Letter Re: Advice on Water Barrel Pumps

Hello, I am in Houston, Texas, and I just purchased two 55-gallon plastic drinking water drums here semi-locally, but my problem is that the pumps were not included! I am wondering if you have some you are selling, or you could tell me where to get several of them. The threaded openings are 2 inches in diameter, and the drums are just short of three feet deep. I’m looking for hand-operated pumps, of course, not electric! Could you please get back with me on this? Thank you! – Donna C/ JWR Replies: I’ve had good experiences with Pacer drum pumps. …


Letter Re: The Usefulness of the AK-47 as a Survival Rifle

Dear Jim, I have multiple ARs and AKs, and enjoy both. I would definitely recommend the AK for a truck gun, or for less experienced shooters. I’d like to debunk the “clean an AR several times a day” myth. I have 24 years of service, USAF and US Army, active and Guard, two combat deployments, have served as armorer, weapons courier, PMI instructor and range safety NCO, and have 24 years of unbroken Expert ratings with the M16, M16A1, M16A2, M4 and GUU5P (an M4A1 with a USAF accent), including 15 perfect scores (three of them while wearing a gas …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Does virus vaccine increase the risk of cancer? US Reports 522 Swine Flu Deaths with Nearly 8,000 in Hospitals No Sides Effects So Far in Swine Flu Vax Trials [ JWR Adds: Do your homework before taking any vaccination. There are risks!] H1N1 Could Kill as Many as 30,000 to 90,000 in U.S., Whitehouse Report Says (A hat tip to KAF for the link.)


Economics and Investing:

Analyst Bove sees 150-200 more U.S. bank failures (Kudos to Krys in Idaho for the link.) Jeff D. flagged this: Remember me? Wall Street repackages toxic debt From DD: There’s No Will to Fight Inflation Also from DD: Housing crisis set to enter new stage Nouriel Roubini warns: The risk of a double-dip recession is rising Items from The Economatrix: Fed to Steal State Pension Funds Insurers’ Biggest Writedowns May Be Yet to Come Celente: 2.5 Million Jobs Lost Since Obama’s Presidency The Travails of Small Business Dooms the Economy By the always insightful Charles Hugh Smith: So Long, California …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Eric S. sent this: A storm brews over food, water & power    o o o Greg H. sent us this article: Clock ticks down on a deadly chemical stockpile in Kentucky    o o o From frequent content contributor DD: Without prospects, they’re prospectors: Metal’s high price and economy’s low ebb create new California gold rush    o o o British Residents Bring Back Bartering



Two Letters Re: Canning Your Own Butter

I’ve made several jars of canned butter using the recipe at the End Times Report web site and they turn out just fine and will keep for three years or more. This is very economical to do. Here is also another resource for purchasing canned butter – but making it is so easy and very good. My prayers go to you and your beloved wife as our Lord and Savior prepares her way into His presence. He holds you both very close in this time. – Pat B. in California Mr. Rawles: Now you can purchase canned butter from The …


Eight Letters Re: The Usefulness of the AK-47 as a Survival Rifle

James In reply to the 20 Aug 09 letter on the AK series rifles, I feel I should add my experiences. I recently returned from Afghanistan where I worked as a security contractor. When I got there our guard force was armed with the AK but many of the rifles were in poor condition. An initial inspection showed at least 30% of them weren’t worth having and the initial range training proved things to be much worse. I won’t bore you with the details but in the end we had to go through 56 rifles to find 19 that would …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

WHO predicts ‘explosion’ of swine flu cases JHB sent us a link to an updated H1N1 interactive map. Swine Flu Threat to Business Prompts a Call for Readiness Government Enlists Employers’ Help To Contain Flu Swine Flu Pandemic Paradox Kills Few, Overwhelms Hospital ICUs New Swine-Flu Vaccination to Be Ready in US By Mid-October Swine Flu Shots May Be Too Little, Too Late to Stop Outbreaks Most UK Companies Already Hit by Swine Flu Plans Drawn Up for Mass Swine Flu Graves Ill-Prepared Africa Braces as Swine Flu Hits


Economics and Investing:

The other shoe has finally dropped: China reduces holdings in US debt. Expect more of the same in the months to come. (Thanks to Dave S. for the link.) From GG: Mounting joblessness fuels US housing crisis Noah was the first of several readers to mention this article about the failure of the second largest US bank of the year: Bank Failure #81: Down Goes Guaranty Items from The Economatrix: The Mother of all Bank Runs Unemployment: The Worst Hit States in July US Stocks Rise, Sending S&P to Highest Level in 10 Months Bank Failures in the US Even …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader G.D.T. sent us a story that recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal. G.D.T. wrote: “I saw the link about cattle rustling in Pennsylvania. Now folks are stealing hay in Texas.”    o o o Tamara posted this bit of levity that has a serious lesson attached: A more dangerous breed of junkie. The point is that there was no Matrix-esque bullet-dodging going on. This was just an all-too common case of a poorly trained cop that unloaded in the general direction of his intended target–and he didn’t hit score any hits. Only hits count!    o o o …



Letter Re: Trading Numismatic $5, $10, and $20 Gold Pieces for Bullion Coins?

James: I have a question for you. Should a person keep old $20 gold coins, or convert them into 1 oz. gold American Eagles? This would assume coins with no great [numismatic] value, just old coins. Also, what about $5 and $10 gold pieces? Thanking You in Advance ,- Jim A. in Montana JWR Replies: As I’ve mentioned before, the often-mentioned threat of another gold confiscation is overblown, so essentially, “gold bullion is gold bullion.” For buyers here in the US, I recommend American Eagles from the US Mint, because they are widely recognized and accepted. There are also some …



Economics and Investing:

Greg C. sent this bit of mainstream media spin doctoring: AP source: White House projects lower deficit. Greg’s comment: “Another case of “The deficit is growing slower than we originally thought.” They fail to point out its still growing exponentially. They “saved”$250 billion while we will be at $2 trillion in the hole by year’s end. I love their math and outlook on life!” Thanks to Damon for this: Marc Faber “in China there is an investment bubble …the total collapse is ahead of us and probably a world scale war…” Reader Jim P. flagged this: Obama to raise 10-year …