Day: October 11, 2008

Notes from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $770. The auction for a large mixed lot that includes: A Special Mixed Vegetable Case-Six #10 Dehydrated Food Cans (Retail Price $105.95) This special Mixed Vegetable Case contains six #10 (96-ounce) cans–one can of each of the following: Mixed Vegetable Blend, Green Beans, Sweet Garden Peas, Mixed Peppers, Potato Dices, and Sweet Potatoes and a EZ-Towels 10 Pack Combo (10 bags of 50 towels. Retail value: $99.95). These items were donated by Jan at Healthy Harvest Foods. An assortment of world class loose leaf teas, and a box of …


Prepping: A Labor of Love, by Sparky

My preparedness journey began when my mother in law was dying, and we had to get out of the house for a while. At a flea market, on the bottom shelf, was a book titled “Making the Best of Basics”. The cover caught my attention, and before we went home that night, I had read and re-read the book. I am a union electrician, subject to layoffs, and my husband is a self-employed painter. The idea that I needed to prepare came easy for me. I thought I had done well, always buying extra for the pantry. But water? Oops. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Mongoose” in the UK and Mark S. both sent us this: Iceland and the UK square off in a strange new financial Cold War    o o o Numerous budget shortfalls around the nation: States That Can’t Pay for Themselves.    o o o Katya sent us these links for your weekend reading displeasure: Iceland Teeters On Edge Of Economic Collapse; Banking Woes Spread Across Europe — Councils fear for Icelandic cash — Banking on gold.. And then Cheryl (our Economic Editor) sent all these: Wall Street Ends Worst Week Ever With Wild Trading — Dow’s Worst Week Comes …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“University of Maryland economist Herman E. Daly points out that the current crisis is really one of the “overgrowth of financial assets relative to growth of real wealth.” Daly believes that “financial assets have grown by a large multiple of the real economy” and that “paper exchanging for paper is now 20 times greater than exchanges of paper for real commodities.” Exploding debt liens have simply outgrown the wealth. The problem, in other words, cannot be bailed out. Historically, debt that cannot be redeemed has been repealed by inflation. The same inflation that wipes out debt will wipe out savings.” …


Letter Re: Everyday Carry Pocketknife Recommendation?

Mr. Rawles: I’ve seen your recommendations on guns for survival situations, but what do recommend for “Everyday Carry” kinda pocket knives? And what do you carry personally? Thanks, – H.Y. JWR Replies: My general preference is for “low-end” stainless steel folding knives with a positive lock, and with tanto-style tips. In my experience tantos are less prone to getting broken tips. For versatility, I also tend toward knives that are serrated in the back half of the blade. (Commonly called “50/50” or “half-serrated”.) My everyday carry knife is an extra large (5″ blade) Cold Steel 29 XTH Voyager. On occasions …