Letter Re: Where To Park Some Funds?

James Wesley, I read your blog daily for news and inspiration. I just sold my house and have equity that we want to purchase a new home with…debt free, pay cash.We will be looking for a home in Texas, and hope to be settled in in the next 18 months. My question, what do I do with $200,000 in the mean time?  I’m terrified to put our earnings from the sale into a bank. Thanks – Stacy D. JWR Replies: In my opinion silver bullion (pre-1965 “junk” coin bags or 100-ounce serialized Engelhard bars) are your best bet, for an 18 …


Economics and Investing:

Until October 15th the documentary An Inconvenient Tax will be available via streaming to Netflix subscribers. Economics Professor Laurence Kotlikoff: Oh, and By the Way, Our Government Is Totally Broke! A useful primer: Rehypothecation of Collateral G.G. flagged this: Five Alarming Facts About Entitlement Spending Items from The Economatrix: The D Word, again: US default seen as disaster dwarfing Lehman’s fall “Among dozens of money managers, economists, bankers, traders and former government officials, few view such an event as anything but a financial apocalypse.” Peter Schiff Warns of Martial Law Where Did The Gold Go?


Odds ‘n Sods:

Billy R. sent: Portable 12V power supply in an ammo can    o o o James W. liked this: Why use suppressors in combat, illustrated by a “ruined” video    o o o Reader P.W. wrote to ask if any blog readers know who makes the [woodstove chimney-mounted] Baker’s Salute Oven that is sold on the Lehman’s web site. (“They say made in the USA but Lehman’s will not tell me who the manufacturer is.”) A lot of the products sold by Lehman’s come from Amish cottage industries.  Many of these families don’t have telephones, so it might be hard …



Notes from JWR:

October 10th is the birthday of my old friend who was the basis for the “Cadet Doug Carlton” character in my novel “Patriots.” — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and …


A Written Plan for Your Preparedness, by M.B.

I am an active prepper. I do not have a retreat or bug-out vehicle (yet), but I do what I can for bugging-in and preparing for emergencies. I have extensive food and water preps, tactical supplies, and all of the other trappings of modern-day prepping. Although my family is aware of my prepping, and support my efforts, they are not “in the loop” with how to do what, when to do it, and what to do it with. I have come to realize that many of my preps will be useless if anything happens to me. A good example of …


Two Letters Re: Basic Mechanics Skill and Knowing Vehicular Limitations

JWR, RE: basic mechanics & vehicles, specifically more on tires/wheels, etc. Make a jacking platform to support the jack in soft soil. I used 2 thicknesses of 3/4″ plywood Gorilla Glued together. I’d suggest at least 12″ square, but there is an advantage to making it larger. I made mine as large as would fit underneath the passenger seat in my truck, which was 14.5″ X 16″. Inflate the spare to 15-20% over the regular running pressure in the other four. That won’t hurt it, and it’s easier to let air out than to force it in .[JWR’s Comment: If …


Economics and Investing:

John E. sent this: Russia to Grab Pension Money, Temporarily Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) spotted this: Obamacare’s winners and losers in Bay Area. (One confused Dem resident of the People’s Republic of California commented, after learning that his insurance rate would jump to $10,000 per year: “Of course, I want people to have health care. I just didn’t realize I would be the one who was going to pay for it personally.”) The bond funds are still getting hammered by just rumors of Fed tapering: Gundlach’s Fund Had Its Biggest Redemptions in September. Items from The Economatrix: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Peter S. mentioned: Review – Conflicted : The Survival Card Game    o o o Just a few days left! Until October 15th the SurvivalBlog 2005-2012 Archive DVD is sale priced at just $11.99.    o o o Reader S.L.D. sent me a link to an amazing true account of modern-day slavery in North Africa: “Still, God Helps You.”    o o o Many moons after he was found guilty, Kwame Kilpatrick (one of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s gun-grabbing mayors) is scheduled to be sentenced today, for a second time, after being found guilty of numerous corruption charges. This time his potential …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 48 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …


The Importance of Prepping Together, by F.G.

As I imagine many of the readers on this site, I once found myself somewhat isolated in my prepping, embarrassed to let on to how I felt, why I prep, et cetera . My family is very close, very involved in each others lives, and I couldn’t imagine or want it any different. My entry into this contest will be an explanatory background on myself and my preps, followed by a realistic guideline on how to “save the ones that matter” to you; or at least, my means of doing so. I am a young, 30 year old father of …


Letter Re: Hiding Livestock From Looters

Sir, Forgive me if this has been addressed, but what do you think is the best way to hide livestock from looters if/when the shtf?  it is no secret that we have animals.  Our property is such that the only clearings for pasture are near our house, which is in plain sight of our quiet country road.  From the street, you can see our house, a coop, a pen, an old tin barn, an outbuilding, a goat pasture, free ranging chickens and turkeys, etc.  We read that a privacy fence up front at the street would be a bad idea, …


Letter Re: X Products Drum Magazines

James, [Regarding Pat’s recent product review,] as a licensed Class III dealer, I have extensive experience using the X Products 50 round drum for the HK91/G3 under full auto fire. My G3s, HK91s and even semi-auto PTR-91s eat NATO standard ammo flawlessly from them. I also have used the M14 version successfully though I don’t have as much time with that rifle. I heartily suggest their use. I have no monetary interest in their company. I and my company own and use dozens of them. I also strongly suggest the PTR-91 platform for standardization in any survival group. As long …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this: Families hoard cash five years after crisis. [JWR’s Comment: Could it be that the collective conscious recognizes that the “recovery” is a charade? Not mentioned in precious meta;s saving, which is the norm in India, although actively discouraged by the government.] MasterCard joining push for fingerprint ID standard. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) What the wealthy are doing to beat inflation Items from The Economatrix: The Biggest Drag on the Job Market Just Got Bigger Catastrophic Consequences of a U.S. Default Explained The Grand Financial Shift: Rich Own Assets While Poor And Working Class Deep In …