Some new commentary on the US Dollar Index by Toby Connor: Bernanke Bottom or Crash!
J. in Galt’s Gulch recommended this over at Seeking Alpha: The Economic Collapse Cycle – Where We Are Now and How to Invest Accordingly
Items from The Economatrix:
Adventures in Silver and Gold, Part 1
Ampex Starts Reverse Inquiry: Seeks to Buy “Any Quantity” of Silver From Clients at $3 Over Spot
Oil Slips as Dollar Gains, Gasoline Up For 34th Straight Day
Here is a house design with some retreat potential: The First Zombie-Proof House. (A hat tip to Dane for the link.)
o o o
If you’ve ever wanted to make some parachute cord bracelets, but don’t have the skill, the patience, or the time, then I recommend this maker in Georgia: SportBraceletStore.com. Yes, they are American made! An explanation from their site: “The cord can be gutted to use the seven inner strands for fishing line or thread to repair torn clothing. For a medical emergency, the cord can be used to create a sling for an injured arm or even a tourniquet for a life threatening wound.”
o o o
Craig W. suggested this editorial by John Stossel: Gun Owners Have a Right to Privacy
o o o
Not survival related, but this is so cool I just had to link to it: Avalanche Cliff Jump with Matthias Giraud
o o o
The folks in the paths of the recent tornados and hailstorms are in our prayers! Every family in that region ought to have a good storm shelter.
"I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery." – Thomas Jefferson
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.
Someone recently asked for suggestions on raising livestock. I won’t claim to be an expert, but I’ve had cattle for more than thirty years so I’ll offer some observations.
Think it through before you begin. Don’t get cattle because you think it’s something you should be doing, or because you think they will be a cheap source of meat. Do you have the resources—time, land, money—needed? Are cattle the best use of those resources? Cattle are selling at historic highs right now. Getting started is not going to be cheap.
There’s also a lot of investment in infrastructure before you get your first cow. Fencing, water supply and distribution of winter feed, and perhaps shelter. You’re also going to need some way to handle and doctor the cattle. This means corrals and/or traps, head gates, squeeze chutes, loading areas, etc. Or you could work them with horses and head and heel them if you have those skills. We work our cows horseback, but drive them to the chutes when they need doctoring. We either work the calves (ear tag and castrate) when they’re a day or two old (at that point, you can just walk up to them and catch them) or head and heel them when they’re older.
Keep in mind that if you’re going to work with large animals you are going to get hurt. It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when and how bad. You’re working with animals that weigh in excess of half a ton. They can hurt you with very little effort and no intent. The better your working facilities the safer you are. One trip to the emergency room will pay for some pretty good facilities and equipment. Where would you rather spend the money?
If you’re going to raise cattle select them for temperament. Gentleness is genetic, and a gentle cow also is a more efficient converter of feed to meat. One wild cow can contaminate an entire herd. If you get a wild one either sell it or put it in the freezer. Be aware that the gentle ones can be even more dangerous than the wild ones. You’re careful around the wild ones because you don’t trust them. You tend to let your guard down and get careless around the gentle ones. Don’t make that mistake. I’ve pulled calves from cows that were dog gentle, brought the calf around to the cow’s head, and had the cow go after me. Be careful.
The way you handle your cattle will also affect their behavior. Learn and use low stress cattle handling methods. You can ruin a gentle cow with poor handling. Keep in mind that cattle are livestock, not pets. I don’t want my cows to run when they see me, but I also don’t want them to come into my space. That keeps me safe. I want them calm enough to be able to approach them, and respectful enough to move off when I ask them to do so.
You’re going to need a bull, but you really only need him for 60 days a year. Do you want to own and feed him for the other 305 days? Can you lend him out, or lease him out, for some of that time? What kind of condition will he be in when you get him back. Can you lease a bull for your breeding season? Do you want to learn how to artificially inseminate your cows and get the equipment and supplies need for that. The bull is half your herd and plays a very important role in determining the quality of your calves. You need a bull with good genetic characteristics or you’re wasting your time and money.
Having said all that raising cattle is not rocket science. They need feed, water, and a mineral supplement. What keeps them inside the fence is the feed (grass or hay) inside the fence, not the fence. If you don’t feed them they will find a way out of just about any enclosure. The acreage you need for a cow/calf pair depends on where you are. It may be 100 acres in New Mexico and one acre elsewhere. Don’t overgraze. Worm your cows periodically.
