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After writing my “Inflation, Deflation, or Hyperinflation” article, I concluded that inflation was the likely outcome based on the Fed’s ability to flood the economy with money through Open Market Operations. Perhaps by buying commercial real estate debt from banks or by buying more Treasury paper the Fed could overcome the bank liquidity crunch.
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You’ve noticed that I haven’t posted recently. There is a lot going on in the world that I will be reporting to you. But, I decided that I needed to do some fundamental research into what I believe is the most pressing issue in the economy right now. It is an issue that will [...]
More humor before I get serious again. This little squiggle has been around the Internet before but I got it from Finbar Taggit, formerly my favorite English blogger. This is how the tax system works.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to £100.
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I’ve been doing a lot of research this week so I haven’t been posting. Also I was away for a couple days. Instead of economics I am presenting pure entertainment. I received this music video that was supposedly the work of music students and engineering students who constructed the fantastic machines in the video, [...]
Most of the time I think I know people, but this headline caught me completely flatfooted. Kathy Ireland a is another one of my famous neighbors. Now, I have met her on several occasions, but she wouldn’t know me if I were in a police lineup. I can say that she is beautiful, [...]
This clip is Al Gore at his wacky best. Let me say that I’m not a global warming “denier” but I am a skeptic. Nor do I know of or support the Americans For Prosperity who put this clip together. But I will say that I really don’t like Mr. Gore because he exemplifies what passes for an [...]
Great new Government Motors spoof of GM’s claim they’ve paid taxpayers back. You will enjoy this.
Hat tip to George [...]
Jon Stewart keeps it coming with his sometimes spot on critique of the financial world. We’ve discussed the WTF and Why the big banks had perfect trading days. Here’s Stewart’s hilarious take on that.
Hat tip to Calculated [...]
Boys and their toys. I loved this German version of Punkin Chunkin, so to speak. Another offshoot of capitalism, or, why you don’t find this kind of just-for-fun creative useless stuff in Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe, or east of the Dnieper. It’s a perfectly useless endeavor, but, if we can think it, we [...]
I don’t know about you, but this should be the new currency. These are designed by Dean Potter. For information see the Dollar ReDe$ign Project.
Of course, a gold certificate would be better, but if I’m going to carry around fiat money, this is it.
For those of you who would miss dead [...]
Wow, I knew Geithner had powerful lungs, but this is amazing. This today from the Treasury:
Treasury Department Headquarters to be Powered Entirely by Wind Beginning July 31, 2010
Treasury Harnesses the Power of Wind
WASHINGTON – To mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that beginning July [...]
I always hate tax day.
It’s always a pain in the ass and I hate turning my money over to the State(s). As I see it, most of it goes down the rat hole.
When I was in high school I learned that medieval serfs were forced to hand over one-quarter of their crops to the [...]

Don’t panic, this hilarious piece is from The Onion:
U.S. Economy Grinds To Halt As Nation Realizes Money Just A Symbolic, Mutually Shared Illusion
WASHINGTON—The U.S. economy ceased to function this week after unexpected existential remarks by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke shocked Americans into realizing that money is, in fact, just a meaningless and intangible social construct.
Calling it “basically no more than five rectangular strips of paper,” Fed chairman Ben Bernanke illustrates how much “$200″ is actually worth.
What began as a routine report before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday ended with Bernanke passionately disavowing the entire concept of currency, and negating in an instant the very foundation of the world’s largest economy.
“Though raising interest rates is unlikely at the moment, the Fed will of course act appropriately if we…if we…” said Bernanke, who then paused for a moment, looked down at his prepared statement, and shook his head in utter disbelief. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. None of this—this so-called ‘money’—really matters at all.”
“It’s just an illusion,” a wide-eyed Bernanke added as he removed bills from his wallet and slowly spread them out before him. “Just look at it: Meaningless pieces of paper with numbers printed on them. Worthless.”
According to witnesses, Finance Committee members sat in thunderstruck silence for several moments until Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) finally shouted out, “Oh my God, he’s right. It’s all a mirage. All of it—the money, our whole economy—it’s all a lie!”
Screams then filled the Senate Chamber as lawmakers and members of the press ran for the exits, leaving in their wake aisles littered with the remains of torn currency. … Continue reading Bernanke Disavows Money
This is yet another very clever, funny, and well done music video. You’ll enjoy it.
Hat tip to [...]
This is fabulous. You will love this rap video as J.M. Keynes duels in rap with F.A. Hayek. It was put together by Russ Roberts at George Mason University. Very clever and very much an “inside” joke among economists.
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By Jeff Harding.
This will brighten up your day. I like the cut of this man’s jib.
Drag Queen’s spoof on Queen’s famous Bohemian Rhapsody. Hilarious.
Courtesy Barry Ritholz’s Big Picture.
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