Stagecoach Silver Rounds

These are way cool. An easily divisible one ounce silver round.

Check it out, here.

 
H/T, Commander Zero.

Stephen

FYI

Hate to beat a dead horse, but...

Morning Snapshot

by Peter A. Grant
May 01, AM
(from USAGOLD.com) --
Gold has been somewhat choppy again this morning; coming in higher initially on a weaker dollar and then selling off on the April ISM beat, only to recover into stable territory. The yellow metal remains firmly entrenched within the broad range defined by the 1920.50 high from September 2011 and the 1522.40 low from December. Yet as my colleagues and I discussed in the latest USAGOLD VideoRoundtable, there may be reason to believe that the protracted period of consolidation may not last through the summer.

Persistent expectations that the Fed will launch additional quantitative measures may ultimately prove to be the catalyst for such a breakout. These expectations have served to put a floor under the market, protecting the low end the range. With the number of double-dipping economies in Europe on the rise, it may be just a matter of time before the entire EU is back in recession. This risks pulling the US back into recession as well, and last week's US Q1 GDP miss may be a harbinger of just such a reality.

Japan remains a mess with their economy continuing to contract. The BoJ announced additional asset purchases late last week, because the past 20-years of ZIRP and QE have proven so successful (not!) that they may as well keep going to the same well. On top of that, concerns about a hard-landing in China linger, despite some indications to the contrary.

Even commodity based economies are starting to feel the pinch. Canadian GDP for February came in at a weaker than expected -0.2%, dashing hopes for an imminent BoC rate hike. The Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates a larger than expected 50 bps today on rising risks to growth.

More debt. More ZIRP. More QE. More currency printing. And I'm not just talking about here in the US. I'm talking a global reality check. Everything that has taken gold from just over $300 a decade ago to more than $1900 last September is still very much going on, and may be on the verge of accelerating dramatically in the coming months. There is every reason to believe that the present consolidation is simply a pause withing the long-term trend.

Stephen

Jazz In The Morning

I've jazz on the system this morning. It reminds me of the early 1960's. Nice.

I'm trying to type and answer a text from my friend, MDR. As a matter of fact I just typed, "He has a very shallow sense of humor," speaking of our Lord in relation to my recent illness. My friend, MDR, is funny and kind and generous and I respect him very much indeed.

Which brings me to the subject of this blog post. Friends. Friends I've met in this weird and wonderful medium we all call the internet. I haven't the time, presently, to link each and everyone of you. Then again I could just take a day to write this little post and do just that, link each of you. But, I've just flipped the shop sign to open and customers hate to wait. After all, I am a wicked capitalist.

Back on subject (to much coffee this morning) you. You, my good friends, never cease to astound me. I write a simple little vignette about my restlessness and my wife's emotions and you guys come back with such caring and understanding responses it leaves me at a loss for words, literally.

Thank you.

Stephen

Stuff to Read

A box from Amazon arrived today and inside were two books.

The novel pictured below was recommended. After I read it, and if I can remember, I'll let you know if it's worth the time and cost. Either way, I'm a happy man. Books do that to me.

Both can be purchased at Preppers.com.

Stephen

Rawles, James W.

To be published this September:

To explain: "Founders" is the second sequel to "Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse". It is set contemporaneously to the first two novels, but in different geography, with some crossover characters. This novel details the epic cross-country trek of Ken and Terry Layton that was just briefly described in "Patriots". There are also storylines at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and in the vicinity of Fort Knox, Kentucky.

A link to Survivalblog is located at the upper right of my blog page.

Stephen

Tears

Sunday morning, early, I awoke and built a pot of coffee then walked outside for my paper. It was warm and it felt good to be out in the fresh air. The river was as flat as a sheet of glass.

When I turned to walk back inside, the condition of my yard caught my attention. It was a mess. We'd had a few days of strong winds and since I own many trees; several species of oak, a couple of Hickory and pine, the yard was a mess of fallen branches and Spanish moss. The lawn was overgrown and in bad need of a cut. Our property was ugly and it bugged me.

I read my paper, drank a couple cups of coffee then quietly dressed. I slipped past Sweet Wife into the garage grabbed an old wooden basket I use for yard trash and a rake. I cleaned. Thought to myself, 'Well, she hasn't missed me.'

The  next part of my plan would be tricky, the mower. First I sharpened the blade. I'm anal-retentive that way. Most people like to beat their grass to death. I like to cut it. Anyhow, afterward, I topped the gas tank, eased the mower out on our driveway and fired it up. Second gear and I was gone.

  
It felt so good, work. I'd made it about fifteen or twenty feet when I felt a tap on my shoulder. She said, "Stop." I put the mower in idle and waited as she chewed my butt. Glanced around to see if any of my neighbors had walked outside for the show. Me, all embarrassed.

Sweet Wife, "You can't do this, are you nuts. Do you want to drop dead..." Rhetorical. I replied I felt fine, no pain. Please just leave me alone as my manhood was in question. I slip the clutch and tried to escape. I remember thinking how the smell of fresh cut grass always reminds me of watermelon. A second or two later she slapped my arm, and her such a little lady, gone all butch on me.

I shut the mower off. Stood there, ready to fight. Then, I see she has tears. Her face wet.  Tracks of moisture, like tiny rivers. "Please," she said. Her hands shook. My resolve broke.

She took the mower and gave it a little shove, as if to bay the demon.

There was little use in my argument. All people have an innate limitation alarm. My body was fine. My strength not limited. I felt like a million bucks, but my darling Georgia Peach was afraid. She was scared to death. We talked as she walked me towards the garage. I held her close and soothed her fears. She repeated, over and over, "What would I do without you..." I shushed her. "But they said...."

"No," I said, "They, are wrong. Nothing hurts."

Still, she cried. I'm as a baby in the presence of tears. She explained she'd called our son and he was on the way to finish my work. My work....

Every man needs to know his limitations. Mine are tears.

Stephen

Quickie

Sorry I  haven't posted in a couple of days. I've been busier than a one armed paper hanger.

We'll talk later today.

Stephen