CPI and Fed Roulette – Welding Before Breakfast

by

When the markets hit their latest (*Absurd) high at the close Wednesday, I put a little dough from the “hamburger fund” on the short side expecting a lower open.

Two-and-a-half hours to the open, the wager looked to pay off with a 0.4 percent gain for less than an hour of (open) market exposure.

The Rational is interesting:  CPI has just come out this morning and there are only a couple of data points that matter.

While “we lil people” have to be concerned with food and shelter costs, the Fed’s policy sensitivities are driven by the all items – less food and energy – because historically, these have been better indicators of long-term inflation.

We often joke that “Food and Energy costs don’t matter to the Fed but they sure matter in our household.”  The reality of the Fed’s preference is that variations in food and energy costs (higher beta) makes the time-sequence of inflati9on a lot noisier.

In their effort to “keep a light hand on the tiller” the Fed doesn’t like to move rates any more than absolutely necessary. Because in a world of moving rates, markets can react in more impulsive (read: voter-disturbing) scary ways.

For now, the gamble is whether the Fed will lower in three weeks at their July 30-31 meeting. For now, the Fed is not likely to lower rate until at least September because the CME Fed Rate Watch Tool showed (earlier today) that only 4.7 percent of investors think rates are ready to come down.

We get a real kick out of officious-sounding policy discussions, like the ones on the Hill this week. The Chairman uses words like “Judgement” and “assessment” while the democrats try to angle the Fed into saying something that will goose their prospects for the Election.  While, presently, look to have run off the road, into the ditch, and Dems clearly want the Fed to reprise the roadside roll of Triple A and save the day for them

Ain’t happening.

OH, and my trade didn’t pay off…

The Numbers

This is the sales pitch:

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, after being unchanged in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Fed rate hype cut will roll now.

This is the section that matters. You can read – so I won’t lay bloviations on you about how inflation is going to go in the future.

What we can advise is that just $116 billion shy of rolling over the Federal Debt to the Penny to over $35 trillion (which could come tomorrow from our present $34,884,371,510,047.60) it should be apparent that a bet on the falling (Purchasing Power) of money is as close to a sure thing as we’ve seen.  It just takes time.

We would remind long-term readers thar our entry prices for Gold ($272, $279) and Silver ($6.97 and $7.03) not to mention almost 30-acres of rural sustainable real estate (<$100,000) has all be lifted nicely by the rising tide of Government making up money. We also don’t have to “Check any box if you sold crypto…”

Inflation is a slower game, than, oh, the high roller’s craps table at the Grand. But as long as America keeps spending more than it takes in, all the little people have to do is put their money into reliable inflation hedges (a home, a few metals, and the stodgiest dividend paying big companies) and stick around for a half century.  The magic of compound interest on Debt is an equal opportunity offering.

Unemployment Filings

And state impacts:

Treasury statement comes this afternoon (2) and then the Fed Balance Sheet (4:30). Tomorrow it’s PPI time where we look at price hikes in the pipeline.

Creepy Crawlers

Legal Insurrection by the Demagogue Party continues full steam ahead: BREAKING: SAVE Act Passes House 221-198 – Almost Every Democrat Voted to ‘Protect’ the Ability of Illegals to Vote in Federal Elections | The Gateway Pundit/  Only a matter of time until Social Security for anyone who can sneak in here./  Way to go, Slo!

Are you going to the gaffe watch tonight? Biden’s High-Stakes Moment: Tonight’s NATO News Conference. Should be fun – a kind of double shakedown speech.

(Hand goes up) “I know, I know teacher!  He’s forming an Axis of Geezers!“ Biden forges ties with new UK PM Starmer at NATO meeting in Washington. Closely related: What really fueled Ukraine war, a case study in enabling and other commentary.

We think NATO may not understand how much damage going “Sanction-happy” will lead to.  As Vladimir Putin: Saudi Arabia threatened the G7 with a massive sell-off of European bonds if they touched Russia’s assets.

