Economics and Investing:

Hi-yo silver! Typically, the precious metals are in their summer doldrums in July and August. but not this year. This coming Autumn could get very interesting, depending on financial developments on the periphery of Europe. All eyes are presently on Greece, but Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Iceland will probably soon be in the headlines again. I wouldn’t be surprised if silver gets above $55 per ounce. Its a good thing that most SurvivalBlog readers have been buying on the dips. Reggie Middleton warns, over at Zero Hedge: Eighteen Percent of the EU is Literally Junk, Carried as Risk Free …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Health experts warn of new tick-borne threat. (Thanks to Rick for the link.)    o o o Loyal reader R.B.S. sent this: Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate and Eat It    o o o One of my consulting clients took my advice and transitioned from using clunky cigarette lighter plugs to 30 Amp Anderson Power Pole genderless connectors. He showed me a large assortment of cable and terminal adapters, splitters, and and terminal blocks–all with Power Pole connectors. He had recently ordered these from a very reliable company called West Mountain Radio, in Wisconsin. Most of …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


Planning for Multi Family Cohabitation, by J.B. in Idaho

There are many situations where multiple families may need to live together under one roof.  These can range from retreats for a SHTF scenario, economics such as job loss, ill health of an older family member, to a multi-family vacation.   Recently, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Mexico with my husband’s family where a total of seventeen people shared one house.  In addition to sharing the house, a city-wide water shut-off occurred for three days.  Also, I spent the last seven months sharing my home with a parent that had health problems and did not have means …


Letter Re: Dollar Collapse, Deflation, Inflation, and Consumer Debt

Jim: I have a question and would like your opinion on a question that relates to your recent article, The New Century: An Era of Upright Spikes.  I have also read countless other articles and watched interviews/videos from ‘experts’ that all have the same general consensus: Our economy, as well as the globe, is either going to collapse or get significantly worse. My question; I am curious if there is any way to tell how long we have to prepare for WTSHTF of TEOTWAWKI?  My reasoning; I want my family (currently my wife and I along with two dogs) and …


Letter Re: Ohio’s 31+ Round Magazine Ban Insanity

Hi Jim, I was just re-reading your tangibles investing article linked in today’s blog.  Please let your readers know that even though preemption is the rule for the Ohio cities that had previously banned standard capacity magazines; Ohio has a very unusual state [felony] law: Any magazine 31 rounds and larger is classified as a “automatic firearm”. This may sound crazy but it is true.  So don’t add 40 or 50 round magazines or 100 round drums to your gun collection in Ohio. Under Title 29 of the Ohio Code: “(E) “Automatic firearm” means any firearm designed or specially adapted …


Letter Re: Some Advice on Tangibles Investing

After first picking up your book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” on a whim, SurvivalBlog.com has definitely changed a lot about how I live my life, particularly in how I choose to spend money.  As a prospective medical student, I can’t buy a retreat property and set it up the way I should (however much I want to).  However, there are many things I have found I can do.  After reading The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason years ago at the encouragement of my Dad, I started to set aside 10% of what …


Two Letters Re: Observations From Fence Building

JWR, I’m a fan of your books and blog reader… in a recent guest post,  Observations From Fence Building, by Mudflap, however, the author stated something that is practically true when exercised with common sense, but is factually incorrect and potentially dangerous. The author stated flatly that: “You cannot drink too much water.  As long as you can freely urinate, keep drinking water.  Don’t keep track of how much water you are downing.” When the contrary is quite true – water intoxication, and hypnotremia could occur – in addition, gross excess of water in your system can trigger a reflex …


Economics and Investing:

F.G. flagged this: How bad is it? Pawn shops, payday lenders are hot At The Daily Bell: Ron Holland on the Inevitability of Societal Chaos, How the Elites Will Try to Maintain Control Hardy’s hearty recommendation: The Decline and Fall of the American Empire John R. liked this piece by Mary Beth White: Stupid Choices Equal Bankruptcy (Usually) Pennsylvania family fights US over rare 1933 gold coins. JWR’s Common Sense Tip of The Day: Don’t ever send anything rare and valuable to a bureaucrat, asking for a determination on its legal status. You’re likely to get: “We’s keepin’ this” for …


Odds ‘n Sods:

If they can’t do it through legislation, then they’ll use Executive Orders: Gun Stores in Border States Must Report Multiple Sales. When you consider the Gun Walker scandal, you can see that Barack Hussein Obama and his minions have used the Hegelian Dialectic masterfully.    o o o Marilyn R. suggested: The Eighth Commandment: Why You Can’t Steal Land From Ayn Rand    o o o Joe Ordinary Voortrekker sent us a link to an interesting global network of alternative currency groups.    o o o I heard about a company that makes wind turbines with primarily American-made components: Missouri …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


Observations From Fence Building, by Mudflap

Over the past two months, my father and I have been refurbishing the barbed wire fence going around and thru a quarter section of excellent hunting, fishing and recreational land.  We lease the land and run cattle (steers) on it.  My father is a long time rancher and I am looking to learn the trade as part of my plans to better prepare for a rocky economical future in this county. Refurbishing the fence is part of the lease agreement.  That is “sweat equity” if I ever saw it.  The temperatures have been well into the triple digits with humidity, …


Product Review: Mainstay Emergency Rations and Water by Michael Z. Williamson

It’s a good idea to have an emergency food supply in one’s bug out bag, but it needs to be something that doesn’t decay, leak or spoil, and has a good shelf life in possibly extreme conditions.  Enter the Mainstay rations.  They’re made by Survivor Industries and packed in what feels like a heavy mylar-lined foil, rated for five years, and can withstands temperatures of -40° F to 300°F (-40°C to 149°C).  They meet USCG and DoD standards for packaging.  They’re in convenient 400 calorie bars, each constituting a meal, which make management easy, and eliminate trying to break them …