"The price of gold is not rising because it makes pretty rings, and rich people want to hold it in vaults. It's rising because the shift from industrial to technological society is a worldwide phenomena "
Industrial/technological useage of gold constitutes a small part of gold demand, though it may well be growing. The POG is not rocketing up due to industrial/technology demand.
Geopolitical issues are a big reason (Iraq, possible nuking of Iran, terrorism, and terrorist attacks on oil pipelines, Venezuela's Chavez), and there are plenty to go around these days. The other biggie is, of course, the ramping up of the printing presses by the FED and other central banks, and the resultant inflation, which is a heck of a lot more than Washington pretends. People with big money know this, even if it doesn't make mainstream media headlines. What is the oldest way to protect yourself from runaway inflation? Gold. Another way, with more risk than physical gold, but of course also more leverage, is shares of gold miners.