“Joe kidding, right?“ Handful of grocery stores test ammo vending machines. I can hear it now. “OK, that’s a half gallon of milk, half-rack of beer, 10 franging rounds of 12 gauge, and a tin of 600 rounds of 7.62 x 39 tracers. Will there be anything else for you, Mr. Ure? Did you see the 5.62 end cap on aisle 4?”

As we have always taught in our poly-sci classes, a Cabinet job in the hand is worth a campaign in the bush: ‘On With Kara Swisher’: Whitmer Is Still Confident in Biden (nymag.com)

One of our neighbors called this week to report they’ve got Covid.  Timely because The Media Is Now Blaming COVID Vaccines For Latest ‘Surge’. Just throw the food delivery in the front yard and keep driving, please.

Everyone’s a Weiner? Morgan Whisper ? on X: “Alex Soros and Huma Abedin just got engaged in Italy! For those who don’t know, she is Hillary Clinton’s right-hand woman. She’s 47 and got engaged to the younger Soros, 38! They went public with their relationship earlier this year on Valentine’s Day with a post from Paris! Still, even anti-America socialists deserve love, right?

Is anybody Home?  Falling lumber costs may bring homebuilding cost relief, says BofA’s Rafe Jafrosich.

At the Ranch: Welding Before Breakfast

Before I get to the breakfast table today, a 45-minute delay of calories while I do the welding on the slightly extended solar panel rack.  Shouldn’t take too long.

What takes the time in welding is not the pulling the trigger and running a nice (or passable) bead of MIG wire.  It’s the damn set-up time.  I have to roll the welder up the hill. Then run a 12-gauge extension up to it. Where the helmet? Gauntlets or welding jack? Spatter shield? Do I need to spray down the area with water to prevent a grass fire, or is the dew still heavy enough?

I can do the welding – take a fool break – and then cut the clean up and put-back down into 10-minute segments as the heat comes on today.  95 is likely and one reason I am genetically disposed to cold weather is that fireproof welding shirts are not particularly comfortable high-humidity clothing.

Room for Improvement

Our HDSL internet has been down for five days now.  So I tried to get through to customer service about 6:20 am.  Here’s how that went into the ditch:

“Welcome to Brightspeed. I’m Cody the Brightspeed Assistant.

How can I help you today?
06:25 am

Are you ever going to fix my internet outage – this is day 5 – I want credit on my bill

06:26 am
I understand that you want to discuss a credit on your bill due to an internet outage.
Credits can take 30 to 60 days to display on your bill.
If your account balance has a minus sign in front of it, you have an account credit and no payment is due at this time.
Is there anything else I can help you with?

06:26 am

Chat with an agent

06:27 am

Before I connect you to an agent, can you please enter your name.
06:27 am

George

06:27 am

To make this conversation easy and faster, can I collect some information from you?

06:27 am

No, Thank you!

06:27 am
To assist you further, I will need to connect you with a specialist, but our specialist appears to be busy with other clients. You are the 1st customer in the queue and the estimated wait time is longer than usual. Do you still want to wait for a specialist?

06:27 am

Yes

06:27 am

Okay, I’m now connecting you with our specialist. Thank you.

Unfortunately, our support center is currently closed. Please try reaching us later. Thank you.
This chat has ended”

Rather uselessly, the outage (fifth day remember) has been reading:

Expected Repair Time12 to 24 hours

…since the get-go.

i appreciate that companies are trying to automate as much as they can. But this system kept me online for 3-minutes it didn’t need to.  They could have just said (before the whole dance and time-sink) “Oh, check back after 8 AM local time” or something.

If you see a large increase in vodka sales in Texas this week, this may relate to some of the causes for such inappropriate consumer behavior.
Write when you get rich and is Fat Dog open, yet?
George@Ure.net

81 thoughts on “CPI and Fed Roulette – Welding Before Breakfast”

  2. 0900 Thursday 7/11

    The following story will soon be moot or swept away to irrelevancy by a Sudden Tsunami of Developments, and may be invalid by sundown this very day, or by Monday — but will surely be no longer be of interest by the end of the coming week.

