Letter Re: Stockpiling Coins for Future Currency Exchanges

Jim: We’ve previously discussed in SurvivalBlog that coins are usually untouched by a nation during remonetization, meaning a significant recovery in purchase value after such event. What is the likelihood the US would keep the dollar coins in circulation, given their low regard by most consumers?  This would mean the coins would avoid remonetization, be worth a “new” dollar each, offering a significant advantage. The Fed’s only real options would seem to be to attempt to collect them all, or issue notices of their reduction in value/expiration as legal tender.  Neither sounds like something they’d want to do. – Michael …


Two Letters Re: Ammunition Storage and Do-It-Yourself Desiccants

Hi Jim,   I wanted to share with others of how I make my own desiccant packs. Go to a craft store like Michaels and in the flower department you can buy a box of silica gel that is used for drying flowers. I then get a box of family sized tea bags (these are twice the size of regular tea bags but any size will work) Use needle nose pliers to remove the staple that holds on the little piece of cardboard used to squeeze the bags, empty out the tea and use a spoon to now fill the …


Economics and Investing:

Silver and gold certainly had a solid trading week. When I last checked, spot gold was at $1,475.10 per ounce (an all-time high) and silver at $40.93 per ounce! Silver has advanced almost $25 per ounce in the past 12 months and it was $26.75 per ounce as recently as January. In Housing Market’s Suspenseful Story, the Tell-Tale Stat is Inventory Paul Tustain: Gold Is Sending A Signal That The Monetary System Is In Grave Danger. (Thanks to John R. for the link.) US Dollar Breaks – LOWER, (Again, 72 is the magic number to watch for on the US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ol’ Remus posted an insightful analysis of my American Redoubt proposal.    o o o STRATFOR reports: How to Tell if Your Neighbor is a Bombmaker. (Thanks to Flying Mike for the link.)    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) sent us this: Swedish couple have honeymoon from h*ll. “A newly-wed couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by six natural disasters, including the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami.” (This news story serve as a reminder that travelers should always carry a few key preparedness items. Just be careful of what is packed in …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 …


Predator-Proofing Your Property, by John L.

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It was a morning in January, 2007 here in the Northern Rockies, a place far removed from what most folks call civilization. My wife, children, and I had lived here for thirteen years since escaping the now people-overwhelmed State of Colorado. We had searched for “The Last Best Place”, and to us, there was no difference between the State of Idaho and the State of Montana where that alluring slogan comes from. The “Last Best Place” isn’t actually defined by some line on a map; rather, it’s where you have chosen to be and living in a place that fits …


Three Letters Re: #10 Cans for Ammunition Storage

Hi Jim,   For some time now, I’ve been using spare food-grade oxygen absorbers with my long-term ammo storage in regular ammo cans. I keep a regular supply of O2 absorbers in a Mason Jar that I re-vacuum each time with the now famous Alvin Vacuum sealer / Tilia Mason Jar Adaptor.   Being able to stack ammo cans is also good. Seeing the sides of the cans squeeze towards the center (and hard to re-open): Priceless. This is one of the reasons why 5.45x39mm Russian is my favorite MBR round: The surplus Soviet ammo is already delivered that way! …


Economics and Investing:

James C. sent this: The Countdown Has Begun for the Eurozone Breakup J.B.G. spotted a great piece that quotes John E. Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo: US Going Same Route as Greece, Portugal: Economist Malls Face Surge in Vacancies (Highest rate in 11 years.) Raymond V. sent this: Congress Faces $2 Trillion-Plus Debt Decision Items from The Economatrix: World Economy Facing Numerous “Black Swans”, Says IMF US Jobs Report:  Take This Job And Shove It Silver Hits 31-Year High As Demand Increases Up To Our Eyes (The Mogambo Guru) Oil Settles Higher, Tops $109 On Nymex Unemployment Falls In …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I was just included in CNBC’s list of “Most notorious doomsday prophets and cults”. When I was interviewed by CNBC about the 2012 craze I emphasized that I don’t believe that “2012” has any significance, yet they included me in their list alongside Jim Jones and David Koresh. Rest assured that I’m not in the Kool-Aid dispensing crowd. Oh well, Notorious Doomsday Prophet has a nice ring to it. I’ll add it to my resume.    o o o Deidre recommended the digital archives at Duke University as a free resource. They have lots of interesting publications, like this one: …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“All the prophets of doom Can always find room In a world full of worry and fear Tips, cigarettes, And chemistry sets And Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer So I’m goin’ back To my little ol’ shack And drink me a bottle of wine That was mis en bouteille Before my birthday And have me a fantastic time! Rain on a tin roof sounds like a drum We’re marchin’ for freedom today … hey! Turn on your headlights and sound your horn If people get in the way” – Excerpted lyrics from The “Protest Song” parody of Bob Dylan.


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 …


Buying In Bulk–What We Have Learned, by J.S.P.

This article is to share what we have learned in our attempt to leverage our food preps by buying commercially and in bulk with Survival Blog readers. What works in our part of the world may not be reality in your location but I hope what we have learned will be of value to some readers. To begin with, one of our favorite places to buy in quantitative is “cash and carry” stores. Cash and carry stores were originally set up by large food distribution firms that allowed businesses such as restaurants, bars, smaller retail stores, schools, etc to come …


Letter Re: #10 Cans for Ammunition Storage

Mr. Rawles,   I have searched your site and others for detailed information on long term storage using sealed #10 cans.  Are there any drawbacks?  I can buy cans from the LDS cannery for around 1.00 a piece, which is much cheaper, by volume, than regular ammunition cans.  Any information you or your readers could provided would be greatly appreciated. – John S. JWR Replies: The #10 steel can is awesome! For food storage, they don’t suffer from the gradual oxygen transmission (permeability) weakness of HDPE buckets. For ammo storage, they work nearly as well as military surplus ammo cans. But …


Letter Re: The Forest’s Sweetener–How to Make Maple Syrup

Mr. Rawles: I’m certainly not an expert and do not claim to be, but you can tap and produce syrup from a number of deciduous trees.  Anecdotally, I have a Métis friend who learned to tap poplars from her grandmother, and hickory syrup is now considered “gourmet”. Birch syrup, or rather the ‘tonic’ or straight spring sap, has been a spring tonic in northern Europe.  These resources are not to be overlooked by the people who want to be food independent, especially after a hard winter without any fresh vegetables.  So if you’ve got a big stand of poplar on …