But before we get to that… a quick note to Bruce down in Ecuador. Long an ex-pat and a key contributor around here, Bruce and I agree on many of the big points, but certainly not all. Let me pull a comment or two from his Monday retort to set the stage. “You will never … Read More

You couldn’t tell it from the weekend in town, reports the spousal unit (Elaine). Stores were packed and people were shelling out easy money for anything that had a sale tag on it. Still, a weekend in town does not an economy make. So we will just hold our comments on the illusion of growth … Read More

I have decided to dub this week National Brain Cleaning Week. And along the way I decided that we could actually turn this into a “two-fer.” A two-fer, if you haven’t figured it, is when you do one thing, but it serves two purposes. Which, in this case is separate and distinct from one another. … Read More

This morning, we lay out five simple rules for young people (40 and under) which – if followed – will almost guarantee that over time you will rise to the top of net worth individuals.Oh, sure, it’s popular to be young, full of piss and vinegar and be anti-establishment and all that happy young radical … Read More

“Hey Rock, wanna see me pull a rabbit outta my hat?” Everything you need to know about finance today from an ancient but very adult cartoon series.  Even had a Fearless Leader in it…and a socialist at that. The Battle to Save America is not over yet, I’m pleased to report.  Although a modest rally … Read More

Oh, boy.  Here we go again.  Remember this part from the bottom of the Coping section on Thursday? This latest one is worth keeping an eye out for in the headlines. I was a worker in some kind of large mine – many side shafts off the main tunnel. The scene was brightly lit and … Read More

With the Federal Reserve rolling in M1 (which is being puffed up at a nearly 12% annual rate presently) it seems odd that I would tell you in the May 6 column that “Markets to Drift Lower.” Yet, on May 6th, the S&P 500 closed at 2,057 and change. Yesterday’s close was at 2,047 and … Read More

Did I mention I will be on CoastToCoast with George Noory tonight? Something of a victory lap from my January market call, which has been very good, so far… Lesson 1: Complex Design Gets Ure I don’t think I ever told you why I got kicked out of Seattle University back in the day. Mostly … Read More

Well, we are down to our last back-up of the back-ups on the power this morning, so we will do only the market comment and the charts, The original article which was scheduled for this morning (2-Hours a week to being a millionaire) will have to wait for Saturday… Folksy commentary is fun, enjoyable reading, … Read More

Once upon a time, there lived a group of crazy people. But they didn’t know they were crazy…at least at first. You see, they had all come to trade with one another and – as their medium of exchange – had used bits of gold and silver. Things went well, for a while. But then … Read More

We stopped (as promised) at the Outback for lunch Monday and while talking with our server this time, different fellow from before, that he’d recently returned to Texas from Iowa..up around Des Moines. “How’d you like Iowa?” Inquiring minds want to know. Well, turns out that it’s a pretty nice place – but that’s after … Read More

Oh, not overtly; no, of course not. But if you read the Federal Reserve’s latest H.6 Money Stocks Report, down toward the bottom of the page is this marvelous disclosure. What this is saying is that the Fed is sloshing out cash and equivalents (M1) at a rate approaching 12% per year. Now, let’s put … Read More

Normally, I would not bring up a restaurant chain in a column. However, because the content concerns itself with the general public’s need, interest, and concern, I feel it is worthwhile posting this note on my website for all the world to see. Both readers, in fact. Let me say one thing up front: this … Read More