Posts

Listen to the Music

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In the ’70’s, Michael McDonald and The Doobie Brothers released a number of great hits.  One of those hits was “Listen to the Music” which was released in ’72 on the Toulouse Street album.  This ties in with our theme for this newsletter where we are suggesting that you listen to the Markets. Don't you feel it growing, day by day People getting ready for the news Some are happy, some are sad Oh, we got to let the music play What the people need Is a way to make 'em smile It ain't so hard to do if you know how Gotta get a message Get it on through Oh now mama, don't you ask me why Whoa, listen to the music Whoa, listen to the music Whoa, listen to the music All the time Well I know, you know better Everything I say Meet me in the country for a day We'll be happy And we'll dance Oh, we're gonna dance our blues away While it may appear to be February 2nd (Movie reference:  Groundhog Day), every day as the AI (Artificial Intelligence) craze continues to dominate...
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Electric Avenue

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  In 1982 while some of us were in high school, the Guyanese-British singer Eddy Grant released his best single, Electric Avenue.  The song is about the civil unrest a year earlier in London.  The song title comes from a sign at a movie theater in the Brixton neighborhood.  It is the word “Electric” that is the focus of our letter. Boy Boy Down in the street there is violence And a lots of work to be done No place to hang out our washing And I can't blame all on the sun, oh no We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue And then we'll take it higher Oh we gonna rock down to Electric Avenue And then we'll take it higher Workin' so hard like a soldier Can't afford a thing on TV Deep in my heart I'm a warrior Can't get food for them kid, good God We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue And then we'll take it higher Oh we gonna rock down to Electric Avenue And then we'll take it higher Oh no   As we stroll through the middle part of this decade, most Americans a...
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De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

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  From the álbum Zenyatta Mondatta, the British trio, The Police break into the Billboard Hot 100 with this song.  Sting claims that it is their most misunderstood song.  I must admit that I never really listened to the lyrics over the past 40 years until I searched for a title for this article and this song played on WNKO. The song cautions us on how we use and interpret words.   As Robert Plant shared with us, “Sometimes words have two meanings”.  2024 could be a very interesting year for the markets and leave a profound influence on 2025 and beyond. Just think about the second verse about Poets and ‘our’ politicians.  The policies at the Department of Treasury are likely to shape our market in ways that we haven’t seen in markets of old. It is a Presidential Election year, and the gloves are off. What does the Federal Reserve do? The Fed role in society is to manage inflation and employment.   One of the ways the Fed accomplishes its manda...
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Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes

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  The Iconic Jimmy Buffett album was released in Jan 1977.  It features Jimmy’s first hit Margaritaville.  Late in life he shared the naming rights with a hotel operator that has opened many properties in the states and across the Caribbean. Nibblin' on sponge cake Watchin' the sun bake All of those tourists covered with oil Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing Smell those shrimp they're beginnin' to boil Wastin' away again in Margaritaville Searchin' for my long lost shaker of salt Some people claim that there's a woman to blame But I know it's nobody's fault Don't know the reason Stayed here all season Nothing to show but this brand new tattoo But it's a real beauty A Mexican cutie How it got here I haven't a clue Wastin' away again in Margaritaville Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt Some people claim that there's a woman to blame Now I think hell it could be my fault When I see the brochures for beautiful ...
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MONEY

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  Some historians write that the 1970’s was Britain’s gloomiest period since WWII.  As so often happens, pop culture reflects the mood of the times.   In 1973, the Progressive Rock band Pink Floyd released their highly acclaimed “The Dark Side of the Moon” album.  On that album was the timeless song …Money.  This iconic song begins with that all too familiar sound of a cash register. Money (The important lines only) Get away You get a good job with more pay and you're okay Money It's a gas Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash New car, caviar, four star, daydream Think I'll buy me a football team I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack Don't give me that do goody good BS I'm in the high-fidelity first-class traveling set And I think I need a Lear jet It's a crime Share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie Money Is the root of all evil today But if you ask for a rise It's no surprise that they're giving none away INFLAT...
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Signs

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  Signs It is challenging if not impossible to time the investment market. In today’s world, information appears to move at light speed. Sitting down to pen this note, Jon had to remind me that Tesla covered the tune I am referencing.  He recalled that in 1971 “Signs” was recorded by The Five Man Electrical Band.  The rockers in my era listen to the Tesla version.  I believe the song rings true of today’s financial markets as some investors choose to ignore the “Signs”.
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A G A I N S T the W I N D

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    In 1980 our Michigan buddy released his eleventh album.   It was the third album by Bob Segar recorded with The Silver Bullet Band, no it is not a nod to Coors Light.  For over a decade Bob had carved a niche in the music industry all his own.  The title track for his album, Against the Wind is very appropriate for today’s financial markets.  Let’s see if I can weave this together starting with some the lyrics following Verse 2. There were oh so many roads I was living to run and running to live Never worried about paying or even how much I owed Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time Breaking all of the rules that would bend I began to find myself searching Searching for shelter again and again Against the wind A little something against the wind I found myself seeking shelter against the wind Well those drifter's days are past me now I've got so much more to think about Deadlines and commitments What to leave in, what to leave out Some o...
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