    In Hollywood, there is actually very little high-level — feature film quality — cameras and equipment available. Most producers and production companies are financial deal-makers, and are not heavily invested in high-capability cameras and high-quality production gear. They rent. This is because they are actually shooting for very few days in a typical month.

    Rental houses stock up with ka-zillions of dollars of high-class gear, and most production companies “schedule” and rent what they need. Obvious exceptions are huge houses — “big-name studios” — that are so busy they keep their own stock rooms busy; and shows with heavy and near-continuous shooting schedules — like booked and greenlit serials.

    Point being:
    It’s not hard to ABSORB the ENTIRE catalog of the rental houses in super-heavy weeks and months.

    My spies tell me this is the case now in ALL the major production concentration areas — New York, Hollywood, etcetera. They inform that a “large” number of “unexpected” and sudden highest quality productions are currently underway.

    It’s all cranking out political ads and super-high quality biographic ‘backgrounders” being done for a sudden deep and urgent felt need for confidence-inspiring Major Propaganda pieces for the various Big Egos who see Opportunity to replace Joe Biden. The longer-form pieces are heavily scripted bullshit, and filled with Huge & Important “Power & Success Music.”

    By “Large Number,” of such productions, we could mean a dozen or a few more — NOT a big number like fifty-six.

    You’ll probably get to see some of their product before long.

    * * *

    “‘M’ is having trouble with their fresh-water generating system. ”

    * * *

    (Let he who has ears, hear.) (..and understand.)

    • “‘M’ is having trouble with their fresh-water generating system. ”

      …nice one :)

      I’ll take ‘Strawberry 5’ for $100, Alex…

      • I’m glad SOMEbody got that one.
        I thought it might be too subtle.

        I don’t mind being a little mysterious,
        but I don’t want to be opaque.

        73
        KW1B

  3. “Our HDSL internet has been down for five days now. So I tried to get through to customer service about 6:20 am. Here’s how that went into the ditch:”

    Just a reminder from your column a couple of days ago. LOL

    “There was a time – when younger – that I would let the blood pressure soar and be all bent of out of shape over this kind of thing.”

  4. Been working on cleaning and updating the hoopty this week. New ground cover and cleaning out the hydro containers and piping. I was standing over a barrel washing hydrotin balls when I heard Diana come in and say Whatcha doin Cowboy? Washing my balls. Come over here and give me a hand. I turned around to see Diana standing with her hand over her mouth and her eyes bugging out next to Father Pete our priest. All I could think was to reach in and pick up a handfull of hydrotin to show. We looked at each other and then started laughing. Diana stomped back up to the house after telling Fr Pete sorry. Ahhh, ranch life.
    Stay safe. 73

  5. Strange how the Democrats didn’t realize how serious Joe’s health condition was until the debate with Trump. Seemed pretty obvious to everyone else for years.

    So, donors meet and find the party and the administration is not on the same page … nor in the same book …

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NP1moO9vz/?igsh=MWE3aWRpenI3cmIxaA==

    Maybe it’s what Joe says that disturbs most people …

    https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNDcJfgj/

    Ahh, sleepy Joe …

    https://nypost.com/2024/07/09/us-news/biden-went-to-bed-early-instead-of-meeting-with-german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-during-2022-g7-summit-event-report/

    While we watch the antics, FINALLY enquiring minds wanna know, Who’s Running This Shit Show ?

    https://www.zerohedge.com/political/house-oversight-subpoenas-top-biden-handlers-find-out-whos-running-country

    Sure isn’t Joe

    • People have to be told what to think by the right authority figure.

      Here in in Peanut Gallery I’ll tell you I see Trump isn’t far behind Biden mentally. But I’m not the right authority to announce the message. Funny how that works.

      • “People have to be told what to think by the right authority figure.”

