Welcome to the USAGOLD Gold Discussion Archives. Looking to buy gold coins and bullion? The archives of this gold discussion forum are a treasure trove of information to educate investors about protecting their wealth through portfolio diversification with private gold ownership. The discussion forum also covers the wider issues of the past, present, and future role of gold in international monetary policy and the dynamics of the modern gold markets. To join the debate request a discussion password here.
The opinions posted by all guests at this forum are expressly their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the management or staff of USAGOLD - Centennial Precious Metals. The hosting of this forum shall therefore not be construed as equivalent to endorsement by USAGOLD - Centennial Precious Metals of any of the opinions posted here.
ARCHIVED DISCUSSION FROM 3/12/2006 All times are U.S. Mountain Time (Yesterday's Discussion.) Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 23:48:41MT - usagold.com msg#: 142376) TICK TOCK TICK TOCK !!!!!!!!!! LESS than 15 minutes before the ENTRY DEADLINE !HURRY !!<;-) Caradoc (3/12/06; 23:30:07MT - usagold.com msg#: 142375) $$$$569.10$$$$ http://www.ha.sad22.us/benjohnson/kalendar.html The coming/ passing of Ides or Nones of March or any other month has no particular influence on the dollar price of gold. With the 15th being three days from now, I'm expecting gold to be in the process of a massive upsurge, almost certainly taking out $575 on its way to the low $600s within days/ weeks. The rationale for tomorrow and the next few days to see a healthy price surge comes partly from bouncing up from an irrational, multiple stop-loss driven low last Friday; but more important is that the general population of the US is becoming aware of things that sound like old news to those reading this forum. Each "Joe Sixpack" has a BS detector that is starting to beep, however faintly. This raises the prospect of rousting Joe from his stupor and alerting him that things aren't what he had thought they were, that what he has come to rely on isn't reliable, that maybe he should start paying attention to what his five senses are telling him rather than absorbing what comes out of Washington D.C. even if it is touted by the talking heads of mass media. Various Joes were awoken/ will be awoken by various contradictions:* For some, it was when "We're poised to help after the storm hits" turned into "You know, when things get nasty, you'd better be prepared to take care of yourself for several days or a couple of weeks." (A puzzled Joe mutters "Say what? Take care of myself?") * For others, it's a year and a half of hearing about inflation of 3% while watching the nearest soda vending machine go from 60 cents to 75 cents to a buck and a quarter. Or paying for gasoline with 50s rather than 20s. * For those who think about larger sums, it might be failing to be reassured by another 12 months going by with -- Hooray! Hooray! -- the Dow hanging on to the 11,000 level while the price of plywood, copper plunbing, and romex wiring doubles.* I'm sure there are some sports fans out there who first noticed the beeping when the news that Pat Tillman had died a hero's death in combat with the enemy turned into a briefly worded admission that he had been killed by "friendly fire." Others are now being awakened by word that a criminal investigation is now looking into the circumstances of the athlete-soldier's death.* Whether Joe is a businessman who knows he dare not be late in sending IRS his employees' withheld taxes or a civil servant who chose the perceived security of a government pension rather than chasing the highest possible salary, the fact is that the same feds who didn't like Enron's approach to acounting are now tapping the Civil Service Retirement System's pension fund to pay for current operating expenses. The beeping grows louder.... Whatever the trigger event for each particular Joe, gold at $1,000 won't need to wait for 80% of the Joes to realize that government tells lies as automatically as fish swim. All it will take is for 15 or 20% of the Joes to be suspicious when they read an article addressing the subject of "What was this statistic called M3 that the government used to report?" At that point, 5 or 10% of the Joes start asking each other "Why would they want us to not know how many dollars there are?" The mere asking of that question will be an historic tipping point in dollar confidence because (even though he may spend too much time watching American Idol) Joe has a fast internet connection and he knows how to use Google. The next day, 2 to 5% of the Joes will be asking "Did you know that the Federal Reserve is a private corporation and isn't really part of the US government?" and answering "Yeah, and did you know that the government could be printing its own dollars for the cost of paper and ink and we wouldn't have to pay interest on dollars from the Federal Reserve?" On their way home from work that day, various Joes around the country will plan to stop by the local coin shop and try to buy a few ounces of silver and maybe a half ounce or an ounce of gold.Since Joe's confidence in government pronouncements in general and financial pronouncements in particular has already started to wane, a parabolic rise in the price of gold is inevitable. I'm guessing the rise begins now but will be gentle enough between now and the Ides of March that it won't be recognizeable as a parabola until later in the month.CaradocPS: See link for detail on Ides, Nones, and Kalends. Goldendome (3/12/06; 22:56:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 142374) $$$$$$$$$ 552.60 $$$$$$$$ What Are the Ides?In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months of the year had an "ides." In March, May, July and October, the "ides" fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the "ides" fell on the 13th. The word "ides" was derived from the Latin "to divide." The "ides" were originally meant to mark the full moon - but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the "ides" quickly lost their original intent and purpose."Do you see the Ides of March 2006, as a significant turning point psychologically for gold, and, if so, in what way? (and) Should we BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH?"As gold investors, some of us will be wary of the Ides of March, but no more so, than any other day!Today, we have a dollar backed not by gold, but by guns. Aspiring nations that increasingly maneuver to acquire scarce resources...and burning conflicts involving religion, sects, race, and culture in many of the most strategic world areas.Anything could happen at ANY time, and eventually--probably will.We now have two glaring examples this year of large foreign holders of dollar assets being denied purchase access to large entities in the U.S. deemed to be: to dear to national security to be trusted in the hands of foreigners with questionable intent. Will prejudicial denial of these purchases affect dollar holders and accumulators worldwide? Look for a change.Some outside the U.S. must be asking: Who's running that country?Will sunken administration political ratings and "tin ears", cause them