ARCHIVES
10/01/2008 - Dirt Cheap Done
Greg’s Note: With everything going on these days, you’d think that at least some things would still be available. I mean, we’ll never see the day that we’ll actually run out of something as simple as dirt on the ground, right? Well Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer has noticed a disturbing trend in global agriculture. 09/15/2008 - Where to Invest After the Collapse
Greg’s Note: Today’s news is certainly shocking, but don’t let it wholly dominate your thinking about the markets. While what happened today is a big deal to markets in the U.S., there are still many great investment opportunities abroad. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer believes that now may the time to enter the market, not run from it. Just where is the smart money going though? 09/10/2008 - Re-Running the Bulls
Greg’s Note: We’ve seen the great bull market on commodities take a complete step backward recently. Calling a bottom to this backslide is difficult. We still need these resources, but the current market is making it difficult for prices to remain as high as they once were. Chris Mayer gives his take on the situation and decides which direction commodities are likely to go. 08/28/2008 - Looking for the Innovators
Greg’s Note: The financial crisis that has been going on over the past year is beginning to flesh out some key players. There are the losers in the deal that could not see the bad times coming. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer is now concerned with the innovators that can take advantage of the solution process. 08/25/2008 - The Next Land Rush
Greg’s Note: Owning land gives you incredible earning potential. Even a real estate deal gone bad can be salvaged by the value of land. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer loves companies that own land and has seen some serious fortunes made through successful land ownership. Below are some of those stories. Have a good story of land ownership of your own? 08/14/2008 - Glass Half Full
Greg’s Note: The Chinese use the same word for crisis as they do for opportunity. Well, Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer knows a thing or two about both concepts, and he thinks they may be on to something. Is he right? Does every bad situation create some sort of new opportunity? 08/08/2008 - Mining the Sea Floor
Greg’s Note: Big oil discoveries are being made all over the world. The only problem is, most of these discoveries are taking place underwater. That means getting the oil out of the ground will be an expensive and arduous task. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer clues you in on a big discovery that was recently made and how it will influence a wide variety of companies. There is a lot of infrastructure needed for a project like this, and that means more and more investment opportunities are being created. 07/28/2008 - Quest for African Resources
Greg’s Note: The continent of Africa has long been rich with many natural resources. Although Africa is host to many coveted and scarce resources, trade with African countries has not been conducted at high levels in the recent past. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer reports that could all soon be changing. Large oil and natural gas deposits have recently been discovered, and the reluctance to trade with African countries is dissipating. 07/22/2008 - Fuel Friendly Skies
Greg’s Note: Often times you can find opportunities arising from a crisis. Every problem needs a solution, and as we work hard on finding one that will work, new investments are made every day. The same can be said in today’s energy crisis. Airlines are beginning to follow the lead of the automobile industry and are now looking for a way to make more fuel-efficient engines. Chris Mayer reports on how the quest is going and what opportunities are arising in the process. 07/15/2008 - Finding Fuel Efficient Metals
Greg’s Note: Fuel efficiency has become the name of the game for many industries these days. Especially for companies like airlines who are watching their profits dwindle as operating costs soar. So what are they doing? They’re becoming more fuel efficient with lighter metals that will help save fuel. Chris Mayer has noticed a recent trend in the use of rare and obscure metals that are used to improve fuel efficiency. 07/01/2008 - Not a Drop to Drink
Greg’s Note: It flows free from our taps and faucets every day, yet many people don’t realize that water may not have the limitless supply we once thought. Many areas of the world are at risk of not having enough fresh water to go around. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer gives us the lowdown on one such area where water monitoring is taking place. We’ve got shortages of everything these days, even the most fundamental resource that we all desperately need. 06/03/2008 - China’s Emergence
