Day: August 18, 2008

Letter Re: Maintaining the Nuclear Survival Mindset

Hi, I won’t mention my name because of the privacy concerns you so eloquently pointed out in your blog, but here’s an example of what you were asking about in regards to preparations for a new cold/hot war. I was in the USAF in Security Police from 1980 to 1989, the height of the Cold War, when President Reagan was stepping up the pressure on the then Soviet Union. I served in ICBMs (Minuteman III’s and the Peacekeeper) at Warren AFB in Wyoming and overseas in Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCMs) at Florennes Air Base, Belgium. One of the things …


Letter Re: Health Saving Accounts in the US–Buying Retreat Medical Supplies with Pre-Tax Dollars

Hi Jim – Thanks for your blog. It is well worth the [voluntary] 10 cents a day. Just a quick tip on saving money. Many employers offer flexible spending [“Health Savings”] accounts [(HSAs)] that are funded with pre-tax money. These accounts are usually billed as letting the employee pay for office co-pays, prescription co-pays, etc. tax free. But depending on the program, many other things qualify for purchases through the account. For example, my employer’s program allows most over-the-counter [medical] products. Things like bandages, creams, contact lens solution, foot care products and more are all valid purchases. I’ve been able …


Letter Re: Some Thoughts on Precious Metals Purchasing

Mr. Rawles, Not long ago you mentioned the price of precious metals had fallen. Today the market ended with spot precious metals taking a sharp dive. If any reader does not have at least some silver or gold for when the economy really drops off, now is definitely the time to get them. Kitco is one source. I use the Northwest Territorial Mint for large purchases. For smaller buys, I have used Mint Products, but they are more for the collector, and not bullion speculator. I have been able to amass a large sum of bullion, in the forms of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

OSOM sent us this link from National Geographic: How to Survive (Almost) Anything: 14 Survival Skills    o o o Cheryl flagged this article from The Telegraph: Spanish government cuts short holiday as economy collapses    o o o Wes at WK Books has decided to give away one of the best survival manuals on the web, in HTML: U.S. Army Field Manual Survival 3-05.70 (FM 21-76) Print out a copy and leave a copy on your hard disk.    o o o Reader CJ mentioned a Russian web site with some uncensored photos of the war in South Ossetia. …