Economics and Investing:

America’s Big Bet On Natural Gas And Big Short On Coal. – J.S. o o o The Collapse of the Concept of Fiat Currency o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: The Fed’s Laughable GDP “Forecast” Just Got Even Funnier Fed Officials Predict Fed Funds Rate to Rise to 1.375% End-2015 Fed Keeps ‘Considerable Time’ Pledge as Growth ‘Moderate’ Europe’s Winners and Losers from Russia Trouble




Economics and Investing:

The NEXT Reserve Currency o o o Why King Coal Will Keep Its Crown. – J.S. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Fed Officials Predict Fed Funds Rate to Rise to 1.375% End-2015 Fed Keeps ‘Considerable Time’ Pledge as Growth ‘Moderate’ Europe’s Winners and Losers from Russia Trouble Food-Stamp Enrollment In Illinois Outpaces Job Creation By Nearly 2-to-1




Letter Re: What Retail Might Look Like at TEOTWAWKI

Dear Sir, I feel like I have some insight to add to Jacob’s post about what retail may look like post disaster. I manage a warehouse for a DSD (direct store delivery) company. Here’s just a little bit of insight into what that is, since not everyone knows how stores get their merchandise: Many items are not stocked by the stores themselves. They never go through their own distribution network. Instead, companies (bread, snacks, soda, beer, pizza, et cetera) manage their own distribution and have their own trucks go to the store. We handle our own product from raw materials …




Economics and Investing:

Poor Americans carry a record level of debt leverage o o o The Irrational Fear Of Deflation o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Draghi Prods Euro Area to Ready Ground for Economic Boost Scotland Prepares For Bank Runs; ‘Quietly’ Sends Millions Of Banknotes North The War on Poverty Has Been a Colossal Flop The Fed’s Muddied Message Causing Market Mess – When your equity markets are dependent on two words, you know you’re in a heavily manipulated, fragile market.




Economics and Investing:

The Fed Is Leveraged At A Higher Ratio Than That Of Lehman Before It Collapsed o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Investors Tell Fed: Don’t Fumble Interest Rates The U.S. National Debt Has Grown By More Than A Trillion Dollars In The Last 12 Months David Stockman- Newsflash To Fed: 122 Billion Bottles Of Beer On The Wall Is About Asset Bubbles, Not Jobs Industrial Output in U.S. Falls for First Time Since January







Economics and Investing:

A derivatives implosion was the black swan that ignited the global crisis in 2008. With the amount of total global derivatives now over a staggering 1.25 quadrillion dollars, there is no question that Greyerz is correct when he predicts this will eventually collapse the current financial system. It’s just a question of when it will begin and what the next trigger will be. This Terrifying Black Swan To Collapse Global Financial System . – J.W. o o o America’s Poor, Deeper in Debt Than Ever o o o The Fed Has A Big Surprise Waiting For You. – J.W. o …




Trading in Precious Metals, by Kestrel

My butcher pulled me aside last fall, while I was in his shop dropping off a deer for processing. He had a gold ring with a diamond mounted in the center. He asked me what it was worth? I own a jewelry store and told him I would take it to the store, weigh it, and give him a price. He explained that a woman came in for some meat and couldn’t pay; she gave him the ring to hold with the promise to come back and pay him the $60 that she owed within the next week. It had …




Economics and Investing:

Alan Greenspan’s Nine Reasons “Why The Economy Stinks” o o o What the Worst Jobs Report of the Year Really Tells Us o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Scotland’s Banks Threaten to Leave Fed’s Rate Guidance on Chopping Block, New Exit Plan Nears U.S. Mortgage Applications Fall to Lowest Since Dec 2000: MBA When The Algos Hit The “Sell” Key: Look Out Below!




Economics and Investing:

‘A Little More Inflation’ Won’t Fix What Ails Us. – G.G. o o o How The Federal Reserve Is Destroying America o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: More Car Owners Fall Behind on Auto Loan Payments World Bank Warns of Global Jobs Crisis – Leave it to governments to propose more government “solutions” to a problem created by government “solutions”. Guess it’s the Hegelian dialectic of problem, reaction, solution. Russian Retaliation Begins: Gazprom “Limiting EU Gas”, Cuts Poland Supplies By 24% In Past Two Days




Economics and Investing:

Unified Savings and Accountability Act Includes Coin Related Provisions. – K.N. Just as I predicted, the days of the penny and nickel appear to be numbered. – JWR o o o RadioShack plunges after brokerage cuts price target to $0. – T.P. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Government Health Care Inc: The Chart Which Explains It All A Historic First: Bank Of Japan Monetizes Debt At Negative Rates How the China Boom Unravels: One Person at a Time Mortgage Applications Plunge To 14-year low







We Aren’t All Farmers, Soldiers, or Master Gardeners, by Sootgrinder

I would like to share some of my observations, feelings, and plans for dealing with the current and future difficult times that we face. As I have read and studied the survival plans and strategies of the fine members of the SurvivalBlog community, as well as other sources, I have frequently been overwhelmed and discouraged about my ability to deal with the inevitable trouble that is barreling toward us faster every day. I read the stories of people moving to a fully-stocked and well-equipped retreat with their ex-military buddies, who are also master gardeners, trained medical personnel, and have every …




Letter: Composition of Nickels

Hugh, JWR has previously spent some time talking about the conversion of the American nickel to use a different metal content, with predictable results on the value of the existing nickels. I have not seen any discussion of this issue for a long time. Any update? Is it still being planned? – R.H. o o o James, How about an update on the nickel page? Are we still good, or should we be looking for old nickels now? THANKS and God bless!! – K.P. JWR Replies: Surprisingly, the composition of nickels still has not yet changed, but I do expect …




Economics and Investing:

Europe Takes the QE Baton o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: A Gasoline Tax Map Explains Why The Cost Difference Jobs Still Biggest Worry For Home Buyers Revised: Japan Says Economy Contracted 7.1 Percent in 2Qhttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/japan-says-economy-contracted-7-1-percent-2q-002102022–finance.html The American Family Makes $200 More a Year Than It Did in 1989– Other great charts, too.