SkyFall: China stocks slowed their slide today, but still closed off by 1.3 percent. Futures indicate that the American markets will open higher, but they also did that yesterday and it was a false promise. The Down Jones averages opened up and strong before falling 205 points, a 1.3 percent loss for the day.

Putting the stock turmoil together with other economic activity makes for a mixed picture. Consumer confidence and new home sales are up and gasoline prices are down … all good. But investors hate low oil prices because profits fall. Overall though, the numbers suggest that the US economy is continuing to grow.

Hold On, Mr. President: Donald Trump had a Univision anchorman ejected from a news conference yesterday as he tried to ask the presidential candidate about his immigration policies. Trump told Jorge Ramos, “Excuse me, you weren’t called. Sit down. Sit down.” When Ramos kept asking questions Trump had him thrown out by security.

Ramos returned about 15 minutes later and the two had a go-round about illegal immigration and Trump’s promise to eject 11 million people. Trump also reminded Ramos that he’s suing Univision for 500 million for dumping Trump’s Miss Universe Pageant.

Trump competed with his own news yesterday by renewing his feud with Fox News host Megyn Kelly, tweeting that, “she’s really off her game”. Fox News boss Roger Ailes demanded an apology, which is funny coming from anyone at Fox News.

Military Industrial: The Pentagon has awarded a contract for a Wisconsin company to start building the replacement for the workhorse Humvee, the vehicle that itself replaced the iconic World War II Jeep. The new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle has the armor the standard Humvee lacked when it entered two Eastern wars fought with RPGs and roadside bombs. The company, Oshkosh defense, has been given the assignment to build more than 55,000 of the vehicles by 2040 at a cost of $30 billion.

Oshkosh President John M. Urias said in a statement, “Our JLTV has been extensively tested and is proven to provide the ballistic protection of a light tank, the underbody protection of an MRAP-class (anti-mine) vehicle, and the off-road mobility of a Baja racer.”

The Obit Page: Marcy Borders, whose picture in yellowish light covered in dust became one of the iconic images of the World Trade Center collapse, has died of stomach cancer at age 42. Borders became known as “the Dust Lady” because of her picture taken after the collapse of the South Tower in September, 2001. The mother of two struggled with depression and addiction for years after the Sept. 11 attacks and wondered whether her exposure to toxic materials that day ignited her cancer.

The Music Beat: Rapper Iggy Azalea has agreed to drop a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend Maurice Williams claiming he stole some of her early songs and released them without her permission. This is not important in any way, but it’s an opportunity to use the name Iggy Azalea

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