Day: March 9, 2009

Note from JWR:

Just six days left! The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $1,110. This auction ends on March 15th. It is for a large mixed lot, which includes:: 1.) A “be ready to barter” box of 38 full-capacity gun magazines, from my personal collection in JASBORR. This box includes: 4 – Used original East German 30 rd. steel AK-47 magazines in a “raindrop” camouflage pattern belt pouch, 12 – Excellent-to-new condition original Bundeswehr contract HK91 (G3) alloy 20 round magazines, 6 – Well-used but serviceable condition original Austrian FN-FAL steel 20 round magazines with cartridge counter holes, …


Burying a Shipping Container or CONEX, by Danny Papa

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Back during the first Gulf War we used excess shipping containers for underground storage and protection. Out first few attempts to make use of these containers met with disaster. Although they will support a huge amount of weight, in the range of 400,000 pounds directly on top, It must be place directly over the load-bearing corners. The sides and top are vulnerable to flexing, if they flex they can and will collapse. With all of this in mind let’s go through how to bury one the right way, so that it will be ready and usable when the time comes. …


Letter Re: Advice on Cashing in US Savings Bonds

Jim, While we prepare to break ground for this years garden I’m still preparing my financial stores long before my harvest comes in. There is still one question I can’t find an answer for that satisfies me. Are U.S. Savings Bonds safe? We have allot of EEs that can be cashed in but if they are safe as Bonds why not leave them. But if every thing is headed down the tubes how likely is the U.S. Government to default on this paper just like it would on another paper currency? Southern-Survivor in North Alabama JWR Replies: As I’ve written …


Two Letters Re: Advice on Treating Pond Water

Hi Jim, I just got the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course the other day and love it. I also just finished the audio CD [that came with the course binder] and that was a great addition to the book. My husband has said ‘you can just boil water’ to make it available for drinking water, and I don’t think this is so. [In the course binder] you only speak of having water filters of various kinds. Can you tell me if water is retrieved from a pond how to treat it? Also, can you go into detail as far …


Economics and Investing:

Bill N. sent this very observant piece: Gold, Spam, and Ruger vs the S&P 500.Bill notes “This is an interesting article, it even has a graph at the end comparing the S&P 500, gold, Hormel (makers of Spam), and Ruger Firearms for the last year.” Insurance giant AIG (now 80% US government owned, thanks to a $125 billion bailout with taxpayer funds) is not out of the woods yet. Asset values are continuing to decline, creating more credit default swap (CDS) derivatives counterparty risk. $300 billion in assets have already been affected. For some details, see this Wall Street Journal …


Odds ‘n Sods:

FloridaGuy sent this data point: Church pastor killed during service    o o os Rex mentioned the pending “Food Modernization Act” which makes it a crime to refuse entry to government inspectors if you own “any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.” Rex’s comment: I especially like the wording that allows them to conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate.’ I had first assumed this was some sort of nutty Nanny-State bill that would die a quick death, but it has 39 co-sponsors!”    o o o Referring to the …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and all that is necessary to close the circle of our felicities." – Thomas Jefferson, in his 1801 Inaugural Address