05/15/2008 - Inflate Here
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: There seems to be two important consensuses coming from the world’s pre-eminent economic minds. One is that the inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve are setting the economy down a dark path. The other is that the guys in charge of the Federal Reserve are the only ones who don’t realize this. Lord William Rees-Mogg explains why we’re headed for a similar situation to the one we experienced in the 1970s. 05/14/2008 - Clowning Around
By Fred Sheehan
Greg’s Note: In his book Greenspan’s Bubbles, Fred Sheehan examines the work done by Alan Greenspan during his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Today, he shows us how the personality of Greenspan affected the way he ran the economy and how he marketed himself to the media. 05/13/2008 - A Valuable Backstop for Wealthy Investors
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: Over the past several weeks we’ve seen a dip in the price of gold. After reaching and surpassing the $1000 mark in March, gold has eased a bit in light of some conservative Fed forecasting. But does that mean that the crisis is over and gold will be steadily falling? Hardly. The Fed might be hinting at a rate cut freeze, but this overall credit crisis is still going, and there are still shoes left to drop. 05/12/2008 - Supply Chain
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: There’s been a recent boom in commodities markets. We’ve been talking about it for the past several weeks. But what are the reasons for this boom? Resource Trader Alert’s Kevin Kerr gives us a few explanations and discusses the supply side of some valuable resources. 05/09/2008 - The Energy Metal
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: Today, Chris Mayer tells us about an important energy metal that was once considered lost. Found once again, this metal finds itself in great demand with a market that looks good for the next few years to come. So what are its uses, and why has the demand spiked recently? These questions and more will be answered below. Mayer may have found the first “green” metal, if such a thing is possible, and it’s time to make that metal work for you. 05/08/2008 - A Small World After All
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: As much as the Fed tries to stave off inflation while still propping up the economy, it seems that we are in for more dollar trouble in the near and possibly distant future. Couple that with weather and other crop problems, and a big rally for agriculture and other resource commodities is what we can expect. Our commodity expert Kevin Kerr has been doing the leg work and finding out what lies ahead of us in the agricultural sector. 05/07/2008 - Myth Buster
By Jim Rogers
Greg’s Note: Today’s Whiskey is a special excerpt from legendary financial mind Jim Rogers’ book, Hot Commodities. In this essay, Jim explains away some of the myths many people associate with commodity markets. There are a lot of misconceptions and fears out there when it comes to resource investing and Jim is bent on making sure people understand these sometimes complicated, but often profitable markets just a little bit better. 05/06/2008 - Farm Aid
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: With a great demand for a change in our energy consumption, the U.S. has been quick to follow in the footsteps of some of our international friends and adopt new and cutting edge fuels. Unfortunately, as the Resource Trader Alert’s Kevin Kerr informs us, we may have adopted a project that was doomed to fail from the beginning. We seem to have a history of identifying a problem and rushing to solution before really taking the necessary steps to find a real fix. 05/05/2008 - The Have Mores
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: During our economic downtime, people are talking about how we’re going to survive on the margins. How are we going to pay for gas, clothes, food or even shelter? But there is another area of the economy that has gone largely unnoticed. What about the luxury goods? If we go into a recession, who’s going to be buying the Porches, Cristal and caviar? Why isn’t anyone worried about the rich people? They live in the same economy we do and face all the same problems. 05/02/2008 - The Next Big Thing
By Christopher Hancock
Greg’s Note: As times change, so do trends. In the old days, the louder and more powerful your car, the better. Now, green is the name of the game and everyone wants to drive super quiet, efficient hybrids. Just as in the roaring ‘90s consumption was the hottest trend, Chris Hancock explains that it will soon be fashionable to cut back. No more frills, no more showing off, no more flossing. 05/01/2008 - More Cuts, More Concerns
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: The Fed once again cut interest rates yesterday, this time by a quarter of a percentage point. So what does this mean for the U.S. economy as well as the central banks in Europe? It appears that inflationary concerns are being put on the back burner as the Fed scrambles to fix what it believes to be more pressing economic concerns. But what is this going to do to fix rising costs in energy and other sectors? 04/30/2008 - A Manic Depression
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: Prices are rising as the dollar falls, and an economic slowdown has done little to stave off massive inflation. The economic policies of the central bank seem to only be making matters worse as new imports and lower production have led to overall rises in the price of many goods. Gold and Options Trader’s Ed Bugos blames the Fed’s policies and shortsightedness for many of these problems. 04/29/2008 - Subcontracting the Subcontinent
