1 You can probably do better than buying gold by shorting the Euro.

2 If all the EU leaders got monster blowouts, all would be fine. But, since that is unlikely, we are all effed sideways.

3 It could tip us over from a really bad recession into an all-out global depression (if indeed we are not already in one).

On the bright side, another world war would take care of some of those pesky excess male Chinese.

4 And Kratos predicting chaos in 3, 2, ...

5 Money will always be paper, but GOLD will always BE gold.

6 I'm sure the Greeks are going to man-up and work hard at only productive efforts from now on. Wannabuyawatch?

7 Gold and lead the only 2 safe investments to be had right now or maybe those seed bank things if it gets as bad as it's looking out there.

8 stupid question......if the euro is so bad...why is the dollar worth less? even when we had a stronger economy the dollar always seems to be worth less than the euro or in the olden days the pound......so what gives with that?

9 4 And Kratos predicting chaos in 3, 2, ...

lol.  This story's worth it.

/In the end, there will be only chaos!

10 When's Lady Ga-Ga's new CD coming out?

11 I'm sure the Greeks are going to man-up and work hard at only productive efforts from now on.

Posted by: eman at May 16, 2010 05:25 PM (ONBbr)

Whoa.  We're in complete agreeance.

12 GOLD!

13 10 When's Lady Ga-Ga's new CD coming out?

Posted by: Most of America at May 16, 2010 05:28 PM (XBdMr)

I don't want to know about anything coming out on that whore.

14 Greece is casting about for someone to blame their troubles on (besides themselves, that is) and have settled on the Americans


Well, everything that goes wrong in the world is the fault of Americans.  And Capitalism.  And George Booosh.

15 Look, everyone! I'm waving a bag of Euros over my head!

16 I have a bad feeling that when the Eurozone collapses all the socialist professors and plutocrat politicians are going to flee here and contribute to the same shit happening all over again.

17 11, Of course. You're bound to get lucky now and then.

18 14 Greece is casting about for someone to blame their troubles on (besides themselves, that is) and have settled on the Americans

And we all know who runs America's banks, right?

Seriously, if I were a European Jew, I'd be really nervous. 

19 Lady Ga-Ga is da bomb. She found a great shtick. Good for her.

20

We're not booing, we're chanting "JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!!"

21 The Euro will probably go to par with the dollar, of course when it started out it was worth LESS than a dollar as low as 83 cents But during the 8 years of Bush its value rose to almost $1.60. Since Obama the dollar is becoming stronger as the Euro weakens

22 Countries like Greece and Portugal are getting caught in a fatal spiral: they must implement draconian austerity measures to bring down public spending, but this in turn slows down the economy, which reduces the public and private coffers.
But I thought that deficit spending itself slowed down the economy as it took it out of the productive, private part.  Or is this just the difference between having borrowed money to spend and having no money?

23 i don't know....antigone loudiadis is the lady behind the epic fail of the greek economy....although she was working for goldman sachs.........

24 Seriously, if I were a European Jew, I'd be really nervous. Posted by: pep Yep. Time to book passage to America, folks. Don't wait too long this time.

25 Seriously, if I were a European Jew, I'd be really nervous. 

Posted by: pep at May 16, 2010 05:31 PM (0K3p3)

They've already been catching it.  I'm telling you people, this is eerily similar to the 30s.  And if Germany's economy falls apart, and it turns into a nation of angry desperate people who think they've been used...

26

Since Obama the dollar is becoming stronger as the Euro weakens

Well, of course. That was the moment the Earth began to heal itself, the oceans receded, and black people had all their credit card bills paid.

27 #21  Since Obama the dollar is becoming stronger as the Euro weakens

Ahahaha, what kind of drugs are you on, friend!?  'cause I want some. 

/Euro's just dropping faster, but the dollar is boned too because of our massive debt.

28 Not bragging but boy am I glad i bought a shit load of gold back in 2002 when it was trading at 200$ an oz.I got laughed at because everybody told me to invest in realestate.This is way before (unfortunatly)Ojugears was a household name.For once i made the right decision.I'ts crazy to buy it now.

29 Having physical metal on hand makes good sense for those doomsday scenarios, but it's too late to get into gold as an investment.

Yes, it's still slightly below the record in the 1980 adjusting for inflation but here's something to consider: the average price of gold since 1801 is $687 in 1998 dollars.

Beyond the doomsday reason putting money in metals now is speculation.  Speculation is only done with money you can afford to lose because unless you are thoroughly versed in markets you will lose it.

30 The Euro will probably go to par with the dollar, of course when it started out it was worth LESS than a dollar as low as 83 cents But during the 8 years of Bush its value rose to almost $1.60.

You left out the part about a dozen countries joining the Euro as a currency in that time period. When they leave the Euro, the value is going to crater. That's without even accounting for the debt crisis within the EU as a whole.

31 Lady Ga-Ga is da bomb.

She found a great shtick.

Good for her.

Posted by: eman at May 16, 2010 05:32 PM (ONBbr)

Oh good.  Back to disagreeance.  If you disagree, click on my name.

And by the way, AoSHQ Monitors, it just told me that tinyurl was banned.

32 The whole point of a bank bailout is purposely inflationary.  They are trying to prevent the collapse of the money supply.  Whether this is a good idea or not depends on your economic religion, but it shouldn't be surprising that the Euro currency is falling.

33 Solution:  Hire zombie Bob Ross for a redesign.  Just have him paint a shiny new Euro bill with happy clouds and snow-capped mountains.  Just the thing to restore faith in a currency.

34 I'm telling you people, this is eerily similar to the 30s.  And if Germany's America's economy falls apart, and it turns into a nation of angry desperate people who think they've been used...

And then what?  To my Hebraic-American friends, perhaps it's time to shift your allegiances from Obama and his ilk.

35

a shit load of gold

Never did understand the metric system.

36 @28
Ah, yes.  It's a good thing I bought all that gold back in 2000 cheap.  Now I'm a Brazilianaire.  Which I can say because it's the internet and none of you can prove me wrong.

37

#35 niether did I.Thats why I'm still on the shit standard.

38 stupid question......if the euro is so bad...why is the dollar worth less? It's not a stupid question at all. The Euro, like the British Pound Sterling and the Japanese Yen, is "floating". A country (or bloc, in Europe's case) establishes the initial trading value against other currencies, but then allows the rate to rise or fall based on what the market does. Most countries use the US Dollar as the benchmark because it is the de facto reserve currency for the world. It's quite possible, maybe even inevitable at this point, that the Euro achieves "parity" with the US dollar (this means that 1 US dollar buys you 1 Euro). This represents a huge deflation for the Europeans, because most "bought" their Euros when they were trading at 1 Euro to $1.34 American. That's a 30% haircut in a month! This is a horrible burden on people who live on fixed incomes, and it brutally punishes savers. It does make exports cheaper, but much of the EU's trade is internal. They can't make up the difference on trade with the US and Asia. Remember: fiat currency is just paper. It's an IOU from an issuing authority that amounts to little more than a promise to pay the face value. It's a very short term bond, essentially, and the "interest rate" is whatever the currency is trading at relative to other currencies. If the trust in the issuing body collapses, as is now happening in Europe, people abandon the fiat currency and go for hard currency: usually gold. You don't need a "promise to pay" with gold; gold has value independent of the issuing authority. (Though I think that gold boosters overstate the liquidity aspect. I can't haul a gold bar into a grocery store, shave off a sliver, and use it to pay for groceries.)

39 if the euro is so bad...why is the dollar worth less? even when we had a stronger economy the dollar always seems to be worth less than the euro or in the olden days the pound......so what gives with that?
Posted by: phoenixgirl

a) We have more debt than the GDP of many nations.

b) Comparative interest rates - the defining factor in currency exchange. The US has sat on interest rates since 2001 killing the desirability of the USD. Why park your money in US Treasuries when you can get 5% somewhere else, for example?

c) Trade imbalances - we import a lot of shit.

40

Never did understand the metric system.

Posted by: Ugly American at May 16, 2010 05:38 PM (XBdMr)

Never trust a system devised by the French.  And did you know those stupid Frogs tried to introduce a 10-day week too?

41

Hear that?

That's the sound of more money to dye my moustache!

42 thanks garbonzo and monty

43 I'm sure the utter collapse of the Euro will have negative ramifications for Americans, but I know how I'll feel when the currency markets wipe that smug look of Europhile faces.

44

stupid Frogs

When referring to the French, the stupid is inferred. As is the stank and cowardice.

45 Never trust a system devised by the French.  And did you know those stupid Frogs tried to introduce a 10-day week too?

That totally would have worked, too, if you hadn't stopped us.

46

CNBC's Larry Kudlow just found some more "green shoots", but they were actually poisonous mushrooms.

47 Inflation coming with the devaluation of the dollar.  

Gold is really NOT a good option.  The transition costs are high and there is really no easy way to own it, unless you want to start collecting coins.  TOO LATE.

The stock market will adjust for inflation, why do you think it's up 25%?  Not because of Barry, it is flight capital coming to the USA.

The only problem with the market is the coming increased taxes, which increases your transition costs.

Where to go?  I have no fucking clue.  Chile Peso?  The country is fairly stable and the currency trades relative to the price of copper.  Copper isn't going down.  Chile mines 35% of the world's copper.  Think you will need copper in your computer? Yep.

Short term, I'd stay in the market.  I might short gold for awhile.  That is a ballsy move, but in an out with a good swing.  Show me the money!

No guts no glory!

48

Just like a good socialist Europee-on failed utopia, Greece will points it fingers at America and not the fact that 4 out of 10 people in Greece are employed by the government and get a fat salary along with a fat pension and do little or no work. California is basically Greece except the other 49 states will be on the hook for them when it collapses.

49 I always thought the Euro was set up to start world governance.I know, you'll probably ask if I see pink elephants too!

50 I'm not a goldbug, either, but one they say that's absolutely right: it wlll never be worth zero.

Unlike (perhaps) )your 401k.

51 When Elton John starts melting all his gold records to keep the lights on, we'll know that the end is near..

52 But I thought that deficit spending itself slowed down the economy as it took it out of the productive, private part. It does, but it "hides" the slowdown behind a patina of fake wealth. Basically, it means that people are getting paid too much for the work they do: not just in wages, but in benefits and public amenities. (Kind of like a small town having too many cop cars. There's almost no crime; why have three cop cars? Answer: because Barney and Goober don't want to share a car when Andy's out on patrol.) Boiled down to its simplest elements, it really just amounts to living beyond your means: using one credit card to pay off another, staying one step ahead of the bill collectors, living in a house you can't afford, and so on. Bad enough on a personal level; catastrophic on a national level. This is why "growing the economy" is far preferable to "austerity measures", if you have that choice -- you can simply create more wealth and pay off your debts without taking much of a hit on the lifestyle. But the Greeks for example simply don't have the capacity to grow: they don't have the physical plant, they don't have the investment backing (boy, especially not now and maybe not for a long time to come), and they don't have an agile-enough government or workforce to pull it off. Nations can do it, mind you. Japan did it after World War II, and South Korea did it after the Korean War. But it takes an enormous ability to sacrifice personal comforts, to put up with ruinous taxation, and to become an obsessive saver.

53 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

54 So the real name of Cthulu is Peter Schiff?

55 ...But with the Euro diving faster than a holed submarine and Europeans stampeding each other to buy up...

I hate the Euro, the EU, and all things of that nature, but the the Euro was launched at less than parity with the dollar, and is now still well about it, so is the Euro really dying?  I hope it is, but I don't see compelling evidence.

56 (above, not about, it)

57

CNBC's Larry Kudlow just found some more "green shoots", but they were actually poisonous mushrooms.

More like magic mushrooms.

 

58 well you can't eat gold and if you plant an acre of food what's to stop someone from taking it once the crops are in? that's right weapons.......it's probably best to hide canned food and supplies somewhere and be well armed......

59 California is basically Greece except the other 49 states will be on the hook for them when it collapses.

Why?  I live in CA and I hear people say this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why people in the rest of the country would support a bailout of California.  There was no unforeseen disaster, no invasion from China.  We got where we are by spending money we didn't have.

The moral hazard problem for such a bailout is enormous - it becomes a sucker play to balance your books if the federal government swoops in to prop you up when the consequences manifest themselves.

60

Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

Bwahahahahahaha!

Let's hope Ted Bundy starts running a seminar on how to pick up young chicks.

61 I have always been one who believes gold is never a good investment. It is a hedge against inflation and a hedge against failure of the local money.

In the case of inflation the best you can do is break even. In the collapse of local currency problem it can prevent a disaster but still there are better ways.

In the scenario we are talking about here gold would do no good because it appears that Kratos is right. Europe will descend into chaos.

In that environment the new gold is lead. 

62

Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

Thank you for that...I enjoyed it immensely.

63 Cheney Endorsement

64 53 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

It is, dumbfuck. How do you like the results?

65 Countries like Greece and Portugal are getting caught in a fatal spiral: they must implement draconian austerity measures to bring down public spending, but this in turn slows down the economy, which reduces the public and private coffers. If a decrease in govt spending wrecks an economy, then spending govt money at Warp 9 should lead to prosperity for all, right? Govt spending pulls money away from productive activity (and/or debases a currency). Cut regulation, cut taxation, cut govt spending, protect property rights and prosperity will follow (and it won't take long).

66 The US has sat on interest rates since 2001 killing the desirability of the USD. Why park your money in US Treasuries when you can get 5% somewhere else, for example? ...and yet people are still stampeding into Treasuries. I don't get it. I realize that institutional investors value "safety" over all, but Jesus! 0% for, what, seventeen months now? You might as well carry your money around in your sock. But you know, Bernanke is a Keynesian, and they believe in spend, spend, spend. Keep that engine humming at all costs, and damn the barriers or future implications. He'll say that he wants Americans to be savers, but no one is going to save money in a market like this one. Zero percent on bonds, equities going down like a porn queen, and debt as far as the eye can see. "Helicopter Ben" reminds me of that old quote by Augustine: "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet!"

67 Maybe Dahmer can instruct Emeril on taking meat up a notch.

68
After the collapse, visiting Lago Maggiore and San Moritz for about forty dollars and change will be a plus.  The only downside will be the beautiful multi-lingual hooker's in Switzerland will always be expensive......but worth it. 

Best European Slogan - "San Moritz, Where Whoring in an Art Form!"

69 38 stupid question......if the euro is so bad...why is the dollar worth less?

It REALLY is a stupid question. 

The price of the Euro to the dollar is in good's value.  Monty is trying hard to explain it, but a little soft.

What you value the exchange rate against another currency is an artificial value.  The cost of a Big Mac should be equal in Hong Kong, Berlin or NYC. 

If it is not, then the currency is over or undervalued.  Change Big Mac to glass of beer, same difference.

Currency is only worth what it will buy,not the number given the value.  That all things being equal should be close to the same world wide.  That is why the Yuan is undervalued and exports from China are cheap.

Don't get me started!

70 Why?  I live in CA and I hear people say this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why people in the rest of the country would support a bailout of California.

Because Barry and the rest of the Dems thinks it will help them in the electoral college.  It really is just that simple. He, and they, can't win without CA.  It is simply not possible.  He has already demonstrated how concerned he is with the opinions of the rest of the country. 

