Behind the Green Door of the NSA’s Bluffdale, Utah Enigma

There has been lot of buzz in the press in recent weeks about the NSA’s new “data center” being constructed near Bluffdale, Utah. The selection of Bluffdale, Utah for the site is curious. I suspect that this is more than a data center. Because LDS church doctrine has a strong emphasis on overseas missions, a lot of their young men come home with foreign language skills. And since many LDS church members have squeaky-clean backgrounds, they can usually get through the hurdles of a TS/SSBI clearance without much trouble. Consequently, a lot of Mormons end up with Top Secret clearances …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: Next Great Depression? MIT researchers predict ‘global economic collapse’ by 2030. Of course, many SurvivalBloggers would consider the timeframe of their prediction overly optimistic. SurvivalBlog reader G.T. Mace, a gold dealer, sent me some details on a new gram units gold bullion product from KB Edelmetall Gmbh of Switzerland and Germany that is packaged in tamper-proof plastic, in the form factor a credit card: Karatbars. Be advised that I haven’t researched their mark-up percentage (and you definitely should, before buying), but the concept is captivating. BTW, with 31.1035 grams per Troy Ounce you can simply divide …


Odds ‘n Sods:

OSOM mentioned that he saw a recommendation from Richard Maybury for a PowerPoint presentation on Fire Extinguishers.    o o o Owners of ARES Shrike belt-fed AR-15s will likely want some of these 200 round belt pouches. By the way, my #1 Son (who runs SurvivalRealty.com) helped to design the subdued Shrike patch and also designed the Kit Carson Enterprises web page. The company is run by a widow who lives in Vermont. The Shrike pouches are just her first product–others will follow.    o o o Cameron sent this evidence of creeping Nannystatism: Yes, the New York City Department …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"In the United States neither paper currency nor deposits have value as commodities.  Intrinsically, a dollar bill is just a piece of paper, deposits merely book entries.  Coins do have some intrinsic value as metal, but generally far less than their face value.  What, then, makes these instruments – checks, paper money, and coins – acceptable at face value in payment of all debts and for other monetary uses?  Mainly, it is the confidence people have that they will be able to exchange such money for other financial assets and for real goods and services whenever they choose to do …


Notes from JWR:

I still need the current e-mail addresses for nine of the 24 Honorable Mention prize winners in the most-recently-ended round of the SurvivalBlog nonfiction writing contest. Please let me know via e-mail ASAP, so that I can have all of the $30 Amazon.com gift certificates sent out, electronically, in one batch. Thanks! — 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 …


Four Seasons of Gardening Lessons, by Mrs. B. in the Midwest

Although I had a front-row financial services seat for the market collapse in 2008, it wasn’t until fall 2010 that I was stuck by an awakening that “something wicked this way comes.” With a master’s degree in Medieval Literature (it’s not as useless as it sounds, really) two things I have studied are the ravages of war and famine over the centuries, both of which desperately scare me as the mother of two young children. I have paid particular attention to the many SurvivalBlog entries on gardening, one of my few practical skills. Most are either submitted by seasoned vegetable …


Letter Re: Military Surplus G.O.O.D. Vehicles

Jim: I loved your book How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It. I was surprised when I read the G.O.O.D. vehicles section that you didn’t really mention old military vehicles as G.O.O.D vehicles. I was curious of your stand on this as I’m sure other readers are too. I recently purchased a 1-1/4 ton 1968 Kaiser Jeep M715 that had been converted to run on both gas and propane. It really isn’t a very complicated vehicle to work on the wiring is very basic. I believe this is a good retreat rig as the maintenance is …


Economics and Investing:

Remember when I compared Quantitative Easing debt monetization to crack cocaine addiction? It appears that Tim Geithner and Ben Bernanke have moved up to the level of co-dependency and are only one step away from collapsing on an uncovered mattress on the floor of a squalid roach-infested apartment. Read this: Wall Street Journal: Fed Buying 61 Percent of US Debt. The next thing you know, Tim and Ben will be passing the glass pipe and singing a duet: “Its easy come, easy go, little high, little low…” This should make you feel cheery when you write your check payable to …


Odds ‘n Sods:

One man’s view on safe places for TEOTWAWKI: 10 Places to Ride Out the Apocalypse    o o o Reader H.D.C. wrote complain that he’s had two Tilia Foodsaver vacuum packers “die” in the past four years, after fairly frequent use. He mentioned that they both now produce hardly any suction. Apparently, this is a fairly common complaint. He asked for a recommendation of something similar, but more sturdy. This should do the job. BTW, the VacUpack can use the same rolls of plastic bag material made for the Foodsaver.    o o o File under: OPSEC Failures: The ultimate …



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 …


Lighting Alternatives, by Rick C.

Looking at today’s troubling times I cannot help but wonder about how to best prepare for them. I am new to this arena and in the last ten years. Yes its taken me that long, I have come to realize that being prepared is not being some Nut Case, but the very real, important, job of every family to ensure survival. Its too bad most of us are not even aware, or willing to acknowledge what is happening. Only in the last two years have I started to react to this and start preparing my family. I regret my “Head …


Letter Re: Praise For Zanotti Armor Modular Gun Vaults

James, First of all thank you for running SurvivalBlog as it is has been a valuable source of information. Years ago, you mentioned Zanotti Armor as a high quality gun safe company, I’m glad you did, as I am now a very happy customer! I ordered the ZA-3 6-foot–the largest safe available from the company–and it fits my needs perfectly. It only took two of us to move all the [modular] pieces to the basement and assemble the walls. It required two extra pair of hands to assemble the top and door. I ordered the safe in June and received …


Economics and Investing:

Reader R.B.S. suggested this article: Cashless: The Coming War on Tax-Evasion and Decentralized Money Euro zone unemployment reaches near 15-year high Government bond funds losing their allure Items from The Economatrix: Gold Pushes Higher With Oil, Stocks On Data Manufacturing Up, Construction Spending Falls Unemployment May Be Down, But So Are Wages And Benefits


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ttabs has posted another one of his great ultralight flying videos. This one was filmed in Eastern Washington. (You may recall his video dedicated to flying over some of the locales in my novel “Patriots”.)    o o o David N. recommended this at Shepherd School: Aggressive Shooting Stance    o o o Gregg sent this charming news: U.S. trial program would spy on Internet users to prevent animal abuse. Just wait until home livestock slaughtering and butchering is outlawed. Then that will be redefined as “abuse.”    o o o JWR Observes: It now appears that The Dear Leader, …