At the Federal Reserve’s recent policy meeting on Wednesday, December 14th the FED raised their federal-funds target interest rate by a quarter percentage point, to range between 0.50% and 0.75%. Fed officials pointed to a strengthening economy and inflation nearing their targeted level of 2%. According to the The Wall Stree Journal “The Fed’s more […]
FED Raises Interest Rates- ROC’s Retain Buy Signal Read More »
There’s no doubt that cars are safer today than they used to be. In 1970 there were 25 automobile fatalities per 100,000 people in the United States according to Wikipedia. In 2014 that number had shrunk to 10 per 100,000 even though the number of miles driven increased by almost 300%. Technological advances along with stricter government regulations have combined to contribute to the increase in car safety. Here are some of the recent innovations that have helped.
Auto Safety Trends Read More »
The slope of the 200-day looks quite a bit better than it did before the 2016 New Year’s plunge, telling us the present day long-term outlook is quite a bit better than it was on January 1, 2016.
Trump Rally: False Dawn Or New Bullish Trend? Read More »
We are now in a Trump takeover. Trump changes everything. The mantra in the past was “don’t fight the Fed.” Next year it’s going to become don’t fight Trump!”
Trump Changes Everything Read More »
Several months ago, I gave a TEDx talk in Greenville, SC on the public policy implications of retirement. In this talk, I focused on the desire of many retirees to retire to something about which they care deeply, not just retire from their former professional life. This perspective was expressed by many of the men and women we interviewed as the basis for our books on the personal dimensions of retirement (Shaping a Life of Significance for Retirement, 2010; Retirement as Spiritual Pilgrimage: Stories Scripture, and Practices for the Journey, 2016.) The implication is that many retirees are open to and interested in contributing their time, energies, and expertise to the community or faith-based organizations, to work for the good of others.
Retirees Working for Good Read More »
Imperial Washington is provoking tensions and confrontations everywhere —from the South China Sea to Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, the Black Sea, the Baltics and Ukraine — that have no bearing whatsoever on the safety and security of the citizens of Spokane WA, Topeka KS and Springfield MA.
Although the seeds of the 2008 financial crisis were sown at a much earlier period of time, the banking institutions continued to reap the benefits of easy money until the financial crisis of 2008 negatively impacted the economy. The damage would have been much larger had U.S. taxpayer’s money not been used to bail out a large number of struggling banks and companies.
It is now more than eight years since the last financial crisis has occurred, and the current global situation is now beyond that of the financial crisis of 2008. The central banks have been able to kick the can down the road, but that has only produced such vast proportions of debt that the next financial crisis will not be manageable by the global central banks.
2008 Financial Crisis- Then vs. Now Read More »
The public pension system is like a ship headed for rocky shores and the problem was created by the FED. In trying to resolve one problem the FED has created another. By keeping interest rates artificially low the FED has boosted the stock market unnaturally high while at the same time forcing Public Pension Funds to pursue high-risk policies in an effort to fund their liabilities to their constituents. This has created a Catch 22 sort of situation that will not end well. The following video by Elliot Wave International explains the situation.
Why Nervous Pensioners Are Running for the Exit Read More »
Americans’ taste preferences over the past few years have shifted away from fast food and towards healthier, but still casual, alternatives. Although McDonald’s, Burger King, and their ilk have seen a dramatic slowing in their sales, competitors like Panera Bread, Chipotle and in the west, Cafe Zupas have stolen market share by offering options with more natural ingredients and more vegetables.
Is Fast Food Slowing Down? Five Growing Trends in Restaurants Today Read More »
You may think lithium got too popular too fast. You may suspect electric vehicles are too much buzz and not enough real future. You may, in short, be a lithium skeptic, one of many. And yet, despite this skepticism, lithium demand is rising steadily and sharply, and indications that a shortage may be looming are very real.
Could A Lithium Shortage De-Rail The Electric Car Boom? Read More »