71 But I thought that deficit spending itself slowed down the economy as it took it out of the productive, private part. 
Posted by: pep

As near as I can tell it's a matter of how much an economy is dependent upon government wealth transfers. The EU countries are much more dependent upon the government transfers than we have been (caveat implicit.) If much of your citizenry is dependent on government jobs, welfare, and industrial regulation, they're going to spend less and the economy contracts.

Now this isn't to say that situation is permanent. The free-market economists would argue that eventually citizens would take advantage of the  free-er market, create new businesses and jobs, and then the economy would be both more prosperous and less dependent on the government.

This isn't to say the transition wouldn't be painless or without a lot of internal conflict. Hence riots and potential civil war.

72

Darn it, I thought this was going to be a post about Edgar Allen Poe...

73 Why?  I live in CA and I hear people say this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why people in the rest of the country would support a bailout of California.

It will not be the "people" who do the bailing out. The "people" were against nationalizing the health care industry.  The "people" were against bailing out the unions at GM and Chrysler.

Unless we get a real conservative take over of congress CA will get a bailout when they default.  Note that is a "when" not an "if". They had a real chance to fix their problem back when that deal was negotiated and then the CA Dems squashed the deal.

74 Have I talked to you about Herbal Life?

75 You can short Euros all ya want, but when you take delivery of your short contract payout it's gonna be denominated in ... what ? ..... increasingly worthless USD !

Anyone, ANYONE who believes that fiat currencies are their safe harbor is an economic illiterate. And those who have "gold contracts" or "silver accounts" are equivalently illiterate. Everyday numnuts who think they can "time" this deathspiral are a laughriot, since when the WSHTF even institutional investors are gonna be in deathpanic mode.

Get physical gold, or silver ... after tangibles. Alpha Strategy brethren.

76

I remember reading somewhere that Snapdragon is a pedophile.

77  Unless we get a real conservative take over of congress CA will get a bailout when they default.  Note that is a "when" not an "if".

Exactly, precisely right, Vic.  The people will not be consulted; the bureaucrats and their crony capitalist friends will simply issue orders and voilà!  Clownifornia bailed out.  Let no one be without warning:  CA will get a bailout.  If the nation knew what was good for it, it would put that fence around CA.

78

I'm just glad that I'm in the oil business.

79
Why?  I live in CA and I hear people say this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why people in the rest of the country would support a bailout of California.  There was no unforeseen disaster, no invasion from China.  We got where we are by spending money we didn't have.

The moral hazard problem for such a bailout is enormous - it becomes a sucker play to balance your books if the federal government swoops in to prop you up when the consequences manifest themselves.

Posted by: Ace's liver at May 16, 2010 05:53 PM (LtIsn)

It doesnt matter if the majority of Americans say f.u. to Clownifornia on a bailout, its not as if we actually have any say so how our federal tax dollars get spent and there is no way this administration and Congress isnt going to throw billions at them when it happens just for the sake of keeping reliable votes. They could care less how they got there and what needs to be fixed as long as the stupid continue to be stupid and vote for them thats all that matters.

80 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

Posted by: snapdragon at May 16, 2010 05:50 PM (5Etcj)

Comment Of The Day!

81 I'm putting all my money in titties.

82 But during the 8 years of Bush its value rose to almost $1.60. Since Obama the dollar is becoming stronger as the Euro weakens

I believe the high of the Euro during GWB's administration was in July of 2008 at 1.57USD.  It fell to 1.27USD by that November.

It's at 1.24USD now.

Fool.

83

You know, the Eastern Bloc nations are doing bangbusters better than a full third of Western Europe, fiscally.

Gee, I wonder why nations that suffered under Communism are thriving under capitalism despite the downturn, and nations that feel compelled to follow a Soviet model are collapsing DESPITE economic "unification".

 

The hysterical thing is, this point gets mentioned, verbatum, minus the sarcasm, by leftist economists. They simply can't see reality if it smacked them in the eye.

84 #75

Sounds good, but how are you going to use the physical gold?  Do you think  will go to a barter economy? 

If so, how will you value your gold.  One once for a case of beer?  Some survivalist think booze is a better barter commodity than gold.  WTF are you going to do with the gold, eat it? 

You can drink the booze.  So, the lesson here?  Store Valu Rite.  It has a indefinite shelf life and folks will work for it.

AoSHQ tip of the day.

85 The cost of a Big Mac should be equal in Hong Kong, Berlin or NYC. No, because the cost to produce a Big Mac isn't the same in Hong Kong, Berlin, or NYC. If you make all the Big Macs in a central factory and ship them to the stores where they are assembled on the spot by unpaid robots, fine; but if not, you have to factor in local business conditions. (If you make some poor schmoe in Guangxi province pay the same $3.50 for a Big Mac that an American pays, you're not gonna sell many burgers. Sell 'em for .50 cents apiece and you make up in volume and lower labor costs what you lose in unit cost.)

86 I love the talk of people who say they've "bought gold". You mean you've got bars of the stuff buried in your backyard and coins stuffed under the rafters, right? 'Cause otherwise all you've got is someone's promise to deliver some gold after you've jumped through all their hoops, or the ability to sell that promise to someone else. Which means all you've done is traded dollars for someone's privately backed currency. well you can't eat gold and if you plant an acre of food what's to stop someone from taking it once the crops are in? that's right weapons.......it's probably best to hide canned food and supplies somewhere and be well armed...... And I love talk like that. Let's face it, most of us live in urban areas, and we don't have any place to "run to". So who exactly you planning to shoot with all that "lead" you've invested in? Do you really think you are going to run from the city to the country and be welcomed, when it's us city dwellers who are causing this mess in the first place?

87 there is no way this administration and Congress isnt going to throw billions at them when it happens just for the sake of keeping reliable votes.

Remember, Barry is the kind of guy who, in a leaking boat, would drill holes to let the water run out.

88 Because Barry and the rest of the Dems thinks it will help them in the electoral college.  It really is just that simple. He, and they, can't win without CA.  It is simply not possible.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, given what it says about the rest of the country), that's not really so... Barry's electoral margin was large enough that he'd have won even without CA. So was Clinton's, and Bush I's, and Reagan's. Bush was able to pull off two victories in spite of those 54/55 EVs throwing themselves solidly at the Democrats. In fact, you have to go back to 1968 for the last election in which California's electoral votes put the victor over the top.

With this Census, CA officially begins its long downward slide in terms of electoral influence. For the first time in its history, it will not gain a congressional seat/electoral vote, and some estimates even have it losing one. This will only accelerate over the decade, and there's no telling how many EVs the 2020 Census will cost it.

89 And I love talk like that. Let's face it, most of us live in urban areas, and we don't have any place to "run to". So who exactly you planning to shoot with all that "lead" you've invested in? Do you really think you are going to run from the city to the country and be welcomed, when it's us city dwellers who are causing this mess in the first place?

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at May 16, 2010 06:04 PM (GUxTi)

You'll be welcomed if you have a bunch of lead.  To stay in a city is to commit suicide.  Is that your plan?

90 53 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

Posted by: snapdragon at May 16, 2010 05:50 PM (5Etcj)

Yeah because ours is just chugging the fuck along under Pres'ent Toonces isn't it? Just when I think you couldn't possibly get any dumber, you prove me wrong. Grats retard.

91 With this Census, CA officially begins its long downward slide in terms of electoral influence. For the first time in its history, it will not gain a congressional seat/electoral vote, and some estimates even have it losing one.

That is the best news I've heard in months.

92

With this Census, CA officially begins its long downward slide in terms of electoral influence. For the first time in its history, it will not gain a congressional seat/electoral vote, and some estimates even have it losing one. This will only accelerate over the decade, and there's no telling how many EVs the 2020 Census will cost it.

But...but...the hispanics, goddammit! They deserve extra seats because they're so goddam special!

93 This will only accelerate over the decade, and there's no telling how many EVs the 2020 Census will cost it.

Not if we can help it.

94 there's no telling how many EVs the 2020 Census will cost it.

Even if whatever ACORN is calling itself then is running the census?

95 53 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.

He did chide them on their debt woes...without a hint of irony.

96 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Russia on how to turn their economy around.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 16, 2010 05:50 PM (5Etcj)

FIFY, Jellybrain.

97 I remember reading somewhere that Snapdragon is a pedophile.

I just read that somewhere, in fact.

98 Do you think will go to a barter economy? That right there is why I have trouble with gold bugs. Just having the gold isn't enough; if it's not negotiable, what good is it? And it only becomes easily negotiable in really grim conditions that are -- even now -- very unlikely to happen. I dunno. When the gold bugs start going on about gold, all I can think about is some blasted wasteland with a bunch of starving zombies trading each other gold nuggets and saying, "Toldya!"

99 He did chide them on their debt woes...without a hint of irony.

Irony?  Never heard of it.

100
Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.




Anyone want to invest in mine and Woody Allen's new teen girl baby-sitting business?

101 I remember reading somewhere that Snapdragon is a pedophile.

It's on the Interweb.

102

Here's how europe turns around.

Follow the Polish Model.

1) Import capitalist ideas and implement them.

2) ??????

3) Export Ewa Sonnet, ines Cunda, and Marilyn Sakova. (Also known as Profit!, at least to me)

103 Sorry Greece, your women are hot, but that's not enough to want to bail out your shithole of a country.

104

You'll be welcomed if you have a bunch of lead.  To stay in a city is to commit suicide.  Is that your plan?

I was hoping to just watch the murderous chaos unfold on television and laugh as the metrosexuals and ghetto scum die like rats on a sinking ship.

Then I remembered the television set probably won't work. Is there some way to record it so we can watch these fuckers get what's coming to them at a later date?

105 The problem with gold is the paper trail and storage. Unless you physically posses it, with no paper trail, Obama can seize it and pay you whatever he wants for it in worthless paper. If Obama decides to seize IRA's(they're thinking about it) lot's of people will cash out with penalties, but the paper trail allow the feds to seize the money anyway.

106 That right there is why I have trouble with gold bugs. Just having the gold isn't enough; if it's not negotiable, what good is it?

That's the whole point of coinage - it's negotiable.  I would own some myself if there wasn't such a huge markup from the metal value.

107 Sorry Greece, your women are hot, but that's not enough to want to bail out your shithole of a country.

So you like women with mustaches?

108 I've never been much of one for kiddie toys, but people are paying good money for those "Beanie Babies". Seems like a sane investment to me.

109 O.T.: I just want to say that the blog traffic at AoShq and HotAir have individually demolished King Charles. Hip hip hoorah! The King is dead! Long live the King!

110 Sorry Greece, your women are hot

Posted by: logprof at May 16, 2010 06:11 PM (Mmw0q)

It's the porker's with mustaches that destroy a good boner.

 

111 Do you really think you are going to run from the city to the country and be welcomed, when it's us city dwellers who are causing this mess in the first place?

Well, you city dwellers can run at least as far as the houses in the suburbs we've vacated in favor of our cousin's farm.

112 You can short Euros all ya want, but when you take delivery of your short contract payout it's gonna be denominated in ... what ? ..... increasingly worthless USD !

Not if you are hedging your short by going long with SGD or buying gold.  You make money coming and going.  Since silver has more industrial uses it's more volatile, but when major moves occur in the markets, silver tracks almost lockstep with gold.  

113 104 Sorry Greece, your women are hot, but that's not enough to want to bail out your shithole of a country.

Good to know your priorities are straight, logprof, . 

114 Sorry Greece, your women are hot, but that's not enough to want to bail out your shithole of a country.

Posted by: logprof at May 16, 2010 06:11 PM (Mmw0q)

Some of 'em.  When they're young.  If you like hair.

115



Most people don't know this, but Ron Jeremy is in fact a Greek woman.

116

My grandmother's recipe for Soylent Green will be invaluable.

117 I dunno. When the gold bugs start going on about gold, all I can think about is some blasted wasteland with a bunch of starving zombies trading each other gold nuggets and saying, "Toldya!"

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 06:09 PM (O3eFQ)

As opposed to what - Zimbabwe dollars?

All commodities are going to rise in USD as gold increases, including oil and grain - ie, food. The USD is crrently just a fiat currency mainly backed by a debtor nation being hammered by exploding debt.

118 Not if we can help it.

Posted by: La Raza at May 16, 2010 06:08 PM (LtIsn)

Let 'em try. This is happening even WITH Mexicans pouring into the state by the truckload and the Democrats doing their damnedest to count every single one of them. The net outflow of citizens from the state is just that big.

119 #86

Monty, see Forbes index of Big Macs.   http://tinyurl.com/2fp7tbf

Let's remember what I said.  The cost of a Big Mac is a true value of the currecy relationships.  If you pay $3 for a Big Mac here and you pay 1.50 Euro for one, then the cost is the same.  If I pay 4 Euro, which equals $5, then the currency is overvalued. The external costs are variables that McDonald's faces worldwide, yet the Big Mac index always rules.

Economist have to assume that external variables will equal out, they usually do.  Exchange glass of beer for Big Mac. 

The real value of the currency?  How many Big Macs can you buy?

120 Most people don't know this, but Ron Jeremy is in fact a Greek woman.

Posted by: Blazer at May 16, 2010 06:14 PM (t72+4)

OK, thanks for ruining Greek women for me.

121 That's the whole point of coinage - it's negotiable. Dude, an ounce of gold is going for $1250. Does your grocer give change for Spanish Doubloons? In gold? (If I give gold, I better get gold back in change.) Or do you envision having teeny-tiny little shirt-button-sized coins to pay for stuff with? And I don't know about where you live, but around here, they don't take gold in payment for gas, groceries, clothes, shoes, the heat bill, gas bill, electric bill, trash bill.... I could go on. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to buy gold. It's probably a good idea to have a little bit in your portfolio. I just can't see going nuts with it.

122

Most people don't know this, but Ron Jeremy is in fact a Greek woman.

On a positive note, aren't most of them untouched by Greek men?

123 #86

Here all day, use to get paid for this, going to nap before dinner.

No fucking Big Mac for me, thank you.

124 Heavy yellow metals are nice.  Cadmium gold, cadmium yellow.  Naples yellow is nice too, for sunlit edges of puffy clouds.  Unicorns look best in flake white with cerulean blue eyes and shiny horns.  Skittles are nice too.  So many colors.  Just use your palette knife.  Someday you'll have a black man for president, but he'll look best in burnt umber or raw sienna.  You'll feel like you've been eating paint, too.

125 Are farts supposed to be lumpy?

126 Well, on the bright side, maybe my trip to Europeland won't be as expensive as I thought. Provided there is a Europeland this August. Then agian our fearless leader could re-institute the draft and send me over there gratis!

127

My grandmother's recipe for Soylent Green will be invaluable.

A secret recipe for Soylent Green egg salad was made famous in the Woody Allen movie "What's Up, Euro-Piggy?"

128

#125

DO NOT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO INVEST IN HEAVY METALS YOU POOFY-HAIRED GOON!

The last thing I need is for my paint to go up in price AGAIN after the surge in oil hit my acrylics supply in the gut...

129
Well, on the bright side, maybe my trip to Europeland won't be as expensive as I thought. Provided there is a Europeland this August. Then agian our fearless leader could re-institute the draft and send me over there gratis!

Posted by: Iblis at May 16, 2010 06:18 PM (9221z)

Well, you better go now. Saw an article over at FNC today that said up to four more volcanos may be getting ready to explode in Iceland, all of them bigger than the one thats erupting now .

130 Provided there is a Europeland this August.

How bad is the forecast for car-burning season?

