Monday comes for us all. And sometimes, change comes with it.
QHA (Quick Hits & Agenda)
- Casino doors open on Wall St. shortly – we’ll do some nose counting.
- Big buzz on possible peace between Russia and Ukraine – but we have concerns.
- Click fever overcomes personal savings plans this week – but we have suggestions.
- And the R-Value of Bacon was Chow-wow Sunday around here.
Wall Street vs. The Strip
From the dyed-in-the-wool gambler’s perspective, the main difference is clocks. Wall Street rings the bell at 9:30 every trading morning. It’s a religion. But in Vegas, you’re hard-pressed to find a clock in any casino. That’s one of the major distinctions between options players and Strip gamblers (er, so to speak…).
The early line-check today showed the Dow down – but the NASDAQ and S&P were up solidly. But just as we write, the Dow has popped positive too, so the lunch money account is green. This is the part where our recent yammering about “holiday rallies” should be sinking in.
Germany and the Kneeler’s dealers were up early. The French? Lost as ever. But the “made up money” crowd? Got to be singing the blues because BTC dropped under $86,000 for a while.
Peace is Good – But We Worry
Can Trump end the war in Ukraine? Two stories cover the big picture: US, Ukraine reach ‘refined’ peace plan on Russia war. And Washington might be trying to serve an “extra-special” – Thanksgiving news cycle: U.S., Ukrainian officials discussing bringing Zelenskyy to U.S., sources say.
So far, all good?
Not so much. There are two very real tripwires. First is Defense spending. One of the “big easy’s” in Washington is wrapping spending up in “defense.” Sets up a checkbook touchdown every time.
The other – a bit more “out there” is in predictive circles around the web, we’re reading how China may be dreaming of a “flash invasion” of Taiwan. The context of this outlook goes like this: Trump takes an unexpected trip out of the USA for some urgent mission. But, part way to his destination, has to turn around and fly home. To deal with China’s “instant invasion” and flag-raising over America’s (weak AI-rich) supply chain.
When you get to be our ages around here, you keep looking for the “peace dividends” (after VN, Iraq, etc) and always – the checks bounce.
Clickstractions
Time of the year to work on 2026 personal budget plans. Useful is Social Security Benefits Get a 2.8% COLA in 2026, But Retirees Could Lose Out for These 2 Reasons. Short reason is the medical people are in line first.
Market meandering today aside: Traders brace for Federal Reserve impact amid US data wave,
Normally, the CFNAI would have just dropped: But Chicago is still getting over GovDown, too. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) incorporates a range of data from government agencies, the publication of which has been delayed as a result of the federal government shutdown. All better, then? Dow futures just crossed +150 – green me, honey.
Calendar checks: Market will be closed Thursday and a half-day Friday. Dallas Fed comes in mid morning today. Tomorrow we will find out if PPI is back from GovDown.
A Healthier You? Green Tea may mimic effects of weight loss drugs. Weight loss: Are there any natural alternatives to Ozempic?
And this is interesting: Can blood pressure drug beta-blockers increase depression risk? Besides the bills.
Wait…so now fat is kind of OK? Some processed fats may be safe for heart health, study finds. Too late to save any turkeys, but Prime Rib is back on the Christmas menu (and New Year’s, and…)
Guess that moves us gently along to this next piece:
Around the Ranch: The R-Value of Bacon
We were playing “serial foody roulette” this weekend. Elaine tossed a pound of wild-caught frozen extra large scallops at me. It was easy to pair: Reduced-sodium thin sliced bacon also got thawed.
Then the obligatory half-hour to find the 4-inch design toothpicks to hold it all together.
“Alexa – how long in the air fryer for bacon-wrapped scallops?”
“Air fry for 12-minutes at 400 turning once…”
Now, there’s two ways to wrap a scallop (which is a groady topic at breakfast, but that’s ranch life, huh?) There’s edge-wound bacon. And there’s over-the-top” winding.
You can’t get a full pound of scallops, the wrapping bacon and a million toothpicks in one air fryer load. So Elaine got most of the first one, and I – as a good gentleman – munched on the previous air fried and oven-held Yukon gold quartered potatoes.
