Peak Prosperity

A conversation between Chris Martenson and Jack Keller. Similar to oil and other key natural resources that are mined and consumed, water is subject to the same exponential trends. Both surface supply and underground fossil stores of clean water are depleting at alarming rates, and the energy and economic costs of extraction are swiftly increasing. Water is our most precious natural resource (well, perhaps after oxygen). Advances in irrigation in the past century ushered in tremendous prosperity (the "green revolution"), particularly in food production, power generation, and a dramatic increase in the supportable populations for vast regions of land. If the water supply in future years dwindles to less than today's, those societal gains are going to have to retreat to some extent.

A conversation between Chris Martenson and Rick Rule. They discuss investment trends and the various resource plays and opportunities.

So, assuming the Peak Oil camp is on to something, what's the likelihood for a disruption-free transition to another energy source that can replace the energy output we currently enjoy from oil? There's no shortage of promising claims from new laboratory experiments, and there is a lot of optimism in political and entrepreneurial circles that renewable, alternative forms of energy (wind, solar, biofuels, etc) may be able to fill the "energy gap" in time. How realistic are these hopes? Not very, says Robert Rapier, energy specialist and Chief Technology Officer of Merica International. The problem is one of return on invested energy. It is extremely difficult to create fuels with the same energy-density Nature has concocted over thousands of millennia without using up as much (or more) energy in the process.

So, assuming the Peak Oil camp is on to something, what's the likelihood for a disruption-free transition to another energy source that can replace the energy output we currently enjoy from oil? There's no shortage of promising claims from new laboratory experiments, and there is a lot of optimism in political and entrepreneurial circles that renewable, alternative forms of energy (wind, solar, biofuels, etc) may be able to fill the "energy gap" in time. How realistic are these hopes? Not very, says Robert Rapier, energy specialist and Chief Technology Officer of Merica International. The problem is one of return on invested energy. It is extremely difficult to create fuels with the same energy-density Nature has concocted over thousands of millennia without using up as much (or more) energy in the process.

The global dominant narrative about China is wrong, claims Gordon Chang. Don't expect it to be the 'pocketbook of last resort' that will rescue world markets from their current malaise. And don't expect its remarkable economic growth to continue. In fact, expect a "hard landing" for China - and soon.

The global dominant narrative about China is wrong, claims Gordon Chang. Don't expect it to be the 'pocketbook of last resort' that will rescue world markets from their current malaise. And don't expect its remarkable economic growth to continue. In fact, expect a "hard landing" for China - and soon.

Today we're speaking with Turd Ferguson, founder and proprietor of the precious metals Weblog, tfmetalsreport.com. Turd was a licensed securities professional for nearly 20 years until leaving the profession in 2008, disillusioned apparently, to become a self-described serial entrepreneur. Since then, he's become one of the more popular and for sure, one of the most colorful voices advocating for gold and silver ownership by the average investor. Every month, hundreds of thousands of readers visit his Weblog eager for his analysis, as well as his very specific short-term price predictions for where the metals are headed. Two thousand eleven has been characterized by tremendous price volatility, both gold and silver experiencing that. And at the time of this recording, it looks like both are starting to show maybe some breakout potential here.

Today we're speaking with Turd Ferguson, founder and proprietor of the precious metals Weblog, tfmetalsreport.com. Turd was a licensed securities professional for nearly 20 years until leaving the profession in 2008, disillusioned apparently, to become a self-described serial entrepreneur. Since then, he's become one of the more popular and for sure, one of the most colorful voices advocating for gold and silver ownership by the average investor. Every month, hundreds of thousands of readers visit his Weblog eager for his analysis, as well as his very specific short-term price predictions for where the metals are headed. Two thousand eleven has been characterized by tremendous price volatility, both gold and silver experiencing that. And at the time of this recording, it looks like both are starting to show maybe some breakout potential here.

Today we are speaking to Eric Janszen, founder and president of iTulip.com. Eric is a prolific economic, financial market analyst and author of several notable books including the most recent one, The Postcatastrophe Economy. I have invited Eric to speak here today because he has made more right calls about the global economy than almost anyone I can think of or have been following in the past decade. Today we are going to discuss his Ka-Poom framework and what he sees next in his macroeconomic crystal ball. Welcom Eric.

Today we are speaking to Eric Janszen, founder and president of iTulip.com. Eric is a prolific economic, financial market analyst and author of several notable books including the most recent one, The Postcatastrophe Economy. I have invited Eric to speak here today because he has made more right calls about the global economy than almost anyone I can think of or have been following in the past decade. Today we are going to discuss his Ka-Poom framework and what he sees next in his macroeconomic crystal ball. Welcom Eric.

Paul Brodsky is co-founder and co-managing member of QB Asset Management. Paul spent several decades trading bonds and other securities for such Wall Street firms as Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kidder Peabody and Spyglass Capital, where he actively managed mortgage-backed derivative funds for over a decade (over 85% of investor capital in that fund was returned by June 2006, before the wide-scale credit contraction occured). QB Asset Management serves accredited investors - more information on the firm and it's investment strategy can be obtained by emailing Paul.

Paul Brodsky is co-founder and co-managing member of QB Asset Management. Paul spent several decades trading bonds and other securities for such Wall Street firms as Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kidder Peabody and Spyglass Capital, where he actively managed mortgage-backed derivative funds for over a decade (over 85% of investor capital in that fund was returned by June 2006, before the wide-scale credit contraction occured). QB Asset Management serves accredited investors - more information on the firm and it's investment strategy can be obtained by emailing Paul.

Carolyn Baker, therapist and prominent advocate for culturing emotional preparedness in times of transition, looks to the future and sees a great many people at risk of unprecedented loss. Loss of jobs, loss of lifestyle, loss of wealth, loss of relationships - and quite possibly loss of life - as society becomes increasingly traumatized by secular economic slowdown and growing resource scarcity.

Carolyn Baker, therapist and prominent advocate for culturing emotional preparedness in times of transition, looks to the future and sees a great many people at risk of unprecedented loss. Loss of jobs, loss of lifestyle, loss of wealth, loss of relationships - and quite possibly loss of life - as society becomes increasingly traumatized by secular economic slowdown and growing resource scarcity.

David Stockman, former US Representative and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Reagan, does not mince words. He sees the monetary systems of the world coming apart. How did we get here? He identifies the root cause as the intentional over-leveraging of world economies by central planners in a misguided effort to enjoy growth without consequence.