Prepping: “Cat Balancing” Part 2

I didn’t mean to sound “preachy” (if I did) in the Saturday part one of this series, but have to say, it’s the way I really feel.  Once you have enough money to buy more than you can ever consume before the worms show up, there’s time to look around and ask:  Have I walked … Read More

AI or Algo’s?

A simple enough question. Not so simple to answer. As the markets are lining up for a potential “hell week” to come, what with the Fed meeting and all, we look mainly at the charts today and ponder what “news” will come along to fill-in the picture so the ‘sheep’ won’t get the pitchforks and … Read More

Prepping: “Cat-Balancing” Part 1

“What the hell is “cat balancing” and how does this relate to prepping?” Therein lies our story-line this weekend. We are focused on environmental balance. That’s because prepping for the “ultimate worst-case” may morph into all about living on the land. To do this, you need the observing, understanding and the subtle manipulation skills to live … Read More

Markets: Southbound & Down? Plus Retail Data

Thursday I tossed out a projection that according to a new model I’ve constructed, the market was “due” to head down – and seriously so – in the next week.  In fact, I put an S&P number under 2,500 on the table with a target date of next Friday. That might be aggressive, but despite … Read More

Turn-down Thursday or Friday?

Finance is part statistics, part floating craps game, part mafiosa, part leap of faith and so on.  When I wrap all of these things up into a spreadsheet (and call ity Golem II, it suggests that the market going forward may work out something like this… As always, this is not financial advice.  What we … Read More

Social Credit Versus Credit Scores

Once again, our unconventional way of thinking has produced some useful ideas to ponder. This first is “how does government control people who might lose faith in depreciating money?”  A well-discussed concept here. In addition to pointing out how Social Credits are just another control scam, we will also be revealing a fine chart of … Read More

Prepping: Got a “POPPA?”

That’s a Personal Optimization Plan to Prevent Aging – I call it “POPPA” for short. Contrary to what some short-term prepper sites might have you belief, real prepping is a life-long exercise.  And, in order to have the long life for life-long you need to structure your day-to-day existence to feed those physical and mental faculties that … Read More

News & Anti-News: Producer Prices

We hold to the silly notion that there is both “news” and “anti-news” in the world.  Sort of  like “matter” and “anti-matter.”  In case you’re not clear on what “anti-news” is, it’s the sheep feed.  Stuff that fills up people’s minds with base emotionalism, but doesn’t put anything on the personal bottom line. Before we … Read More

Trump’s “Glass of Water Problem”

(Shorter than normal this morning due to a cranky server… publishing in sections, so update after 8 AM Central for the whole thing) Ever consider the “glass of water” problem? You know…the one where people are “optimistic” if they look at a glass of water and exclaim “It’s half full!”  Or, going the other way, … Read More

Prepping: Metal Detecting 101

In Saturday’s column I hinted that I would wade a little deeper into the idea of “hobbies that can make money” for you…and by the title, you ought to know where this one is going. For the gold! Bit of personal background:  When I lived in the PNW – and even when I was on … Read More

Markets: Trump on Way Out?

This is one of those columns it sickens me to write.  But, since we believe our approach to be data-driven, there are some elements in news headlines and in the technical formation of the market that offer the prospect of a presidential departure and succession in the near future. Mid-2019? This morning, we scrap our … Read More

Prepping: Depression-Proof Hobbies

It’s the time of year when we should spend some time focusing on the important things in life…like having fun!!!  Christmas is coming, but what is the “right” kind of present? The theory is that people need “time to re-create.”  So, the notion of “re-creation” which drops the hyphen to become recreation. Since a lot … Read More

Markets: Hanging on Jobs and Trade

Reminder:  Today is the last day of Medicare Open Enrollment. As expected, stock market action was swinging wildly Thursday for multiple reasons, depending on which channel you happened to be watching: Some thought it was because of uncertainty over the Jobs report.  But, since that’s just out today, we can review it for surprises right … Read More