Economics and Investing:

Reader Bill R. liked this piece by Brett Arends: The Great Mortgage Mystery. The article begins: “The big question from the mortgage meltdown isn’t why so many distressed homeowners are defaulting on their loans. It’s why any of them are still making payments.” Oh, and FYI, here is a list of non recourse (“mortgage walkaway”) states. 27 Signs That The Standard Of Living For America’s Middle Class Is Dropping Like A Rock Siggy recommend this white paper from QB Asset Management: Who is John Galt? Susan H. sent this: The 19 Countries Most Likely to Default: Ireland Surges Higher Frightening …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I heard about RemedyLink.com, a small pharmaceutical manufacturer produces EDTA suppositories for heavy metal chelation. They offer a 50% discount for folks that identify themselves as SurvivalBlog readers. To get the 50% off, customers will have to phone them, since the web site isn’t set up for that sort of deep discount.    o o o Just a sign of the budget crunch times, or Anarchy, USA? In Multnomah County, Oregon (which includes the city of Portland), the county district attorney said that “low-level crimes” such as shoplifting, trespassing, and disorderly conduct will no longer be prosecuted due to budget …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The view which defines liberty as the mere ‘absence of restraint’ may be well-meaning, but this is the best one can say about it. It is a definition which permits, and even encourages, the substance of liberty to leak away. It undermines the sanctity of the person and property, it ignores the moral order, and it undermines the system of contracts. The truly free man is not a captive of his impulses; he controls his own actions so as not to impair the equal rights of others to their persons and their property; he is constrained by moral considerations; and …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 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 between $500 and $600, 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 500 round case of …


Cross-Training for TEOTWAWKI Preparedness, by Beau F.

I’ve been preparing for a number of years now and found a great way to prepare others in your group as well. I realized a long time ago that I could not survive alone. Now that I have a family, and close like minded friends, I realize that I don’t have to. A couple of years ago I really started stockpiling my “tactical” gear. I would buy a lot of ammo, good mags, the right tactical clothing, and so on. I started reading up on certain things that would be helpful in a TEOTWAWKI situation and would start to practice …


Letter Re: Self Sufficiency Christmas Gifts on a Budget

Dear Mr. Rawles, My mom gave me a copy of your novel “Patriots” a couple years ago for Christmas. I am married but because college debt and being unemployed for seven months before finding my next job my wife and I do not have much money, (BTW, after reading your book my wife and I saved every penny we could and are now debt free) I have been trying to stash away survival gear, beans, bullets and band-aids, and I have been looking for affordable survival books. In my search for inexpensive books I found out that I could download …


Economics and Investing:

Harold Bradley warns: Far More Derivative Exposure Today Than Two Years Ago. He talks about “terrifying” risks. More about derivatives, and some immediate, huge, repercussions: Tavakoli: Biggest Fraud in the History of the Capital Markets California budget means lean times for the state – 5 reasons why the California economy will lag for years to come. High paying jobs gone, shadow inventory, state taxes, and re-writing history. Have you noticed that the melt value of a lowly Nickel (U.S. Five Cent piece) is now worth more than 120% of face value? It is not too late to stock up, while …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Audrey H. sent this item: FDA Scrutinizing Farm Antibiotics    o o o Some detractors have called me a “yuppie survivalist”, even though I’m middle-age and very rural, and just a skilled worker rather than a professional. Well, here is a member of ill-famed Madoff clan that is the genuine article–a “young urban professional”: An Optimistic Seller of Disaster Plans.    o o o Choctaw Bob sent a link to “a handy item for those restricted from carrying more conventional weapons.”



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 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 between $500 and $600, 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 500 round case of …


Get Me Home Gear for Commuters, by Jeff J.

Lately, I have been preparing my work location and my commuting routes for the unthinkable “If the SHTF.” I figure that unless I am at home sleeping or on my weekend off of work, there is a great chance that I may be at work and or commuting when the Schumer goes down. This being said, I believe those of us who work away from home should be prepared for a possible workplace G.O.O.D. scenario or trying to get home to our families to G.O.O.D. with them. I have a bit of a head start or advantage over many of …


Letter Re: El Cheapo Prepping 101

Hello Jim, Just a quick comment about the scavenging for used brass at ranges in “El Cheapo Prepping 101”. In addition to the practical reloading concerns you mention, it’s also important that the prospective “brass forager” knows both the written rules and de facto behavioral norms at the range/club they shoot at. For example, I belong to a club that collects (via clean-up efforts of its members) spent brass from the ranges and the club directors sell it for additional funds used to benefit the club. Taking any brass out of the collection bins is a rule violation that can …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: Prospects for US Economy Either “Fairly Bad”or “Very Bad” Warns Goldman, Sachs Siggy sent this: Silent Crash: Dow Continues Slide vs. Gold So much for the “buy and hold” strategy: Another prediction that California metro area price peaks won’t return until 2025 I’m adding this blog to my blog roll: Free Market Economics In A Story US Is ‘Practically Owned’ by China: Analyst Items from The Economatrix: IMF Sees Higher Deflation Risk; Fed Mulls More Aid IMF Sees Global Economy Gaining, US Growth Slowing Midnight Grocery Runs Capture Economic Desperation Jobs Crisis Extends to Unemployed, Lawmakers …


Inflation Watch:

Market Ticker notes Uh, Wee Problem Here On Grains… Fed Officials Mull Inflation as a Fix Breakfast Prices are on the Rise Mr. Benson confirms the suspicion that the CPI is a manipulation of numbers. (Thanks to Ty for the link.) An Inflationary Cocktail in the Making Deflation? Both Fedex and UPS are raising their rates. Several readers sent me this: This is Starting to Get Very Real: Agricultural Commodity Prices Have Exploded and Now the Price of Food is Beginning to Rise. Japan faces food pressure from China Coffee Prices – percolating up!


Odds ‘n Sods:

Cause of Mysterious Bee Die-Off Found? (Thanks to KAF for the link.)    o o o You gotta love Texas: Bank Allows Armed Customers.    o o o “FJohn” sent a recommendation for the collapsible Sven-Saw. These are compact enough for your bug out bag.    o o o Vermont, a long-time bastion of the Second Amendment, has expanded First Amendment rights by allowing residents to get custom license plates with Bible verses. (The plaintiff had specified JN36TN plates (a reference to the oft-quoted verse John 3:16), but was denied them by the Vermont DMV. He finally prevailed on appeal, …