Herd health problems are going to have to be dealt with as they come up. Whatever you’ve prepared for won’t be the problem you’re faced with. Cows are hardy creatures and will get over most things on their own. But if you’re going to raise cattle you’re going to loose some to accidents (I once had a tree fall on a cow), calving problems, or something completely unforeseen.
This winter I had a cow that couldn’t get up. The vet diagnosed her with grass tetany, which is a magnesium deficiency. That was strange since she had access to a high magnesium mineral supplement. We gave her minerals IV to correct the problem. I was told she should be on her feet within 72 hours, and that there was no point in lifting her to get her up. Five days later she still could not get to her feet. That’s five days of hauling feed and water to her inside an improvised enclosure that kept the other cows away. At that point I lifted her to her feet using a hip bone lifter and a front end loader. Once on her feet she just walked off.
Next time she lay down she could not rise. The vet and I decided it was a nerve issue and three days of IM steroid injections followed. During that time I was lifting her at least once a day. After four days she started getting up on her own. That continued for awhile and then she relapsed and was unable to rise. I went back to lifting her. After about a week I decided it was a lost cause and decided to shoot her. My wife suggested I give her another few days. The next day she got up and has been fine since.
The point of this story is that no one, not even a well trained and very competent vet, knows everything. Sometime you’re going to be guessing and making mistakes. Accept it.
If you have cattle you will eventually have calving problems. You’ll need a set of obstetrical chains and will have to learn to use them. Your best resources for learning what you need to know are neighbors who have cattle. There’s also a lot of information on YouTube.
A lot of calving problems can be avoided by selecting a bull that produces low birth weight calves. This makes for easier deliveries. Even so there will be problems. If you need to do a C-section and no professional help is available you’re going to loose the cow. If the uterus prolapses (comes out with the calf) your chances of replacing it without access to either professional help, or drugs and the knowledge to use them, is slim to none.
You have to decide whether to vaccinate and if so for what. I vaccinate mine only for rabies, and that’s for my protection more than theirs. On rare occasions you may have to use antibiotics to deal with a health issue. If you want to avoid antibiotics be sure any feed you buy is not medicated. This is most common in milk replacer, or calf feeds.
Slaughter. If you can slaughter and dress a rabbit or squirrel you can do the same with a cow. It’s the same process, just a bigger, more difficult job. If you have a choice take it to a slaughter house and pay the fee. You won’t regret it.
If you’re going to slaughter do it humanely. Cows have a big head, but a small brain. Imagine a line extending from each ear to the opposite eye. The brain is behind the spot where the lines intersect. A shot anywhere else will not be effective.
If you do it yourself you’ll need a way to cool the carcass before butchering it (cold meat is easier to cut than warm meat) and before putting it in a refrigerator or freezer. The amount of warm meat in even a small cow carcass will overwhelm home refrigeration equipment. Instead of cooling the meat you’ll warm everything else. Slaughter when the weather is cool enough for you to be able to hang the meat outside.
If you’re looking for a reliable source of antibiotic free meat you may be better off talking to a neighbor who already raises cattle and making arrangements to buy whatever you want. Will that guarantee a meat supply in an emergency? Probably not. But could you protect your cattle in an emergency? Probably not. If you need to buy feed for your cattle could you get it in an emergency? Probably not. But you probably could protect and provide for your chickens or rabbits.
Does that mean I’m getting rid of my cattle, or that you shouldn’t raise your own? No. Just be aware of what you’re getting into, and that there will be a learning curve.
Are there other things you need to know? Of course. The last thing you learn is always the first thing you needed to know. There’s no way around it.
The first revolver I ever owned was a S&W Model 36, .38 Special 5-shot snub-nose. I remember getting it while visiting some relatives down in Kentucky – this was before the Gun Control Act of 1968, which made it impossible to purchase handguns in a state other than the one you reside in. You can now purchase handguns from a state other than the one you live, however, the transfer must go through a licensed FFL dealer in your own state, these days.
As I recall, I wasn’t a very good shot with that little S&W Model 36 snubby – I found the small grips didn’t fit my hand properly, and promptly replaced them with a more hand-filling set of grips. However, I did use that little .38 Special during a home invasion once, back in Chicago. So, I guess I can’t complain too much. Make no mistake, I’m a big fan of Smith & Wesson products – all of ’em, too. Over the years, I’ve probably owned more S&W handguns than any other brand, bar none. I still remember purchasing a S&W Sigma in .40 S&W, that I used as a duty weapon when I was a police officer in a very rural Native Alaskan Village. The first Sigmas had suboptimal trigger pulls – long and very heavy. I quickly changed duty guns and was carrying a good ol’ 1911 in .45 ACP. Still, the S&W Sigma showed promise.
