Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Oh, I have lost some of the fights I’ve been in, some sudden little dustups for which I wasn’t well-prepared and a couple of larger ones in which I was mostly just involved as a bit player. If you really want to win you can always be certain to pick in advance a much weaker opponent and crush him, but that’s bullying. Or you can take on someone who outclasses you and really deserves a good beating, and wait for a chance when he’s not in his best shape, though you may have a long wait. But I’ve never lost …


Letter Re: One Way to Visualize Inflation and Dollar Devaluation

Sir, Let’s look at a way to visualize inflation. Let’s say you had a $1,000 bill in 1900. At that time, this would be the equivalent of letting the government safeguard [about] 50 ounces of gold for you. In 1933, Franklin D Roosevelt devalued the dollar, and as a result gold’s price rose from $20/ounce to $35/ounce. Equivalently, you could also say the 50 ounces of gold the government held for you now became 28.57 ounces of gold. The government stole 21.43 ounces of gold from you overnight! In 1971, Richard Nixon ended the Bretton-Woods gold standard for good, and …


Letter Re: Thoughts on Accumulating Silver

Mr. Rawles, I would first like you to know your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you and your family for opening our eyes to what is happening all around us and for helping to prepare us for what could happen. To borrow a phrase, “The sleeper has awakened”. On to my topic. I am what may be described as a prepper and after reading many of the countless articles by investors on the accumulation of silver, I began to take your advice as well as their advice and have been purchasing silver whenever the budget allows. With …


Letter Re: Distance Traveling by Waterways

Jim, Thanks for your work. I have been a faithful reader for quite a while (and a 10-Cent Challenge subscriber). After reading LDM in Colorado’s post, I had to e-mail and correct a few problems. While I know little of white water rafting, I do know about Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). I was a Coast Guard Boarding Officer for many years, and I would like to correct some of his terminology. Unfortunately, some of his comments could place someone in danger. The rating system for PFDs is based on capabilities. Specifically, Type I: Provides 22 lbs of buoyancy and turns …



Economics and Investing:

I found this linked over at the Total Investor blog: After the fall; The collapse in world trade has stopped, but there is no sign of a recovery Thanks to Rebecca S. for this news link: Weak Treasury Auctions Raise Worries About US Debt Burden Reader Greg C. suggested this: Adrian Douglas: CFTC Conceals the Real Problem, the Infinite Dollar Items from The Economatrix: Weak US 5-Year Debt Auction Raises Worries Bernanke on the Record (video) The Hole in Our Universe (The Mogambo Guru) Commentary by John Browne: Dead Banks Walking Fed Report Suggests Recession May be Bottoming Out. [In …



Notes from JWR:

We have received more than 120 kind e-mails in the past 24 hours, in response to The Memsahib’s “Bucket List” post on Wednesday. Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement. This verse sums up the sentiment: “Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise Him!” – Psalm 64:10 We feel tremendously uplifted by your prayers. And for those that have asked: We are not seeking any funds for medical expenses. Instead, please send gifts to our favorite charity: Compassion International.


Here Comes Winter!, by Peter H.

My brother wrote me recently to ask what we do to prepare for our winters here in the inland Pacific Northwest. He lives in a warmer climate but has been reading about the global cooling underway. For the last two years our area has been colder longer and this last winter we had the most snow in over 100 years. Remembering that Boy Scout slogan, “Be prepared,” prudent people are already looking ahead for the winter soon to come. Here are my odds and ends to get your thinking processes going: Dress to Save Your Life Our heaviest coats are …



Economics and Investing:

GG spotted this piece by Axel Merk: Credit Crunch Part Deux Is the mainstream media catching a clue? Surviving the ‘End of Civilization’ 2050; Six rules for investing in the worse-case scenario. (thanks to Craig M. for the link.) Curtis sent us a link to a great video segment by Marty Weiss. Items from The Economatrix: Dollar Falls to 2009 Low as Economic View Reduces Safety Demand China Warns US on Budget Deficit Unemployment in June: Map of the Worst Hit Cities Housing Recovery: Sell Now or Your Capital Will Forever Be Trapped Fiscal Drops in the Bucket Deficit (The …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ebola in Pigs New Health Threat    o o o New on the market: Stay Alert caffeine chewing gum. (Obviously, this is something only for short-term emergency situations–like staying awake during the second half of a non-stop 800 -mile G.O.O.D. evacuation drive.)    o o o North Korea Warns of “Unimaginably Deadly Blows” to US    o o o Greg W. mentioned the soon-to-be-released Enertia electric motorcycle. $12,000 is a lot of money for a cycle with such limited range and speed. But it might be appropriate for short trips for someone that already has a large photovoltaic power system.



Odds ‘n Sods:

Police can now legally fire at “fleeing cars” in Chicago. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o From Heather H.: Maine’s wild blueberry crop imperiled by leaf spot fungus. Heather’s comment: “First the wheat fungus, then the potato blight, and now the blueberries are dying. What’s next?”    o o o Hard times drive more Michiganders to fish for food. (Thanks to “Survival Mama” for the link.)    o o o PD sent this: IDF Vets Train U.S. Jews to Protect Their Communities PD’s comment on the trigger fondling and errant muzzle direction: “It looks like they …


Notes from JWR:

I was recently contacted by a producer for The History Channel who is making a documentary about survivalism. It is an unusual project that will include a subtext docudrama about a family that is fleeing Los Angeles in the midst of a megapandemic. He will be interviewing survivalists in Los Angeles and New York in mid-August. If you live in or near those cities and are willing to do an on-camera interview, please contact Nick Leader, via e-mail. — Last Day! Ready Made Resources is continuing their special 25% off sale on case lots of Mountain House freeze dried foods …