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

Global Bear Market, Week Nine.  Ure suffered a nearly four-figure paper loss due to the manic run at the close Tuesday.  Today, though?  Ure gets his revenge when the market opens.  Futures are down more than 500.  The old saying “Markets can remain irrational longer than Ure can remain solvent,” may not be true after … Read More

Longwave economics is not particularly difficult, but it requires an agile mind to take it all in.  Although the cycle length is nominally 48-64 years, there is plenty of drift because Depressions are never quite the same. The US Civil War (1860) to the start of WW I (1914) was only 49 years.  WW I being a … Read More

Please, brethren of the software forest, pay attention.  Ure is not happy  with ya’ll. Not that I don’t love Windows 10.  I like it – lots.  And, for that matter, I totally “get” the Office 365 product which we run on our machines here. But there are multiple areas where you need some guidance from real people … Read More

With a weak opening ahead (-50 Dow futures) there is actually very little in the way of economic news other than a rally attempt in Japan failed overnight and German markets are closed today for Easter Monday…so discount the numbers out of Europe today. The rest of the week looks blasé as well:  We look … Read More

My buddy, the major who I grew up with, tells me his son’s father-in-law is about to begin a BIG home shop re-do in the next few months because after a life of building (really) fine homes, he wants to get into furniture and fine woodworking. Designing a shop is a lot like marriage.  Statistically, … Read More

I have been mocked all over the web for telling you – as long ago as January – that in our curious way of reading data – Bitcoin was heading down to 6,500 – or lower.  It was a real possibility in our work.  Worse, our Dec. 28th data run offering 3,615.92 is still in play….But … Read More