Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, by Rick H.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come …




Two Letters Re: Barter, Post-TEOTWAWKI: The Micro Store

James, Thank you so much for your blog site. I’ve been a reader for nearly five years and have learned so much.   Regarding the post of items to have to implement a micro store when and if there is a TEOTWAWKI event, he was well thought out and quite thorough.   It will be wise for us all to not only be as prepared as we can be for ourselves, but to think about being prepared for those around us.   If we all prepare this way, there will be a lot of duplication. However, as you have said …




Economics and Investing:

Larry W. recommended a piece by Ryan Jordan, titled Silver And Survivalism. Eric Sprott: I Think That This Next Decade Will Be The Decade For Silver Prices. A report from California’s Central Valley by Victor Davis Hanson: A Vandalized Valley Items from The Economatrix: Euro Collapse Crisis Sledgehammer Pounds Into Stock Market Santa Rally We Are Witnessing An Historic Bottom In Gold Most Americans Still Have No Idea How Bad The US Economy Is US Asks Banks to Keep More Cash at Hand




Economics and Investing:

G.G. suggested this from James Turk: More Deficits, More Debt Also from G.G.: Are Guns & Ammo The New Gold? Why More Americans Than Ever Before Are Arming Themselves Zero Hedge: Did The Fed Quietly Bail Out A Bank On Tuesday? Items from The Economatrix: The Top 100 Statistics About the Collapse of The Economy That Every American Voter Should Should Know The Harsh Reality is that The EU Has Already Failed If Europe Is Cured, Why Are Central Banks Preparing For Its Collapse? Economy Shedding Debt But Shackled By Pessimism 2012 Economic Outlook:  Countdown To The End Oil Prices …




Barter, Post-TEOTWAWKI: The Micro Store

I’ve been a faithful reader of SurvivalBlog and several others for several years. I have downloaded the archives onto my Kindle and am about halfway through those, too. I am simultaneously fascinated, entertained, and horrified by what I have read. I have learned a lot, been totally confused/overwhelmed by everything electronic, amused and entertained by the fascination with firearms and ammunition, and all over the scale on 1,001 other issues. Can anyone ever be “fully prepped?” Probably not, but we are all working on it or toward it. This article is about how you can simultaneously help other “survivors” while helping yourself. Let’s …




Economics and Investing:

U.K. stores sell out of reindeer meat. (Thanks to loyal contributor F.G. for the link.) Reader F.B. suggested: The Coming Collapse of Bitcoin? Realtors: We Overcounted Home Sales for Five Years Most American’s Still Have No Idea How Bad the U.S. Economy Is Items from The Economatrix: Why All Signs Point to Chaos Dow Dumps 100 Points; BofA Dips Below $5 Stocks Knocked Down By Weak Banks, Europe Uncertainty US Stock Losses Double on EU Statement




Economics and Investing:

AmEx (American Expat) sent us this: The Silver Rush at MF Global G.G. sent this: Missing $4,155? It Went Into Your Gas Tank This Year   Items from The Economatrix: Global Economic Crisis:  The US an Insolvent and Ungovernable Country IMF Warns that World Risks Sliding Into a “1930’s-Style Slump” Celente’s Trends Prove Accurate; What Will 2012 Bring? Price of Oil to Remain High as OPEC Limits World Production at Oil Price




Economics and Investing:

This may be our last “big dip” buying opportunity for silver: Gold to drop in Q1, far from retesting record high: Reuters poll Thief Injured Attempting to Steal Copper Wire From School. Solar Power becomes cheaper than diesel generators in India. (Thanks to F.J. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Pathogenesis of Central Bank Ruin 12 Bullish Factors Driving Gold to $2,000 and Higher Despite Recent Setback Public Confidence in California Falls as Economy Improves The Sacrifices I Made to Survive Sharp Drop in Shopping Since Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Sales Up, But Returns May Set Record Illinois Debtors Thrown …




Economics and Investing:

