Economics and Investing:

Ben Bernanke needs fresh monetary blitz as US recovery falters. (A hat tip to G.G. for the link.) As I’ve warned before, The Mother of All Bailout s(MOAB)is inexorable. It will continue, round after round, until the US Dollar is destroyed as a currency unit. Clint L. sent this: Silver Without a Cloud by Richard Daughty, aka The Mogambo Guru Items from The Economatrix: 20 Must-See Charts on America’s Disastrous Level of Government Spending California to Offer Program to Trim Underwater Mortgages Fannie Mae Gets Tough with Homeowners Who Walk Away Economy Faces Tough Road Ahead with Slower Growth The …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Medical Corps is running another Medical Response in Hostile Environments class, October 15-16-17. It is filling rapidly. Don’t miss out on this great training.    o o o Reader Rod V. suggested a waterproof memory stick for archiving your most important computer files, such as e-books, and scanned family papers: Corsair Flash Survivor 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive. Rod’s comment: “This may be one of most important items in your Bug-out bag, so don’t be stingy. Get one that’s waterproof, bombproof, and kid-proof.”    o o o Jeff M. told me about a good web site with free barn …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …


You Versus the Perps, their Lawyer, and the D.A., by P.J.

I’m writing anonymously because I’m facing misdemeanor charges for spraying a trespasser with mace. Our county has an anti-self defense district attorney. Being next to three fraternities, I’d been having problems with trespassers; this was third time I saw them. (There was evidence of past intrusions; I’d videotaped it and will submit as part of my legal defense.) To prep, I’d purchased a mace-pepper spray-UV dye compound in a canister about the size you see for bear, with a range of 20 feet or so. I saw two trespassers in the side lot from the kitchen, where I leave lights …


Letter Re: Free Online Vehicle Repair Guides

JWR, Autozone.com (the auto parts franchise) has a free feature that allows you to create a profile (make up an alias and use good OPSEC), enter your vehicle(s) information and then access repair guides for various subjects. You can, of course, also purchase parts and have them shipped to your anonymous mail drop location. They keep you updated on recalls, service reminders, etc. You can even download a free app for your iPhone, which includes access to the repair guides, which comes in very handy if you’re on the road and have a breakdown. Of course, post-TEOTWAWKI, the service probably …


Economics and Investing:

Frequent content contributor RBS sent this: New uses for silver to grow demand in next 10 years. K. in Montana forwarded this: Gold on Longest Winning Streak Since 1920. Reader Dan E. spotted a telling news item: More than 40 million now use food stamps The Friday Follies continue, with bank closures in New Mexico, Georgia, and Florida. Items from The Economatrix: Federal Reserve Cautions on US Economic Growth Bernanke Needs Fresh Monetary Blitz as US Recovery Falters Senate Republicans Defeat Jobless Aid Measure Over Deficit Fears Geithner: US Can “No Longer Drive Global Growth”


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Other Rourke recently posted his interview with Dr. Bruce Clayton. You’ll probably recognize him as the author the book Life After Doomsday.    o o o Yishai suggested this good article: Night Vision Versus Thermal Vision    o o o Floyd B. spotted this: Solar cycle sparks doomsday buzz. Here is a quote: “Fortunately, the methods for predicting space weather have improved over the past decade or two. Satellites such as the Advanced Composition Explorer can spot the signs of a geomagnetic storm up to an hour before it hits our planet, providing valuable lead time for power grid …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” Proverbs 27:23-27 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …


How to Get Prepared as a Teenager, by Jonathan E.

When I discovered SurvivalBlog I was 17 years old. My friend had given me a copy of the novel “Patriots” that he had picked up on our twenty-three day trip around the United States. After I had read the novel, I realized that I was so far behind on my prepping for TEOTWAWKI. Before had I had only focused on wilderness survival and when I went hiking in the woods. I never perceived how fragile our economy was and how easily it would fall apart with the slightest push. I had to do something about my preparations. This article is …


Letter Re: A Survival Suburban Homestead: A Prepper’s Twist on the Homestead Movement

Jim, The community described by DMT seems like a nice place to live and I wish I could share his optimism and his faith in human nature. It seems to me that a community like he describes would take years to form. It might have a chance if everyone could be persuaded to store a year or more of food and stock up on agricultural equipment, but it seems to me that it would be a superhuman task to get everyone to go along with it in an emergency unless you could feed them until harvest time. Also, unfortunately, my …


Letter Re: The 50 States are Getting Desperate for Revenue!

Hello Mr. Rawles, I thought you might be interested in an article about New York state’s 12th consecutive weekly package of emergency spending bills “to keep the government operating.” This bill will raise the price of cigarettes to over $11 a pack in New York, as well as taxing the cigarettes sold by American Indian stores to people outside the tribe. The last time New York tried the latter was in the late 1990s, and it met with violent protests. They haven’t tried it since, so you know that they’re getting desperate! – E.


Economics and Investing:

Charley suggested this piece by Ambrose-Evans Pritchard: Gold reclaims its currency status as the global system unravels Brian B. flagged this: Cash Crops: Buying Farmland for Income Also from Brian: Brown Brothers Warns on Deterioration in State and Local Government Deficits, Cautions of Comparable European Collapse Items from The Economatrix: Leaders Differ on How to Nurture a Global Economy BP Shares Down Sharply in London Government Lowers Growth Estimate for First Quarter Financial Stocks Lift Market After Financial Overhaul Euro “Collapse” Could Drag Europe Into Conflict


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent me a link to a collection of photos showing Chinese military’s obsession with parades and ultra-precise formations. It reminded me of a quote from Jean Larteguy (The author of The Centurions and The Praetorians.): “I’d like France to have two armies: one for display, with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, fanfares, staffs, distinguished and doddering generals, and dear little regimental officers who would be deeply concerned over their general’s bowel movements or their colonel’s piles: an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country. The …