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: The world has certainly given us a lot, and we keep asking for more. We have a need for many natural and precious resources that nature has to offer, but we must know where to look. The better we can find and extract these resources, the better we can use nature’s gifts to their full potential. Chris Mayer of Capital & Crisis gives his thoughts on where we should look and what we should be looking for. 04/28/2008 - No Room at the Inn
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: For over a century, people from all over the world have seen the United States as a bastion of hope and freedom like no other place in the world. Millions have immigrated to America, bringing with them a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities that have lasted for generations. The problem is, can we still afford to take in the huddled masses yearning to breath free while sustaining ourselves as well? 04/25/2008 - Acid Rocks
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: You hear all the time about certain commodities that are in a bull market. Big names like oil and gold get most of the attention, and tangible assets people can see and taste, like wheat and sugar, also get a lot of play. But what about those resources that go into the production of almost everything we need? Chris Mayer from Mayer’s Special Situations has uncovered one of these resources that many producers simply can’t live without. It may not be something you can see or taste, but you’ll definitely know it if your feel it. 04/24/2008 - Zen and the Art of Monetary Mayhem
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: Economists talk about a lot of things. They talk about credit, savings, investing, GDP, and many other important topics. But do they ever talk about money? Adrian Ash explains that sometimes the subject of money takes a backseat to many other issues when great economic minds get together. So how important is money anyway? 04/23/2008 - Rising Coal Prices Are Helping Geothermal Producers
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: With Earth Day creating a lot of buzz about green energy and technology, people are desperately looking for a cheap and effective way to produce green energy. Byron King has a theory that the more expensive dirty energy resources get, the cheaper green energy will look by comparison. Check out Byron’s case. 04/22/2008 - Population Control
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: Today, Lord William Rees-Mogg takes a look at the supply of essential resources left on Earth and how they stack up to the ever-growing world population. It isn’t difficult to see that as the population continues to rise, we will eventually find ourselves in the midst of vast and varied shortages. 04/21/2008 - 40 Years of Inflation, 80 Years of Dow/Gold
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: With inflation surpassing the interest rates being paid to savers, it really doesn’t pay to keep your money in dollar-oriented investments — literally. That’s why Adrian Ash is beating the gold drum again, and also finding some interesting correlations between the price of gold, and the Dow Jones. Where should you be keeping your money now? 04/18/2008 - Nikolai Baibakov (1911–2008)
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: Our Peak Oil correspondent and Outstanding Investments editor Byron King sent us an obituary of an old energy warrior. There are some things you just don’t know or suspect. The story of a Russian oilman named Nikolai Baibakov is filled with many such gems. As Byron notes, “This was a man who fueled the Soviet Union and — both directly and indirectly — shaped the modern world.” 04/17/2008 - A "Universal" Solution to Nuke's Big Problem
By Jim Amrhein
Greg's Note: After a month spent ruminating on both the kudos and criticism from the first two parts of his nuclear energy series, Jim's back with his third and final installment. Could the solution to nuclear waste really be as simple as he's proposing? As usual, our Freedoms Editor adds a perspective to a debate that few are discussing — or perhaps could even imagine. 04/16/2008 - Gold, Euros and Risk
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: We’ve all heard that gold is a reliable store of value in a down economy. But why? Well our gold expert Adrian Ash takes a look at why this happens and what factors help out gold the most. It seems to me that you can rely on gold no matter what’s going on, and that may just be the case. 04/15/2008 - The Automotive Energy Revolution
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: I’m sure you’ve got enough on your plate today, so we’re not going to overwhelm you with an article about taxes. Today, our Peak Oil expert, Byron King, is going to discuss the energy revolution taking place in the automobile industry. He’s got some interesting ways to think about the fuel and energy problems we’re experiencing. 04/14/2008 - First Step — Fire the Fed
By Fred Sheehan
Greg’s Note: With the banking system going through a period of turmoil, the question of federal regulation will not be going away any time soon. Are market influences enough, or should the government be taking a closer look at how these banks do business. Fred Sheehan takes a look at what went on under Alan Greenspan’s Fed and what should be done now. 04/11/2008 - Bubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: What’s the difference between a boom and a bubble? Can we expect every booming market to someday burst and envelope anyone short-sighted enough to hang around? Lord William Rees-Mogg tries to make this important distinction when comparing the housing markets in Britain and the United States. 04/10/2008 - Rich West Sells Gold; Asian Nations Sell Dollars?