131 Speaking of heavy metal, Mr. Ronnie James Dio left us today.

132 Dude, an ounce of gold is going for $1250. Does your grocer give change for Spanish Doubloons? In gold?

Well, we're talking about a scenario that involves currency collapse.  If that happens, then sure.  I'll take my Krugerand or golden eagle or whatever down to the grocery store and buy what I need.    The whole point of having a coin is the amount of precious metal is known, so the grocer and I can work out its value in dollars no matter how hyper the inflation.

Like I said, I don't actually have any gold coins because they want a 20% markup.  But if the greenback goes the way of the Confederate dollar I'll sure wish I did have gold coins.

133 @89  Okay, I will rephrase my point.   You are correct that O could have lost CA and still won.  That's arithmetic.  However, CA is the sine qua non (oooo, French) of Dem electoral strategy.  If he hadn't done the things necessary to secure CA's votes, he wouldn't have won the rest of the blue states that put him over the top.   The Dems are reliant on a small number of states to win, and CA is by far the largest.  It is the Dem bellwether.  If he can't sell himself there, some of the other blue states will flip. 

W and Reagan are irrelevant since the GOP has an entirely different electoral strategy. 

134 Provided there is a Europeland this August.
--
How bad is the forecast for car-burning season?

Paris, France in July:  Chance of showering metal and clouds of burnt tire smoke, with scattered car parts and charcoal continuing overnight.

135
Gold coins are redeemable for a small fee at Bank of Scotland, Freeport Grand Bahama, and in Nassau, New Providence as well as other offshore banks.  Unlike US based repurchase vendors, no identification or Social Security number disclosure is required in the Bahamas. 

136 If there's a currency collapse, you won't be getting food at a grocery store.

137

If you buy the GLD ETF's then that is dollar-based, as are the SLV's.

The Dow will shoot up if the USD declines rapidly, but that will be offset by the loss of purchasing power. We are imnporting like crazy, with all the debt capital that we have borrowed from the Chinese.

The best thing is to invest in economies that actually produce things and that save, such as China or the Asian rim. Japan is too indebted and its savings rates have imploded lately, so avoid them.

Australia and Canada's economies and currencies are commodity-based, and that is always intriguing.

138

A couple of things regarding this comment thread:

First, alot of Jewish Obama voters have buyers remorse, and the contributions from them have dried up. As a Republican Jew in NYC, I cought alot of heat from people for my support of McCain. He wasn't my ideal candidate, but the alternative (Obama) was worse. There are alot of rubes who are finding out that they bought a pig in a paoke. Second, The Jews that are left in Europe know how bad things are. They are keeping a low profile and/or making plans to get out. If they're smart, they're probably figuring out how to get their money out first. Also,, when Europe goes to war, the Jews might actually get lucky, as this time the Muslims will catch the heat. Third, regarding the economic situation, it sucks. There's alot of financial stuff out there on the web, but one of the things that people don't realize is that the financial crisis in the depression era in Europe was spurred on by the acquisition of an Austrian bank. The problem occurred when the acquiring bank found out how bad the non-performing assets on the books really were, and set off a chain reaction. The current situation is bad because the northen countries won't want to keep bailing out the southern countries. There's capital flight to the US because people PERCEIVE us as being a safer alternative. In the end, though, the US will suffer as much. G-d help us all.

139 OK, the Euro launched in 2003 @ $1.18, so how is its end no imminent?  It's just not as strong as it was.  What am I missing?

140 The whole point of having a coin is the amount of precious metal is known, so the grocer and I can work out its value in dollars no matter how hyper the inflation.

How many grocers do you know that are going to be prepared to deal with this circumstance?  And if/when things deteriorate that bad, without dollars flowing, how/why do you think the grocer's shelves are going to get restocked?

141 The problem that I have with Total Collapse scenarios is that for an average person to prepare, all your resources have to be mustered toward that end, leaving you in sub-optimum state if you're not, in fact, reduced to eating your fat liberal neighbors.

142 If he hadn't done the things necessary to secure CA's votes, he wouldn't have won the rest of the blue states that put him over the top.

Here's the reason voting for president in Cali is just kind of an exercise in futility:  In normal years the Democrat will beat the Republican by around 20%, so voting Republican has no effect other than deciding whether the Republican candidate got "creamed" or merely "thrashed".  If the outcome in California is actually in doubt, virtually every other state has already gone Republican and it (still) doesn't really matter how we vote.

143 Unlike US based repurchase vendors, no identification or Social Security number disclosure is required in the Bahamas. And you have to leave your gold in the Bahamas, too, because if you try to bring it all back with you the Customs guys are going to want to have a little chat.

144

why do you think the grocer's shelves are going to get restocked?

The Barackian Unicorns will do it, at least until they are harvested for their horns. Ground Barackian Unicorn horns will be an aphrodisiac to our new Asian overlords.

145 Never fear!  Obama will go to Greece, make a speech, and the Greeks will love us once again.

146 The best thing is to invest in economies that actually produce things and that save, such as China or the Asian rim.

I was reading an article (on the sidebar?) the other day about 60% of the jobs in China being construction jobs.  Sure, they're producing something.  The biggest bubble the world has ever seen.

147 Watch "Meltup" at Zero Hedge. Have a strong drink first.

148 Third, regarding the economic situation, it sucks.

Semi-OT; a condo building locally went up, finished in late 2005, very nice.  Not only one but two units have gone up on short sales... very short sales.  One was originally bought around $550K and sold last year for $359K.  Another is up now on short sale for $365K; it was originally bought in 2006 for $600K.  I stress this is a new building, with all the granite crap and stainless steel kitchens.

And this building is near the big TV and movie studios in N. Hollywood/Toluca Lake.

149 The best thing is to invest in economies that actually produce things and that save, such as China

And what are your investments in China worth if the US has to default on its debt? 

Also,, when Europe goes to war, the Jews might actually get lucky, as this time the Muslims will catch the heat

Erm, yeah.  Except that the muslims will be scapegoating the Jews for whatever Europe does to them, and they still seem more serious about it.

150


All of this California and Greece hate is exactly why the Democrats will pick up at least 500k seats in Congress this fall.

151 132 Speaking of heavy metal, Mr. Ronnie James Dio left us today.   RIP, Ronnie. That's a post right there.  

152 OT, but this infuriates me: the drug war claims another victim. This "no-knock raid" bullshit has got to stop. I'm as pro-John Law as anybody, but this kind of shit makes me see red.

153 #147  I was reading an article (on the sidebar?) the other day about 60% of the jobs in China being construction jobs.  Sure, they're producing something.  The biggest bubble the world has ever seen.

And when that bubble bursts...only chaos.

China needs that bubble to keep about 100 million or so people from revolting.

154 how/why do you think the grocer's shelves are going to get restocked?

That is something that most people don't think about. On any given day there are only three days worth of supplies in a large grocery store.  When chaos does come those shelves will be stripped pretty quick.

155 "Seriously, if I were a European Jew, I'd be really nervous. 

Posted by: pep at May 16, 2010 05:31 PM (0K3p3) "

I was in Europe a month ago.  I am a Jew.  It was getting creepy.  I've been there before and there's always been some latent AntiSemitism and that's just the way it is.

However, now, it's getting bad.  Europeans as a whole tend to be complete assholes, but now the hatred is bubbling up again. 

I'd suggest going to Israel. There, they let Jews have guns.

156

And you have to leave your gold in the Bahamas, too, because if you try to bring it all back with you the Customs guys are going to want to have a little chat.
Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 06:29 PM (O3eFQ)

By then, they'll be as corrupt as Nigerians. Slip 'em a half-Krugerrand.

157 Obama will go to Greece, make a speech, and the Greeks will love us once again.

I heard he's just sending an iPod, pre-loaded.  This way he doesn't have to worry about operating it.

158 How many grocers do you know that are going to be prepared to deal with this circumstance?  And if/when things deteriorate that bad, without dollars flowing, how/why do you think the grocer's shelves are going to get restocked?

By "grocer" I mean whomever is selling food and other things I need to survive.  It doesn't have to be Safeway.  In any event I think you underestimate peoples' ability to adapt.  It's not too big a stretch to imagine local vendors trading in whatever they think will hold value.

159 Watch "Meltup" at Zero Hedge. Have a strong drink first. Don't waste your time. It's a Ron Paul tongue-bath. (Don't get me wrong; I like Zerohedge. But this video is just over the top. It looked like deleted scenes from Dawn of the Dead.)

160 If you're in Canada, I'm pretty sure you can buy gold Maple Leafs from Scotiabank tellers for little markup.

You can also invest in physical gold funds which actually certify they have the gold available (as opposed to most ETFs which just have "promises to deliver" from the futures markets).

But, like others, I don't much see the point of physical gold. If everything deteriorates to the point where you're scraping slivers off a doubloon to pay for the week's groceries, I kinda doubt Whole Foods will actually be open anymore.

161

 So the European Union is going the way of the United Arab Republic? I'm sure the disintegration of the EU will, like subprime before it, be perfectly contained and not impact the broader economy.

Musical interlude anyone?

 

 

162 However, CA is the sine qua non (oooo, French) of Dem electoral strategy.  If he hadn't done the things necessary to secure CA's votes, he wouldn't have won the rest of the blue states that put him over the top.   The Dems are reliant on a small number of states to win, and CA is by far the largest.  It is the Dem bellwether.  If he can't sell himself there, some of the other blue states will flip.

I understand your point, but CA is only a "bellwether" state in this day and age in the sense that if any Democrat candidate is having trouble there, it means he or she is going to be wiped out electorally.  A Democrat who can't win CA can't win anywhere, literally anywhere outside of Minnesota and a couple of New England states.  The state's 55 electoral votes are vital to the Democrat column, there's no question about it; it's just that the landscape of the rest of the country has changed so much over the last few decades that even with it, the Dems have a tough hill to climb if they can't appeal to voters everywhere else in the country.  Obama couldn't compete in states like Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky, states that all went for Bill Clinton, and even lost Missouri, becoming the first presidential candidate to lose that state in over 50 years. That's significant, and a harbinger of 2012.  Especially as this region of the country gains electoral votes and CA loses them.  (The Dems better start worrying about what it means for them that they must perennially cede Texas, which could gain up to four electoral votes for 2012.)

CA used to be such a reliably Republican state that this calculation was true for the GOP: Goldwater's inability to carry it in 1964 meant he lost almost EVERYWHERE else on the map. Even Jerry Ford won California.  The state is only a leading indicator in the sense that it is such a partisan stronghold, any Democrat presidential candidate who struggles there might as well hang it up.

163 (The first winning presidential candidate to lose MO, I meant.)

164

I'd suggest going to Israel. There, they let Jews have guns.

Posted by: experience smeperience at May 16, 2010 06:35 PM (eFBOQ)

We're going on June 20th (I'm taking requests for free Kotel messages) for 2 1/2 weeks.

btw - AoSHQ has the highest percentage of Jewish commenters that I've seen on the conservative web... it's because of da funny, I believe.

165 Not an economist, surprise, but who cares if Greece defaults on bonds other than banks and individuals who purchased them...Let them default and learn to pay for themselves without selling IOUs...I think most of us feel the same about California debt.  I don't care if they default on bond payments except that Obama-mao will send my tax dollars from South Carolina to prop up their unions...Let the socialists learn how to pay for themselves...That should keep them busy for say...ALL OF ETERNITY...

166 RIP

167

AoSHQ has the highest percentage of Jewish commenters that I've seen on the conservative web... it's because of da funny, I believe.

We are all JOOOOOOOOOS now.

168

We're going on June 20th (I'm taking requests for free Kotel messages) for 2 1/2 weeks.

btw - AoSHQ has the highest percentage of Jewish commenters that I've seen on the conservative web... it's because of da funny, I believe.

Posted by: TexasJew at May 16, 2010 06:39 PM (HU2Pz)

Speaking of, I read somewhere earlier today that commie rat bastard Noam Chomsky was denied entry into Israel and that Hamas is bulldozing its own citizens houses in Gaza without a peep from the MSM.

169 CA is only a "bellwether" state in this day and age in the sense that if any Democrat candidate is having trouble there, it means he or she is going to be wiped out electorally.

Be still my beating heart... the fact that the dumbest woman in the Congress, Babs Boxer will actually have to fight for her seat (apparently), gives me hope.

But this is Clownifornia, and I'll be amazed if she doesn't win by at least 2%.  I don't know what happened to this state.  It is nothing but a liability to the rest of the union.

170 China needs that bubble to keep about 100 million or so people from revolting. The China boosters amuse me. China is not the next superpower or mono-power or hyperpower. They are still a third-world country in many ways, with third-world social and developmental problems. There is a vast gulf in wealth between the coastal elites and the poor rural interior (much greater than the urban rural divide here), and the numbers of poor are mind-boggling: 150 to 300 million. As much as the entire population of the US, in other words. They are aging right along with everyone else, and will have a huge demographic crash around the 2030-2040 timeframe. They will get old before they get rich.

171

" Hamas is bulldozing its own citizens houses in Gaza without a peep from the MSM."

I heard that one too.  Yeah, it don't matter if it ain't the JOOOOOSSS.

172

AoSHQ has the highest percentage of Jewish commenters that I've seen on the conservative web... it's because of da funny, I believe.

We are all JOOOOOOOOOS now.

I think you are right, because at AoSHQ all drunks are equal, even those nasty Joos who are to blame for every fucking thing in the world!

173
They are aging right along with everyone else, and will have a huge demographic crash around the 2030-2040 timeframe. They will get old before they get rich.

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 06:43 PM (O3eFQ)

That one child policy is going to bite them in the ass shortly because for years that meant most couples decided to have a boy.

174
AoSHQ has the highest percentage of Jewish commenters ...... it's because of da funny, I believe.

Posted by: TexasJew at May 16, 2010 06:39 PM (HU2Pz)

Possibly true, but I believe it's the bagels and cream cheese.

175 Possibly true, but I believe it's the bagels and cream cheese.

Posted by: Fish at May 16, 2010 06:45 PM (FmIpo)

Lox?

176 Dems have a tough hill to climb if they can't appeal to voters everywhere else in the country.

The electoral college maps show a sea of red, with blue islands in the NE, west coast, and upper midwest.  It gets even more stark if you look at the map by counties.  The Dem electoral strategy at this point is the cities and the losers.   Sorry to be blunt, but that's how it is. 

177 Check the herring.

178 #171  They will get old before they get rich

Mark Steyn, is that you?  . 

179 I'm hoping some sympathetic morons will take a Ginger Joo in and let me live in your attic. I do windows.

180

damn it!

I hate it when Glenn Beck is right.

181 This is why "growing the economy" is far preferable to "austerity measures"

This is good but how you gonna grow the economy if the EPA won't let you build a new manufacturing plant?

182 You know why conservative Christians and Joos get along? 

The existence of Joos proves the Bible exists.
 
Secular Europeans and atheist really hate admitting that.

We Christians get two versions, you'd think the Joos would go for a deal like that.  Someday, for sure!

Piece out!

183
The guy who wrote about living through the Argentina collapse of 2001 has a website to promote his book: ferfal.blogspot.com. I recall him suggesting stocking up on make- up. The wimmins will pay to look good no matter what else is going on in the world.

184 The hysterical thing is, this point gets mentioned, verbatim, minus the sarcasm, by leftist economists.
We don't understand it! The more people they put in jails, the more the crime rate falls. It doesn't make any sense!

185

Ginger Joo

Are you Amy Alkon?

