Letter Re: Internet Resources on Preparedness and Self-Sufficiency

James:
To follow up on the recent Letter Re: Internet Resources on Preparedness and Self-Sufficiency, I’d like to recommend some more great resource web sites with free, no-copyright files that would be of interest to those who are studying preparedness and self-sufficiency:

With My Regards, – C.D.V.

Economics and Investing:

From Zero Hedge: Meet The 171 Banks For Which The Margin Of Failure Is [As Little As] One Thousand Dollars

B.B. recommended this post over at Seeking Alpha: Food Prices and Global Hunger Equal Riots, Civil Wars and Revolution

Chris D. suggested this post: No Investment Goes Straight Up, Except in a Mania.

John R. sent this: Despicable Lies, Delusional Economic Recovery, Hyped Unemployment Numbers 

Also from John:   Mortgaging Our Grandchildren’s Future? That’s Being Optimistic! (Jeff Berwick in The Dollar Vigilante)

U.S. Fiscal Meltdown in Spitting Distance: Laurence Kotlikoff. He has some excellent analysis of the current political grandstanding. The piece begins: “The two parties are having a heated debate over the Republican plan to slice $61 billion off Uncle Sam’s projected $3.6 trillion budget. If the Republicans get their way, the deficit will fall from 9.5 percent of gross domestic product to 9.1 percent. If they don’t, they’ll probably shut the government for a couple of days. Then they’ll compromise on, say, a $40 billion budget cut, having proved they gave it their best shot.”

Items from The Economatrix:

What Is The US Employment Picture Really Saying?

Service Sector Expanded In March At Slower Pace

Oil Slides as China Raises Interest Rates

Fears For Global Recovery as Oil Hits $120 Mark

Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael W. spotted this: Suburban Survivalists: ‘I Just Want to Be Prepared’. (It includes mention of the training offered by OnPoint Tactical.)

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This Is What Happens When Establishment Control Of The Media Cracks For A Moment. The analyst’s commentary starting at just before four minutes into the segment is particularly biting.

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My wife (“Avalanche Lily”) enjoyed this piece posted over at the excellent Paratus Familia blog: TEOTWAWKI and Relationships.

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Sven S. spotted this: Japan crisis spurs survival planning by U.S. Mormons

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The Prepper Podcast Radio Network has shifted to a convenient 24/7 format.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I wonder,” [Ashley Wilkes] said.  “I wonder not only what will become of us at Tara but what will become of everybody in the South.”  

[Scarlett O’Hara] felt like snapping out abruptly: “To h*ll with everybody in the South!  What about us?” but she remained silent because the tired feeling was back on her more strongly than ever. 

Ashley wasn’t being any help at all. [Ashley continued] “In the end what will happen will be what has happened whenever a civilization breaks up.  The people who have brains and courage come through and the ones who haven’t are winnowed out.  At least, it has been interesting, if not comfortable, to witness a Gotterdammerung.”  

“A what?”  

“A dusk of the gods. Unfortunately, we Southerners did think we were gods.”  

“For Heaven’s sake, Ashley Wilkes!  Don’t stand there and talk nonsense at me when it’s us who are going to be winnowed out!” – Dialogue from the 1936 novel “Gone With the Wind“, by Margaret Mitchell

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 34 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Getting Others On Board (A Prayer Answered), by Michael T.

The most amazing thing happened to my wife and I. First, some background about us.  I am a retired Master Sergeant from the Army.  I currently work for them in a civilian role in California.  My wife and I decided after my retirement in 2005 that being tied to a home and living in New York City was not in our best interest.  So, we sold everything, bought a heavy duty truck and RV and we left.

Well, since moving to California, I found myself having more time to get into some things that I always wanted to.  I wanted things such as owning and carrying firearms, hiking and camping and Survival Prep and learning how to hunt and garden.  Lucky for me my wife shared the same goals as I.  Well, one day while on one of the gun web sites that I frequent, someone recommended the novel “Patriots”.  Now, I know at this point some of you may be thinking, Okay, so what, and that you probably have a similar story.  Well, hold on a little longer, it gets better.  As I mentioned, my wife and I live in an RV.  We decided to do this and absolutely love it.  I’m on a lake and fish until I drop.