Before servicing Elaine, I took the IR temp gun and measured the scallop meat temps. Then, while she purred and munched, I did the second load. Two layers of bacon on mine. (More temp readings followed.)
After it was all done? I did the calculations of the R-value of bacon. And it’s very small. But we can proudly report today we have solved one of the biggest mysteries in all of Science.
“Why people don’t insulate their homes with bacon.”
Fireside Rant: Solder versus Synonyms
This morning we need to sit on the porch, sip some coffee, level with each other about a few changes coming to Urban — all for the better — mine, anyway. All part of my “strategic semi-retirement glidepath.” That kicks in 80-some days. I plan to officially stop pretending I’m 44 with fresh knees and the metabolism of a coyote.
Urban is shifting to a 1,000-word hard deck. Not because there’s less to say — hell no — but because the world has sped up – readers with it – and skim to win is nuthink.
I’ve vowed to spend more time living life instead of writing about it. Some days, I do 14+ hours “in the chair.” Elaine and I have projects, ranch chores, a longevity routine that’s a part-time science lab all by itself. My to-do list is now well off the actuarial outlook.
The daily columns won’t lose their bite — just the bloat. Same bite, just fewer warning barks. Less DVT risk for me.
Instead of 2,500-word brain-dumps Urban will be a more a strong 1,000-word pour. Espresso vs. Mrs. Olson.
ShopTalk Sunday will evolve to an “STS 2.0” format: tools, sure but more ranch fixes, prepping odds-and-ends, anti-aging experiments, AI tricks, career navigation for the second half of life, and a touch of futuring. All the parts of the ranch-life ecosystem that make this community what it is. (Crazy?)
It’ll stay right here on Urban — free — because Sunday belongs to the tribe. Not all tribe members have four types of welding gear, or a PhD in RF engineering, so a bit wider fort accessibility. Most people like to eat, right?
Peoplenomics, remains the deep-water end of the pool. Big drivers like Long-Term Inflation, food system risk, market cycles, and our forward-modeling work will continue there. That’s the subscriber engine room. They get things like my books, serialized, and twice weekly 20+ visual ticklers in the ChartPack. (We do love our money…)
I’m not going anywhere — just shifting gears. (I go through this every so-often. But don’t worry. I’m ADHD enough it will be a “passing thing.” Just remember, Prime George is on Peoplenomics, Choice George is ShopTalk, and occasionally, Select columns on Urban. With occasional Utility grade reports when the stars are weak.)
Each of us gets only so many days in Life. With focus, we can get the occasional “near perfect” one in the books. Working toward the “perfect” waking life is the best prep for the next one. Even if you think you’re still 44.
Write when you get rich,
George@ure.net
ShopTalk Sunday is here, visitor, a zillion old columns here. And BFD (black Friday deals) on Amazon are here. Go spend. It might help America and China both. Oh, and my AI research here with a book on topic here. Still debating how much to put on SSRN.
“This morning we need to sit on the porch, sip some coffee, level with each other about a few changes coming”
~ I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been.
To sit with elders of a gentle race this world has seldom seen.
Who talk of days for which they sit and wait
When all will be revealed. ~
:)
“peace”
Speaking of peace…
“Elaine and I have projects, ranch chores,”
Perhaps buy Fentanyl ingredients before Xi stops shipping and use them to spay/neuter yard cats in a pirate cat cuttery. She could watch a few TikToks on how to master the snip/snap procedure.
Sure there will be casualties as she trial and errors the specialties of Fentanyl dosing and operating room methods/techniques but she’ll eventually get it and like Spock said –
“the good of the many outweighs the good of the one”
– Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
We were on rental to this company. Spreading rock. Paveing prep.
This young kid (about 23 years old) in solo dumptruck with a tilt top blocks the in gate to load a roller. He loads up the roller on the tilt top. There is 3 of us sitting and waiting to get in.
This Big Boss in brand new King Ranch F250. I mean brand new. Paper tag in the window come flying around us and parks on the job.
