Day: April 21, 2006

More Surprises in the Volatile Silver Market

The New York silver market has been pushed down sharply on profit taking, to around $11.85 per ounce. (It was over $14 per ounce on Thursday, which was a 25 year high.) My advice: Look at this as a short-term buying opportunity. Buy on this dip! The silver bull should resume his charge in May. Even at under $12 per ounce, silver is still quite high compared to just a month ago. OBTW, I recently bumped up my allowance on pre-1965 silver coinage to NINE times face value, for anyone that wants any of my mail order merchandise (or to …


Letter Re: Angst, Life in Turbulent Times, and Preparedness

Jim, I read your commentary today; I’ve never ever had a very good crystal ball, but any good analysis could see what’s coming long term… Sorry for being long winded… I’m up late working on a project and some of what I’ve been reading in the news has been troubling me… It’s the [Chinese President Hu [Jintao] visit… With the Chinese economy growing at double-digits and their defense budget growing at double digits and they being the four largest economy in the world. I found an interesting piece in Defense Industry Daily. It’s only a matter of time… We gave …


Letter Re: Stocking Up on Reusable Plastic Plates and Bowls

Jim, Something just occurred to me as far as an overlooked essential: food plates and bowls. The glass mixes (Corelle, etc) are far better than the stoneware for cleanliness and durability, but they can still be broken. I found out recently that the cheap, media tie-in dishes that extol Disney and various other children’s movies are not only unbreakable plastic, but are immune to gun cleaning solvent–I used an old one, figuring to throw it away when done. But a quick rinse with a dab of soap and it was clean–impervious to the chemical, not even the cartoon image was …


Letter Re: Positive Feedback on Two SurvivalBlog Advertisers

Good Morning Mr. Rawles, I just wanted to say how pleased I am with the services provided by your advertisers. I recently bought four 8×57 pre-1899 Turkish contract Oberndorf Mauser’s from the kind gentleman in South Carolina [The Pre-1899 Specialist]. I got two of the first batch, and two of the second, nicer rifles. I have to say I was very pleased with the first two, and the second two are in fantastic condition. I also received excellent service from Vic [at SafeCastle] in purchasing some more freeze dried food supplies. The most important point for me in using your …


Letter Re: Source for Reflux Still Building Plans

Sir: In the letter titled “Stocking up on Copper Tubing/Pipe”, the writer mentioned wanting to build a still. For those interested, here is an excellent step-by-step guide to building a reflux still: http://designer-drugs.com/pte/12.162.180.114/dcd/pdf/still.pdf I would be interested in hearing of any potential uses for a still other than making alcoholic drinks. I don’t use alcohol or any other drugs, but I am fascinated by the reflux distillation process and its potential uses [for fuel, disinfectant, chemical/formulary processes, et cetera] following a collapse. <>< – Stephen


Odds ‘n Sods:

U.S. Army Dragon Skin body armor test have been delayed.    o o o Oil and natural gas industry analyst Dr. Joe Duarte reports of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is taking decisive steps to turn off the oil taps to the U.S. He says that Venezuela’s state owned oil company PDVSA has inked a key deal with India, taking the first key step away from the U.S. as its major oil buyer.    o o o SurvivalBlog reader Scott M. told us about a novel “Send A Brick” congressional mailing campaign has been launched in the U.S., designed to a …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We will continue to make our greatest efforts with the utmost sincerity to seek the prospects of peaceful reunification. Meanwhile, we will never tolerate ‘Taiwan independence’ and never allow the ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from the motherland under any name or by any means.” – Chinese President Hu Jintao’s speech to CPPCC members on cross-straits relations, March 14, 2005