In the summer of 2010, my wife met a woman who stayed a few lots over from us.  My wife and this woman, who I’ll call “E.” became friends quickly.  We all began to hang out and as it turned out we all had a lot in common.  “E.’s” father was retired Military and she was a “Military Brat” and her friend was a nurse at the Veterans Administration hospital as she was also a veteran.

One night while we were watching a movie, we started talking about survival and what we would do and how we would do it.  What I didn’t know at the time was that I stuck a nerve with them.  You see, as it turned out, “E.” felt exactly the same way that I and my wife felt on the subject.  I then went into story-telling mode and explained to them some of the details of the novel “Patriots”.  We also shared some life experiences with each other and learned a tremendous amount about each other.

We discussed the importance of being off the grid.  It was discussed a great length the importance of personal protection.  I have even on several occasions taken them to some self-defense classes as well as provided instruction on handguns, shotguns and rifles.  I have been pleasantly surprised at how these three women have embraced the idea of personal protection and have taken on the responsibility to learn on their own.  It didn’t take much to convince them that not only could I not protect them by myself but that they may indeed need to be an active participant in all of our safety.

Well, after some good conversation and some time, “E.” came to me one day and asked me, “If you could buy some land, what would it look like?”  Well, I laughed, and simply stated that I would like it to be similar to what J.W. Rawles recommended.  A week later, “E.” comes back from a short trip and states to me, “I bought that land that you recommended”.  Of course I freaked out and replied that I recommended no such thing–I was just having fun with the conversation and having that “If I won the Lotto” dream conversation.  She laughed and tried to assure me that it was her decision and before I knew it we were sharing our very similar dreams with each other.

“E.” went on to explain her plans to live off the grid somewhat.  She wants to live a self sufficient lifestyle as well.  Of course, I show her support and congratulate her on her achievement and her goals.  Later in the week “E.” and my wife, are out shopping and “E.” mentions how she intends to hire a staff to help run things and how animals, gardens, solar energy and all sorts of things are planned into this venture.   My wife jokingly says how exciting it must be for her and that she would love a job like that.  Nothing more about this was mentioned for a few days.  A few nights later, “E.” comes over and she looks serious.  I asked her what was on her mind.  She stated that she has been interviewing my wife and I the last few days and that she wanted to make us a job offer.  I’m dumbfounded at this point.  She states that she knows I have a great job and that I am an honorable man and served proudly and there is no reason to believe her or accept.  I shoot back a thanks and a quizzical look.  She goes on to explain that she and her friend would feel more comfortable if they could share their dreams with some friends that they could trust, but also can provide some skills that they need. 

You see, “E.” grew up in several environments and has a tremendous amount of skills and knowledge from living with Mormons and on farms.  She also has hunted and knows how to prepare food as well as handle weapons.  However, I believe her health and her friend’s health are not the greatest and that being in a remote location with some friends to share it with is something they feel strongly about.  I of course can bring the muscle (at least give me that) and of course all of my military training.  I am the baby of the bunch at 45 years old.  Although I am not a story teller (I’m not big on telling war stories) and I am a bit of a recluse, I did share enough with them to give them confidence in my ability.

“E.” was interviewing my wife and me without us even knowing it.  After a few days of deliberation my wife and I accepted her offer.  “E.” has made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.  I’ll leave out the particulars as this is a bit more private.  Suffice it to say, I strongly believe most of you would have accepted this opportunity as well.  Of course I have thought, is this a pipe dream or a scam?

