Year: 2008

Odds ‘n Sods:

Matthew R. found a link to a great video that has brief interviews with some cave dwellers in Idaho.    o o o The newspaper headlines are sounding like something out of my novel. Randy F. sent us this: Panic engulfs global stock markets. And then Cheryl (our Economic Editor) sent us this mountain of news and commentary: Investors Expect Market Volatility As Global Credit Woes Persist — Analysis: More Banks To Fail Next Year Despite Bailout — Euro Crisis Deepens: Officials Vow To Save Banks — Euro Unity Collapses: Every Country For Itself — $700 Billion Printing Of Bailout …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Keynes explicitly classified the two components in the money supply as ‘industrial circulation’ versus ‘financial circulation.’ The distinction is important; it is like the difference between a woman and a female impersonator. They may be alike in almost every respect, except the essential ones.” – Bill Bonner


Notes from JWR:

I’m pleased to announce that starting today a special “Pre-Election” sale price is now being offered on the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course. It is being sold at 33% off the normal retail price! Sale pricing on the course is a rare occasion, so be sure to take advantage of it. This sale ends at midnight on Tuesday, November 4th (Election Day, in the U.S.) Today we present the first entry for Round 19 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article in the next 60 days will …


Sustainable Food Preservation, by Jen W.

A number of preparedness books and web sites talk about preserved food as part of an emergency food storage plan. There can be immense satisfaction in seeing the rows and rows of gleaming canning jars, full of autumn’s bounty. I’ve done it for years, and thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of my kitchen labor. But what happens when Mason jar lids (which are supposed to be used only once in canning) are no longer readily available? Unless you have the more expensive European canning jars, with the reusable rubber gasket, you may be out of luck. Or when you can’t spare …


Letter Re: The Afghan Walled Courtyard Design for Retreat Architecture

James, My daily internet traipsing brought me across a photoset of Afghan walled compounds. It seems that the basic unit of Afghan country life is the extended family, all of whom live within a 12 foot walled compound. Since Afghanistan has lacked real sovereignty for centuries, this seems to be the logical endpoint of the evolution of retreat/farms. Note that they are not unlike the early spanish missions in the American Southwest. – Isaac R.


Letter Re: In a Tight Spot with Long Distance Travel Plans

Jim, Thanks again for all you do. I am in a tight spot and need some good advice. I have to travel to the Washington, DC area this weekend for a two week class at a Federal facility. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to cancel my plans. This will put me thousands of miles from home and family during times of mounting crisis. Due to the areas draconian gun laws, and the classes location I will be unable to travel with a firearm. I have some loose family in the New York City area, but no other regional contacts. I plan …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I’ve recently had a lot of inquiries via e-mail, asking about bank runs, and the possibility of a national “bank holiday”. For many months I have warned that both are possible. Even mainstream news outlets like Forbes magazine are discussing it. But keep in mind that with the growing prevalence of online banking, your bank could get cleaned out by depositors without a queue of people forming in front of the bank. People can empty there accounts while sitting at the their home PCs, with fuzzy slippers on their feet. This is an invisible bank run. It is essentially what …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"When all is said and done, Civilizations do not fall because of the barbarians at the gates. Nor does a great city fall from the death wish of bored and morally bankrupt stewards presumably sworn to its defense. Civilizations fall only because each citizen of the city comes to accept that nothing can be done to rally and rebuild broken walls; that ground lost may never be recovered; and that greatness lived in our grandparents but not our grandchildren. Yes, our betters tell us these things daily. But that doesn’t mean we have to believe it.- Bill Whittle


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 …


From Our Correspondent in Argentina: What to Expect

SurvivalBlog’s correspondent in Argentina received the following e-mail: FerFAL: I greatly value your experience in Argentina. Since you have traveled in the U.S., I would like to know what you think will be the impact of our relative lack of corruption, at least at local levels, to what we may face in our coming economic crisis. Perhaps a separate post on the subject, if you have time? Here was his reply: This is where things get more into the “guesstimating” territory. Nothing is for sure and all we have is certain situations being more probable than others. Inflation That is …


Sometimes We Actually Get Through to Our Family Members

Jim – I got this letter from my little sister: “I used to think that you were so off the wall on your beliefs and how this country was falling apart. I would make little jokes because I had no idea what you had seen or done while you were in the military, but you thought that this world was coming to an end. Well, I am no longer laughing at you and it goes to show to not always think that because someone else’s ideas or a little extreme that they are crazy because they might turn out to …


Odds ‘n Sods:

RL sent us this hard-hitting piece: The “Mark To Model” Lie    o o o Just as I predicted, things are looking grim for the hedge funds: Market chaos batters hedge-fund star. By borrowing short and lending long, they are at huge risk when credit markets fluctuate widely. And in a time of financial crisis like this, where liquidity has dried up almost completely, the hedgers will likely fail in large numbers. (A hat tip to Cyberiot for sending the article link.)    o o o Eric sent us this from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Demand on pantries grows as food …



Note from JWR:

Yesterday, the dreaded TARP bill, H.R. 1424 (part of the Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB)), passed by a wide margin (263 to 171), in the US House of Representatives. The original bill was just three pages long, but the final version (see the full text PDF) was a whopping 451 pages. It was so stuffed with pork barrel legislation that was practically oozing grease. It disgusting to see so many legislators sign on to this $850 billion+ swindle. The few that voted for it were mostly from the far right and the far left. The passage of the TARP bill …


Replace Your FUD with Preparedness Action–a Pre-Crash “D” List

All of the recent economic news may be overwhelming to some. This has left many people virtually petrified by Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD). Don’t be a proverbial “deer in the headlights.” I strongly encourage you get past your anxiety uncertainty and instead of sitting around glued to CNN, wringing your hands and saying “ain’t it awful”. Replace that angst with action. Get busy preparing. Here is my suggested Crash Countdown “D” List, for folks that are already fairly well-prepared: 1.) De-Hummelize Sell off any collectibles that are not family heirlooms. The worst offenders here are the mass produced “limited …