Until 3:08 AM Thursday, I had no idea what was going on with my research direction.  While I had lots of reading material (plus half a million must-do projects around the ranch), the websites, investing, etc.) I kept coming back to the art book “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive, 4th Edition.” Not … Read More

Not following?  Try to keep up with the class here:Russian-led troops in Donbas attack Ukraine 38 times in last day, says this report. It’s axiomatic that presidents don’t launch missiles while the market is open.  So we are reasonably confident that as soon as the market (and after hours) ends this week, things will heat … Read More

Peoplenomics Wednesday revealed something that amazed me.  Not just that gender, gay, lesbian, and racial curriculum swamp conventional ideas like Science and Math in terms of curriculum availability.  That was shock enough for this old man.  But… It was the HUGE preoccupation with teaching writing. This looked to us – and to a couple of commenters on … Read More

That future.  This morning we look at a bunch of stats on population (racial demographics) and education curriculum searches on the web to conclude we’re blowing our future – big-time. This while the other “ready to engage” simmers in Syria.Coffee at the ready?  We’re going to Ukraine, first.. More for Subscribers       ||| SUBSCRIBE NOW!       |||   … Read More

Screaming upside open seems to be in store based on the early futures readings.  Trade war cools and Bayer shares jump on report of U.S. antitrust deal on Monsanto. Not that anything has changed, though. World’s still a screwy, broken, hyper complex bowl of spaghetti that could break at any moment.  Concepts like Anti-Fragile fail because … Read More

A good while back, we made the decision to have our DNA run by 23andme.com.  It was $99 a person. Took a while.  Sequencing DNA is not a fast technology, but it’s a cool technology.  Like 3D printing in a sense:  cool but not yet fast. Eventually – a month back, or so – we received the basic … Read More

Cool summer comin’ seems to us.  NOAA Solar Cycle Progression hints that way:  The Sun’s output has gone into sleep mode.  As it cools, sunspots stop happening as often.  Guess what? There has already been some discussion in the scientific community about… (Continues below)   …the possibility of another Maunder Minimum. So not only is the … Read More

In fact, I can’t think of a better single investment I’ve made in the tool department than some Chinese-made tools I have acquired over the years. One favorite is my metal lathe…courtesy of my friends (and client at the time) www.emachineshop.com.  The one I got carried the Jet brand, but is identical in looks to … Read More

Sound a bit on the harsh side?  Not to worry, this is a story about a business model and an old man.  Guess which part I play…  But, since the ideas herein are universally useful, it’s this morning’s solid Focus topic – after a few key headlines, half a zillion charts,, and such. Bean up … Read More

We will get to the jobs data in a minute, but first a quick discussion of trade since Trump has stuck his foot into dangerous waters.  As we’ve said before, what set up the failure of Hoover (1, Trump could be #2) was his messing with trade and tariffs in the late 1920’s.  See if … Read More

There are lots of ’em.  Some show up in the news, others don’t.  Around here, we’ve been working through the list and it’s a prodigious one. Before we get into the Rites themselves, a book recommendation.  Might help you with all the “Springly Chores.”  Dominic Mann’s book Self-Discipline: How to Develop the Mindset, Mental Toughness and … Read More

No matter how good you might be in some aspect of investing, there are oftentimes days like Wednesday.  I cashed out my short position for a nice profit.  Then – ignoring one of my own rules of investing – I went back in – short – and that cost me a good bit.  No dinner … Read More

Even for around here, this is an odd story – a truly interesting bit of woo-woo wrapped in a dream and explained while in-between The Realms. By way of explanation,  while I’ve had a few serious woo-woo run-ins (seeing specific parts of the future, for example) never had anything quite so realistic in terms of explaining of … Read More