We have since seen the property, which is located in Oregon conducted our own background checks and met with the realtors for the land. This is for real!  I was also asked to participate in a land viewing for “E”.  She intends to by an additional 2,000 acres and wanted me to check out the defensibility of the property.  Needless to say I am still in shock by all of this.  What this experience has done was to force me to spend a tremendous amount of time stealing shamelessly the wonderful ideas of your experts as well as the first time experiences of others.  I’m on my second binder of assembling notes and articles.   

What it has also done for my wife and I was to expedite our own preparedness plans as well.  We feel that no matter how this turns out it shouldn’t affect that.  So off we went and executed our plans.  I could write a laundry list of all the items we acquired, but quite frankly, it’s pretty much all of the items you’ll find here anyway, as “SurvivalBlog.com” is our go-to web site.

I also figure that it is better to show them our preparedness by example rather than thoughts and dreams.  We are all concerned about the State of the United States and we all feel that now is as good as time as any to be prepared for any and every situation.  We have also begun to expand our group to include my three kids, all of whom are grown up.  My son is still in the Army (a veteran of four overseas deployments), one of my daughters (Airborne) and her husband just got out of the Army and my other daughter (the smartest one, and Accounting Manager) is still living in New York City.  “E.” has a few close family members with varying skills that she is also bringing on board to be a part of our bigger family and lifestyle.  They range from Mechanic to Veterinary service and animal care.

Of course, I’m in charge of all of the security issues as well as undertaking the responsibility of ensuring everyone practices OPSEC.  All must also be technically and tactically proficient in all matters relating to weapons and combat scenarios.  I can’t cook or ride a horse but I suspect that is about to change.

We are planning, based on SurvivalBlog.com recommendations, Chickens, Goats, horses, swine, as well as some others.  The garden will be a tremendous undertaking as there is ample land.  But, there will be plenty of bodies to help as well.

I have always expressed with any who would listen, that the first thing I can do to help you is to help myself first.  If I am not healthy, trained, in a positive state of mind or of high moral standards, then I cannot be there for my family or help them, and that being there for my family is what I live for.  With the Help of the good Lord I find myself in a position to ensure that my family and friends survive any challenge that befalls us. It all started with my reading “Patriots” coupled with a strong belief in God and our belief that things happen for a reason.

My wife and I would like to thank you Mr. Rawles and all who participate and share ideas on SurvivalBlog.  If it weren’t for your efforts my wife and I may not have ever been this fortunate.  The ideas and experiences that others share on this site are priceless.     

I’d also like to add that I have bought a tremendous amount from your advertisers and I have been appreciative and have been happy with every order.  

Letter Re: 40% Silver U.S. Half Dollars

Mr Rawles,
I was aware that pre-1965 [dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars] are 90% silver, but I also learned that [some] coins made from 1965-1970 were made with 40% silver. My question is, is there any value to these coins, and are they worth keeping around due to their silver content? Thanks – Andrew A.

JWR Replies: The 40% silver composition only applies to Half Dollars from those years. Surprisingly, they are still sometimes found in circulation. (In fact, more so than any other U.S. silver coin.)  Save every one that you can find!

See the Coin Roll Hunters forums to gain some wisdom from the folks that regularly search for silver coins still in circulation.

For retirees, disabled folks, and others with time on their hands, coin roll hunting is a fun and profitable hobby. (When I last checked, spot silver was at $39.29 per ounce. That makes a 40% silver half dollar worth $5.80!)

Letter Re: The Forest’s Sweetener–How to Make Maple Syrup

Jim:
As a maple producer I want to comment and expand on a few things regarding The Forest’s Sweetener. The original poster instructs you how to find sugar maples which are the best for sugar content but any native maple tree will work (Japanese maple is not native), I even tap silver maples. When making a spile take special care to have clean hands. Trees heal ia a way similar to humans do (bacteria helps close the wound) and will end your season quickly. A better alternative to people in the Northeast ever considering making syrup is to buy some spiles from a dealer or eBay. This time of year a lot of producers are looking to upgrade to plastic spiles and tubing after their season. You can clean the bacteria infested metal spiles by boiling them before your next season. Stainless steal spouts are also available. I use mostly 5/16 diameter drill bits and check valves to reduce the possibility of bacterial infection. Maple trees have internal pressure which will still force the sap out of the smaller hole. If you notice your tree did not heal from the previous season, then skip that tree this year as the tree is not healthy. The holes should be 80% closed. The smaller the holes the more complete the healing process.  

