New Items at Guanxi Trading

Our connections with the Turkish meerschaum industry has given us a connection to one of Turkey's premiere silversmiths, and we are proud to announce that Guanxi Trading is in negotiations to import a line of hand-made solid sterling silver snuffboxes.

These come in a range of sizes and styles, with plain and repousse decoration. All lids are friction-fit, via a tab in the lid that forms a hermetic and air-tight seal. These boxes have all passed the cornstarch test for tightness of fit, and all passed with flying colors.



Retailers are free to contact us for pricing and delivery information. These boxes are also available in silver-plated pewter.

Is it Still Possible to Live Well?

One problem that has been weighing on my mind of late is the old quasi-pessimistic refrain of "yes, things are bad, and getting worse, but it's still possible to live well in the meantime."

Is that so? I mean, how well can one really live when the undeniable facts of ongoing collapse and degeneration are offset with the cold comfort that things will eventually fall apart to such an extent that the whole edifice will come crashing down around us, and eventually violent men with tyranny in their minds and weapons in their hands will restore some rough version of order. Assuming, of course, that the fall isn't so severe as to do the lot of us in.

So, what it all comes down to is this: We are to console ourselves with out few pleasures and refinements for as long as possible, all the while, the world around us falling to pieces, in anticipation of the final fall, to be followed by the Dark Ages, if we're lucky, or the end of everything. And this is supposed to be an answer? Doesn't this sound like what Czar Nicholas and his family, and the French aristocracy before them, were up to while others plotted their bloody demise?

Obama OK's Serfdom Plan

Seems as if you've got the chance to be one of Barry's tenants, if you want:

"NEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. government officials are weighing a plan that would let borrowers who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments avoid eviction by renting their homes instead, sources familiar with the administration's thinking said on Tuesday.

Under one idea being discussed, delinquent homeowners would surrender ownership of their homes but would continue to live in the property for several years, the sources told Reuters.

Officials are also considering whether the government should make mortgage payments on behalf of borrowers who cannot keep up with their home loans, tapping an unused portion of a $50 billion housing aid kitty.

As part of this plan, jobless borrowers might receive a housing stipend along with regular unemployment benefits, the sources said. (Reporting by Patrick Rucker; Editing by Diane Craft)"

Yep, that's right; if his ruinous economic policies finally tank your own finances, and you're facing losing your home, not to worry; Barry will take it over for you, and you can just rent it from him for a while.

Best thing about the idea? It'll be your tax dollars (or rather, your great-grandchildren's children's dollars, given the national debt) being used to buy your house out from under you, while you pay rent to Uncle Sam.

Yep, this is serfdom, pure and simple.

How's that Hope & Change working out for you, America?

Hope, Change, Dependence

Saw this little item today. Seems about 1 in 6 Americans are currently receiving some form of check, subsidy, or other essential benefit from Uncle Sugar. Seems they need their Government to help them keep body and soul together.

"The recession is driving the safety net of government benefits to a historic high, as one of every six dollars of Americans' income is now coming in the form of a federal or state check or voucher.

Benefits, such as Social Security, food stamps, unemployment insurance and health care, accounted for 16.2% of personal income in the first quarter of 2009, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. That's the highest percentage since the government began compiling records in 1929."

1 in 6, folks. Just think about that for a moment. How much longer till it's 1 in 4?

Given that most Americans already pay nothing in taxes, the burden on the productive can only increase with the passing of time. So, roughly 50% pay nothing, and about 16% are dependent on the taxes paid by the other half. Hmmm.... that would make about 66% of Americans either paying nothing at all, or, indeed, picking the pockets of those who do. That's better than half of America pillaging the remaining 30% or so. Well, pillaging them and their kids and grandkids.

And we wonder why the Chinese laugh in Geithner's face when he says their investments are safe here, and the dollar is sound. As the largest holder of our debt, and as one of the largest investors here in the States, they've bought and paid for the right to laugh when they hear something ridiculous, I suppose.

A major goal of Geithner's maiden visit to China as Treasury secretary is to allay Beijing's concerns that Washington's mushrooming budget deficit and ultra-loose monetary policy will undermine both the dollar and U.S. bonds. China is the biggest foreign owner of U.S. Treasury bonds.

"Chinese financial assets are very safe," Geithner said. His response drew laughter from the audience. (Reporting by Glenn Somerville; Editing by Alan Wheatley)

But coming back to the ever-growing class of parasites and government retainers, who are a significant and, let's be honest here, permanent, drain on the economy and productive capacity of the American people:

You can bet these folks are fiercely loyal to their lords and masters in DC, upon whom they depend for life itself. You've seen those photos of the old Soviet, Maoist, and Nazi "masses" jubilating in honor of the Great Leader, haven't you? Well, these folks are the American version. Bought and paid for, like the slaves they've let themselves become, they will remain compliant, reliable, and utterly untrustworthy. These are the ones who'll sell you out in a heartbeat; they've sold their souls and the future earnings of everybody for the next 50 years or so - why wouldn't they rat you out for unpatriotic or subversive activity aginst their masters and benefactors?

And on our nickel, and our grandkids' dollars. Nice.