These may not all apply to you. But, around here, they are all part of making the season merry. So we’ll begin…
Breaking: Durable Goods
Drop to Suck:
Oh, but not to worry, no sir!
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025 (July, August, and September), according to the initial estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.8 percent. The increase in real GDP in the third quarter reflected increases in consumer spending, exports, and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.
Confused? The SUCKS! number is in Q4 – the happytalk BS is Q3…all in reading the fine print, brothers and sisters.
Futures have turned down, Santa might be “sleighed” and the elves? Some of ’em have Molotov’s…
Gold, Silver Roar
The snapshot on https://finviz.com today was glorious.
Yes, that’s right – Gold is still marching toward $4,600 and silver has done a “kiss and run” from the $70+ level. But, what does this tell us about real inflation?
A story to illustrate: Back in 2004, we bought a new Kubota tractor. $14,000, zero percent interest – including bush hog, box blade, and front loader. Now, at the time I was making some of that six-figure paper and I had a choice. I could put $3,500 into silver. OR I could pay off the small tractor balance. Obviously, you know which way that went.
Here’s the interesting part of the math: At the time the “paper” would pay off 25 percent of the new tractor price. Remember this: 500 ounces of silver = 25% of a new tractor.
Just for the hell of it, I looked up the price of a comparable new Kubota 25-HP 4×4 today. Most new 25 HP tractors are sold in “package deals” that include a front loader and other common implements. These packages typically fall in the $26,000 to $30,000 range.
At $70 an ounce, if I still had the 500 ounces in hand, it’d be enough to not only buy the tractor, but with enough left-over to toss in a 20-foot trailer (so we could drive it around the block). And still have enough liftoff to shack-up at a fancy Big City No-tell for a weekend.
Even if you’re not awake what should strike you is this: The “hard purchasing power of paper” seems to have lost about 75 percent of its oomph since 2005. And if you go back to 1913 when the Banker’s Cabal wrested control of the Nation’s money (from an equally questionable Congress) you’ll see we have lost 97 percent of our oomph.
BRICS and China are coming for our chair – as the world’s Reserve Currency – and we’ve still got a long ways to go. Including more wars and such. But this is what matters – Street Level Economics.
Moral for the Christmas Stocking? Chase utility value (as in “has industrial use”) not paper with zeros on it. Paper is going wildly out of style. Who prints shit in the digital world? About the only killer app left for paper is Charmin.
The “Rich at Christmas” Test
- Log into your credit card account.
- Note balance,
- If Balance: $0.00 you are RICH!
- If the Balance >0, either:
- You haven’t made the transfer yet. Or…
- You got sucked into buying things you didn’t need or couldn’t afford.
And, for ANOTHER YEAR, Elaine and I will have made it through 365 yoke-free days of not paying a damn cent of interest. We don’t “buy payments” – we buy utility value. And that leads to?
Fact For Action: Buyer’s Remorse
Fact: Buyer’s remorse is not just emotional regret — studies show it’s a predictable cognitive response that spikes after irreversible purchases, especially when choices are complex, expensive, or made under time pressure. The brain replays “what else I could have done” once the option set collapses to zero.
So what: That regret can distort judgment, leading people to either double-down defensively (“I had to do it”) or freeze future decisions altogether. In markets, this shows up as panic selling after tops, overpaying for convenience, or refusing to exit bad positions because admitting error feels worse than the loss.
Action: Before any major purchase or commitment, write down one sentence answering this question: “What specific job does this do for me that nothing cheaper or simpler can?” If you can’t answer cleanly, pause 24 hours. After purchase, stop comparison shopping entirely — it only manufactures regret. The goal isn’t perfect decisions; it’s fewer decisions you second-guess.
Action 2: See the eggnog discussion further down the column…
Peace On Earth?
Oh yeah?
First you need a Navy: Trump announces new US warship class named after himself. Umm…will they have hot tubs?
The Canadian insurgency is still in power as ’60 Minutes’ segment on El Salvador prison mistakenly airs in Canada after network delays release.