Greg’s Note: We hear all the time about emerging markets around the world. But what exactly does this mean and how do these markets begin to emerge? Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer explains what makes economies like China begin the rapid ascent they are on right now. Are there more reasons for the emergence of new global economies? 05/22/2008 - Maryland Mayer and the Dakota Oil Rush
Greg’s Note: The legend of an untapped goldmine, teaming with treasures yet to be found, sounds like something out of an Indiana Jones sequel. But Chris Mayer has word of such an untapped mine, rich with bounty just waiting to be uncovered. Only this isn’t a legendary undiscovered goldmine. We’re talking about oil here. 05/20/2008 - Peak Oil Prices
Greg’s Note: Many people are beginning to wonder when oil prices will finally reach their peak. We just saw oil hit $129 and it’s well on its way past $130. But this has to end sometime, right? And when it does, should we expect the price to ease back to where it used to be? Chris Mayer has been pouring over some historical data and has come up with some interesting answers. 05/09/2008 - The Energy Metal
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. 04/29/2008 - Subcontracting the Subcontinent
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. 04/25/2008 - Acid Rocks
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. 04/09/2008 - The Switzerland of Asia
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. 03/27/2008 - Surviving Stock Market Cycles
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. 03/18/2008 - Nip and Tuck
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. 02/26/2008 - “Credit Precedes Common”
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. 02/15/2008 - Make a Shopping List
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. 12/19/2007 - India’s Biggest Problem
Greg’s Note: The economies of India and China are expanding at a rapid pace; everyone knows that. We also know that the only thing keeping up with this growth has been the rise in pollution we’ve seen from both of these Eastern juggernauts. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer gives us a first-hand look at the problem and what can and should be done to fix it. 12/05/2007 - Sea Change
Greg’s Note: Just like fashion and music, the financial world runs in cycles. Areas that were in style last year may not be now, and a few blasts from the past may be on their way back. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer looks at the historical data and has come up with a few ways that things are on their way back. While something like disco may never be back in style (fingers crossed), history repeats itself more than you may think. 11/21/2007 - Betting the Farm
Greg’s Note: Chris Mayer from Capital & Crisis is here to talk about opportunities below the equator. With agricultural prices rising across the globe, now may be the time to look at the farmland that’s producing these expensive products. Countries like Brazil and Argentina are rife with fertile farmland and are growing cash producing grains with demand at its highest levels. An investment in international agriculture doesn’t come without risks, but you could still wind up making a lot of bread (apologies for the pun). 11/08/2007 - With the Lights Out…
Greg’s Note: Nobody would ever root for another major blackout like the one we got in 2003, but that doesn’t meant that you can’t benefit from such a thing. Capital & Crisis’ Chris Mayer points out that our electrical grids in this country are old and in need of upgrades. This means bad news for citizens, but could be great news for investors. 11/02/2007 - Thanks, Global Warming!
Greg’s Note: We are constantly being reminded everyday about the horrors that come along with global warming. While the severity of the situation is still open to argument, Chris Mayer explains why there is also some good to be found. Global warming may be happening, but why does that have to be a bad thing? 10/26/2007 - Out of Africa
Greg’s Note: Today our own Chris Mayer outlines for us the immense natural resource opportunities that can be found all across Africa. Once known as the “Dark Continent,” Africa is now being harvested for the many natural treasures it holds. Politically, there is still a lot of work to be done, but there is also plenty of money to be made. 10/02/2007 - Sinkholes and Sewage Spills Foretell a Major Crisis
