thependulumswings

Two hundred and forty-three years and one day ago America, then 13 Constitutional Colonies, declared it’s independence from British rule.  But, did you know that the document wasn’t signed that day?  It was ratified.   It’s interesting trivia.  And here are some other facts leading up to and after 7/4/1776 that are a part of the …

Happy Fourth of July!  Happy Independence Day! Independence?  What exactly is that?  Merriam Webster defines it as “the state of independent.”  Independent is defined as “not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood).” It’s also defined as “showing a desire for freedom.” Two hundred and forty three years ago tomorrow America declared …

Friends As expected, it was a very quiet day of trading. Stocks were able to squeak out a small gain by the close, but volume was light and volatility was muted. We do have the ADP private payroll jobs number tomorrow, and the non-farm payroll number on Friday, so that might add a little spice to the situation before the […]

Did you get paid yesterday?  It’s very likely that you did.  It was the end of the month.   You always and only get paid for what you have earned.  Paychecks are remuneration for the past.  Joe Biden likely got paid as well, and twice if he takes Social Security.   His checks come from the US …

Summer’s in.  Three major U.S. sports (football. basketball, and hockey) are out.  But the pickings are never slim with our nuggets.  Whether you dine in or take out, enjoy the ten below.  The ugly Americans scored 50 combined runs in the first two London MLB games ever.  The Yankees out scored the defending Word Series …

Friends The bulls were content to sit on their gains as the quarter came to a close today. Market participants will be keeping an eye on developments coming out of the G20 meetings over the weekend, but as we look into the second half of the year (can you believe that?), the bulls have some headwinds to navigate, not the […]

Round two of two of the first Democratic Presidential Debates went round and around last evening.  Below are ten nuggets for you consumption that cover thoughts on both days with an emphasis on last evening.  Some nuggets are heavy.  Some are light.  All are spiced just right.  For better or worse, the Democratic Party’s center …

If Lefty and Shorty were still with us their early morning banter might have gone like this. Lefty and Shorty sat quietly in the still, humid, summer night air.  It was after 2 AM on their graveyard shift and cars were nowhere to be found.  Lefty- Why did we stay open 24 hours Shorty?  Shorty- …

Alice Cooper called it.  “School’s out, for summer.”  But, soon, Rodney Dangerfield and others will return.  “Hey, I am going back to school!”  And, when they do they need to bring their checkbook, and then some. No one disputes the following.  One, the cost of a four year public college/university education in these 50 United …

When Senator Lloyd Benson was squared off against Senator Dan Quayle in the Vice Presidential Debate in 1988, Quayle, desperate to establish himself as a qualified VP running mate, dropped a JFK reference.   Benson dropped a haymaker on Quayle, deadpanning “you’re no Jack Kennedy.“ We have resisted comparing Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan for …