“Yes, but what about peace?” Will a New Mideast War Erupt Over Iran’s Growing Ballistic Missile Arsenal? | The New York Sun
And does this lead to War or preemptive cauterization? China likely loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields: Pentagon,
By the way: we’re so old that we remember when only sailboats were called “blow boats.” US attacks ‘low-profile vessel’ alleging it ‘was engaged in narco-trafficking’
Remarkably:
Need a grade changed on a transcript? 3.5 Million Affected by University of Phoenix Data Breach – SecurityWeek
Hot air about wind farms is subsiding. U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Hit With Fresh Blow as Projects Suspended. In case you didn’t know how this game was played? There’s a case (in data) to be made that the federal land leases on which these monsters were built were mostly owned by politically active (contributors) and the whole charade was a back-end political scam. Like certain solar outfits and…oh, don’t get me started…
Look for Leticia James to see higher office going forward. She’s deeply involved as States sue the Trump administration over CFPB funding.
Around the Ranch: The Texas Eggnog Shortage
Pulling the clicker on the (home delivery) shopping order Monday was delayed. It seems that WalMart was out of a seasonal favorite around here – “Southern Comfort Eggnog.”
Threading the online shopping gauntlet is serious business this week: You need to get that order clicked in at precisely the right moment. Too early, and you might get the day-old bread. Too late? Well, the last of the big prime ribs will be gone. No telling when the gallon jugs of burgundy to go with it will go “out of stock.” We’ve all been there, right?
But the eggnog. OMG sure it has poison sugar (HFCS) in it. But three days a year, WTF? Not that we will run to the store to buy rum (and more nutmegs to grind over it) but you do know right out of the carton, this is the best French Toast batter of Earth? With some added nutmegs, of course.
Come now to the archive and let me school you on the history of eggnog – because this is jaw-dropping dinner table conversation material:
Eggnog traces its roots back to medieval Britain, where a hot, milky, ale-based drink called “posset” was popular among the well-to-do. Posset was often thickened with eggs and flavored with spices, then used as both a comfort drink and a remedy for colds. Because milk, eggs, and spices were expensive, these early versions were largely reserved for the upper classes, served in silver or wooden bowls during winter gatherings and special occasions. (None of which were large enough for us…)
As the drink evolved, wine or sherry replaced ale, and the mixture became richer and smoother. When the tradition crossed the Atlantic with British colonists in the 17th and 18th centuries, it changed again. In the American colonies, rum was far cheaper and more available than European wines, thanks to Caribbean trade routes. The combination of milk, eggs, sugar, and rum became a staple of holiday celebrations, particularly on farms where dairy and eggs were plentiful. God parted the skies and added spiced rum (Sailor Jerry or the Captain seems not to matter after the first few) in 1974, or thereabouts.
The name “eggnog” is thought to come from “nog,” a strong ale, or possibly from “noggin,” a small wooden cup used to serve drinks. By the 19th century, eggnog had become firmly associated with Christmas and winter festivities in the United States, often prepared in large batches and sometimes aged with spirits for weeks or months. Recipes varied widely by region and family, with some favoring brandy or bourbon and others insisting on rum. Half of the morning (while the food order lands) will be spent debating driving into town for rum. Or, “roughing it” with Jack Daniel’s. (See how delicate the environmental balances are out in farm country?)
Over time, eggnog shifted from a homemade, occasionally potent punch to a commercial seasonal product, pasteurized and sweetened for mass consumption. Despite that, the drink still carries echoes of its past: a reminder of agricultural abundance, winter feasting, and the old habit of turning simple farm ingredients into something indulgent during the darkest days of the year. Which was yesterday, or so.
Near as we can remember.
Write when it gets light, the rum shows up, or Santa brings an aim-point.
George@Ure.net
PS New post on Hidden Guild (my AI research site) if you have an interest
Silver be just gettng started..just. Making BCP the -https://youtu.be/vpgu9wKJVbc?
We got a long way to go and in meantime a ground breaking development in Silver science bee pending…think Isotopes. Shhhhhhh
Speaking of speculation, you may or may not know one of BCP’s new investments= 1 portfolio cornerstone is a big Aussie GAS company spun off from BHP several years ago. The Chairwomen (Meg) is a big GAS & Oil powerhouse, who just accepted the same job at British Petroleum (BP). Savvy ?
Good.
Now consider who Megs’ mentor has been over the years..guys 1st name is Sir. He also happens to be grand Poohbah at Shell.,owned by the lizards..unh I mean house of orange. Okie dokie – we got prime suspects, with proven track records running 2 big Gas and Oil co’s, one of which is moving over to a struggling Oil major with an associated struggling stock price. Well homegamerz at this point I gotta ask – DO you see what I see ?