        Yes been thinking that. Some special level/type/voice tone/etc.

      • “Here in in Peanut Gallery I’ll tell you I see Trump isn’t far behind Biden mentally”

        on what do you base that assumption? have you not watched any of his rallies? many rallies,,, while joe is slo to a few small ones, as Trump continues to speak when his prompter breaks, joe just looks bedazzled.
        “repeat the line”,,, “end of Quote”
        The various TV interviews shows Trump handles hostile interviewers with ease, while slo joe barely waddles through them with help from his interviewers.

        here in RR union town, most of the members vote how the union tells them to, their authority figure.

        Trump is a genius, he got Bribes to do a debate on live TV,,, in spite of it being CNN and no audience, hostile moderators, and mic shut offs,,,
        BOOM now everyone sees slo as really slo,,,
        can’t put that cat back in the bag.
        Panic in DC, how do we replace the broken puppet show without losing the audience? and don’t forget the convicted felon,,, no no no , the real one, Hunter.
        And Ashley so kindly forgot her diary.

      • Having been watching, following Trump for many years without seeing any evidence of loss of mental acuity. What have you seen, not including out of context leftist propaganda?
        He is not JC returning, but he is the best we have by a long way.

  6. Last time I welded, it too 20 minutes to round everything up, set up and 15 seconds to make 2 quick passes on the repair…

  7. The spike in gold this morning is due to the metal’s realizing that Bryce Harper will be fine.
    As I’ve been telling George since 2007,forget about the charts,watch the Phillies.Their fortunes and that of gold are intertwined going back to gold’s re-legalization(for the USA) in 1975.
    The metal was at nearly 1900 in 2011,when Ryan Howard’s knee collapsed-I told all to sell-,leading to a fall to 1300 in spring 2019 when Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies.
    The rest is history.

  8. Wow, sorry to hear someone has been holding a Gun to Ure head.. all this time..”we also don’t HAVE To Check any box if you sold crypto” so solly, but you will be paying beaucoup taxes on sale of PM’ s , if they don’t confiscate em all first.

    Editing note; far be it from the BCN to correct anything written on these hallowed pages, put such a glaring omission should be called out by the Chivalrous – Satanic. anti-American SATANIC socialist.
    Precision counts.
    Here in Zurich, Switzerland more so than anywhere else I have ever been…Scheisse be very clean and Precise..no pidgeons it’s that clean, public transportation runs like a Swiss Watch..very prezact and everywhere.

    I saw the future last night at 2nd Tswizzle Concert in Zurich…It’s Chicks -Girl Power, The Sacred Feminine. Spent the whole night drinking dancing and Singing with Wife, Son and his Fiancée. The stadium was full of little girls and Moms and or Dads, can’t count how times I was wiping tears from eyes, yea I cried a little. And not just because Nederlanden/orange lost the kneelers in Euro Championship semi’s last night.
    Hell, was walking back from stadium with a Grandmother from Idaho who brought her 14 year old GrandDaughter for Grandmas birthday present 2 self..That is frigging Cooldela in my book, whole night was like that.

    I have been attending live rock event/shows..since early 70s when older Sister took to me a Foghat- Boston concert show at the old Spectrum in Phila. Seen most of the biggies and many many “smallies” even took Daughter to corp superbox to see Backstreet Boys (backside boys) for Birthday. Family vacations have always been planned around Live Music events-shows, always.

    Never seen anything like Taytays ERA’s tour show..ever. Did not know what an excellent set of pipes this powerhouse Mastermind has- personal opinion, less than 10% of current/modern Singers” can actually sing live- The amazing Chick can and play multiple instruments. I was ignorant of Taylor Swit music, cept for shake it off. She is a extremely rare Talent, mad skills, super smart and a real Fine Lady..YOWZA!

    Color BCN “enchanted”..Karma is my Girlfreind” and all poets thieves.

  9. Nailed the NASDAQ this morning as it climbed at the start of the day – deep in the money ‘puts’.., just got out as it crossed down 180 pts. Good trade.

