The economic sky is quickly darkening and Bernanke made no effort to hide his concern. His testimony was as close to the truth as one gets in D.C. where honesty is usually eradicated like a malignant tumor. In any event, it is worth wading through Bernanke's speech word by word even if it only reinforces one's belief that the economy is about to take a ride through a deflationary blast-furnace which will ultimately result in the end to the United States short-lived dominance as the world's lone superpower. The American Century has about run out of steam just eight years into the new mellenium. Bernanke's presentation confirms what many bloggers have been saying for three years; the end is nigh, get your house in order.