The author also suggested a 50 gallon pot with a slow steady fire. Most producers have evaporators that are thin Stainless Steel food grade material. The more surface area the better. Also don’t run your sap more than 2″ deep as it boils allot faster when the depth is not too deep. We try to maintain about ¾” – 1” of sap in our pans. The hotter the fire the better during your initial boiling the better (our evaporator pans run around 1,800-2,100 degrees F.). As you get closer to finishing you will want to regulate the fire more. If you make the syrup too thick simply add boiled sap or distilled water to the syrup to thin it to the correct density.  

A thermometer works good for telling when your close to making syrup and is fine for most do-it-yourselfers. However you really should use a hydrometer— an instrument that measures the density of a substance. 

After you finish your syrup you should re-filter it. If you don’t you will have deposits of Niter (sugar sands) that will settle to the bottom of your container. Instead of cheese cloth you can purchase commercially available cone filters and pre-filters for under $20 to filter your syrup. In the past we have used these filters for 3 years with no problems. Care should be taken when storing them as they will draw moisture and can leave a moldy taste to syrup. Simply wash them by hand with hot water (no soap).  

You should really hot pack your syrup to skip the step of a water bath. Simply place in mason jars at a temp above 185 degrees and flip the containers over (you can tell if it sealed by looking at the lid and observing if it is concave). There are also commercially available containers  that have a XL oxygen barrier and block out light giving your syrup a longer shelf life. You can re-use the containers by simply having a supply of extra lids available.   If for whatever reason your syrup appears to have mold or “mother” in it from not properly sealing you can simply reheat to 200 degrees and filter then use. Maple syrup should have a shelf life of five years and we have used syrup that’s up to 8 years old.  

I use tubing for my maple tress so I have central gather spots. I also use a vacuum pump but my tubing is set up to run by gravity if I have no fuel or electric. My evaporator is a Forced Air over Fire system that inject high pressure air above the fire and low pressure under the fire. This burns wood completely and is a gasification type system that produces no smoke once going (albeit a lot of steam). We process around 70 gallons of sap per hour.  

JWR often writes about how having your own home business can be beneficial WTSHTF. Our great country used to be a huge producer and exporter of maple sugar. I feel in the coming times that I have a business that will thrive WTSHTF as commercially produced sweets will not be readily available.   Thanks. – Jason in Nowhere, Pennsylvania

Economics and Investing:

Using the Backyard Grill This Summer Just Got More Expensive. (Thanks to J.D.D. for the link.)

Brent S. suggested an article by Robert McHugh: Silver and Gold Will Remain in Strong Uptrends

Why Electric Cars are Really Coal Cars.

H.M. sent us this: The foreclosure mess isn’t going away.

Pierre M. and Chip W. both sent this: Oil could hit $200-$300 on Saudi unrest.

Several readers sent this: Feds seek $7 Million in privately made ‘Liberty Dollars’. We are witnessing an absurd inversion of reality: The government, which now prints only worthless and irredeemable fiat, wants to seize Norfed’s genuine gold and silver coins, calling them “counterfeit.”

Items from The Economatrix:

Stocks Edge Higher as Oil Hits New 30-Month High

Real Unemployment Shows US Economy Short 20 Million Jobs

A Shutdown of Our Economy

Odds ‘n Sods:

Lydia sent a link to this piece: Meet the New York hillbillies More city folk than ever are turning their homes into farms. But is living off the land as virtuous as it sounds? The condescending tone was troubling, but that is what we expect from big New York City newspapers.

