Month: January 2017

Letter Re: Hurricane Preparedness

HJL,That was a great article about his experience and some practical advice [for hurricane preparedness]. For those interested in a possible simpler solution a product named “Generlink” at www.generlink.com is available. It is a collar that fits behind your meter at the power pole, and it allows you to control your power usage through your current breaker panel. The only cord needed is between the Generlink collar and the generator. As long as the power pole where your meter is located is intact and you have underground wiring to the house, you should be okay. It’s worth a look. – …


Economics and Investing:

Student Debt Payback Far Worse Than Believed – G.G. o o o Nobel Prize winner says US should “get rid of currency” – DSV o o o How To Tell If Gold’s Rally Is For Real o o o Dollar dips on less-hawkish Yellen, awaits Trump inauguration o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

On this inaugural day, a parting gift for Obama: Video – Time To Say Goodbye (parody) – D.S. o o o Following up on the Veritas videos posted a couple of days ago: After Exposé, Anarchist Group Scales Back Plans to Blockade Roads, Disrupt Inauguration – BMM o o o Thinking that building your retreat is beyond your grasp? – Single mom builds 3,500-square-foot home by watching YouTube tutorials – H.L. o o o For those that live in places like Kalifornia or other anti-gun locations: How to Turn 12 Everyday Items Into Improvised Weapons – H.L. (HJL’s Comment: Good …



Notes for Thursday – January 19, 2017

January 19th is the birthday of the late Carla Emery (born 1939, died October 11, 2005). She is well known in self-sufficency circles as the author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living. (This book re-released in a 40th Anniversary edition.) o o o Seed for Security is having a sale with 20% off of their Super Survival Pack. This Pack includes 4 lbs. of survival seeds and 2 pints of healthful grains. All of their seed is heirloom, non GMO, and none is hybrid. Their 4 page detailed Seed Saving Guide is included. They are also including 6 metallized Polybags …


Hurricane Preparedness Experience- Part 2, by N.K.

I had drinking water because my subdivision was on the county water system which never went down, nor was there any boil water alert for our area. Part of the reason for this was the emergency planning done by county government to ensure water got delivered at full volume and pressure to fire hydrants during weather emergencies, and there’s backup power for pumps to accomplish this. Since hydrants and houses are on the same system, we coasted on local government’s emergency preps. Life and planning really is different in hurricane country. If water ran short, I had some options. Half …


Letter Re: Seeking Silver Half Dollars

Hugh, Yes, this is true. Most banks do not have any halves on hand. It’s been a few years since they have even been minted for circulation. Ordering a box of $500 is the minimum, and they will expect you to take the box. Some banks even have $1000 min to order. Some banks do not want to be bothered at all. Most likely a bank that you [regularly] bank with will order them, and then you have to dispose [of them]! The bank you order them from will not want them back. Maybe the first time, but not thereafter. …


Economics and Investing:

Conference Video: The Gold/Silver Ratio – Mike Maloney & David Morgan o o o It is noteworthy that President DJT has gone on record as stating that the U.S. Dollar is “too strong” and therefore “hurting exports”. So it is safe to assume that he will pursue weaker Dollar policies. The prospect of these policies is already showing influence in the FOREX market. Be ready for an interest rate crisis and then a Dollar crisis, folks! Hedge into silver, and perhaps a bit into Swiss Francs. The easiest way to do that is to convert most of any lingering positive …


Odds ‘n Sods:

An observation: As of January 3rd of last year, The Oregonian newspaper estimated that there were “20 to 25” Bundy-led occupiers spending nights at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Also in early January, 2016, I heard the figure of 22 individuals, provided by a vlogger who had visited the encampment to conduct interviews. In recent months Gary Hunt’s website has publicized the fact that at least SEVEN of those individuals were contemporaneously active Federal informants. He has named all seven of them, quoting court discovery documents. The ratio of 7 to 22 does not bode well for the Patriot movement. Clearly, …



Notes for Wednesday – January 18, 2017

Kevin Costner, who starred in Open Range, was born on this day in 1955. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 68 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s …


Hurricane Preparedness Experience- Part 1, by N.K.

S.G.’s recent observations about living through hurricane Matthew is well presented information. If I may, I’d like to contribute my experiences with hurricanes Charlie, Frances, and Jean in Central Florida during 2004. Charlie made landfall in southwest Florida the afternoon of Friday August 13, 2004, coming ashore at Punta Gorda in Charlotte Bay as a strong category 4 with 145 mph winds. After devastating that area, it rapidly traveled diagonally across the state eventually impacting Kissimmee and Orlando in Central Florida before heading up the Atlantic coast. Orlando International Airport recorded winds of 105-110 mph, just below the 111 mph …


Letter Re: Seeking Silver Half Dollars

JWR, I have now asked for rolls of $0.50 pieces at two branches of my own bank (in the greater KC area) and one branch of a bank I do not use. All three of them could not produce a single roll. The second branch of my own bank whined about how “they would have to buy a box of 1,000 to get a roll, and they just can’t do this”. So much for culling silver halves. – DAB HJL’s Comment: This is not an unusual occurrence, especially in smaller banks. You may have to actually visit a large bank …


Economics and Investing:

Silver Will Be Too Valuable To Waste As Money – Interview with Bix Weir o o o BIG MOVEMENT AHEAD IN THE SILVER MARKET… Serious Trouble In Paper Markets o o o Social Security has a looming $11 trillion shortfall – B.B. o o o Video: The Dollar is Headed Down. Everybody is going to be caught on the wrong side of this market ad sentiment is excessively bullish. The dollar is going to be due for a three year cycle low sometime in 2017. o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please …


Readers’ Recommendations of the Week:

Reader C.T. sent in this recommendation: I highly recommend The Earthling as a DVD worth watching and owning. It’s a great job of acting by William Holden and Ricky Schroder. A dying man must teach a young kid to survive before the man dies in the Australian wilds. These two actors are the only ones on screen for 75% of the movie. The movie has many object lessons on surviving on your own. o o o SurvivalBlog reader SMW sent in a recommendation for The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz. This is a true story written in the first person …