Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

  Did you inherit a set of sterling silver flatware from your grandmother   the kind that comes wrapped in velvet, smells faintly like history, and weighs more than a newborn? If so, you might be wondering whether to cash in or hang on for a potential silver boom. You’ve got choices. You can sell it to Replacements Ltd. , list it on eBay , take it to an auction house , or tuck it away and wait to see whether silver decides to shoot for the moon. Some enthusiasts are whispering about the possibility of silver climbing toward $500 an ounce someday. Whether that’s realistic or wishful thinking depends on which experts you listen to  and how patient you are. (see list of Joplin buyers of silver below)  So pour yourself a cup of coffee, curl up in your comfiest chair, and let’s break down what’s actually driving these predictions.   Why Sterling Silver Flatware Still Matters Sterling flatware isn’t just “old stuff in a box.” It has: Melt value (based...

    This weekend, Joplin got a foot of snow and a full dose of irony. Main roads were cleared. Neighborhoods? Not so much.   Joplin’s snow removal policy leaves residents stuck literally. Satire meets civic frustration in this snowy showdown. Welcome to the City of Joplin’s Winter Strategy™ : “If you live near a hospital, good luck.” “If you live on a hill, build a sled.” “If you’re elderly, the winter survival guide is basically: groceries, blankets, and patience. Lots of patience. The streets will melt eventually.” Our neighborhood close to Freeman Hospital turned into a live-action obstacle course. Cars spun like figure skaters. Nurses tried to reach their shifts like contestants on American Ninja Warrior: Snow Edition . Families visiting loved ones got stuck in snowbank's deeper than the city’s sense of responsibility. Neighbors  have "hometown values" city leaders not so much And who saved them? Not the city. It was Bob in his pickup. It was ...