Over the years, S&W has made some upgrades to the original Sigma line-up. And, with each upgrade, the guns got a little bit better than the last ones. The newst “Sigma” is called the SD9, and in my humble opinion, this is what S&W should have come out with in the first place. Of course, there are usually some birthing pains associated with many newly designed guns. The SD9 stands for “Self-Defense 9mm” and I’m not about to take-up the age old debate about which caliber is better. In all my years writing about guns, I’ve managed to shy away from the debate of which is better, the 9mm or the .45 ACP or the .40 S&W. To be honest, no matter what caliber you decide to choose, it still comes down to shot placement. It doesn’t matter what handgun or caliber you’re carrying, if you fail to hit the target in a vital area, you won’t stop the threat. So, please save your e-mails asking me which caliber is “best” – I don’t think there is a best, simple as that. I have my preferences, just as many of you do. However, my preference doesn’t mean my handgun or caliber is the final word.
The SD9 (which is also available as the SD40 in .40 S&W) is a double-action only handgun – meaning, each pull of the trigger is the same for all shots. As with the Sigmas, I found that the SD9 sample I had, really smoothed up the trigger pull and removed a lot of the grittiness after firing several hundred rounds though my sample. If you are going to carry any handgun for self-defense, I always recommend to my students that they test their guns by firing at least 100-200 rounds of the ammo they prefer to carry, just to make sure the gun will function with that particular load. I’m not the world’s biggest fan of DAO pistols, but I do carry ’em on many occasions – it’s a training thing – and no matter what type of handgun you plan on carrying, you should train with it, until you are proficient enough to hit your target. With 16+1 rounds of 9mm on-hand, the SD9 should be able to take care of most social problems you might encounter. And, the SD9 comes with a spare magazine – and you should always carry at least one spare magazine if you’re packing a semi-auto handgun. Of course, for self-defense, you should load your handgun with JHP ammo. It makes for better stopping power, and it might avoid a lawsuit later on. (FMJ bullets tend to over-penetrate, and you don’t want to have a bullet pass through and hit an innocent bystander.) So, by all means, stoke your carry piece with JHP, and reserve the FMJ for target practice.
A 4″ bbl, topped with a Tritium night sight on the front end of the slide is a nice touch. The rear sight on the SD9 is a combat type, with white dots – that are not Tritium loaded. I feel this set-up is really fast to pick-up in low-light conditions, too. The frame on the SD is textured polymer material, with a grip frame angle at an ergonomic 18-degrees – just about perfect if you ask me. The gun feels good in the hand – real good! There is also a Picatinny rail on the frame for mounting lights and/or lasers.
The SD9 weighs in at 25-oz according to my postal scale, so you can pack this gun all day long, without feeling loaded down with excess weight. I found on the Sigma line-up, as well as the new SD9, that it is a real pain getting the last round or two loaded into brand-new magazines. However, after the mags have been fully loaded, and left that way for a couple of days, they were easier to get all the rounds into the mags. If you own a magazine loader, then use it.
I fired a variety of 9mm ammo through the SD, to include Black Hills Ammunition, Winchester, and Buffalo Bore Ammunition and had zero malfunctions of any sort. When carrying a 9mm for self-defense, I feel comforted by +P loads. The Winchester white box 9mm ammo I tested was the 115 gr. FMJ loads – great for target practice and breaking-in a new gun. I tested several loads from Black Hills, including their 115 gr JHP, 124 gr JHP as well as +P loads in those calibers. Buffalo Bore Ammunition provided me with some of their +P+ 9mm fodder – and it really screams out of a 9mm handgun. However, the Buffalo Bore load is not for all types of 9mm pistols. I believe the BB load is safe in the SD9 for self-defense purposes – but I wouldn’t recommend a steady diet of this +P+ load in any handgun – it’s meant for self-defense and small game hunting – not for target practice. Once you know your 9mm handgun can handle this load, then stoke your mags with it, and you’re good to go.
I like the Black Hills 124-gr JHP +P 9mm load, as I feel it gives a little extra deeper penetration. And, if the load you’re carrying doesn’t penetrate deep enough and expand, it’s not gonna give you the stopping power you need for a self-defense situation. Winchester also provided me with a limited amount of their Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1 9mm 124-gr JHP Bonded load – which is specifically designed for self-defense.
