94 Comments

Yeah, Doug Casey is One of Us. Like Bill Bonner too.

We can appreciate their success, sacrifices, time, and effort that Doug has made because the time is short as we all will eventually age - off into the sunsets.

It's gonna be a fun and interesting chat...

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"You’ll read a bit more about the Ottoman Empire in the Private Briefing I’ll publish on Sunday. Our latest guest was none other than the great Doug Casey. Doug’s spending the summer in Virginia and was kind enough to take an hour out of his schedule to talk about the state of the world (or the absolute state of chaos.)"

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Love the Red/Blue map! You missed an 'l' in the link address...should be

https://brilliantmaps.com for more fun maps!

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Fixed. Thanks Rich.

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We don't own a raccoon, or live in a red or blue state, but we do have a resident raccoon who sleeps in a tree in the backyard.

I came home one day to find her teaching a litter of five kits the art of tree climbing.

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rjt..you may think these critters are "cute" & "cuddly" but it depends om your local weather. Living on the coast of Oregon for 20+ years, I have seen raccones eat their way into a cedar clad home attic gaining access from a nearby pine tree, then eat their way through the ceiling into the kitchen only to devastate everything in the kitchen causing 10's of thousands $ of damages!

BUT...it depends on the weather & if their Mothers are seeking shelter for their little ones. This occurred during a fierce winter storm coming in off the Pacific @ high tide.

It was also THE #1 gated community on the Oregon Coast..SALISHAN.

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Hi, looking at the posted gold chart I see a very large cup and handle formation and what is interesting is that that the handle by itself is also a cup and handle formation First the large cup. 455 to 2627=2172 (depth of the cup) 2627+2172=4799 anticipated, no guarantee. The handle (smaller cup) shows a target of 3859. This could be a major resistance before the move to 5000. Those are my prediction of a possible move, if it happens is in the stars

good trading

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Great article. And it's always nice to have an occasional touch of humor -- the racoons!

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Hi Craig -

I have a couple that clean up the "extra" outdoor cat food on a regular basis, one has been coming around daily for 6+ years. I know this because I once caught a baby Racoon in a humane cage and the poor little fella had scratched his right paw raw trying to get out. One of my usual nocturnal visitors has a scarred-up right paw. They are very smart creatures and amazingly clean. My two friends look extra good because they feast on a really high quality-brand cat food. :)

I don't pet them or let them in the house - so I guess I technically don't own them, but it's all good. We live in FLA. Our "leaders" here in the "Land of the Free" will come get me for my comments and/or memes LONG before the Racoons become a jailable offense...

PS - THANKS for the link. I've had a huge Map fetish since I was about 11 years old. Got a great collection but they're hard to enjoy because they take up so much space.

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My cat periodically prowls the night and lures rabbits into the escape cellar off of my laundry area.; hence his name Attila the Hun. I no longer have to have this destruction take place because I put out his high quality cat food "crunchies" for him. Last night I saw a baby Opossum eating this food too. I maintain a wildlife backyard so whether Attila is out or not I put out a portion of food every night for this needy critter. I used to do this for the raccoons until the wildlife drew foxes and scared my suburban neighbors.

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God bless you. You and a couple of your FIGHTERS IN ARMS, save the BPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good review,

and thinking.

RALPH W.

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Sobieski is the MAN!

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His great x11 grandson plays Hockey, right?

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Dan my man, you make this place worth the price of admission - consistently! What a great article.

So, I had a dream of a 3-station Gallows with ropes filled by Janet Yellen, Victoria Nuland and Anthony Blinken. Hey DHS - not a threat. It was just a dream...but a good and justified one...

PS - You probably missed this because it was immediately BURIED out of obvious necessity. This "gentleman" is the CHAIR of the Council of Economic Advisors for "president" Joseph R. Biden. It is worth the 1:42 allocation of your time and speaks for itself. I just don't have words for this level of pathetic incompetence, yet it is par for the course with today's dimocrat/communist "party":

https://x.com/FindingMoneyDoc/status/1786050601236779078

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Hey SE, That chucklehead actually uttered, under his breath, the dreaded MMT...btw, when my wife and I lived in Loxahatchee, we had a raccoon that was able to safecrack her way into our small tackroom to help herself to the horse food. Tried various means of securing, but she always found a way. Finally put it in a screwdown plastic pool tabs tub, and man, did she go ballistic in frustration. Scratched the shit out of it, and left a steaming "calling card" on top. They are smart as hell..

