Economics and Investing:

As I’ve mentioned before, a big jump in interest rates could create chaos for the holders of many MBS derivatives. Here is an example of how just a small rate rise caused turmoil: Analysis: Bank of America’s interest-rate exposure may be worse than rivals. Do Western Central Banks Have Any Gold Left? Part III Detroit files for bankruptcy protection. (Is it just a coincidence that all of the city’s mayors for the past 50 years have been Democrats?) Speaking of Detroit, Commander Zero had some quite wry commentary. (Thanks to Gil in Montana for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Driving somewhere? There’s a government record of that    o o o Attention Handloaders: Tom in Pennsylvania recently posted this handy weight data for brass, over at Buddy’s Boards. (An amazing free site that I visit almost daily.) This would be good data to print out for your reference binder: 9mm, 59.46 grains each, 117.7 cases per lb., 8.5 lb. per 1,000 .38 Special, 68.06 grains each, 102.8 cases per lb., 9.7 lb. per 1,000 .40, 70.1 grains each, 99.9 cases per lb., 10 lb. per 1,000 .357 Magnum, 78.3 grains each, 89.4 cases per lb., 11.2 lb. per 1,000 …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, …


Notes from JWR:

July 19th is coincidentally the birthday of two famous handgun designers: Samuel Colt (born 1814) and Gaston Glock (born 1929.) I predict that both of their handgun designs will still be in production in 2100, and perhaps even 2200. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 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. …


Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff: “I Think The Dollar Is Going To Collapse Before The Market Does” Over at Code Green: 70% of All Our Food Relies on Refrigeration C.D.V. sent: China reportedly planning to back the yuan with gold Items from The Economatrix: Yuan Hailed As The World Reserve Currency Karl Denninger:  An Economic Collapse That is Going to be Worse Than 1929 Mac Slavo: Brinks Vaults Are Being Depleted: “This Has the Appearance of a Run on the Bank”


Odds ‘n Sods:

For those who enjoy daily grazing at numerous self-reliance/homesteading/simple living/preparedness/survival sites, here is a nifty new aggregator site: The Independent    o o o The celebrations in Arkansas may have been premature. There has been some legal hair splitting: Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has issued an opinion on Act 746 of 2013 stating that it does not, in fact, authorize constitutional carry in Arkansas. See Opinion No. 2013-047, dated July 8, 2013.    o o o Mike Williamson’s latest book Tour of Duty: Stories and Provocations will be released in August 6th. In the meantime, Baen Books has made …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 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 …


How Consumer Debt Collection Works, by Spokane Joe

This is an introduction to collections, charge off, repossession, and the current debt cycle that many good people are finding themselves in. It will be a generalization of the rules and laws as they differ from state to state.   Let me start with my credentials. I have been a collector for the last 14 years. I have worked first party and third party files (the difference between the two will be described herein). The accounts I have worked have ranged from five days past due to 10 to 20 years past charge off. I have worked commercial, Small Business …


Letter Re: Questions on Gardening, Livestock and Dogs in North Idaho

Dear CPT Rawles, My wife and I, along with our three teenage son’, are now eyeball deep in prepping, and have reached that stage where we pretty much have most of everybody’s personal gear needs met, with the exception of a few small items here and there.  We opted to take care of that first, as we are stuck temporarily east of the mississippi, in the southeastern US.  Our intent when we began our prepping journey a couple years ago, was first & foremost to be able to make a hasty exit from this area if the SHTF.  Thus, our …


Economics and Investing:

I heard from the folks at Mulligan Mint that the one ounce American Redoubt silver coins, are still selling well, and they have cleared most of their order backlog. When I last checked they only had about 500 ounces in Redoubt coins left to fulfill, and they expected to mail all of those this week. But anyone placing orders henceforth can still expect delays of up to three weeks, during times of peak demand. (Whenever spot silver dips below $20 per Troy ounce, the floodgates open.) For some perspective: The U.S. Mint reported that it sold a whopping 27.6 Million …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader S.M. mentioned two more all-American field gear makers: 215 Gear Store – Slings, belts, chest rigs, plate carriers, hydration packs, K9 rigs, gloves, and more. Ice Tactical  – Best known for their chest rigs. They also make belts, a wide variety of mag pouches, and a great poncho liner.     o o o By way of Ol’ Remus at The Woodpile Report, I learned of this link: The Ten Oldest Military Vehicles Still In Service. Remus says: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”    o o o Some French Canadians are fed up with globalism, too: Réveille “Nous sommes …




Letter Re: Low-Budget Photovotaically Charged Drill Batteries

Dear Mr Rawles, This letter is in response to the piece on using photovoltaics to charge batteries by C.K.. I feel I should spend some time discussing some potential problems with charging Lithium Ion (“Li-ion”) batteries the way C.K. proposes. However first a few general notes. – I am all for scavenging if you know what you are doing like some of us. But ‘newbies’ are better off not trying to disassemble anything more complicated than a desktop power supply for safety reasons as JWR pointed out. I should add that the process that causes the ‘bounce’ after discharge also …