Hmmmmm
Thanks for the info George, now that i know mr and the misses are rich I can relax, “NOT” lol, but we are better off than many.
money owed
house-0
car-0
truck-0
CC’s -o
last year of gold mining in Alaska, 40K at 300 a ounce. now you do the math at 4500. a ounce.
Merry Christmas.
I ordered $107 worth of tallow cooked Tasty Nick’s potato chips from Amazon. They are always slow to arrive but they were finally delivered…to someone else’s house. Amazon nicely gave me a refund. I reordered the chips. They arrived yesterday at the right house, but covered in what the driver said was drain cleaner. Drano!! The boxes were soaked. Amazon again gave me a refund. The customer support person said I could eat or give away the chips. You think? Who would risk eating them? I just got a notice asking if I wanted to reorder the chips. My living room still smells of Drano from when I brought the boxes into the house, even though I quickly put them out by the trash. Maybe I don’t need fancy chips.
Not to put too fine a point on it m’dear, but you and water products are not having a good season….
Hahaha
Universe be talking E, might be a good time to start listening, ya think ?
Well Eleanor, eating the Drano soaked potato chips would certainly fix any stomach acid problems you have but definitely not recommended. It is incredible that a customer support person would suggest such an insane thing. Bezos needs to know.
Stick to LOOB’s recipes and have a Merry and healthy Christmas.
Oh hun… potato chips are so easy..band yes you can use lard to fry them.. I prefer peanut oil myself.. if its just you and a significant other then run to Wal-Mart and get the nostalgia fryer.. great little unit for just a couple..then take you veggie slicer..
https://www.amazon.com/Shredder-Vegetable-Zucchini-Chocolate-Interchangeable/dp/B0F7J41L2P/ref=sr_1_20?crid
or mandolin slicer and slice up your potato.. one baking potato is one bags of chips..
https://www.amazon.com/Saltlas-Tempura-Stainless-Fahrenheit-Temperature/dp/B0BY9R9TDP/ref=sr_1_28?crid
now I have several deep fat fryers.. but the little nostalgia one at Wal-Mart is perfect for small batches of food..
the trick is each potatoes slice has to enter separately.. rinse the starch out of the potatoes first get that starch out soak them oh maybe an hour then change water till its clear. ( now you can use that and get potato starch)Then dry them with paper towels or a towel..
then season it anyway you like.. I like cookies barbecue seasoning myself..when the older grandkids were younger we use to make tones of them..now if you like a pringles type cracker..
Ingredients
1 cup instant mashed potato flakes (plain, unflavored)
½ cup all?purpose flour
½ tsp salt
½ cup water
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Optional: paprika, ranch powder, cheddar powder, garlic powder
you mix up your dough..
potato flakes
flour
salt
Now Add:
water
oil
Stir until it forms a smooth dough — like Play?Doh.
If it’s sticky, add a little flour. If it’s dry, add a teaspoon of water.
Roll it thin
This is the key.
Place dough between two sheets of parchment
Roll until it’s paper thin — thinner than a tortilla
Peel off the top parchment
or if you have a pasta maker or dough sheeter… use that..
now take your cookie cutter..I use one of the lunchbox Pringles individual packs..
Then Create the Pringle curve
This is the fun part.
Place each circle over the ridge of a metal spoon or lay them across the bars of an oven rack so they curve slightly.
That’s how you get the signature saddle shape.
Bake at 325°F for 12–18 minutes (or until crisp and lightly golden).
Let cool — they crisp even more as they cool.
I think I’d be inclined to make my own. Use a good ol’ reliable Presto Fry Daddy and purchase a gallon of tallow from any Steak & Shake to fuel it. I would spring for the Presto deep-fryer basket accessory and (even though it is likely to last a year or more, if you don’t burn it) see if I could come up with a filtering system to make the oil last even longer…
The Easiest Homemade Cooking?Oil Filter (Coffee?Filter Method)
This is perfect for someone who wants a simple, no?risk way to clean frying oil.
You need
A funnel
Coffee filters (basket style or cone style)
A clean jar or bottle
A strainer (optional)
Steps
Let the used oil cool completely.
