New stipulation.
I started this when we fell below 12345 -- 1-2-3-4-5 -- and hoped we could stay above 11111, suggesting 1-1-1-1-1, or stasis, a doldrums. But I won't wait till 9999 to concede to mastert -- and I won't wait till 12345 to say life may be rosy once more, either.
So I'll stick with my 10570 floor, and add 1230 -- that has a 1-2-3 in it -- for a ceiling of 11800. If we're still in 10570-11800, we're still in doldrums; if we fall below, it's legitimate panic time; if we rise above, maybe there's a v-e-r-y s-l-o-w rally and we've already hit 2008's bottom.
Slightly dangerous suggestion to make as we hit 11602.50, but oh well.
Meanwhile, I'm rather stunned by all the discussion this simple numbers-watching has inspired. So here are my own two cents: when I hear "Goldilocks economy," I hear code for "We refuse to acknowledge that Clinton's co-opting of traditionally 'Republican' fiscal responsibility helped boost the economy, and will blame all that on one giant dot.com bubble, while excusing away nearly eight years of George W. Bush as 'ingenious equilibrium' while at precisely the same time complaining that the economy since 2000 simply isn't getting enough good press."
Or, the Holy Roman Empire was not holy, not Roman, and not an empire. Discuss among yourselves.