Economics and Investing:

Five Bullish Indicators That Will Drive Silver Prices Higher Andre recommended this photo collection: Modern Ruins of Abandoned Detroit. (Quite sobering, and hopefully not a preview of the demise of America’s other large cities.) Items from The Economatrix: Another Government Shutdown In Sight? Five Trends Beneath The Surface In Nov. Jobs Report Depreciating Cars And Expensive Diplomas Fueled By Easy Debt: 95 Percent Of Consumer Debt Growth In Past 12 Months From Cars And Student Loans




Odds ‘n Sods:

Many blog readers will recognize this locale from my novel Survivors: Farmington Police Department buys armored military fighting vehicle . (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o J.B.G. sent: Imagine America Without Los Angeles’: Expert Warns Southern California Isn’t Ready For Major Quake    o o o Bob G. suggested a video by Josie The Outlaw: Why Good People Should Be Armed    o o o The first edition of the  Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) has been released.  It is available as a PDF on the OEC web site. No printed copies are planned. The …







Notes from JWR:

Notes from JWR: Please pray for Mat Stein (our Backcountry Editor) and his wife Josie. She is nearing death, with cancer. Heaven awaits her. — Today is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. — Last day! Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until midnight tonight (December 13, 2013) with 25% to 42% off, free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand. — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ …




A Winter Storm After Action Report, by Emily in North Texas

The ice storm that hit north Texas this past Thursday was forecast at least four days in advance, if not longer, but when it hit  apparently just about everyone was taken by surprise.  Drivers on I-35 north of Denton were stuck for so long they eventually abandoned their cars and sought refuge in local churches.  There was talk of sending in the National Guard to rescue them before that.  These people had days of advance warning about the weather but chose to drive anyway.  (Many of them apparently on their way to a rap concert in Dallas.)  Imagine the conditions …




Economics and Investing:

James W. recommended this market analysis: Five Charts: The Real Story Behind Silver If you’ve ever wondered which charities are top-heavy, R.B.S. recommended this site: Charity Navigator. BTW, I was pleased to see that Compassion International (one of my favorite charities) was so highly rated. Items from The Economatrix: Billionaire Eric Sprott – The End Game Is Absolutely Horrifying Chart Of The Day: US Labor Force Declines By 25,000 In Past Year Despite 2.4 Million Rise In Employable Americans Washington Is Standing In The Way Of US Recovery




Odds ‘n Sods:

PrepperPress.com has just published R.P. Ruggiero’s sequel to his novel Brushfire Plague. This is the second book in a planned three part series, and it brings the total prize package they’re giving the Second Prize winner of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest to 25 books. The latest novel is Brushfire Plague: Reckoning.    o o o The FBI can secretly activate a computer’s webcam to spy on an individual without turning on the indicator light, a former official revealed to the Washington Post.    o o o Todd Savage with Survival Retreat Consulting has recently completed an evaluation on a …







Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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.) …




Bug Out: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly–You Can Arrive Alive, by Semper Paro

I.  Introduction – Possible Scenarios.   Your automobile becomes inoperable for a period of time while traveling – it is extremely hot or extremely cold and hours to wait. A natural disaster occurs and you have to evacuate. Chaos occurs due to financial collapse or other major event causing civil unrest. An Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) or Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) caused by solar flare(s) renders your vehicle dead miles from home. Or, an EMP occurs as a result of a nuclear strike (with collateral fall-out to follow). Use your imagination…in reality, nothing is too far fetched. While these are listed in …




Letter Re: The Dragon Day Movie

We just received our copy of the movie Dragon Day – a new movie that went direct to DVD.  The premise of the movie is that China comes to the USA to collect their debt, which we have defaulted on.  They take over all of our electronics and throw us back in time technologically 50 years.  Survivors find themselves fending off each other as well as the American traitors who quickly join forces with the Chinese – some in an attempt to just survive due to lack of food and water. For a small budget film it was excellent.  The …




Economics and Investing:

North Dakota might have the strongest labor market in the world, with a jobless rate in the Bakken of less than 0.50%. (Adjoining eastern Montana has also greatly benefited from the Bakken Boom.) Life in the Obama era: Private sector shrank in 41 states Dr. Marc Faber: “World Central Banks Are Going To Bankrupt The World!” Items from The Economatrix: More Americans Are Working, But Pay Is Low Prof:  America In Worse Fiscal Shape Than Detroit Low Wages Are Stalling America’s Economy




Odds ‘n Sods:

A reminder that Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until tomorrow (December 13, 2013) with 25% to 42% off free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand.    o o o Do you have an opinion on the introduction of Canadian timber wolves into the Lower 48 and removing wolves from the Endangered Species Act? Then please give Uncle Sam an earful! (The public comment deadline is December 17th.)    o o o Bill Buppert: Obama and the …







Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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.) …