Economics and Investing:

We’ve been warned: the system is ready to blow

Reuters reports: Home Depot, Walmart, grocers get boost from Irene. (Thanks to M.W. for the link.)

Some wise folks are buying on the dip: Sudden Temporary Gold and Silver Price Drop; Retail Sales Soar. (A hat tip to R.B.S. for the link.)

A whole bunch of news, courtesy of John R.:

In An Unsustainable System, A Warning of Collapse (Bob Chapman)

Panic & Anxiety Swirl a Storm (Jim Willie)

Banks face $340 billion state-backed bond refi hole (Helene Durand)
 
Big Banks: Under-Capitalized, Overexposed, Opaque(Barry Ritholtz)

“A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” (Mike Kreiger)

Marc Faber Says: Don’t Store Your Gold In The United States (Sovereign Man)

Europe’s Problem Is Decidedly Not the Euro(John Tamny)

Where Are We? (Greg Hunter)

Prepare for the Global Long Wave Extinction Event (David Knox Barker )

Greece forced to tap emergency fund (Louise Armitstead)

Items from The Economatrix:

Gold $3000?

JPMorgan May Take Over BofA

BofA’s Share Nosedive Fuels Fears of Second Credit Crunch

But wait! Warren to the rescue! Berkshire Hathaway Invests $5 Billion in Bank of America