pungent

Silver 'Misbehaves' in Recent Rally: Time to Buy

Jeff,

Thanks for the article. We share the same strategy: "My own approach is to acquire bullion for security, and to trade the miners for the bulk of my "paper profits". " A previous article that you wrote gave me sufficient reason to sell off all my SLV shares at a peak and pick up many more shares of SLW on the silver pullback last week. This has given OUTSTANDING results. Thanks! What is your answer to the secure storage of physical assets?

10.2%

Regarding KGs "perma-bear" comments, allow me to offer the following. Grouping and labeling people may be emotionally satisfying, but really serves no other purpose. I guarantee you this though, until the marketplace (Main Street) improves there will be no uptick in employment. Businesses, including mine, will get-by with the existing staff if we can or layoff people if we must. We will be forced to become even more efficient, which will benefit us some day in the future. And until we see an uptrend in employment it means that it's not safe out there and we don't like hiring people that we later have to fire. So, many of us, are weathering the storm of the century (we hope) and perhaps speculating in the market. We continue to build a position in precious metals as a disaster-abatement plan -- the worst we'll do is break even. So yes, I am a market bear now but not forever. As such I wish to sincerely thank you in advance for the feast I'll be having on your carcass in February.

America, The Nanny State

An excellent article, Mr. Quinn! My children stand a better chance of succeeding because I read and explain articles like this to them. At least they will enter the game knowing which areas are the least rigged against them. I had the whole family sit down and watch the movie "I.O.U.S.A" and it now forms a foundation for discussion. They have had little difficulty responding to the mini-socialists that are bred at their grade school and high school, and we have the most interesting dinner discussions afterward. Teach your children well.

U.S. Economy Is Growing Again?

This article was very short. Thanks!

Nouriel Roubini, One on One: More Doom and Gloom

I have to agree with Joseph S. And what does "stay liquid" mean? Does it mean stay in cash? Cash is like ice -- it melts while you hold it. USD used to melt at about 5% a year but those happy days are gone. Other fiat currencies have the same issue. Only time will tell what our current real inflation rate is. But one must invest (and win) just to break even. I would not be entirely out of gold, nor all-in. It's balance, baby!

Nouriel Roubini, One on One: More Doom and Gloom

I have to agree with Joseph S. And what does "stay liquid" mean? Does it mean stay in cash? Cash is like ice -- it melts while you hold it. USD used to melt at about 5% a year but those happy days are gone. Other fiat currencies have the same issue. Only time will tell what our current real inflation rate is. But one must invest (and win) just to break even. I would not be entirely out of gold, nor all-in. It's balance, baby!

Every Economic Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Although I am a silver investor, this was a fairly useless article. If, as you state, your primary reason for buying silver is "for the simple reason that it’s much cheaper than gold", may I suggest copper which is SERIOUSLY cheaper than gold. Or perhaps aluminum? I think I may reasonably summarize this article as "Hey gang, buy silver 'cuz I am!!"

Predicting Financial Crises: Are Macroeconomic Models Useful?

I think a better analogy is a munitions factory. Based on the amount of high explosives being employed to manufacture weapons of mass (financial) destruction, the owner should employ ever greater safeguards; safety procedures, blast-proof walls, etc. In our case, the owners of the largest factories redirected the funds for thicker walls to build even larger weapons. When the inevitable happened, the walls blew out hitting neighboring factories; munitions and otherwise. Yes, this was highly predictable -- just ask Buffett (see Financial Times, 04Mar2003). Brilliantly, the politicians (mostly with backgrounds and cronies in the same industry) chose to support and reward this deliberate negligence.

Inflation: It's a Crowded Trade

Outstanding article and analysis -- thanks!

If Wal-Mart Isn't Recovering, How Can the U.S. Economy?

Thanks David. Yes, it really is as simple as that.

In Defense of GLD

Kid, your article is long on "I happen to believe" and very short on actual data. I would recommend yesterday's J. S. Kim article "Are GLD and SLV Legitimate Investment Vehicles?" His article made me very nervous about my GLD holdings because it was rife with direct quotes from the GLD prospectus and insightful questions. Sadly, he did not share his beliefs and feelings with us.

Employment Report: The Never-Changing Story

Davewmart - We heartily support the right of Scandinavians to be Socialists. You WANT to be Socialists, so more power to you. But at least 50% of Americans don't want to be Socialists. We want the government to get out of our lives and leave us alone. We don't need to government to do things for us, we just need it to stop doing things to us. We take responsibility for ourselves and those who belong to us and, having done that, we usually take care of others as well. Voluntarily, because that's who we are. Many of us have resisted the Siren call to buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like. Perhaps the US could split into 2 countries: the Grownups and Other.

GE's Imagination at Work

(cue violins)
"Edison was an innovator first and a business man second. Wealth was just a byproduct of his incredible inventions; it was never his goal."

Nicola Tesla might have had something to say regarding this. Edison was more tenacious than he was smart. When Edison's Direct Current light bulbs, generators and transmission systems were shown to be inferior to Tesla's brilliant AC systems, Edison first hired him (which didn't last long) and then worked financial angles to get Tesla's funding cut off. In all of this I am not faulting Edison -- it was just business. But that's the point here. Remove the halo and wings from your portrait of Edison and you'll be much closer to the truth.

Savings Rates Surge: Who Is Going to Consume?

Excellent article. I, too, believe that the new normal is not a short term phenomenon.

Obama's Dance of the Seven Veils

"old boat guy" -- apart from the name calling, did you have anything to contribute? I didn't say things were good, just better than the other guys. And moving toward the European socialist model certainly won't help us to be more vibrant. BTW, I agree with your original comment since at the top levels Banker=Politician & Politician=Banker.