Should “Prepping” Become “War Planning”?

We’ve been writing about Prepping almost from the beginnings of the Internet. Now, things are changing.  Well in advance of the Y2K “non-event” we were prepping.  I’d even gone so far as to position our “escape pod sailboat” at a safe harbor outside of the Seattle metro area.  In the event something did go wrong, … Read More

On Ancient Humans and Modern Markets

We enjoy contrast.  Without it, life is blurry, unclear.  Meaningless. Yet today, we may be working toward the answer to the big “Where we came from” story. Two important pre-prints have landed.  One Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi | bioRxiv while the other is 241,000 to 335,000 Years Old Rock … Read More

Economic Reality Check Monday

Once again we will try for a shorter column.  1,000 words max is the new goal. Tighter and brighter, as they say. What Matters this Monday? The epidemic of raging idiocy in America continues.  If you have time to sink into pointless debate on such trivia, have fun with that.  On the other hand, if … Read More

ShopTalk Sunday: Ham Radio Safety Chokes, ALZ Lite (3)

With the return of George2 (KF7OCD) to family lands, the interest in having a “rock-em-sock-em winter on the low frequency ham radio bands is back in focus. There’s a whole PowerPoint on what needs to be done.  But when it’s warm is a great time to launch antennas into trees. Or, climbing gear-equipped sons. It’s axiomatic … Read More

Media Lies About the Job Numbers

Yeah – we need to piss test Wall Street. And the NYC Media Moguls.  A rally based on what, Friday, for crying out loud? America deserves full disclosure of who’s getting what money (perks and comps) for doing such a horrible spin on the economy and blowing the stock market skyward with smoke and hype. … Read More

Jobs Too Strong? Next Week: Reality Arrives

Sometimes, you can’t win for trying.  The Fed (and the Biden administration) are facing a real mess with the Jobs data.  The reason?  If Jobs are too good then the economy overheats.  There are signs of that even now. We’ll begin with a summary of this week’s jobs data. JOLTS: The report out Wednesday showed on the … Read More

First Job Data, Pack of Fools, Phrenology’s Return

Two snips of Jobs Data ahead of the “Offishall” numbers tomorrow. ADP Job creation report?  Still strong-ish but pay’s going up. ROSELAND, N.J. – June 1, 2023 – Private sector employment increased by 278,000 jobs in May and annual pay was up 6.5 percent year-over-year, according to the May ADP® National Employment Report. To us, … Read More

Time to Spin Off the West?

Socialism’s darlings on the West Coast are starting to find their future is dimming quickly. Today, we consider latest Housing numbers – where the declines are clearest in financial terms.  But, even beyond this, the ancillary data supports the notion of moving “Back East.” Toss in a barrel full of liberal Constitutional abandonment and excess … Read More

Housing Prices

Case-Shiller/ S&P Corelogic press releases are missing in action.  Either that, or we have landcd on the bad media list, somehow. So instead of some reasoned analysis, make due with the CNBC story here. Home price declines may be over, S&P Case-Shiller says. Problem for the market:  This just SCREAMS to us that a minimum … Read More

“Jellyfish” McCarthy, An Anti-Aging Report

Not exactly a busy weekend.  Sure, the word is a budget deal has been cut, but for now, we’re just waiting to see how the reviews will go on the hill where the Cast of Clowns II takes over.  Where prospects are uncertain.  Debt-Limit Deal Sets Up Tough Battle for Passage in Congress. We are … Read More

ShopTalk Sunday: Anti-Alz. Light Assembly, Stacked Projects

Sorry to report the anti-Alzheimer’s light project (designed to flick at 40 Hz to potentially improve cognition) didn’t get completely finished this week.  Too little time and too much else going on. But we did make a good start on assembly, so let’s go from there. We begin with the pile of parts.  (See last … Read More

Enjoy It While You Can

A blow-off high at the market close Friday could face disappointment this coming week.  Not only is there a Fed meeting on June 13-14,, but we also have recent less-than-stellar news about inflation. In all, while we admit to – even plan for – a continuing market rise for another two months, the late July … Read More