A Tale of Two Currencies, by Penrod Schofield

Will day to day economic transactions in America in the years ahead continue pretty much as they have for the last century or so, or will they change? In other words, what will ground-level finances look like in five or ten years—or possibly three or five years? To answer that question, at least to the extent that I’m able (I’m not a professional economist), I reviewed my own experience, and studied up a bit on history. The answer I came up with isn’t outlandish or apocalyptic, but it’s still not a pretty picture. First, a bit about me: I’m in …


Letter Re: Advice on a Multipurpose Rifle

Dear Mr. Rawles: In reading the responses to Criss K.’s question regarding a good multi-purpose rifle I was surprised to find no mention of the Savage 99. The later Model 99 can be found in .308 [Winchester] with a detachable box magazine and while “collector” grade rifles command a higher price, “shooter” grade rifles can generally be found for a very reasonable price. Granted, you can’t get high capacity magazines for these, but this lever action does address the problem of reload time and you get the power and availability of the .308 [Winchester] caliber. Thank you, – Will S.



Economics and Investing:

G.G. suggested: The Subprime Rhyme with U.S. Debt Debacle, by Michael Pento Also from G.G.: Greek debt crisis offers preview of what awaits U.S. RBS suggested this article: Drowning in home debt Reader V.A.F. sent this: Freddie Mac Posts First Quarter Loss of $6.7 Billion, Asks Treasury for $10.6 Billion (Our tax dollars, funding our NINJA neighbors’ McMansion fanatsies.) Items from The Economatrix: Britain Must Cut Deficit Fast, Europe Warns America at the Crossroads and the War on Gold S&P to Gold Ratio: On Verge of 1.00 Breakdown Auto Industry on Road to Recovery But Pace Slows Federal Government Outpaces …


Odds ‘n Sods:

This YouTube dramatization sounds like something out of SurvivalBlog, or a novel I once read wrote: The Economic Collapse. (Thank to David W. for the link.)    o o o Ash delays and reroutes trans-Atlantic flights. (Thanks to Mike M. for the link.)    o o o Mat in Tennessee suggested this: Getting Prepared for an Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. This is also apropos for massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events.    o o o Allen M. flagged this: NetDISK multi-function NDAS – the ‘hack-proof’ drive


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 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.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Surviving a Nuclear Bomb, by Robert B.

A serious letter to my dear beloved son, Eric, It is quite possible that the USA will soon experience a terrorist attack in the form of a nuclear detonation. The city just west of the University you are attending would be a high profile, terrorist “trophy” to attack. If a nuclear detonation by terrorist occurs in that city, you will notice a bright flash of light and, then feel the blast wave a few seconds after. Although the University is somewhat distant and shielded by terrain from that city, train yourself to not look toward the flash and immediately duck …


Letter Re: A British Ex-Pat’s View of the Ongoing Greek Tragedy

Hello again, James; Greece is in the news rather a lot at the moment and none of said news appears very good. Debt, sinecure occupations, corruption (the infamous ‘fakiraki‘, or little brown envelope), bail-outs, strikes, riots, deaths. A downward spiral, if you believe all you read. However, 99% of the news footage is from Athens and life away from the Capitol carries on pretty much as always. Here in the islands, the main pre-occupations are repairing the winter damage to the infrastructure and preparing for the hoped for influx of tourists. Whilst the age-old occupations of farming and fishing continue, …


Economics and Investing:

GG sent this: Inflation Worries Permeate U.S. Also from G.G.: Nouriel Roubini: US faces inflation or default Valerie F. sent us a link to a great Fox News interview with Ron Paul about the Greece-soon-to-be-USA problems. Chad S. sent this: Trader’s typo may have triggered record Dow plunge The latest Friday Follies: Bank closures in Minnesota and Florida. Items from The Economatrix: Moody’s Warning Portugal of Possible Debt Downgrade Angela Merkel: EU Future At Stake in Greece Crisis Chinese Markets Slide as Jitters Take Hold Hundreds Seek to Fill Positions After Illegals Fired UK Mortgage Lending Dives 83% Three Die …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader D.R. pointed us to a news story with some serious implications: Fake Roadblocks in Houston, Texas.    o o o Several readers have mentioned that they’ve been impressed with their LifeSaver water filtration bottles. I just received a sample of one of the new LifeSaver filtration Jerry Cans. It looks absolutely bombproof. I can’t wait to try it!    o o o I heard about a web site with some useful field gear reviews: Canadian Wilderness Survival.




Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 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.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Suburban Fish and Game, by J.J. in Arizona

I am new to SurvivalBlog and I am an amateur prepper beginning my trek to becoming self sufficient. My family and I live in the suburbs of the southwest Sonoran Desert. I am by no means an expert in this field and hope that this topic has not been covered by others.  There are so many topics and pages of fish and game that it will take me months to catch up on everything. My family and I are planning on “buggin in” if the SHTF or the TEOTWAWKI occurs. Unless an NBC attack or exposure occurs here, we plan …


Letter Re: Life of the Farm in Western Australia

Hi, I have only started reading your web site recently and I must admit I am a little nonplussed. I am a farmer living on the far edge of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, 400 km from Perth (capitol city) and I grow a vegie garden, we buy food in bulk and have at least 6months in the pantry,being a farmer I have a rifle( I generally only use it to kill crook sheep and shoot rabbits), we have a 50 tree fruit orchard and preserve our own fruit, we are on the power grid but we do have a generator …