Year: 2012

Letter Re: How to Take Control of Your IRA

Jim, I’d like to correct some misconceptions regarding both precious metals and “collectibles”, some of which have been repeated in recent letters from readers.   First, regarding collectibles:  This term has a specific meaning under the Internal Revenue Code.  Its definition is found in 26 U.S.C. Section 408(m)(2), which says:   (2) Collectible defined   For purposes of this subsection, the term “collectible” means—        (A)any work of art,      (B)any rug or antique,      (C)any metal or gem,      (D)any stamp or coin,      (E)any alcoholic beverage, or      (F)any other tangible personal property specified by the Secretary for …


Two Letters Re: Bugging Out Abroad

James: My wife and I traveled through Israel in 2007. For that occasion a lot of travel research and came upon the OneBag web site. OneBag proudly announces that there are two kinds of flight luggage: “Carry-on” and “Lost”. This site is a superb resource of tested information on compact and efficient one bag travel for extended periods. Through them I discovered an excellent US made carry-on/backpack by Mountain Equipment that masquerades as handled carry-on with hidden frame, full size shoulder straps and belly band . Unzipping side zippers reveals the shoulder straps and belly band. The bag converts in …


Economics and Investing:

Sue W. recommended: The Seven Rules of Bureaucracy Gary Schilling: The Japan Train Wreck Is Accelerating. (Thanks to Michael W. for the link.) Robert Prechter’s Dire Prediction For 2012 Items from The Economatrix: Home Sales Show Strength, Prices Rise Oil Prices Rise On Unexpected Supply Drop Mish Shedlock: Highest Price Ever of Gasoline in March Signs Of Recovery Grow In US Housing Market. [JWR’s Comment: With so many delayed foreclosures now hitting the market, we are still nowhere near the bottom, folks.]


Odds ‘n Sods:

Over at Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest, our friend Ryan reviews: Selco’s One Year in Hell    o o o I heard that because of some recent storm damage to their bridge, the spring Knob Creek Machinegun Shoot has been cancelled. The good news is that the October 12-13-14, 2012 shoot is still a “go.” OBTW, when attending events like this, I recommend that you wear one of our T-shirts (SurvivalBlog, Bennington Flag, or Long Live Rock n’ Roll)–because you never know who you might bump into.    o o o This Nanny plays favorites: Police to ignore California impound law …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]: If we suffer, we shall also reign with …


Note from JWR:

Today we present two more entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


The Survival Value of Oral and Written Traditions, by K.B.

The importance of keeping a curriculum in your plans In a TEOTWAWKI community, the lifestyle would be more or less the traditional one known to all communities in all times, cultures, and epochs: survival maintenance. Work never ends because, in a traditional community, work is life. Gardening techniques, clothing styles, earthenware, cuisine, tools, art, tapestries, house construction, and all the rest are not ‘pretty things’ at all but artifacts that emerge from survival. They are pretty things when we see them as a Goth’s furry booties in a museum or an Algonquin head wrap in a roadside souvenir shop. Likewise, …


Bugging Out Abroad, by J. in The East

For the preparation conscious world traveler, life abroad means a unique set of considerations must be made to the manner in which you travel/live abroad.  After all, the primary objective of the prepper abroad should be to get back to their family and home.  It was, at least for me.  My time living in Asia during the outbreak of Swine Flu brought the fragility of the infrastructure I was living in to the forefront of my attention and garnered in me an appreciation for the self reliant upbringing my parents instilled in me and made all too frightening the prospect …


Three Letters Re: Homeschool for Less Than $30 a Year

James: We homeschool our three children and all of them have never been to a public or private school. I would like to add to the homeschool article.  It is possible to educate younger children for minimal amounts of money, but when they get older there are things to keep in mind.  Colleges have entrance requirements.  They require high school students to have completed certain classes such as advanced math and science subjects. Two foreign language classes are also required. My oldest is planning to start dual enrollment next school year.  She just had to take the SAT at a …


Economics and Investing:

This hardly comes as news to SurvivalBlog readers: The new black gold: U.S. farmland. (Thanks to R.C. for the link.) Bank of America: Show us your death certificate Doug Casey chimes in, over at Zero Hedge: Its A Dead-Man-Walking Economy Items from The Economatrix: Americans Asleep At The Wheel Driving Into Debt Slavery Bernanke Says Higher Energy Prices Constitute A Threat To The US Economy Existing U.S. Home Sales Hold Near Two-Year High. [But for a dose of reality, read this over at Zero Hedge: New Home Sales Make It 12 Out Of 14 Economic Misses. Thanks to reader Damon …


Odds ‘n Sods:

US intel: water a cause for war in coming decades    o o o Jonathan B. recommended a very useful piece of freeware called Do Not Track +    o o o My literary agent mentioned this: Dystopian Fiction Spiking in Popularity.    o o o Pamela B. sent a link to a New York Times interactive map that has been mentioned before in SurvivalBlog: Where to Live to Avoid a Natural Disaster. As you can see, the American Redoubt region has relatively few risks.    o o o This dream retreat has been mentioned before in SurvivalBlog: Luxury Home …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of …


Note from JWR:

Today we present two more entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


Horseback Riding for Children and Beginners – A Primer, by Elaine M.

Many children today are ill prepared to safely conduct themselves in a variety of natural settings. Watching all the parents around me twist themselves into knots dropping off and picking up their children, running them constantly to practices and clubs and using all their vacation days to be with the precious children on every field trip, it is apparent that wrapping children in steel wool is still strongly favored. The world is a harsh place and many of these children are ill prepared for a really bad situation. Older but still useful skills can encourage independence in a child and …


Homeschool for Less Than $30 a Year, by Kathryn T.

It’s that time again.  Spring, you say?  No, it’s curriculum sale time!  Every spring, homeschooling support groups used book sales and homeschool conventions sprout like tulips.  March, April, and May are the season for planning and obtaining next year’s curricula. If you have considered homeschooling as an educational alternative for your children or would like to stockpile educational materials for potential hard times ahead (whether or not you homeschool currently), now is the time to be looking.  Homeschooling does not need to be expensive to be effective.  In fact, it is possible to home educate well for under $30 per …