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: The International Monetary Fund is trying to figure out what to do with the world’s currency problems. Adrian Ash tells us about the goings on with global money policies and which way we can expect things to go. Either way might not be that bad. 04/09/2008 - The Switzerland of Asia
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: Capital and Crisis’ Chris Mayer believes there to be some big opportunities in Asia. He’s not talking about the opportunities that everyone else has found. He’s found the next big resource hotspot that you’ll need to know about. Plus he may even tell you how to make some specific investment plays. 04/08/2008 - Adios, First Quarter
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: In January, a new year began. The promise of a fresh start for so many aspects of life, the economy included. Boy did we get off to a rough start. Energy and Scarcity Investor’s Byron King is sure glad to see the first quarter of the year come to an end. I think we all share his feelings. 04/07/2008 - Euro Fixing
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: Today, William Rees-Mogg ponders about the risk of competing European federations. It appears that someone is fixing the government bond markets in an attempt to keep the euro strong as a form of currency. What risks come from this fixing and what can we expect to see in the future? 04/04/2008 - Game for a Laugh?
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: If you think that the Fed bailout of Bear Stearns sets a bad precedent, wait until you find out who’s really paying for it. Adrian Ash does a little trickery with some quotes to make it more obvious for you. Think it’s funny now? Wait until you read this. 04/03/2008 - Bernanke Targets Gold
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: When Gold and Options Trader Ed Bugos looks at the recent actions of the Fed, he doesn’t know what to think. Is the Fed trying to inflate, or is this all just smoke and mirrors? Is Ed’s original hunch correct, or is the mysterious voice he hears speaking the truth? 04/02/2008 - A Guy Walks Into a Bar…
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: If you’ve been having trouble lately locating some rare and critical metals, you’re not alone. Byron King explains why these metals are rare and how the scarcity adds to their investment potential. You don’t have to be a geologist to understand that these rare metals can be pretty valuable. 04/01/2008 - Rescue Me
By Paul Tustain
Greg’s Note: With the heroic rescue of Bear Stearns, Hank Paulson and his buddies at the Fed have masterfully saved the country’s economy in one fell swoop. Hopefully we can expect more of this financial wizardry in the coming months as we deftly maneuver around this recession and back into a market boom. Wait, what day is today? Paul Tustain gives his take on what we can really expect. 03/31/2008 - Panic or Depression
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: We may be in a recession. We may also be in a state of economic panic. But Lord William Rees-Mogg does not believe that we are in danger of entering another depression. While many are sounding the depression alarm, maybe we need to look at what is actually happening when diagnosing out conditions. 03/28/2008 - You Think $1,000 Gold Is Important?
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: In the world of commodities, there are several psychological milestones. $100 oil is one, and $1,000 gold is certainly another. While the media loves reporting on these big, round numbers, Adrian Ash warns that other milestones may carry even more weight. We haven’t heard about deutschemarks in a while, but here’s a friendly reminder. 03/27/2008 - Surviving Stock Market Cycles
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: When it comes to value investing, Chris Mayer is the guy to talk to. Recently, Chris attended an investing conference and has come back with some interesting stuff. Investing during a recession can be tricky, but if you can spot value, anytime is good for a bargain. 03/26/2008 - Option Strategies to Insure Your Portfolio
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: Yeah, yeah. Invest in gold. We know. But how do we do it? Gold and Options Trader’s Ed Bugos lays down his strategies for investing in gold. He’s got option plays to help out your portfolio and he’ll explain just how to do it. 03/25/2008 - Beryllium and You
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: The U.S. strategic stockpile has dwindled. When the Cold War ended, we thought we wouldn’t need a lot of precious metals and resources. Byron King lets us know what we had, and what we’re trying to get back. There are major investment opportunities coming from this restoration. 03/24/2008 - Finding False Markets
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: Last week’s crash of Bear Stearns has led to some very interesting questions. Lord William Rees-Mogg ponders the legality of Bear’s actions and whether or not something underhanded was going on. The creation of false markets can bring any investment bank to its knees. 03/21/2008 - The Shadow of the Depression and the Lesson of the ‘70s
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: Have we learned nothing from the 1970s? The Fed has set us on a path toward inflation that may save some jobs in Washington, but lead our dollar into a black hole. Adrian Ash reminds us of some of history’s important lessons, lest we be doom to repeat them. Perhaps two dissenting voters know more than the rest of us. 03/20/2008 - Junior Achievers
