It’s fine print – today’s report on industrial production and capacity utilization from the Fed. Whose chair we are sad to report has tested positive for the ‘rona, say reports. See if you can figure it out without too much coaching. Ready? This sucks – bigly and hugely. Spot the doublespeak in this story: Homebuilder … Read More
Economics eyes a new systemic stressor this week. As though fresh economics warnings, earnings disappointment, recurrent disease outbreaks and expanding war fronts aren’t enough? Today, a few quick thoughts on this anti-aging problem. Plus, a few notes on our upcoming change in appearance as we plan a dramatic shift of styles in the near future. … Read More
The simplest answers are more often right. Quick, who’s idea was this? Try Occam’s razor – Wikipedia. But there were other variations before William of Ockham who, we note won the history rewrite popularity consensus. Earlier nominees exist. Still, I was totally impressed with Chris Tyreman’s news tip today: “I noticed you were wondering why … Read More
The Japanese stock market got creamed overnight. Down more than one percent. But the Hang Seng held about even. Right now – as I scribble this – Europe is just opening, but already, we know the trajectory set out this week. Tonight (*U.S. time) we’ll see how China’s economy has held up. A preview? China’s … Read More
Since this is a holiday weekend (no work Monday for many) I didn’t get serious in the shop real early Saturday. Too damn cold. It was 26 F and will be in the high 70’s today. You know the saying: “Pappy didn’t raise no fool.” Besides, I’m grappling with a case of woo-woo. Hell of … Read More
Ground stop on the nation’s air traffic this week triggered some mighty odd memories this week. From a previous incarnation when – at age 19 – I was one of the Cold War’s remote site “whiz kids” with an “O-something” equivalency. Operations matter. SitReps (situation reports) also matter. However transient their data. Ah, the Cold War. … Read More
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick of butt-covering by “Officialdom” instead of leveling-up with the Public. We ain’t all stupid, but we understand that idea deeply. A fine example this week was when the very same air travel-related computer systems failed – at the same time – in the U.S. and Canada. … Read More
For those who argued our long-stated position – that the U.S. was in a LIC (Low-Intensity-Conflict) with Mexico – and losing since the early 2000s, the proof is here, whether you like it or not. Mexican President Celebrates ’40 Million’ Mexicans in the U.S. Of course, most people don’t want to deal with this Reality. … Read More
Where to make the Ure family’s last stand? Or, what’s the future of Big Cities….really? These get to be very important things for a head of household to consider. Families being teams, there’s no time like the present to “step out of time” and look a ways down the railroad tracks toward what’s ahead. Many … Read More
I’ve been doing a lot of work on Ure’s personal taxes this week. It’s the time of year when a collection of red folders come out and various tax forms go into the folder after being entered in the “tax working directories” with backups, data dumps, and the odd spreadsheet. The best single tool anyone can … Read More
The confusion between “urgent” and “important” is common to both professional time management training and the field of journalism. Although, in fairness, journalists are way off the pace, much of the time. That’s because news is managed almost everywhere in the world. Except here, in the U.S. where it’s not on the King’s Land, and … Read More
I spend a ton of time in my office chair. Every day of the week, I’m out here in my “office” from, at latest, 5 AM until I knock-off, which is at earliest, 3 PM. That’s when markets close here. Now, to be sure, I try to get up and walk around for a few … Read More
Wow – some rally Friday, huh? Gobs of jobs. But real? That’s what we tackle in our ChartPack today because antics of the swamp aside, there is nothing more important than hanging on to the money you have so you can get things of value. Which – rather remarkably – used to be a simple … Read More