186 #174  That one child policy is going to bite them in the ass shortly because for years that meant most couples decided to have a boy.

Another thing the women groups ignore about the "enlightened" China - male children are much preferred over female children.

/Unfortunately, this might make them more militaristic - lots of single males without families.

187

I don't know what happened to this state.

I do. We ignored the entirety of history and the nature of man. Feelings trumped sound economic policy.

188 This is good but how you gonna grow the economy if the EPA won't let you build a new manufacturing plant?

You'd only be able to power it on windy days, anyway.

189 I do. We ignored the entirety of history and the nature of man. Feelings trumped sound economic policy.

Don't feel too bad - we ignored them as well.

190

#8

"stupid question......if the euro is so bad...why is the dollar worth less? even when we had a stronger economy the dollar always seems to be worth less than the euro or in the olden days the pound......so what gives with that?"

 

because we have been in a race with the Chinese to see who can undervalue their currency faster for about a decade. 

191

I don't know what happened to this state.

---

I do. We ignored the entirety of history and the nature of man. Feelings trumped sound economic policy.

It's the damned attractiveness of that "Year Zero" mindset so beloved of leftards.

192 We'll take joos in.  Gingers, though?  That's kinda pushing it, right?

193 I loves me some Ginger.  Mary Ann too.

194
/Unfortunately, this might make them more militaristic - lots of single males without families.

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 16, 2010 06:49 PM (c0A3e)

Thats actually unfortunately the awful truth. You will basically have a country where men outnumber women 4-1 if not even more. The question is, what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

195 Gold is money, cash is currency. There is a difference. Currency is designed to deflate or inflate.

196 You see, we totally got rid of our "don't ask don't tell" policy. 

197 195 We'll take joos in.  Gingers, though?  That's kinda pushing it, right?

OK, We'll take the N*****s, but NO Irish!

198 Another thing the women groups ignore about the "enlightened" China - male children are much preferred over female children.

Not only does China encourage abortion, they will haul you in and force one upon you if you have already bred.  Why would "women's groups" complain about that?

199

You will basically have a country where men outnumber women 4-1 if not even more.

There will also be a huge increase in the number of young Chinese males trying to make butt children.

200 I'll take in as many moronettes as I can. I've always wanted my own harem.

201 #197  Thats actually unfortunately the awful truth. You will basically have a country where men outnumber women 4-1 if not even more. The question is, what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

If they're into older ladies, Russia's a nice target.  If they took Siberia, they'd get a great spoil of oil and gold. 

202 what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

Isn't their society still racist?  Like actually racist, not "disapprove of Obama" racist.

203 One last thought -- mercifully shorter: Obama wants another STIM. If the Democrat party keeps the House and the Senate, ain't gonna happen -- way more blue dogs and waffling. If the Republican party takes over, that actually could happen; I'd actually bet the over on it, but not by much. Republicans would cream their jeans over a situation where their resurgence might get credited with fixing the economy, yet they can still point at Obie if not and either way trash Obie's STIM I etc. It's a win-win. Don't forget the TARP came in under a Republican president.

204 Ace's liver: "Why? I live in CA and I hear people say this, but for the life of me I can't figure out why people in the rest of the country would support a bailout of California..."

Because the grasshoppers will always raid the ants' stash and grasshoppers have never respected the words "moral hazard." Fortunately for the current environment, we have more ants than grasshoppers. Unfortunately, almost all of those grasshoppers are politicians. "Rest of the country" roughly translates to "politicians who believe endless TARP-like money grabs can sustain that which is politically deigned 'too big to fail.'"

Ants better arm up. I hear ammo is a pretty good investment hedge.

205 Get your heirloom seeds right here!

206 Not only does China encourage abortion, they will haul you in and force one upon you if you have already bred.  Why would "women's groups" complain about that?

I applaud the efficiency of the one-party state.  They can, for example, outlaw plastic shopping bags in a single day.  If only we had their enlightened abortion policy here.

207

#170

I have hope.

Mind you I live in Rancho Cucamonga which is overwhelmingly Republican, but I can name gay after gay, latino after latino, white guy after white guy, black woman after black woman, fat nose picking buick driver after FNPB, denying themselves to be Republican, but determined to vote out Boxer, stop Brown, and most importantly, punish Obama for, well, revealing himself to be the very socialist weasel we all knew him to be.

If you start losing ANY of your key voting blocs- gays, latinos, women, blacks, union members, etc- you don't win easy as a Democrat, even in California.

208 The question is, what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

Uh, oh.

209 195 We'll take joos in.  Gingers, though?  That's kinda pushing it, right?

Posted by: Editor at May 16, 2010 06:52 PM (YX6i/)

You know that Tina Louise is Jewish.. a two-fer!

210 because we have been in a race with the Chinese to see who can undervalue their currency faster for about a decade. This never made sense to me, on both sides. The Chinese motivation is obvious: they live and die by exports, so by keeping their currency artificially cheap they make their exports more competitive. But they have neglected their internal markets for so long they are probably not able to take over when -- not if -- the export market dwindles. This is China's biggest weakness, and one they cannot escape. But we are being kind of hypocritical by calling the Chinese "currency manipulators". Suppose the Chinese let the yaun float and it strengthens against the dollar. Then what? It's not as if America has this huge export market waiting in China to buy American goods. And what little the Chinese get from us (mainly agricultural stuff), they can get elsewhere. Of the two, though, China is in worse shape. They are in no way prepared for a long decline in exports, which is all but guaranteed for the next five years or so.

211

205 what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

Isn't their society still racist?  Like actually racist, not "disapprove of Obama" racist.

----------------------------------------------------------------

not totally, they seem to think of tibetans as their own, in a pinch I'm sure they'd make do with North Koreans and Vietnamese

 

 

212
Isn't their society still racist?  Like actually racist, not "disapprove of Obama" racist.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 16, 2010 06:57 PM (OkT2m)

Yea, they view themselves as being superior to all other Asian races, kind of like the Japanese used to. However, in the coming decades it will boil down to replacing their breeding stock or becoming a vastly smaller nation.

213

If you start losing ANY of your key voting blocs- gays, latinos, women, blacks, union members, etc- you don't win easy as a Democrat, even in California.

You left out the HUGE block of new American citizens....soon. Felons, too.

214

#197

I am all for restarting that SDI shield for Poland and the Ukraine to stop that from happening, at least there.

Chernobyl had certain side effects there, besides the extra eyeballs and toes, that, shall we say, make the women in those nations a security interest.

215 Everyone keep in mind that while gold is great in an unstable economy, once everything collapses the greatest demand won't be shiny rocks but food and water. And as any Mad Max movie has taught us: In an anarchy the gun is king. Be prepared.

216 Guess holding on to all those Scottish pounds from that business trip 30 years ago wasn't such a bad idea after all...

217 In an anarchy the gun is king. My uncle used to say, "If you have gold and I have a gun, you can buy my gun. Or I can just take your gold and keep my gun."

218

When I think of the ultimate value of gold, or of almost any other commodity, I think the following:

Can I eat it?

Can others eat it?

Will it keep me warm?

Can I defend myself with it?

If it can't do any of the above, then it will hold very little value if the economy really and truly "collapses".

 

219

#213

thank you for noticing I'm not a complete idiot, no snark intended, most folks here completely ignore me.

I think we do it in a misguided attempt to pump up export numbers, doesn't really work but the Ivy League Masters of the Universe seem to have convinced themselves that it does.

220 Rendell throws his showcase of progressive thought under the bus, city blames selling its soul to evil Wall Street capitalists.

221 220 In an anarchy the gun is king.

My uncle used to say, "If you have gold and I have a gun, you can buy my gun. Or I can just take your gold and keep my gun."

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 07:06 PM (O3eFQ)

Or, I can buy more guns as well as ammo, hire twenty other guys come back and blow your fucking head off.

You're not winning your fiat currency argument here....

222 "How should Americans feel about the demise of the Euro, if it comes about?"

Saying "I told you so" since I actually predicted all of this when I was in Brussels in 1997 doesn't exactly do me any particular comfort.

"The China boosters amuse me. China is not the next superpower or mono-power or hyperpower. They are still a third-world country in many ways, with third-world social and developmental problems. There is a vast gulf in wealth between the coastal elites and the poor rural interior (much greater than the urban rural divide here), and the numbers of poor are mind-boggling: 150 to 300 million. As much as the entire population of the US, in other words."

And on top of all of that, they also have a historical tendency to swing between centralization and disintegration.  China in 20 years is more likely to be several smaller countries (de facto if not de jure) than it is to be bestriding the world like a colossus as is the conventional wisdom.

223 For China invading Siberia won't accomplish anything except maybe reducing their pool of excess military age males. Fighting in cold wastelands is one of the few things Russians excel at.

Can you image how happy Putin would be to rally the country around mowing down invaders? Especially now that the Russian Army is no longer stupid enough to consider most of their troops disposable goo, Putin would sit back and allow half the PLA to freeze to death before hunting them down on skis.

224 when your in full "de-industrailization" mode, the export numbers are going to fall.

225 Guess we'll all be trading in arrowheads and beads pretty soon if this keeps up.

226 > 147 ... I was reading an article (on the sidebar?) the other day about 60% of the jobs in China being construction jobs. Sure, they're producing something. The biggest bubble the world has ever seen. Posted by: Ace's liver "As much as 60 percent of the countryÂ’s gross domestic product relies on construction" #8 in the Chinese Bubble Series http://tinyurl.com/2e3pfev I have #9 ready to unleash. The ChiCom govt. imposing new real estate rules and unexpectedly the buyers and sellers and finding loopholes.

227 most folks here completely ignore me.

Why are you complaining?

228

Man, this homemade potato salad is good.

Mmmmm.

229 #223  Rendell throws his showcase of progressive thought under the bus, city blames selling its soul to evil Wall Street capitalists.

Yeah, great, isn't it?  Glad to know debt woes aren't limited to cities of +1 million.

230
And as any Mad Max movie has taught us: In an anarchy the gun is king. Be prepared.

Posted by: ChicagoJedi at May 16, 2010 07:02 PM (WZFkG)

Wrong........ShamWow will be king !

231 It's not as if America has this huge export market waiting in China to buy American goods. And what little the Chinese get from us (mainly agricultural stuff), they can get elsewhere.
Posted by: Monty

<pedant>
Not quite. Table 2.
</pedant>

232 China in 20 years is more likely to be several smaller countries Tibet would rejoice to hear it, no doubt, as would Taiwan. I don't know if I agree with the 20-year timeframe (mine would be closer to the century mark), but historically, it's more likely than not. But we may not be in any position to gloat, because we may have fractured into several countries ourselves by that time. Northeast, Southeast, Midwest/Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and SoCal. Not sure what becomes of Alaska and Hawaii when/if that happens. I do know one thing, though: the world map is gonna look a *lot* different a century from now.

233

Posted by: jmflynny at May 16, 2010 07:06 PM (AFdck)

Everything that you state concerning commodities is a "yes".

Food (grain), oil, coal, gasoline, industrial and precious metals etc. All are universal commodities. Ammo and guns have always been purchased via barter or physical currency transactions.

Paper dollars, however, can still be used to wipe your ass whenever the currency collapses, so that's a plus, I suppose.

234 Is there any way for Greece and some of the other PIIGS countries to get out of the Euro and just practice some good old fashioned inflation?

If that's what they want to do and it looks like they do...

Honestly, does anyone see Greece becoming anything like Germany ever?

Wouldn't some of the other Euro countries (with real economies) be better off as well if they could shed this drag on their currency?

This was always the stuff of bureaucratic fantasy...

That a Drachma would be the equivalent of a Deutschmark?

Really?

How so?

235 How should Americans feel about the demise of the Euro, if it comes about?

America, if we were smart, would react in two ways:

1) Immediately ship them the Indonesian Imbecile.  They love the retard, so they deserve him.

2) A lot of laughing and snide remarks will be in order.  That should continue for a few decades - though the Euros will, undoubtedly, do something else phenominally stupid before long. 

Americans can never forget that the Euro was designed with one real purpose in mind; to kill the dollar.  That's the thanks we get for saving Europe from itself ... twice.  Screw 'em.

236 226 For China invading Siberia won't accomplish anything except maybe reducing their pool of excess military age males. Fighting in cold wastelands is one of the few things Russians excel at.

True, but remember the trouble the Russians had with invading Georgia back in 2008?   

237 The Great Depression was also world wide, it affected the Weimar Republic to such an extent that you-know-who was appointed Chancellor because of his party's political gains.  However, this depression may be apocalyptic.  How much gold does one have to eat to get their recommended daily nutrition?  How much gold does it take to heat my house?  In a truly apocalyptic depression, I believe that gold would be worthless.  The US economy might shrink to the point that our oil demand would equal our domestic production. 

What's next?

238

"Why are you complaining?"

you're right maybe I shouldn't, lol

239

Greece is a PIIG.

PGiS is a Greek.

Coincidence? Or not?

240 I recommend stashing goodies in hard to find locations. Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

241

After millions of OZ's have been sold....then what? Like the tide coming in gold will flood back on the market and drive the price down as need for currency to buy stuff trumps greed for gold.

This is more madness of crowds. Tulipmania.

242

 I recommend stashing goodies in hard to find locations.

Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

So the future is like prison, and I need a bigger colon?

243

#242

both have big boobs. The former being the figurative kind running the country, the latter being,well, the literal.

COINCIDENCE?

244 243 I recommend stashing goodies in hard to find locations.

Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

Posted by: eman at May 16, 2010 07:22 PM (ONBbr)

Don't forget the pussy!

245 "239 226 For China invading Siberia won't accomplish anything except maybe reducing their pool of excess military age males. Fighting in cold wastelands is one of the few things Russians excel at.

True, but remember the trouble the Russians had with invading Georgia back in 2008?"

The Russians would be defending home territory, not invading China. That's a big difference in logistics.

246 For China invading Siberia won't accomplish anything except maybe reducing their pool of excess military age males. Fighting in cold wastelands is one of the few things Russians excel at.

We almost nuked China in 1969, and we still have lots of idle missiles.  Don't fuck with us, tovarish.

247 Damn stick

248 Paper dollars, however, can still be used to wipe your ass whenever the currency collapses, so that's a plus, I suppose.
Tell me about it.

249

 you-know-who was appointed Chancellor

You know who reminds me of Hitler?
Everyone who disagrees with me and anyone who uses any of my tactics against me.

250

hey!

the tulip speculation craze was our Golden Era!

251 China Needs Women!

252 Don't forget the pussy!

I thought the purpose of the coffee, shampoo, and chocolate stash was to get you the pussy. *srednop*

253 For China invading Siberia won't accomplish anything except maybe reducing their pool of excess military age males. Fighting in cold wastelands is one of the few things Russians excel at. That's why the Russkies keep all those nukes - primarily because of China, not primarily because of us. Siberia is indefensible with conventional weapons against armies the size that China can put into the field...

254 stick? Sock My son was running his mouth and I was seriously distracted.

255
True, but remember the trouble the Russians had with invading Georgia back in 2008?   

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 16, 2010 07:20 PM (c0A3e)

Thats because Georgia is pretty much a country of mountain passes and easily defensed even when you're outnumbered and facing a superior enemy. The Russians were very secretive about the casualties and losses they suffered, but I read somewhere at the time that the operation cost them over 40 military aircraft over a hundred tanks and APC's and several hundred killed.

