Advice from Dr. Doom

Some sensible advice on how to hedge against inflation. Don't listen to the USA rah rah rah morons on CNBC who think the dollar is king just because they get teary-eyed when the Star Spangled Banner is playing. There are a lot of things about America I love and respect but it aint' the country it used to be and it is not a rising star right now - nor is its dollar.

Faber Says ‘High’ U.S. Deficit Will Spur Inflation

Useless, Pointless Gold?

Is gold useless? It isn't a company so it doesn't actually do anything. That makes it a decidedly un-sexy investment. As well, it is true that some have taken an excessive interest in gold, marveling at it and lusting after it like Golem and the Ring of Power ("My precious!").

However, Golem's obsession was a metaphor for man's greed and lust for power. And these days, people's greed and lust for power has been expressed in a host of other securities and activities (too numerous and complex to delve into here). Owning some gold on the other hand, is a smart way to diversify your assets and avoid piling all your savings into paper money (or Lehman Bros).

What's more, gold is a very defensive asset, whereas many other securities are purchased by people with dollar signs in their eyes, thinking they're going to get rich and retire at 45.

Adrian Ash defends the metal here.