Letter Re: HF Radios and “Shoutcasting” Parabolic Dish Communications

Dish Communications Jim: [In response to an earlier letter,] a HF network is a good idea. A local network also has its merits. There are lots of methods and frequencies for local area usage. Some use military surplus equipment, some CBs, some ham, some TA-1 field phones with wire, some use Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points (a great idea if you’ve planned ahead for electricity and it actually works.). Shoutcasting I know three people in Colorado who use old solid [metal-coated fiberglass or sheet metal–not expanded metal mesh ]satellite dishes to be able to stand on their hills and talk …


Letter Re: Converting Precious Metals ETFs to Physical Metals

Jim, A reader wrote in and was posted with a letter called Converting Precious Metals Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)s to Physical Metals. This is pretty good advice but I would consider one change. I would not invest my IRA or 401k into ETFs or mining stocks as they are too volatile. Like his idea that investing in food companies wouldn’t feed his family like physical food, investing in ETFs and mining stocks guarantee nothing as far as actually getting any money out if things fall apart. Rather, what I recently did was convert them to physical metals. The IRS allows …


Economics and Investing:

GG sent us this editorial by Nouriel Roubini: The worst is yet to come: Unemployed Americans should hunker down for more job losses. Jeff B. spotted: Taxpayers on hook as some bailed-out firms prove frail; With CIT in bankruptcy, U.S. is faulted for investing in weakened companies As Needlenose Ned Ryerson said (repeatedly): “Watch out! The next step’s a doooozy.” (For some background, see: Dollar Falls to 15-Month Low as Fed’s Support Draws Skepticism.) Meanwhile, at the risk of mixing movie metaphors, it’s Hi-Yo Silver, Away! Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Post Modest Gains on Rise in Commodities Factory Production …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Bobbi-Sue spot what must surely be our cue to stock up before some hefty retail price increases: Rice to Return 100% as Typhoons, Drought Roil Asians    o o o Chalk up one minor victory for personal liberty: Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained. (A hat tip to HPD for the link.)    o o o Straycat sent us this: Death Valley Bones May Solve Mystery of Missing German Tourists. The Cat’s Comment: “First rule of survival; Be prepared! Second rule; Don’t do anything stupid! “    o o o ‘2012’ Movie Tops Box Office, Pulls in $225M …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 25 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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.) and C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.) Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing …


Lessons Leaned from a Wildfire Evacuation, by Daniel in Montana

It was a gorgeous Saturday night, Sept. in Montana’s mountains the weather was hanging onto summer’s 70 degree temperatures, warm and dry. Working all day at the hospital and finishing some of my home preparedness projects gave me a satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. Time to relax, I sat down, put my feet up and was sipping my week’s end treat, a cold beer. I phoned my friend, “Brett” to finalize our plans to butcher a few of his farm animals tomorrow. He was finishing a Bible reading with his boys and was putting them to bed, and would call …


Two Letters Re: Long Term Food Storage Package Now Sold at COSTCO

Hi Jim, You’ve probably already seen this storage food now sold by COSTCO but it was news to me. Is that a sign of the times or what? In Him, – Karen H. Jim, I just noticed that Shelf Reliance “Thrive” brand food is being sold at CostCo.com. I love your site, – Robert C. JWR Replies: With a few supplements, the Thrive food storage system would make a very good “core” food storage system for someone that puts a premium on their time. These are top quality products. You would of course want to add other foods for variety …


Letter Re: Converting Precious Metals ETFs to Physical Metals

Jim, I send this respectfully to those delusioned Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) investors. Just like the people of earth believing the world was flat, it will become common knowledge that ETFs are just a vehicle for investors and not for those who believe in the metal. It is proven in the ETF prospectus that most are backed with the same faith as our Federal Reserve Notes. Both are still good for trading for profit now but when TSHTF at least your dollars can be used as tinder. You will never be shipped a single ounce of precious metal from an …


Economics and Investing:

GG suggested this commentary by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: China has now become the biggest risk to the world economy Reader “Gravy” sent a link to an interesting animated map on changes in unemployment rates. Mr. D. sent a link to a National Pravda Radio news story: Joshua Kosman, Predicting The Next Credit Crisis. And on a similar note, GG sent this from The New York Post: Book: Spike in PE-owned firm defaults ahead Items from The Economatrix: Irish Government to Pay Immigrants to Go Home Have Prices Already Risen Too Much, Too Soon? Karl Denninger: Better Late Than Never Economists Fear …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ryan (not one of the one of the Ryans of TSLRF fame) sent this news item from a southern Idaho newspaper: Driggs boy shoots bear on family’s porch. Ryan’s comment: “This is great. Hope my daughter turns out like this”. Speaking of bears in Idaho, my old college roommate e-mailed me the link to this archived picture from the Colt Firearms collection.That was lucky shot. (Needless to say, .32 ACP is not a reliable stopper for predators of either the two-legged or four-legged varieties! Here at the ranch, we regularly carry .45 ACPs in the woods, and feel just barely …



Notes from JWR:

Update: There have been a large volume of orders received for the 33%-off sale for the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course. I just heard from Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing, that they’ve already used up about half of their available supply of copies of “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”. So order your course soon, if you want to get one of the free bonus books! — I noticed that we’ve surpassed 12 million unique visits, and we’re about to reach the milestone of 8,000 archived articles, letters, and quotes for SurvivalBlog. …


Over-Planning: Get Thine Act Together!

I occasionally hear from consulting clients that get stuck in the rut of “over -planning”. They do so much planning for training, and planning for stocking up, that they never seem to get around to doing either! Lengthy “to do” lists are worthless if they never get implemented. This sometimes reaches absurd lengths, as illustrated by one of my clients that showed me a spreadsheet on his laptop PC, in which he not only compared prices from various vendors for ammunition, but also tracked the changes in their prices, over the course of two years. I asked him: “Well, when …


From David in Israel: Off Grid Alternatives to Utility-Supplied Electricity

James One of the most troubling things I see when speaking to people about going off grid is how badly they want to keep all of their electrical appliances and just spend many thousands of dollars on a battery bank more appropriate for a U-boat and solar cells or generators to keep them topped off. Having had a minor role in a micro-satellite system design proposal one thing you learn when confronted by limited power supply is to either economize or do without. The appliances you own for on grid use are not efficient. They are built to be inexpensive …