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What humans have been doing so far has not worked out especially well.  Sure, we have 8-billion people.  Which – and this is a hard one to conceptualize – is 40-times larger than it was in Jesus’ time; people numbered only 200-million back then.

Even so, mankind was even then territorial, fighting wars, and using religious fervor to “out-screw” other religions. Because the main tactic of humans seems to be out-populate, assimilate, or assassinate.  In whatever order is convenient.

Mainly through (crappy, alright) choices, though we have longer spears now, the goals are relatively unchanged.  Put the “other guy’s population in chains” and have them work the fields, pay the taxes, and our birthright to violence has made it so.

It occurs to us, however, that with a modest application of teoriya resheniya izobretatelskikh zadach, TRIZ, we can indeed come up with alternative ways of being in Life that may save us from what is largely a psychosexual penchant for violence.

On the path today? Three items which may be of nearly universal interest.

The first is a new Solar Power paradigm.  See this is a novel cost-reduction strategy for power systems which has not been fully-realized yet.

Then we present a short discussion of changes to our prepping plans – aspects you may not have focused on IF the ugly reality of nuclear weapons use become real. As it is very much threatening to this year. Call this PRP – Personal Recovery Plans.

This is part of our ongoing effort to invent new ideas (like that Music of Markets concept) that could change the way we absorb information.

Then to wrap up, some headwork on what it’s really liked to have new “extra sensory perceptions.”  Not as hard to develop as you might think.  Extended Human Perception may be as simple as training ourselves to “open up” to other sensory channels. And testing our “off buttons” frequently.

OK, so a wide-ranging discussion list this morning. Best get to work after a few headlines and a mess of charts…

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There is an interesting story to being able to “see the numbers in your head.” Not as individual data bits, but rather in a proper context.  This simple visualization tool just “comes natural” to some people; for others it’s more difficult.

The way to improve your skill to mentally process numbers gets a short overview in this morning’s report.

After we sort through the week’s news and peer ahead into the murk of next week.

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Ever wonder why miracles and woo-woo don’t happen more often? And what this might have to do with how we make a buck in stocks and other investments?

OK, so it’s a longish ramble and lots of stats discussed conceptually.  But all triggered by a case of materializing silverware in our household. Woo-woo stuff.

Much less ethereal is our discussion of the inflation numbers with CPI being released a few minutes ago.

And then there’s that whole “wars thing” which ebbs and flows like the tornadoes in the South we’re just drying out from.

Double up on the buzz juice…hump day is here and we’re trying to ride it.

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It’s nothing new – an update on our long-standing “Threat Board.” But it’s a good morning for a super-quick “keep it together” walk-through.  Especially because there is an unreal amount of eclipse talk (hype) underway.

For us, though, a more measured view of life helps with the blood pressure, attitude, and keeps the trigger finger safely off the you-know-what.

We instead offer our usual advice:  Plan a plan and stick to it. Because a good plan will pull you through a lot of dicey situations. Which is our starting point today.

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In an earlier Peoplenomics report (December, 27,2023) we went into some depth on a concept called QFPD: “Quest for Perfect Days”.  This, when coupled with some ideas covered both in old “ShopTalk Sunday” reports  like this one, led to some new insights into a “battle below the perception threshold” that’s waged every day, all around us.

Interestingly, there are not too many people who dare venture into these “real” aspects of self-management…with a few bright shining stars like Jordan Peterson and Cal Newport as delightful exceptions to “me-too’ism.”

Today we pick up where that December column left off – and get into task switching.

But not before a few headlines, Taiwan quake and such that we have word on this morning plus ADP job report just out; coming on the heels of the Tuesday Labor JOLTS report.

Then we can focus on playing better in the game of life.

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…It was strange enough?  Nope. A number of lookahead items on our threat board have us considering just how crazy this spring could become.

Due to the Easter weekend, we will keep it very real because in our 18 charts today, there’s a future coming into focus.

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“Time to play the exciting world-wide financial game sensation!”  Why, I can almost see the television and streaming ads now:

“The Great Reset is becoming visible in the headlines…who will be the first to see it?”

As usual, our “first things section” will lay out how the Big Swindle – and de-wealthing” of the Commoners – has been set up.

Along with that, our usual 18-charts in the Aggregate Index view of financial markets.

And was that overnight quake off Oregon just a prequel if eclipse-driven events to come?

As luck would have it, our First Contestant for today’s round of Stats of Consequences is ready to click….

You.

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First question is: Is it brave or crazy?  With the markets bumping along at logically over-bought levels, it’s tempting to buy a short and “play for time.”

But this is riskier than it might appear.  Although we’ve been known to do it from time-to-time.

Backing up these observations will be a dozen and a half charts to keep us “middle of the channel.”

Plus in this morning’s report we reconsider that massacre in Russia Friday that has killed nearly 50 people and wounded another 150, or so.

Best get to it: Busy morning and we’re just getting started…

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It may seem an odd question, at least in some sense: Since we are all “investors” every time we pay taxes.  But what is seldom asked – and there’s no one really advocating – directly for shareholders – is the simple question: “What are we getting for our money today and how does that compare with times in America’s past?

No. I don’t usually put on the forensic economics hat, and I am not doing this exercise out of spite or malice.  But the question does come up from time to time either in conversations over drinks, chit-chat with people in general, or when I have to cut one of those quarterly tax payment checks.

Today, therefore, we’re looking into how Americans have been long-term victims to what is arguably the most long-running, pernicious, and evil of all financial crimes, dating back to when “money changers” were kicked out of temples in Biblical times.

Like then, the question today that keeps coming up is “What’s really going on with our money?”

First, a few headlines pre Fed announcement and, as always, our ChartPack view of things…

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Quite the issue in today’s ChartPack.  Seems with a world on the verge of nuclear war, and the wrap up of the Russian elections this weekend, the odds of that peaceful “way forward” have just hit the skids.

Toss in the confusing Biden administration handling of Gaza, not to mention the pending Chinese move on Taiwan, and the world is likely to become a very “scarcity plagued place.”

Our focus today is on the most important question in economics. Which – as luck would have it – no one is bothering to ask. Yet, around here it’s the only question on the table..

And that is?

When certain forms of arcane finance are practiced – under the general heading “technical analysis” – should an adjustment be made in our long-term view of things based on the hard reality of long-term inflationary impacts on waveforms?

Ah, but we also have a few headlines to consider in all this, so best we jump right to it…

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This is where we figure out what being a neat homemaker has in common with being a successful investor.  Which – sure – sounds a little “out there” until you drill down into how organizing works.

Then there’s actually a great deal to be learned.

A few headlines and a super-interesting ChartPack today – about 18 of ’em (but it’s early to count so high, lol).

Even on the “free side” we might hint that a good sell-off in markets today, could presage a smoking Retail Sales report tomorrow.  All that’s missing is whether this will be a “sell the rumor, buy the news” setup for Thursday when retail sales come in.

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There we go, again, thinking the unthinkable,  Which is what Peoplenomics is about.

While we don’t think it will happen Tuesday, and might not even happen this year, it is increasing  “non-zero risk” to be taken into account.

A very short discussion to tweak some refinement of future plans, our morning review of the “creepy crawlers” but most important, perhaps, is the ChartPack.  Which, as you’ll see, is in the “waiting for end of Trend” to be our Bearish Friend.

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A final book chapter, Fed testimony, fresh job numbers, and crypto crazies means a biggish report today.  Which  we will pick up and play through starting with the jobs picture.

Oh, and not anything especially shocking about the election results in Super Tuesday, to speak of.

Two cupper, for sure though because many puzzle pieces are in motion.

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