  10. “a bet on the falling (Purchasing Power) of money”

    I’m sure everyone knows Social Security is a pay for the previous generation scheme and there is no lock-box.

    Yesterday I was talking to a fellow who recently turned 62 y/o and started collecting his Social Security entitlement ASAP. He said he did this because he was worried the program could change by the time he hit 66 and he added that he’d be leaving 100k on the table by not collecting now and waiting. (The assumption is his benefit is $25,000 per year).

    I googled around real quick –

    “The maximum taxable earnings for Social Security in 2024 is $168,600.”

    “…the current Social Security and Medicare tax rates are 6.2% and 1.45%, respectively. So each party – employee and employer – pays 7.65% of their income, for a total FICA contribution of 15.3%. To calculate your FICA tax burden, you can multiply your gross pay by 7.65%.”

    – Feb 15, 2024

    7.65% of 168.6k is $12,897.90. Add the employer contribution which doubles the amount to $25,795.80.

    So generally .gov needs about 168K in new wages to come online for each new participant. This doesn’t include actual medical care just the premiums.

    • I had a short discussion this morning with Stu about this post. I might’ve had a lightbulb moment. I’ll reserve the details for later in case he wants to say something about it after the end of the work day.

      • Yes, Maj thinks that Biden’s dementia kicked off in 20 months ago, as the Quatrain of a Leader and his son suggests before his resignation.

        That is the only solution that works.

        I need to see when his Parkinson’s Doctor first visited.

        Then there is another Nostradamus Big Hit:

        J..C. emailed me this morning,

        Charles III just bought some New York City property.

        https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/07/10/king-charles-iii-buys-billionaires-row-condo/

        It’s Scary Close!

        • This might tend to indicate that NYC is safe for the immediate future. London, on the other hand….

          Perhaps it’s just simple diversification.

        • “I need to see when his Parkinson’s Doctor first visited.”

          Check the White House Visitor Logs.

          Understand, Biden’s handlers typically put a lid on him by 1200-1300hrs, and the Bidens split for one or another of his digs in Dover, 4-5 days out of every week. This is significant because only the Secret Service has visitor logs on the casas del Biden, and they’re not telling.

          You may have to pull a list of visitors, then back-check their vocations because Joe may have more than one specialist making housecalls.

    • I’d love to read this (and others), but my passwords don’t work. I get “too many redirects” error messages.

      • That happens to me every time.

        Close the page.
        Clear cookies and cache.
        Then go to history and click on the link/page you are trying to open.

        It works for me.

        • I’ll try it — again… Thanks.
          (I don’t feel an ultra-deep need to see this stuff. The material I have seen so far is quite –what’s the word? — fascinating? terrifying? informative? — it’s way, way beyond merely interesting. It resonates with deep, deep suspectings…

      • BTDT

        Cut off all “Negative”.. therefore never again went back, or asked again. Nothing else good/positive to say..

  12. Looks like the OBiden Group kept the migrants for upcoming US stuff the turkey elections; helped Starmer in UK and Mac in France, with the secrets of stuffing. With EU secure, time to meet and discuss: DC – NATO Conference theme Dr. Strangelove . . .

  14. Nostradamus Quatrain II-51
    The blood of the just at London made fault
    Burnt by lightning of twenty three the six.
    The ancient dame falls from [her] high place:
    Of the same sect several will be killed.

    2019 Notre Dame Cathedral in flames…

    G.A. STEWART: George Ure at UrbanSurvival sent me an Email last night that referenced Quatrain II-53. I was a little confused by that, but I think he meant Quatrain II-51.
    So, this morning I did a word search for église and dame through my original Nostradamus Compendium and came across Quatrain II-51. Then I reread George’s Email.

