Letter Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

Jim: Can you give me your thoughts on Montana and Idaho for business development, state of the state’s employment, state government’s interest in business development, general thoughts on state and personal wealth, state budget woes if any? I’m wondering would the government mentality in Montana would be inclined towards establishing world and nationally recognized things in some city center that would increase employment, tourism and their standing? (I’m thinking about Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, Wyoming., and even that odd Rock n-Roll Museum in Seattle. Things like that…. Do they already think that way? Would there …


Letter Re: Cashing Out of a Company Retirement

JWR, I would like to solicit an opinion from you, and maybe get some feedback from other SurvivalBlog readers should you elect to respond.  I was recently laid off from my job, and I will be pulling out my retirement savings from their troubled retirement fund.  I had already planned to move it into silver to protect it from the inevitable future crash.  I am well aware of all the conventional wisdom regarding retirement planning, but I am considering putting this money towards purchasing land that will move my family and me much closer to my goal of off-grid self-sufficiency.  …


Letter Re: Curious Postal and Common Carrier Drivers

James Wesley: I was wondering if you could pose the question of “mail-order stuff” to the UPS or Fed-Ex drivers that read SurvivalBlog. Have they been told to “see something-say something”? Thanks, – Ed S. JWR Replies: I haven’t heard anything definitive on that topic in recent years. I’d appreciate UPS and FedEx drivers chiming in. FWIW, I should mention that David Koresh (of Waco) first came to the attention of the BATF because a UPS driver reported seeing “grenade casings” protruding from a ripped cardboard box that was sent to the Waco church address.  Well, those were actually inert …


Recipe of the Week:

Brad’s Budget Artisan Bread   In the spirit of sharing, I thought I would offer a recipe for bread that high-end bakeries charge a lot of money. You will need the following reusable items (and after these purchases sit is very inexpensive): Baking (aka Pizza) Stone Pizza Peel (The thing you slide pizza into an oven with, but you could use the back or a sheet pan if you flour or corn meal it well so the dough can slide off easily) Food grade container or tub with a lid (not air tight, but so it will keep stuff out) …


Economics and Investing:

R.C. sent this: Ready or Not, Stagflation Is Here Reader Sue C. suggested this: Insight: In Greece, a Painful Return to Country Roots Peter S. spotted this piece by Mish Shedlock: Monopoly Money vs. Bernanke Money, is There a Difference? Argentina loses a third of its dollar deposits. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) G.G. flagged this: CBO: Federal debt to double in 15 years–Fiscal challenges worst since WWII Also from G.G.: Regulators close four banks in four states; makes 28 US bank failures so far this year Items from The Economatrix: US Factory Orders Post Surprise Fall in …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Pantry Paratus has announced a discounted bonus package for buyers of All American Pressure Canners. For just $25, with the purchase of an All American Pressure Canner they will include their new “Pantry Paratus Canning Starter Kit”(a $62.90 value) that has the following in it: • 1 Box Tattler Reusable Canning Lids–Wide Mouth • 1 Box Tattler Reusable Canning Lids–Regular • 1 Package of canning labels • 1 Canning chart magnet • 1 6 piece Canning Essentials Tool Set • 1 Set, JarBOX tote Note that this offer expires on June 15th, 2012, so order soon.    o o o …



Notes from JWR:

I just heard that Bob Chapman passed away, from pancreatic cancer. Bob will be remembered as the publisher of the excellent International Forecaster newsletter. He worked tirelessly as a market analyst since 1967, producing his newsletter twice a week. His wisdom will be greatly missed. Earlier in life, Bob was Army Intelligence officer who worked primarily in counterintelligence. Radio talk show host Vincent Finelli summed up the loss of Bob Chapman quite aptly, when he wrote: “Bob Chapman dispelled the lies, exposed the corruption, named the names, and is our hero of the truth.” I also heard that The International …


Marksmanship Basics and Beyond, by Evan W.

In a TEOTWAWKI situation, the ability to shoot accurately from a distance could be the difference between eating healthy high protein game, and not eating at all, or it could be the difference between protecting your loved ones, and being raided and attacked by bandits. Beyond just being able to shoot accurately, learning to be a marksman teaches focus, patience, determination, and consistency – valuable skills for any survivalist and in any survival situation. In marksmanship, the goal is to minimize the input of your body on the firing action of the gun. Imagine that you are relaxing your muscles …


Letter Re: Prepping with Natural Gas From My Own Well

Dear Editor: I tip my hat to Y. Sam! In my opinion, he has absolutely hit the jackpot as far as resources to have on your property. Having oil and gas even opens up the possibility of home distillation of gasoline and diesel fuel. One aspect he didn’t mention: I was wondering if the gas from his wells is ‘wet’ enough to produce any casing-head gasoline? [A condensate, commonly called drip gasoline.] In addition to converting modern engines and vehicles to run on natural gas, don’t forget that different types of engines were built specifically to run on natural gas. …


Letter Re: Adding Massage to Your Knowledge Base

Sir: Becca makes a great deal of sense with regard to muscle recovery.  It is also my humble opinion, that massage is an essential component in physical therapy for major injuries and for those preppers, such as myself, who suffer from partial disabilities involving muscle issues that are resultant from nerve damage, neuropathy,  and other deep tissue injuries.  As an example, I have had everything from vertebra L3 down to vertebra S1 surgically fused.  While such a fusion, in and of itself, is not considered completely disabling; if you take into account the resulting damage of lesser nerves by the …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Lee M. mentioned this by Bill Fleckenstein: The stimulus ship sets sail: The pressure is building on central banks worldwide to do the one thing they think works: print money. Expect to see QE3 bond-buying from the Fed, and similar moves in Europe, very soon. C.D.V. sent this one: CBO paints grim long-term debt picture Bruce Krasting of Zero Hedge discusses currency controls, in reverse: $7 Million a Minute. It is strange, indeed to see a country putting up walls to stop currency from coming in. Items from The Economatrix: Paul Craig Roberts: Collapse At Hand Greece Warns Of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader O.T.S.F. sent this from the Nature web site: Mysterious radiation burst recorded in tree rings.    o o o Michael W. sent this news story from Iowa: Feet of sand leave farms wasteland after flooding    o o o Reader David T. sent this: One rural doctor decides to close shop: ‘It’s just not sustainable’    o o o News from The Redoubt: Wyoming seeks to remove grizzlies from endangered species list, opening door for future hunting    o o o Jay B. sent this one: Pentagon crackdown on free guns riles some police


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide …


Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …