"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

3Q came in 'better than expected' this morning, but that was not enough to keep the fire lit under equities after this post-election euphoria.

Gold was under a little pressure and silver less so, as November winds down and we enter the more important trading contract of December.

As you may recall, my operating theory has been that the 'free float' of physical gold available to fulfill physical delivery in the markets of Asia has been diminishing, to the point now that the card sharps of the West are concerned a bit about the calling in of their monumental paper leverage.

I had thought the denouement would have occurred during this Summer, but some stores of physical gold were found in the hands of some unfortunate nations, and that has served to keep the game going. 

But as the last calculation of the free float showed, the winding down continues, slowly but surely.  All pools and schemes and frauds, if you will, that run against reason and free choices of the markets run down and fall apart eventually, worn out by the artificiality and the energy required to sustain them.

As the old saying goes, 'the bigger they come, the harder they fall.'

Non-Farm Payrolls later this week.

It was very rainy here day, pouring quite steadily for the most part.  I had to take the queen to the hospital for some check ups and blood work.  I could not help but wonder how a little adverse weather, like rain or snow, seems to bring out a kind of mindless aggression in some drivers and a carefulness almost to a fault in others.

We can be like that with words as well.  I see people saying things some times that are almost incredible, and you cannot imagine them saying that sort of thing if they were there in person, or at least for most of them.

As adversity or some obstacles or disappointments frustrate us, we can become mindlessly aggressive and reckless with our words, and our actions, especially when we have the cover of anonymity, of an electronic vehicle, as people do with automobiles or ideologies or a devotion to some pet theory. 

They use them as rationales to behave- inhumanly.   Certain in ways that they would not ordinarily even consider, and would be embarrassed if it were pointed out to them.  They forget themselves.

We all have this tendency, to get caught up in the moment.  Let us remember who we are at all times, and whom we serve.  And when such injustice is done to us, that we should forgive it, and understand from whence it comes.  And regret our own culpability in such bad examples, and try to do them no more.

Yes, there is violence and injustice in the world. There always has been. We may have been on the receiving end of it. Cruelty and aggressive anger is most often a sign of fear or weakness or a harsh upbringing with an abusive parent. And it breeds nothing good, only more of the same.

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)