Year: 2017


Notes for Wednesday – April 12, 2017

April 12th is the birthday of the late novelist Tom Clancy. (Born 1947, died October 1, 2013). It was Clancy who almost single-handedly created the modern techno-thriller genre. Coincidentally, Tom Clancy’s first literary agent was my agent, Robert Gottlieb. – JWR o o o SurvivalBlog would like to wish all of those who celebrated Passover and are beginning the Feast of Unleavened Bread a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and family as you keep God’s appointed times. May your cup overflow with happiness, peace, and prosperity!


March in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

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Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, by Steven Cochran of Gainseville Coins, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers. What Did Gold Do in March? Gold started March on pretty good footing, having gained over 3% in February. However, better than expected economic data in the early part of the month soon sent the dollar and stocks soaring and gold falling below $1200 an ounce on expectations that the Fed would certainly hike interest …


Letter Re: The Human-Powered Veggie Garden, by J.A.

Hugh, I would offer these suggestions to enhance the ease of preparation of the garden area. First, double digging the ground is a tried and true method, but it can be labor intensive. This can present a challenge to older persons or anyone with physical limitations. An alternative would be to use the layered or “lasagna” approach to change the sod into a garden. The book Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza covers this in detail, but a brief summary is to cover the grass with wet newspapers or cardboard and then build up layers of compostable material, allowing enough time …


Economics and Investing:

An uncomfortable conversation on a plane ride: How to cut your taxes no matter what your situation o o o Is Another Bust Looming Over The Oil Industry? Global demand growth has been slowing over the last decades, which could spell trouble in the coming years if the oil industry does not plan for the change. o o o War on Cash: ECB, EU on collision course with Germany – DSV o o o Toshiba Warns Westinghouse Nuclear Losses Jeopardize Its Future. “The disclosure came Tuesday as the Tokyo-based company took the unusual step of reporting third quarter earnings without …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: A well-written book was just recently released aimed at prepping newbies: Self-Sufficient Home, by Nancy Hoffman. (It’s not recommended for advanced preppers, but it’s a great one to hand to your newbie neighbors and friends.) The Edgemaster’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing, Using, and Maintaining Fixed-Blade and Folding Knives (I haven’t yet read this book, but it was written by Len McDougall, who authored the highly-rated book The Self-Suffcient Manifesto, so I can safely assume that this new one is well-written.) Movies: London Has Fallen (This movie has a high quotient for “suspension of disbelief”, but it is …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I noticed that the NAPA Auto Parts chain stores are having a “Spring Filters Sale” from April 9th to 22nd, 2017. Some filters sold under the NAPA Filters label are priced at discounts as deep as 60% off. This is s good chance to stock up on oil and fuel filters. If you buy any for use as, ahem, “solvent traps”, then be sure to pay in cash, so that you don’t leave a paper trail. o o o ‘Ol Remus recommended this thought-provoking essay by Bill Buppert: T.E. Lawrence and the Coming American Civil War o o o Thank …



Notes for Tuesday – April 11, 2017

April 11th is the birthday of John Milius, who was born in 1944. He both wrote the screenplays and directed the films Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Big Wednesday, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Farewell to the King, and Flight of the Intruder. He also wrote the screenplays of the first two Dirty Harry movies as well as the first draft of the screenplay for Patton (before Francis Ford Coppola turned it into a vaguely anti-war commentary laced with references to reincarnation). Milius is JWR’s favorite Hollywood writer and director, in part because he stands for everything that Hollywood …


Cache and Carry, by Highlander

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Like many of you, I consider having buried caches a critical part of being prepared. However, I don’t have the land or finances necessary to bury multiple 55-gallon drums full of food, guns, and ammo miles from my house, and in a time-sensitive situation spending an hour or two digging up a huge cache may not be possible. I’m not saying that larger caches are a bad idea (I have a few spread around), but like all of my other preparations, having a multi-layered approach makes the most sense for me. I live in a rural-suburban area, with 1-2 acre …


Letters Re: The Human-Powered Veggie Garden

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HJL, Try straw bale gardening. It’s a lot less work and very productive. I had more tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers than I could handle in my first season. It also takes up less space and saves the back pain of bending over so far or kneeling to weed or trim et cetera. You can garden on your patio or roof, or just about anywhere. I’m 68, and I’ll never use another method of gardening. Note! Use straw bales, not hay! – GSS o o o HJL, Respectfully, double digging is a bad idea. It will destroy the soil structure. It …


News From The American Redoubt:

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The Australian press reports: People are flocking to a region of America so they can survive the end of the world. JWR’s Comments: Although I spent nearly an hour on the phone with Australian journalist Matt Young fully describing the American Redoubt concept and the various threats to modern society, he put together a scattered article with a mish-mash of old and new quotes from me (some of them out of context) and a video link to what was one of the most poorly-prepared and antagonistic interviews that I’ve ever endured, with the late liberal American journalist Alan Colmes. (Colmes, …


Economics and Investing:

The U.S. Rig Count Is An Over-Rated Indicator Of Future Oil Prices. There are many other forces at play in global oil markets other than how a rising U.S. rig count and allegedly massive advances in rig productivity will suppress oil prices forever. o o o Cash Is Dead. Long Live Cash. The push to end hard-currency payments in favor of digital ones keeps hitting speed bumps – P.S. o o o U.S. Gold Bullion Exports To Hong Kong Surge, 82% Of Total Shipments o o o IMF Plan to Force a Cashless Society On World Unfolding – Here’s How …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Investing in precious metal – Soviet T54 Armor with installed Gold Bullion: Tank collector shocked to find £2million gold bullion hidden in the fuel compartment of his £30,000 vehicle – T.P. o o o Sweeping Iowa Gun Bill Up For Gov. Approval – P.M. o o o 13 Foods You Can Buy Once & Regrow Forever – Most gardners are aware of these easy to grow plants, but those just starting out may want to take note. – DSV o o o More evidence that Islam is not a peaceful religion, but harbors too many fanatics and they are a …