I wish I could find the link, but it may have been over at DebkaFile where I saw it.

256 Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

Crap.

257 Tulip bulbs and ass wipe currency do not have intrinsic value. In other words, you can live with out them.

Gold has value and has always been the defacto medium of exchange. What makes this scenario different than all past scenarios- is that the whole fucking world is broke. Take a look at Japan, not just Europe. Look at us. World central banks have the poker chips. They won.

Wait until interest rates ratchet up and we are forced to refinance the trillions we owe at 8, 9, or 10%. Golds rise will take your breath away.

258 This is more madness of crowds. Tulipmania.
Tell me about it.

BTW, who is this Bob Ross asshole?

259 True, but remember the trouble the Russians had with invading Georgia back in 2008?   

I don't remember that.  What I remember is the Georgians starting trouble and the Russians slapping them so hard they squealed like little girls.

260 45 Never trust a system devised by the French.  And did you know those stupid Frogs tried to introduce a 10-day week too?

That totally would have worked, too, if you hadn't stopped us.

Posted by: DeGaulleday, Napoleanday, and Chiracday at May 16, 2010 05:47 PM (Xsi7M)

Everybody gets a go at stopping frogs. We did at Dien Bien Phu. Hell, their General blew his own brains out.

We bad.

 

261 #259 At least you can USE your plates...

262 Posted by: Guy who sunk it all in Obama Collector Plates

Trade you some cigarettes for those.

263 From the "day late and dollar short" file: The Governator calls for the end of the welfare state in California. Yeah. Good luck with that one, Conan. Would have been nice if your balls had dropped five years back when you could have made a difference.

264 without the euro - can the EU survive?  Will the demise of the Euro also bring the death toll to the Mediteranean Union?  One can only hope.

265

#261 My teacher.

How else could I make millions painting cottages that look like they are on fire?

266 #232 - all it takes is a dream of hope and change... and a plan.

267 266 From the "day late and dollar short" file: The Governator calls for the end of the welfare state in California. Yeah. Good luck with that one, Conan. Would have been nice if your balls had dropped five years back when you could have made a difference.

Conan the Weakarian lost his balls when his initial ballot initiatives failed, so I've heard.  Cali's boned anyway.  Think mene, mene, tekel, upharsin. 

268

So, a Q.

Should I close, or cash out my 401k now, or wait for the dems to confiscate it?

I could prolly pay off my mortgage with the badly damaged results.

Will Home ownership even play into the void the gameplay seems to be with all the crap happening?

What, You own your house?

I'll burn it down rather than surrender.

269 264 #259 At least you can USE your plates.. .

They come with a warning - "Not for food use. Food consumed form this plate may be harmful."

I use the boxes for dart practice.

270 I bet right after the EU collapses those Nazis hiding in their secret base on the Moon will invade.

271 This was always the stuff of bureaucratic fantasy...

That a Drachma would be the equivalent of a Deutschmark?

Really?

How so?

Posted by: Deety (thinking about changing nic to potatobug) at May 16, 2010 07:19 PM (aVzyR)

And now you understand why Bistromath is the Universe's most complex and inscrutable branch of mathematics.  Managing the Euro across the member states' diverse economies is the ultimate form of calculating how to split the restaurant tab.

272

we can build an economy on whatever we want, it's all just numbers and animal spirits.

goods and services, supply and demand that's all just Hobbsian nonsense!

 

273 63 Cheney Endorsement

Posted by: newser at May 16, 2010 05:55 PM (X2eW0)

There's still a bottom down there somewhere newser....I think Brown will find it.

274

#271

Here's a tip if you don't want to lose your money...

Just staple it to your skin you dummy!

 

 

For Your Health

275

I bet right after the EU collapses those Nazis hiding in their secret base on the Moon will invade.

EVERYONE knows the Nazi bases are located inside the hollow earth.

276 #180

More Steven Malanga in a recent City Journal article on the same subject. Very good read.

277 Nia Vardalos is hot, but then she's Greek-Canadian, not from the motherland.

278 First ... don't listen to Monty too much .. he thinks an average height guy is both tall and short at the same time. 

Some think silver is not a bad place, but I'm thinkin' a little farm and buying means of production.  Food will be in demand as the currencies burn. 

anything that can be kept and used for production seems pretty good, even if we don't collapse.  But good neighbors help ... maybe it we'll become tribal like Afghanistan ...

Or we could throw the bums out in the fall and cut deficit spending out.

279 Should I close, or cash out my 401k now, or wait for the dems to confiscate it? Hang onto the 401(k). The Dems will not grab your 401(k). Even if they wanted to, they couldn't before the November elections; and afterwards, they won't be able to. The prospect gets dicier down the road as the Social Security and Medicare tidal waves loom, but everyone is going to have to gut-check at that point, and much of it is going to depend on how close to retirement you are and how much diversification you have in your portfolio. I'm in my early forties, and I mainly look at a down markets as a way to buy cheap stocks.

280 273 I bet right after the EU collapses those Nazis hiding in their secret base on the Moon will invade.

Posted by: eman at May 16, 2010 07:35 PM (ONBbr)

I keep telling people and they won't listen.

281 http://www.ironsky.net/site/

282 > 235 ... Not quite. Table 2. Posted by: Garbonzo the Garrulous Fascinating to see that we're swapping optics and medical equipment back and forth at a furious rate. US sold them 4 billion, China sold the US 5.6 billion. They really like our oleaginous fruits as well - up 26% in 2009. That's good because the more China buys the fewer there are in this country to haunt my dreams. Friggin' oleaginous fruits! DIE DIE DIE.

283 I was my immense collection of Obama collector plates in the bathtub.

284 I recommend stashing goodies in hard to find locations.

Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

Posted by: eman at May 16, 2010 07:22 PM (ONBbr)

--I would add: whiskey, more whiskey, a little more whiskey and rum.

285 ...err...wash

286 As Zero Hedge also described recently, the Great Depression had two stages, the second springing up just as things seemed to be getting back to normal. Europe collapsed and took the rest of the world down with it.

287 This has not been a good day. But then again, I'm a douchenozzel.

288 If one were to start--theoretically of course-- building a weapons stash, should one invest in an AR-15? Purely hypothetically, mind you.

289 Should I close, or cash out my 401k now, or wait for the dems to confiscate it?

Loan it to yourself.  Up to 50% of it anyway.  If that will pay off the mortgage, more the better.  Better to pay interest to your own retirement rather than a bank, and hard for the government to force you to loan the money to them if you've already loaned it out to yourself.

290

I would add: whiskey, more whiskey, a little more whiskey and rum.

Rum. Mmmmm. Hopefully she's wearing her stompy boots.

Wait...what?

291 I hope my collection of cheez puffs bags will be worth something

292 they couldn't before the November elections; and afterwards, they won't be able to.


It's a long time between Nov 2 and Jan 3.  And as we saw last year, they'll cancel their own Christmas Eve to screw us over.

293

I for one am looking forward to the MadMaxian future.

There will be no more breast reductions.

Mind you thats because there won't be a clinic or hospital or office building left after all the rebar, copper, steel, and concrete is stolen to make armor for our trucks, but I look on the bright side.

294 It could tip us over from a really bad recession into an all-out global depression (if indeed we are not already in one).

It's been a depression for me. Both financially and emotionally. FML

295
So the rule is after 3 hours or 300 comments, whichever comes first, the thread is an 'open' thread, right?

Or is it 3 minutes/3 comments?

296 Did someone say "oily genital fruits"?

297 A wide open thread.

298

Yea, they view themselves as being superior to all other Asian races, kind of like the Japanese used to.

Asian races? Used to?  The dirty little secret that the Obamoids (and all liberals for the last 50 years for that matter) don't ever want you to figure out is that the majority of societies are much more zenophobic than America is.  We have built just about the closest thing there is on Earth to a completely open society, and we are taught every day that it is the most racist and backwards there is.

Why is that?  Because real racists understand the real power of racism.

299 I cashed the 401k. I believe the government will raid the accounts thru a variety of measures. There are 13 trillion dollars resting in 401k accounts.

If you see inflation going away, taxes going down, and a stock market that will double your 401 k in the next 7-10 years, stay put. If you are like me, thinking that inflation is going to get very ugly, government is going to tax the shit out of us for the 75 trillion they owe, and a market that can only go sideways and retreat (like Japan's lost decade) then take the 10% hit and get the fuck out. Because your future dollars wont buy shit anyway in the evnt the market somehow mysteriously rises.

That might be the best 10% you will ever spend, despite those cocksuckers who get paid to tell you to stay invested.

300

I would add: whiskey, more whiskey, a little more whiskey and rum.

Rum. Mmmmm. Hopefully she's wearing her stompy boots.

Wait...what?

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 16, 2010 07:41 PM (P33XN)

--No, not her: then she'd be called therestherum. Besides, as a commodity to store for the End Times women become more perishable the more you store in one place.

One's enough for me.

301 There will be no more breast reductions.

Sure, but there won't be any augmentations either.  And since augs probably outnumber reductions 100:1, I don't see this as a net bonus.

302 Deficit Spending is not stupid if you use it make a whacking big military. It employs lots of people, far more than infrastructure. It gives you stuff to deter aggressive people and seize stuff yourself if need be. It produces lots of high-tech spin-offs, not possible under other spending regimes. It is of course only a short-term solution, but Reagan's 1981-84 build-up restarted the economy, far more than tax cuts or anything else other than collapse of OPEC.

Korea's rise, and also Japan's, after the war, depended on a great deal of (very discreet of course) military spending. So too, Singapore, and Germany. This requires in-nation spending, not just buying stuff from other countries. The idea being soaking up pools of unemployment, jump-starting new companies, particularly in high-tech manufacturing, and restarting manufacturing capacity in general.

As for "what happens if the dollar collapses" stuff, silver coins are far under priced relative to gold. They are relatively cheap. They are still legal currency. Silver has many industrial uses. Silver along with Gold has historic value as coinage (copper too).

For most of history until Bretton Woods, currencies were rated at fixed rates of Gold exchange, if the currencies were not in fact bi-metallic, or tri-metallic (Gold, silver, and copper). Roman coins, for example, were mostly silver and copper, only a few Gold coins were struck. Alexandrian kingdoms, mostly had silver not Gold coins. Paper money widespread really relates to the US, with often worthless Continental Congress dollars, State dollars, and so on. Many devaluations led to silver dollars being popular until in the 20th Century, stable currency made paper currency more attractive.

Or as Bryan put it a long time ago:

"Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

As a practical matter, restoring a currency from fiat (i.e. "trust us" status) which works very well, until the trust is gone, to one with actual asset backing (i.e. precious metals) is likely to be bi-metallic, but silver and copper. There just isn't enough gold in the US including mining reserves to cover the money supply even with Gold at $3K per ounce. There is enough silver at current prices.

Modern economies need the sweet-spot. Not deflation, and not inflation. Silver backed currencies (in practice, likely silver-based coins for psychological effect) seem a post-crash answer.

303 Decisions Decisions  What should one do?

If one has a big stash of food and fuel, guns and ammo will be needed to protect it.  If one has enough guns and ammo, a big stash of food and fuel would be superfluous.

.

304 something wicked this way comes ... we have crossed the rubicon ... most would say.

But timing is everything ... Euro down dollar up ... market to the moon, or collapse?

then USD down ... ?

I think we need to cancel our debts ... go through bankruptcy court and tell China to suck it, they came out OK with all the crap they sold us ( lead paint on toys, nasty drywall). 

Make US citizens senior debt holders if they hold dollar assets.

We forgave debts in WW2, we are recalling all those favors.  Citizens are golden to $2 million (like FDIC thingy), all others can wait in line.

305

#304.

Enormous natural breasts are rare.

Motorboating a pair of cut-down-to-B cups is about as fun as doing that to a pair of fake DDs.

 

I am for the protection of enddangered species.

306 I recommend stashing goodies in hard to find locations.

Preferred items: cigarettes, coffee, chocolate, soap, shampoo, shiny things, whiskey, matches, razors, and batteries.

Only problem with that list is that those are the exact items that I voraciously consume in my effort to gain further employment so that I can get more of the same to gain future employment.

I can't hide them from me.

Except for the shiny things...

I haven't even thought about "shiny things" since I sold my revolver back to the gun store when I had to make my rent.

What kind of a weirdo am I?

307 Oh yeah, add toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and toothbrushes. Make-up is a good one, too. Also, some packets of brewer's yeast.

308 53 Let's hope the Obama admin. is advising Europe on how to turn their economy around.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 16, 2010 05:50 PM

Yeh, and let's hope Justin Bieber is advising Paul McCartney how to write a song. If you think Obama has any experience running anything but his mouth, hand me all your money and I'll be your financial advisor

309 If one were to start--theoretically of course-- building a weapons stash, should one invest in an AR-15? I wouldn't. I'd go this way: 12-gauge shotgun, pistol, boltgun, AR15 (or whatever). AR15's are fun rifles, but a shotgun is almost always the better choice in any personal defense or protection scenario. A boltgun in some .30x caliber can really reach out and touch someone, and can also be used for hunting (.30-.30 cowboy lever-gun carbines are fun too). I'd probably buy the rifle before the pistol if you're a hunter or an outdoorsman; the pistol comes first if you live in an urban area, especially a high-crime area. An AR is an accurate rifle and a hi-cap rifle (30 to 50 round mags are available). It's a fun sporting weapon but not terribly useful as a hunting weapon (though many use it for varminting). It's just not terribly useful for most scenarios I can imagine needing a firearm for.

310 i think inflatable girlfriends will be a hot item in the apocalamps because they're so portable

311 Life long gun nut. Tend to agree with monty.

312 3#85  Kemp ... Sounds good, but how are you going to use the physical gold?  Do you think  will go to a barter economy? 

If so, how will you value your gold.  One once for a case of beer?  Some survivalist think booze is a better barter commodity than gold.  WTF are you going to do with the gold, eat it? 

You can drink the booze.  So, the lesson here?  Store Valu Rite.  It has a indefinite shelf life and folks will work for it.

Kemp, I promise to talk slower ..... S L O W E R ...  for you

Once you've acquired tangibles, then you can endeavor to maintain capital by obtaining silver or gold. I have booze, and Bugle Boy, and other tangibles.

I would never turn over a pound of coffee for some trivial amount of exchange. Amateurs always miss logistics  I've been doing this stuff since the early '90's.

Get back to me with some more of your hipster quips, boy

313 Tampons are always a good choice too.

314 Obama will save us. He's really, really bright. Look what he's done for us so far, ah, well, er, ummm...

315 You Yankee wankers just don't understand that it will be a communist world again.  Hail Stalin!

316 302 I cashed the 401k. I believe the government will raid the accounts thru a variety of measures. There are 13 trillion dollars resting in 401k accounts.

They're already greasing up the sheep like snapdragon to turn over their 401k to the all wise hands of the government with their "guaranteed retirement accounts". They'll scream that you can't trust your retirement to those greedy Wall Street types who slip them money on the sly.

Goldman Sachs will handle the big government investments they seized from the 401k's so they'll still make out like bandits.

13 trillion is just too tempting for them to let YOU handle YOUR money. Of course the snapdragons will smile because they kissed him before they fucked him

317 Monty@266,

Also from the article:

Democrats and Republicans, who must muster a two-thirds majority to pass a budget, are likely to ignore many of his suggestions in a debate which could drag on for months.