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: In our troubling market times, we’ve seen gold shoot to record levels. Those prices have eased a bit in the past few days, but the bull market is nowhere near over. Ed Bugos looks at the trends, and the Fed, and what small companies can still benefit from a bull market for gold and an uneasy feeling on Wall Street. 03/19/2008 - A Keynes Mutiny
By Dan Amoss
Greg’s Note: Does the Fed try to regulate the market, or is it the other way around? Strategic Short Report’s Dan Amoss believes that the government does not have the power to bend an economy, yet it certainly seems as if the Fed believes it does. We’ve seen even more rate cuts and inflation could soon be sweeping through our economy, sending our dollar even farther down. 03/18/2008 - Nip and Tuck
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: The water pipes in the United States need to be repaired and replaced. Water is a serious issue that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. Chris Mayer explains the ins and outs of the water problem in this country and abroad. We’ve heard of Peak Oil and Peak Food, but Peak Himalayas? This really is Peak Everything. 03/17/2008 - The Hedge of Reality
By Nick Jones
Greg’s Note: When analysts start using the word “precipitous” every time they open their mouths, there’s usually only one thing they’re talking about. The dollar has been falling, and its descent is reaching critical levels. Our commodities expert, Nick Jones, gives his advice on how to properly hedge your dollar-heavy investments with something a little more real. 03/14/2008 - The True Cost of This Crisis
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: Panic is never a good thing, especially when it is coming from some of the word’s most powerful central banks. Adrian Ash explains why so many countries are hitting the panic button and how this sweeping bailout could wind up costing us more. Is there any end in sight? 03/13/2008 - Reality Check for the Atom Smashers
By Jim Amrhein
Greg’s Note: In light of the feedback from all points on the spectrum we got in response to Part One of this series, Jim decided not to make you wait too long for the second installment. Some criticized his first essay for being mostly rhetorical combat against the anti-nuclear agenda — but this one more than compensates with scads of facts. And as always when he’s writing them, they’re eye opening and persuasive. 03/12/2008 - A Car for the Great Multitude
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: A lot of us think that using our agricultural products as a mean to power our cars is a recent development. Peak Oil expert Byron King explains that not only has this been around for decades, the father of the American automobile himself was one of its first proponents. 03/11/2008 - Getting South African Assets Virtually Free
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: There are a few different ways to invest in gold these days. You can simply hold the metal itself, or you can invest in gold shares. Ed Bugos describes the risks and rewards of gold shares and offers his opinion on the undervalued shares you should be targeting right now. 03/10/2008 - Biz Brother’s Atomic Qualms
By Jim Amrhein
Greg’s Note: On January 2, we published an excerpt from Freedom From Mid-East Oil, a book on energy alternatives published by an organization called the World Business Academy. The particular excerpt they provided to us laid a fairly severe smackdown on nuclear power. A surprising number of Whiskey & Gunpowder readers took issue with the piece — and challenged us to give equal time to the other side of the argument. Today, our Freedoms Editor takes up that challenge with the first of a multi-part series. 03/07/2008 - Chocolate Bunnies and the Easter Heat Wave
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: The dollar has continued its downward spiral against the euro recently. Adrian Ash explains why some people in Europe are actually getting concerned that the euro is worth too much. Will the Fed continue to tear down the value of the dollar while trying to stave off a recession? And what’ll happen to the price of gold? 03/06/2008 - A New Meaning to “Going Parabolic”
By Nick Jones
Greg’s Note: Our child prodigy, Nick Jones, has been seeing some pretty interesting things on the floor of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. No longer wet behind the ears, Nick is seeing some of the biggest moves in the wheat markets in years. Find out why Nick thinks that exposure to agriculture is a must for anyone’s portfolio. 03/05/2008 - Devilish Deals
By Jamie Ellis
Greg’s Note: The names and faces of some of the financial world’s biggest rogue traders have been all over the news lately. Jamie Ellis takes a look at three unique cases and ponders what drove these men to do the things they did. Money? Fame? The answers can be surprising. 03/04/2008 - Inflation Wars
By Marc Faber
Greg’s Note: The concern with the U.S. economy does not exist in just one area. There is a battle going on between inflation and recession that does not show any easy answers. Dr. Marc Faber explains how the Fed and the private sector have been here before, and why we may never find a real winner. 03/03/2008 - Funding on the Trail
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: Tomorrow the eyes of the country will be focused on four more important primary votes. The presidential race is one of the most interesting in years and more and more scrutiny is applied to the candidates everyday. William Rees-Mogg analyses the issue of campaign finance and its effects both here and abroad. 02/29/2008 - Being Right Simply Isn’t Enough!
