Odds ‘n Sods:

I finally got the chance to go see the movie “I Am Legend“. A friend who is not preparedness- minded went with me and he commented that he found the film terrifying only because it seemed plausible. He said that unlike “Resident Evil” which seemed like an unrealistic video game to him, “I Am Legend” was genuinely frightening. This leads me to believe that the film might encourage some erstwhile sheeple to get prepared. My friend did mention that if he was in Dr. Neville’s position he would have dynamited and bulldozed all of the buildings in a three block …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Every morning in Africa a gazelle awakens knowing it must today run faster than the fastest lion or it will be eaten. Every morning a lion awakens knowing it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It matters not whether you are a gazelle or a lion, when the sun rises you had better be running.” – African Proverb


Letter Re: Strategies for Saving a House in a Foreclosure Situation?

Sir, I just read your piece on foreclosures. People who are about to get behind on their payments should contact their lender. Banks do not want the properties, they want the cash. Some lenders are willing to negotiate a modification of the loan terms rather than accept the expense of a foreclosure and resale (usually at a loss) of the property. Selling the house before the foreclosure process begins is better than waiting because the cost of the foreclosure will be added to the amount they have to repay the bank. If a person knows they’re going to get behind …


Letter Re: Sources for Gasoline and Diesel Fuel in a Grid-Down Collapse

Jim: Here is a suitable electric pump that will lift fuel from underground tanks. It is 12 Volts DC, Facet Duralift pump , Facet part #40223 / Carrier part # 30-01108-01 SV (available from Carrier Transcold dealers.) They are typically used for commercial truck refrigerators. This pump is self priming to 120 inches (3 meters). Its designed to lift fuel 10 feet straight up. It is not cheap, at an average price of $125 from the dealer, but it works. I have one on my ’88 F250 7.3 IDI Diesel to solve fuel delivery problems. It also has a see-through …


Two Letters Re: Small Town Newcomers and Home Development Covenants

Jim: In my opinion Violas’s comments are balderdash! That’s my reaction to all the ranting over “restrictive covenants”. I wouldn’t buy a piece of property in any sort of subdivision that didn’t have such rules. Let me share the experience that convinced me: About five years ago, I bought a piece of investment property in a small, rural Wyoming subdivision. Lot sizes were 3 to 10 acres and covenants were attached. Those covenants were common sense in nature. hey boiled down to simply treating your neighbor as you would be treated. Problem was, the covenants weren’t enforced. “Nobody’s gonna tell …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Our friend Chad suggested this from Bill Fleckenstein: Mortgage bailout just makes it worse.    o o o Hawaiian K. suggested an article about the precious metals market, from an Asian perspective.    o o o From a recent issue of The Daily Reckoning:    o o o E.S. sent us this one: Doctors order millions hit by violent stomach bug to stay at home



Two Letters Re: Grain Storage and Preparation

Sir; We have what may be stupid question, however, we do not know how to grind wheat. We would like to ask how to prepare wheat for cooking and use.We have searched your great site but I did not find the answer on this. We would like to take advantage of this inexpensive food. Thanks so much . Your work is appreciated. – EG   Mr Rawles, My family and I are doing our best to prepare for the tough times ahead. Something’s brewing, I’m sure we all can feel it. One thing we’d love to keep a store of …


Letter Re: Strategies for Saving a House in a Foreclosure Situation?

Hi Jim, Are there any strategies, (i.e.- negotiations, dickering, etc…) that you can recommend for a after a TSHTF situation in which the government has raised taxes so much that you are hinging on hanging on to your retreat? Any examples that worked back in the 1930s? I know you can relate due to your family’s history that you have spoken of. What could we do as a plan to save our properties? Who can we expect to knock on the door, (i.e.- what entities)? Do you think there will be more motivation to seize productive ground? Do you think …


Letter Re: The Precious Metals Bull Charges Onward

Jim- You noted gold reaching an all-time high on Wednesday the 2nd of January. But this writer says: “I’m not really sure how all the ‘Gold at 27-year high’ headlines came to be, but my own calculations tell me that gold would have to break at least $2,400 an ounce [adjusted for inflation] to break its supposed 27-year high.” If that argument is accurate, perhaps it is not yet time to think about getting out of gold 20% at a time just yet. – Robert B. JWR Replies: The “adjusted for inflation” calculations on the real value of gold are …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric S. sent this one: Deadbeat America: Late Payments Soar. It is not reassuring to see that late payment rates are spiking in relatively “good times” with an employment rate that is just starting to falter. Obviously American consumers have collectively gone deep into debt. In the next recession we will undoubtedly see unprecedented delinquency and default rates, followed soon after by a spike in personal bankruptcies. Oh, but wait a minute, US bankruptcy laws have become less lenient.    o o o And Eric also forwarded us this: Americans Sold Out to Foreign Firms at Record Rate    o …



Note from JWR:

I just noticed that we are fast approaching the 2.5 million unique visits milestone. Not bad for a “niche” blog on a shoestring budget. Thanks for continuing to spread the word about SurvivalBlog! Links to SurvivalBlog in your personal web page and/or in your e-mail footer would be greatly appreciated.


Letter Re: Rolled-Up Sleeves Work

Jim, Do you think the subject of work gets underplayed in the survivalist movement? It seems that most of survivalist conversation is about firearms, bug-out tanks, and quasi-military offensive and defensive [tactics and] strategies. What about work, hard manual labor? Yes, work is a ugly four letter word. It is a “hard” word that implies sore muscles, sweating, fatigue, things that it is “hard” (pun intended) to put a happy face on. Firearms are fun, fun to talk about, shop for, practice with, and debate my choice is better than the other guy’s choice. If the SHTF there may be …


Weekly Survival Real Estate Market Update

North Idaho Update I just had a call from a local Realtor informing me that a currently-approved retreat property just outside of Bonners Ferry, Idaho has just been reduced by 20%! This spectacular retreat has a large functional home on 10 sloping acres and is shielded from the small county road by a stand of timber. The home enjoys big views of the snow capped mountains and rates an overall 8.5 out of 10, relating to defensibility, sun exposure and water availability. List price has been dropped from the high $370,000 to under $299,000! Please email me for further information. …