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As they say in the chicken world, "if a 5-year old can open it, a racoon can as well"...

I've had a couple of dogs that have treed a few racoons and they are nasty sounding and looking. I have a .410 at the back door in case they are thinking about a chicken dinner...

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I am a life long resident of Kentucky. It is news to me that raccoon ownership is illegal? I had one as a pet in the summer of 1984. I have known several people who had raccoons. Good grief does the government at all levels know how they take all your freedoms? Sick of it and the constant taxation.

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The obvious way to profit from irrational markets is to purchase stocks having high yields that are covered by profits. However, it is not easy to find yields that beat inflation.

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An interesting epistle Daniel old son. There are nuggets throughout explaining in simple terms why things that shouldn't, couldn't or wouldn't happen in a mature, well run society keep happening right before our eyes. But being who we are, we ignore the red flags waving desperately in front of us and hope that tomorrow won't be any worse than today. From climate change to overfishing to unnecessary pollution to microplastics to homelessness to hopeless attempts at transitioning to an electric future to stumbling into a war that may be bigger than both of us, it appears that we don't have the political will to do anything to undo the stupidity that surrounds us.

As it stands it seems that God may be the only one that can help us.

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Hi Mr. Orchard -

Great post. I believe the actual majority DO have the political will to turn it around. Unfortunately, anyone of that mindset is immediately censored, cancelled or otherwise shouted down when they speak out. We are getting to the point where enough people are waking up for that suppression to become ineffective, but I believe that it is either too late to be saved (too much damage done, too many ignorant sheep) or that the TPTB will turn to DRASTIC measures to complete the destruction of our Country. Most likely it will be the latter and it is right around the next bend...

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I agree that most people are probably aware of the macro problems facing us but the political class that have their grubby little hands on the handles of power are either too timid, bereft of any ideas/solutions or need another couple of terms in power to ensure they can retire in the manner they have become accustomed to. Cynical, maybe, but power seems to attract the wrong end of the human spectrum - everywhere.

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"but power seems to attract the wrong end of the human spectrum - everywhere."

Consistently...

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If Trump wins, there is less chance of a war with Russia, but likely a war with Iran. If Harris wins, more chance of war with Russia.

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Wars have always been expensive, which is a good reason to stay out of them. If anyone is still wondering who won the debate, it was pointed out to me that Trump's publicly traded company dropped 15% on Wednesday. That should tell you all you need to know. NOW ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: I had the misfortune last week of engaging 2 readers in extended posts. Due to the fact that they came to a head on Tuesday and Wednesday, it is quite possible most of the readers missed them. The first was a reader so detached from reality it is difficult to describe. He insisted repeatedly that the MAGA right does not engage in dehumanization. When I pointed out E Jean Carroll, as insane as it may sound, he tried to draw a (favorable) distinction between sexual assault and rape. After repeatedly denying the dehumanization of individuals, his last post referred to her as a "Lying Scumbag". The second individual insisted he was "Forced" to leave my home state of New Jersey because of "People like me". When I asked exactly what people like me are I got no response. It might be worth going back & reading those exchanges because they show in stark detail the threat the Trump movement is to America. Dear Leader says it is OK to slander and dehumanize people, so they slander and dehumanize people. Dear Leader says it is OK to blame others for your decisions and never have the courage to look at yourself, so they blame others for their decisions. I for one will not take it. It envisions a chaotic and vengeful society. One that the Bonners of the world would all to readily tolerate for the sole purpose of paying less taxes, which if anything like 2017, will have retirees like me paying more. You would do well to remember that the next time Bill or anyone else asks you to join the fight to "Save" our country.

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LIghten up dude.

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I am sorry if your parents did not teach you this, but it is wrong morally and legally-in E Jean carroll's case to the tune of $85 million, to slander another. Chalking it up to someone's inability to lighten up is exactly the kind of absence of character to which I was referring.