As I mentioned, I had zero malfunctions with any of the ammo tested, it all performed as advertised. And, I did some limited testing, shooting into water-filled plastic milk jugs – all the JHP loads penetrated through more than two jugs and usually stopped in the third jug, and expansion was great, too. It’s not scientific testing, but still a good test of expansion and penetration just the same. I can’t possible duplicate the testing these ammo companies do – so I trust their word on what they say the performance is from their loads. One complaint I have with most new handgun designs is that, it’s difficult to find a holster to properly fit the new guns. And, many mainstream holster companies won’t jump on the bandwagon and make holsters specifically for new handguns, until they know the guns have caught on and are popular. With that said, I had to carry my SD9 in a ballistic nylon holster from Blackhawk Products. To be honest, there’s nothing wrong with these generic-type holsters that fit a lot of different sized handguns. My only advice is to make sure when reholstering, is that, you don’t get the carry strap caught between the trigger and the holster – if you do, you’ll have an accidental discharge. So, please be careful when using ballistic Nylon holster from any maker. I’m sure, in the not too distant future, Blackhawk Products will have one of their Serpa molded holsters for the SD9.
I’m always a sucker for a good deal on a gun, and in the case of the SD9 (or SD40) they are selling in for $450 to $500 if you shop around. That’s a good deal in my book on a top-notch S&W handgun, with all the bells you need and none of the whistles you don’t need. Besides, it’s a Smith & Wesson. If you’re on a budget, like me and so many others, you have to carefully watch where you spend your dollars on firearms. You don’t want to buy junk – you want quality firearms you can depend on for survival. The SD9 won’t let you down. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio
I’m often asked about my mentions of the US Dollar Index in SurvivalBlog, and about the Dollar Index ticker link at my Investing Recommendations page. This foreign exchange (FOREX) market index is often mentioned by its shorthand names (“USDX”, “DX”, or less commonly, “USDI”). It measures the value of the U.S. Dollar (USD) relative to several of our country’s major trading partners. Although the mix has changed over the years, presently the index gauges the value of the U.S. Dollar versus six currencies: the Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and the Swiss Franc. The USDX was started in 1973 with a base value of 100, and has been calculated versus this base ever since. So a value of 110 would mean that the U.S. Dollar experienced a 10% relative value increase, over the life of the Index.
When I last checked, the USDX was down to 73.896, and that is a troubling number. You see, the high water mark for the USDX was 164.7 in February of 1985 and the all-time low was 70.7 in March, 2008, during the worst of the global credit crisis. It is noteworthy that the value of the Dollar probably would have fallen even lower in 2008, were not for the fact that the Euro was having serious problems of its own. Most of the lows in 2008 were around 72, and that is the number to watch for. A break below 72 would signal a major loss in confidence in the US Dollar, and possibly precipitate a full-blown Dollar Panic. Unlike 2008, we can expect no “Dollar Rally” if the USDX again drops below 72. This time there won’t be a “bounce” because there is no longer much of a floor beneath the U.S. Dollar. Currency traders now perceive the U.S. Dollar for what is truly is: kindling. Unless monetization of the Dollar (“Quantitative Easing”) ends soon, there is a strong likelihood of mass inflation in the U.S. and a rout of the Dollar in the FOREX markets.
Don’t under-estimate the influence of the FOREX markets. They are the world’s most traded markets, with more than $3.2 trillion in currencies traded each day. Clearly, the FOREX markets are seeing some tidal shifts in currency pair trading. For example, just a few years ago the Australian Dollar was jokingly nicknamed “The Australian Peso”, but just recently (April 25th), it hit a 29 year intra-day high of USD $1.0777. Meanwhile, the Swiss Franc has advanced to USD 0.88576 and the Canadian Dollar is relatively strong, at USD 1.04873. You can track daily currency exchange rate moves at Oanda.com.
An aside: Some journalists refer to FOREX as a singular: “The FOREX market”. But since they are actually multiple markets that are being traded 24 hours a day, five days a week, in multiple venues, rather than at one central clearing house. So, properly, the FOREX should properly be described as plural, namely “The FOREX markets”.
Regardless of your interest in stocks, bonds, the credit market, or the precious metals market, you should watch US Dollar Index. It is not just something of interest to travelers or to currency speculators. Rather, it is an important barometer for the U.S. Dollar. As I’ve mentioned before, it is likely that the U.S. Dollar will lose its reserve currency status soon. And when it does, be ready for substantially higher interest rates, a huge loss in the Dollar’s buying power abroad, and mass inflation, at home.