Place a coffee filter inside the funnel.
Set the funnel over a jar or bottle.
Slowly pour the oil through.
If the filter clogs, replace it and keep going.
The “Cartridge Filter” Style
This is sturdier and filters even finer.
Steps
Remove the cardboard tube from the center of the toilet?paper roll.
Compress the roll slightly so it fits snugly into a wide funnel or cut bottle or a piece o plastic pipe with holes drilled in the side then center that tube into the next size plastic pipe with it centered in a drain pan and the drain hole at the bottom.. a dog watering dish works great for this.
Pour oil through the center hole where the tube used to be.
Oil travels outward through the layers and drips out the sides.
Result
Cleaner oil, faster flow, less clogging.
Multi?Stage Filtering (Very Clean Oil)
If you want oil that looks almost new:
First pass: pour oil through a mesh strainer to remove big chunks.
Second pass: pour through the toilet?paper roll filter.
Optional third pass: pour through a coffee filter for polish.
This gives you extremely clean oil.
In my early years of ownership, a number of the dieselheads who hung out at the (Volkswagen) TDI Club online forum used TP filters as a supplementary filtering device. It made diesel oil much cleaner than a standard oil filter and extended its longevity to the point at which the oil begins to break down. However, I’m not sure I’d trust ANY of today’s toilet paper to be physically clean enough (and free of crap, so to speak) to filter an oil used for human cooking and consumption.
I was thinking of a device which was essentially the first you described: A strainer, followed by a coffee filter. This is how I clear my bacon grease before I can it for future use, and seems a reasonable process to use with frying oil…
Oh I forgot put a tube inside the toilet paper the same size as the card board tube I think its an inch and a quarter of course the pipe has to have holes drilled all around it in the larger joke its easier to put a cap on it with the hole drilled in it to have the smaller pipe come out of the top..
How to Glue a 4?Inch Pipe Inside a 6?Inch Pipe (For a Toilet?Paper Oil Filter)
This method keeps everything aligned and gives you a stable filter housing.
Materials
6?inch PVC pipe (your outer shell)
4?inch PVC pipe (your inner core)
PVC end caps (optional but helpful)
PVC spacers or homemade spacers
PVC cement or 100% silicone (depending on whether you want permanent or removable)
Toilet?paper rolls (unscented)
Create or buy spacers to center the 4?inch pipe
You need the 4?inch pipe to sit perfectly centered inside the 6?inch pipe.
You can use:
PVC “centering rings” (3D printed or bought)
Or make your own from:
scrap plastic
plywood
thick rubber
even cut?down PVC couplers
Homemade spacer method
Cut 3–4 small blocks (½–1 inch thick) and glue them evenly around the 4?inch pipe like “tabs.”
These tabs will touch the inside wall of the 6?inch pipe and keep everything centered.
Think of it like making a wheel hub.
Dry?fit everything first
Slide the 4?inch pipe (with spacers attached) into the 6?inch pipe.
Make sure:
It’s centered
It slides smoothly
There’s room for toilet?paper rolls in the four inch pipe with holes drilled in it to allow the oil to seep out into the six inch pipe to drain into the bowl below that the six inch pipe is seated in..this can be glued or you can make a sleeve to slide the six inch slide into in order to pot the water out.. I made one once for auto oil and used an auto oil pan with the spout on it..
Adjust spacers if needed.
Choose your adhesive based on how permanent you want it
Option A — Permanent bond (PVC cement)
Use this if you want the filter housing to be solid and never taken apart.
Apply PVC primer (optional but stronger)
Apply PVC cement to the spacers and the inside of the 6?inch pipe
Slide the 4?inch pipe into place
Hold for 30 seconds
This creates a rock?solid bond.
Semi?permanent (100% silicone)
Use this if you want to be able to cut it apart later.
Run a bead of silicone around the spacers
Insert the 4?inch pipe
Let cure 24 hours
Silicone is strong but flexible.
Seal the bottom (optional but recommended)
If you want the oil to flow down through the toilet?paper rolls, then out the bottom:
Glue a PVC end cap onto the bottom of the 6?inch pipe
Drill holes in the bottom of the 4?inch pipe
Or leave the 4?inch pipe open if you want oil to flow through the center
This depends on how you want the oil to travel.