    George beat me to the draw on this one. I would say that the both of us coming upon Quatrain II-51 is a good indication that we were on the right track.

    https://theageofdesolation.com/NOSTRADAMUS/2019/04/16/the-dame-falls-from-her-high-place/

    Today, (April 17, 2019) on George Ure’s website he asked, “The fire got me to wondering: Has open spiritual warfare now been set on the world?“

    https://theageofdesolation.com/nostradamus/2019/04/17/bloody-april-19th-and-april-20th/

    • Yes, indeed, it is spiritual warfare. But it is only open to one side.

      Most of the other side does not believe in spiritual affairs or spiritual warfare.

  15. A 12th-century medieval cathedral in Rouen, northern France, was evacuated Thursday after black smoke billowed from the scaffolding around its spire.

    Reuters reported that “40 fire engines rushed to the site and emergency workers set up a cordon around” the Notre Dame of Rouen Cathedral.

    Videos posted on X show the thick smoke rising from the cathedral’s spire, which reminded many of the 2019 fire at Notre Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris.

    “The incident comes a few days after the victory of leftist parties in the French elections,” journalist Sachin Jose wrote on X.

    https://www.zerohedge.com/political/watch-black-smoke-billowing-out-rouen-cathedral-france

  16. Most of my friends are in their late 60s and 70s. The last six months have seen alot of falls.

    A friend’s husband ran out of gas and went walking for more leaving his wife in the car. He fell off a mountain edge and died.

    Sue fell I her yard and cracked a rib.

    I fell on the Post Office I poo ramp and sprained 2 toes .

    Another friend had a hysterectomy and shortly after fell and broke both ankles.

    Just a reminder to be careful. If things do go horrible wrong this fall you don’t want to be physically limited by a falling injury.

    • Falls in the senior group is often caused by statins. Don’t take statins and have fewer issues with balance. Also, statins mess with the D3 immune response in the body and make you less likely to survive virus/bacterial illness. Those with cholesterol over 200 live the longest and are the healthiest.
      75, no statins, no jab, no falls, no sunscreen

      • Richard, please supply technical medical papers supporting this information. I can find none but always prepared to listen.

        I am 82, heavy statins for 15 years, no falls, no canes, no wheelchairs. Healthier than any of my peers.

        • First, search the Dr Mercola web site.
          https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/05/27/just-say-no-to-statins.aspx
          Then look at this study:
          https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369856/
          Conclusions: The present study detected a negative association between statin use and balance control in the ML direction, suggesting that caution should be taken when prescribing statins in older adults, as this could decrease ML stability and ultimately increase fall and fracture risks.
          Statins also contributed to Covid deaths because statins damage D3 response in the body.
          Why do you take statins? Cholesterol is NOT a health issue. Your lifestyle, and diet, and stress levels are the issue.
          Sincerely, Richard in Colorado, 75 yrs

        • Thank you for the links Richard. I have added them to many others I have read on the subject.

          I take statins based on family and personal history of cardiovascular disease due to plaque buildup in both heart and carotid arteries. After 3 heart stents in 2007, I have been on statins ever since. After discovery of plaque buildup in my carotid arteries (mother died of blocked arteries at an early age), my statins were increased.

          You are correct that lifestyle, diet and stress levels are important. I lost 40 pounds 17 years ago, kept it off, workout in group exercise 3 times a week, lift weights and sleep well. I have excellent health statistics except for the carotid artery plaque problem.

          I have to disagree with “cholesterol is NOT a health issue. “ I would agree that not everyone should take statins as they age but rather for specific identified issues. I am fortunate to be cared for by one of the top neurologists in Canada. He has my LDL now at 30 and wants to keep it there. I have had no issues with muscle pain and feel better than I have in 20 years. Perhaps I am an outlier.

          Statins are certainly controversial and the science is mixed and complex. Most of the papers are highly technical but this recent one is in layperson’s language and may be helpful to readers here.

          https://time.com/6287926/cholesterol-myths-debunked/

          As far as loss of balance, I think this is more related to sarcopenia (muscle loss) than statins. I have never had a fall at 82 but have come close a few times. Even so, I always use handrails on stairs and would never consider climbing a ladder. That’s just being smart.