I once again urge SurvivalBlog readers to get out of US Dollars and into precious metals and other useful tangibles. Presently, silver and common caliber ammunition are my two favorite tangibles.
JWR,
On a note to the mailorder glasses thread, for all of SurvivalBlog readers that are active duty military, reserve military, federal and local law enforcement, fire, EMS and those holding military retiree credentials, there is a couple other sites that I strongly recommend for buying very high quality eye wear for very discounted prices. The first site is USStandardIssue.com. They are the official site for Oakley military and government sales. They have a spin-off site: ESSeyepro.com. Both of these sites do make prescription sunglasses and Oakley makes regular prescription sunglasses. The ESS site also makes goggles (said to stop a shotgun blast from 35 ft). For you to become a member you do have to fax or e-mail a copy of your credentials which for some of you may not be acceptable due to your personal OPSEC precautions. I encourage eligible members to at least look at the site because this eyewear may someday save your eyesight. God Bless and keep up the prepping. – Steven B.
Mr. Rawles:
I really enjoyed L.N.’s small spaces article and her suggestion to get a mason jar vacuum sealer is right on the money. Another suggestion your readers may want to consider is a non-power way to vacuum seal. The Actron CP7830 Hand Vacuum Pump
Thanks, – Jen G.
Mr. Rawles:
I found the article by L.N. in Texas quite interesting and would like to add my two cents. I live in a small house with my wife and two kids, so storage for longer-term preparations can be a challenge. However, I have found two spaces to be of great value that most homeowners may overlook. For one, my house sits on top of a stem wall foundation that has a small crawlspace underneath. This crawlspace was only available from an outside hatch, and therefore was less than desirable as a TEOTWAWKI storage due to its visibility and location. Gaining access to it from the inside of my house was as easy as installing a simple trapdoor for the cost of two hinges and some time with a Skilsaw. I simply pulled back the carpet in my closet and located the nails that indicated where the studs ran. I pulled the nails from two adjacent joists along a two foot strip. Then I set my Skilsaw blade to the approximate depth of my subfloor and cut out a square. Making a trapdoor was as simple as cutting the removed piece of subfloor down slightly more so it didn’t catch, screwing down some hinges on the backside, then placing the carpet back over it. Obviously, make sure before doing any of this to make sure the trap door leads to an open area, not a pipe or electrical line. Below this trapdoor I have about 3-to-4 feet of vertical storage space. I made a pallet to one side on which I store about six months of freeze-dried food and several gallons of water in 5 gallon jugs.
Nobody has seen me haul the stuff in, nor will they see me hauling it out when the time comes. I have used none of my living space and the air below the house is considerably cooler and drier than my usual storage spaces, such as shed or garage. The second spot to consider is the intake registers for your HVAC system. Most HVAC systems blow out the cool or hot air out of floor registers, then take the air back to the heater/cooler through registers near the ceiling. The air running through there, as a result, is room temperature. While I wouldn’t recommend storing anything heavy, bulky, or edible up there, removing a vent cover exposes a nice bit of unused space for storage of cash and guns when I leave for the weekend. – Andy in Arizona
James,
One challenge I have encountered in my survival preparations is the lack of concealed storage space in my 800 square foot house. I recently purchased a king size mattress, being on a tight budget (spending most of my disposable cash on survival preps) I couldn’t afford a king size bed [frame and box springs]. In order to fill both needs of more storage space and a place to put my new mattress I decided to use 5 gallon buckets and 3/4in plywood to construct a simple platform for my mattress. I purchased two sheets of plywood at the lumber yard, and thirty of food grade 5 gallon buckets with lids.
I had them cut both sheets of plywood to 38×80 inches (one half of the size of a king size bed). I placed the buckets 6 across and 5 wide where I wanted my bed. In order to remember where they are, I drew a diagram and labeled each bucket with the contents. I used sheets from my old smaller mattress as skirts to cover the buckets. With the mattress, plywood, and buckets the bed is taller than normal but my wife and are both tall and I feel it is justified in the amount of storage that is gained. The size and number of buckets can be adapted to any size bed. Good luck to all in your preparations and I hope my experience will help with your storage needs. Sincerely, – Northeast BoomTruck
Mr. Rawles,
I completely agree with L.N. about survival prep in small spaces. I increased the storage space under my bed by raising it [and additional] six inches off the floor. I used commercial available bed risers that cost under $20.00 for a set of four. A riser is placed under each of the four bed posts. Just search on “bed riser” or visit local home store. – Larry D.
