The Signal Amidst the Noise

Welcome to my blog! Wow, it's been a month since I tapped-on these keys. I put away the Surface Tablet and I'm writing from my Desktop. This Computer was my late Stepdads. It's a bit older, Intel Pentium 7 Processor, but it can calculate my 1% targets!  Today I want to talk about a serious issue that affects many people in our country: homelessness. Homelessness is one of the most urgent and tragic crises that we face as a nation, and it has many causes and solutions that we need to understand and act on. What inspired me to write about this? I was gathering unwanted clothes to drop in one of those Bins for gathering Clothes. My Spouse suggested I give the one, hardly worn, Pull-Over to the, "Homeless Guy". It has been very cold and this particular Pull-Over appears to be warm.

If you want to know how the US economy is doing, you might want to look at John Deere's earnings. The company, which makes tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural equipment, is a good indicator of the health and productivity of the farming sector. And since farming is a vital part of the US economy, John Deere's performance can tell us a lot about the overall state of the nation. In its latest quarterly report, John Deere beat analysts' expectations and posted a 25% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year. The company also raised its full-year outlook, citing strong demand for its products and services. This suggests that farmers are confident and optimistic about the future, and are willing to invest in new equipment and technology. John Deere's earnings also reflect some of the challenges and opportunities that the US economy faces. For example, the company has been affected by supply chain disruptions and rising costs of raw materials, which ha...

 I haven't been too ambitious to write for a while. Today I have a modest bit of motivation. It was an exciting day, for Investers. As it says in the Title of this post, the Stock Market Gapped-Up today! Shortly after my 9:30 alarm sounded, my second phone (An old Cell Phone that I still use through Wi-fi) came alive with notifications. I was standing in my Kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee, and talking to my mother through a Bluetooth earbud. I knew something was happening. I am quite eccentric when it comes to Investing. When I purchase a Stock, it is based on, "Fundamentals". Rather than analyzing Fundamentals, other retail Traders use Technicals. While I don't use them, I don't completely ignore Technicals either. I drew the conclusion that people use Technicals because they don't have a means to gather, store, and compare the data. They're left to follow the herd (as they heard) and seem to believe Stocks are a living thing with repetitive behaviors. I...

 Are you looking for a safe and convenient way to Invest Money and earn some interest? If so, you might want to consider buying i-Bonds, or Inflation-Protected Savings Bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. In this blog post, I will explain what iBonds are, how they work, and why they are a great option for savers. I believe the Corner-Stone of an Individual Portfolio is the i-Bond. I advocate for Parents to start buying i-Bonds for their children, while they are young. These securities can be purchased on set intervals. For example, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, etc... Interest is compounded monthly which offers more growth than other channels. What Are i-Bonds? i-Bonds are a type of savings bond that pays interest based on two components: a fixed rate and a composite rate. The fixed rate is determined at the time of purchase and remains the same for the life of the bond. The composite rate is adjusted every six months to reflect changes in inflation, as meas...

 Hello, dear readers! Today I'm going to talk about a hot topic that has been making headlines lately: the SAG-AFTRA strike. If you don't know what that is, let me explain. SAG-AFTRA is the union that represents actors, singers, voice artists, and other performers in the US. They have been on strike since October 21, demanding better pay and working conditions from the major media companies, such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros, and Amazon. The strike has affected many productions, from movies and TV shows to video games and podcasts. Some of the projects that have been delayed or canceled include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Stranger Things, The Matrix 4, and Halo Infinite. That's right, folks, no more Baby Yoda or Eleven for a while. How will we cope?

The VIX, also known as the fear gauge, is a measure of the expected volatility of the S&P 500 index over the next 30 days. It is calculated based on the prices of options on the index. A low VIX indicates that investors are confident and complacent, while a high VIX signals that investors are fearful and uncertain. According to Macroption, the lowest point recorded of the VIX was 8.56 on Friday, November 24, 2017. It was Black Friday, a day of low trading activity after Thanksgiving. The lowest closing value of the VIX was 9.14 on Friday, November 3, 2017. The stock market's reaction to a low VIX has been mixed in the past. According to The Wall Street Journal, when the VIX has been below 20, S&P 500 returns over the next three months have often been close to nothing, based on data going back five years. However, according to Business Insider, a low VIX can also signal that the bull market is alive and well, as it reflects strong corporate earnings and low recession risk.

Do you want to save money on your heating and cooling bills? If so, you might want to consider Tyvek® HomeWrap® for your home. Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a breathable membrane that wraps around your exterior walls and prevents air and water from getting in or out. This helps your insulation work better and keeps your home more comfortable. Tyvek® HomeWrap® is different from other house wraps because it is made of a unique non-woven material that is durable, lightweight and easy to install. It can resist air penetration, water intrusion and UV exposure, while allowing moisture vapor to pass through. It also protects your exterior cladding and structural components from water damage.