News

Yes, Elaine and I got a lot done around the house this weekend. In spite of the last-minute political drama, we took a pass and dug into some real serious remodeling. Since the Bro-in-Law and his wife moved we’ve had company an d all but with the kids coming from the Denver area, we (Elaine) … Read More

Other than email proclivities, nonsensical personal attacks based on sex, and all the other crap that goes into this election cycle, there is a fascinating difference between candidates in Tuesday’s election when it comes to immigration. This morning we look into some of the mechanics of demography, model out some futures, and propose a startling … Read More

(We’ll get to the Jobs report after this…) You may not like to think in absolutist terms, but there are times when you must because the choice is binary. This column is likely the last I will write about politics because just as electioneering is barred within so many feet of a polling place, I … Read More

The word you may have never heard before is “bunkering.” Helps to be as old as the hills, and to actually have “bunkered” a coal furnace in your life, but I’ll explain as we go. What occasions the discussion today is Thursday’s “one little thing around the house, dear…” That’s what you call an acre … Read More

We begin this morning’s Reality Check with a discussion of one of the bright spots of American Jurisprudence, Judge Sol Wachtler. Although the name may not ring a bell, or at least loud enough to answer, there’s a whole Wikipedia entry on the fellow: “Solomon Wachtler (born April 29, 1930) is an American lawyer and … Read More

Preppers make great victims.  That takes a little explaining, so allow me… Every week, or so, my buddy Gaye who runs the excellent www.backdoorsurvival.com site and I get together for a Skype chat.  Occasionally, Survival Hubby will wander through and we’ll compare beards.  Other times, Elaine will mosey by and there will be chit-chat about … Read More

Fed decision is out and as expected, they will not do anything to weaken  the democrats in the final stretch: “Against this backdrop, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1/4 to 1/2 percent. The Committee judges that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate … Read More

Right up front:  This morning’s report may not be of much interest if you don’t actively manage your own finances. On the other hand, if you do, you will see insides what goes on in my head during an active trading day like we had yesterday and which seems likely to follow through into this … Read More

Common term in football and basketball is showing up big-time in markets this week as we only have five more trading days until the future of America will be decided. From the market’s perspective, in that one week, we should see the following appear: 1. Hillary Clinton seems likely to win the election. Not on … Read More

How many times have I warned you about “commoditization?” That’s where you take something that once took a little bit of skill or art, and turn it into a mass-produced kluge of the SoS – same old shit. One of the most notable victims of becoming a commodity? The High Art of Swearing. Elaine and … Read More

Tonight is you-know-what. To keep your mind off the drudgery of it all, Google.com has an online video game up. You can tell the boss “I was just doing a work-related search…” Unless you happen to be Huma Abedin, in which case you might be worried about possible perjury charges as the scariest Halloween event: … Read More

Elaine and I are running about like mad (again/still) getting ready for the next batch of guests who will be coming to Uretopia: Delightful son of E’s from the Denver area, his wife, and two children.  Occasion?  Turkey Day weekend. Thinking back on past holidays (a billion years ago) I was often more or less … Read More

Our pick-up on the public discussion of market action in Friday’s UrbanSurvival column will have to wait because of massively more important events in the Hillary Clinton saga.  And yes, markets are likely to follow through on the downside Monday. This morning, I will show you why there’s reason to suspect that Hillary’s case being … Read More