Insert the toilet?paper rolls
They should fit snugly but not crushed.( you may have to take a little off of each roll ..)
Pour oil through the top now with the inch and a quarter inside tub glue a small reducer to allow a gallon jug to sit on top..fill the jug and insert it just like you do for a water jug Dispenser.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/water-dispensers-and-pitchers/4300901?
Gravity will pull the oil:
down through the toilet?paper layers
through the gap
out the bottom
This gives you a deep?bed cellulose filter, similar to commercial depth filters.
one or two rolls of tp.. not very high you dont need a huge filter system.. I first got this idea from mother earth news decades ago..does an amazing job ..
This drain pan would be awesome..
https://www.bing.com/shop/productpage?q=LUMAX+Black+LX-1632+15+Quart+Drainmaster+Pan+And+Waste+Storage.+Ideal+For+Oil+Recycling%2c+Drain+Direct-No+Oily+Tub%2c+Funnel%2c+Mess+To+Clean-Up+On+Top+Or&filters=scenario%3a%2217%22+gType%3a%2212%22+gId%3a%22119521000124%22+gGlobalOfferIds%3a%22119521000124%22&productpage=true&pdppageoverlay=true&bgscenario=l2&originQuery=oil+drain+pan&overlayOfferIds=%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c&overlayId=119521000124&FORM=SHOPIC
I used a cheap thing to reuse auto oil..
John Rubino: Possible Death Spiral Scenario
Here’s how this might play out:
The Fed cuts overnight interest rates back down to zero.
Bond yields return to their recent highs of around 5%. Bond portfolios in pension funds and IRAs crater, and equities (which don’t like high interest rates) teeter. The AI bubble looks ready to pop.
The Fed restarts quantitative easing (QE), aggressively buying bonds to depress long-term interest rates.
This fails. Bond owners happily sell the Fed their now-questionable paper, but refuse to re-invest the proceeds in other bonds. Long-term rates stay high.
The government tries to pre-empt an equities bear market by buying stocks. This temporarily stabilizes Big Tech shares, but further spooks the bond market, sending interest rates higher despite QE.
30-year mortgage rates hit 8%, causing home sales to crater.
Stocks resume their slide despite the government throwing trillions of borrowed dollars at the problem.
The Fed goes full Modern Monetary Theory, running the government and supporting the financial markets with newly created currency. Everyone loses faith in the system, and the leveraged speculating community (i.e., pretty much everyone) heads for the exits.
“Monetary reset” becomes headline news, with the main question being how high the gold price will have to go to make it feasible. And, at long last, the fiat currency experiment ends.
Keep stacking. Inevitable is becoming imminent.
https://www.howestreet.com/2025/12/the-next-fed-chair-inherits-the-death-spiral/
“30-year mortgage rates hit 8%, causing home sales to crater.”
Might be FUD ?
When I bought my first single family, brick colonial home, on a VA loan, the going rates were Over 9.0% on the 30 yr.
Those high rates were not slowing down home buyers & sellers, we just adjusted the Purchase/Selling prices down accordingly – mr market took care of the deal flow at the mortgage banks early 90’s. Though thank goodness for the VA loan program – I would not have been able to to close that deal without them.
re: “The Georgics”, Virgil, 19 bc
feat: Roman Farmers Almanac
Virgil’s four books comprising “The Georgics” sought to educate about natural forces for those upon land and sea. He included warnings about the potentially destructive corus winds out of the northwest.
Today’s “Urbansurvival” edition laments about a “Canadian insurgency” continuing. A New York-pulled 13 minute segment of this past Sunday’s “60 Minutes” broadcast inadvertantly played in Canada. As chance would have it, the parent of the Canadian broadcaster is headquartered to the northwest at Corus Quay on the Toronto waterfront.
Record of the errant broadcast is said to be elusive as suppression edicts are thrown against natural forces. The following link on “X” by way of “Newsweek” charts a public pathway forward:
https://x.com/ewarren/status/2003294279645729057
Meanwhile over in Pocahontas according to the federal “Environment Canada” agency, it’s -18? C. with the windchill and a 15 km/hr breeze is blowing across the Icefields Parkway.
