Another Day in the Handbasket

You know the old saying?  “World’s going to hell in a handbasket.”  Except, thanks to advances in technology, we don’t need no stinking handbaskets.”

 

We have several things which are better.  Starting with a bunch of contested islands which Japan and China are about to go “Cuban Missile Crisis” over.  While Japan ramps and amps, the US ties with China are being tested.  Oh, and did we mention the F-22′s to Guam?

 

Obama’s Gaffes

Real and imagined:  I have detected what may be an interesting pre-election indicator.  When incumbent Obama has things going his way, the market goes up.  But this morning, the market is set to open to the down side. 

 

A skeptic (gee, can’t think of any of those hanging out here) might be tempted to buy in to the rumors of Obama trying to play Betsy Ross.  But whether it’s just satire, or not, the O flag is already being sold for (gulp) $35 bucks. 

 

The only double MacGuffin left unturned in the blurring world of satire/news/infotaintyment would be if the money was somehow going to the RNC or the Mittster’s moneymen… Oh what a tangled we we weave when….you know the quote, of course.  Best read by dawn’s early light.

 

Truth Adrift

OMG, when will this one blow over?  Now the US is saying there is no evidence the Libya consulate attack was planned?  GMAFB

 

Bunch of people out for a walk and just happened to break into clubs and Molotovs or whatever?  Yeah, sure, you betcha.

 

Yo!  There Be Pirates!

OK, this morning the picture of Obama sitting with a pirate is making the rounds.

 

If you’ve got a phenomenal memory, you may remember Mad Magazine artist extraordinaire Mark Frederick’s “Pirates of the Constitution” poster from back in the Bushita Wars days.  (Easy for me to remember, it’s on the wall of my office as a reminder…)

 

And my point: Ah, just this:  The astute person would go “Hmmm…is Universe telling us the PIRATES are still in Washington with unfettered access to the top leadership of government?  Damn, another gold start for you, matie.

 

Coincidentally, or otherwise, I’d remind you that two days after the US presidential election, “Pirates Week” officially starts in Georgetown, GTrand Cayman, BWI.  Drop by Robbie Hamaty’s Tortugas Rum distillery while you’re they and say Hi for me…

 

At least we know where the pirates will be for one week after the election.

 

Airplanes 1 Helicopters 0

Headline says most of it:  “Syrian Army helicopter hits airlines with 200 aboard.“  Airliner apparently made it down safely but absent rotating wings helicopters aren’t exempt from gravity.  Pappy always cautioned me about things that don’t naturally glide on their own.

 

Any Questions?

AARP is having an Obama and Ryan Q&A tomorrow at the Life@50+ conference.  If you’re going there’s only one question:  “Where’s me money?”

Unemployment Data

Fresh numbers!  Get’cher numbers!

 

“In the week ending September 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 375,750.

 

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending September 8, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 8 was 3,272,000, a decrease of 32,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,304,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,309,750, a decrease of 12,000 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,321,750. “

 

Blah, blah, blah. Markets are set to open down a good bit.  Either the street finally read my Monday morning theme-setting (How Far is Down?) or a mouse farted somewhere on Wall Street, since that’s all it seems to take to get the HF traders moving…  Oh sure, blame it on China’s manufacturing numbers, wink wink.  (It really was a mouse…)

 

Message to the Wal-Marts of the World

Now, Peoplenomics readers will find this particularly well-timed, since our discussion yesterday of Wal-Mart going to “thinventory” – converting that stale inventory to corporate cash move:

 

India strikes over supermarket reforms. Seems they don’t want super stores and big box operators wiping out local business.  Maybe I need to up my assessment of Indian thinking on social impacts… Something to be said for handbaskets.

 

More after this…