Year: 2011

Letter Re: Nickels or Pennies?

JWR: Thanks to SurvivalBlog, I have stashed away my share of nickels, but I began to wonder if it could make sense to sort and store pre-1982 pennies, which are 95 percent copper.  I’ve done some hands-on research in this area, and I believe there’s a way to accumulate pennies, and do so relatively easily and from an investment point of view, more effectively than nickels. The Numbers First, the numbers: If one stashed away $1,000 in nickels, one would have 20,000 coins; each coin is 5 grams, of which 75% is copper and 25% nickel.  So, $1000 in nickels …


Letter Re: Meat Canning Experience

James, I would like to add a note to one of the observations of Don M., regarding re-freezing of meat. I too have heard many times that it is unwise to re-freeze meat or fish. I grew up hearing it. Often it is even implied that it is a health risk. Most folks don’t know why; it’s just what they’ve always been told. Water expands when it freezes, and as we all know, will rupture whatever contains it – even steel pipe. The cells of meat and fish contain a high content of water. When it freezes, it will break …


Economics and Investing:

A 1980 copy of Playboy Predicts the Future for Silver David D. sent this: Speculation explains more about oil prices than anything else John R. recommended a series of charts, showing the sad decline of various currencies since 1970: Your Purchasing Power. JWR Notes: As I’ve written before, currency inflation is robbery in slow motion. Reader Paul G. suggested this by Dave Altig of the Atlanta Fed: Just how out of line are house prices? Clearly, house prices have farther to fall before we see bottom! Shadow Stat Misery Index Highest on Record Items from The Economatrix: Yishai sent a …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Check out the new Rocky Mountain Survival Institute blog. Great stuff!    o o o New Army Ammo Puts Mean in ‘Green’    o o o I just heard that Ready Made Resources has received a small supply of Mountain House freeze dried Diced Chicken, packed in #10 cans. Since the quantity is so small this item is not listed at the company’s web site. To order, please call them at: 1(800) 627-3809.    o o o Ben L. mentioned this very bad court precedent in Indiana: Court: No right to resist illegal cop entry into home. This is a …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." – Thomas Jefferson, from a letter to Joseph Milligan, 1816


Notes from JWR:

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.) 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 Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Feeding and Caring for Livestock, by D.T.

As we find ourselves moving back to basics on and around the farms, more people that have had no livestock ever also have no clue how to feed them or how to take basic care of them, are getting them. In the past two years, I have personally rescued and placed 115 horses and assisted in numerous other rescues. I can’t stress enough about proper care and feeding. It is easier to maintain a healthy weight then to put it back on an animal. For each 100 pounds lost, it takes three months to put it back on the right …


Letter Re: Meat Canning Experience

James,                   People frequently refer to losing power in freezers as good incentive to keep freeze dried food on hand.  My family found out the hard way that your freezer full of meat can be canned with excellent results!  I awoke one Friday morning and headed downstairs to get ready for work.  I noticed a glow in the basement and, knowing that there were no lights that were supposed to be on, went downstairs to check it out.  Somehow, the night before, the upright freezer door had either not been shut securely or had come open.  Our store of …


Economics and Investing:

Stephen M. sent this: Alan Blinder Fires First Shot Across QE3 Bow: Says We Need More Stimulus To Boost Employment. Monetizing the debt is a governmental addiction. It won’t end until the U.S. Dollar is destroyed! Reader G.P. forwarded this: 50 Things Every American Should Know About The Collapse Of The Economy Sig sent us this: Roubini: Jobless Rate Will Jump to Near 10 Percent as Economy Slows. Some “Live Free or Die” news: Southeast Minn. man finds copper plate used to print money. The story gets very interesting when the lawyers get involved. (Thanks to Jim H. for the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader B.B. spotted this: Rich Russians Buy Bunkers on Apocalypse Angst. JWR Adds: Regardless of what country you are in, be wary of fast-talking salesmen that want to sell you floor space in any shelter that doesn’t yet exist. Just as with precious metals, I recommend that your investment be something tangible. FWIW, back when I was in the software industry, we used to call planned products or planned features “vaporware”, because many of them were never anything more than Marketing Department hype. (There was no code for this software yet written.)    o o o Mr. K. wrote to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall …


Note from JWR:

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.) 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 Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


No Cost and Low Cost Simple Beneficial Habits, by L.L.V.

There are some no nonsense, low-cost hands on things that we can do right now and daily to become more prepared in a slow and steady, simple manner. I recommend using Regularly Unavoidable Training Triggers (RUTTs). Getting in a RUTT could save your life. We all know people that are in a rut.  Some people like to smoke their cigarettes and some spend hours a day in front of the television.  Some people without even thinking about it pick up a little bit of candy or junk food when standing in line at the grocery store.  The truth is that …


Letter Re: The Butter Storage Dilemma

Dear JWR: I’ve been reading your site for some time and thought that some of your readers may find our Butter Storage Solution helpful in their plans. I’ve been a prepper for decades and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about butter. Our stored food reflects our caloric needs as well as having some things to eat that we really like — things that make us feel better. My wife likes butter very much and I began looking for solutions around the turn of the century. Living in New Orleans (or anywhere with a sub-tropical climate) just makes the …


Letter Re: Bedbugs as Disease Vectors

Hi, Jim: Up until now, bedbugs were thought to be harmless from the point of view of carrying diseases. But all that has changed. See: Scientists Discover Bedbugs Carrying MRSA Germ In Study. Instead of [simply] being a pernicious hard to get rid of pest, they may be carrying anti-biotic resistant staph infections and illnesses now. Some houses have such bad infestations of bedbugs there is no getting rid of them and impoverished people abandon those homes. In some cities, the houses are condemned as unfit for human habitation and destroyed. Bed bugs are not found just in beds. Major …