Gold Futures and Dollar Drop

I’ve been keeping an eye on gold futures lately. A lot of US investors are heading into gold right now to protect themselves against the weaker dollar. In fact, some analysts are interpreting the strength of gold futures as an indication that the dollar will get weaker soon.

Of course it is impossible to predict the weaker dollar. Our fiscal and monetary policies would indicate that it is imminent, but even Warren Buffett was burned by trying to time the decline.

I have done really well in the overseas ETFs that I have invested in. By putting more money overseas, I think I have diversified out of the dollar a little bit. I know I have also been helped by the strong stock markets in Europe. Perhaps now would be a good time to add a small position in gold to diversify and hedge against further dollar decline.

New Golf Clubs

I did some research and decided to buy a few new golf clubs. I am a terrible golfer and probably shoot in the 110 to 120 range.

I currently have a set of Ping ISI-Ks, which are great irons. I have a Taylormade Firesole driver that is about 8 years old. I found it in a garbage can in Back Bay. I have a Odyssey Rossie putter that I bought for 30 bucks when I lost the beautiful Ping putter I had. And lastly I have two generic fairway woods that were given to me second hand by my brother.

I want new technology, but I also want to get a good value for the clubs. I figured that you can buy drivers at Target that are better than drivers from 8 years ago due to advances in technology and size. Rather than spending 200 – 400 dollars for a high MOI driver, I decided to buy a generic club. I will only use it casually for 2 or 3 years, so why not spend a little bit less?

I also decided to replace my putter with one that I like better. I love the style of the older Ping Ansers, but I don’t want to fork out 100 bucks. After all, I am not a pro.

I found a deal for a generic square driver through Pinemeadow Golf. It has a modern design and should last a few years. It was on sale for 69 dollars. I also purchased a “Ping-style” putter for 10 dollars.

I will write a report once I get my hands on those clubs! If it turns out to be a good experience, I may try purchasing a new sand wedge. I like the SW that came with my Ping set but it is more like a gap wedge because it doesn’t have a lot of bounce.

Stranded At Home

I managed to be stranded at home today.

I was flying from Boston to Northwest Arkansas today on American Airlines. I had a layover in
Chicago. The flight from Chicago was canceled, so I requested that they fly me through Dallas or Cincinnati. Unfortunately, there were no flights through those cities. They put me on a Northwest flight to Minneapolis so I could catch a connecting flight.

The NWA flight was delayed due to weather in Boston and they flew the longest path possible into Minneapolis. I ended up spending three and a quarter hours in the air. I missed the connection to Northwest Arkansas, which remarkably found a way to take off on time despite the hail and thunderstorms.

The next flight is at 9:30 PM, and there were no seats on any other flights connecting through Memphis. I’ll be working from home for a day! What a strange way to start off the week.

P.S., ROWTR was the best 10 bucks I have ever spent. I keep finding myself looking for airline and rental car numbers. It is so handy to have them in a single place!

Arc de Triomphe

The Tour de France starts on July 7 this year. The first stage will begin in Britain, for the first time in history. Although I can’t stand doping and politics, I still enjoy watching the drama of cycling races unfold on TV. Sometimes I wish they would just legalize doping so it would just end that discussion forever.

When the tour finishes, it will end up at the Arc de Triomphe. I have scanned in a Holga photograph I took of the Arc below.

And on a side note, Happy 4th of July!