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| Above, 2023 American Silver Eagle Proof coin set. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Now that the interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve has been announced, what was the response of silver?
Well, the spot price of silver has shot up to almost $23.00/toz.
According to Monex Live Prices:
Well, they dood it! (As Red Skelton would say.)
The Federal Reserve Board met today and raised the interest rate a quarter of a percentage point..
From the Daily Caller:
The Federal Reserve hiked its target federal-funds interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday, the ninth in a series of hikes that started in March 2022.
The hike brings the Fed’s target rate to a range between 4.75% and 5% with the Fed maintaining its pace of slowed increases. Most economists expected a quarter-point interest-rate hike in an effort to bring inflation down, but the current banking calamities contributed to the possibility of a pause, according to Bloomberg.
As of Wednesday morning, markets were estimating over 90% odds that the Fed would hike rates by a quarter-point, CNBC reported. This brings rates to their highest level since late 2007.
To read more, go here.
As for me, I'm just relaxing at home with some wine and cheese..
According to Financial Times:
US stocks opened marginally lower on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision, in which the US central bank is expected to raise rates again to keep up the fight against inflation.
The blue-chip S&P 500 fell 0.1 per cent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq dipped 0.2 per cent. The KBW Bank index lost 0.6 per cent, and shares in First Republic, the regional lender at the centre of the crisis, dropped 2.7 per cent.
Futures markets indicate traders are expecting the Fed to raise rates by 0.25 percentage points from the current range of 4.5 per cent to 4.75 per cent.
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| Above, 1943 steel Lincoln pennies of World War II found in a strongbox. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
During the first full year of U.S. involvement in World War II, to conserve copper, the U.S. Mint made pennies out of steel for one year (1943).
These pennies are relatively easy to find and are inexpensive.
A few months ago, when I had a strongbox opened, I found inside several 1943 steel Lincoln pennies among other coins (1964 Kennedy half dollars, Franklin half dollars and others).
The American Numismatic Association has an article on the 1943 steel Lincoln pennies, calling them "The Most Compelling Collectible".
They begin it with:
There are a lot of fascinating things in numismatics. There are coins from ancient empires, and coins from every corner of the modern world. Coins have survived shipwrecks, or centuries buried underground. There are coins made of precious gold and silver, and from enough other metals to cover a big chunk of the periodic table. And there are coins that portray virtually every element of human endeavor, with countless images of history, nature, and culture.
But if you want just one, single item to convey the essence of numismatics, one coin with a story so captivating that it evokes all of the best elements of the hobby, the choice is easy. The most compelling numismatic collectible is the 1943 steel cent.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, at Monument Valley last October. I am better off during these uncertain times than I was 16 years ago during the Mortgage Meltdown. |
The bank collapse, inflation and financial uncertainty in recent weeks (actually in recent years, at least since Biden started occupying the White House) is reminding me more and more of the mortgage meltdown of 2008.
It affected me in a couple of ways. First, I was working for David Morse & Associates, a third-party insurance claims administrator, for a number of non-standard insurers. We handled claims for several of them.
Trouble started in late 2007. We were getting plenty of claims work, but like a Chinese water torture, co-workers were getting laid off over several weeks. Finally, it was my turn. It was explained to me that the company got a percentage of the premium monies the insurers received as payment for administering their claims. But as the mortgage meltdown started, fewer polices were being underwritten by those insurers. Therefore, our company's income became less and less. So they had to lay off workers.
Next, I had a 401k retirement account. When the meltdown got worse, I started losing money in my account.
While I was working for the third-party administrator, my supervisor wondered why I would do my periodic shoots to maintain my security gun permit. I told him that it was my hedge in case of job loss in insurance and one gets better pay in security if they have a gun permit. When I got laid off, he then fully understood.
After the lay-off, I worked in security mainly for the medical benefits. I also worked for an independent adjuster, but that job had no benefits. (This was just prior to ObamaCare, which really screwed things up.)
I worked the adjusting job during the day and wrote my reports while at my security posts in the evening or during the graveyard shifts.