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Is it slander if the "victim" completely made up the original accusation? Like couldn't remember when EXACTLY it supposedly happened, said she was wearing clothing that wasn't produced until several years AFTER she said it happened, etc. I could go on with all the FACTS that put Truth to the lie of Ms. Carroll, but you're too indoctrinated to listen to anything outside of your conditioning.

What a miserable way to live - perpetually angry and always in need of an enemy. Even when that "enemy" is the last chance to save the Country you profess to love...

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I'm not the problem here. Why don't you tell that stuff to the jury and witnesses who convicted him? You know, it's strange, but whenever I say something anti MAGA, everyone responds with the EXACT SAME words. Try to understand how contrived that sounds. How everyone seems to be taking the same page out of the same dictatorial playbook. AND NO ONE, TRUST ME, NO ONE HERE, SEEMS ABLE TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES. Talk about dangerous! Does Dear Leader come along and wind you guys up every AM like machines?

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Mr Zuzuro, I invite your comment(s) to our fellow BPR readers with your own concise 5 point perspective on your takeaway from this brief video clip posted to X Platform https://x.com/FindingMoneyDoc/status/1786050601236779078 which is the esteemed Jared Bernstein, a government official who is the chair of the United States Council of Economic Advisers, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and was the chief economist and economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden in the Obama administration.

Regards,

Mark

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Thank you Mark. Harry NEEDS to see this - though it won't make a bit of difference in his indoctrinated little head...

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I watched the link. Thank you. As Mr. Bernstein stated ( or did not clearly state as he backtracks and hesitates a lot for a video less than 2 minutes), The US borrows money by printing Treasuries. The actual problem here is that we can get away with it because over 60% of world countries keep as least some of there reserves in US dollars. You don't like it, Mr. Bernstein doesn't like it, and I don't like it, but unfortunately, that is the way it is. Mr. Bernstein stops short of providing useful suggestions as to how to stop it. I worked with a woman from South Korea once and we were talking finance-the won. I remarked that I understood that was the local currency, but asked whether the country's reserves were denominated in won or dollars and she replied emphatically "DOLLARS OF COURSE!". There are a number of reasons for this: the most productive economy in the world/a military that is capable of blowing any country off the face of the earth/and if what my research shows is correct, impressive stores of gold down in Kentucky. Mr. Bernstein does a lot to enumerate the problem, but not a lot to solve it.

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Ummmm - there is a very SIMPLE explanation why we ALL say the SAME thing, perfesssser. I'MA TYPE THIS SLOWLY SO MAYBE YOU GET IT:

We all say the same thing and it sounds contrived because what we are saying are FACTS and TRUTH. Pretty freaking obvious to anyone with a lick of Critical Thinking ability. Obviously, that ain't you...

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I need to point out that this is not political-at least from my end. Do you people really think I go to bed at night wondering how MAGA feels about the transgender mess, or the out of control spending in DC, or the forcing of expensive green energy tech on the public? If any of you do, guess again. Why? Because I at least understand where those opinions come from and agree with most of them. What can keep me up at night is the transformation of our society into one where nothing has meaning or worth-think the Capitol on 1/6. Where no one can have dignity-you can forget Carroll here, just pick a name from the endless list of names of people Dear Leader has publicly humiliated. Whether he gets elected or not there is a substantial, if not majority, of the population with enough decency to reject that. When watching the 2016 Republican primaries I learned something very interesting: Trump was asked about vaccines-the ones we give kids, not covid, and all he said was that maybe there was something we could do to make it less impactful-spread it out perhaps. He got booed by Republicans and all he said was maybe we can make it better. The audience was incapable of accepting something different. He learned a lot that campaign about how to appease his blood thirsty, black and white only thinking supporters. I thought of all the hate and resentment I saw growing up in the 50's and saw how it was still lying dormant in the society and realized that as much as we think of Trump making MAGA, there is a lot of evidence that MAGA was always there and MAGA made Trump. Thanks for your patience.

