Month: April 2011

Economics and Investing:

Why Marc Faber Is Such a Bear. Dimon Says a Hundred Municipalities in U.S. Won’t ‘Make It’ Out of Debt Vacant California – California has over 1 million vacant housing units increasing 54 percent in one decade G.G. sent us this: American’s feather nests with silver Eagles Items from The Economatrix: Solar Sunspot Activity and the Financial Markets   13% Of All US Homes Are Vacant US Economy In The Greater Depression Confirmed By GDP Data       A List Of 28 Things That Will Make You Think There Is Something Seriously Wrong With The Country Jim Rogers Predicts …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Alan W. sent this item: Why North Dakota May Be the Best State in the Country to Live In    o o o J.H. mentioned an article with details on the latest malware threat: ‘LizaMoon’ Mass SQL Injection Attack Escalates Out of Control    o o o One doctor’s view: The Experts Are Dead Wrong on Potassium Iodide for Radiation    o o o Book review: Apocalypse soon? (A review of “How the End Begins: The Road to a Nuclear World War III“)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” – Romans 10:1-4 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

Great news! Lulu.com has extended their 20% off sale, for any product, through April 4th. That includes the 2005-2010 SurvivalBlog Archive CD-ROM! So if you’ve been “thinking about it”, here is your chance to save $3.99. Order now! To get the 20% discount, enter coupon code “SPLISH305“, during checkout. — Today we present another entry for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round 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.) …


A Single Dad With Kids, Prepping to Our Fullest, by Kurt G.

I’m a single dad (32 year old) of three amazing children, Aaron 12, Sarah 11, and Savannah 3, and this is our journey. In 2008 we had lost everything, my job, our house, our jeep, the truck and pretty much everything else. We did manage to keep our four door sedan as our source of transportation. We were fortunate to have family who had a 2nd home and welcomed us to use it. I had prepped a little here and there for the past10 or so years but was still learning and very naïve to what being prepared really meant. …


Letter Re: Silver Dimes Rather Than Quarters for Barter?

Dear Mr. Rawles: I have read your excellent blog for years and truly enjoy the unique mix of practical advice and news you provide that is not often found elsewhere. I wanted to comment on your recent article titled,  "Precious Metals–When to Begin Reducing Your Holdings."  Your article was quite thoughtful and I would encourage anyone who failed to read it when originally posted on March 29th to go back and read it now. There was a minor point that I did disagree with.  Near the end of the article you wrote, "Here in the United States, pre-1965 silver quarters …


Two Letters Re: Update on Pending Berkey Water Filter Price Increase

Captain Rawles,   I have just received the following update on the Berkey water filtration systems. The Stainless Steel Berkey systems are on a serious backorder as they have been grossly oversold.  The Berkey Light Systems are the only ones that are in stock no matter what the “Estimated Shipping Date” or “Quantity in Stock” notices say online.  Also the previously reported 20%-30% price increase has been changed to 10% due to Berkey not wanting make an already bad economic situation worse, but they will not be able to give away the freebies any longer.  They may consider another “Price …


Letter Re: IP Address Finding Software

Dear Mr. Rawles: Gibson Research Corporation offers a free [PC] utility called ID Serve that will quickly tell the user the IP address of any web site, as well as some other info.  It can also look up the domain name using the IP address.  This is useful to help SurvivalBlog readers find the numerical IP for their favorite web sites in case of domain name mischief at the hands of government or private hackers.  IP Serve can be downloaded here free of charge. (As a bonus, it is tiny–just 26 kbytes–and fast. It is not “bloatware”). – Sincerely, D.V.B.


Economics and Investing:

B.B. suggested this: Chart of the Day: Silver Coin Mania. Clearly, more folks are now distrusting the U.S. Dollar and hedging into tangible silver. We’ve Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers–More Americans work for the government than in manufacturing, farming, fishing, forestry, mining and utilities combined. D.I.W. suggested this over at the Secular Trends blog: Current Real Unemployment is 16% Foreign Banks Tapped Fed’s Secret Lifeline Most at Crisis Peak. Is this supposed to give me a warm, fuzzy feeling? Items from The Economatrix: Massive Capital Wave Approaches Gold MyBudget360:  Federal Reserve Silently Grows Balance Sheet to Approximately $2.75 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Pastor Chuck Baldwin posted his reaction to my “American Redoubt” proposal.    o o o Some humor posted over at Survival Mom: You Might Be a Survivalist If…    o o o Tamara over at the View From The Porch blog had a link to this important Glock safety tip: The importance of a good holster. That is one of the reasons that I’m a big believer in stiff Kydex holsters!    o o o U.S. admits that Mexican cartels get military weaponry from Central America


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth.” – Psalm 71:1-5 (KJV)


SurvivalBlog Writing Contest — Announcing the Round 33 Winners

We’ve completed the judging for Round 33 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest! First prize goes to K.M. for What is a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit?, which was posted on March 15, 2011. K.M. will receive: 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 $795, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from …


Beginner Prepping for Students by Mat R.

I’m a college student living in the western U.S.  I have been interested in prepping ever since I got my Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge in Boy Scouts when I was about 12.  My parents thought it’d be a phase, but it has always been a way of life for me ever since.  I have had a lot of fun even with it, and it’s not as hard as it can seem, especially for those who are still in school.  I’d like to share a few things that I have picked up over the years that can help any who are …


Letter Re: Traces of Radioactive Iodine in the Milk Supply

Sir: It would appear that very low levels of radioiodine (I-131) have been detected in Western US milk, as could be expected. Presently, the contamination from Fukushima is taking over a week to cross the Pacific, and that time, combined with dilution effects, reduces the contamination from the Fukushima disaster to point far below the level of concern. At the present time. It also appears that the fukushima fallout plume is not rising high enough at present to become entrained in the jet stream However, reports from Fukushima, and analysis of the data available, indicates that a containment breach may …


Letter Re: Getting The Family On Board

Dear Mr. Rawles,   First, I want to thank you for the work you do and the time and effort I know it takes to provide all of us the wealth of resources and information you do.  I have been steadily preparing for bad times only for the past two years.  Prior to that, my family and I were all about the “Good Times” – Working for the weekend, staying tuned into the television shows, enjoying the “American” way of life.  I became involved in stock market trading a few years ago and took several classes with a gentleman who …