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: Investing in commodities can sometimes be tough business. Outstanding Investments’ Kevin Kerr is a veteran and even he finds difficulty sometimes. If you follow Kevin’s advice, you’ll see that the smart trader makes the right trade, but the disciplined trader makes the money. Kevin is right most of the time, but is that really enough? 02/28/2008 - By Any Other Name
By Nick Jones
Greg’s Note: When you see an investment idea you like, sometimes it can sound so sweet. Other times, it can be nearly impossible to pronounce. Nick Jones is here to tell you about a difficult investment to say, but an easy one to get on board with. I’ll let Nick figure out how to tell you about this one. 02/27/2008 - Six Months of Fun, Fun, Fun from the Fed
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: Inflation is rising and the price of materials is skyrocketing. Adrian Ash explains what is happening, and why Bernanke hasn’t gotten the result he’d hoped for when he began slashing interest rates. Are we in for a period of stagflation? And what’s a certificate of confiscation? 02/26/2008 - “Credit Precedes Common”
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: When you’re determining the value of a particular stock, predicting the future can often be tough. There are, however, a few indicators that prudent investors will look for. Chris Mayer is here to tell you about one of these indicators that you should never ignore when analyzing a balance sheet. 02/25/2008 - The Age of Hope
By Lord William Rees-Mogg
Greg’s Note: There’s no question what has been dominating the news for the past few months. The presidential primaries are some of the closest and most divisive in history. Lord Rees-Mogg gives his take on the messages being made by the candidates and just what segment of the population is being affected most. 02/22/2008 - Alaska: “The Most Important Strategic Place in the World,” Part III
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: This is another installment in a series about the strategic importance of Alaska. In Part I, our Peak Oil correspondent and Outstanding Investments editor, Byron King, discussed Billy Mitchell, an early thinker on the use of air power and the father of the U.S. Air Force. In Part II, Byron discussed strategy and strategic planning and applied those ideas to the geography and resource development in Alaska over the past half-century. In this article, Byron writes about Alaska in terms of strategy, resources, and modern air power. 02/21/2008 - Narodny Rock and the G-7’s Men of Action
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: It’s amazing how important banks are to the world. Usually when a company is mismanaged and its stock price plummets, they simply hang a “for sale” sign in the front window and the guys in charge are hauled off to jail. Adrian Ash explains why this is not the case for some of the world’s largest banks. Maybe they’re too big to fail because no one will let them. 02/20/2008 - Leaving on a Jet Plane
By Mike Muehlesk
Greg’s Note: Whiskey’s Asian correspondent, Mike Muehleck has noticed an interesting trend. People are leaving the U.S. and they’re doing it at a rapid pace. Where are they going and why are they in such a hurry? Mike believes this could actually be a good thing for the U.S. economy. 02/19/2008 - Smoke and Mirrors
By Jim Amrhein
Greg’s Note: At the beginning of this month, Maryland went completely smoke-free. While some residents find this to be a huge victory, others are complaining that their rights are being infringed. Freedom Editor, Jim Amrhein gives his unfiltered, yet surprisingly smooth opinion on this debate. Has the state decided to mandate health, or have some of our fundamental rights been put out? 02/15/2008 - Make a Shopping List
By Chris Mayer
