Wait . . . what? There’s $5 trillion in corporate loans which are “off balance sheet” and not properly accounted for?Photo above - Alec Baldwin asks Mark Wahlberg "qui bono?" (who benefits) after a small time hoodlum was found executed in the 2006 film The Departed. This story so far: First Brands Group – a car parts supplier – was caught with $2 billion in acc... See More » (1)
Would you quit your job for $580,000? Practically every Mercedes Benz worker offered this deal went for it . . .Photo above – Apollo the robot - from Aptronik -stalks a Mercede Benz assembly line. This appears to be a staged photo however, since this robot doesn’t have a screwdriver or pair of pliers. The MSN article (link below) has some obvious problems... See More » (1)
$15 billion in stolen Bitcoin seized from Cambodia. But will the victims see any of their money returned?Photo above - What, me worry? Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who ruled for 40 years. His eldest son Hun Manet has that job now. Dad didn't retire though. He's "president of the senate" . . . If you had asked me to name where the biggest... See More » (1)
These explanations for high beef prices sound like bull . . .Photo above - screen shot from HBO's "WestWorld". Evidently cattle will be so expensive in the future that it will be cheaper to assemble robot cows for a theme park than simply breed real ones? I accept the basic premise of the Houston... See More » (1)
Word up, Germany! Don’t blame tariffs or China for your auto sales tanking here in America . . .Photo above - German auto sales are tanking in America. Is this upcoming Hyundai electric van an existential threat to VW? I was going to make today’s column about “Average US new car price exceeds $50,000 for the first time”. This endlessly... See More » (1)
GoFundMe groceries? Is America entering “peak scam” . . . ?Photo above - Have you ever had a dream that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between a real needy person and a scammer on GoFundMe? Sorry, I am so NOT going to make a... See More » (1)
Reality check – would free NYC buses really attract “addicts and vagrants”, like opponents claim?Photo above – Candidate Zohran Mamdani becomes testy during an appearance on Stephen Colbert, when asked to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to Hamas terrorism. He later walked offstage, claiming the question was unfair. Today’s man-bites-dog... See More » (1)
Put yourself in their place: Employer offers a union 0% wage increase, and threatens to invest their pension fund in a WNBA basketball teamPhoto above - Tina Charles, 6 foot 5, 200 pounds, center for the Connecticut Sun. Second highest scorer in WNBA history. In case you get bored with Caitlin Clark throwing up endless 3 pointers from safety of the outer rim of the solar system.... See More » (1)
California’s latest stab at slavery reparations – appointing political cronies to staff a commission, with pay.Photo above - Gavin Newsom announces funding cuts to the University of California last month during the budget crisis. This week he just announced a commission to explore "slavery reparations" to all African Americans living in the state. (Me):... See More » (1)
Are retirees really “living off the backs of the young”?Photo above - Wadleigh High School in NYC. It has a 57% dropout rate. Teacher salaries that begin at $70,000 and reach $150,000. Newsweek says that retirees are the reason NY schools are failing. My mind was blown when I read Newsweek’s claim... See More » (1)
Is Airbnb the reason housing is no longer affordable?Photo above - before there were Airbnbs, there were still parties like this. Name the film this screen shot came from . . . I regularly encounter rants that “corporate America” is buying up vacant homes and turning them into rental properties. Thi... See More » (1)
There are 45,000 US flights a day. Air traffic controllers are calling in sick. Can anyone do the math on this economic impact?Photo above - hey kid, I told you . . . go back to your seat. We won't be landing until a week from Sunday because the air traffic controllers all called in sick . . . (screen shot courtesy of the film "Airplane") If anything has the potential to... See More » (1)
Whip Inflation Now!© Government says we need to start eating “invasive species”.Photo above - this is NOT an exhortation to commit domestic abuse. It's an award winning seasoning to make consumption of mudbugs (crawfish) palatable. If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em? The link below says we should be hunting and eating “invasive... See More » (1)
