Economics and Investing:

Reader Bill R. sent this: Sin Taxes for 2009 at all time high. OBTW, since when is owning a gun a “sin”?

G.G. forwarded a link to a piece in The Economist: Gold: Store of value.

Also from G.G.: States Dodge Defaults as California May Cut Worker Pay

Items from The Economatrix:

The Big Crash–America Plunges Into Depression for Real

Gold Keeps Rising as Panicky Investors Look for Security

Harry Schultz on the Power Elite, Free Markets, The Internet, and Why Gold Is Going Much Higher

China Cuts Rare Earth Export Quota 72%, May Spark Trade Dispute With U.S.

Inflationville

China, Commodity King (Mogambo Guru)

Manufacturing Cools in June as Manufacturing Slows

Stocks Fall After Weak Manufacturing Reports