He comes over and starts ripping this kids ass. screaming at him, calling him a fucking retard and an idiot. You are holding up the whole show! while pointing at us sitting there. Just screaming at him.
I thought that kid was going to cry.
Then the Boss jumps in the solo and takes off like a bat out of hell with the roller on the tilt top. To move it so we can get in the gate.
What the Big Boss doesnt know is the kid hadnt chained the roller down yet.
The Big Boss turns the corner sharp and the roller comes flying off and lands right on his pretty brand new King Ranch f-250 with the paper tag in the window and squishes it. Just completly destroyed it.
i thought to myself. that sure showed Him!.
We rolled in, spread our load and got signed out.
as i was leaving i smiled, Tippped my hat at the Big Boss and said out the window, Thank You! he flipped me off.
Stay humble. Lol
~ I Win with God within!
One of the nicest “We construct our own heaven or hell
stories in quite a while, Andy. thank you. Bows
a find reminder to those like me who living on borrowed time to slow my roll.
we should have died a long while back. whats the big hurry.
i saw the new governer of washington state out at that rupured pipe line job in snohomish. 10 Dumptrucks sitting on the job (each costing $195 an hour) so the Govenor can come in and take some selfies. we sat there for 3 hours.
wonder what its like to be that important. lol
i didnt mind. either way I’m Getting paid that Big Money.
that pipe line feeds seatac to fuel the planes. its in the middle of a Massive Blue Berry Farm. we are building the roads in and out. they paid big money to keep Iron Mountain open on a Sunday.
i can hear Shorsey now, Blueberys! Blueberrys! Blueberrys! senior whale shit hockey. hahahaa
funny last time i seen Iron Mountain Quary open on a Sunday was in 2010 when they moved 1 Million Tons of Inch and a quarter crushed rock to build that Extention to the Boeing Factory so Boeing could shit out an additional 777 a day.
i asked the weigh master who is also 50% owner of Iron Mountain, How much did the State Pay to get Iron Mountain to Open on a Sunday. he a number and a bunch of zeros with couple commas. Then he said hey I brought in some doughnuts in for everyone if ya want one. hahahhahahahahahaha.
Life is Good.
And this one… to sit back and reminiscent..
https://youtu.be/NajvYJab6Pg?si=nkGNTz1YHaK4bnNX
https://youtu.be/Z95t57HyYTE?si=JEQ3QBMfQ5nKIFKW
if you have never watched the show Shorsey. it is one of the funniest damn shows i have ever watched. about hockey players way passed their prime still playing on some shit team in the middle of canada.
they talk so much shit. it is absolutely hilarious. its the same with Dirt working Truckers.
you have to have thick skin to do this kind of work. hahaha.
i did talk to MSC a week or so ago. i am green lighted to head to norfolk with my NEO start date before the end of Janruary.
if i dont talk to ya before then, Because Im busy and she is way prettier than any of you. Hope Ya’All have a Very Merry Christmas!
I Won with God within!
Que: Bad Company
https://youtu.be/JXQJpyQBShU?si=JuzdakZBNMv0eqHb
Bad Company.
Brings up a song………
https://youtu.be/mBqqeqcJM_0?si=Ur7vkJkoUZhu_JO6
that song i qued has a unique personal special meaning.
I was on the USS America (CV-66) in Desert Storm. i saw some A-6 Bombers out in Oak Harbor the other day.
i remember it like it was yesterday. you dont forget stuff like that. The Captain came on the overhead and said We have gotten the Green light from the President. The Chaplin would like to say a few things. The Chaplin came on and prayed for our pilots, our crew and our Armed forces. Everyone said Amen. all 6000 + of us on that Aircraft Carrier
believers and non believers.
The Captain came back on the overhead and said id like to take a moment of silence for those who are about to die, both ours and theirs. you could have heard a pin drop on that carrier.
The Captain said Go! Go! Go! and we all watched the first A-6 Bombers launch off that catipult fully loaded with Bombs heading to Iraq. in that moment we were officially at War.