Wait . . . what? Both college degrees AND high school diplomas are worthless now? We're doomed . . .Photo above - Wanda the welder. This girl is going to buy a home of her own, some day. I have a college degree in English Lit (minor in Cultural Anthropology). I’m a loser – those degrees would be worthless if I was graduating in 2025. The onl... See More » (1)
“We’re going to outlaw any more Amazon centers. Bwaaah . . . ”Photo above - MLS regular season champs (most wins) Philadelphia Union take to the field at their iconic riverfront stadium, in Chester PA. Philadelphia politicians blocked the team from locating in the city itself more than a decade ago. Who's... See More » (1)
Just 7 stocks make up nearly half the entire S&P 500 index value. Either AI will usher in a golden age of prosperity, or we’re all gonna die . . .Photo above – 81 year old Larry Ellison (founder of Oracle) saw his personal fortune soar $100 billion in a single day last month, when he teased that his company might have too many AI orders to fill on time. Accompanying octogenarian Ellison is I... See More » (1)
Newsom threatens to cancel $45 billion in state funding for California's colleges. Trump is also cancelling some colleges' funding.Photo above - Student protestors at the University of California are demanding free tuition. Governor Newsom is threatening to withhold $45 billion in existing funding. Can you predict how this will end? President Trump - “Do as I say, or I’ll can... See More » (1)
Ford loses $5.5 billion on EVs in 2025, blames “pesky” customers . . .Photo above - During World War 2 cars and trucks were modified to run on coal, as an alternative fuel. The docents and dowagers named Ford must be turning over in their graves right now. Ford Motor Company's CEO – Jim Farley - is presiding over a... See More » (1)
Pennsylvania governor to legislators: “Your only job is to pass the budget, not review the salaries of public officials”Photo above - this is NOT the Versailles Palace, built for French King Louis XIV. It's the Pennsylvania capitol building in Harrisburg, where politicians are debating how to balance the state budget. Can you see the forest, guys? Wow, for a guy... See More » (1)
Priorities! Trump announces $600 million in new coal subsidies on the eve of the government shutdown.Photo above - America's largest surviving coal fired power plant, near Macon Georgia. See the intense orange flames, proving those are NOT nuclear cooling towers? The plant uses 11 million tons of coal annually, all brought by train from Wyoming.... See More » (1)
Mass firings possible as federal shutdown looms. Why not embrace change? Who should be on the short list?Photo above - The Simpsons, Season 7, Episode 7. Homer demonstrates a variety of techniques to feign productivity while working from home. Let me admit – right from the start – that I don’t expect the mass firings (if they even happen) to make... See More » (1)
What’s it cost to entice a $1 billion nuclear plant to your city? Only $800 million in tax forgiveness for the next generation . . .Photo above - local Albuquerque residents break open a few cold ones to celebrate $800 million in tax breaks awarded to a proposed nuclear power plant. People in Albuquerque are cheering. Pacific Fusion has selected New Mexico for its $1 billion... See More » (1)
US farmers lose $47 billion soybean market overnight. Maybe tariffs aren’t the answer to everything?Let’s get caught up to speed, for the benefit of everyone still obsessing over Epstein and Charlie Kirk: Trump (to planet): “You’re all going to pay huge tariffs on everything. I will change the amounts daily. Bwaaaah!!!” China (to US): “Please... See More » (1)
America has 800 generals and admirals???? WTH !!!Photo above - recent conclave of RUSSIAN generals. They apparently have more medals than their Pentagon counterparts, but worse dental coverage. Stay away from those hotel windows, guys . . . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned 800... See More » (1)
The end of American cities? Philadelphia now has San Francisco’s disease – office buildings are on sale for 50% off.Photo above - this gorgeous 30 story office building at 2000 Market Street Philadelphia just sold for $68 a square foot. There's a glut of vacant office space in America right now. Attention – due to high crime, falling population, and crappy... See More » (1)