It is with some reluctance and sadness that I must announce the end of these Commentaries. I hope that over the last six or seven years the visitors to these pages have enjoyed themselves, maybe learned some things and that they have found some new information sources through the links I provided.

I have enjoyed the experience and learned a few things myself. Our country is about to undergo some dramatic economic, political and sociological earthquakes from which nothing will ever be the same. As the editor to these pages I have tried to warn of this and offer explanations of the underlying causes and how to prepare and deal with what's coming. Only time will tell whether I was right or wrong and whether the preparations I offered were of any benefit. Whether you agree with me or not, I wish all of you the best.

Richard McClendon Jr

Many of you wrote to say they are sorry to see these pages die and expressing thanks for my service and the education I've offered. I am pleased to see the positive effect that I have had on so many people. Many asked for more information about WHY this decision was made. In answer, here's an interview with George Ure of Urbansurvival.com that I forwarded earlier today (6/14).

George Ure wrote:

> Richard,
>
> Several readers have asked me to contact you (and I admit to a certain curiosity myself) to inquire what has caused you to abandon your web site as we draw near to what may be a final “whatever”?
>
> In terms of personal survival, if you had one or two tips for readers what would they be?
>
> Is gold the only way to survive the bad times to come?  Is it too late to start buying it now?
>
> Plus, is there something else behind your motion to withdraw?  
>
> Thanks in advance,  George Ure
> www.urbansurvival.com
 
 George,

There has been an outpouring of "thank yous", "you will be  missed", "good luck", etc. I can't thank everyone enough for their expressions of thanks. Some have also been asking "why?". I began to think about adding a footnote to my announcement explaining when your e-mail came in asking for an interview. Here goes your interview, if you have further questions feel free to send them along.

Since 1996 I have been unemployed twice, 3 years in 1996 and for the last 8 months. The first time exhausted my saving and retirement as well as my health insurance. After the last 8 months, I am now down to my last 30days worth of income/cash meeting my monthly obligations. I began throttling back my updates when I reduced them to two per week back in April to get more job search time. I didn't want to run full tilt until losing my phone and internet connection/web-site, so I pulled the plug early enough to give everyone a warning/explanation. Is there anything else behind my withdrawal? The wife and I DO have some health issues that have come into clearer focus over the last 2 1/2 months, but, no, there is nothing else behind my withdrawal. If I had acquired a job then I would more than likely have continued, though perhaps at the 2 a week update. Will I come back if I get a job in the next 2-3 weeks, no.

My background seemed to have prepared me for editing my "U.S. Bear Market Commentary" pages. Now I am being lead to close them down in preparation for something new, but, I don't yet know what.

As far as "survival tips" for others, get out of debt and stay out. It's a trap that will kill you. If you wind up unemployed for an extended period, try hard NOT to use any retirement funds. Don't even borrow them.

Regarding the earthquakes I mentioned in my announcement, "prepare as if for Y2K". In otherwords, use the same guidelines as when Y2K was expected. Get out of debt, have several months worth of cash, stockpile food, clothing, medicine, arms, gold/silver etc. Anyone still have the generators they bought in anticipation of Y2K?

Is it too late to buy gold? NO IT IS NOT! If it's not too late to be buying real estate it's not too late for precious metals.

One final word to everyone about surviving the coming earthquakes. Every ounce of gold or silver that you purchase is one more tiny step toward the survival of the people of this country. Notice, I didn't say the government. After an intensive study in 1996 of how to deal with this, I concluded that the list of perparation items was too long. After pondering this issue for a while I found that the answer was to prepare as best you could for the survival of others (around you). In other words, when it all comes down you should be prepared to share your survival equipment etc. Your personal survival will in all probability depend on someone else sharing with you.

Richard