Democratic State Senate President Darrell Steinberg said his party, which controls both chambers of the legislature, could not support Schwarzenegger.

"The cuts are absolutely unacceptable," Steinberg said, adding that instead of slashing spending Schwarzenegger should delay business tax breaks.

IOW, CA is boned anyway. CA is Greece, and "austerity"? Never heard of it. The Schwartz couldn't do anything in the "good" times. He won't do anything now except walk sombrero in hand to D.C. and collect the money Crime Inc. feels necessary to buy votes. Schwarzenegger's credibility is as irrelevant now as it was when he first took office. He's just more embarrassing a pitch man.

318

I wonder how long until the Germans get tired of being "smucks" and invade France again?

I'd put money on Merkel in a cage match against Sarko...

319

Also, some packets of brewer's yeast.

I know a chick with a yeast infection. Does that count?

320 Buy now before the Europeans rushing to the safety of the stock market price you out!

There's no housing overstock, consumers are just itching to spend all that stashed cash, and the car dealer lots will be open 24/7 just to meet the demand!

BUY BUY BUY !!!!!  BEFORE YOU'RE PRICED OUT !!!

321

I think President Obama should just start appointing a governor for California and a lot of other states, if not all of them.

Good policy.

And it will likely result in the Democrats winning a hundred or so seats in the House in November.

322 I was unemployed all year. I cashed out 100k. They kept 20% and I paid state taxes. I stiffed the feds for the penalty. Gave em a fucking IOU. I will pay them 10 bucks a month for life.

They haven't got shit out of me and millions of other people stiffed em too. The net net? I paid taxes just like I had on my income had I not diverted it. No loss.

323 Even if you have to rip up your furniture for firewood, we are entitled to take our cut for the hardworking clerks who lose your paperwork

We don't care if non union racist teabaggers are eating grass, we demand our fair share!

324 I cashed the 401k. I believe the government will raid the accounts thru a variety of measures. There are 13 trillion dollars resting in 401k accounts.

I used to think that was paranoid because no pol could be so freaking stupid as to do that.  I'm rethinking that position.  If that happens, there will be blood in the streets.  I'm not advocating that but I am predicting it. 

325 Au contraire on the AR-15 type rifle. It will be a useful tool if Mad Max takes us to Thunderdome. Aside from .22 LR, 5.56/.223 ammo will be the most plentiful in a bartering system. And a well-placed shot with a 75 gr. Hornady Tap will take down most (not all) NA game at 100+ yds.

326

If that happens, there will be blood in the streets.

Do not try to clean that yourselves.

327 291 If one were to start--theoretically of course-- building a weapons stash, should one invest in an AR-15? Purely hypothetically, mind you.

Posted by: 48%er at May 16, 2010 07:41 PM (gxpfq)

if you have to have a .223 panther arms DPMS makes a nice one. I have an ar10 in .308 and it's a shooter

328 I think President Obama should just start appointing a governor for California and a lot of other states, if not all of them.
Not governors, czars.

329 GulfCoastTider  ... Not if you are hedging your short by going long with SGD or buying gold.  You make money coming and going.  Since silver has more industrial uses it's more volatile, but when major moves occur in the markets, silver tracks almost lockstep with gold.  

Agreed sir. Silver's the better bargain now, and for awhile. When it goes to its' traditional ratio point v gold, it's gonna be an even better bargain. My point is this - I have not ever held paper metals ... only common denomination, well-recognized coin. Purchased only from trusted sources. I held off buying metals, focusing on tangibles, until recent years.  Keep your coin ... I'd prefer, and possess, coffee, salt, seed, or alternatively skills and a profession that are not fungible, but are essential

I note your blog locale; only fools disparage the skilled progenitors of this country, and casually call them rednecks. They do so at their peril. Any Celt-Scot worth his salt knows what to do with such affront. What did Mr. Van Zandt say to the Canuck ?  

Roll Tide !

330 Monty is correct. it ain't the Chi Coms, it's the Indians what are the next power economy.

331

unless we can rid ourselves of marxist fools and self-serving RINO's come november, the Power Elite that we have now will do whatever they damn well please to us.

for our own "good" of course.

332 Hahahahaha, Ed Rendell stumping for Arlen on WIP. Flyers 1 Habs no score after 1.

333 Make that 2- zip

334 Doesn't this make you want to visit Mexico?

4 Decapitated Bodies Found in Northern Mexico.

Durango state police say the heads were found on the hood of a pickup truck left in a shopping center parking lot in the city of Gomez Palacio late Saturday. PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico—Four young men have been found decapitated in northern Mexico.

335  I have a bad feeling that when the Eurozone collapses all the socialist professors and plutocrat politicians are going to flee here and contribute to the same shit happening all over again.

Posted by: Blue Falcon in Boston at May 16, 2010 05:30 PM (ijjAe)

we can hope they are Margaret Thatchers, and not more Neville Chamberlins

336 Even if you have to rip up your furniture for firewood, we are entitled to take our cut for the hardworking clerks who lose your paperwork

We don't care if non union racist teabaggers are eating grass, we demand our fair share!

Posted by: SEIU at May 16, 2010 08:03 PM (sYxEE)

Truer words have never been socken.

And that's sad.

337

heads were found on the hood of a pickup truck left in a shopping center parking lot

The usual custom in these parts is longhorns.

338 3-0 on the power play

339
If one were to start--theoretically of course-- building a weapons stash, should one invest in an AR-15?




Just buy one of those AR-15 replica Air Soft rifles for about 30 bucks and put a real AR-15 receiver in it. I read yesterday on FNC that the ATF posted a warning Friday that they can be converted over to a live fully automatic real rifle just by doing that.

340 Eff that Grindhouse turd Machete!

If there is going to be violence, it will probably start in a DMV.

341 Doesn't this make you want to visit Mexico?

I've been to El Paso several times and seen what lies on the other side of the Rio Grande. I'll stay in Tennessee.

342 So, they,re chopping heads off in Mexico? I say boycott Arizona.

343 343 That's absolute bullshit.

344 345 Doesn't this make you want to visit Mexico?

I've been to El Paso several times and seen what lies on the other side of the Rio Grande. I'll stay in Tennessee.

Posted by: Pelayo at May 16, 2010 08:18 PM (C8qIl)

I'd take decapitated heads over some of the other hood ornaments we have down here..

345

i'm not even sure it will be the Indians, they are as tied into the Western economy as anyone else. what region of the world has the least ties to western economies? which would recover the quickest from a collapse of the West?

I'm not sure, Africa? no too much tribalism no unity.

the muslim world would be my guess, sure the loss of oil revenue would hurt them, but not as much as you might think, most of that oil money never gets down to the average Abdul anyway and they are unified in their hate for the West, the weak and corrupt western-supported govs would fail quickly and be replaced rapidly by the religious radicals, in the short term the could take over a lot of real estate and resources.

 

346 60 Mins. has oil platform story as told be coherent working stiff...very good stuff

347 Just buy one of those AR-15 replica Air Soft rifles for about 30 bucks and put a real AR-15 receiver in it. I read yesterday on FNC that the ATF posted a warning Friday that they can be converted over to a live fully automatic real rifle just by doing that.

That article at Fox was gleaned from the Obama adm document and it is full of shit.

348 You pull out your 401k you lose more then 10%. Closer to 30% or more when all penalties and taxes are taken out, and claimed as income. This is what I've been told. True?

349 I read yesterday on FNC that the ATF posted a warning Friday that they can be converted over to a live fully automatic real rifle just by doing that.

Posted by: Blazer at May 16, 2010 08:16 PM (t72+4)

Sounds like a good way to do a lot of hard time.

350 205 what countries will China decide to invade to replace their own breeding stock?

After the try invading Mexico and Mexico succeeds in defending their country, they can celebrate Chinco De Mayo.

351 It depends on how much you pull out. It first gets taxed at your normal rate then a 10% penalty is added on top of that.

352 351 ATF seized a bunch of Airsoft in Washington State and came up with that bullshit as an excuse to avoid looking like the morons they were.

353 Good riddance EU.

Another utopian project run amok.

354 Nia Vardalos is hot,

On what scale?

Not the same one Melina Kanakaredes is on, that's fer sure.

355
343 That's absolute bullshit.

Posted by: steevy at May 16, 2010 08:20 PM (yOfgg)

tinyurl.com/257cnq5

356 You pull out your 401k you lose more then 10%. Closer to 30% or more when all penalties and taxes are taken out, and claimed as income. This is what I've been told. True?

It's the penalties that are the real killer.  What a lot of people are doing is what was mentioned above, paying the taxes (iirc it gets taxed at the regular income rate) and not paying the penalty and making the IRS come after it.

357 It depends on how much you pull out.

That's what she said.

358 4-0. Wow, Philly is creaming Montreal.

359 I used to think that was paranoid because no pol could be so freaking stupid as to do that.  I'm rethinking that position.  If that happens, there will be blood in the streets.  I'm not advocating that but I am predicting it. 

Advocate it or it'll happen.

360

Oh, I'm not saying the Air Soft thing isnt bullshit, I'm pretty sure it would take a whole hell of a lot more tinkering to turn that into the real thing than just putting a real receiver in it.

361 silk stockings

362 I took 45 k out of my IRA in December. It cost me 17 k to the Feds. It was worth it. 4 - zip Flyers still in the 2nd. Habs changing goalies.

363 Yeah, this whole gold/lead/fiat currency strategy for Armageddon seems a bit stilted.

What you really need are:

supplies (however you define those)
skills
land, or friends with land

Then you will be able to survive the collapse

364 sugar and salt

365 Monty,

Scary post...like story bout me more gooder.

Phloyd.

366 coffee and tea

367

What you really need are:

supplies (however you define those)
skills
land, or friends with land

Then you will be able to survive the collapse

And Twitter!

368 Look at what mommy is buying me for my birthday.

http://tinyurl.com/2flx35q

I love my mommy.

369 American Idol will still be on though, right?

370 Posted by: Blazer at May 16, 2010 08:25 PM (t72+4)

An explanation about that crap at Fox from Barking Moonbat:

http://tinyurl.com/2sgkag

Scroll down, it will not allow me to link to an individual post. The Fox news thing IS bullshit.

371 352 You pull out your 401k you lose more then 10%. Closer to 30% or more when all penalties and taxes are taken out, and claimed as income. This is what I've been told. True?

Yes.  You are charged a 10% penalty plus your ordinary tax rate.  So if you are in the 25% bracket, the government will take 35% of your money.

372 366 silk stockings

What use are they?

373 I once thought that Cinco de Mayo was a celebration of the Mexican introduction of the 1955 Chevrolet.

374 378

No that's cinco de quatro

375 Kratos,
GoogleTalk is down.

376 365 PajamasMedias had the story on the seizures and experts that explained how the receivers did not match up with out extensive reworking.I don't know if they have archives there maybe you can find it.I think they did one piece on the debunking.

377 380 Kratos,
GoogleTalk is down.

Hmm...strange.  No worries.

378

So, a Q.

Should I close, or cash out my 401k now, or wait for the dems to confiscate it?

I could prolly pay off my mortgage with the badly damaged results.

Will Home ownership even play into the void the gameplay seems to be with all the crap happening?

What, You own your house?

I'll burn it down rather than surrender.

Don't do it.  Because, what if you're wrong and the government doesn't confiscate 401k's?  Then you are screwed for retirement.

379 377 366 silk stockings

What use are they?
Posted by: Kratos

They are a good coffee filter in a pinch.

380 In my ignorance I must ask: if gold is going to hold it's value, over time, as money loses its value, then why does anyone even want to go into business swapping my doomed money for their invincible gold?

381 350 60 Mins. has oil platform story as told be coherent working stiff...very good stuff

Posted by: Lunatic Fringe at May 16, 2010 08:21 PM (uFdnM)

--Fuck 60 Minutes.  Ever since they gave a national audience to Dr. Kevorkian icing someone live, they got nothin' but boycott from me.

382 #383  Don't do it.  Because, what if you're wrong and the government doesn't confiscate 401k's?  Then you are screwed for retirement.

I think people are screwed anyway.  If I had a 401k, I'd pull it.

383 They've already done it in England and Australia.Not satisfied with banning real guns they've banned toys as well(I can throw in NYC under commissar Bloombag too).Though a strong airsoft lobby saved that in England.

384 Thanks everyone. So my next question is, what do you do with the money after you get it? Bury it in the back yard? Serious, do you reinvest if so in what? 

385 If we have to we will pull the $s from the 401k.  I'll be damned if those greedy fucking bastards will get their filthy paws on my hard earned money.

386

I think people are screwed anyway.  If I had a 401k, I'd pull it.

Might as well pull it now, while the market is sort of up. It's only headed south longterm.

387 The taxes I lost approximate- what I would have paid back when I was working. The only extra loss is the 10% penalty which I refuse to pay. I will pay them ten bucks a month for life. As long as I make an attempt, they can't touch me. But more importantly, they cant steal my money via, inflation, exhorbitant future tax rates and a market that can't possibly go up.

Think about that and ask yourself, is that 10% penalty such a big deal? No, not at all. If you lose 40-50% 5 years from now in inflation and taxes, that 10% is gonna look like chump change. If your government wants you to keep your dough in, the only logical choice is to remove it. Really.

388

OT but, dudes.

If you're not watching the Q&A section of the Miss USA pageant, you don't know what you're missing.

389 silk stockings are good for lots of things

390
Not the same one Melina Kanakaredes is on, that's fer sure.

Posted by: Waterhouse at May 16, 2010 08:25 PM (S9AJM)

--I like, but who is she?

391

So my cheap bakelite Atomic Bomb Edwards kit from 1958 can be converted to a working 21-kiloton Atomic Bomb with a just couple of simple adjustments, like inserting an 8-kilogram shell of pure metallic Plutonium and a spherically infolded Beryllium-Polonium initiator, along with half a ton of high-powered explosives?

Koooo-wel!

392 I like, but who is she?

She was on Providence and now on CSI:NY. Or she was; I don't actually watch it.

393 TexasJew,
Just head down to the Plutonium store. I hear it's two for one day.

394 #384  They are a good coffee filter in a pinch.

Cool, did not know that. 

395 http://tinyurl.com/Merkel-If-Euro-fails-EU-too
Spiegel Online: 
Merkel Warns of Europe's Collapse 'If Euro Fails, So Will the Idea of European Union'

396 --I like, but who is she?

CSI: Hymie Town

397 silk stockings

What use are they?

Posted by: Kratos

Trading to wimmins for sex.

398 Buy freeze dried food, especially canned rice
Water
Water conditioning and filtering
First Aid supplies
Ammo
Small denomination 90%silver coins, dimes, quarters, half dollars.

399 You need silk stockings to run a high-class joint like mine.

400 399 #384  They are a good coffee filter in a pinch.

Cool, did not know that. 
Posted by: Kratos

Sometimes when you need coffee and there's no filter you've got to take one for the team.

401 Isn't the gold seller implicitly better that his gold will be worth LESS than the money he is trading for it? All he can do with the money is use it (as soon as possible) to buy property or other long term goods that will hold or increase in value.

402 Thanks for the gun info guys. For the record, I have no plans to arm myself. At all. No weapons, no knives, no nothing. So any BATF lurkers just leave me alone, OK?

403

They're starting to trade for decapitated heads in Mexico.

Two virgins apiece, along with a six-pack of Jumex pineapple drink and two Gansito chocolate cakes.

404 #402  Trading to wimmins for sex.

