As a self-confessed curmudgeon/old fogey, my definition corresponds to that of the United States Coinage Act of 1792, which states a dollar is:

"to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and four sixteenth parts of a grain of pure silver"

Nothing more, nothing less.

at the risk of sounding like a broken record That gets my vote for understatement of the year. I think we've got your point by now.  You'd accomplish a lot more good in the investing world by focusing your energies on the much larger group of people who are doing stupid things like wasting their mo...

No, you've once again proved God's existence! :) If all life has indeed evolved from some giant bag of particles, then logically, no rational thought is possible. Therefore, because one is even able to state the proposition, "God does not exist", he thus proves God's existence. Unicorns do...

If all life has indeed evolved from some giant bag of particles, then logically, no rational thought is possible.

Therefore, because one is even able to state the proposition, "God does not exist", he thus proves God's existence.

Stocks  29% Bonds  26% Gold    18% Cash    27% I retired about 10 months ago and hope to not draw on the portfolio for another 6-10 years.  I have been investing with the permanent portfolio strategy for a little over 6 years and it has served me quite well, so far.  We will close on a property sale...

Thanks, goodasgold.  I don't really feel "new" to the board, as I've consistently lurked since its beginning, and used the Permanent Portfolio strategy for 6 years. I retired last July and intend to continue investing with the PP.  Don't intend to draw from investments for another 5-10 yrs...

100% physical here. 

Don't trust ETFs for gold holdings in a crisis!