In 2015, I decided to retire at age 62. I was financially secure with the work I was doing and from farm income I was receiving (that I inherited in 2010 after my mother passed away). Social Security benefits kicked in during the spring of 2016.
Now that I am retired and own my own home, I don't have to worry about getting laid off. The house has no mortgage and I am getting my Social Security payments, which covers my monthly living expenses just fine since I don't have rent or house payments to make. I am in full control of my investments, so I have no worries there (I recently made some adjustments to protect them).
On the current situation, Forbes wrote:
Layoffs, return-to-office mandates, hiring freezes and reduced compensation will be results of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse,
It looks like the country might be in or a wild ride...again!
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| Above, the ammo shelves at the Albuquerque Cabela's. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Some people are starting to relax a bit when it comes to the current financial situation. The actions the Federal Reserve has taken in the aftermath of the bank collapses, even though some of which are misguided and stupid, have calmed them a tad.
But there are those who aren't quite that confident of things and are preparing for worse-case scenarios.
Yahoo! Finance posted an article on three things you'll want to own if things go, well, see the title of this blog post (it's also Yahoo's article title).
They start it out with:
As the world watches with trepidation the recent string of bank runs, liquidity crises and outright failures sparked by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, many are considering where this crisis will lead.
The global banking system is surely in hot-water at the moment, but most analysts only see it as a temporary, solvable problem. It would probably take an extreme, rare crisis of a much larger scale to take global civilization down.
While the likelihood of a total societal collapse is extremely low, you still might want to prepare for the worst. In this article, Benzinga discusses three essential items you'll want to own if the unthinkable occurs — gold, ammo and alcohol.
To read more, go here.
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Admission is $10; free for ANA members, children under 12, and active and retired military personnel (plus up to 3 additional guests). Admission is free for everyone on Saturday, March 16.
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| Above, yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky with U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson at the National Money Show earlier this month in Phoenix. |
With things going haywire in the financial world lately, delegates representing the world's mints (including the U.S. Mint) will be holding a conference in Canada in October. One would think they would meet sooner given the situation the financial markets are in.
Numismatic News reported:
Readily accessible cash is critical to the ability of societies to go about their daily lives, according to the International Mint Directors Association.
The IMDA and the International Mint Directors Network will gather more than 300 delegates from the minting and related industries to discuss the future of circulation coins, collector coins and bullion on October 15-18 in Canada. It is the first time in five years the Mint Directors Conference will be held.
Looking ahead a Foundation of International Mint Industry Association statement reads, “2022 closes with a world economy struggling to deal with heightened geopolitical uncertainty and with growth rates for 2023 at best challenged and potentially in decline. The inflation ‘genie’, generally under control over the past decade or so, is now out of the bottle and as central banks attempt to reign it in, the impact of a rapidly increasing interest rate response is placing households and consumers under serious strain.” The FIMIA was established as the successor to the Mint Directors Conference in June 2022, the former organization having been founded in 1962.
To read more, go here.
A federal judge blocked key provisions of a California gun law, ruling them as violating the Second Amendment.
The Associated Press reported:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked key provisions of a California law that drastically restricts the sale of new handguns in the state, saying parts of the legislation violate the Second Amendment.
A lawsuit challenging the law was filed last year by the California Rifle & Pistol Association and other gun rights supporters following a landmark 2022 decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that set new standards for evaluating firearm restrictions. The ruling left many laws aimed at regulating and limiting the sale and use of guns — in California and nationwide — at risk of being struck down.
U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney, sitting in Santa Ana, wrote Monday that California’s requirements for new handguns are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. Because of these restrictions, Carney wrote, no new models of semiautomatic handguns have been approved for sale since 2013 and Californians are forced to buy older and potentially less safe models.
I am wondering when a lawsuit will be filed against New Mexico's H.B. 9 law that was just signed by Gov. Lujan Grisham.
To read more, go here.
Just as the National Weather Service said it would, we're now getting some snow showers.
I took a look outside a few minutes ago and it looks like we have about a half inch to one inch of snow.
According to The Weather Channel app, it is 32° in Gallup, while the WeatherBug app says it is 34° here in Jamestown.