It is time to cue up “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana: Fitch says comprehensive solution to eurozone crisis is ‘beyond reach’ – statement in full. (Thanks to Jim McC. for the link.) J.B. sent a new article about Alabama Rate Increases: “These people are going to end up rioting about this.” Norwegian city to adopt The Vilnius Solution to panhandling? ‘Fine people who give beggars money’. Items from The Economatrix: Is The Gold Bull Really Dead? Massive Downward Revisions Imminent:  National Association Of Realtors Miscounted Millions Of Home Sales Over Last Five Years. Europe’s Crisis:  Goldman Warns of …




Economics and Investing:

I warned you that this was coming, folks: Legislation Seeks Steel Cents and Nickels. Stock up on nickels, before the composition changes and you have to start sorting coins! IMF warns that world risks sliding into a 1930s-style slump. (Thanks to C.W. for the link.) G.G. flagged this: China trims holdings of US Treasury debt. Karl G. sent this headline: Texas Drought Takes Cow Numbers Down By 600,000. Items from The Economatrix: For Europe, the Only Way Out is to Break Up The Coming Collapse Might Be Your Final Chance to Legally Buy Physical Gold this Decade Existing Home Sales …




Getting Prepared For a Disaster on a Tight Budget, by L.G.W.

In a perfect world, if something went wrong, my family and I would get in our off-road vehicle and travel to my fully stocked large retreat cabin, that sits on a thousand acres of farm land, complete with it’s own water source, (a spring fed creek and stocked lake), its own vegetable garden,  surrounded by plentiful game and its own moat. Our six-bedroom cabin, with it’s own array of photovoltaic (PV) panels, charge controller, and battery system, along with our solar hot water system, and fireplace, and it’s stocked pantry with several years worth of food and ammunition- would be …




Economics and Investing:

J.B.G. suggested this: China’s epic hangover begins. Also from J.B.G.: Eurozone crisis poses military risk, warns defence chief General Sir David Richards And yet another: Cancer patients have operations cancelled after thieves steal copper cable from hospital Items from The Economatrix: Top US General Fears Euro Unrest Real Unemployment at 11% France Fears Credit Rating Cut Despite Bid to Ease Eurozone Crisis Long-term Jobless Eye Bleak Future as Benefits End Bank Run in Latvia




Letter Re: Silver Content of U.S. Silver Dollars Versus Smaller Denomination Coins

Dear Editor: Perusing your wonderfully informative blog and static pages I stumbled across a bit of inaccurate information I thought you may be interested in correcting: Silver dollar bags ($1,000 face value) contain approximately 765 ounces of silver 90% .50/.25/.10 bags ($1000 face) are calculated at 715 ounces of silver. The “industry standard” is 715 ounces. Respectfully, – Shawn JWR Replies: To the best of my knowledge, what I posted was accurate. Because of a long-standing congressional mandate, the silver composition of Silver Dollars has always been higher (per dollar increment) than that used in dimes, quarters and half-dollars.  Oddly, …




Economics and Investing:

Courtesy of David H. comes a link to a fascinating interview: Nomi Prins on U.S. Banks’ Derivative Exposure. The counterparty risk in the opaque OTC derivatives market is potentially huge! Reader Tom M. sent this prediction of social disorder in Europe and beyond: Why all signs point to chaos They’ve learned how to work the system: 30 Major U.S. Companies Spent More on Lobbying than Taxes Damon S. sent this: Silver price: Hey Silver Bugs, You Cryin’ Yet? [JWR’s Comment: I’m using this dip as the opportunity to add a bit more silver to my silver stash in JASBORR.] Items …




Economics and Investing:

If you’ve been waiting for a dip to buy some more precious metals, this is it. (As usual, I recommend buying silver rather than gold. And since platinum is at an odd point in its history where it is worth less than gold, I’d recommend buying a few Platinum American Eagles, Credit Suisse 1 Oz. Platinum Bars, Platinum Australian Platypus coins, or Platinum Nobles, if you can find any. ) Peter Schiff: How Are You Going To Survive When Gold Is Money Again? Yet another advantage of The American Redoubt, to consider: Map of Electricity bills by state. This dovetails …