to do anything more foolish than several things they have done already? We hope not. But with rhetoric now ratcheted up regarding the nuclear problem with Iran, could this be the signal that within the Administration, the battle is already being fought for public support of an idea regarding a fix to Iran? And what then of India? Surely, many of us see hypocrisy in the favorable treatment proposed for the rogue nuclear development in India. The proposed nuclear initiative toward India by the U.S. must raise eyebrows in that region (Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran).Oil--like gold--just buy it--and forget about it! This gooey stuff is going up and could explode—literally(!) at any time. Anyone that hasn't yet wrapped his mind around the concept of Peak Oil, just isn't giving examination to the issue. Peak oil coinciding with the increasing rush of demand from India, China, et al.Yes, there are many things to go seriously wrong—others here have listed many more. Any of them could escalate in importance at any time. The Ides of March? Sure, why not mark a turning point, higher again? But even should this one pass--as ancient history described--every month has its Ides. spikedog (3/12/06; 22:51:15MT - usagold.com msg#: 142373) $$$$ $547.0 $$$$ Big Whoops!!!! Can I change, If not, I understand. spikedog (3/12/06; 22:50:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142372) $$$$ $447.0 $$$$ "Do you see the Ides of March 2006, as a significant turning point psychologically for gold, and, if so, in what way? (and) Should we BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH?"As there does not appear to be a major "event" on the horizon over the next 3 days - I do not see the Ides of March being a significant psychological turning point for gold. However, Caesar did not think that a major event would take place on the way to the forum either....Should "we" beware the Ides of March? - that depends on who are "we". Those who've not taken steps to prepare (per BB, Ari, and others) should perhaps beware. Those who have taken steps to prepare have done all that they can, and being wary is a waste of energy. mikal (3/12/06; 22:32:29MT - usagold.com msg#: 142371) $$$$$580.00$$$$$ Here's a guess for Julius CaesarOr something close, a goldbull's pleaser.I might prefer one with no flaw,that no one would think to withdraw,but in my dreams she's a teaser. The Invisible Hand (3/12/06; 21:18:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142370) MK, Pythagoras and Humility http://www.paulhorrigan.0catch.com/ The word humility (humilitas in Latin) has the same etymological origin as homo (man) and humus (earth). Pythagoras was the first to call himself a "philosopher". His humility drew him indeed to calling himself NOT a wise man, BUT a philosopher, a friend of wisdom. And he went on to compare the life of man toSNIP"…great festival celebrated... before the concourse from the whole of Greece. At this festival some people sought to win the glorious distinction of a crown; and others, again, were attracted by the prospect of material gain through buying and selling. But there were also a certain type of people, and that quite the best type of men, who were interested neither in competing, applauding nor in seeking gain, but who came solely for the sake of the spectacle itself, and, hence, closely watched what was done and how it was done. And so also we, as though we had come from some city to a crowded festival, leaving in like fashion another life and another nature of being, entered upon this life. And some were slaves of ambition, and some were slaves of money. But there were a special few who, counting all else for nothing, closely scanned the nature of things. These gave themselves the name of ‘philosophers’ (sapientiae studiosi) – and this is the meaning of the term ‘philosophers’. And just as at these festivals the men of the most exalted education looked on without any self-seeking intent, so too, in life the dispassionate contemplation of things and their rational apprehension (cognitio) or understanding by far surpasses all other pursuits"Let us continue watching the unfolding or developing festival. Wky_Woodsman (3/12/06; 20:48:37MT - usagold.com msg#: 142369) $$$$556.0$$$$ The IDES of March are written in a story.Holding physical gold is the penultimate in real wealth. It is reality.Those of us who hold the penultimate have arrived at our destination and can turn our attention to the beauty of each and every day right here where we are.Those of us still building wealth have to learn to know when it is that we are at our destination. We may already be in our "Shangri-la" and be too busy accumulating to realize we are there. Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 20:43:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 142368) TA TA TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA LESS THAN THREE and one-half HOURS, BEFORE the MIDNIGHT Denver time, "entry deadline" !tick tock !!UPDATE !The "Ides of March" POG CONTESTFollowing are listed the POG CONTEST entries ! (Listed in order of DECREASING values)===$$$$ $750.0 $$$$ Beamer (3/3/06; 16:07:46MT - usagold.com msg#: 142093)**** $606.6 **** mdgc (3/9/06; 09:02:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142246)$$$$ $601.0 $$$$ Armageddon (3/7/06; 18:25:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 142207)$$$$ $600.0 $$$$ el dorado (3/6/06; 16:58:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 142174)$$$$ $599.0 $$$$ contrarian (3/11/06; 01:22:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142314)$$$$ $587.0 $$$$ Sundeck (3/6/06; 21:09:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142183)$$$$ $585.8 $$$$ Waverider (3/4/06; 21:01:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 142114)$$$$ $583.4 $$$$ Flatliner (3/3/06; 10:39:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 142088) $$$$ $580.1 $$$$ Slowman (3/5/06; 15:33:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 142138)$$$$ $578.9 $$$$ Matthew (3/11/06; 02:50:36MT - usagold.com msg#: 142315)$$$$ $577.1 $$$$ Chally (3/5/06; 22:37:54MT - usagold.com msg#: 142151)$$$$ $574.5 $$$$ Whitewaterwoman (3/5/06; 13:28:05MT - usagold.com msg#: 142135)**** $574.4 **** arbyh (3/5/06; 11:43:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 142133) $$$$ $572.0 $$$$ Clink! (3/7/06; 06:40:36MT - usagold.com msg#: 142190)$$$$ $571.9 $$$$ glockmaster19 (3/7/06; 14:33:19MT - usagold.com msg#: 142198)$$$$ $570.0 $$$$ Liberty Head (3/5/06; 14:02:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142137)$$$$ $568.8 $$$$ Beer Man (03/04/06; 12:17:16MT - usagold.com msg#: 142102)$$$$ $568.4 $$$$ Freedom (3/5/06; 11:12:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142131)$$$$ $567.6 $$$$ The Knife (3/6/06; 17:14:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142175)$$$$ $566.0 $$$$ compwiz4u (3/12/06; 19:19:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142366)$$$$ $565.0 $$$$ Rocky (3/3/06; 14:30:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 142091)$$$$ $564.7 $$$$ Mthirsty1 (3/6/06; 17:55:50MT - usagold.com msg#: 142179)$$$ FRN564.0 $$$ Goldilox (3/7/06; 12:45:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142193)$$$$ $563.4 $$$$ goldquest (3/12/06; 19:09:55MT - usagold.com msg#: 142364)$$$$ $562.1 $$$$ Rimh (3/11/06; 23:40:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142337)$$$ FRN560.5 $$$ Smeagol (3/4/06; 18:22:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 142108)$$$$ $559.8 $$$$ 2023 (3/9/06; 02:13:17MT - usagold.com msg#: 142241)**** $558.3 **** Boilermaker (3/9/06; 17:02:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 142265)$$$$ $556.6 $$$$ Believer (3/12/06; 19:01:30MT - usagold.com msg#: 142363)$$$$ $555.5 $$$$ Usul (3/10/06; 13:04:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 142293)$$$$ $554.7 $$$$ canamami (3/12/06; 17:44:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 142361)$$$$ $553.8 $$$$ 24karat (3/11/06; 11:04:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142318)$$$$ $553.4 $$$$ The Hoople (3/12/06; 12:43:27MT - usagold.com msg#: 142354)$$$$ $553.1 $$$$ goldenpeace (3/12/06; 10:03:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142345)$$$$ $552.0 $$$$ Noble1 (3/11/06; 16:50:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 142328)$$$$ $551.1 $$$$ osa104c (3/9/06; 18:57:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 142270)$$$$ $550.0 $$$$ Felix the Cat (3/11/06; 07:13:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 142316)$$$$ $549.5 $$$$ Golden Lionheart (3/4/06; 22:13:41MT - usagold.com msg#: 142117)$$$$ $549.0 $$$$ Lance (3/10/06; 12:21:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 142292)$$$$ $548.5 $$$$ beowulf + (3/10/06; 07:54:45MT - usagold.com msg#: 142283)$$$$ $548.0 $$$$ YGM (3/10/06; 09:27:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 142285)$$$$ $546.5 $$$$ Topaz (3/4/06; 20:26:10MT - usagold.com msg#: 142112)$$$$ $545.6 $$$$ R Powell (3/12/06; 08:10:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142343)$$$$ $545.2 $$$$ Tate (3/12/06; 15:29:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142358)$$$$ $544.8 $$$$ pilgrims_gold (3/11/06; 20:08:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142331)$$$$ $544.4 $$$$ Black Blade (3/12/06; 18:36:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142362)$$$$ $543.7 $$$$ 24Wortel (3/12/06; 11:21:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142350)$$$$ $543.0 $$$$ Lothar of the Hill People (3/9/06; 15:50:37MT - usagold.com msg#: 142260)$$$$ $542.3 $$$$ Prius (3/12/06; 13:16:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 142355)$$$$ $542.0 $$$$ slingshot (3/12/06; 08:07:56MT - usagold.com msg#: 142342)$$$$ $540.0 $$$$ Camel (3/10/06; 17:45:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142305)$$$$ $539.9 $$$$ guns'n'butter (3/10/06; 22:13:53MT - usagold.com msg#: 142308)$$$$ $539.0 $$$$ Max Rabbitz (3/12/06; 11:07:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 142349)$$$$ $538.2 $$$$ Shermag (3/11/06; 11:15:34MT - usagold.com msg#: 142320)$$$$ $537.3 $$$$ balzac (3/10/06; 10:10:52MT - usagold.com msg#: 142287)$$$$ $535.7 $$$$ Toolie (3/10/06; 20:59:19MT - usagold.com msg#: 142307)$$$$ $534.0 $$$$ Buongiorno! (3/12/06; 16:19:16MT - usagold.com msg#: 142359)$$$$ $533.0 $$$$ Nomad (3/10/06; 19:17:12MT - usagold.com msg#: 142306)$$$$ $530.0 $$$$ tejbear (3/8/06; 04:54:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 142212)$$$$ $520.0 $$$$ DryWasher (3/11/06; 09:34:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142317)$$$$ $518.9 $$$$ 7nomads (3/11/06; 22:33:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142333)$$$$ $515.0 $$$$ Goldenera (3/12/06; 10:22:00MT - usagold.com msg#: 142346)---GOOD LUCK !!!!<;-) MK (3/12/06; 19:41:52MT - usagold.com msg#: 142367) Now that the contest nears conclusion I feel comfortable in throwing out my own view of the Ides of March. It's not so much that we should beware the ides of March, but that we should "be aware" that there this an "unknown" to which we are all subject, "the unspoken word," for which we all must listen, "the left-field event" of which we have limited understanding and control. That could come at any time, from any direction. And that's why we own gold. Those who are secure in their belief that they understand the world we live in and have nothing to fear but fear itself do not need gold. It is only we more humble souls who beware the ides of life and history who feel the need to own gold. Caesar should have listened, but then again, some write the history that he already knew he was going to die.In lieu of the price guess, let me just say that the Iran and carry trade premiums that just left, may now be coming back. compwiz4u (3/12/06; 19:19:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142366) $$$$ $566 $$$$ The world political and financial situation has me worried about the Ides of March and every other day in the future for that matter. Each morning I wake and wonder what disaster has occurred overnight. I know our leaders have destroyed the financial system and need to find a cover story that the masses will accept for the hyperinflation and depression ahead of us. I see nothing significant about March 15 to affect the price of gold except as another day in which more people realize the jig is up and start moving their wealth into precious metals insurance. mikal (3/12/06; 19:12:50MT - usagold.com msg#: 142365) "Bonds" of slavery- contract with the devil http://www.etherzone.com/2006/031006.shtml TREASURY DANCING WITH THE STARS - Ed Henry - March 10, 2006On his trip to the moon, George W. Bush has paused for a brief interlude amongst the stars. He can now take pride in the fact that he's raised the national debt more than any other president in history.Five months and sixteen days into the 2006 fiscal year, the national debt has gone up $337.2 billion and is holding at a pittance under the statutory limit of $8.184 trillion.And all through the house not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. Congress returned from vacation, opened their Valentines, and has done nothing to propose raising the debt limit in order to allow George to borrow more money.The media, the watchdogs, the stink tanks, economists, and others supposedly concerned with fiscal discipline haven't made a peep. In loyal obedience, they are all sitting back and waiting for the engine of our debtor economy to start up again.The only activity is in John Snow's Treasury Department. He and his staff of accountants are scurrying all over the place to snatch money from the Thrift Savings Plan, money confiscated from drug dealers, or any other place they can find cash to keep the federal government going. Before Christmas, Snow warned Congress that he couldn't maintain things beyond mid-March.They do all this, and still have time to hold "auctions" on as many flavors of treasury securities as Baskin Robbins has of ice cream. Continuing to borrow enough money to pay off the billions in older securities maturing every day and replace them before the lenders have time to cash their checks. They are heavily engaged in "floating" the debt at just twenty-five million under the ceiling.April fifteenth will provide another respite. While the vast majority of taxpayers will be claiming refunds, there will be a sufficient number of the wealthy filing their final quarterly estimates and many small independent business owners turning in