A couple of snapshots:
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| Above, the ol' homestead two days ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we're to have light snow showers in the morning that will turn into rain this afternoon.
This may keep us from having our usual gathering at Denny's today. We'll see.
According to the National Weather Service:
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| Above, 2022 Canadian silver Maple Leafs. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
People are anxious over the banking crisis.
They are concerned that their bank savings accounts will go up in smoke, leaving them flat broke. They are beginning to turn to buying precious metals such as gold and silver.
The question arises, will this cause runs on gold and silver, thereby driving up prices?
An article in Yahoo! Finance takes a look at this.
They begin with:
The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, two of the largest banks in the United States, piled on top of existing crises like inflation and the war in Ukraine, have raised concerns about the stability of the global financial system.
As investors search for ways to protect their wealth in these uncertain times, many are looking to precious metals, especially gold and silver, as a safe haven. The question on the minds of countless experts and analysts is whether bank runs and failures could lead to a run on gold and silver, driving their prices up.
The failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have exposed the vulnerabilities of the banking system, even in developed countries. In light of these incidents, some experts are warning that more bank runs could occur, particularly in the face of ongoing global crises such as geopolitical tensions, inflation and economic uncertainty. As these factors continue to shake the financial world, investors are turning to gold and silver as a means of preserving their wealth.
Analyst Mike Gleason of Money Metals Exchange explains in an FXStreet article that bank runs can lead to a run on gold and silver as investors seek to safeguard their assets from the risks associated with traditional banking institutions. Physical gold and silver can be a great choice in these situations because they are considered some of the best safe-haven assets and incur no counterparty risk.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, 2022 American Silver Eagle reverse. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Even before the current bank crisis, I have been buying silver bullion coins over the past several months.
Generally, I buy what I like (my favorite is Morgan silver dollars). Silver is a lot more affordable than gold, which is around $1,985/toz. Silver is about $22.59/toz today.
It appears that I am not the only one buying precious metals.
According to the Gateway Pundit, central banks are also buying precious metals. As the following article's title states, they're "buying everything in sight."
They begin with:
The ongoing banking crisis has exposed flaws in the various financial systems governing western capitalism in the Biden era. While companies like BlackRock as well as the Biden-Harris regime pushed companies, financial advisors, and individual investors toward “woke” ESG purchases, their cronies at central banks have been busy buying up physical precious metals.
Gold and silver in particular have been hot.
In fact, the bank runs of recent weeks had been quietly preceded by “vault runs” with physical precious metals being moved out of the Comex system. Now that the cat appears to be out of the bag, central bankers are ramping up purchases of physical precious metals even more.
To read the full article, go here.
According to today's forecast, it will begin raining at around 1:00 this afternoon. It will later turn into snow showers as the day goes on.
So I took the opportunity to head down to the post office to get my mail.
Since it will be either raining or snowing, it is a good thing a number of magazines to read arrived. They included Outside, Wine Enthusiast, Travel + Leisure and COINage magazines. Also in today's mail were a new set of two John Wayne whiskey glasses (photo below). They are nice and patriotic, just like Duke himself.
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| Above, it doesn't look like spring to me. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
According to KOB 4 News:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Spring kicks off Monday and New Mexico will see rainy, snowy conditions to kick off the season.
While temperatures are warmer right away than Sunday, conditions are also starting more rainy. The rain will mostly be confined to places north of I-40 and west of I-25 but drift toward the east as the day goes on.
Some places will see some snow, such as near the Continental Divide.
Since I am about 8 miles from the Continental Divide, we've already seen some snow this morning.
To read more and see a video, go here.
Preparing for the possibility of hyperinflation is something nobody really thinks about or, if they do, wants to.
Given the topsy-turvy times we are in with bank collapses, inflation, war and moronic leadership in Washington, preparing for hyperinflation just may be forced upon us.
What is hyperinflation?
According to Survival Sullivan:
For those unfamiliar, hyperinflation is simply a period of extremely high, accelerating inflation. Inflation is nothing but an overall increase in the cost of goods and services.
