Letter Re: Storing Whiskey For Barter

Hi Jim, I love SurvivalBlog! I have a question: I would like to store whiskey for bartering in SHTF. I thought of taking empty 187 ML (about 6 oz) wine bottles with screw caps, washing them, refilling with whiskey, placing a short wine cork in top, then screw cap, then wrap in Saran wrap to limit evaporation loss. I would then label bottles with content and date, and store for SHTF. How does this sound to you? Thanks, – Tom R. JWR Replies: While I don’t approve of bartering whiskey, I must concede that many folks do see some utility …


News From The American Redoubt:

R.B.S. sent: Idaho Romanians face removal for immigration fraud    o o o Update: Jefferson Republic: Two Approaches    o o o B.H. mentioned this press release headline: Pork Infused Ammunition Maker Now Accepts Bitcoin for payment. “Jihawg Ammo, famous (infamous) makers of a new pork infused radical anti-Jihadist Ammunition announces they are accepting Bitcoin for payment for their unique pork infused anti-Jihadist ammunition and other products.” They are located in Dalton Gardens, Idaho.    o o o George Ziermann, a shoemaker from Pendleton, Oregon, has been trying to sell his business (George’s Boots) for the past eight years.    …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. suggested this over at Mises.org: The Fed Must Inflate China’s Gold Rush Continues, Imports Another 131 Tonnes In October Meanwhile, we read: China Is On A Debt Binge And A Buying Spree Unlike Anything The World Has Ever Seen Before Items from The Economatrix: Why Are the Bankers And Ex-Intel Types Running For Their Lives? “I Fear For What’s Coming” – 68 Percent Of Americans Believe The Country Is On The Wrong Track Fake Employment Numbers – And Five More Massive Economic Lies The Government Is Telling You


Odds ‘n Sods:

I had a reader write to ask if he should have hard copy topo maps as a backup to his GPS. My reply: “Rather, you should have a GPS as a backup to your hard copy topo maps.” Establish your proven, reliable, and resilient basics first, and only then consider adding gadgets.    o o o Obama Issues an Executive Order Mandating DOD Officials Legitimize Leftist “Climate Change” Theories as Scientific Fact    o o o R.B.S. sent: This House Has A Massive Door Going To The Basement. When You See What’s Down There, You’ll Get It.    o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When I was a boy aged 10, no older My father took enemy fire to the shoulder He lay in his tent for a week till he  finally succumbed From that day forth I was a permanent soldier I’ve killed many men on the southern border We fight for the day California leaves us alone We’ve been taxed for no good reason and then we said, “No” and then they cried “treason!” We’re merely defending the life and the land that we love We learned our lesson from Captain Jack That once you kill you can’t go back And once …


Notes from JWR:

Camping Survival has started a Mountain House storage food sale which runs from December 2nd to December 8th. They are offering 25% off cases of #10 cans, 25% off cases of retort pouches and 15% off buckets. The sale is for full cases only.  They are only selling stock on hand, but they bought a substantial quantity in advance. So rather than backordering anything, it will all ship right out to customers.  Meanwhile, Ready Made Resources is running a similar pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until the 13th of December with 25% to 42% off, free shipping, and on request …


Pat’s Product Review – Cold Steel’s Talwar Fighting Folder

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t carry some kind of folding knife in my pocket – and I’m now eligible to collect social security benefits. I do know that back when I was a kid, there weren’t any lock-back folding knives that I ever recall seeing. I carried a folder for everyday chores, as well as self-defense. And, more importantly, at least when I was around 6-10 years old, I had a folding knife for whittling – a long lost pastime that was sure a lot of fun when I was a kid. A person could spend all …


T.M.’s Book Review: The Downfall of Money: Germany’s Hyperinflation and the Destruction of the Middle Class

The Downfall of Money: Germany’s Hyperinflation and the Destruction of the Middle Class, by Frederick Taylor © 2013 ISBN: 978-1-62040-236-8 Hardback; also available on Kindle. 416 pages, 25 chapters, appendix, bibliography, and index. Be assured that I am not an economist, but I do keep the family bankbook balanced. Past that and I am mostly lost in the world of high finance. I read this book in order to answer three questions: What caused the hyperinflation in post-WWI Germany? What effect did it have on ordinary citizens and how did they cope? What lessons are to be learned to better …


Portable Satellite Phones: Communicating Off the Grid, by Jon Aldrich

If you’re reading this blog you are no doubt already well along on preparedness spectrum, finding yourself someplace between never in America and not if but when, more likely you’re nearer the latter.  You’re probably well versed in all aspects of food procurement, preparation and storage, water purification, providing shelter and security for yourselves and your families as well many of the other nuances related to preparing for future contingencies.  There is a world of good information available on all these subjects and more and, for most of it you need look no further than right here on the SurvivalBlog. …


Letter Re: HK 9X Series Rifles Handling for Left-Handers

Dear Captain Rawles, I have not trained with a PTR-91 but have only handled them in a Cabela’s store. I really like them and am especially fond of the wood stock versions, my wife even likes how they look in wood furnishings ( a key attribute in making a major purchase) The sights are even nice. One thing I haven’t figured out is how, as a lefty, to manipulate the far forward mounted charging handle. Even with a 37″ sleeve on a 6′-3″-tall lanky guy I just can’t reach that far to charge the weapon while still mounted to my …


Recipe of the Week:

Robin H.’s Bread Pudding This is a simple, easy to make recipe for a quick dessert or breakfast item. It is my mother’s version of Bread Pudding. 1 large mixing bowl 1 loaf of cheap, sandwich sliced bread (or your leftover breads that haven’t been eaten yet) 1 cup of sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tbs vanilla extract Milk 9×9 ish sized baking dish Take your bread and tear it into pieces and place into mixing bowl. Dampen with a splash of water to wet the bread, don’t soak it. Add in your 2 eggs and vanilla and …


Economics and Investing:

China’s rich fleeing the country—with their fortunes. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.) G.G. sent: Porter Stansberry: The madness of the crowd cannot sustain this rally Items from The Economatrix: Inflation Watch: Thanksgiving Dinner Edition No CapEx Recovery: Durable Goods Disappoint As Capital Goods Orders And Shipments Decline 53% Of Bankers Say Ethics Inhibit Career Progression – Here’s Why


Odds ‘n Sods:

New Tactic – Gun Haters Post No-Guns-Allowed Stickers on Storefronts without Consent    o o o Billionaire Bunkers: Beyond the Panic Room, Home Security Goes Sci-Fi (Kudos to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o “When a right devolves into a privilege…”, this happens: Australian police find 328 guns, 4.2 tons of ammo at farm. The Aussie police say: “These firearms are very disturbing.” But I say: “This distrust of the citizenry is very disturbing.” (Thanks to Mark X. for the link.)    o o o The folks at Homestead Drying Racks have announced a big sale on drying …



Note from JWR:

It was 90 years ago today that an international commission led by Charles G. Dawes was established to investigate the German economy, which was still in throes of the Weimar Republic hyperinflation. Dawes was the man who had planned Germany’s painful war reparations. (Which of course were part of what triggered the hyperinflation.) He would soon be Vice President, serving under Cal Coolidge. Dawes had a second life as a well-known music composer. He was also co-recipient of the Nobel Prize.