Greg’s Note: Whiskey shooter Chris Mayer sent me a little piece on sinkholes and sewage spills. Now, please don’t accuse us of refusing to cover any topic here at W&G HQ… Chris details how America’s underground water infrastructure literally crumbles beneath our feet. Despite massive sewage spills there ain’t much of a public uproar over these issues. But as an investor, that’s good for you — very few people understand the massive opportunity that water infrastructure investing presents. 08/31/2007 - The High Noon of Empire
Greg’s Note: Chris Mayer returns with a shot on the American Empire. He looks back to the “dawn” of the Empire — when America inherited Spain’s colonies after winning the Spanish American War. He then fast forwards to today’s state of the Empire and looks specifically at two factors that seem like imperial constants: The rise of finance at the expense of production and the addiction to certain fuel sources or other commodities. 02/28/2007 - Update on Yesterday's Massive Market Moves
Greg's Note: I wanted to send you a red-alert on the massive moves in the global markets yesterday. Here's a quick update from Capital & Crisis' Chris Mayer covering the strange situation. 01/31/2007 - The Russian Bear is Back
Greg's Note: Chris Mayer -- editor of Capital & Crisis -- returns to present you with an analysis of the recent explosive activity in the Russian market. Even though Russia's ramped up on a massive tear over the past few years, is she a safe place to invest? And what about her strengthening ties to China? 07/05/2006 - The Greatest Con in the History of Money
Greg's Note: Late last month I peered into a corner of a dark Baltimore basement bar to see three men arguing intently. "Looks neat" I thought as I made my way over there. Whoa, I knew these guys - it was Addison Wiggin, Chris Mayer and Justice Litle...and they debated the merits of fractional reserve banking vs. a 100% gold standard. "Gotta love it," I thought, so I butted into the conversation. Turns out Chris was fending off Justice and Addison's case for fractional reserve banking. 02/22/2006 - The Fed's Conceit
Greg's Note: Here Chris Mayer sports his literary trousers and weaves a little yarn on the Fed. First, he needles Greenspan and Bernanke. He then asks if the Fed's retained any relevance or power. Does the tinkering and tightening influence the markets as much as it did in Volcker's time? Or has the Fed slipped into an effete twilight of impotence? And if the Fed can't keep inflation in check, what can? Has the growth of international trade rendered the Fed as useless as a throbbing appendix? Actually, what is the real inflation rate? Does the increase in your heating bill match the rate stated by the Fed? Let's see...please send your opinions to your puritanical managing editor here: greg@whiskeyandgunpowder.com 12/10/2005 - The Fall of China...and What it Means for America
Chris Mayer takes a look at China's past and the nature of empires...and then asks what's in store for China's future. China has always held something of a mystery, or a contradiction. Here is a society that once achieved great things. Its accomplishments dwarfed those of Western society. Yet today, China must play catch-up with the West. 08/30/2005 - The World's Most Dangerous Economic Minds
The 29th economic symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City began Thursday night in Jackson Hole, Wyo. This is a highly exclusive group of people; entrance is by invitation only. There are only about 100 attendees. I like to call it a Gathering of the World's Most Dangerous Economic Minds. 06/29/2005 - Oil: The 1970s Redux
Chris describes the origin and early history of the Middle Eastern oil industry ( as opposed to Byron's meme of Pennsylvanian oil. ) Chris goes on to describe the outrageous wealth that the Mid-Eastern oil sheiks accumulated when the price of oil rose in the 1970s...but what happened to all of that oil money? 05/11/2005 - China Courts Economic Disaster
It is widely acknowledged that China is keeping its currency artificially cheap. By doing so, it is alleged that China is giving its exporters an unfair advantage against struggling U.S. manufacturers, who are having their lunch eaten by cheaper Chinese imports. 03/09/2005 - The Sea Change in Monetary Thought
For a long time, it was financial orthodoxy that a strong nation needed a strong currency. And a strong currency was one that could be redeemed in specie -- metals like gold and silver. Indeed, it was seen almost as a moral mandate, and a proud country pointed to its currency as a sign of its strength. 01/25/2005 - The March of the Progressives
In 1900, William Jennings Bryan ran for the office of president of the United States. His campaign was largely one of anti-imperialism. Just two years before, the country was embroiled in a conflict with the aging ex-superpower that was Spain. America's spoils from that war included various territories once under Spanish rule. Bryan thought that the United States had better not be in the business of empire. | 
