Economics and Investing:

Doug Eberhardt’s precious metals market predictions for 2014 John Mauldin’s most recent newsletter, under the title What Has QE Brought? is well worth reading. (For many years, I’ve recommended subscribing to his free e-newsletter.) Diana recommended this news piece: The Big Squeeze – mystery hand scoops up copper   Items from The Economatrix: Camden, New Jersey: One Of Hundreds Of U.S. Cities That Are Turning Into Rotting, Decaying Hellholes Many American-Made Companies Are Now Under Foreign Control! The Perfect Storm Is Coming For Gold: “Economics Will Crush The Very People Who Are Behind The Devastation”


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader K.A.F. sent: Correlations of gluten and dementia    o o o T.P.Y. sent: Hawaii solar boom so successful, it’s been halted    o o o 4th Amendment is dead: Police can search motorists cellphones if they’ve been stopped for a traffic violation. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.)    o o o G.G. flagged another privacy issue: You Should Never, Ever Leave Your Webcam Uncovered When You Aren’t Using It.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of Virginia to plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, and rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region, and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger." – George Washington (written while at at Valley Forge)


Notes from JWR:

Some very sad news to report: Our Backcountry Editor Mat Stein’s wife Josie passed away on December 22nd. Please keep Mat in your prayers. You can visit Josie’s memorial page and leave your condolences at her Memory Book page. — For those of you pondering a year-end tax deductible donation, please consider one of our favorite charities: Anchor of Hope. (A mission school in rural Zambia.) — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,700+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good …


New Writing Contest Prize From Dri-Harvest Foods

The fine folks at Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana have announced that they will now sponsor the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest with an additional $333 prize bundle that will bring the combined value of the three prize packages to more than $9,700. Starting with Round 50 et sequitur, the winner of the Second Prize package will receive Dri-Harvest foods gift certificates for: One Mixed Case: Kidney Beans, Lima Beans, Buttermilk Powder (2 of each) / Case of 6- #10 Cans  valued at  $68.86 One Montana Hard Red Wheat 5 Gallon food grade bucket, valued at  $44.95 A mixed case of Lemon, Peach …


A Contractor’s Preps: Materiel Storage, by Paul W.

I’d like to discuss my perspective on family preparedness, from the perspective of a architectural design and building contractor. There are four categories to this aspect of preparedness:  Materials, Tools, Knowledge and Usefulness I read a lot of articles about things to stock up on when TEOTWAWKI situations occur.  One thing I do not hear discussed as much is keeping a well stock material shed at your bug out location.  Now keep in mind this is not a Bug out bag list.  The is a Bug Out Destination or Home list. Coming from the world of Architectural Design and Contracting …


Letter Re: Anderson Powerpoles: The Legos of DC Electronics

Jim, While it’s true that Anderson Powerpole connectors can be soldered, this is usually not a good idea, for several reasons: 1) Soldering is weaker than crimping because it interposes a soft metal– and possible air voids– between the copper of the wire and the copper of the terminal. A properly crimped connection places the wire in compression and the surrounding terminal in tension, ensuring a mechanically strong joint. 2) Soldering adds resistance to the connection. In a properly crimped connection, there are no gaps at all between the wire and the terminal. However low the resistance of solder, it’s …


Economics and Investing:

The Hidden Motives Behind The Federal Reserve Taper. [JWR’s Comment: The renewed talk of the Fed tapering from the current $85 billion per month of Quantitative Easing (QE) money creation is balderdash. Presently, I can see only two possible solutions for the Fed’s quandary: 1.) They find another excuse not to taper Fed purchase of MBS derivatives and other securities. or 2.) They do taper the current QE program, but meanwhile surreptitiously create another form of monetization that is just a big, or even bigger. (This might involve foreign central banks, in a mutual back-scratching arrangement, whereby we’ll buy their …


Odds ‘n Sods:

In rural America, secessionist sentiment stirs    o o o A reminder that CampingSurvival.com has a 5% off coupon code “sb1” available for all of their merchandise, aside from special sale items.    o o o Over at Mac Slavo’s blog: Experts Fear Nuclear Famine: “A Disaster So Massive in Scale that No Preparation is Possible”    o o o Rutherford Institute Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Ensure that Lawful Gun Ownership Is Not a Trigger for ‘No-Knock’ Police Raids    o o o Reader R.G. forwarded some news from the chairman of Minnesota Gun Owners about more outside influence …



Notes from JWR:

Today is celebrated as Christmas, all around the world. December 25th is of course a seasonally convenient time for celebration, just after the Winter Solstice. Most Biblical scholars agree that Christ’s birth probably took place in the spring rather than in December. And his birth year was most likely in 4 BC. To clarify: The original year calculated by Dionysius Exiguus was in error. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote circa 70 AD about the reign of King Herod. He stated that Herod died 37 years after the Romans declared him King, and 34 years from the time he actually became …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:8-11 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

It was just reported that Mikhail Kalashnikov died Monday, at age 94. — December 24th is the 14th Anniversary of when John Joe Gray’s legal troubles began. He and his family have been self-sufficiently holed up in their Texas ranch for 13 years, in defiance of a warrant for his arrest. This has been the longest personal standoff in American history, in which he has faced the administrations of four different county sheriffs. — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) …


My Move to the American Redoubt, by Jason L.

The recent article The Benefits of a Homesteading Approach to Preparedness, by Chaya had much wisdom about moving before a crunch. There will not be time to prepare or get to know your surroundings if you wait. I have dreamed about moving to the American Redoubt for the last 3-4 years, however there were several things that prohibited me. I had a house payment and small business in Rural Northern Pa, I had a great job and family ties. I did not want to leave my father and small hobby farm. In December of last year my mother received news …


Letter Re: Open Carry, Concealed Carry and Gun Free School Zones

James, I’m writing to warn fellow SurvivalBlog readers that there is a huge proviso for those wishing to open carry firearms in states where it is lawful to do so. I recommend reading the Wikipedia page on Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) of 1990. Some key excerpts form that web page follow: Definitions Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(25) the term “school zone” means— (A) in, or on the grounds of, a public, parochial or private school; or (B) within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a public, parochial or private school. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(26) the term “school” …