...When the USD starts to rise many assume that this is negative for paper gold ETFs such as GLD as well as physical gold. I'm sure you have heard it before, if the USD goes up then gold goes down, and vice versa...but, in reality, this "rule of thumb" isn't the case and, in actuality, it would be impossible for the USD and gold to trade inversely with each other. Let me explain.

There have been many econoblog posts of the form, "ha, ha, the people predicting inflation have been wrong so far, when will they give up?". Let me try to explain why we know high inflation is coming eventually.

How safe is the cash in your wallet? Just as with hard currencies such as dollars and pounds, the safety of your bitcoins depends on your own vigilance. If you are thinking about using Bitcoin, or already are, this infographic outlines the security concerns and how to go about alleviating them.

Frankly, we cannot conceive of a more cataclysmic set of circumstances for both the global economy in general, and the gold Cartel specifically, than currently exist. Act now, before “traders” return from summer vacations next week or you may be locked out of the most important “protection trade” of all time!

Should the Fed raise interest rates at some point in the future, as is widely expected, such higher interest rates might bring far worse consequences than can be achieved by simply staying the course. While some small, even token, rate hike would be tolerable, a return to historical norms could reap consequences in the general economy far beyond the direct effect on the federal government’s fiscal status. The fact is that the federal government is ensnared in a debt and interest rate trap of its own making from which it will be difficult to extricate itself.

You’ve almost certainly seen the chart below over the years – it shows the purchasing power of the US Dollar over time - and it looks terrifying. I call it the "stupid" chart, though, because it is a total misrepresentation of the facts because it isn't telling the full story. Here's why.

For those who can exercise even a minimal amount of foresight, taking self- direction has never been more important. That means buying physical gold and silver at any price.

Have you ever wondered how dollar bills are made, why currency is too hard to replicate? Check out the infographic below to learn about the process that goes into printing U.S. paper currency.

Silver is selling at less than half its 2011 high. It is being ignored more than gold. It has explosive fundamentals. This article assesses silver’s potential by looking at the big-picture forces that could impact silver over the next several years - and point to a possible runaway price scenario.

Once the grip of the fiat “dollar” gives way, and it is slowly losing ground, then the price for gold and silver will find their more natural value - and not until then. When might that happen? It could be weeks, it could be months, maybe even another year or two, but whenever it happens, it is more likely to be an overnight “adjustment.” Plan accordingly.