Right as the first plane took off the flight deck. They Played that song over the overhead. we all watched all our planes launch fully loaded with Bombs off the deck of our ship.
when the song was over The Captain came back on and said, Keep your head on a swivel boys! That is All. Carry On.
everytime i hear that song on the radio by chance i get goose bumps and remember that day. you dont forget a moment like that.
Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas LOB!
I Win with God within ~
George Ure: I’ve vowed to spend more time living life instead of writing about it.
G.A. Stewart: It was amazing how much we synchronized on one simple fact in this life, that to report on the world, you have to be in the world.
https://theageofdesolation.com/nostradamus/2025/11/23/the-second-american-coup-detat-begins/
Thanks JC. There is a sense that something unpleasant and difficult is coming. I have been attempting to prepare for a time with no electricity, no mail ordered drugs/deliveries, and no communication. it’s impossible to explain to my Rheumatologist why I am seeking alternative drugs that are currently easily available now without sounding totally crazy. I don’t think this disturbing time will last forever but it will be a challenge.
Control your glucose and insulin like it was money. Learn to fast.
Of course the disclaimer… NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Just a recent lesson in biochemistry.
I’m actually surprised it hasn’t started yet… something ugly is most definitely coming..seen two more houses go up for sale today that was just sold two months ago..
Sage Old Wisdom;
When i stopped living in the problem and started living in the solution the problem vanished and never returned.
Thanks for the reminder J.C. Always a pleasure reading your thoughts.
I Win with God within!
A winter solstice humanity will never forget as the space gunship approaches.
– 3I/ATLAS is spinning
– 3I/ATLAS Continues To Display Unprecedented Jet Structure in Latest Image Analysis
– Multiple jet structures emanate in various directions, including toward the Sun, while the expected dust tail remains conspicuously dim or absent.
Citing the Baltic Sea anomaly Earthlings may be able to defeat the machine, but unlikely.
Baltic Sea anomaly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea_anomaly
Not dust..
GU : “… Before servicing Elaine …”
TMI homey, family audience and?
Good luck on *less is better* plan.
Readers are : sure George, show me.
E
Yeah E – you can do IT too!
Just CHEW IT, and DO IT!
Gotta stuff that Burd somewhere………..bondock badabingbang!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1mgKKDalsw&pp=ygUYYWZyaWNhbiB2b2xjYW5vIGVydXB0aW9u
African volcano erupts – 1st time in 10,000 yrs – local water levels have been rising. ECDO Theory at work….
Mount Mihara on Izu Oshima was the prison Godzilla escaped from.
What if? Comet moved arora. Arora creates South Pacific Volcanic Eruption. Eruption create lots stratospheric water which creates drought in southern hemisphere.
George. After chasing a buck since I was 12, and last year being forced to retire due to health issues, I have spent alot of time sitting on the back porch and staring into the property…nothing specific just the land. Ghosted most of my so called ex co workers, just spend time staring into the property. Doc says my numbers are amazing, asked what I’m doing…….
same thing happened to me as well… keep it going young man keep on trucking…..I like you am just to dam stubborn to roll over and die..or call it quits
yep G you told us of the week ahead and the lotto/Powerball numbers . so i have now accepted markets are rigged and you have channeled your mind into them . all good just rigged . much better no anger . anyway stay tuned folks for more . well done G , the turkey time is a comin
if i won the powerball i might fuck it all up. and i could win. i probably will win.
i spose i dont know if i fucked it all up until i win. what if fucking it all up is the point and that is the real mission? i know what its like when i dont win. a tiny altetnate thread exists in the multiverse that travels on where i did win and all the results that follow that altetnative trajecrory . and i keep on sailing down the stream of life.
so there is all these thousands of threads in alternate universes where i did win. and good for those versions of Myself. im happy for them.
may i join them at the end of the eternal stream and hear all their many stories of adventures
lol
this way or that way, either way, up and down, side to side,
I Win with God within.