Greg’s Note: The market has been bucking wildly in recent weeks, and news of further rate cuts is sure to make things even more lively. Chris Mayer explains that while the pure opportunity time may not have arrived yet, you should certainly be planning on what to buy soon. 02/14/2008 - Alaska: “The Most Important Strategic Place in the World,” Part II
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: This is the second installment of a series on the strategic importance of Alaska. In Part I, Outstanding Investments editor Byron King discussed the life of Billy Mitchell, the father of the U.S. Air Force. Mitchell had a lot to say about both air power and Alaska. In this article, Byron will discuss Billy Mitchell some more and focus on both the geology of Alaska and its place in military strategy. 02/13/2008 - Inflation Killed by Recession! and Other Lies to Destroy Your Money
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: When a recession hits, how could inflation possibly keep rising? There has to be silver lining to this whole recession thing, right? At least the dollar will be worth something. Not so says Adrian Ash. He uses all these things called statistics to point out why we can still expect inflation in the near-term. 02/12/2008 - IMF Bear Raid, ‘60s Redux
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: If the gold price is going to go down, it’s going to have to be dragged down kicking and screaming. Ed Bugos explains some of the head-scratching decisions being made by the IMF lately and why anyone planning on investing in gold should only see this as a good thing. 02/11/2008 - They Love the Sweet Taste
By Jamie Ellis
Greg’s Note: Futures for cocoa have been tantalizingly high recently. Supply concerns in the Ivory Coast have certainly fed these prices, but Jamie Ellis thinks that there is another big cause on the other side of the curve. Cocoa futures could soon be pretty expensive, and you may not be able to get your hands on them for all the chocolate in China. 02/08/2008 - Alaska: “The Most Important Strategic Place in the World”
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: What does the father of the U.S. Air Force have to do with Alaska? What does the world’s most advanced military aircraft have to do with the resource security of the United States? Byron King has some intriguing thoughts on these topics. Byron is the editor of Outstanding Investments and our Peak Oil correspondent. You have not seen this discussion before in any other Agora publication. 02/07/2008 - The Commodity of 2008
By Nick Jones
Greg’s Note: Nick is back. Our favorite son, Nick Jones, is here to dish about his favorite commodities in 2008. The kid is taking time out of his busy schedule and imparting his knowledge on the subjects of oil, gold and natural gas. Don’t miss what this child prodigy has to say. 02/06/2008 - What’s Gold Worth?
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: We keep hearing about how expensive gold is getting, but why? Is there a real use for this metal besides its assumed value? Ed Bugos explains why gold has become so expensive recently and why other precious metals just don’t seem as precious when stacked up against beautiful bullion. 02/05/2008 - From Credit to Money, Part II
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: We hear about a weak dollar and a strong euro. We know that our interest rate cuts will affect us at home and the euro across the ocean. Adrian Ash explains why there is a lot more at stake than just those two currencies. The whole world will feel the effects. 02/04/2008 - All the Trouble in the World
By Doug Casey
Greg’s Note: The economy is slowing and unemployment is on the rise. The recession everyone is talking about is most likely no longer on the horizon…it’s already here. But is a recession just the tip of the iceberg? Casey Research’s Doug Casey seems to think so. The recession we’re experiencing now may only be the beginning to a much more troubling depression. 02/01/2008 - Chapter 1 in the New Book of Genesis?
