Economics and Investing:

Federal budget gap through June tops $1 trillion amid GOP resistance to more government spending. (Thanks to KAF for the link.)

Thanks to Brett G. for flagging this one: Fed Warns Economy May Take Five or Six Years to Recover

Items from The Economatrix:

Obscure Weimar Collapse Book a Cult Hit

Central Banks Start to Abandon the US Dollar

Top for Silver $100 Per Ounce?

Stocks Mixed After Disappointing Retail Sales Data

Home Loan Applications Down 2.9%

Retail Sales Drop 0.5% in June

Oil Dips Below $77 as US Crude Supplies Rise

Watchdog: Small Banks Struggling Despite Bailouts

A Modern Day Gold Rush

Silver’s Historical Correlations with Gold Suggests a Parabolic Top as High as $714 Per Ounce!

China Stocks Tumble, Dragging Down Other Asian Markets

Irrational Gold Selling (The Mogambo Guru)