Hence, hyperinflation is inflation that is going really high, really fast. Hyperinflation is also a common (though not guaranteed) sign of a true economic depression.
Survival Sullivan has an article listing the 14 things one should buy before hyperinflation hits.
They begin it with:
Out of all of the many disasters that you might prepare for, one of the least thrilling but most likely and certainly most devastating is a financial disaster.
Hyperinflation is one word that most financially-savvy people are familiar with, and also one that can make you shiver with the dread suggestion of it.
You might have plenty of money stashed in your piggy bank or in your checking account, but when a dollar suddenly buys only a dime’s worth and less all the time, you will be in the middle of a real economic collapse.
Having the right goods and other material preps on hand ahead of time can lessen the severity of hyperinflation, and this article will tell you what they are.
The first item on their list is:
1. Precious Metals
One of the very best hedges against inflation, and a universally valuable asset. Precious metals have, can, and will continue to serve as genuine currencies in most societies the world over. Our fiat paper currency might be suitable only for use as kindling or toilet paper during a period of pronounced hyperinflation, but precious metals will remain meaningfully valuable.
The trick, of course, is investing in precious metals well ahead of time because you probably won’t even be able to buy them during a period of hyperinflation at any cost.
That, and making sure you have small enough denominations or quantities to make trade for equivalent quantities of needed goods straightforward.
To see what the other 13 items are, go here.
I would add a 15th item: guns and plenty of ammunition. If such a calamity should happen, defending one's self and family against marauding gangs is in order.
This morning, I woke up a little bit earlier than usual (good thing I went to bed at 8:00). When I went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, I took a look outside and we were getting some snow showers.
There was about a quarter inch of snow on the garage roof (if even that), but not much on the ground. The temperature outside is at exactly freezing (32°).
I took this shot a few minutes ago:
The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.
To start off the week, we have the 1979 hit by The Clash, "London Calling" from the album of the same name (voted the best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone). The song briefly made its way into the James Bond movie, Die Another Day (2002).
From Wikipedia:
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that emerged in the wake of punk and employed elements of a variety of genres including reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon.
They were active until 1986.
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| Above, today and before the storms. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It appears that we will have another week of rain and snow.
As such, I went to the Flying J to pick up a couple of gallons of water for the coffeemaker so I won't run out during the storm(s). While heading there, I saw a long line of cars and trucks stopped on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40. Cars and trucks were stopped in the southbound lane of the overpass to the Flying J. As the northbound lane was clear, I headed over.
I saw several cars pass the stopped vehicles on the bridge by going south in the northbound lane. I figured I'd do the same. According to the county office of emergency management, the construction area at Coolidge has the single detour lane under repair, thanks to Phineas G. Pothole. This has become an everyday occurrence.
I got what I needed and headed home. I passed the stopped vehicles on the overpass bridge by going around them in the northbound lane. No problems.
So now, all I have to contend with is the coming storm that should be hitting here tonight.
According to the National Weather Service, the week in Jamestown, New Mexico looks like this:
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| Above, the January 2020 Second Amendment Rally at the Capitol. Expect another one if a special session is called by the governor. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
New Mexico's law-abiding gun owners got through this year's legislative session pretty lucky.
Only one anti-gun bill managed to reach the governor's desk. That was HB 9, the bill mandating the lock-up of firearms. It has a snowball's chance in hell of surviving a constitutional challenge.
Given the make-up of both houses of the legislature, predominantly Democrat, we made out pretty well. The only real question is whether or not the governor calls for a special session to take up more anti-Second Amendment legislation.
According to Piñon Post:
On Saturday at noon, the New Mexico House and Senate adjourned from the 2023 Legislative Session. The adjournment meant the death of many anti-gun proposals that would have restricted citizens’ constitutional rights. Only one bill, H.B. 9, mandating the lockup of firearms, passed and was signed by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The dead gun-grabbing legislation includes S.B. 44 banning citizens from carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place during an election, S.B. 428 targeting firearm retailers and manufacturers with frivolous lawsuits, H.B. 100 banning most firearms over 10-round capacity, and H.B. 101 mandating a 14-day waiting period before firearm purchases.