their yearly taxes to allow the government to come out ahead. It will probably generate enough money for another month or so of federal spending even though that money has already been budgeted for specific 2006 programs. It can always be returned after George is allowed to borrow again and as long as foreign countries like China and Japan can be intimidated into loaning us more.And where does this leave the American taxpayer?Congress has yet to join in its usual dance of yelling and screaming about "fiscal responsibility" before they do what they always do – raise the debt limit another trillion or so. It's becoming an annual event. This will be the fourth time they've done so in the five years of the Bush administration.But they can't stall forever. It's impossible for them to indefinitely put off raising the debt limit. And I'm not talking about the unending war against an enemy that can't be identified or profiled, an enemy that can enter our ports and borders anytime they want. I'm talking about how the federal government is hoisted by its own petard – the scam they've invented to fleece the taxpaying public.They can't stall beyond June because half of the annual "interest" is due entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), an amount that comes to more than $73 billion this June (for a grand total of $146 billion in interest this fiscal year).There's no real money involved in this semi-annual payment of so-called interest. All the Treasury does is issue more "special" bonds deposited in the equally bogus trust funds for each of these entitlements. But it does raise the national debt. Like a rocket, it would send them crashing through the current national debt ceiling.In that respect it's very real. It becomes a future tax to be paid someday by taxpayers and their children if they also become taxpayers.In fact, it's already happening with all three of these entitlements. Due to receipt shortfalls, both Medicare and Social Security's disability insurance have had sporadic withdrawals in the past year. And it's happening big time with FERS that is billions in the red every month except September when it receives a mysterious deposit of enough bogus bonds to keep it ahead of the game.In other words, the American taxpayers are already covering shortfalls in these entitlements long before the "baby boomer" scare story is supposed to hit us.The saddest, most sickening, preposterous part of it all is that there is no legitimate reason for these "interest" payments. They are done only to support and carry on the fraudulent and fictitious story of having "borrowed" or "invested" surpluses taxpayers provided through excessive payroll taxes. The pirates will never admit that these surpluses were stolen and spent elsewhere. At least, that's the case with Social Security and Medicare.With FERS, there has never been a surplus. Receipts are always less than outlays. And the only reason there are any receipts at all, any donations or premium payments from federal employees, is so they can chalk up their eight-to-one in matching benefits. The entire program is run on the backs of taxpayers while benefits are always paid from the Treasury's general fund of current taxpayer dollars or money borrowed (the future tax).With the federal employees Life & Health program it's even worse. There are never any receipts at all, yet hundreds of millions per month are paid out in benefits. On top of that, the "outlays" are recorded as "surpluses" increasing the programs holdings. The only saving grace here is that there is never any "interest" deposited against the previous year's closing balance.There are also 117 smaller trust funds other than the entitlements that account for 92 percent of the Intragovernmental Holdings side of the national debt. Except for what was once donated by philanthropists, these other trusts are established by legislation that merely names an account and dumps "special" bonds in the account.In summaryThe Beltway Bandits could do us all a favor by forgetting about dumping "interest" bonds into entitlement accounts piling debt on top of debt. If Bush needs to borrow another hundred billion, all he needs to do is erase that amount from Social Security's $1.876 trillion in bogus bonds and he would have room under the debt ceiling to do it.In fact, they could start reducing the national debt by 42 percent simply by erasing all of the fraudulent accounts they've set up only to disguise their crimes and, in the case of Social Security, Medicare, and some other entitlements, to double tax us.How long will the public put up with this fraudulent extortion?(Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact. Ed Henry is the founder of TUFF, the Taxpayers Union, and a regular columnist for Ether Zone.com. http://www.Uncle-Scam.com) goldquest (3/12/06; 19:09:55MT - usagold.com msg#: 142364) $$$$563.40$$$$ We have already reached the turning point for gold.No, we should not "Beware the Ides of March."Many things have occurred on the 15th of March, good and bad.Maine became a state on 15 Mar. 1820.Andrew Jackson was born on 15 Mar. 1767The first presidential news conference was held 15 mar. 1913. (Woodrow Wilson.)General Pershing, with 15,000 troops, chased Pancho Villa into Mexico, 15 mar. 1916Elizabeth Taylor married her 5th husband on 15 Mar. 1964 (Richard Burton)I don't know if this was good or bad!The U.S. Mint stopped selling or buying GOLD on 15 Mar. 1968.Aristotle Onassis died on 15 Mar. 1975.Attempted asassination of George Wallace on 15 Mar. 1972.And of course the biggie: Julius Caesar died on this date in 0044. He was in the process of asking his buddy Brutus if he had et yet. Julius was going to invite him out for a "Ceasar Salad" when he was suddenly "cut" short.So again, we should not beware the Ides of March, but two days later, is a call for concern! St. Paddy's Day, ye know. Believer (3/12/06; 19:01:30MT - usagold.com msg#: 142363) $$$$$ 556.6 $$$$$ 1. IDES NO ! IDES+5 - IDES+12 Possibly.2. BEWARE THE IDES ? NAW. THE IDES BE OUR FRIEND. Black Blade (3/12/06; 18:36:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142362) $$$$$544.40$$$$ "Beware the Ides of March," originated with the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, who was assassinated on the Ides of March - March 15, 44 B.C. In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months of the year had an "ides." In March, May, July and October, the "ides" fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the "ides" fell on the 13th. The word "ides" was derived from the Latin "to divide." The "ides" were originally meant to mark the full moon - but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the "ides" quickly lost their original intent and purpose.Most of us in the west know of the "Ides of March" from a play by William Shakespeare about a soothsayer who was a Roman astrologer by the name of Spurinna. According to an account written by Plutarch in 75 A.D and Suetonius in 110 A.D. Apparently Spurinna warned Caesar to "beware of the Ides of March." If Julius Caesar were to take precautions he was to survive. He disregarded the warning and Caesar's enemies assassinated him in the Pompey theater, at the foot of Pompey's statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the temple of Venus.For gold investors and goldbugs, the warning takes on a different significance. March is a slow time of the year as the Western Holiday Season, Asian Festival Season and Asian Marriage Season have ended. Jewelers don't ramp up buying until summer into early fall when they get a good sense of the regional economies, how Asian harvests will likely progress, and of course they look for a pull back in prices to maximize profits. Of course these pull backs give us a chance to dip into the market and take advantage of relatively low prices. For us the Ides of March are welcome. The recent correction in precious metals are not all that unexpected. It is the cyclical nature of the business – a.k.a. "seasonality". Essentially, the "Ides of March" are more a blessing for investors seeking a good deal on precious metals – and a bad deal for Roman Emperors with friends named Brutus. ;-)- Black Blade canamami (3/12/06; 17:44:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 142361) $$$$554.7$$$$ The Ides of March have indeed already occurred for the POG denominated in $US. The move by Japan to end its zero interest rate policy means Japanese money will contribute less to holding up the $US. This will create pressure on China to stop almost single-handedly propping up the $US. When China buckles, then others who hold $US will face similar pressure to move away from the $US. The chain reaction will continue, and the POG will rise in $US terms. Also, this will bring gold back into focus as a reserve asset, which will create a (1) "piling on" effect re the $US price of gold, and (2) a paradigm shift back to gold's former role as the pre-eminent reserve asset. Now, I have left out the effects of possible March military action re Iran, which would be the Ides of March cubed. Smeagol (3/12/06; 16:23:18MT - usagold.com msg#: 142360) "He half-turned, trying to focus blurring eyes and said,"E' tu ........"......to his own reflection in the mirror, perhapss?S. Buongiorno! (3/12/06; 16:19:16MT - usagold.com msg#: 142359) $$$$$534$$$$ Uncle Sam Caesar strode to the forum, only a little mindful of warnings from the toothless one, "Beware of the ides of March!" So preoccupied, he did not heed the gaggle of assassins, most of whom he had helped in times past. Friends, he thought....then came the dagger strokes, mostly from behind, wounding but not killing. The death blow, a fierce thrust shanked his lung and heart, coming again from the rear, in the manner of most cowardly attacks. He half-turned, trying to focus blurring eyes and said,"E' tu ........" Ides of March any more dangerous than other times? Nah, we just try to sell a little strength and buy a little weakness, or, shank them before they shank you!Buongiorno! Tate (3/12/06; 15:29:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142358) $$$545.2$$$ There is no doubt we shell achieve new Au price highs this year. As Jim Sinclair often states USA.inc. common share US dollar is in decline and this alone guarantees gold higher price. For this I place my prediction for April gold at 545.2 USAGOLD / Centennial Precious Metals, Inc. (3/12/06; 15:07:13MT - usagold.com msg#: 142357) A special combo of assets and info to help you enter the market with grace and confidence! http://www.usagold.com/gold/special/starter.html ge (3/12/06; 13:36:35MT - usagold.com msg#: 142356) Gold Production falling? http://news.goldseek.com/GoldAction/1142179260.php Belgian once said that oil and gold production decreased as the prices inceased in order to economize the product. Hard to believe; but it is happening before our eyes. Should the economics textbooks be re-written? Or should I skip the free market sections and read the oligopolistic pricing sections?Dr. Clive Roffey argues for gold production cycles at the attached link.There is a a similar article in three parts by Dr Thomas Chaize at the following link. It was written in 2003, but is still relevant.http://www.dani2989.com/gold/productiondorcyclesgb26072004.htm Prius (3/12/06; 13:16:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 142355) $$$$$ $542.3 $$$$$ It would be interesting to look back in history over the past 500 years and see if the perception and expectation of the Ides of March indeed leads to negative results. It seems that gold will "make it's own way" now. I think that we could see negative global events this week that would make the gentlemen and ladies here seem very wise. The Hoople (3/12/06; 12:43:27MT - usagold.com msg#: 142354) $$$$ 553.4 $$$$ March should bring major turmoil, whether the price managers can keep a lid on it (gold) is the question. Judging by last week they're doing a pretty fair job. Watching a 68.5b trade deficit get shrugged off by the paper pushers made me realize again how crucial it is to keep "all is calm". Wall Street apparently substitutes a declining gold price for Lunesta whenever they need to sleep at night. Whether March will be crucial remains to be seen. What is known is that gold will remain in a multi-year uptrend, price managed or not. Goldendome (3/12/06; 12:20:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 142353) Toolie: Traveling a Mexican Toll highway. Toolie: I'm reminded by your mention of toll roads, that our neighbors to the South, finance some of their major highways with tolls. The major highways running south from from the U.S. border cities of Tijuana and Nogales both charge tolls and there a probably more. I can recall several years ago driving with friends the highway from Tijuana to Ensenada, Mexico. Beautiful highway, really, I thought. Unlike the U.S. freeway system where attempts are usually made to flatten every hillock and fill every dip, the Mexican system though four lanes wide, followed much more closely the contour of the land--a semi-mountainous region along the coast where we wove in and out to cliffs edge; up and down the gentle swales and ridges that ran down from the higher peaks to the east. The highway reminded me of older U.S. highways that run along the West Coast of the United States, highway 1 and 101 that runs from Southern Cal., through Oregon and Washington states. Up and down, back and forth, but very scenic. Built in the old days of U.S. highway construction when we too more closely followed the lay of the land.Back to the story: Every so many miles on the highway to Ensenada, we would come to a toll booth. Pay a little bit more (I can't now remember the fee exactly, but, like, $1.25 per car) and you proceeded. Run out of money and you were outta there--down an exit ramp and traveling what we in the U.S. would refer to as a "Frontage road" that usually parallels the super highway, but deals with all of the intersections, stops, etc. involved with off the freeway driving. This in Mexico can be dangerous, so we continued to pay the toll. The freeway was not heavily traveled, about half the cars were Mexican and half were "Gringos" paying for construction and upkeep of a foreign highway. Very savvy on their part, I thought. As I recall, we paid the toll three times- total, on the way to and back from Ensenada to the U.S., about 150 miles round trip. The local natives, I'm sure, learn quickly where they can get onto and then off of the toll freeways, using the frontage roads in such ways to bypass the toll booths . (We did this once ourselves on the way back.) It really was a fun and enlightening short trip on the highways of Mexico.Best to all, G-dome. Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 12:17:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 142352) Let me REITERATE ! ---- <;-) LESS THAN TWELVE HOURS BEFORE "entry deadline" !tick tock !! Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 12:02:22MT - usagold.com msg#: 142351) TA TA TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UPDATE !The "Ides of March" POG CONTESTFollowing are listed the POG CONTEST entries ! (Listed in order of DECREASING values)===$$$$ $750.0 $$$$ Beamer (3/3/06; 16:07:46MT - usagold.com msg#: 142093)**** $606.6 **** mdgc (3/9/06; 09:02:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142246)$$$$ $601.0 $$$$ Armageddon (3/7/06; 18:25:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 142207)$$$$ $600.0 $$$$ el dorado (3/6/06; 16:58:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 142174)$$$$ $599.0 $$$$ contrarian (3/11/06; 01:22:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142314)$$$$ $587.0 $$$$ Sundeck (3/6/06; 21:09:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142183)$$$$ $585.8 $$$$ Waverider (3/4/06; 21:01:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 142114)$$$$ $583.4 $$$$ Flatliner (3/3/06; 10:39:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 142088) $$$$ $580.1 $$$$ Slowman (3/5/06; 15:33:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 142138)$$$$ $578.9 $$$$ Matthew (3/11/06; 02:50:36MT - usagold.com msg#: 142315)$$$$ $577.1 $$$$ Chally (3/5/06; 22:37:54MT - usagold.com msg#: 142151)$$$$ $574.5 $$$$ Whitewaterwoman (3/5/06; 13:28:05MT - usagold.com msg#: 142135)**** $574.4 **** arbyh (3/5/06; 11:43:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 142133) $$$$ $572.0 $$$$ Clink! (3/7/06; 06:40:36MT - usagold.com msg#: 142190)$$$$ $571.9 $$$$ glockmaster19 (3/7/06; 14:33:19MT - usagold.com msg#: 142198)$$$$ $570.0 $$$$ Liberty Head (3/5/06; 14:02:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 142137)$$$$ $568.8 $$$$ Beer Man (03/04/06; 12:17:16MT - usagold.com msg#: 142102)$$$$ $568.4 $$$$ Freedom (3/5/06; 11:12:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142131)$$$$ $567.6 $$$$ The Knife (3/6/06; 17:14:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142175)$$$$ $565.0 $$$$ Rocky (3/3/06; 14:30:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 142091)$$$$ $564.7 $$$$ Mthirsty1 (3/6/06; 17:55:50MT - usagold.com msg#: 142179)$$$ FRN564.0 $$$ Goldilox (3/7/06; 12:45:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142193)$$$$ $562.1 $$$$ Rimh (3/11/06; 23:40:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142337)$$$ FRN560.5 $$$ Smeagol (3/4/06; 18:22:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 142108)$$$$ $559.8 $$$$ 2023 (3/9/06; 02:13:17MT - usagold.com msg#: 142241)**** $558.3 **** Boilermaker (3/9/06; 17:02:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 142265)$$$$ $555.5 $$$$ Usul (3/10/06; 13:04:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 142293)$$$$ $553.8 $$$$ 24karat (3/11/06; 11:04:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142318)$$$$ $553.1 $$$$ goldenpeace (3/12/06; 10:03:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142345)$$$$ $552.0 $$$$ Noble1 (3/11/06; 16:50:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 142328)$$$$ $551.1 $$$$ osa104c (3/9/06; 18:57:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 142270)$$$$ $550.0 $$$$ Felix the Cat (3/11/06; 07:13:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 142316)$$$$ $549.5 $$$$ Golden Lionheart (3/4/06; 22:13:41MT - usagold.com msg#: 142117)$$$$ $549.0 $$$$ Lance (3/10/06; 12:21:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 142292)$$$$ $548.5 $$$$ beowulf + (3/10/06; 07:54:45MT - usagold.com msg#: 142283)$$$$ $548.0 $$$$ YGM (3/10/06; 09:27:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 142285)$$$$ $546.5 $$$$ Topaz (3/4/06; 20:26:10MT - usagold.com msg#: 142112)$$$$ $545.6 $$$$ R Powell (3/12/06; 08:10:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142343)$$$$ $544.8 $$$$ pilgrims_gold (3/11/06; 20:08:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 142331)$$$$ $543.7 $$$$ 24Wortel (3/12/06; 11:21:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142350)$$$$ $543.0 $$$$ Lothar of the Hill People (3/9/06; 15:50:37MT - usagold.com msg#: 142260)$$$$ $542.0 $$$$ slingshot (3/12/06; 08:07:56MT - usagold.com msg#: 142342)$$$$ $540.0 $$$$ Camel (3/10/06; 17:45:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142305)$$$$ $539.9 $$$$ guns'n'butter (3/10/06; 22:13:53MT - usagold.com msg#: 142308)$$$$ $539.0 $$$$ Max Rabbitz (3/12/06; 11:07:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 142349)$$$$ $538.2 $$$$ Shermag (3/11/06; 11:15:34MT - usagold.com msg#: 142320)$$$$ $537.3 $$$$ balzac (3/10/06; 10:10:52MT - usagold.com msg#: 142287)$$$$ $535.7 $$$$ Toolie (3/10/06; 20:59:19MT - usagold.com msg#: 142307)$$$$ $533.0 $$$$ Nomad (3/10/06; 19:17:12MT - usagold.com msg#: 142306)$$$$ $530.0 $$$$ tejbear (3/8/06; 04:54:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 142212)$$$$ $520.0 $$$$ DryWasher (3/11/06; 09:34:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 142317)$$$$ $518.9 $$$$ 7nomads (3/11/06; 22:33:59MT - usagold.com msg#: 142333)$$$$ $515.0 $$$$ Goldenera (3/12/06; 10:22:00MT - usagold.com msg#: 142346)===NOTE: ONLY TWELVE HOURS BEFORE "entry deadline" !tick tock !!<;-) 24Wortel (3/12/06; 11:21:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 142350) $$$$ $543.7 $$$$ The Ides of March would be pivotal, if only a modern-day Brutus would be inspired by the historical significance of the Ides to remove from office our very own (but low IQ, militarily inept, etc etc) Caesar. Max Rabbitz (3/12/06; 11:07:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 142349) $$$$ $539.0 $$$$ The Ides of March are only significant if you are a renowned Roman general who threatens the interests of the Empire's Money Masters by directly issuing money in the form of gold and silver coins. Some people believe Lincoln had a similar problem with European Banking interests when he issued Greenbacks. Lincoln managed to survive several weeks past the Ides of March. Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 10:54:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 142348) THANKS, Sir Mikal --- The Hobbits love stories like that ! http://www.kuwaittimes.net/analysis.asp?dismode=article&artid=1831121590 mikal (3/12/06; 09:29:13MT - usagold.com msg#: 142344)Aussie Au Toolie (3/12/06; 10:48:15MT - usagold.com msg#: 142347) Balancing the current account deficit http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/NEWS02/603090504 Snip: An executive for the overseas consortium that wants to lease out the Indiana Toll Road today defended the agreement, saying the partnership "is proposing to invest in Indiana."At a Statehouse news conference, Stephen Allen, chief executive officer for Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney, sought to ease resistance among some lawmakers and the public to overseas ownership. Macquarie, along with Cintra, a Madrid-based firm, has offered the state an immediate payment of $3.85 billion for the right to take control of Toll Road operations, maintenance and revenues for 75 years. "What I'm actually doing is proposing to invest in Indiana," Allen said. "I'm actually talking about creating jobs here." He added: "We are not operating a factory where investment may come and you may decide to move it somewhere else. I will assure you today, for the next 75 years, the Indiana Toll Road will be in Indiana if we are the lessors." (end snip)I ask what is to prevent the legislatures of the several states from privatizing all state highways and thereby soaking up the several trillion foreign owned US$? Of course that would extend the ability of the US to continue to flood the world with paper. After the highways, there are the lakes and rivers, whose contents can be sold. How about he national forests and parks?Suddenly, those Chinese goods don't look so inexpensive. It could well be that the emergence of this type of exchange marks the end of the shadowy CB gold trades for Mid-east oil. By that mean that that the US fed/Treasury has parted with all the gold that they are going to, and going forward they intend to substitute the sale of physical infrastructure for physical gold.I think I'll write in and see about taking delivery of my share of bricks in the Washington Monument. Goldenera (3/12/06; 10:22:00MT - usagold.com msg#: 142346) $$$$$$$$ $515 $$$$$$$$ Mahendran has given me the creeps about the coming downturn of precious metals ... so I think Ides of March 2006 could be the significant turning point psychologically for gold. Having said that I am for Gold to shoot off to new record highs in the near future.If you believe this, then we indeed ought to be beware the IDES OF MARCH. Good Luck to All! goldenpeace (3/12/06; 10:03:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142345) $$$$$$553.10$$$$$$$$ Of course the Ides of March is just a nominal date on the calendar....and since time does not really exist...only appears to..it does not by itself mean a thing......HOWEVER , the pressure built up in the geopolitical system and in the financial markets feels very stressful at this time, so stressful in fact that the exclamation.."Stand Back, She's Going to Blow!"...seems most appropriate. Too much avoidance by the $ system and too much manipulation, using derivatives, for too long leads to this conditional point. Gold, of the physical sort, is the only true way to stand aside and preserve value.Thanks to the forum and MKBlessingspeacegoldenpeace mikal (3/12/06; 09:29:13MT - usagold.com msg#: 142344) Aussie Au http://www.kuwaittimes.net/analysis.asp?dismode=article&artid=1831121590 Back to the Future- Australia Goes For the Gold Kuwait Times - March 12, 2006 R Powell (3/12/06; 08:10:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 142343) $$$$$$$$ 545.6 $$$$$$$$$ Anticipating prices is possible if "greatly increasing probabilities of a correct forecast" is an acceptable definition of "Anticipating". To be both correct on price direction + market timing is such a rare occurance as to bring forth the concept of being "Fooled by Randomness". The Ides of March have no economic significance UNLESS enough market investors believe that a significance does exist. Perception is often as strong a market mover as anyone's reality. That enough market players (price determiners) would put faith in the Ides idea is not likely. slingshot (3/12/06; 08:07:56MT - usagold.com msg#: 142342) $$$$$$$$$ $542.0 $$$$$$$$$ This particular "Ides of March", should be a significant turning point for Gold. There are plenty of warnings but, to change psychologically, a major event must occur to impact the daily lives of the public. The introduction of the possible use of nuclear weapons has greatly increased the chance of cascading events that would follow such an usage. To make a point, if the victims of the storms had even a small amount of gold to take with them, I am sure it would have made all the difference in the world. On the other hand how do you defend yourself if a chemical or manufactured biological weapon is deployed much less a natural virus as the Bird Flu? How would gold behave? Depending on the circumstance there will be two types of people buying gold. First,the ones who are scare out of their wits and the second,those trend investors that will drive the POG way out of reach. Yes, "Beware the Ides of March". Should we beware. Could the soothsayer just have said, "Beware the Ides of June" or some other time. He was trying to give Caesar the Heads Up. When the Senate members fell upon him, his final words "Et te Brute" to the one he most trusted (FIAT). This "Ides of March" of 2006, we should beware. The Empire is rotten within and the seeds of change, (world events), have been planted.Slingshot----------<> Goldilox (3/12/06; 06:10:49MT - usagold.com msg#: 142341) Central Bank Tales http://www.lewrockwell.com/bonner/bonner209.html snip:"Tokyo ends loose-money policy," says a NY Times headline.After 16 years of slump, deflation, bust and aimless chopping, Japan's economy seems to be stirring. It seems to be coming back to life. So, central bankers are taking down the I.V. drips of cash and credit that have kept the failing banks alive and encouraged bad investments. The patient is recovering and no longer needs constant medication.Henceforth, borrowers will have to pay for money in Japan just like they do everywhere else. And henceforth, speculators may not be as flush. For several years now, they have been able to borrow from Japan at practically zero interest and re-deploy the money elsewhere. The world took to this easy money like a panda to bamboo shoots. The credit goosed up emerging markets in the Mid East, built factories in Asia and even contributed to the boom in consumer spending in North America.So much so, that the boomers – we mean, the consumer boomers – now seem to think they no longer need to save money. In January, the savings rate in the U.S. fell to negative 0.5%, for the first time in history. Yet, more Americans than ever before are preparing to retire. What will they retire on? We don't know. They have houses. They have credit cards. There is always that ready money in Asia to draw on, just in case."Trade balance hits new record," runs another headline.In January, Americans spent $68.5 billion more from foreigners than they earned from them. At this rate, in a year's time, the trade balance will reach negative $822 billion – not too far from $1 trillion. It's close enough to the point where the entire scheme blows up in our faces, though how much closer we don't know.Americans have always been famous for parting with money rather than saving it, but these days, they are parting with so much that their own incomes aren't enough for it. They need other people's income to keep parting with cash at the same pace. When they buy a new Toyota, for example, they have to borrow the money from a finance company that also borrows – at the lowest rates it can get. So, the rate they pay to buy their car depends on the rate the finance company can get, which mostly depends on the low rates set by