By Jim Amrhein
Greg’s Note: Jim Amrhein is worried. As our resident freedoms editor, if Jim weren’t worried, he’d probably be out of a job. The subject of stem cells and other embryonic testing has been put on the back burner for this election cycle, but that does not mean the issue has lost its hot button status. Jim is concerned about what kind of slippery slope we may be headed down. Is his vision for the future realistic, or has he just been watching too many movies? You decide. 01/31/2008 - The Touch, the Feel
By Kevin Kerr
Greg’s Note: When looking for big gains in the commodities market, many factors often come into play. The availability of the resource and the demand for it, just like anything else, can be the biggest factors when making a pick. Commodities guru Kevin Kerr has his prediction for the big gainer in 2008. While the supply of this resource may shrink, some things never go out of style. 01/30/2008 - Stein Half Full
By Antony Mueller
Greg’s Note: We know that the U.S. economy is lagging and that we have a huge effect on the rest of the world. Yet how does one major industrialized country stay safe while the rest of the world is being dragged down right with us? Antony Mueller explains how a unified Germany has sustained itself successfully for nearly two decades and whether or not we can expect it to last. 01/29/2008 - From Credit to Money, Part I
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: With our new interest rate cuts, we can expect the dollar to become weaker. As we focus on fixing our broken credit markets, inflation will most likely rise. But that’s our problem, right? Adrian Ash explains why a weak American dollar is causing some pain for our partners overseas. How much scrubbing must be done before our currency is clean? 01/28/2008 - The Absent-Minded Doctor
By Fred Sheehan
Greg’s Note: After exiting the public arena, Alan Greenspan has now journeyed into the private sector. Fred Sheehan muses about the connections between Greenspan’s handling of the housing bubble, and the personal fortune of the man who just hired him. Is something rotten, or are these two simply grabbing as many headlines as possible. 01/25/2008 - The Smartest Men in the Room
By Jamie Ellis
Greg’s Note: The subprime mortgage crisis hit many investment banks very hard. While millions in write-downs were recorded late in 2007 and CEOs were handed their walking papers, one big bank was able to survive. Jamie Ellis shares their story with you and shows you how this smart group of guys wound up laughing all the way to…well they were already at a bank, but you get the idea. 01/24/2008 - Over the Hedge
By Dr. Krassimir Petrov
Greg’s Note: When the market is in a downturn wise investors look for a hedge to protect their money and maybe even profit from a slow economy. Dr. Krassimir Petrov of the American University in Bulgaria is offering his thoughts on real estate as a potential hedge during an expected increase in inflation. Is housing really the right place to hedge your bets? 01/23/2008 - Gold Kaufen!
By Adrian Ash
Greg’s Note: More news about gold today. With unexpected rate cuts coming yesterday, gold is bound to see another uptick. As stock markets around the globe continue to fall, the fed is trying to salvage the American markets, yet more inflation should be on the near horizon. Adrian Ash gives us his view of how inflation affects everyone in these volatile markets. 01/22/2008 - The Naked Truth
By Ed Bugos
Greg’s Note: What goes up must come down, right? We’ve been seeing gold shoot past historical levels the past few months. Our own Ed Bugos has been watching this metal closely and doesn’t believe we’ve reached the ceiling yet. Can increased inflation and recession fears mean that gold will continue this upward trend? Bugos thinks so. 01/21/2008 - From Too Big to Fail to Too Big to Care
By Fred Sheehan
Greg’s Note: With a financial crisis looming, the regulators who have been put in charge of our economy seem poised to spring into action. Fred Sheehan takes us back to a simpler time. A time when such a crisis was just a possibility, not an inevitability. If all our markets should be left open to competition, do we really need these regulators at all? 01/18/2008 - A Short Story
By Dan Amoss
Greg’s Note: Today, Strategic Investment’s Dan Amoss is launching his Strategic Short Report. In his new service, Dan will provide readers with the knowledge and tools they’ll need to successfully play the stock shorting game. Here is an example of a company Dan spotted a few months ago that seemed like an ideal short candidate. 01/17/2008 - The Changing Face of Benjamin Franklin
By Byron King
Greg’s Note: With just over a month until the country celebrates Presidents’ Day, Byron King has offered a tribute to another great American. Benjamin Franklin’s words and ideas have shaped what our country is, and now the mere image of him is changing as well. Wait, Benjamin Franklin was president, wasn’t he? 01/16/2008 - The Cleanest Solution to America's Dirtiest Little Secret
By Jim Amrhein
Greg’s Note: Here’s the much-anticipated conclusion to Jim’s series on the de-evolution (his word, not mine) of America’s petroleum policy. As is often the case with our fiery Freedoms Editor, this one’s not for the faint of heart — especially if you’re among the very vocal minority who wrote in with criticisms, insults, or invitations for him to take a dive in a tar-pit. You’re in his crosshairs now. Not an enviable place, as any Cape Buffalo knows. 01/15/2008 - The Second Gulf “Black Gold Rush” Heats Up
By Greg Guenthner
Greg’s Note: Everybody knows what black gold is. It’s the same as Texas Tea. Well, there’s a surge in it again, and it’s coming from an unexpected place. Penny Stock Fortunes’ and Bulletin Board Elite’s Greg “Gunner” Guenthner is telling us why a once dead sea is now bubbling with life once again, in an article that once appeared in our sister publication, Penny Sleuth. 01/14/2008 - A Rebuttal to Randy Newman
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