lol I’ll never win.. I couldn’t ever just drop something like that that could do lightning strikes on lives in a hole in the ground ..Can’t take it with you..like a good friend that struck lightning on Africans dying from poisoned water..he personally saved tens of thousands..make it work for the betterment of mankind
Life should be less complicated. Sailed into a wicked shallow waterway and carefully found our way after negotiating a whiteout 35kt squall in tight quarters. Then the wind went away and we drift sailed for twelve hours in bright hot sun to anchor in what should have been pretty good ground and shelter only to wake up rolling, beam to the seas because of current and unexpected 20kt wind. Awake all night watching a boat quite close tack back and forth on his anchor. Perfect breeze early and sailed into a marina berth up a narrow river, successfully tied up, found a shop for food, totally crashed. Still haven’t really rested for three weeks of watch keeping. Then the SHTF, a huge system roared through, wind got to 67kts, lightening, heavy rain, all power out in the town at least until we finally crashed and burned. Now 5;30 a.m., kookaburras are laughing, it’s calm and cool. Maybe rest today. Welcome to the land down under.
Stiks
wow, to all Stiks. Sleep. E
youl be right mate . great southern land . always storms in november . where did you tie up ? know the coast of queensland like the back of my hand . many spots for Rand R
re: “Bringing Home the Bacon”
feat: Procol Harum
A Servant of the People has turned a whiter shade of pale with distinctly more blackbeard than now-plucked grey hares in today’s social media production. A ‘message waiting’ light illuminates a landline desk phone. The Prime Minister of Spain has called from Angola.
Separately, the EU Council website informs that its President, Mrs. von der Leyen, is attending the 7th EU-AU summit in Luanda, Angola. The last summit concluded four days prior to the commencement of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine in 2022. It would appear that the “European Peace Facility” continues to work with the African Union according to the EU’s following webpage link:
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2025/11/24-25/
re: Network difficulties; dealer’s choice
feat: Tiber (“White”) river card
Please do not adjust your sets. Restoration of power is anticipated shortly. Thank you for your understanding.
The head of the Office of the President of the Ukraine, Mr. Andryi Yermak, has returned from a peace dealers’ trip to Geneva where he consulted with the US Secretary of State and others around a table.
The first public social media post Mr. Yermak made upon return to Kyiv celebrated the happy return of an unnamed Ukrainian child from Russia under the Ukraine President’s “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative. He went on to explain that “specialists” had repatriated the 22 (twenty two) year old who had spent the past 3 years living in “constant fear of forced mobilization”. The ‘child’ is said to be receiving “necessary assistance and support”.
Mr. Yermak credited the successful operation to the UNCR (Ukrainian Network for Childrens Rights) and a volunteer entity named Humanity. The website of the former claims it was formed in about 2014 by a group of (unnamed) NGOs.
Separately the President’s Office head noted the outward bound to Geneva journey’s Turkish stopover. The Turkish President had been encouraged to render help for Azov Brigade prisoners, none of whom were ever released by Russia. A subsequent stopover prior to Geneva saw the Ukrainian delegation at Vatican City in audience and photo op with the Pope. He received a letter requesting help for the Russian release of Ukrainian children.
It would appear that the book release of “Blue Butterfly: Inside the Diary of an Epstein Survivor” by Juliette Bryant has been delayed from November 18, 2025 until January 27, 2026.
Thank you for your patience.
‘Magnificent 7’ drove all market gains, Buffet’s indicator ‘playing with fire’ (stock market compared to real economic growth)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/24/sp500-stock-market-tech-nvidia/
Climate Change Denial is the new enemy, not ‘Charlie’ (Viet Cong), record flooding in Vietnam,
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2025/10/29/vietnams-tourist-sites-submerged-as-record-rainfall-causes-major-flooding-00625578
Rainfall in the central city of Hu? reached 42 inches in 24 hours by late Monday, the highest volume ever recorded in Vietnam, according to the country’s meteorological department.
nein,nein,nein, you silly Goose!
Hu is on 1st Base, which means..What is on 2nd ?
peace ??? aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! give me a shot of wild turkey and a bulger and fries
I got Ure Bulger Lennster,
why dont you bend over and grab Ure ankles..what what in da..