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Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) spotted this press release: Bourque Industries, Inc. Announces Successful Live-Fire Demonstration of New Kryron Ballistics Helmet. (That is superior to the currently-issued Kevlar helmets.)

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F.G. sent this: Lawmakers renew push for “rogue websites” bill. F.G. asks: “Since Internet music and movie piracy is already illegal, why does this legislation need to exist? ‘Rogue web sites’ as determined by whom?” JWR Adds: I’m curious to see how loosely worded the bill will be.

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S.R. flagged an interesting piece: How to Disable Geolocation in Specific Programs.

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Reader M.E. mentioned that Backyardherds.com has a forum section dedicated to birthing, weaning, and raising cattle.

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 34 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

The Forest’s Sweetener–How to Make Maple Syrup, by Melissa T.

I am new to the survival mindset and I am a person that loves to make desserts for my family. My first reaction to some of the articles I have read was how would I continue to make the treats that they enjoy after TEOTWAWKI?  Then I realized there would be a way by making maple syrup. This is a family tradition that has continued in our family from two previous generations.  After taking a survey, my oldest son realized many people do not know how to make maple syrup and that is what has led me to write this article.

Identifying Sugar Maples             
The first step is to be able to identify a sugar maple.  A sugar maple will have a light gray to brown bark. Examine the shape of the leaf in between the points. Sugar maples have three to five lobes and are U-shaped between its points. If there are no leaves on the tree, look around and see if you can find an old one on the ground to help you identify the tree. Sugar maples contain about 3% sugar which means less boiling and better syrup. The sap usually starts to run in the trees around the middle to end of February here in the Midwest. The sap flow is the best on warm, above- freezing days after below-freezing nights. The warm sun on the tree will make the sap run.

Make a Spile
 After you identify your sugar maple tree and determine when the sap is running, your next step will be to make a spile. My grandpa always used sumac wood. It has a soft center and is easy to carve. The spile needs to be about six inches long, ¾ inch to 1 inch diameter. Use a knife to taper one end of the spile down to ½ inch.   Carve away the top ½ for ½ the length. Do not carve away below the dark heart wood Use a piece of straight #9 wire in a drill to clean the heart out of the un-carved portion of the spile. Now remove the heart, this is your trough. You can purchase spiles but it is easier to make your own so that you can get the right size for your hole that you drill.

Tapping a Tree
You will use a drill to make a hole on the south side of the tree, about three to five feet from the base.  Drill directly over a large root or below a large healthy limb. You can go higher, and this will eliminate animals from tipping over the sap container. We use a 5/8 inch diameter auger bit and drill into the tree. Drill hole slightly uphill and make sure you remove any shavings.  After the hole is drilled, insert the spile. Use a hammer to drive the tapered end of the spile into the 5/8 inch hole.  Insert a nail above the spile to hang the bucket or gallon plastic milk jugs. Remove the spile at the end of the sugaring season. The hole will be healed over by the next year. Tap in a different place each year so the tree has time to heal.

How to Cook the Syrup
It takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup. Collect the sap from your containers daily. You should boil down the sap within a day or two of collecting it if not the same day you collect it. The fresher the sap, the better the taste, and you don’t want it to sit too long or it will spoil.  When you have 30-40 gallons you are ready to start cooking it down.  You need to strain the sap before you cook it. You can use cheesecloth or a white flour sack dish towel. This eliminates any dirt, debris, or critters that might have fallen into your sap.
We put the sap in a 50 gallon kettle to cook it down. You can cook it over a log fire or use propane if it is available. The key is to have a slow and steady fire because it takes 8-10 hours to cook it down.  We start the process outside because of the amount of steam that comes from the cooking. It makes a mess in the kitchen. After the sap cooks down, we take it inside to finish cooking it off. The sap will become darker and thicker as it cooks down. It’s a good idea to stir frequently so it does not scorch. We use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature. When it reaches seven degrees above the boiling temperature of water at your altitude, it is finished.  If you cook it 25-27 degrees above the boiling temperature of water you will have maple cream and you can whip it. If you cook it 30-33 degrees above the boiling temperature of water it will crystallize and become maple sugar. This will happen very quickly! You have to move fast or you will have a huge mess. The maple sugar can be used like brown sugar to sweeten things like cookies, cakes, or other treats.

