Odds ‘n Sods:

A brief update on magazine prices that I’ve observed in gun shops and at recent gun shows: M16 (AR-15) magazines have jumped from around $17 in October to close to $40 each. The hot seller in that category, BTW, seems to be MagPul PMAGs. The once cheap and plentiful US M1 Carbine 15 round magazines were under $3 each in the early 1990s. After the 1994-2004 Federal ban expired, they were around $8. But in just the past two weeks they’ve catapulted to $25. The so-called “SWAT” factory original 20 round SIG P226 magazines went from $36 to $60. “Glockamole” original 33 round Glock 9mm magazines went from $28 to $59 each. Needless to say, these are substantial jumps, and I expect much larger price increases, as BHO‘s inauguration date closer. There is intense speculation on the chances of a “high capacity” magazine import ban via executive order. Absent a ban, new production will catch up with demand and prices will normalize, but before that happens I suspect that BHO will unleash a flurry of executive orders in his first few weeks in office. One of those decrees will very likely be a magazine import ban. In my estimation there is 90% chance of an import ban from the executive branch, and a better than 50% chance of a renewed domestic production ban, through an act of congress. My advice: Buy any top quality magazines that you can find at reasonable prices. Presently, they are better than money in the bank.

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We’ve received another flurry of news and commentary from The Economatrix. At the top of the list is a “must read” piece by Marty Weiss; Citigroup collapses! Banking Shutdown PossibleFinancial Crisis Thanksgiving in AmericaGold Set to Explode Higher on InflationInvestors Dump Dollars, Fiat Paper for GoldBanks Still Refusing to LendChina Cuts Interest Rates as Panic SpreadsToyota Woes Deepen, Ratings DowngradedGM Goes Begging in EuropeGoldman’s US Gov’t-Backed Bond Opens the Way for OthersFed “Spitting in the Wind” with New $800 Billion Gambit?Food Prices Will Rise Next Year Causing Export Bans, Riots

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Robert at JRH Enterprises mentioned that they are having their third annual “Black Friday” sale. Dozens of items have been considerably marked down, including several that are downright “loss leaders.” The sale will be extended to Sunday, this year. Don’t miss teh TRC3A Wireless Seismic Intrusion Detector sets!

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The Werewolf (our correspondent in Brazil) recommended the novel Liberation: Being the Adventures of the Slick Six After the Collapse of the United States of America. The novel is available in paperback. Probably not of much value to buy as a reference, but you might see if your local library has a copy.

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David V. tipped us to a great piece by Mish Shedlock about the New Jersey State Pension Fund fiasco. This is starting to play out just like I have been warning since March of 2008.