S.B. 427, which is similar to H.B. 101 banning magazine capacity, died, while S.B. 116, mandating a person must be 21 to purchase a firearm, did not make it across the finish line.
Thanks goes out to the Republican caucuses of both houses of the legislature and common sense Democrats who helped defeat the anti-gun bills.
If a special session is called by the governor to pass anti-gun bills, plans are underway to hold a massive rally at the Capitol by pro-Second Amendment citizens.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the South Rim's Grand Canyon Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Every so often, one hears on the news about a water line break at Grand Canyon National Park.
The repairs made tend to be a band aid approach that just "kicks the can" down the road.
Finally, substantial repairs to the water system at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon totaling $208 million will begin.
Fox News reported:
A $208 million multi-year repair is planned for the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water for the local community and millions of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park.
National Park Service officials said the repairs and upgrades on the waterline within the inner canyon and the South Rim will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for at least the next 50 years and support 6 million annual visitors and some 2,500 year-round residents.
They said work planned for the coming months will focus on establishing construction infrastructure and staging areas in the Grand Canyon Village Area on the South Rim.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Devil's Tower, Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
While planning a recent trip to the National Money Show in Phoenix, Arizona, we found that hotel and motel room rates were very expensive. Most were around $175 and up. The lower priced ones were generally in poorer sections of town.
Campgrounds in recent months have also jacked up their prices, although still a lot cheaper than hotels and motels. Fortunately, one can still find campsites for under $40 a night.
Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on finding cheap camping sites for under $40. They provide several of them, one of which is near Devil's Tower, Wyoming.
They begin it with:
It can be pretty intimidating to look for a campground or resort when prices are sometimes $100+ per night. There are lots of high-end parks around the country, and you can quickly burn through your budget if you stay in expensive places. But fortunately, there are plenty of cheap camping sites that cost $40 or less per night.
You might be nervous about staying somewhere that’s dirt cheap. And there are definitely some spots where you get what you pay for. But camping on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to settle for something trashy! There are plenty of cheap camping sites across the country that offer beautiful scenery, hookups, and even a few decent amenities. It’s always a good idea to read campground reviews to see what you can expect during your stay!
Lots of state parks have RV-friendly campgrounds that cost $40 or less. In fact, if you show up at the right time, you’ll be paying closer to $20 for most of the destinations below! Just make sure that you book a reservation in advance. These spots are popular and cheap, so they tend to fill up pretty quickly. Now without further ado, let’s explore some cheap camping sites that will help you have a great experience.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Manzanita Lake Campground at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
There was one time where my family and I went on a camping vacation to a national park (I don't remember which) and the campground was full.
We decided to stay at a nearby overflow lot and slept there. My dad slept on the hood of the car while my mom and I slept inside (it was a big Buick, so we had plenty of room). We got up early in the morning and got in line (we were about third or fourth in line) at the campground's gate. We got ourselves a campsite.
That was the only time we ever had to do this.
RV Life has an article with tips on scoring a last minute campground reservation.
They begin it with:
Finding a last minute camping reservation can be a problem. With campgrounds filled to the brim, you are likely better off planning your trip way ahead of the game. Sometimes, however, life just doesn’t work that way and you need somewhere to stay.
Check out these pro tips for finding and booking a last minute camping reservation.
To read more, go here.
Last week, the banking world went topsy-turvy when some banks had collapsed. While this resulted in major anxiety, there was one area of finance and money that actually benefitted.
That was in precious metals.
An article in Bitcoin.com (I have no investments or interest in bitcoins, but I thought the article was interesting) by Jamie Redman states that the banking crisis awakened a "resting bull market" in gold and silver. Those metals could see higher gains.
The article starts with:
At the start of the week, a troy ounce of .999 fine gold was trading at $1,813 per unit. Seven days later, gold rose 9.65% against the U.S. dollar to the current spot price of $1,988 per ounce. Gold’s rise comes at a time when confidence in the global banking system is at an all-time low, and five major banks have received bailouts. An ounce of fine silver also increased in value, rising more than 12% from $20.01 to $22.59 per ounce this week.
The rest of the article is worth a read. To do so, go here.
