Failure is an orphan, after all.  Says so right on its birth certificate. Success, of course is on the other side:  Always at least two smiling parents.  Oftentimes, though, half a dozen – even more. I would like to be upbeat, but reality stomped out that mood within 3-minutes of touching the keys.  This is scapegoat … Read More

Housekeeping and Shortwave Radio Note first: That killer quake in Haiti this weekend, 7.2 and at least a couple of dozen dead, resulted in the American Radio Relay League sending out an advisory to ham radio operators to give some elbow room to the emergency nets: “IARU, Region 2 has requested that the following frequencies be … Read More

SitRep and the Charts today since the week was consumed with “book work.” My latest book should be out Monday or Tuesday on Amazon.  Both as a $4.99 Kindle ebook and as a paperback, as well. This brings another Peoplenomics book into focus.  I have continued to collect data for additions to “The 100-Year Toaster:  … Read More

Import prices are going which way, do you think? “Come on you dog-faced pony soldier…”  Get this one right and the Slow Joe economics plan might actually make sense.  No?  Not enough drugs in the world to straighten that mess out?   OK, the answer is: “Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.3 percent in July, after … Read More

Two data points to consider as we sneak up on the weekend. The usual unemployment filings – improved: Highlights are the non-seasonally adjusted (no BS actual) numbers. Screaming And the Producer Prices: Bad:  Over 12% Annualized Rate: “The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 1.0 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of … Read More

Packing to Die: Suitcase between Your Ears should be on Amazon in a couple of weeks.  This morning the final chapters for subscribers.  Plus we’ll have those “hot off the boat” CPI numbers. On a more worrying front, one of our lawyerly readers has dug out documentation on how CDC has actual contingency  plans to … Read More

After doing what, 9,000 posts (plus or minus) it’s always the writing challenge to come up with new – and useful – ways to frame the daily data drone. So, this morning, how’s about we approach things as though the world is crazy and insanity is contagious.  Which, oh, bye-the-bye, it is… Optimism Being Cured Thanks … Read More

I do a reasonable amount of reading.  Yet, I cannot remember a single definitive economics course, or book, explaining market dynamics under Mob Rule. Similarly, I can’t find many treatises on Mob Rule and Justice, either.  Well, except for maybe The Myth of Mob Rule: Violent Crime and Democratic Politics. Lisa L. Miller. New York: … Read More

A short column today since I was too busy to write it earlier in the week.  Which runs head-on into the 6:30 AM Lawnmower Gran Prix which goes flag-down Sunday mornings… I did want to chat with you about getting control of workspaces because as an older dolt, organizing too many projects is a continuous … Read More

Fat guys in red suits aren’t needed; not when we have a Federal Reserve and a conflicted bond market.  Which combined this week to press stocks and bonds around like seldom happens.  Gold down, bonds up?  Come on, man! Next week, we shall see how it will work out since imbalances in the fundamentals don’t … Read More

Got out of bed this morning with an unusual urge.  So unusual, that even after standing in front of the recycling station, it persisted.  “What’s going on?” I wondered. Then it hit me:  The Typical Summer High seems to be in play and with the market’s action Thursday, our Aggregate Index was screaming more upside…for … Read More

No, this isn’t an “I told you so!” column.  It’s a reminder that reading and watching the news – plus keeping our ears to the ground – is done to keep us one step ahead of disaster. July 16th, in my report Prepping for Lockdown 2.0 – Markets in Denial? I told you we had … Read More

Two more chapters of my book “Packing to Die: Suitcase between your ears” today. In this one, we talk about postponing death. Lots of strategies to be kicked around… Sorry if the page is a bit slow to load. Not a server issue. Just a lot of words and charts. 14 graphics, and about 9,700 … Read More