Mr. Rawles,
Thank you sir for “33 Ways to Encourage Atlas to Shrug” article. I, too, was born in 1960. It’s nice to know that you’re a young man.
I moved to “the Redoubt” nine and a half years ago, and have no regrets, other than the fact that my state’s Workman’s Compensation rates are some of the highest in the nation. As a building contractor, I have had to pay upwards of 65% for the privilege of wearing out my knees and back, working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. At the end of the year my wife and I would look at each other and say, “what are we doing”? I employed six men two years ago, but now employ none. I do what I can on my own, simply because I don’t want the majority of the fruits of my labor going to the state government.
The lifestyle and freedoms we’ve enjoyed otherwise do out-weigh the negatives. I’m just “shrugging” and preparing for what comes ahead. – Anthony in Montana
James,
I read your recent “Quote of the Day” by Sam Cohen, and it got me thinking. The quote was:
“The philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90 MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20.” – Sam Cohen, inventor of the Neutron Bomb
Cohen has the basics down, but he failed to capture just how far into the realm of the ridiculous the regulators have gone. A more complete analogy would be as follows:
The philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90 MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20, outlaw any vehicle that has a round hood ornament or that can carry more than 10 gallons of fuel, require sensitivity training and mandatory annual testing for all licensed drivers, require all vehicle purchases to be documented at a dealership (with a 10-day waiting period), and specify the locks on the garage where the vehicles are stored (with their wheels removed and stored in a locked container on the other side of the home). Meanwhile the most dangerous intersections are changed from stoplights to yield signs, and residential and school zone regulations are tightened with ‘no-stop’ rules so strict that even police cannot stop to set up a speed trap, thus giving the speeders free reign in the very areas they are likely to do the most damage.
Regards, – Tony B.
Jonathan H. suggested a piece over at Slate: The Great Global Freakout of 2011 Imagining the worst-case scenario if the United States even comes close to defaulting on its debt.
Loyal content contributor B.B. sent an article by James West of The Midas Letter: $5,000 Gold and $300 Silver are Credible Numbers
Bob Chapman of The International Forecaster outlined the current short squeeze in the silver market in a radio interview with Alex Jones. To summarize Chapman’s remarks: Gold is going to break out here and is going to go to $1,600, $1,650, silver is another situation, the unusual situation is that JP Morgan Chase and HSBC are short 45 to 1, that means for every contract they have in silver they sold 45 (and there is thousands of them), they’re naked short they can’t get out they can’t buy back into silver which keeps on going up. Three things can happen here, they either can tell their clients we do not have silver and we are going to pay you 25 cents on the dollar or they can default totally. Or, the Federal Reserve can step in and cover their losses at $46 dollars a share. Their losses will be about $90 billion.
Bram S. suggested this blog post: Deflation or Hyperinflation?
Tony B. recommended an economics primer, style after Dr. Seuss: The Jubjub Hole
Items from The Economatrix:
Brent Crude Rises Over $124 On Unrest In Syria, Yemen
Earnings Drive Stocks to New 2011 Highs
K.T. sent this YouTube video: The Lost Art of Cut Shells. JWR’s Comment: Don’t attempt to feed cut shells in a pump or a semi-auto from a gun’s magazine–instead, drop them into the chamber, one shot at a time. (Otherwise, you can expect some horrendous jams.)
o o o
Cheryl N. sent this: From Stockpiling To Living Off The Grid, More Colorado Residents Preparing For Disasters
o o o
Tam, over at the View From The Porch blog mentioned this bit of whimsy: The Silver Bullet. Also by way of Tam comes an article guaranteed to make your blood boil: A Tale of Modern Healthcare, or why does this cost so much?
o o o
Wheat Advances for a Third Day on Deteriorating Crop Conditions in U.S. (Thanks to Marilyn R. for the link.)
o o o
Reader J.B.G. sent this news item from Nanny State Britannia: Farmer menaced with death threats by gang of travellers dials 999… and police turn up to confiscate her shotguns. JWR’s advice to freedom-loving Britons: Take the Gap and move to the U.S., soon!
“The Fed is in a bind. No matter which way it turns, utter failure is a risk. Putting more money into the system risks no less than the dollar itself. Stopping quantitative easing (QE) risks plunging the economy and financial system into another period of turbulent decline.” – Chris Martenson
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.