Tom's Recommended Film of the Week

No Country For Old Men

Right from the start, I'd like to caution that No Country For Old Men is a violent film. No doubt about that, so if you are bothered by violence in film, better pass on this one. The whole premise of No Country For Old Men centers in on the violence that permeates the edges of our lives in the form of criminals and law enforcement. It questions what might push one of these elements past the thin line that divides them, or what might draw others towards either of these lifestyles. This story compels the viewer to think about their own personal values and how fully we might cling to them in the face of temptation, adversity and hopelessness. Consider it an exploration of the human element within the businesses of drugs, money and public service.

In No Country For Old Men, we see intelligence, power, audacity, greed and stupidity each surfacing to cause incidents, which lead to unavoidable outcomes. While one character in the film purports that chance is an ever-present element, the story line begs to differ. Once the first decision is made, by the first character most viewers will identify with, a course is set which seems inevitable and once the viewer realizes this, the questions begin to crop up.

An outstanding novel by Cormac McCarthy, excellent direction and production by Joel and Ethan Coen and underplayed yet powerful acting from Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Woody Harrelson, Gene Jones and Barry Corbin combine to show us the incredible possibilities of a world with character, but no courtesy. Listen closely to Ed Tom Bell, he is the voice of the novel and of the film, and provides the perspective that grounds the story.

My favorite films are always the ones that catch you off guard and make you think. No Country For Old Men does both and keeps you thinking for a long time after the film has ended.

Interesting Analysis of Gold and Silver Trends

Here's a quick recommendation. Check out Merv Burak's article from March 23rd on The Market Oracle website. Burak wisely has taken some time during this precious metals consolidation period to examine the upward climb with an eye towards benchmarks and pivotal points. In particular, he points to $885 and $840 as primary up-trend spots in Golds ascent since about the middle of last year.

I recall that Gold was just under $800 for a period last November and sits just above $900 today, representing a $100 rise in about five months. With the last few weeks consolidation trimming off roughly $90 after Gold's peak of about $1030, it is definitely a good time to reflect and consider options and possibilites.

As always, I suggest that you read as much as you can and consider carefully before investing your hard fought earnings. This is as true for investment as it is for numismatic collecting.

Geocaching Growing Internationally

Last June I wrote a few blog posts about the coin related hobby of Geocaching. It's a great family hobby, where coins or other objects and a logbook are hidden and coordinates are logged into a central site, allowing others to find the "treasure" and record that they have been there. My family tried it back in June and enjoyed the experience. We were all quite surprised to find that there were many locations in our area. It was a great way to get outdoors, do some hiking and enjoy a little "treasure hunt".

Over the ensuing months I have kept an eye on the Geocaching hobby, especially with regards to the coins people use for their cache. I noted in my June posts that Geocaching was fast becoming a global enterprise and you can readily see on eBay a significant number of Geocaching coins from locations around the globe. Back in June I noted that there were about 430 total Geocaching coins listed on eBay, today I see there are 768 as of this posting.

These coins come in all shapes and sizes and they honor just about all areas and imaginable themes. While the majority are round coins with color enamel, you will also find a variety of examples in unusual shapes, such as the shape of the home state, county or country, native animals, local landmarks, or just plain things people find interesting such as candy, Ferris wheels, pets, plants, musical groups, insects, vehicles, toys, recycling, literary figures and mystical elements.

You can also see that more and more areas of the globe are being represented on Geocaching coins. Back in June I noted a variety of coins from areas such as Vienna, United Kingdom, Coventry, Isle of Man, Beijing and Japan. Today I notice an even wider selection from more places including Germany, Italy, Singapore, Canada, Norway, Wales, England, Hawaii, Czech Republic, Finland, Netherlands and Switzerland among others. Another phenomenon emerging with Geocaching coins are multiple country pieces. Today I noted a dual country coin for the U.S. and Canada, as well as a triple country coin for Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

It seems clear that people are taking great pride in their adventures and travels in Geocaching. In addition to just being fun, hobbyists are building a real sense of accomplishment as they branch out to larger areas and grander excursions. Without a doubt, this is one of the largest peripheral growth areas tied to the exonumia wing of numismatics.