October 10, 2007

Ted Butler: A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

By: Theodore Butler

This chart depicts the current condition of the concentrated short position for every applicable physical world commodity, in terms of days world production, from data published by the CFTC. (Chart courtesy of sharelynx.net)

click for magnification

I know of no legitimate economic reason why silver would have such a large concentrated short position, when compared to every other physical commodity. I conclude that the abberation in silver (and, to a lesser extent, gold) can only be explained by manipulation. This is the point that the CFTC and the NYMEX continue to evade

October 2, 2007

Silver content nightwear to launch in UK to protect from superbug

Here's another interesting newsitem about silver's  industrial usage that increases the drain upon whatever metal quantities are left in stock (source: Mineweb)

Silver content nightwear to launch in UK to protect from superbug

A big UK chain store is putting a range of nightwear on the market incorporating silver thread as a biocide to help prevent hospital acquired infections.

by Lawrence Williams

LONDON -

One of the biggest UK clothing chain stores, Marks & Spencer (M&S), is to launch a line of pyjamas containing silver thread to protect against hospital superbugs like MRSA in two weeks time.

As reported in Mineweb some months ago - see article Esoteric uses keep silver demand flying high, it is silver's bivalency which is perhaps the key, which makes the metal highly reactive to the extent that, among other things, it is a natural biocide which means growing medical usage - and it is being used in clothing too for people in arduous occupations - like the military. It has uses in combating many viruses like legionella - and in the UK perhaps in the fight against hospital borne diseases like MRSA.

According to a report on The Telegraph website Sunday, M&S will market a range of nightwear under the "Sleep Safe" banner and the first item in the line will be a men's pyjamas set to be sold at a cost of £45 (about US$90).

MRSA, a superbug which has hit many UK hospitals, is a major concern among many patients undergoing surgery. Again, according to The Telegraph, Katherine Murphy, a spokesperson from the Patients Association, said: "Superbugs are the number one concern of every patient going into hospital...We welcome the fact these are going on sale, but it shows how desperate the public is", while Dr Mark Enright, a microbiologist at Imperial College London, said the pyjamas would reduce the risk of a patient getting a skin infection that could infect a wound.

MRSA is linked to over 1500 deaths a year in the UK.