Marc, I'm always reading this site as there are many smart, mostly like minded people on this board.  I have not commented too much as of late but your kind offer has brought me out of posting hibernation. Thank you for not only the offer, but also for persuading me to take some time to understand t...

The primary reason I hold USTs is because of the short term (daily, weekly, monthly) portfolio volatility dampening protection they provide.  If I didn't have them, I would NEVER be ever to withstand the fluctuations of holding the other assets, stock in particular, and I would be getting zero retur...

I came originally to read about the PP, but come back for the “Other”? topics. This forum has a great group of smart, street wise people, who can discuss many aspects of issues in an intelligent and articulate way, without the conversation boiling over. Now that the investing nut is cracked, I’m loo...

Yeah...I think the media is too focused on the fleeting stories of the day (drought, famine, war, Europe and/or world-wide financial system collapsing, Middle East turmoil, fiscal cliff, global warming, depression, occasional asteroid close encounter thrown in for good measure, etc., etc.) and shoul...

Marc Faber might be good if you could swing it.  He is or was recomending a PP "like" allocation:  25% stocks, 25% gold, 25% cash, 25% RE

http://stockmarketadvantage.com/marc-fa ... llocation/

I also would second (or third) FinancialSense.com. 

Good article - I would bet there are going to be many more.

Interesting article I thought by Mish on contraction of Shadow Banking

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot. ... of-of.html

melveyr - you may need the same terrain creation upgrade I do!

Funny I wrote something similiar without seeing your post.

I have dreams like that on different occasions and many times I end up successfully dunking a basketball – with some serious air time.  I wish I could in real life (I used to be close).  In my dreams, I have only been able to dunk once over someone once though.  I’ll have to try to work on that one ...

Awesome.  Wish I could do that once.  Easy to say from my desk of course! In the first linked video, good thing he didn't catch the support wire from the commucations tower at about 1:50.  Looks like he went under it?   I also liked when he flew past those people at the scenic overlook.  They must h...

I see cash as helping to reduce volatility and keep me in the game.  Maximizing return does no good if I jump ship.    One simple tool I used to play around with to see the effect of cash:   http://www.riskcog.com/portfolio-theme2.jsp#59e09ec9e8 -Type in percentages and asset classes on left side an...

Permanent Portfolio – check Tax efficient use of accounts – check Some physical gold –check I bonds – check Lots of spaghetti – Check Chaps, leather, individual, one each – Check Broker Strategy - ? What is everyone doing and/or thoughts on what brokers to use and why? I have one discount broker wit...

Gumby, Starting with my point of view, I agree 40/1 leverage is bad. I also think (and consider I may be wrong) that fractional reserve lending may be bad over time given my assumption that large multiples of what is saved is lent.  You provided a great graph of M1 showing that fractional lending do...

Gumby, Depending on what money supply is examined - the multiplier was much greater than 3. I beleive the broader meaures of money relate more to economic activity than the narrower measures.  Also, money once created, can be moved into many different forms and duration of money/holdings, much of wh...

Gumby, My point of reference when saying deposits lead to expanding credit was the past 30-40 years where the the multiplier was above 1.  I totally agree that as of lately, money is not multiplying, credit is shrinking, and reserves do not lead to expanding credit.  The fractional reserve engine in...

moda0306, Good points and am in total agreement with rights of individuals to seek whatever return they would like.    It could be though that the results of the system would generate some long term issues (and seems like they are).  Reminds me of the tragedy of the commons or perhaps similar in som...

In your example, which I follow on an individual basis, isn't the end result of the system the fact that more debt is created than original savings ($24.4k vs. $10k)? The system appears to allow the same asset to be lent multiple times over to many different people, each with a claim to ownership at...

moda0306, I think loaning money (gold or green) that has been saved (dollar saved/dollar loaned), as the basis for what I think of as a "natural economy" can be ok.  But creating money to loan from nothing or with little true economic backing (fractional reserve lending) I think is a probl...

I have a rental property and exclude it totally from the PP.   I just include any estimated (realistic) equity in my net worth.  In hindsight, I'm glad I did this as it allowed me to carry the full amount of TLT in the PP, which on it's own has returned more than the rental. I am also a couple years...

Once and a while, I get a daily swing that can be tough.  But during those days I think - if I don't like it, then I should do something about it or shut up/not worry. Which then leads me to remember, that I can't find anything better.  While the PP is a very smooth ride, you still have to be able t...

I eliminated watching TV a year ago and I have no TV at all now.  I don't miss it at all and wonder how I ever had time for it in the past.  

The internet provides everything needed, and more, in a much more effecient manner.

Storm - great summary to which I agree. To officially add my two cents to the debate:  We are in or are headed for deflation as defined by the contraction of the money supply with the definition of money including credit.   Monetary injections are going into a black whole of losses, defaults and cre...

I'll admit I might have cried mercy once or twice watching past portfolios plummet.  The PP has helped, but most importantly, I don't minimize the protection leather chaps can offer.