Tom Bombadil

Why Are Investors Returning to the Dollar?

Guys, the line about "the best politicians money can buy" is a joke. It sounds like a compliment but can also be interpreted to mean that they can be influenced by campaign donations or other means. I'm pretty sure it wasn't meant as praise here.

I've been wondering about the strength of short Treasuries also. I wonder if it's just that people need a place to park the proceeds from selling some other asset, and they have too much (over FDIC limit) to risk putting it into a bank that they are afraid could go under. So, with Treasuries at least you are sure you will get it back, whereas you can't necessarily say that for anything else out there.

Countdown of Manipulated Gold Price Running Out

I bought some gold recently as part of setting up a Harry Browne-style "permanent portfolio", which includes it as an inflation hedge. The hardest part about it was getting past the fact that 99% of gold advocates I run across are such nutters, and I didn't want to be anything like them. I actually hope it goes down because it would mean the monetary policy hasn't gotten out of control, and presumably my other investments would then be doing well and offsetting the loss. Also it will lead to more hilariously stupid conspiracy theories, and who doesn't enjoy that?