Can you talk a currency into gaining value? It seems Fed Chief Ben Bernanke and European Central (ECB) President Trichet think so. They’ve been telling anyone who will listen how serious they are about fighting the inflation monster that would cheapen their currencies.

Once again, the entire world tuned in for the Fed-sponsored dog and pony show this week. As usual, the Fed’s meeting managed to slow market activity before the FOMC decision, and then (drum roll please)…

Financial commentators around the world keep asking, they want to know if we’ve finally hit rock bottom, after more than $300 billion in losses. In fact, CNBC asks this question so often that it’s starting to sound like bored kids on a long road trip… “Are we there yet?”

From the Wall Street Journal to the Gulf Daily News…from hungry rioters in Argentina to pasta protesters in Italy…everyone seems to have something to say about rising food prices and the outright deadly inflation that’s sweeping the globe.