Odds ‘n Sods:

I recently heard from three different storage food vendors that they are getting deluged with orders. Apparently, the recent economic news and reports of grain shortages have worked together to cause people to suddenly want to lay in a supply of long term storage food. Both Mountain House and Alpen Aire now have orders backed up 45 to 60 days. Many storage food vendors have run out of stock, so expect to wait at least two months for shipment. I only expect the order backlogs to increase in coming months, so don’t dawdle. Prices are also likely to increase, since most of the packaging companies are changing prices “as needed” (based on cost increases) rather than the traditional annual price list updates. OBTW, I heard from Ready Made Resources that they still have some 6-can cases of Mountain House Freeze dried foods (with a 30+ year shelf life) in stock, and for just the next few weeks they are offering SurvivalBlog readers free shipping in the continental US on selected items. These include Hearty Beef Stew (case price: $180, free shipping) and either Spaghetti and Meat Sauce or Chicken and Rice (case price: $122, free shipping). They also sell the Alpen Aire SuperPak System, with enough food for two people for one year (or one person for two years). This is 1,200 pounds of freeze dried food for $5,825, (1% discount for paying by check. The normal retail is $6995!) Best of all, they are offering free shipping, which is a savings of around $735, depending on the shipping destination. For the SuperPak, allow 6 weeks for delivery.

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Eric flagged this: ‘Panic’ wheat buying across the US., and SF in Hawaii sent this: Food shortages loom as wheat crop shrinks and prices rise. Down to just a 10 week supply? It is a good thing that most SurvivalBlog readers stocked up on wheat more than a year ago, back when it was still relatively inexpensive.

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RBS sent this example of Nanny State stupidity: Guns Melted for Peace. For peace? Back in 1940, Mr. Haywood’s recent ancestors would probably have been thrilled to own any gun, since the country was in imminent risk of foreign invasion. What a difference a couple of generations of the soft life makes. OBTW, did those buffoons realize that the gun in the picture appears to be a very rare limited-production handmade Krausewerk Collectibles stainless steel .45 Luger, currently worth more than $100,000? Seeing it get the abrasive cut-off wheel treatment in the second photo was sickening. What a waste! Obviously, the Nanny State has run amok. OBTW, the only thing worse than a Nanny State is a Surveillance Nanny State. (The UK now has the highest number of CCTV cameras per capita in the world.) My advice to SurvivalBlog readers in the UK who value their freedom: Take the gap!

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Richard C. sent a link to an interesting do-it-yourself project: IR LEDs for Dazzling Closed Circuit Television Cameras