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Unfortunately, history says otherwise. When everyone parrots the same party line, when it begins to sound like Germany in the 30's, or China in the 50's under Mao, it is usually not the truth and usually does not end well. It usually is the neurosis of mass psychology. Starboard, do me a favor and give me about 20 minutes-I want to clarify something and maybe add a new thought. Then you can reply and say anything you want-hell, you're gonna anyway. Thanks

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Yeah, OK, you have a point, but at 74, the social and political norms of decency that MAGA transgresses, make it difficult for me to accept that kind of nonsense.

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Bullshevich. Is strong in the America. And I'm not gonna debate about it.

I respect your thoughts and positions but it's not worth our time debating.

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Please try to understand this: I am (primarily)an energy investor, one who believes in the free enterprise system wholeheartedly. My point was that I was, in these exchanges mischaracterized as a socialist, etc, just for expressing a different point of view. I get the impression that you are making the same mistake.

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Exactly - not.

I'm glad to hear that point of view. Heck, my Dad is around that age. From around the area of Bronx, NY.

My points are the ones clearly made by the contemporary versus the actual ideology behind it, originally. Yes?

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Sorry, but you lost me a bit on the last sentence. However, I'm a Jersey boy myself, but the one guy I knew from the Bronx in 38 years with the Postal Service always had this story about how he would collect bottles for the refunds to get a ticket to see the Yankees play. NOT TODAY! Ahhhhh! The good old days. Do give your dad my best.

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Luv - It!

Oh, the thing I get about different time different meaning regarding politics, that's okay. My Dad still has a Job and wants it that way but it's not even work to him besides the inconvenience of it.Thanks will do!

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Orion, thanks, I get it now. But often with these people it goes well beyond generational differences. Well beyond logic. I have a few holdings such as Walmart, which has had a spectacular, year and one or two health care stocks, but it is basically an energy portfolio. stacked with Exxon, Chevron, BP, and Parex. I won't waste your time & tell you to go back & read them, but in one of the posts I was referring to, I basically got referred to as a green energy freak. I mean it's nuts. Go figure!

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Only someone totally ignorant of our financial/political systems would attempt to associate the drop of a stock price with a corrupt public debate.

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Sure. Stocks never respond to politics. Dude we are talking 15 percent here in one day.

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Dude you just don’t read. “Corrupt” therefore the total price recovery.

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Anyone who thinks a 15% drop in any equity in one day isn't substantial, doesn't know a damn thing about equities. The stock price did not recover until 48 hours/2 trading days later when an entity made large purchase. Do yourself a favor and ask who that might be-who exactly is in line for a big favor if and when Dear Leader returns to the WH by artificially supporting the stock price. And the chart shows it was artificially supported. His billionaire friends, the Saudis? It won't be you & me.

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Interesting chart interpretation.

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Harry - what complete and ignorant drivel. You are totally out of touch and, like the rest of your scumbag (yes, scumbag) political party, addicted to projection of what you do onto your opponents. You are beclowning yourself with ever post...

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SE: NO..that would be YOU!!

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Dorothy, thanks. I wrote some stuff last night and this AM if you care to read it. As I said in the original post, what I encountered last week was nothing short of horrifying, both intellectually and emotionally. I'm really not much for psychology, but when I retired, did get into Freud, thank goodness. He helped explain a lot of what is going on here. His book "Totem and Taboo" can be read on line and talks about how the neurotic mind would rather hear a lie than the truth, explaining the hold people like Trump have on people and why the deep levels of preconceived nonsense develop as protection against the frailty of the neurosis.

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Seems rather misguided…

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So are oil stocks one of the dumb investments amplified on social media?

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Hello all. Could someone explain the $131 billion in Social Insurance and Retirement? Is that workers paying into pension funds? Surely that couldn’t be almost the same size as Income Taxes. (If so I hope that’s being put aside for their retirement 🤣)

Note: I’m not a citizen of the good old USofA.

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Yes, this is an exemplary essay and reveal. As usual but for some reason this one's a bit more than that. Still reading up on it because it's so packed with good stuff.

Haven't seen many racoons besides the ones that have been slowly draining equity from the stock portfolios.

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What happened to Joel?

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Joel has is own socio-political publication now which he writes full time. You can find it here: https://joelbowman.substack.com/

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Thank you Dan.

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