Economics and Investing:

Latched on to the Federal teat: A First in American History: 2011 Federal Aid Set to Overwhelm State General Funds. This is the master stroke of Federal statism. If the 50 states get more than half of their revenue from the Federal government, there is no way that they can forcefully insist on 10 Amendment rights. The U.S. Mint has set April 4th as the deadline for public comment on new metallic compositions for U.S. coins. Clearly, the days are numbered for U.S. 5 cent pieces (“Nickels”) that are 25% nickel and 75% copper. Stock up! Pierre M. mentioned this …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Deep Shallow Schumer Schemes: Schumer coordinates Democrat budget attack on GOP    o o o Nanny State Europa: EU to Ban Gas-Powered Cars in Cities by 2050. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Steve S. sent a link to this fun video: John Moses Browning Model 1911 — 100th Anniversary    o o o Yet another reason to relocate to the boonies, from this blog post: Farmstand Canceled Due to… the City of Oakland. A $2,500 conditional use permit, just to grow a big garden?    o o o Sam K. found a fascinating pair of …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 33 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 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Seven Common TEOTWAWKI Misconceptions, by Brian T.

Predictions are like, well, you know what, everybody has at least one.  Many or most predictions made are wrong and the content here is no exception.  I am not a modern day Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone but I have spent a few days in the woods, and hopefully after reading this you will not think I am still lost in them.  I did not fight in any war but had my share of the military experience and the same can be said for law enforcement.  I never bugged out but did backpack and still am a gym rat who …


Beware of Homeland Security Training for Local Law Enforcement, by An Insider

I’ve been in law enforcement for the past 18 years.  I have attended a variety of training over those years.  During the 1990s, most training I attended was community-oriented, sponsored by local agencies or private companies specializing in police training.  Themes common to training of the past included topics such as Constitutional rights, community partnerships, youth-oriented programs and problem-oriented policing. During the past several years, I have witnessed a dramatic shift in the focus of law enforcement training.  Law enforcement courses have moved away from a local community focus to a federally dominated model of complete social control.  Most training …


Letter Re: Advice of Eastern Oregon

Mr Rawles,   I am very glad to hear your facts, comments and Godly encouragement and read the many articles on your site regularly. Thank you for standing in the gap and for your ministry in general.   Would you help us understand your reasoning for recommending eastern Oregon? My husband and I have looked and looked at eastern Oregon to move to or at least buy a piece of land to relocate to in a G.O.O.D. “bad to worse” scenario. We currently are on the liberal side of the Cascades in Oregon because of my husband’s work. The problem …


Economics and Investing:

Food Inflation Kept Hidden in Tinier Bags. “As an expected increase in the cost of raw materials looms for late summer, consumers are beginning to encounter shrinking food packages.” (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) Yuri L. suggested this, over at Frugal Dad: Nine Ways to Prepare for Food Inflation Reader Tony B. sent this: No One Cries for Argentina Embracing 25% Inflation as Fernandez Leads Boom Wow That Was Fast! Libyan Rebels Have Already Established A New Central Bank Of Libya Items from The Economatrix: Gerald Celente & Lew Rockwell:  Gold, Guns and Getaway Plans   Salivating at the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Until midnight on March 31st, Lulu.com is offering a 20% off sale, for any product. That includes the 2005-2010 SurvivalBlog Archive CD-ROM! So if you’ve been delaying, here is your chance to save a couple of bucks. Order now! To get the 20% discount, enter coupon code “SPLISH305“, during checkout.    o o o M.E.W. suggested this from the left-of-center Mother Jones magazine: Survivalist GOP Rep.: You Should Probably Avoid Cities. (Republican congressman Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland shows off his preps.)    o o o Pierre M. sent this: The Bronx Zoo’s Statement About the Missing Cobra, with Sentences Reordered …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 33 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 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Strategic Relocation in Australia, by The Former South Aussteyralian

I’ve had great difficulty figuring out how to approach writing this submission. Initial versions came out a bit prideful and preachy. In the end it’s usually best just to stick to the facts. So here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ll let you interpret it yourself. Please note that this submission comes to you from Australia, so (as y’all say) “your own mileage may vary”. Furthermore, I understand that this is not a survival “silver bullet”. It is intended as a temporary solution for those of us doing the best we can with what we’ve got. Roughly 36 …


Musings From a Novice Gardener, by Mike in Western Pennsylvania

Last year I planted my first home garden in my adult life. I am 46 years old and grew up most of my years in suburban America so I had little experience with the nuts and bolts of a family garden but I did spend twenty years in the Marine Corps so I do have a level of self-sufficiency that I garnered over the past 20 years during my service in the Marines. I will also add that my Dad did a little family gardening in the 1960s and 1970s but by the 1980s we were a complete suburban family …


Precious Metals–When to Begin Reducing Your Holdings

I often get e-mails and letters from readers about precious metals, and most of them are wrong. Many of them were about silver: In 2001, when I formally called the bottom, for silver, I got taunting letters. Those naysayers claimed that silver was heading down further, perhaps to $3 per ounce. In 2005, I started getting whining “I missed the boat” letters. That was when the silver bull was still just a calf. People have continued whining, ever since. In 2008, when silver was $9.80 per ounce, I got my first “this is the top for silver” letter. I’m still …


Economics and Investing:

Do you remember my warnings about “creative” ways that legislators might find to solve budget crises? Brace yourselves. CBO: Taxing mileage a ‘practical option’ for revenue enhancement. (A hat tip to J.H.B. for the link.) My cousin in England sent this: Proof That Gold Is Not a Bubble Gonzalo Lira: How Likely is QE-Three? (Lira thinks either that there will soon be be either more monetization or seizure of IRAs and 401(k)s. G.G. flagged this: Morning Note: Gold Replacing Dollar as World’s Reserve Currency? Also from G.G.: Buffett Warns: The Dollar Will Decline Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Falter Despite …