Category: Economics & Investing

Roubini says Euro’s days may be numbered. (Thanks to GG for the link.) Chad S. spotted this: Canada considers eliminating the penny. Kevin sent us this: States Bristle as Investors Make Wagers on Defaults Also from Kevin: In ‘Chair City,’ Budget Cuts are ‘Amputating’ Municipal Services Items from The Economatrix: Meat Prices May Spike this Summer (Stock up your chest freezer now, and lay in a supply of canned meat! Since grain prices are remaining high, meat will probably be very expensive for the next few years. It is a good thing that we mainly eat elk and venison, here …

GG sent this: ECB may have to turn to ‘nuclear option’ to prevent Southern European debt collapse Brett G. spotted this article over at NewsMax: U.S. Debt to Hit $20 Trillion, Financial Times Warns Greek borrowing costs hit high as Germany fuels uncertainty over aid. (Thanks to R.I.P. for the link.) RBS sent this piece about foreclosed real estate: Flipping houses is back in South Los Angeles Europe debt crisis spreads to Portugal (Standard & Poors downgraded Greece and Portugal sovereign debt paper to “junk” status today.) Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Pull Back on Europe’s Deepening Debt Woes Europe …

“Hambone” sent us a link to a must-read piece over at Seeking Alpha: Current U.S. Dollar Currency Controls Blaine sent an interesting article as follow-up to my link from Saturday: GM is using our tax dollars to repay our tax dollars to get more of our tax dollars at a reduced interest rate. A nice deal if you can get it. H.T. sent this: Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability. This U.S. Senate report begins: “The Congressional Oversight Panel’s February oversight report, “Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability,” expresses concern that a …

A preview of Things to Come, for the U.S. of A?: Iceland reports record 34 percent inflation Portuguese Five-Year CDS at Record High, Spread Wider. Can you spell D-E-F-A-U-L-T, boys and girls? (Our thanks to Brad F. for the link.) RBS sent this: Forget 10% Unemployment, The Real Job Loss Pain Number is 54% Amy R. sent this: U.S. Food Inflation Spiraling Out of Control Courtesy of frequent content contributor Jeff B.: 10 Cities Facing a Double Whammy of Default Risks Thanks to Mark G. for flagging this: The Housing Crash Has Just Started; Get set for falling prices again. …

Karen H. sent this indicator that food price inflation is beginning: Wholesale prices rise in March as food costs jump. GG flagged this: Governments Will ‘Bankrupt Us’: Marc Faber Some interesting commentary by our friend Commander Zero: Guns as investments Items from The Economatrix: Are Interest Rate Derivatives a Ticking Time Bomb? Senate Panel Approves Derivatives Reform Bill. And for the inevitable back pedaling, here is press release from a Nebraska Senator’s office on the legislation. (Thanks to M.E. for the latter link). School Districts Around the Country Warn of Deeper Teacher Cuts Job Seekers Too Picky? Demand for US …

A preview of Things to Come, for the U.S. of A?: Iceland reports record 34 percent inflation Portuguese Five-Year CDS at Record High, Spread Wider. Can you spell D-E-F-A-U-L-T, boys and girls? (Our thanks to Brad F. for the link.) RBS sent this: Forget 10% Unemployment, The Real Job Loss Pain Number is 54% Amy R. sent this: U.S. Food Inflation Spiraling Out of Control Courtesy of frequent content contributor Jeff B.: 10 Cities Facing a Double Whammy of Default Risks Thanks to Mark G. for flagging this: The Housing Crash Has Just Started; Get set for falling prices again. …

Sir: The recent post on battery rejuvenation touts a $200 unit, but the reality is that electronic battery [pulse] desulfators for 12V batteries are widely available for as little as $25 and they do just as well. (Check eBay for the phrase ‘battery desulfator’ and for more info on units, Google search the term.) The devices I believe originated in the Army decades ago and they operate by taking a little of the battery DC and changing it to AC impulses that break down lead sulfate crystals by hitting them at a resonant frequency of the molecule. This may operate …

Reader RBS sent this: Government goes high-tech to redesign $100 bills. RBS warns that with each currency change, there is the risk of the advent of a blocked currency. “That is where there is one variety of note for Domestic use only and one species for foreign use.” JWR Adds: It is noteworthy that U.S. Postal Service Money Orders are already marked “Valid only in the U.S. and Possessions.” Currency controls are coming, folks! Alasdair sent this: Greek debt crisis gets worse as EU revises figures Items from The Economatrix: If The US Economy Falls Will It Result In A …

Jim: Unless I’m mistaken, 1:50,000 scale maps are military only. Civilian topo maps in the US (produced by the USGS) are 1:24,000 scale. If there are any 15 minute quadrangle maps still available they are 1:62,500 scale. Neither are compatible with military grid readers or scales. Here is a source for map scales and protractors available in a variety of scales – print or copy them on transparent material and have at it. Regards, – Flighter

The IRS Goes Clubbin’. This illustrates that taxing officials will show no restraint in their expanding quest for revenue, in the coming years. Flea markets, farmers’ markets, gun shows, and any similar perceived dastardly bastions of free enterprise are doubtless next on their list. (A hat tip to RBS for the link.) Also from RBS: Peak Phosphorus, and Why It Matters, by James Elser and Stuart White. The Grudge Match Over Your 401(k) Items from The Economatrix: US to Shine Light on Derivatives Trading Next Bubble: $600 Trillion? IMF Trims Estimate of Losses From Financial Crisis The Great Debate: Are …

Brett came a link to this “must read” piece by Robert Wiedemer: A Coming Avalanche of Inflation Also from Brett: Davidowitz: This Market Is a Sucker’s Rally. A video of some truth that they let slip into CNBC: Stay Clear of Western Markets and Currencies. Global investing analyst Martin Hennecke warns: “Sovereign debt crisis in the western countries is really getting underway…” and “The blow-up of sovereign debt is the final step of the financial crisis.” Hennecke is also bullish on commodities and warns of a global financial meltdown with high interest rates and high inflation. (Our thanks to George …

By way of the Appenzell Daily Bell: Germans Desperate Over EU, Greece Rogers: Goldman May Fuel 20 Percent Market Tumble. (Out thanks to Brett G. for the link.) GG suggested this Forbes opinion piece: Will Japan Default? The Fox forwarded this: Greek Bailout Is a High-Wire Act. They are starting to use the “D” word. (Default.) Items from The Economatrix: Could Germany Quit Euro Over Greek Crisis? Rivals May Not be Smiling at Goldman Sach’s Predicament Long Bank of Ireland Forced to Sell Off Assets FEMA Faces Own Fiscal Emergency Unemployment Rises in 24 States

Yishai recommended this article: Released to Near Silence, the U.S. Treasury 2009 Financial Report Shows Dire Course Sue C. suggested an essay by Herb Mayer: An Economics Lecture No Student Will Ever Hear Items from The Economatrix: 10 US Cities in Economic Freefall Exxon’s Income Tax: $0 John Paulson: The Man Who Made Billions Betting on the US Housing Crash Goldman Sach’s Client-First Pledge Exposed as Lie Black Gold, Yellow Gold (The Mogambo Guru)