And some economic notes...

Longer than notes, really. :-) Dive in if you're willing to do some reading about our current economic situation and the bubbles that have become part of our economic cycle. For the latter article, you either have to be a Harper's subscriber or pick up the February issue.

And also this: a graphical comparison of the price of oil and gold over the past five years, and the conclusion that what we're really seeing as both of their prices go up is the weakening of the U.S. dollar.