the Bank of Japan and the Bank of Bernanke. It is thanks to easy credit from these two worthies, that the American lumpenhouseholder is able to buy his car at all – or even his house – without any money of his own. The sale brings dollars and profits to the Japanese, which are then recycled back to the United States as debt so the American consumer can dig himself into an even roomier hole.And here in Britain this morning, the press has this headline: "Courts swamped with bad debt cases."It could have been a headline from the United States. On both sides of the Atlantic, the proles are getting squeezed. In order to maintain his illusion of financial progress, the average working stiff has to borrow against his house or on his credit cards. Borrowing has become easy, thanks to the aforementioned central bankers. Paying back may not be so easy, because the same waves of globalized commerce that throw up glittering aisles full of tempting gadgets and gizmos in Long Beach and London – the same currents of trade that bring him automobiles from Asia and bananas from Latin America are lapping against his own earning power and washing chunks of it away. Wages in rich countries are slowly being eroded...reduced to sea-level...brought down to the lowest common denominator the world labor market can produce.And meanwhile, the rich grow richer."World gains 102 more billionaires," says the Houston Chronicle. There are now 793 of them and their wealth grew 18% last year. Currently, they have about $2.6 trillion, according to the Forbes estimate. Goldilox (3/12/06; 06:06:21MT - usagold.com msg#: 142340) The Price of Inflation http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060320/vonhoffman snip:From 2005 to 2006 the dollar in your purse lost 4 percent of its purchasing power. So unless you got a 4 percent raise to compensate, you are working for less than you were a year ago.A 4 percent rate may not sound like much, but thanks to the "miracle of compound interest," it can postpone your retirement or keep you on the job till you drop dead. It makes the difference between going to a four-year college or a two-year community institution or even no college at all. It can play hob with your health savings account. In ten years a 4 percent inflation rate will wipe out almost half the value of your savings.There is a big plus side to inflation if you are in debt. Suppose that you overpaid for your house: In ten years, the value of your mortgage will have been cut in half. What holds for private debt holds for public debt, too. Should inflation stay at the present rate or go higher, the gigantic deficits incurred by George Bush will not, after all, have to be paid off by our grandchildren as they keep warning us will happen. The deficits will disappear in a flood tide of cheap money.The reason is that a dollar borrowed now, if paid back after fifteen years, will be worth about 40 cents. Because employers understand how compound interest shrinks the buying power of a dollar so quickly, you have to hold a gun to their heads to get them to agree to cost-of-living increases. The same knowledge prompts Republicans to do all in their power to decouple Social Security payments from their annual cost of living adjustment.From time immemorial, inflation is how governments have wiggled out of repaying what they owe. Back in the days when all money was copper, silver or gold, its purchasing power was lessened by minting coins with less precious metal in them. Next came printing more dollar bills. Nowadays debasing the currency is accomplished by a few computer keystrokes.Economists and finance big shots will sometimes talk about "an acceptable level of inflation." They do not discuss who decides what that level might be. Since inflation, depending on how bad it is, always attacks savings, frustrates financial and personal planning, causes sky-high interest rates, lowered investment, unemployment, recession and, if it's bad enough and goes on long enough, chaos, panic, despair and social disintegration, how can it ever be acceptable?It was as predictable as spring following winter that the Bush deficits would be followed by the Bush inflation to pay for them. It's his appointees on the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury Department you may blame. No beasts, no storms, no earthquakes or any other act of nature. When you see your money evaporating in front of your eyes, don't call the weather bureau. Call the politicians.-GoldiloxA nice leftist view found on LewRockwell.com! Gandalf the White (3/12/06; 00:02:35MT - usagold.com msg#: 142338) TAA TAA TAAAAAAAAAAAAA, TAA TAA TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ! "LAST CALL !!" The CONTEST is still open to entry for only about 24 HOURS ! DO NOT forget to enter and have a chance to WIN the Mexican 10 Peso GOLDPIECE.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ A "PRICE of GOLD" GUESSING CONTEST!! $$$$$$$$$$$$At the request of SIR MK, USAGOLD - Centennial Precious Metals shall have a price guessing contest on the closing (Settlement price) of gold for the APRIL, 2006 Comex contract (GCJ06) on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, ---BUT all entries must be posted to the TableRound before Midnight on Sunday, March 12, 2006, AND ALL ENTRIES must answer SIR MK's QUESTIONS !!The POG Contest winner -- the closest price guess to the actual Settlement Price -- will receive an uncirculated Mexician 10 Peso GOLDPIECE which contains Actual Gold Content of 0.2411 fine ozs of GOLD. There will be also be two runners-up prizes for the next closest prognostications --- each winning an one ounce pure Silver U.S. Eagle.The QUESTIONS -- (actually two Questions) <;-) -- (Put on your THINKING HATS !)The questions are, -- "Do you see the Ides of March 2006, as a significant turning point psychologically for gold, and, if so, in what way? (and) Should we BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH?"===THE RULES -- (We MUST have RULES !!) --- PLEASE READ !!1) The Winner is the poster with the Price Guess closest to the Settlement price of the COMEX (most active) April 2006 Gold Contract (GCJ06) on the date of Wednesday, March 15, 2006. 2) Price "Guesses" shall be stated in Dollars and tenths !(Such as $567.8) 3) "Guesses" shall be SHOWN in the SUBJECT BOX location AND enclosed in markers of "Dollar Signs" so as to be OFFICIAL !(Such as $$$$$ $567.8 $$$$$$$ )4) ONLY one "Guess" per Knight or Lady is allowed, and once that "Guess" has been "taken" -- no one can duplicate it !! FIRST COME has rights to that "Guess".5) HOWEVER, All "Guesses" MUST be posted before the clock in Denver strikes MIDNIGHT (24:00) on: Sunday, March 12, 2006.6) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY (as this part MUST accompany the Price prognostication)--- In order for your entry to be valid, entries will need to have a 30 word paragraph (more or less) discussing;"THE QUESTIONS" <===== NOTE !!! ViewYesterday's Discussion.
Permission to reprint is hereby granted where the USAGOLD name is cited along with our web address, mailing address and phone number. For electronic reproductions, citing the post heading and the http://www.usagold.com/cpmforum/ website address as the source is sufficient.