Day: May 21, 2010

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com. (A $275 value.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Healthy Food Storage, by R.J.

A common staple in any good prepper’s store is food and another is medication.  We make sure to have loads of food that will last a long time (grains, legumes and corn) and do not realize that eating these very things help contribute to cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and cardiac syndrome X (just to name a few).  WTSHTF where in the world are we supposed to get chemo medication?  Or who is most qualified to do a triple bypass or mix up a new batch of insulin?  If the need ever comes to actually use our stores it would be …


Letter Re: Advice on Precious Metals Investing

Mr. Rawles: Please tell me, what would be the best form to purchase gold to store, that is not a stock [or an Exchange Traded Fund]? I cashed out a penny stock that my father left me, which will cover almost one once of gold. Thanks, – Wendy H. JWR Replies: At the present time, I don’t recommend gold for most investors. Instead, I recommend silver. The silver to gold ratio is currently around 63 to 1, which is way out of whack. It should be closer to it historic norm, which is 16-to-1. This means that gold is relatively …


Economics and Investing:

Dow Crashes About Three Percent as Euro Drops, Jobless Claims Rise Stocks Dive, Dow Off 376 on World Economic Worries C.D. in Northern Virginia liked this piece: One financial doomsday scenario. Flavio sent this linkio: What’s Next – Minor Correction or Major Decline? G.G. flagged this: A surprise jump in UK inflation to 5.3 per cent means that not a single savings account on the market offers an interest rate higher than the cost of living. Items from The Economatrix: Merkel: Bailout has Bought Only Time, Not A Solution Soros Sees No Bottom to World Financial Collapse US Consumer Prices …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers mentioned this: Fallout shelters for a new generation. I’m reserving any judgment on this particular venture (since it is only in its early stage of what has been promised). But I must say that in general I’m opposed to getting involved in large commercial shelter projects. For around $35,000, you can construct your own fully-stocked in-home underground shelter with a blast door and HEPA air filtration for a family of five. Why spend more for just one shelter space in a distant locale, and in a shelter that belongs to someone else? And what are the chances that …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“An armed republic submits less easily to the rule of one of its citizens than a republic armed by foreign forces. Rome and Sparta were for many centuries well armed and free. The Swiss are well armed and enjoy great freedom. Among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible. It is not reasonable to suppose that one who is armed will obey willingly one who is unarmed; or that any unarmed man will remain safe among armed servants.” – Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince” (1532)