Wouldn't want that.

Coffee >>>>> sex.

405 405 Coffee can be made without a filter.

406 I like Greek chicks too.

And running countries out of business.

407 399 #384  They are a good coffee filter in a pinch.

Cool, did not know that. 

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 16, 2010 08:44 PM (c0A3e)

So are panties.

For that wonderful hazelnut-sardine smell.

408 Well I certainly would use your panties TexasJew,  Ewwww.

409 #412  I'm never drinking coffee again, thank you!

410

So are panties.

For that wonderful hazelnut-sardine smell.

Posted by: TexasJew at May 16, 2010 08:51 PM (HU2Pz)

The best part of wakin' up....

Is pu**y in your cup !

411 Well this thread has taken an unpredictable turn.

412 I got one of them old school percolator coffee pots. Use it all the time on weekends. to me best coffee ever. Might come in handy some day..water,coffee,fire is all that is needed.

413 414 #412  I'm never drinking coffee again, thank you!

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 16, 2010 08:53 PM (c0A3e)

Yeah. That caffeine's a bitch.

414 I'm not a coffee drinker, so that's one less thing to worry about.

415 #315

Get back to me with some more of your hipster quips, boy

Posted by: OhioDude at May 16, 2010 07:51 PM (XpjBH)

Hey,  Ohio Dude, so explain to me how you are going to convert your gold, silver, etc into a commodities that you can eat?  

Did it ever occur to your small brain, that those gold, silver, etc will have NO value in a barter economy?

Ohio dude, I teach this shit, so pay attention.  Did you ever see Mad Max2?

So, the lesson from that was????  Oil and food were valuable, Gold?

Who gives a shit.

Valu rite would be a trade able commodity, gold, wtf would you use it for?

You've been doing WHAT since the 90's, being stupid?

Am I talking SLOW enough for your DUMB ass?

Oh, and that's MR. BOY to you kid. 

I've been teaching Econ since 1974.

Had enough or to you want me to really smack your ass?

Have a nice day.

Sorry, drinking my stock of valu rite.  I am sure you are just a product of public schools and don't know shit about shineola.

It's not your fault your parents couldn't send you to a good school, I understand.  There aren't any in Ohio.

416 Anyone hungry?  Ham, turkey, and teachers union sub sandwich here. 

417 I guess we're done with gold now.

418 It's the end of the world Europe as we know it, and I feel fine. 

419 Jeez Kemp who pissed in your Cheerios today?

420 421 Anyone hungry?  Ham, turkey, and teachers union sub sandwich here.

The blood of your adversaries isn't on the menu?  That makes you stronger!

421 [something, something . . . ] jelly bean cheesecake [. . . something, something]

422

I've got a couple of thousand barrels of North Dakota crude right now.

..Will trade for either Pepperidge Farm Milan cookies or pussy.

423 389 Thanks everyone. So my next question is, Q--what do you do with the money after you get it? Bury it in the back yard? Serious, do you reinvest if so in what? A--Buy two set net permits in Bristol Bay

424 Why are there torrents without seeders? What a fucking tease.

425 424 Jeez Kemp who pissed in your Cheerios today?

The dickhead at #315

426

#425

Does "liberal reporter lickspittle" done medium rare count?

427 How many grocers do you know that are going to be prepared to deal with this circumstance? "

They can check current pricing online or call the local gold/silver exchange.   They'll figure it out.

428 Chris Christie - Charlie Crist steel cage deathmatch...who's with me? 

429 The dickhead at #315

Thanks for the info Kemp. 

430 #431  Does "liberal reporter lickspittle" done medium rare count?

That's a good appetizer. 

431 One Second After gives a hell of a lesson on a real collapse. It's fiction, but there is a lot to be gleaned from its pages.

432 You gotta be kiddin me?  Heavyweight vs. featherweight?  Actually, I agree.  Could be fun. 

433 433 Chris Christie - Charlie Crist steel cage deathmatch...who's with me?

Need to put another douche-tard in there to even the odds.  How about Chris Matthews?

434 I think I'm well-prepared for any collapse. I watched an episode of Survivorman.

Step 1: strand yourself on a South Pacific island with plenty of coconuts and rain

435

Roasted Jon Corzine for the main course?

436 Need to put another douche-tard in there to even the odds.  How about Chris Matthews?

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 16, 2010 09:07 PM (c0A3e)

He doesn't fit the double C alliteration.  Maybe Matthews can legally change his name and we'll consider it.

437 150 pounds of Rice, 150 pounds of pinto beans and throw in some wheat kernels, or white flour if you don't want to grind your own.
Berkie filter for water.
This should give you a year of food for one person.
Pretty cheap insurance

438 440 I think I'm well-prepared for any collapse. I watched an episode of Survivorman.

Step 1: strand yourself on a South Pacific island with plenty of coconuts and rain

Posted by: Waterhouse at May 16, 2010 09:08 PM (S9AJM)

I know how to tent my pants.

439 433 Chris Christie - Charlie Crist steel cage deathmatch...who's with me? 

Posted by: Phil at May 16, 2010 09:05 PM (jr7Cb)

 

Sounds like an Augustus Gloop-Oompa Loompa steel cage deathmatch.

440 I think I watched enough Gilligan's Island to be fine, thank you.

441 Since Crist is already cooked, I can eat him after I bear him right?

442 433 Chris Christie - Charlie Crist steel cage deathmatch...who's with me?

So who the fuck will bet on the Ghey Crist?

443

Hmm, small stockpile of gold, silver, copper  to barter with -- check

Supply of defensive/hunting aids of various sorts -- check

Stockpile of medical aid -- check

Stockpile of food -- check, but must be worked on constantly as the kids get into it

Stockpile of things to grow food with -- check

Access to enough land to grow a small bit on  and hunt/fish on -- check

Stockpile of clothes, blankets, and material -- check

Stockpile of firewood -- check

Knowledge of how to grow own food, live off land, make on clothes and shelter and first aid/medicinal wares, practice defensive arts, make replacement defensive/hunting tools,  -- check

Access to non motorized forms of  cross country conveyance -- check

Ok, not that one shouldn't be even more prepared than they are already, but I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about my chances than others'....so I got that going for me, which is nice.

If it has to happen, it has to happen -- praise God and bring it on.

444 Does this mean cheaper or more expensive Benelli shotguns?

445 442 150 pounds of Rice, 150 pounds of pinto beans and throw in some wheat kernels, or white flour if you don't want to grind your own.
Berkie filter for water.
This should give you a year of food for one person.
Pretty cheap insurance

Posted by: MarkC at May 16, 2010 09:09 PM (2z8ZT)

But then I won't be able to fit in all the Shlurpies and large KFC buckets of crispy original in my Subaru.

446 440 I think I'm well-prepared for any collapse. I watched an episode of Survivorman.Step 1: strand yourself on a South Pacific island with plenty of coconuts and rain

Don't forget to give yourself a bat-guano water enema!

447 Posted by: unknown jane at May 16, 2010 09:12 PM (5/yRG)

er, what was that address again?

448 So who the fuck will bet on the Ghey Crist?

Posted by: Kemp at May 16, 2010 09:11 PM (2+9Yx)

No one but many of us would like to seem him get his ass kicked by Christie.  I certainly would pay to see that at this point.

449

#448

I got that action.

450 unknown jane, if you'll just post your address, it would really help out a bunch of us. thanks in advance

451 Wow, I hope people aren't seriously considering cashing out their 401k's. 

Let's assume that you're wrong and the government doesn't confiscate 401k's.  Then what is your backup plan for retirement savings?  You'd better have one otherwise you are just completely and utterly screwed for retirement.  You will be 70 years old, unable to work, and flat broke.

I don't think it is beyond our government to confiscate 401k's, but if they do, I think we will have advance notice.

452 Right now I'm bullish on Ho-Hos

453 So who the fuck will bet on the Ghey Crist?

We will!  We will!

454 Questions morons.
When the collapse happens how will the moron nation stay in contact?
A secret handshake? A password?

455

The problems in Europe aren't the real threat. They're just a diversion to distract you. The real danger is that the Obama Administration is gradually selling the USA to Communist China with the acquiescence of Congress. Obama is a puppet, and Communist Chinese leaders are pulling his strings.

456 How about a still?

How hard would it be to make a small one?  Obtain the raw materials for the booze itself.  Despite my origins in the South, I know little about these things.

457

Invest in brothels.  Talk about a recession proof business....

458 It's the penalties that are the real killer.  What a lot of people are doing is what was mentioned above, paying the taxes (iirc it gets taxed at the regular income rate) and not paying the penalty and making the IRS come after it.

How are those people staying out of jail?  I can't even duck a jury summons.

459 Times like this always bring out the various factions of the libertarian/conservative right. 1. The survivalists. "I bake my own biscuits from lard I rendered myself! I poop in an outhouse and live off the grid! Burn, world! Burn!" These guys tend to be single because the missus will put up with it for one winter but not two. And when the world fails to end but they've sunk all their money into flour, lard, salt, and thousands of rounds of ammo, all they can do is sit up there on the mountain and fester. Either that, or bathe, shave, and sheepishly come back down and live amongst folks. 2. The hoarders. You know who they are. Basements full of bottled water, dry goods, flashlights, batteries, every kind of what-have-you. The the disaster they weren't counting on -- a tornado or a flood -- destroys their stuff, thus teaching them a vital lesson: Mother Nature always wins. 3. The gun nuts. Look, I like guns, too. But these guys have hundreds of guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo for each gun. They have grenades. They claim to have a full-auto .50-cal, but they're lying faster than a horse can trot about 95% of the time. (The other 5% are good people to avoid.) I am never quite sure exactly how bad the situation would have to get to justify the possession of so many guns, but these guys collect guns like misers collect gold. 4. Gold bugs. They're always around, but they get louder during recessions. They have an almost-mystical faith in the yellow metal, and view our leaving of the Gold Standard as the Year Zero of America's descent into chaos. 5. The "contrarian bulls" like Kudlow who see glints of daylight where others see only darkness; who see buying opportunities and unfound gems all over the equities markets. We can be kind and call them optimists, or we can be unkind and call them deluded. 6. The fence-sitters. This is me, I guess. I hope for the best, but make reasonable preparations for the worst. I know that both best-case and worst-case outcomes are highly-unlikely, so I always place the bulk of my time, effort, and investments into the middle-case outcome.

460 OT, but a B-24 just flew overhead! What a sound.

461

My survival strategy:

1. Drive around. Find a Taco Bell.

2. Park outside. Exit car.

3. Walk into the front door.

4. Order.

5. Eat food. Put trash into receptacle.

6. Trade two Krugerrands for 12-minute sex in my car with cute waitress.

7. Clean up in Men's room. Check fly.

8. Repeat.

462 460 Questions morons.
When the collapse happens how will the moron nation stay in contact?
A secret handshake? A password?

Just follow the smell of roasting hobos.

463 You will be 70 years old, unable to work, and flat broke. Posted by: chemjeff You planning to live forever? And what good will plenty of notice due you?

464
Questions morons.
When the collapse happens how will the moron nation stay in contact?
A secret handshake? A password?

Posted by: mpfs,bobcat at May 16, 2010 09:17 PM (QuP9W)

........and you will know us by our Valu-Rite and trail of hobo carcasses we leave across the land.

465 462 How about a still?

How hard would it be to make a small one?  Obtain the raw materials for the booze itself.  Despite my origins in the South, I know little about these things.

Posted by: logprof at May 16, 2010 09:19 PM (Mmw0q)

The problem with distillation is about a third of the product will be toxic.  From what I understand you sort of have to know what you're doing to actually make safe, drinkable hootch.

466 456  We've already made plans in advance for that eventuality -- but you have to kick in something of worth to join the protectorate. lol!

467 The real danger is that the Obama Administration is gradually selling the USA to Communist China with the acquiescence of Congress. Breathe into a paper bag until you calm down. As long as our debt is denominated in dollars and not yuan, you are safe from the Red Peril. I promise. Translation: we're holding their nuts as tightly as they're holding ours.

468 460 Questions morons.
When the collapse happens how will the moron nation stay in contact?
A secret handshake? A password?

Several options.

Think WW2.

The call. "what do you drink?"  Valu rite! pass

Who do we hunt?  The hobos,  Pass

Erg was?  A dickhead, Pass

Palin Steel was?  A bad troll.

This can all be worked out!

469

An Afghan prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant for an American special forces commander over allegations that a police chief was murdered by a US-trained militia.

Brigadier General Ghulam Ranjbar, the chief military prosecutor in Kabul, has accused the US of creating an outlaw militia which allegedly shot dead Matiullah Qateh, the chief of police in the city of Kandahar. http://tinyurl.com/377qfom

 

470 Sleep Number Beds are a great place to store cash....

471

The problem with distillation is about a third of the product will be toxic.  From what I understand you sort of have to know what you're doing to actually make safe, drinkable hootch.

Posted by: Ace's liver at May 16, 2010 09:21 PM (LtIsn)

--Yeah, that's why I was told to avoid the chicha in Perú.

472 Several options.

Think WW2.

The call. "what do you drink?"  Valu rite! pass

Who do we hunt?  The hobos,  Pass

Erg was?  A dickhead, Pass

Palin Steel was?  A bad troll.

No D&D questions, please.

And only basic Star Trek trivia. I do not know what the fucking Picard maneuver is, alright?

473 Think I just saw this this thru the evening marine layer moving in: http://tinyurl.com/25do3fa Again, music.

474 3. The gun nuts. Look, I like guns, too. But these guys have hundreds of guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo for each gun. They have grenades. They claim to have a full-auto .50-cal, but they're lying faster than a horse can trot about 95% of the time. (The other 5% are good people to avoid.) I am never quite sure exactly how bad the situation would have to get to justify the possession of so many guns, but these guys collect guns like misers collect gold.

I never understood these guys.  Me, I can use one gun and I'd like to have another as a backup.  So for every combatant I can muster that's two guns.  Having 100 guns just makes you a target.  Are you really going to want to sell them to your neighbors in the Mad Max future?  You gonna trade a gun for food and then have the food seller come back the next day and shoot you with the gun you just sold him?

475 Posted by: Kemp at May 16, 2010 09:22 PM (2+9Yx)

Also, it may help to memorize one or two of the hashes plus user name you've used.

476 If Ace sells this site to HA, I hope he gets paid in pork belly options.

477 Translation: we're holding their nuts as tightly as they're holding ours.

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:21 PM (O3eFQ)

--A colleague of mine refers to the USA-China fiscal relationship as a marriage between a sadist and a masochist.  Which one is which depends on your perspective.

478 A Moron test. Q: Double post? A: Ace lives!

479 #481
Also, it may help to memorize one or two of the hashes plus user name you've used.

For some of us that won't be possible.

480 MarkC - might want some multi vitamins

481 Maybe replica watches are what I should hoard?

482 Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:20 PM (O3eFQ)

I must say, that was a rather disparaging critique of the conservative/libertarian ranks. Sounds like it came out of Newsweek.

483 6-0 now. A genuine stomping.

484 re: 350 ; Hey Lunatic..I saw the 60 minutes piece on the well. very damning....bp is screwed. rightfully so. ignoring that seal will end up being a 20 billtion $ mistake. the crewman was very believable.

485 Also, it may help to memorize one or two of the hashes plus user name you've used.

Posted by: logprof at May 16, 2010 09:25 PM (Mmw0q)

The moronettes have been rejecting my advances since I lost the prized "dcKUM" hash.

