Year: 2012

Economics and Investing:

Steve W. mentioned a Numismaster article about nickels. Although it is presently illegal, it almost inevitable that following a debasement that the law willl change, and there will be large scale nickel melting. Do I detect a hint of panic? IMF Calls on Euro Authorities to Stand Behind Deposit Insurance. (Thanks to Rhonda T. for the link.) Quantitative Easing: QE3 Is Coming and Here’s How To Prepare 12 Signs Showing The Next Recession In The U.S. Is Underway Items from The Economatrix: This Is The Government:  Your Legal Right to Redeem Your Money Market Account Has Been Denied Why the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Tin Can” sent an article about someone who earns demerits for judgment but bonus points for creativity: Camouflaged Residence Discovered in California Park. It was interesting to read that growing dope in California is now a crime only if it is done “without a permit.” (For cultivation of medical marijuana.) It should be mentioned that this man is just one of many in a long succession. Back in 2009 I mentioned in SurvivalBlog a father and daugher who had secret residence in a Portland, Oregon park, and a news story about a hermit who secretly lived for at least …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases in which the whole people of an existing government may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people, that can, may revolutionize, and make their own of so much of the territory as they inhabit." – Abraham Lincoln, in an …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 41 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for …


Safe Drinking Water, by Lloyd T.

We all know that three days without water and we are incapacitated and nearing death.  We all know that water from streams, lakes, ponds and rivers if consumed “raw” can lead to parasitic infection.   We also know that those same sources may be polluted with pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, and a host of other contaminants.  These can lead to sickness and to death.  If you find yourself in a situation where it is drink or die, then drink of course and hope for the best, right?   In a worst case scenario that might be the only choice you have, and …


Self Defense Without Firearms, by Daniel W.

Now I know y’all like your guns, and that’s fine. I like mine too. I once heard someone say, “If you don’t have gold and silver you’re doomed.” Now these two things are also very important, but I question how this man planned to defend his precious metals without a well-stocked armory. As Mr. Rawles himself has said, guns are tools much like those found in a carpenter’s tool box. Each fills a different role. But although guns are good at a great many different things, there are some roles which are difficult for them to fill. For instance, here …


Letter Re: Long Term Public Employee Pension Obligations

Dear Editor: First off, as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, a Senior Patrol Agent in the United States Border Patrol, I am getting tired of being vilified by the media and American public for picking a career that has a somewhat decent retirement system. I’m tired of my Union being vilified. In fact, I’m just tired of being vilified in general. It seems like most people are just suffering from sour grapes for not having picked a career that has a somewhat decent retirement system. Why should we be punished for taking a job that offered this retirement? Shouldn’t this …


Letter Re: Some Experiences With Handling Trash

James: I have some thoughts on the article regarding the disposal of trash.  It was interesting and thought provoking, however I think in a situation where services were not going to come back you would find that that amount of rubbish you generate would be quite small. You would not be bringing more “stuff” into the house as you would not be shopping and anything you did already have you would recycle as there would be no chance of getting those storage jars etc any longer.  So all those tins, jars containers etc would eventually be used in one way …


Economics and Investing:

Rhonda T. suggested a New York Times slideshow on Stockton, California’s bankruptcy. Steven M. sent: Subterranean Swiss Hotel Sells for Shocking Price. “In what may be the deal of the century, a lucky buyer paid just $1,020 at auction for a luxury underground hotel in Switzerland worth an estimated $3.8 million. However, keep in mind, it IS a former artillery bunker.” G.G. sent this: Regulators close five small banks in Georgia, Florida, Kansas, Illinois for total of 38 US failures in 2012   Items from The Economatrix: One-On-One With Craig Roberts #2:  Libor Fraud Now Part Of The System S&P …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Bryan E. recommended this for all the techies out there: Raspberry Pi    o o o O Kwame, Where Art Thou? Plan to Raze Detroit Empty Homes in Final Stages. FWIW, there is fine agricultural soil under all that urban blight. Perhaps someday Detroit will have a future as a farm town.    o o o Some good commentary over at Off Grid Survival: Anti-Gun Groups use Tragedy in Colorado to Push Gun Control Agendas. Of course, the statists won’t mention the fact that the movie theater chain banned concealed carry in their theaters. Once again, a mass murderer picked …



Notes from JWR:

On July 21, 1899 Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He was a great writer, but his personal life was a shambles. It ended with his suicide in 1961. Enjoy his books. Learn from his mistakes. — Today we present another two entries for Round 41 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 …


Developing Intelligence Information on Your Subdivision, by F.J.

During my years in the military, I spent most of my time in the military intelligence field.  Though I was specifically trained in signals intelligence, I learned to utilize a number of sources in producing intelligence products for my command.  The tactics that I learned both in individual training as well as on-the-job are applicable to a number of applications, including preparing yourself and your family for emergency situations.  In my years of reading “alternative” message boards and blog posts, I noticed that most people in the prepper community either live in a rural community or have a desire to …


Preparedness Essentials, by F.M.H.

I found myself in a rather uncomfortable and vulnerable position. Hurricane Frederic hit Mobile, Alabama in September 1979. I thought it was going to be exciting. In fact several friends of mine had a party the night before Frederic made landfall. There was no preparation made on my part for this hurricane. I had no anxiety and could have cared less. At the time I didn’t even have a gun. I had barely a quarter of a tank of gas in my car. I did not have a battery operated radio or a flashlight. There was very little non-perishable food …


Letter Re: Long Term Public Employee Pension Obligations

Sir: Bob G. wrote on July 19th regarding pension obligations for retired government workers.  The implication seemed to be that they are excessively generous and should be cut.  I am a retired teacher and a taxpayer, so I have two dogs in this fight.  As a taxpayer, I want to hold the line on government spending.  As a retiree, I depend on the money I was promised for my livelihood. Pensions are a contractual obligation backed by the ‘full faith and credit’ of government.  If government had properly funded the liability in the first place, the money to pay pensions would be there today.  …