Economics and Investing:

Sue C. sent this: British farms a better bet than gold Risk of foreclosure looms over 700,000 Californians The financial benefits of food stamps – Record $78 billion worth of food stamps issued in 2011. Select Wal-Mart stores pulled in 25 to 40 percent in revenues from food stamps according to a recent analysis. Lee M. flagged this article: Libor Rate Faces Review Amid Barclays Scandal




Economics and Investing:

Eric Sprott: Silver to Go Supernova, Paper Markets are a Joke! (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.) SGT Report: Watching the Clock: Will a Total Economic Collapse Occur in September-October? AmEx spotted this: Is Gold on the Edge of a Violent Downturn? B.B. suggested this news item: Gun stocks shoot through the roof. Items from The Economatrix: Roubini:  We are Heading for a Global Perfect Storm Slowdown Concern Ebbs on Durable Goods, US Home Sales Rio+20 Economic Reality Check Stockton Teeters on Bankruptcy Edge, But City’s Not Alone




Economics and Investing:

Why A Debt Based Financial System Will Always Fail In The Long Run Paulette recommended a “must read” piece by Jim Willie that relates to derivatives and monetization (a.k.a. “quantitative easing”): Outline on Collapse End Game Tom K. spotted this: Massive Celtic coins hoard found on Jersey. The story disingenuously ends with this statement: “The finders and the landowner have said that they want the hoard to go to the island and be put on display for the people of Jersey to enjoy.” They sound oh-so philanthropic and egalitarian. What the article doesn’t mention is that they don’t have any …




Economics and Investing:

Those pesky derivatives: U.S. Stocks Fall as JPMorgan Tumbles on Trading Report. (A tip of the hat to veteran content contributor Sue C. for the link.) Economy: We Are Living In The Greatest Debt Bubble In The History Of The World Mark T. sent this sad news: Nearly 3 in 10 have no savings for an emergency Study: More Than Half a Trillion Dollars Spent on Welfare – But Poverty Levels Unaffected. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Confidence in US Declines to a Five-month Low Business Bracing For Bad Summer? Home Prices Rise:  …




Letter Re: Advice on Canadian Nickels

Mr. Rawles, To follow up on the recent posts about sorting Canadian nickels, I recently stumbled across a web site that has pictures of all Canadian nickels from 1870 until 2005. After sorting close to $100 worth of nickels, I can say the vast majority of non-debased nickels span between around 1960 to 1999.  Of those, most of the pre-1982 nickels are 99% nickel and have a melt value approximately 1.5x it’s face value. All nickels from 1982 to 1999 have a copper-nickel composition similar to that of the US nickel, and a melt value currently very close to the face value. One subtle …




Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff’s Latest Advice to Investors Reader Tom K. sent this: Stockton [California] set to become the largest US city to declare bankruptcy Discount Distortion: How Dollar Stores Actually Charge You More Allan C. sent: Is this 1931 all over again? Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson and more think so Forty Million Houses in the US That No One Needs? The burden of unsupportable debt. US debt-to-GDP growing at a pace rivaling certain European nations – The dramatic problems of peak debt in 2012. From Sue C.: Euro zone Big Four confer after fifth state seeks aid Items from …




Silver and Gold Bartering, Now and Post-Societal Collapse, by T.R.

Over the last few years, since awaking from my slumber that rainbows and butterflies come from baby gnomes, I have been preparing my bean, bullets and bullion for what ever may be on the other side of the eye of the hurricane, so to speak. Whether that event is the eventual collapse of not only the US dollar but currencies globally or some apocalyptic end of society as it currently exists. In that time I have found great interest in the financial aspect of this scenario. As a project manager I find that some variables in a project are non-linear …




Economics and Investing:

Reader R.B.S. sent this interesting data: Parsing U.S. Poverty at the Metropolitan Level. Once again, the American Redoubt shines. North Las Vegas declared a disaster area–economic disaster, that is. Rim R. sent this: ‘Made in the USA’ Label Will Disappear If the World Trade Organization Plan Succeeds Six charts highlighting future trends in the housing system. Silent crashing markets, command style housing controls, and Fed top sponsor of maximum leverage. Items from The Economatrix: Why Home Prices Are Better And Worse Home Sales Reach Two-Year High as U.S. Rates Fall Oil Falls As Investors Unconvinced On EU Growth Talk What’s …




