at least when it comes to markets and where we go next.  There are a lot of tools that even us “small fry” investors can use to improve our odds, but a surprising number of people seem content to make a single decision and hold with a … Read More

If you’re going to be an urban survivor, you are going to have to “keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.” Since 1997, we have been “calling it like we see it” when comes to market, tech, and futuring.  We’ve used all kinds of tools to get there, but … Read More

“Watcha gonna do when they come for you? Bad bots, bad bots…” This morning we wander from Big Data, and Fat AI to the concepts that may birth Thin AI and then venture into some speculation about how that may impact future markets. But first a few headlines, including Housing Starts, and why Ures truly … Read More

Yeah, you know who I am talking about:  The Republicans In Name Only – the bait-and-switchers who talk a conservative game but when comes down to it are really moderate democrats in republican clothing so they could get elected. The same distribution curve is in place in Washington as always.  The only thing that has … Read More

One aspect of urban surviving is surviving freeway idiots.  I wanted to discuss with you a couple of ways to deal with road rage since on our way back from Oklahoma Sunday, coming through Dallas, we were beset by a whole field of NASCAR wannabe idiot pricks. One that stood out (I was 3 car … Read More