Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Global Housing Price Slump and Other Economic Issues Early 2023

“A global house-price slump is coming,” The Economist, edited. I find this article to be interesting although I do not agree with much of it. Prices are an issue; but so are interest rates. Much of the costs of housing can also be from house manufacturing waste. I was watching my new home being built. […]

21st century delights

I bought a bottle of Belgian beer here in Rome. The guy behind the counter guessed I was from the USA (might have been my Joementum t-shirt) and said something which I now understand was “want a glass”. I said huh and he said “hai bisogna di un bichiere” so I said no. On my […]

Surviving a Stroke could be an asset

Neurorehabilitation professor and speech language pathologist at Boston University Swathi Kiran; When people have a stroke, “that does not mean they can’t think through and rationalize and objectively analyze every question,” Vox’s Keren Landman has a good article on the topic if you wish to read it. At the least, it is objective. The point […]

Q3 GDP: good news for now, bad news for the future

Q3 GDP: good news for now, bad news for the future  – by New Deal democrat I have to keep this note brief, since I am on the road. As you presumably already know, real GDP was positive for the Third Quarter, up 2.6% at an annual rate: Subject to revisions in the next several […]

Are North Korean Workers Going To Annexed Portions Of Ukraine?

Are North Korean Workers Going To Annexed Portions Of Ukraine?  Maybe. An October 21 report in NK Daily says so, with further speculation on this matter on blogs that cover North Korea. Supposedly Kim Jong Un agreed to this with V.V. Putin in their most recent meeting. The number supposedly to be around 800-1,000, with […]

The tide has now turned as to house prices

The tide has now turned as to house prices Last month I wrote that the FHFA showed evidence that house prices had peaked, and that “since the FHFA has a tendency to turn slightly ahead of the Case Shiller index, this strongly suggests that a sharp deceleration in the Case Shiller index YoY will start […]

The idea of “local political leaders” should be participating

October 25, 2022, Heather Cox Richardson, (substack.com). There are quotes, and then there are quotes. Tonight, in the debate between Democratic candidate John Fetterman and Republican candidate Mehmet Oz as part of their campaigns to replace Republican Pennsylvania senator Pat Toomey, who is retiring, Oz said he wanted abortion decisions to be made by “women, […]

What News Was in My In-Box, October 26, 2022

Quite a few varying articles in healthcare and other topics this week. Pfizer is hoping to make a killing on it mRNA vaccine, shots are approved for 6 months to five-years of age, Medicare Advantage plans, and Novartis is back again with a cancer drug. A COA has blocked student loan relief, lots of talk […]

2023 ACA Open Enrollment Period

November 1st is the start of the official 2023 ACA Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for anyone who needs quality, affordable healthcare coverage. Charles Gaba at ACA Signups has a very detailed rundown on what is happening this year. Because of President Biden, there have been improvements to the ACA. What I have done below is a brief […]

The Wealth of America’s Bottom 50% Doubled

How can this be?  September 28, 2022, we have Senator Bernie Sanders tweeting (I don’t, guess I need to eat some bird seed). The obscene level of income and wealth inequality in America is a profoundly moral issue that we cannot continue to ignore or sweep under the rug. A society cannot sustain itself when […]