        • https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/chelation-for-heart-disease#:~:text=The%20therapy%20involves%20intravenous%20infusions%20of%20a%20chemical,the%20blood%20vessels%20of%20people%20with%20heart%20disease.

          I had a friend that had that he went to Florida for chelation treatments.. after a couple weeks he went back for the tests and it was all cleared up..
          no invasive surgeries.. I tried to get my father to look at it as an option. sadly it wasn’t an accepted treatment so differs were hesitant to suggest it.
          interesting to at least check it out..

      • Same here to all of the above!

        Look into boron and iodine supplementation – research those thoroughly. Same with D3. YMMV.

        Balance can be improved by practice. I’ve been lucky to have engaged in balance activities since I was a kid. If you’re worried, practice surrounded by old mattresses or similar. Weight training and related activities strengthen bones and tendons/ligaments along with the musculature.

  18. Looks as though I may have acted in haste. I got out of my trade when the NASDAQ was down 180pts – hit my price-point., and bailed – I may have been a wee bit early in my exit. Now down over 300 points. Ooops !

  19. A friend of mine did something that everyone should take a look at.
    Since his first paycheck as a working stiff he saved 20% of it and put it in an on-line trading account. No IRA., or anything like that. A straight forward trading account. He did this for 38 years. Retired from his job with full pension and millions in the account., then started collecting Social Security a few years after that.
    Yes., he paid more taxes this way., but compared to all his co-workers he is a rock-star. No mortgage., no debts., no stress., millionaire. Happy and comfortable for close to 20 years now, in a beautiful little house in the woods. Drives a 1989 Porche widebody turbo.., and having one hell of a good time. [ bought one of my custom 1911 double stack pistols a few years back.]
    It worked very well for him. No retirement games with the government. No dodging the IRS over every penny. Pay your dues., watch your trades and never take a loan from your account., just let it compound, over and over.
    I asked him to write a book on his way to retire – he is thinking about it

  20. who knows George, it just might be me who saves your life, ifn the simpons predictions come true. according to the simpsons, the civial war starts in september. and texas leaves the union.

    at my current trajectory, i will be around them parts, bout then

    im always right where im supposed to be, right when im supppsed to be there.

    and strong men of God, like me, arnt forged in the furnace of easy cushy livin. soft weak men are forged in the easy cushy life.

    imagine what it took for me to become as stong as i am now. :)

    *raises cup

    to the future!

    cheers.

    • “according to the simpsons, the civial war starts in september. ”

      chat gpt 4.5 gave me the November date.. Alois Irlamair gave a date when the snow is on the leaves and the leaves are falling..

      (“and texas leaves the union.”)

      if texas left the union..boy that would be a bender.. consider the military.. alone the vast majority of military would be gone.. tax income..phew. bug numbers there.. it would be a huge event

  21. Bad earthquake tireds today on the left coast. Could be a busy week of meetings, shows and harvesting lavender, all in heat that this mossback is unaccustomed to, but feels different.
    Reading this column always, and Stu’s as well, I can say these two are on the mark IMO.
    Stu I might have plants calling your name if you are interested in such things.
    George has my info.
    By the way Mr. Ure, that family legal fight I talked with you about is finally done. Your words conveyed to the right party gave her strength to plant her foot firmly on “no more”. Thank you for wisdom and your generosity.
    Back to making sawdust!

    • You’re earthquake tireds are accurate. There were two 6+ magnitude shakes this morning off of the Olympic Peninsula.

      • Thank you for confirming that! I thought I was catching something I never catch. Not done yet though with the shakes.

