Economics and Investing:

Reader Joe K. pointed me to piece by Lee Rogers that echoes something that I’ve been recommending for the past three years: Investment Of The Century: U.S. Minted Nickels. John Williams Eyes Gold as Insurance Against Hyper Inflation Armageddon Why Interest Rates Keep Rising, Despite QE2 Steve H. sent this: Smaller corn, soybean crops send prices surging Bailouts Postponed, But Can’t Prevent the “Greatest Depression,” Gerald Celente Says. (Thanks to J.D.D. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: UK:  Petrol Prices To Hit Six Pounds A Gallon   “Our Savings Have Vanished – We’ve Lost Everything”  EMU Debt Crisis Edges …


Inflation Watch:

Inflation Flies Up, Up, And Away   Downsized! More and More Products Lose Weight News from India: Onion prices make Mumbai investors teary-eyed. “Vegetable prices jumped 16% in the week to Dec. 25 from the preceding week and were up about 60% from the comparable week last year. Onion prices, meanwhile, soared 23% week-on-week and were up a staggering 82% from a year earlier.”   Super Big Gulp fan says 7-Eleven duping the public out of 4 ounces JPMorgan: Surging Food Prices Fueling Global Inflation


Odds ‘n Sods:

Atlanta Stores out of food?    o o o Update from Steve Quayle: Mountain House Food Alert, None Available, 92% Dealers Cut. Please patronize SurvivalBlog advertisers first!    o o o Reader T.H. invested some time and created a map of “Potential U.S. retreat locations by distance from cities”. Then #1 Son got busy and created a corresponding map of America’s Interstate highway system. I just posted both maps to my Recommended Retreat Areas web page. T.H. included a proviso: “Note that the areas 300 miles out are shaded green. I did not include any Canadian city data, so the …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Choosing Survival Group Partners, by C.G.

What kind of person are you and how does that relate to surviving the end of the world as we know it? I am far from completely prepared for TSHTF scenario but I am working hard on it.  I do a lot of reading and research on the subject and one of my toughest areas has been in finding other like minded individuals of which I would be able to trust in a post-TEOTWAWKI situation!  I never really realized how difficult this could be.  In my close circle of friends there is but one that is even close to being …


Letter Re: Advice on Privacy in Firearms Purchases

Hi Jim,   If I buy a handgun on AuctionArms.com and have it shipped to a FFL will the authorities know it is registered under my name?   Thank you,   – John G. JWR Replies: The following applies only to SurvivalBlog readers in the United States: Well, considering that by law, final delivery of a gun bought out of state means that you must fill out a Form 4473 that will be kept on file permanently with your dealer. Also, an Instant Background Check will be required. So, yes, you will leave a paper trail. (Although it isn’t “registration”, …


Letter Re: Archery Equipment for Those Living in Gun-Deprived Locales

Jim,   I just want to add a few comments on Archery as a means of self defense from someone who is no overwhelming expert on the subject, but has had a hand in Archery since childhood. So I put something together to assist those forced to use a bow in self defense. Bows can be swift, silent, accurate and deadly, and in the right circumstances, may be preferable to a firearm.   Let me state at the very beginning that shooting wooden arrows out of most modern compound bows should not be done and usually will result in the …


Economics and Investing:

Debt Default Fears Will Spread To US and Japan, Warns Citigroup   Deepening Crisis Traps America’s Have-Nots   Prepare for a Greek Default     Brett G. suggested this piece: JPMorgan’s Dimon: More Cities Will Go Bankrupt John R. liked this one: The New Financial World Order Evolves Further Also from John: Here’s That Big Citigroup Report On Why Absolutely No Sovereign Debt Is Safe Items from The Economatrix: How The Government Spins Unemployment (Paul Craig Roberts) Fed Prints Another $600 Billion to Keep US Recovery on Track   Oil Surges on Offshore Drilling Report   Housing Market Slips Into …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. sent this item of interest, from Popular Mechanics: Rise of the Preppers: Survivalists Get a Makeover Can disaster preparedness become a lifestyle without turning into survivalism?    o o o Magnetic Pole Shift May Close Airports    o o o Peter King’s silly gun ban idea. Beyond ludicrous… How can you create an exclusion zone that moves?    o o o Just as predicted: Here They Come For Your Money – Dozens of States Are Raising Taxes in 2011    o o o Sean B. sent us another testament to the protective value of “mass”: Credit Protection: Bouncer’s cards …



The California – Wyoming Travel Dictionary

Ray X., a SurvivalBlog reader in Wyoming has compiled a lexicon, with translations for Californians who are visiting Wyoming, or vice versa. Note: This doesn’t apply to conservatives who are fleeing California. (Since they already speak the language of Wyoming.) In California In Wyoming Diverse or Lifestyle Choice Sinful and Perverted Arsenal of Weapons Gun Collection Delicate Wetlands Swampland Undocumented Worker Illegal Alien Cruelty-Free Materials Synthetic Fiber Assault and Battery Attitude Adjustment Heavily Armed Well-protected Narrow-minded Righteous Taxes or Your Fair Share Coerced Theft Commonsense Gun Control Gun Confiscation Plot Illegal Hazardous Explosives Fireworks or Stump Removal Nonviable Tissue Mass …


Letter Re: Intestinal Parasites and Water Filtration

Hi James, I thought I would pass this one along: Intestinal Parasites May Be Causing Your Energy Slump. This article talks about intestinal parasites, many of which are found in our drinking water, and their effects on chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is one good reason for people to start using their Berkey filters on a regular basis and also start cleansing their bodies of these parasites. I have my filter in the closet, but after reading this I think I will put it on the counter and start using it to filter my tap water. I …


Letter Re: Mobile Fuel Storage System

James, Let me introduce your readers to propane and the many possibilities it offers your planning and TEOTWAWKI preps, that you will likely never have thought of before. Over the last number of years I have carefully thought out and planned a “system” if you will of key pieces of equipment which all operate on a single, inexpensive and highly efficient and large mobile fuel storage system. Naturally, I have the standard wood stove and gasoline operated family vehicle(s), but what is most interesting is some of the items I have been working on and extensively testing/ using on the side.   …


Two Letters Re: More Flooding in Australia

Hi Jim,   Just to let you know, a TEOTWAWKI situation came to our town (Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia) two days ago.  Toowoomba is known as the Garden City, and sits at the top of the Great Dividing Range, at 3,000 feet above sea level.  After weeks of constant rainfall that soaked catchments of a drought stricken region, we received six inches of rain in an hour. This deluge caused a flash flood (that has been since called an “Inland Tsunami”) that raged through the middle of Toowoomba.  The speed of the flood took everyone by surprise and cars and people …