486

Monty @ 473

What you said there doesn't make any sense, and it isn't true. But I'll grant you, I've observed that you do have a gift as a bullshit artist.

487

Great Alabama Republican Campaign Ad - must watch:http://is.gd/ccnxf

 

 

488 "The bankers tricked me!" excuse works when you are a poor window washer in Fresno, California who doesn't speak English but bought a $750,000 home on some crazy mortgage. It doesn't work when you are a country with millions of people.

489 In a post apocalyptic world, there will still be spammers apparently.

490

You know who's gonna have a great big hard-on roaming the wasteland thanks to Viagra?

Bob Dole, that's who.

491 But I'll grant you, I've observed that you do have a gift as a bullshit artist. Opinions vary.

492 465  You forgot the "hope to muddle through-ers" (although I suppose that could be considered a subset of the fence sitters).  I count myself and mine as those.

493

but you have to kick in something of worth to join the protectorate. lol!

I know how to brew a mean IPA!

494 when the apocalypse comes, we will do trade in lace wigs, replica watches, and souvenir NFL jerseys

495 467

My survival strategy:

1. Drive around. Find a Taco Bell.

2. Park outside. Exit car.

3. Walk into the front door.

4. Order.

5. Eat food. Put trash into receptacle.

6. Trade two Krugerrands for 12-minute sex in my car with cute waitress.

7. Clean up in Men's room. Check fly.

8. Repeat.

Posted by: TexasJew at May 16, 2010 09:20 PM (HU2Pz)

Wow.  You're getting ripped off.  The cheapest Krugerrand has 1/10 oz of gold.  So two of those would be about $250 today.  In Mad Max world you can buy the waitress for just one of them, and she comes with one of those little wrist crossbows.

496 Moonshine is only toxic if you distill it through an old car radiator sealed with lead.  If you make it in a clean copper or Stainless kettle with clean copper tubing for the condenser it will not be toxic.

The biggest problem with making your own shine is that the mash stinks so bad while fermenting that if you don't do it in a remote location you will soon be found out.

497

#498

Big time.

498 "They're already greasing up the sheep like snapdragon to turn over their 401k to the all wise hands of the government with their 'guaranteed retirement accounts'."

IIRC it was the Republicans who wanted to turn over our retirement plans to the geniuses on Wall Street...that proved to be less than popular.

499 Guns are tools.  Do you use the same two tools from your car to fix a sink?  There may be some cross-utility but not optimization.  Does that justify hundreds of guns - not, but they will be more useful then a stamp or art collection if it comes to that.

500

#505

You're too stupid to have a good time.

501 Why Toilet Paper & Soap are NECESSITIES http://tweetphoto.com/22767735

502 Posted by: Vic at May 16, 2010 09:34 PM (6taRI)

--Well, so much for doing it in my bedroom community.

503 497

You know who's gonna have a great big hard-on roaming the wasteland thanks to Viagra?

Bob Dole, that's who.

Posted by: Bob Dole at May 16, 2010 09:31 PM (t72+4)

The End of Times will climax in an battle where Bob Dole and Dick Cheney will have an epic swordfight on the ash heap of the Apocalypse armed with their Brobdingnagian hardons.

504

500 Ok, maybe.

As for making hooch, isn't that hard as long as you have some basic material and knowledge (growing up in a podunk town has its advantages -- plenty of old boys were running stills around here and may still; although I think they've switched to pot growing -- better market).

505 Posted by: tours at May 16, 2010 09:37 PM (yaNkd)

--Now that was just fucking obnoxious.

506 9 page spam! Holy moly.

At least it moves asswagon's drivel far away.

507 thats good snapidiot - ignoring that letting congress continue to raid our social security taxes is worse then anything Wall Street could have done.  Popularity doesn't mean it is the correct thing to do.

508 The cheapest Krugerrand has 1/10 oz of gold.

The coin contains one troy ounce (31.1035 g) of gold. The remaining 8.33% of the coin's weight (2.826 g) is copper.

509 I bet the Iranians are really disappointed to have switched pegging their oil to the Euro instead of the dollar.  Talk about going from bad to worse.

510 Okay, why the fuck would you want to access spam for a Great Wall of China virtual tour?

511 I must say, that was a rather disparaging critique of the conservative/libertarian ranks. I grew up in Wyoming, and have lived for significant amounts of time in both North Carolina and Minnesota. My descriptions are drawn from life, believe me. I've got a certified Gun Nut(tm) living three houses down from me.

512

Wow.  You're getting ripped off.  The cheapest Krugerrand has 1/10 oz of gold.  So two of those would be about $250 today.  In Mad Max world you can buy the waitress for just one of them, and she comes with one of those little wrist crossbows.

Posted by: Ace's liver at May 16, 2010 09:34 PM (LtIsn)

I never said that they'd be REAL Krugerrands, or at least, more real than the pussy..

513 Pixy, Wake Ace up and turn on the spam filter.

Oh and that's another call?

Who messes up the site? Pixy!  pass!

514 Moonshine is only toxic if you distill it through an old car radiator sealed with lead.  If you make it in a clean copper or Stainless kettle with clean copper tubing for the condenser it will not be toxic.

The distillation process itself produces methanol and other toxins.  From the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonshine">wiki page</a>:

Moonshine can be made both more palatable and less damaging by removing the "foreshot" which contains most of the methanol, if any, from the mash. This is possible because methanol vaporizes at a lower temperature than ethanol. The foreshot also typically contains small amounts of other undesirable compounds such as acetone and various aldehydes.

They talk about dangerous stills and unscrupulous people adding wood alcohol, but the reality is you do get the bad stuff even if you have a glass still and proper mash.

515

Posted by: tours at May 16, 2010 09:37 PM (yaNkd)

Very short list. Not impressed with your offering.

516

#511

Can I watch?

517 wiki page

518 I'm also disappointed the spammer did not have any info on a Great Wall of China cycle tour.

519
I grew up in Wyoming, and have lived for significant amounts of time in both North Carolina and Minnesota. My descriptions are drawn from life, believe me. I've got a certified Gun Nut(tm) living three houses down from me.

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:40 PM (O3eFQ)

Yea, and big deal, he collects lots of guns, so what. Last time I checked that was his constitutional right.  Some folks collect cars, baseball cards and stamps.

520 PIXY!!

They're on the site like flies on shit.

Oh, I guess if the site only post every FIVE hours or so the spammers think it's not a real site.

Sort of like the rest of us.

Oh, that was ruff.

521

Rozzzzz-lin, Ross-Land, Roooooozlin, Ruuuuooooslin, Ruzzzzzlin, Ruzzzzzslin,

Rizzzzzzzzlinnnn, Roooozlinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

CapitalCapitalcAPITALCapital...

Oh, I didn't see you standing there..

522 Posted by: Fashion Handbags at May 16, 2010 09:42 PM (+x5Au)

--Damn, a fucking mini-dissertation on handbags

523 It looks like spambots are not suffering in this recession.  In fact, it appears spambots are doing quite well.

524 In these times of economic tumult, lace wigs, trust me.  Lace. Wigs. 

525 I've got a certified Gun Nut(tm) living three houses down from me.

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:40 PM (O3eFQ)

I'm a gun nut too. Ain't it cool

526 I'm a little more profane than usual because I've already started imbibing. . . .

527 Last time I checked that was his constitutional right.

Amen. I will agree that there are some who abuse that right, but they are very few and far between. 

528 Yes, those are the basic needs to survive, adding to that with dehydrated fruits and other things would be a plus, or vitamins.

529 516 The cheapest Krugerrand has 1/10 oz of gold.

The coin contains one troy ounce (31.1035 g) of gold. The remaining 8.33% of the coin's weight (2.826 g) is copper.

Posted by: Soap MacTavish at May 16, 2010 09:39 PM (554T5)

There are several different kinds of Krugerrands.  Yes, you would normally buy the one oz version.  But trading two ounces of gold for twelve minutes with a Taco Bell waitress... that's pretty bad, even for denizens of this establishment.

530 534 I've got a certified Gun Nut(tm) living three houses down from me.

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:40 PM (O3eFQ)

I'm a gun nut too. Ain't it cool

Did I mention I went to the NRA convention this weekend and saw 20,000 guns! 

Oh, yeah!!

531 But trading two ounces of gold for twelve minutes with a Taco Bell waitress... that's pretty bad, even for denizens of this establishment.

No argument, there.

532 --Damn, a fucking mini-dissertation on handbags

Posted by: logprof at May 16, 2010 09:45 PM (Mmw0q)

These are some aggressive spammers, tonight.  It's a spam jihad.

533

By Monty's standards I'm probably not a gun nut since I only own three, but if I owned thirty, I guess in his world I should be put under 24 hr surveillance or locked away in an institution.

534 Soap MacTavish: I think what bothers me about a lot of libertarian talk especially is the "let it burn!" sentiment. I happen to like the society we have, for all its flaws, and would like to see it repaired, not torn down. There's such a thing as being prepared for bad stuff to come down and eagerly awaiting the shitstorm. The former is just being prudent; the latter is just being, well, an asshole. I have a fondness for most Gun Nuts, as I like guns myself. Not just for their practical uses, but also as items of art and craft. Most collectors I know are fairly harmless souls, but a few are truly scary people. (One guy a few years back was bragging that he got a flamethrower, for Christ's sake. What in God's name are you going to do with a flamethrower? I never saw it, so maybe he was bullshitting me, but still.) But it does come down to caricature at some point, as I wrote in my essay a few days ago. It's hard to get away from it, isn't it?

535

Wow.  You're getting ripped off.  The cheapest Krugerrand has 1/10 oz of gold.  So two of those would be about $250 today.  In Mad Max world you can buy the waitress for just one of them, and she comes with one of those little wrist crossbows.

Posted by: Ace's liver at May 16, 2010 09:34 PM (LtIsn)

But you all forgot to figure in the cost of the free Beefy 7-layer Burrito, the Gordita Supreme and the Deluxe Diet Pepsi with additional refill.

Plus the Iron Man 2 toy.

536 I don't like the term gun-nut. When people hear car-nut or tool-nut they think it's harmless. Gun-nut not so much. The term gun-nut should be reserved for folks who are nuts and have a lot of guns. It should not be used to describe folks who simply have a lot of guns.

537 I have guns and nuts.

538

What in God's name are you going to do with a flamethrower? I never saw it, so maybe he was bullshitting me, but still.)

Weed control. What do you use some Gaia killing chemical?

539 One guy a few years back was bragging that he got a flamethrower, for Christ's sake. What in God's name are you going to do with a flamethrower?

Posted by: Monty at May 16, 2010 09:52 PM (O3eFQ)

Throw flames.  I like fire.

I don't see anything wrong with a flame thrower.  It's too bulky for anything but unbridled, open flaming.  It makes the person holding it a pretty rich and easy target, too.

540 Well since the spammers have shown up it must be time to pack it in.

541 But trading two ounces of gold for twelve minutes with a Taco Bell waitress... that's pretty bad, even for denizens of this establishment.
It all depends on how many ounces you got, homes.

542 547

What in God's name are you going to do with a flamethrower? I never saw it, so maybe he was bullshitting me, but still.)

Weed control. What do you use some Gaia killing chemical?

Posted by: robtr at May 16, 2010 09:54 PM (fwSHf)

I knew a guy who used an impromptu flame thrower to destroy all the poison ivy on his property.  Turns out to be something of a bad idea to burn poison ivy.

543 The term gun-nut should be reserved for folks who are nuts and have a lot of guns. It should not be used to describe folks who simply have a lot of guns. Shall we say gun aficionados, then? Firearms enthusiasts?

544 "Popularity doesn't mean it is the correct thing to do."

Maybe not, but it's how America decides who gets to decide what to do.

545 Maybe not, but it's how America decides who gets to decide what to do.

Posted by: snapdragon at May 16, 2010 09:58 PM (5Etcj)

Interesting theory, you should explain that to Barack Obama.

546

Oh yoohoo Mr. Monty

"Love is never having to say that you're sorry ...., or having to back-peddle ...., or having to take your foot out of your mouth  either."

547 You can convert a crock pot and a small ice chest into a decent still (for personal use) and beer making skills will always be in demand.

548 or having to take your foot out of your mouth either If I put it in there, it is my bounden duty to take it back out and apologize like a gentleman. It's just the way I was raised. (Gotta call it a night, Morons and Moronettes. Sleep well!)

549

I'm just impressed that Taco Bells in Texas have waitresses.

Here you're likely to find a sullen ex-con behind the counter.

550 Shall we say gun aficionados, then? Firearms enthusiasts?

If the SHTF -- "Sir" might be a good place to start

551 What in God's name are you going to do with a flamethrower? I never saw it, so maybe he was bullshitting me, but still.)

Two words: Neanderthal Vampire

552 Turns out to be something of a bad idea to burn poison ivy.

Yeah - inhaled urushiol will make for a bad couple of days.

553 Kemp, have you made it to the NRA museum?

554 IIRC it was the Republicans who wanted to turn over our retirement plans to the geniuses on Wall Street...that proved to be less than popular.

As to be expected, you don't recall correctly.  The plan was to allow you to choose to invest your some portion of your SS contribution in something that will return an actual return on investment, as opposed to the nothing we are going to get when the SS system collapses, as all ponzi schemes must.

Enjoy eating dirt in retirement, fool.

555 And might I add, that it was some portion of future contributions, the the many thousands that we have already had stolen by the Democrats and spent to buy votes were not included in the deal.

556 Help me out here fellow morons.
Am I reading this right?
Are the Asian stock markets taking a dump?

557

To those who say it's too late to get into gold, what about silver?

On the Euro depreciation, I'm not convinced that's not what the Europeans wanted. A big part of their way out of this has to be thru exports, and that's more feasible with a lower Euro (tho it sucks balls for our exporters. Why does evertyhing always have to suck balls for our exporters?). The bailouts are for their banks, just like ours were, to help them unwind. Why people continue to put up with bank bailouts at their own expense is beyond me.

On precious metals in general, I think they remain a good doomsday hedge against widespread panic in the currencies, which is a real danger. Also, if they hyperinflation that many folks have been worrying about comes along, precious metals would be great to have on hand. So they make sense as a hedge play, as a safety play. Not as an investment for little Johnny's college education, but for a worse case scenario if that whole question becomes ridiculous. Which it might.

558  Comon cons, give up your God... Please, before he kills us all.

559

This will NEVER happen to the Amero!

//

560 I continue to believe that BHO and his comrades would love to see all of us buying gold, and storing it with our brokers.  It's then so convenient to confiscate in a crisis, as has been done throughout history.

561 Our spider man costume are fashionable and creative

562

Though I think that gold boosters overstate the liquidity aspect. I can't haul a gold bar into a grocery store, shave off a sliver, and use it to pay for groceries.

That's true now, but in a future hyperinflationary scenario it's not hard to envision exactly that happening.   All a merchant would need is a scale and a way to quickly verify the authenticity and purity of the gold. 

563 All the bull going on in the world is all about a Global Dollar - Wake up dummies. It's on it's way.

564 All the bull going on in the world is all about a Global Dollar

Not seeing it.  The coming demise of the Euro makes a pretty good argument against a global currency.

565 Correct me if I am wrong....but the problem with Gold, is you buy retail and then sell wholesale. I mean unless we go to the barter system. Ever try selling coins at a coin shop? What a rip off.