Hi Pic: I heartily concur with Scruffy. You have a unique expertise that you contribute to this very informaitve and thought provoking site. Thank you.

There are many days when I wonder why I have spent so much time over the years on this board (and others to a much lessor degree) when we see the value of our investments in the PMs totally hollowed out. I get discouraged at times when I see/hear credible experts such as Marc Faber speculate about the time frame of the "quantitative easing" program and that it's ongoing impact could last anywhere from weeks to 5 years...during which time the markets can be goosed and manipulated to the heart's content of the power elite. Some are predicting an inflated DOW of at least 20,000 before it all comes down.

The simple fact is that fiat cannot replace physical and the shorts are going to have to constantly revise their game plan to prevent the PMs from taking off. So far they have kept the whole ball game very well managed to deter any real excitement. I now understand why so many with professional investment expertise have often cautioned me about investing in the JPMs. It's as if they knew what I was saying about gold was on the mark (without admitting it) but they also knew (and were probably assured) that "the system" would never be investing in the juniors...or even the producers to any real extent. They truly "heard it on the grapevine".

We all know the reasons why, who is pulling the strings and we have wondered aloud about how much longer they could continue. I am stunned that "they" have been able to carry the game into double overtime. And that , dear friends is where I have made a serious error in judgement. It can become oppressive if one is not continually refreshing one's mind about the "big Pic"ture. The history of gold versus fiat can not be revised. It can only be conveniently overlooked and the ignorance of it taken advantage of.

I suppose I could well have been described as a pumper all these years. Such was not my intention at all. If anything I guess I and others have always had great faith in the home team...loyal to a fault and shamelessly positive. There is no draft "Pic" for honesty.