Actual Mania, Actual Data, and Actual Stupidity

Yes, it’s actually Thursday.  As I rolled out the garbage to the street – a highlight of Thursday’s here – the realization dawned:  The news is mostly garbage, anymore.  Maybe I should toss out one of the workstations? The Mania Checklist Bitcoins – the digital tulips – were back under 40-grand when I looked earlier.  With … Read More

The Future of Invention

Economics and Invention are inextricably tied. But are there logical limits to be observed?  Might these fit into the economic long wave? We face the question of “Invention” with physical bounds clearly in mind.  Many of which will become important as the clock rolls forward. After charts and a few grabby headlines, of course. More … Read More

Housing Leads Higher

We know that stocks are up around 40% year on year.  But, whether much of that is actual growth or government inflation to “paper-over” a second Depression is a worthwhile conversation. One thing you do need – regardless of your station in life – is a roof over your head.  Usefully, the Case-Shiller/S&P Housing report … Read More

Gullible Coinsters, Housing Awaits, Side of Woo-Woo

I spent the better part of a half-hour last night snickering.  Not that I’m any kind of whiz on cryptos, mind you.  It’s just that our outlooks are coming in just like the “fixed horse in the sixth” that wasn’t going to make its feed bill for the season.  Coincidence or design, is it? While … Read More

The “Equivalent Mondays” Problem – CFNAI

Mental problems may be subtle, sometimes.  They can sneak-up unnoticed.  Then BLAM!  You’re crazy.  At least that’s a two-bit impression from the small time I’ve spent skimming psychology books. But it seems particularly probable when our “Equivalent Mondays Theory” is rolled out for a semi-annual airing. The theory holds that we can sometimes “get at truth” … Read More

ShopTalk Sunday: Handy Do-Dads and “Virtual Making”

I suppose there was a time when four-score and six (86) would have been an acceptable old age for a curious soul to reach.  Not enough now.  Back then?  Books were semi-precious. Knowledge had a useful shelf-life.  Travel was slow.  Telegraphs worked and phone calls were likely to be on a party line. Between market … Read More

Praise for Strategic Cowardice

It’s hard to think straight during a National Psychosis.  But this morning some thoughts on how to lower personal stress level and turn off dementia-inducing television.  Plus a few other tips. After a few general headlines and the morning’s ChartPack. More for Subscribers ||| Not a Subscriber? SUBSCRIBE NOW! ||| Subscriber Help Center

Bitcon: Buy the Dip – or BE One?

Reader Ray contributed a marvelous reality check in the Comments section overnight: “You remind me of Trevor Lawrence the #1 NFL draft pick this year. He said he was putting his entire $21,000,000 signing bonus into Bitcoin. Dumbass! BTC was at $55,000 and today it is trading a little over $40,000. That is down 27% … Read More

Money Wars: Paper, Metals, BTC Tag Team

Imagining that you remember our advice (“Sell in May and Go Away”) we are not using this as a neener-neener moment.  OK, I was tempted… We need to sit back, thumb through books by Sun Tzu and von Clausewitz, and remember “Economics is war by other means.” Even von Clausewitz got it wrong:  War is … Read More

Fed Minutes Loom

With Elaine’s second hip surgery done, we are back to being transfixed by markets. Which have become a bit off-the-wall this week.  Part of future direction may be guided by Fed Minutes but there are a ton of interest-sensitive “moving parts.” as we will discuss. Thanks to the many well-wishers and thanks for your prayers … Read More

Turnaround Tuesday, Surgery Looms

Short column this morning as Elaine get’s “hippified” this morning.  I won’t bore you with the God-awful clock reading, but early is an understatement. One of the challenges (when a spouse) is headed in a “knifely direction” is maintaining balance and focus on all the details of life.  If columns have been a bit less … Read More

Options Week Roulette

Oh, sure, early futures were down a bit. -100 on the Dow and -10 on the earliest S&P read.  But where the week gets interesting is why options close this week and we get ready to move into a holiday spirit the week following for Memorial Day. About the only news item worth watching this … Read More

ShopTalk Sunday: The 20-Minute Paint Shaker & uBitx 6

Well-rested, we are fit to tackle the day with the persistently long To-Do list.  Still, one of my items on the list got done Saturday and it only took about 20-minutes.  A Paint Can Shaker. Patience is not Mr. Ure’s strong suit.  Like most on this prison planet, while we’re all milling around for the … Read More