  22. Something I didn’t know. You can buy tamales in a can. Who knew !? Guess I just haven’t paid any attention to that possibility. Seems they have been around a ‘long time’. Whenever I have an urge for a great tamale I just call up Fernando and place an order with his wife. She makes fantastic chicken, or pork, or beef tamales., and they are huge. I usually order six of each and she throws in a bag of her special corn chips and salsa. [ She doesn’t speak English and has no desire to learn., but she likes me, serves me her special tequila-tea whenever I visit – so it’s all cool.] I have to be a bit careful when I visit their place, though – their long-haired chihuahua does not like gringo’s ! .., and drop-kicking him over the fence is not an option.
    – I did buy that can of Tamales, they were on sale – Hormel – haven’t tried them as yet. Still kind of amazed that you can get a tamale into a can, with sauce ! Who knew !?

    • Tamale is another day.

      George: What does “Kind unnecessary industrials” mean in the diagram P. 298 of toaster?

    • Grill up some corn..
      cook the corn then coat with butter.. grill it till it starts to brown on all sides..
      take 1/4 cup of mayo and 1/4 cup of sour cream mix it..
      1/2 cup grated cheese
      chili spice
      coat the corn wth the sour cream mayo sprinkle chili powder
      and cheese on top and garnish with cilantro..
      then coat

    • I love refried beans..
      Bag of pinto beans wash them then put them in a crock pot slow cook overnight.. take one onion 4 cloves of garlic minced and 1 carrot grated.. chop up the onion add those to the beans .. mash with a potato masher or a ricer.. potato masher works great add 1/4 cup of bacon grease or oil and season to taste. normally carrots are not added but I like the color aspect of it.. you can chop bell peppers and add that to.. serve topped with cheese..

  23. I just accepted the job offer. I am now going to work for The Department of Homeland Security. Tactical Teams, Division of Counter Terrorism. Real life bullet proof super hero shit.

    Please pray i survive 6 months of training in New Mexico.

    ha ha ha! THE DUDE is good to me. So good!

    whoohooo!

    ~ La Dolce Vita ~

    • That’s quite a career change, Andy! Congratulations! I suspect that the Dude will see you through that 6 months ;)

    • They will have you assasinating patriots in no time. Just remember , some people shoot back, just saying.

    • im sure im going to have some super good storys. hahhahaha this is going to be sooooooo fun!

  24. Do individuals who take social security at age 62 get COLA increases ? I’ve heard different versions. In a hyperinflation environment, COLA bumps become a big deal.

    • Based on my wife’s experience, yes. She has gotten several COLA raises over the past 14 years.

    • Yes, definitely! From personal experience over the last decade plus. No worries about that. IMHO, always take money while it’s offered. I knew someone dear who held out until 70 and died a year later. Truly sad.

  25. re: “Welding b4 Breakfast”
    feat: high-techno groving

    Folks,

    I was perusing the ntv de website for their take on the Tesla Gigafactory situation at Gruenheide near Berlin. Work council leadership express distress that some 65,000 Tesla emblazoned coffee mugs of the Ikea brand have been “purloined” from the canteen since the factory opened. As a result union workers are under warning that canteen cutlery supplies going forward may be halted.

    Despite recent layoffs, in a wheely big culture moment of company plant history, the factory basement now houses the Giga Berlin Rave Cave for staff to run off steam. The venue will also be known as The Hamster Club. Apparently Mr. Musk became a fan of the nightclub scene after visiting Berlin’s Sisyphos and KitKat clubs a couple of years ago. However he was purportedly refused entry to the Berghain (“mountain grove”) club. Apparently it houses a Lab.Oratory in its basement. According to Wikipedia, the former Stalinesque thermal power plant boasts the Wachowski Sisters (formerly Brothers) of “Matrix” movies fame as regulars. It seems the club was parodied in 2023’s “John Wick: Chapter 4” movie.

    NTV also makes note of a Chinese announcement regarding “Falcon Attack 2024”. An unmentioned number of Chinese forces began joint exercises on Tuesday for a week with Belarus near the Polish border.

    Ready to leave the Party at “Morning Joe’s”? Instead let’s join DJ George ready to bring us some high-powered “Toxic Twins” and “Bad Boys from Boston”. Here we go with Aerosmith –
    “Dream On”.

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