“Takes paper to make paper” is the first calendar entry this week.  A bunch of Treasury this-n-that’s (buy-backs and such) start the week. After fondling $124,000 last week, Bitcoin is “viagra-seeking” from the $115,000 range early. Gold and silver firmed earlier, but nothing to get excited about. REAL Action this week will be the Fed … Read More

Thanks to Iridium, just got an update that many readers (esp. Egor and other sailors – like us) will like reading: George, We’re ten days out of French Polynesia heading for Fiji. Three aboard, started in rough seas and smoothed to heavenly transit. Full moon, medium trade winds, steady seven to eight knots, averaging 150nm … Read More

You may remember Friday (pre bar stool) how we were asking our AI for the ultimate $500 and five-minutes-a-day formula for wealth. AI said the only way to get there would be gambling, but it did tease three solid side-hustle ideas that might get legs. (Everything in life is a gamble, marriage licenses on down…) … Read More

Dancing along trend tops in markets. With no breakthrough at the Anchorage talks, is a disappointing Fall in the offing. Is Donald Trump overselling again? (Come on, is that even a question?) A nice ChartPack to consider, though, as we mull the way forward…and the Wax Witch stirs… More for Subscribers ||| Master Index 2018 to … Read More

Given all the bounce in pricing lately, we found this morning’s Retail Sales report interesting: “Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2025, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $726.3 billion, up 0.5 percent (±0.4 percent) from the previous month, and up … Read More

With our ChartPack on the Peoplenomics side of the house ($40/year) showing the market back in “top-calling” territory, a number of moving pieces are sliding into place. PPI – Inflation to Come? Just out from Labor is the PPI read… The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.9 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. … Read More

A marvelous tale of invention today as we unveil my Food Reactors.  But, at the same time, there’s a serious cautionary note to it all because high-level systemic innovation is disruptive.  And Powers-That-Are don’t like regimen change.  Not even a little bit.  Not if it’s good for the world, good for the environment, or anything … Read More

Data first:  Consumer Prices “he Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July, after rising 0.3 percent in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for … Read More

It’s the time of year that news directors, editors, and the ad sales staff hate. There’s not much moving.  People have stopped the spring-into-summer “OMG did you see where?” kind of buzz.  Seattle was no different than other big cities.  We called it the post Hydro letdown. With only a Putin-Trump meeting looking (even remotely) interesting, I … Read More

(Ok, maybe the better title would have been…) Low Vision, High Precision: Shop Tips for Aging Eyes and Laser Minds Aging doesn’t stop real makers. It just means we upgrade the tools, not give up the game.  Maybe we get more serious about counting fingers both before and after using a power saw…yeah… Let’s take aim … Read More

A tip from my consigliere has us asking hard questions about inflation, again. We’re at the top of a 1929-like financial peak. But, how long could inflation – and a changing financial landscape, keep us in the saddle? That and today’s ChartPack. Oh, and don’t miss the upcoming Tuesday edition.  because in that one, we … Read More

For a people once victims of genocide themselves, Israel is disappointing. So are the decisions lately of “Fearless Leader” with regard to the Middle East. The simple version of the story: Israel plans to retake Gaza City, escalating the war with Hamas | AP News No, I do not support Palestinians and their struggle. Near … Read More

2-cups worth today.  This first part is easy. Pick up press release and read. Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 2.4 percent in the second quarter of 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 3.7 percent and hours worked increased 1.3 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are … Read More