How to Can It
 After the sap has cooked down to syrup, you may use it or can it. Put the syrup in clean, pint jars. Place the lids and rings in boiling water for 3 minutes. Place lids on jars, wipe off the edge, and then screw on the rings. Put jars in large canning kettle. Pour hot water over the jars, enough to cover them. Bring to a boil, put lid on, and process for ten minutes. Remove jars and let sit until lids pop [down].

Ideas for Using Maple Syrup
Everyone knows that maple syrup can be used on rice, grits, pancakes, or waffles.  Pour over snow for a tasty treat. Use your imagination for using either the syrup or the sugar. Pour a small amount into your baked beans or over a baked sweet potato. Try it in homemade granola. One of my favorites is to drizzle it over baked apples. Used as a topping, sauce, dressing, or marinade the possibilities are endless. Maple syrup is versatile in its uses.

Maple syrup making has been a tradition in our family for two previous generations. It does take some time, but the end product is worth it. My family will be able to enjoy the tasty treats after TEOTWAWKI because of nature’s sweetener from your backyard.

Letter Re: Building a Refrigerator Wall Adobe House

Dear Mr. Rawles:

A recent article on your site mentioned using shipping containers to build an enclosed courtyard similar to those that were constructed as California Missions. The author stated he could not use adobe due to the wet climate in which he planned to construct his non-fortress-looking enclave. Here is another suggestion in lieu of adobe:

While living in a rural area in Southern California in the early 1960s, I had to take trash to the dump about every third week. Over the span of just a couple of years, I watched a huge canyon fill-up with trash from our disposable-society discards. About that same time, I also became aware of Dennis Weaver (remembered as Chester in the television series “Gunsmoke“) built eco-friendly “Earthship” home, in New Mexico. He used old tires and built his home into the side of a hillside. He reported an almost year-around constant temperature with very little external heat or cooling. That gave me the following idea:

I moved to Texas to purchase 30-40 acres in a non-building-permit-required, non-art-jury-dominated, non-homeowners-association-controlled location. I drew a 50-mile radius on a map with the center of that circle being my property. I then located all appliance stores within that 50 mile radius and made arrangements to pick-up their old appliance carcass’ at no charge. I collected the shells of used refrigerators, stoves, chest freezers, washers and dryers which I then used in lieu of adobe bricks to fill-in as walls of a pole frame house. After some reinforcement, stucco on the outside and drywall on the inside made it look like a regular house except for the three-foot-thick walls. The insulation factor is excellent and I figure I personally helped save a lot of space in some land-fills. Regards, – Tex

Economics and Investing:

It has always been self-evident, but here are the numbers in chart form, to back it up: Purchasing Power of the Dollar Versus Gold. (Thanks to R.P.B.for the link.)

David R. pointed me to this sobering statistic: In just the month of March, the US government spent $1.1 TRILLION dollars.

Rick in Colorado sent this interesting interactive map link: Map The Meal Gap. Rick’s comment: This is why the average person needs to prepare. Note that for a family of four making $40,000 a year 1/3 of household are food insecure and this was in 2009!

Foreclosure red carpet style – From $1,350,000 to $576,000 in prime West Hollywood zip code. Wow! Scroll down and look at the photos of this house: It is not much more than just a 1920s bungalow, with a ratty plywood shack posing as a garage. Are they crazy? For comparison, here in the Un-named Western State, $576,000 would buy you a custom 3,000 square foot log house with river frontage, with a full size barn or shop on 40+ acres!

Items from The Economatrix:

Major Crash Coming For Stocks, Commodities Topping Out

March Jobs Report:  The Consumer Engine Kicks In

Cars That Could Rally While Japan Digs Out