Day: August 12, 2008

Notes from JWR:

Note from JWR: There are just three days left in the current SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. The high bid is still at $500. This auction is for a big mixed lot: a NukAlert radiation detector, donated by KI4U–a $160 value), a DVD of 480 E-books on Alternative Energy (donated by WK Books–a $25 value), and the following package of survival gear all kindly donated by CampingSurvival.com: One case of MREs, one pack of water purifications tablets, a bottle of colloidal silver, a fire starter, a bottle of potassium iodate tablets, an emergency dental kit, a pack of “Shower in a bag” …


The Golden Horde and the Thin Veneer

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Because of the urbanization of the U.S. population, if the entire eastern or western power grid goes down for more than a week, the cities will rapidly become unlivable. I foresee that there will be an almost unstoppable chain of events: Power -> water -> food distribution -> law and order -> arson fires -> full scale looting As the comfort level in the cities rapidly drops to nil, there will be a massive involuntary outpouring from the big cities and suburbs into the hinterboonies. This is the phenomenon that my late father, Donald Robert Rawles–a career particle physics research …


Letter Re: Portable Two-Way Radio Recommendations

Sir, Could you or your readers recommend any good two-way re-chargeable hand-held radios that are sold at outdoor places such as Cabela’s? I’m particularly looking for a model that I could use while at University classes while my wife is one mile away at our apartment. Thanks,.- Chad JWR Replies: Reliable communication with a one mile range in a cluttered environment–as I assume yours is, if the city is large enough to host a university–is “iffy” for the typical FRS and GMRS hand-held transceivers on the consumer market. My preference is for the MURS band hand-helds. Not only will you …


Odds ‘n Sods:

You’ll recall that I promised to feature more good news. Here is some potentially good news for the US Dollar from The Financial Times: Dollar at crossroads amid brighter US outlook    o o o Jay in Florida sent an article that should come as no surprise: FDIC Fund Strained by Bank Failures May Have to Raise Premium. If the bank runs continue apace, the FDIC may have to rely on much more: Namely, “The full faith and credit…”    o o o Fitzy in Pennsylvania found this: The bionic exoskeleton future is almost here.    o o o Wars, …