Nah I dont want you to be the butt of a joke, no sir not this guy..
snarkynarrknark..
I got Ure number, Jenny -https://youtu.be/6WTdTwcmxyo?si=tfTAERI9wXg1pV6N
yeah burger turned into a bulger. no spell check bugger . double cheese and bacon smells good though . pickles and mayo yum . nearly as tasty as nasdaq shorts and bonds
LOB –
Speaking of useless eaters:
Campbell Soup exec belittled ‘poor’ customers, spewed racist hate in secret recording: lawsuit
“A Campbell Soup Company vice president was secretly recorded ripping the food giant’s products, mocking “poor people” who buy them, blasting Indian coworkers as “idiots” and admitting he sometimes showed up to work high — and the employee who reported it says he was the one to get fired.”
https://nypost.com/2025/11/24/business/campbell-soup-exec-belittled-poor-customers-spewed-racist-hate-about-indian-employees-lawsuit/
OoWS –
Whats a matta, splatta ?
3-D printed chicken meat ???? and they would be making the Broth outta da 3-D printed meat ? YUM..not!
Sounds nasty, no wonders we switched all things Soup over to Pacific brand, as Pacific is free of bullscheisse.
The rich food executives hate their customers. Imagine working with that guy. #FreeLuigiMangione we got another one.
“Sounds nasty, no wonders we switched all things Soup over to Pacific brand, as Pacific is free of bullscheisse.”
I did this years ago, when both Campbell’s and Progressive went the GMO route. ‘Costs a little more, doesn’t taste quite as good, but Pacific (and Annie’s) won’t kill you, and that’s a worthwhile trade-off…
I love the Pacific tomato red pepper ..God that’s good..
I know.. it’s disgusting how everything has changed..what surprises me is those worthless eaters is what makes the company and his high end wages successful..
“Why people don’t insulate their homes with bacon.”
Hmm… now I find it odd that the bacon does just fine when insulating a pig’s belly from harsh winter snows. Some kind of ‘in-vitro’ vs ‘in-vivo’ inversion going on there? Have you measured the interior vs exterior of a live pig’s belly? Do you know where to ‘pork’ that meat thermometer?
Its the fat… that insulates….pioneers use to make a spread from lard..to use like bacon fat..
lard and flour mixed till it makes a spread similar to butter..called poor mans butter..
lard and syrup Or molasses.. used like a honey spread
lard and crackling ( bacon)
lard and salted..in some countries they just salt fat and then slice it really thin for sandwhiches..
another very old treat is licorice.. over four thousand years old.. considered a medicinal candy found in tuts tomb and in the book the Devine farmer god shennong ..
salo is still enjoyed the world over by poor farmers..pork fat is layered in salt and garlic or put in A brine and curred..Indian tribes did the same thing and They all used it to preserve meat ..
I’m a very narrow minded connoiseur. I love bacon, as is. But I never understood why any alleged epicurean would wrap a delicious filet mignon with bacon to make it taste like a pork chop. Or why a delicious, buttery scallop needs to be made to taste like a soft lump of pork fat. Why ruin a perfectly tasty bit of food?
Gonna have to go getsome scallops, usually use one of Martha’s recipes.
https://www.marthastewart.com/1514373/scallop-recipes
2nd. day of using the red lite sinus therapy .. I don’t know but dam..I think there’s something to this..first day I only had to get up twice to do a saline rinse.. I would use the red light unit between clients.. and on the way there and home.. 4 times a day with four hour intervals between..
I didn’t have any swelling or mucus issues at all until just before getting up..and the unit I’m using is not the better unit..I had thought I’d give a week of one then let a week go by until I tried the more accurate system.. after almost five years of struggling with this issue..
the jury’s still out..I still love the herbal Chinese tea ..but dam.. who would have actually thought this..well then who would have thought putting a blower into your nose to keep your O2 levels higher would work to..but then my Cpap will have to be dragged from my cold grey hands..I love that thing..