Economics and Investing:

Over at ETF Daily: Jim Rickards: Reveals Fed Blueprint, Gold Prices $5,000 – $7000 Range Jim Rogers: Don’t Be Fooled by the Dollar Rally Charles Goyette, over at Lew Rockwell’s site: The Depression Goes Global Items from The Economatrix: Housing Continues its Steady Rise [JWR’s Comment: Don’t fall for the rhetoric. We are still not at the bottom.] “Fiscal Dip” May Make Europe Look Like a Dip Jim Rogers: Bailouts Can’t Save Europe, Failures Must Go Bankrupt The Fed is Out of Ammo




Economics and Investing:

Starting life in the negative net worth column. What the Fed does not want you to know about American net worth figures. Dr Gary North: Panic in the New World Order Yet another reason to keep a cash reserve at home: Millions affected by Natwest online glitch The USD Trap Is Closing: Dollar Exclusion Zone Crosses The Pacific As Brazil Signs China Currency Swap Forget the PIIGS, the EU as a Whole is Insolvent Items from The Economatrix: Welcome To Doomsday, Warns Wall Street Seer Why Doesn’t The Stock Market Reflect The Imminent Global Depression? Why Gas Prices Are Headed …




Economics and Investing:

Reader Rhonda T. sent this: Greek citizens: ‘Family is all that is holding us together. But it can’t last, people are getting tired’ B.B. recommended this over at Zero Hedge: Guest Post: Abandoning Ship – The Eurozone Is Failing At An Accelerating Rate Also from B.B. and link to a video: Jonathan Roth of Cambridge House Live Interviews Peter Schiff at the World Resource Investment Conference in Vancouver How You’re Getting Fooled By Inflation Items from The Economatrix: Hyperinflation, Deflation, and Currency Wars Italian PM Warns: We Have A Week To Save The Eurozone Social Security In America:  Writing Off …




Economics and Investing:

A reader in Wyoming wrote to ask about topping off the gas, diesel and propane tanks at his ranch. My advice: Wait until late September. I expect unleaded gasoline to be at or below $3.00per gallon by then. QE3, by any other name: Fed Extends Twist, Signals Concerns Commentary by Michael Casey: Let’s be frank, the Euro’s days are numbered. (Thanks to Joseph G. for the link.) Karl Denninger: It Didn’t Work (Again) The downgrades keep coming: 15 Major Investment Banks See Ratings Cut by Moody’s. (A hat tip to Diana V. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: US …




Another Way to Protect Your Retreat, by E. E.

I am sorry. This article is not about debating the best calibers for your main battle rifle or dehydrating meat. It is not even a topic most people consider suitable for dinner conversation. It is not about any topic that I have seen on this blog, but it is crucial if you have a retreat property and want to protect it. You see, about six months in December 2011 ago it got very cold here in our rectangular state. Close to zero actually. But first, let’s go back another six months to May of 2011. While on the road traveling …




Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader S.O.B. sent this: “Gary Gordon, president of Pacific Park Financial, an investment advisory firm, says he is “not buying anything at the moment until the world rights its ship.” But for investors who do want to trade on a bearish view of the global economy, he suggests the….” S.O.B. ‘s left this biting comment: “So guys in the know are holding on to their cash and not investing in intangibles like ETFs. But they are happy to advise their clients to buy stuff they wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole, how nice.” Some interesting observations at The Daily Bell: …




Economics and Investing:

C.A. in Oregon mentioned a recent news story that might be a preview for American farmers that have orchards near cities or suburbs: Desperation thefts of crops from farms in Spain. Clive Maund: Heads A Deflationary Implosion – Tails A Hyperinflationary Depression… Upside Down America: The lingering problems of negative equity – Over 10 million Americans are underwater with 1 million having loan-to-value ratios of 150 percent or higher Are Bitcoins Becoming Europe’s New Safe Haven Currency? Items from The Economatrix: Weak Factories, Sentiment Show Shaky US Recovery There’s A Positive Sign For Housing V’s Response to Greek Election Facade-Just …