Economics and Investing:

After an unexpectedly long delay, here it comes: Stivers’ steel-coin bill gets hearing in House. (2012 may be your last chance to stack up your rolls of nickels with relative ease, at face value.) Reader “AmEx” sent this: Taxmageddon coming? Answer could cost Americans $500 billion The latest in the ever-growing world of derivatives: Could the Next Investment Craze Be Hedging Marriages? Kevin S. sent this: It’s Starting To Look Like This Notorious Book On The End Of Growth Was Right Several readers sent this: 16 Reasons To Move Away From California Items from The Economatrix: More US Cities Set …


Odds ‘n Sods:

After a long interval, Ol’ Remus of The Woodpile Report again addresses the fine art of stacking woodpiles.    o o o Scientists Say Spread of Schmallenberg Virus Is ‘Warning To Europe’. (Thanks to Gregg P. for the link.)    o o o Chris M. sent this amazing tale of long-term caching: Twenty Spitfire aircraft buried in Burma during war to be returned to UK.    o o o I just heard that Levon Helm passed away. He was a man who will be missed. By coincidence, just a couple of days ago I heard a cover of the song …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man [that] turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man [that] cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.” – Jeremiah 14:7-9 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 40 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 …


Defending Static Positions in a Survival Setting, by J.G.

You’re a prepper.  You have stores of food and water, supplies, commo gear, and everything you could conceivably need in order to survive the Apocalypse.  Unfortunately, that also means that you’re a target.  Eventually everyone in the neighborhood will figure out that you and yours are maintaining your weight while everyone else in society is starving, and your neighbors will cease to behave in a neighborly way.  To say “Oh well, I guess I should have prepared” is not the human way.  They will attempt to take your provisions by force.  This is one of the primary reasons that I …


Letter Re: Firearms Laws in England

Mr. Rawles: A few years ago, my wife and I left our Texas ranch for a three month long hunting safari that took us from Africa to Scotland. We traveled with three rifles, a double in a large African caliber, a .458 Lott bolt, and .300 Winchester Magnum bolt light rifle. As we would transit Schiphol in the Netherlands both ways, I had to apply for two transit permits for the firearms and ammunition as well as for firearm permits in both Tanzania (a former British colony) and in Scotland. Even though I was a setting judge at the time, …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this “must read” piece: Taxes Prompt More Americans to Renounce Citizenship Also from G.G.:Gold bars now Italy’s fastest growing export: Italy’s exports rose last month, but only after they were boosted by a rush of gold ingots being shifted to Switzerland. Jim Willie: Golden Eye of Hurricane Tim Geithner Spills The Beans, U.S. Debt Crisis Looms   Globalization, Inflation & Taxes: 3 Key Factors That Will Destroy The Middle Class Items from The Economatrix: Zero Hedge reports: Central Banks Favour Gold as IMF Warns of “Collapse of Euro” and “Full Blown Panic in Financial Markets” Insiders Tell Jim …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Shamus H. sent this: The Power Pot. I wonder if they’ve been able to overcome the problem of TEG junctions burning out. (That has always been their weakness.)    o o o Ann Barnhardt’s speech at Liberty First. Warning: Her speech includes a bit of foul language.    o o o George S. sent a link to a fascinating video of the world’s ocean currents.    o o o F.J. sent this: Alexandria Chicken Coop and Run    o o o For those who like the British DPM camouflage pattern (which is great for most North American woodlands), SurvivalBlog reader …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 40 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 …


Bugging Out, But to Where?, by Paddy O.

I read a lot of material in SurvivalBlog and several other similar sites about methods and means of bugging out if you live in a city or other area where it would be undesirable to live during some kind of calamity.  After seeing so much about this idea of waiting until the SHTF, or some other event that would necessitate leaving the area in which you live, I feel the need to weigh in and give the position of the person who’s already living in the area to which many of the city dwellers are being encouraged to bug out …


Letter Re: Mortgages–WTSHF, Inflation and Deflation

Hello Mr. Rawles, First of all, thank you for all that you do.  Your books and your site are invaluable information to me.  They have helped me to get pretty-well prepared.    I have a question about debt.  Every survival type that I have listened to or read says “get out of debt”.  I am out of debt, but I am considering obtaining a small mortgage in order to be able to purchase a place that will be a better refuge location for me and my family.  (Unfortunately, it will have to be on the east side of the Mississippi …


Economics and Investing:

“Not if, but when” for Spanish bailout, experts believe For Two Economists, the Buffett Rule Is Just a Start. These French commueconomists want to punish anyone who is successful. And speaking of French economists, here are some that are more croyable: Global systemic crisis – France 2012-2014: The big republican earthquake and its international impact Ken S. recommended this piece over at The Daily Reckoning: Global Derivatives: Like Two Drunks Leaning On Each Other At Zero Hedge: Chris Martenson: “The Trouble With Money”. (Thanks to Jim T. for the link.) And if those gloomy-doomy charts weren’t enough for you, then …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader B.B. spotted this: Hacking Expert David Chalk Joins Urgent Call to Halt Smart Grid: “100% certainty of catastrophic failure of energy grid within three years”    o o o New Mexico man takes unique approach to protect home from fires. (Thanks to Scott B. for the link.)    o o o One of those “Small World Department” moments, from videoblogger “SGT” Planecast with a PATRIOT – Part One. He notes: “Recently I had the good fortune of meeting and interviewing a newly awakened patriot on a plane trip out east. The passenger sitting next to me just happened to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Vigorous measures at present would soon put an end to this rebellion. The deluded people are made to believe that they are invincible…. When this army is ordered to act against them, they will soon be convinced that they are very insignificant when opposed to regular troops." – Major Thomas Pitcairn, Royal Marines, in a letter from Boston to John Montagu, Lord Sandwich, the Secretary of State, 1775.