Test post for George:
My IPv4:
129.222.129.37
My IPv6:
Not Detected
It’s Starlink as ISP, and it’s DHCP. They consistently show me as in Phoenix, 500 miles away, and I get caught up in their new Arizona adult site censorship/certification unless I use a VPN. I don’t normally use a VPN with this site though.
I just posted to yesterday’s column and it seems to work, so whatever you did solved things for now. No need to approve this post unless you want to. Merry Christmas!
Dear JC and George, I am currently rereading a book “How Money Dies” is about the German 1920 – 1925 inflation and gives detail of how a country can crash their own currency. A little bit of printing can go a LOOONG WAY.
Fiendbear.com! Brother~ A blessing to hear from you! For readers not familiar, the Fiend Bear page https://fiendbear.com/ is one of the best (ahem, non-urban or PN) econ pages on the net and has been for eons! https://fiendbear.com/ Genius work – and between us? How Money Dies if a brilliant nudge – time to reread if you haven’t already! thank you!
The market delivered a strange (and revealing) combination overnight: stocks hovering near record highs, volatility slipping into “nothing to see here” territory, and precious metals acting like something just broke.
https://www.fiendbear.com/marketre.html
If you have a high percentage of your savings in PM’s, especially paper PM’s, it might be time to think about selling some to buy other tangible assets which might be of value in a leaner operating environment. And 100% paper PM’s are really not any more a safety hedge than tokens or digital greenbacks. I would say that a single monster box of physical silver Eagles is probably not too much to keep as an insurance hedge for certain peculiar economic conditions. A dozen boxes might be indicative of it’s time to lighten up a bit, unless you gotta a seriously large retirement nest egg to invest. That would probably be an entry point for gold buggery.
Great Point !! On a list of 1 to 10 what do some of you think would be the most valuable tangible assets to have ? Obviously they would need a long long shelf life. Portability would be an issue too.
Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.
Not all assets need to be portable. A small home purchased or built for cash, and sufficient land for gardening or small scale agricultural production are at the top of the list. Ag exemptions for property are valuable. A trailer with a tree farm works for some.
A tractor or a cash road-able vehicle are portable. I bought an electric bicycle with a cargo trailer, as a back-up vehicle.
A woodstove for back-up heating, and trees to feed it is a good investment.
Manual tools for gardening and maintenance.
A greenhouse. A potable water well. Water purification equipment.
Basically, all the stuff G____ talks about. And no, I have some of these items, but not all. Functioning clean water wells are hard to come by in some locations.
“Inflation”
The general price level should double by Easter as Trump plays with debt.
Pay or die!
“The U.S. Education Department will begin garnishing wages of student loan borrowers in default starting in January. This marks the first time since the pandemic that collections will resume. The government has the power to seize wages, tax refunds, and Social Security benefits, taking up to 15% of a borrower’s after-tax income. Over 5 million borrowers are currently in default, with that number potentially rising to around 10 million. There are more than 42 million Americans holding student loans, totaling over $1.6 trillion in debt. This is a developing news story.”
If Ure’s truly runs it right, that would (kinda, sorta, maybe) ballpark a “stiff’s bag” of $200-billion. Was it the late Everett Dirksen who said “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty quick you’re talking real money!”
2026: when the rich will buy and sell the SpaceX IPO to one another why the country crumbles!
(‘Hot air about wind farms is subsiding. U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Hit With Fresh Blow as Projects Suspended. In case you didn’t know how this game was played? There’s a case (in data) to be made that the federal land leases on which these monsters were built were mostly owned by politically active”)
breaktime catch-up…a friend’s father has eight of those monsters on his farm.. fifty year land rental agreement for three thousand a month…
makes my fifty six year rant of solar towers at every substation and handing out gridtie and small wind fiscally responsible…it’s not only cheaper.. but would increase the out put by what.. several hundred percent..you’ve seen the photo of the three sided tower I believe they should build .it would require a change in the business model though
Was thinking of Youse today..while I was at old folks home. My 94 yr old Mother just moved out of her cottage and into Assisted Living in the main bldg complex this month. Reason of I was thinking of you was due all the senior employees I saw. Seems at this particular place at least 50% of work force are boomer age or older. Thats not including any volunteers.
As I was walking the halls outta this joint, there was lil ole Guy walking in front me whistling. Thought that was kinda cute, not till I passed him that I noticed he wasnt whistling, he was just breathing with a slight whistle. Spry with a twinkle in his eye..
Best part of visit – was when I was passing a resident and aide coming out of an activity center area and stopped in front of bulletin board. Just as I approach she says while looking at notice on board “look everybodys dying in here” I just smiled and gave slight chuckle to aide, as it was kinda funny in passing.
I take care of people my age and younger..the cashier at the gas station use to be the administrator at a physical rehab unit..retired then had to go back to work..prices out paced retirement..today a nurse visiting a client her brother had to do exactly what I’m doing…the client is her brother they were heading to see family and she said she had to go back to work at a store because prices have out paced her retirement income..once I get this bank loan paid off I can stop..hopefully depending on if we are Zimbabwe or greece,Argentina bound..seems like a lot of work for just a couple hundred a week.. but it is what it is..m not the only one..I was at a senior center a few months ago picking up someone and an 85 year old woman was crying..being the nosey kind I asked..what’s wrong.. she said I’m 85 and have to find a job to survive..so I’m not the only one..I did a fifteen hour day Xmas Eve and ran into an old nurse I use to work with..she said dam your still working..yup..been there done that
https://www.bullionvault.com/silver-price-chart.do
Prettier Chart LOL
Nice chart Chris
“Breaking: Durable Goods ‘
If you can break ’em, they’re not very durable, are they?
Yo Doubters,
time to keep tabs on 3SI if you want confirmation on previous data suggestion it was more than a rock. Farsight Grp/Aziz Brown did “viewing” on 3SI, and described an event that ends with 3SI obliteration. It will be hard to see, but I told skywatchers with 8-10 inch telescopes wioll be able to see “something”.
In meantime below is link to a piece of sandstone from ancient Egypt – from the Prince Collection that is up for auction Jan 31st at Apollo Auctions. Check this guy out – https://images5-cdn.auctionmobility.com/is3/auctionmobility-static5/CxTs-5-ANGDP/5-270ZOR/520_1.jpg%20?%20maxwidth=1600&maxheight=1600
Does that look Human ?
Okay what or who does it look like..?
BCP,
As chance would have it, Dr. Ivan Bonchev of Apollo Auctions that you mention did his thesis at Oxford titled “The Monetary Circulation of Moesia Inferior from the Beginning of the 2nd Century AD to the End of the 3rd Century AD”. Apparently Moesia Inferior was parts of what is now Bulgaria and Romania. ChatGPT’s single sentence summary of the thesis is “ancient coins behave like modern capital under stress”.
I’ve sold Au and Ag to a bullion dealer in Beaverton, Oregon on trips back to the States over the last three months.
I just checked his site to see what he is paying now. He has prices for Au and Ag for sale, but under “Buy” he is “Call” instead of listing a price.
I’m wondering if we will get to a situation where the prices are so high that I will have to hunt even harder to find someplace where I can sell. “Coin shops” are already out of the question. Will bullion dealers be closing down now because buyers are drying up and people like me are all trying to sell?
Richard Russell: People aren’t looking at gold correctly. Gold is eternal money. Gold is the only money not a product of debt. Gold is pure intrinsic wealth. But when it comes to trading, as long as traders and speculators can make money buying and selling dollars or euros which pay interest, why should they speculate in pure direction by buying or selling gold. The answer is they shouldn’t — and they won’t.
Wealthy investors don’t buy gold because they believe gold will move higher. Even if gold moves higher these people aren’t going to sell their gold. Wealthy people hold their gold until they’re near death, and then they’ll pass it on to their kids and their loved ones. Gold is wealth, paper money is a unit of exchange. Paper money does not hold its value.
http://www.321gold.com/editorials/russell/russell101804.html
Say it out loud and keep repeating it.
Paper money does not hold its value.
Paper money does not hold its value.
Paper money does not hold its value.
Everyone thinks he’s an expert. I’m in the process of bailing out from the failing country known as the USofA and need the money to buy land in the country I’m moving too. Also, my gold can be carried in my laptop case, but 1000 troy ounces of Silver is a bit much to carry on a plane.
i have sold 1000s of gold and silver shares over the las 3 months . not one buy . where did the money go ? mmm yum yum yum !! good on yah markey twain . plenty of dopamine zombies strutting , talkin loud now !!!! jab em all again , tell its an alien virus . cage rattler brother for you at broke santa time . aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa