As the election solidifies across the pond. It seems to be a British version of 2016.  Headlines over the last month leading up to this election should sound familiar to people here in the States. The noise is people don't want Brexit and that Boris will be out. Once again the media fantasy of control is out the door again with another vote. 

The Tories smash Labour based on the election results this evening.  With events in the UK is it another example of people are ignoring the media noise?  

Great work out of Isreal's Tel Aviv University's Roey Tzeana regarding technology and automation as written up by Haaretz. I think they are still soft selling the reality and opportunity for automation.

Article appeared in WSJ Opinion by two Yale professors (article) that there is 0% political diversity with the faculty.  While WSJ was more generalities, let's see what we can find.

For the 2020 race there are 224 worth $231,430 to politicians, want to be president, PACs etc. 

Cass Freight is a great way to get early warnings of what is coming in the economy. Their October report is worth a read (found here).  This is to provide a reference for when their December report comes out.  These guys are the source.  

Their headline sums it up:

Wonderful news that was just released by BLS.  266,000 new jobs hired last month. Wonderful news. Have not gotten into the make up of type of jobs as mentioned before (in this article), anything over 150,000 new hires starts to eat into the 95-96M people currently not in the labor force.  BLS announcement means 116,000 people moved out of "not in labor force" pool.  Great news!  Just need 819 months to eliminate the 95-96M not in labor force.  

Reports of Tiffany's earnings paints a bad picture. But give credit to the Company's leadership on knowing when to get out on top.  They have effectively retired after winning the Super Bowl.  Last week they agree to sell themselves to LVMH for $16B in an all cash deal.  Tiffany is near the top of their value and the locked it in. Good for them. 

Food & Wine made a great list of the best C-Stores in the country.  For Texas, Buc-ee's is moving in on a large scale. With tried and true 7-Eleven keeping its position.  With the exception of 7-Eleven there are regional plays across the country. The list should have familiar names and unfamiliar ones. I think I only recognized 6 on the list.

While the list is based on the best from the customer experience. Curious which are the most healthy financially.

Corporatization of dairy could not make it work.  In the booming economy there are limits.  Limits in markets, opportunities, debt and PENSION obligations.  All while the industry sales drop by a $1B year over year is tough on any industry.  Luckily they have the assets to get DIP financing of +$800M to continue through the BK process.  

Forbes updated the current corporate debt in the market recently.

Total corporate debt is actually much higher. Adding the debt of small medium sized enterprises, family businesses, and other business which are not listed in stock exchanges ads another $5.5 trillion. In other words, total US corporate debt is $15.5 trillion, 74% of US GDP. 

Remember when there was Black Friday (on Friday) and Cyber Monday. Now Black Friday ads are popping up in early November or late October.  And why not, retails is having a rough time. Getting anyone into the store is helpful.  Now the gloves are off between online and brick n mortar.  Cyber Monday is no longer and it is a free for all among the biggest in the business.  No room for the little guy anymore.  With all the competition that is great for consumers, ultimately are the consumers going to arrive?