Is the Zombie Apocalypse Coming Soon?

Perhaps appropriate for this Halloween night we ask: Is the Zombie Apocalypse coming soon? Like maybe tonight? 

We've read that this idea of "Zombie Apocalypse" has captured some people's imaginationsAnd for those who may obsess on this, one might conclude a good dollop of anxiety may be bubbling up on this Eve of All Hallows.

Eve of All Hallows? Yes, that's the real name for what we call Halloween. And it refers to this being the vigil of All Saints Day - hence "All Hallows." Nothing about Zombie's in this. Indeed, the disturbing images that have taken over the Halloween landscape in our time really have no place in All Hallows Eve. 

But we digress. Back to ZA and our question. 

The question was inspired by two facts of life. The first: the fact that all good things - more accurately all things - in this life come to an end. (Can we substitute the end of everything for ZA? Or do folks entertain the idea that they can prepare for and survive whatever ZA is supposed be?) But for our purposes today, let's go with ZA ultimately meaning "The End." OK? Even if everything doesn't end, wouldn't ZA kind of mean the end of things as we know them?

As for the second, we'll get to that. 

Back to our first fact: Since all things eventually do come to an end, given recent developments in the markets, it would be natural to wonder when the stock markets unearthly rise to the moon will come to an end. Isn't that a question that should be on our minds, we who have managed to save up some money and invest it? Ya think?

But no. The relentless climb continues in the face of even the financial media having to concede every once in a while that things are maybe a "bit" airy. Naturally, you won't find featured pieces - at least in the main stream financial media - that point this out in any detail or firm definitive manner. In the face of the most overvalued stock market in history, the overwhelming push remains to somehow justify each leg up. 

You know the drill: Stocks rose on news of a trade agreement with Chins...Stocks rose as inflation came in higher than last month, but still within reasonable bounds...Stocks rose as tech earnings season begins...stocks rose in anticipation of more rate cuts by the Fed...Stocks rose...well, you get the point. There's always a reason for stocks to rise. And in the few instances when they have fallen, they pick themselves up, brush themselves off, and start all over again (as the old song puts it).

Of course, when we say "stocks" we're referring to the Big Three: the Dow, the S&P, the NASDAQ. The fact that these have been driven by only a few stocks all year - the usual suspects - isn't mentioned too much. Even less mentioned is the fact that most other stocks are either down or just sort of flopping around. 

What's it all mean? Here's one spin: If the stock market does indeed anticipate the direction of the economy (a venerable view of the stock market), then it seems a handful of stocks will drag the economy up with them. Does that make sense? As many companies lay off thousands of workers, including a recent announcement by Amazon that they're letting go thousands of corporate employees, we must believe that all is well with the economy, right? And how do we justify this in the face of these lay-offs. Oh, right. It's AI that's causing this. AI is good. And now it's running the country's economy - or something like that.

Then again, maybe not. Maybe the simple fact that the Fed continues to expand the money supply and that banks continue to lend liberally adds jet fuel to stock prices - at least to those few hero companies that account for the vast majority of the rise. 

If you had to, which way would you bet?

OK, so tonight's thoughts are a bit scattered. But on Halloween, with strangers roaming the streets seeking candy and/or money, scattered thoughts are to be expected, right?

And, uh-oh, the clock is ticking on this scatter-shot post. So let's get to the second fact. It's a lot less exotic than ZA and not quite at the level of the end of everything. But it is more concrete, more real.

It's the end of the Piano Puzzler.

If you're not familiar with this, it was created by Bruce Adolphe an accomplished musician, teacher and performer, with the cooperation of Fred Childs, host of a classical radio show "Performance Today," 

Every week for 25 years Mr. Adolphe creates - well you've got to hear it to believe it. Simply put, he typically creates a mash-up of a classical piece with something more pop - like songs from the American Songbook, the Beatles, folk and gospel music, and so on. They're little jewels that ask us to identify the composer (of the classical part) and what is basically a "hidden melody" (the pop part). They're mini-works of genius. If not familiar, do a search and you can find them archived.

Having listened for years on early Saturday mornings, it's disturbing that they'll no longer be part of the Saturday early mix (although not as disturbing as ZA). Fred's leaving the show, and Bruce is going too. The duo's last effort - and the last Piano Puzzler - will be tomorrow. 

As for the stock market, it'll end too. Well, maybe not the whole stock market, but the insane overvaluation - a hefty part of which will those champions that have driven prices up to current nosebleed+ levels.

Now this may be as disturbing as ZA for some - like those who own a lot of this stuff. For those of us who have not drunk the Kool-Aid, we'll not moan and wring our hands when the end comes for the market. But we will be a bit down in the mouth when next Saturday arrives next week.

Then again, if ZA does arrive before that, the no-more-Piano Puzzler will be the least of our problems. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second fact: the Piano Puzzler