Month: May 2009

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 22 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Because I recently dropped Front Sight as an advertiser, the list of contest prizes for this round has been revised: First Prize: 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 between $500 and $600. Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of $350. Third Prize: …


The Information Junkie, by Dan H.

I’ve been working on getting prepared for about 20 years now. During that time, I’ve collected a large amount of information. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of information out there, and to this day I’m still collecting. I currently have four sets of encyclopedias (including 1947 and 1954 editions). I have a fairly good library of books that encompasses a wide variety of topics and, of course, I have lots of information from the Internet. First, I’d like to tell you why I collect it (and why you should too) and then the “what and how”. One reason why …


Letter Re: Sale on Inexpensive Solar Rechargeable Lights

Dear Mr. Rawles, This sale ends Saturday so maybe it’s too late to share it, but True Value Hardware stores around the country are selling boxes of six (6) solar powered pathway lights for $11.99. These would be great to use for an extended power outages – just bring them in inside each night without the pole. There’s two LED lights in each one, and they will shine for 8 hours. I tried them out last night and was able to read with two of them. Using all six lights in the box lit up my small house enough to …



Economics and Investing:

HPD found this: Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis: Automotive Pension Disaster; $42 Billion in Pension Promises Completely Unfunded Also from HPD comes word that another bank has bit the dust: BankUnited Bidders Said to Be Told Bank to Be Seized GG sent this bit of MOAB expansion news in the Wall Street Journal: Fed Boosts Efforts to Aid Commercial Real Estate Items from The Economatrix: Geithner: Major Banks Have Raised $48 Billion (Under the new FASB accounting rules or the old?) China Grows More Picky About Debt Local Banks Face Big Losses “Study of 940 lenders shows potential for deep …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Safecastle has announced a 25% Off Mountain House storage food sale that will be running from May 23 to June 5th. As a bonus, you’ll also get a free copy of the novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen if you purchase four or more cases of Mountain House foods    o o o Struggling Families Look at Adoption    o o o Peak Phosphorous? GG sent us a link to a summary of a new Scientific American article: Phosphorus: A Looming Crisis. (The full text of the article is not yet available on-line.)    o o o Brian …



Notes from JWR:

Please keep The Memsahib (and her doctors) in your prayers. Her health is still quite precarious. — Today we present another entry for Round 22 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Because I recently dropped Front Sight as an advertiser, the list of contest prizes for this round has been revised: First Prize: 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 between $500 and $600. Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books …


Biological Threat Assessment and Containment, by Anon.T

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When either you or your group is confronted with a biological threat [such as a pandemic or biological warfare], you must determine the following before making decisions either for yourself or for your group. 1) What is the threat? 2) What is the incubation period prior to showing symptoms? 3) How contagious is the threat? 4) By what means is the threat contagious? 5) What is the morbidity rate? 6) What is the mortality rate? Once you have determined these things, you can make sound decisions that can get you and your group through a trying time. Quarantine: In the …


Letter Re: Any Widespread Flu Will Overwhelm America’s Emergency Medical Services

Dear Mr. Rawles, As an avid SurvivalBlog reader since ’05, I’ve got to say, the quality of your blog continues to go up and up. Just when I think I can’t possibly absorb anything more, new posts appear that make me think, plan, and act. Upon your blog’s advice, I have begun taking an EMT class at a local college to expand my medical knowledge base. What the Paramedic teacher said today in class gave me the chills. We were discussing all manner of diseases and then he touched on H1N1, the Swine Flu and its possible affects upon the …



Economics and Investing:

The Economy’s Search for a “New Normal” (Thanks to Richard S. for the link.) Currie sent us this: Europe in deepest recession since War… “…The declaration was made as it emerged that Europe’s biggest economy has now suffered a worse “lost decade” than Japan and is deeper in recession than any other major economy.” Also from Currie: Japan – Major banking groups report massive losses Items from The Economatrix: From the French think tank: When The World Steps Out Of A 60-Year-Old Referential Framework As Detroit Crumbles, China Emerges as the Auto Epicenter Don’t Count On China to Rescue the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mark A. sent a link to a LDS Preparedness Manual in PDF. This is a 222-page manual about food storage and some other topics.   o o o Farming and Hunting magazines among very few to increase advertising revenue. (Thanks to GG for the link.)    o o o The folks at the Ancient Pathways outdoor survival school mentioned that they have expanded the survival gear section of their web site and are now offering two new instructional DVDs.



Into the Maelstrom, and a Refuge on the Far Side

For the past few weeks I’ve let the news headlines speak for themselves, but I now feel convicted to comment on the deteriorating economic conditions. The global economy in general, and the economies of the English-speaking nations in particular are in deep, deep trouble. A massive credit bubble has popped, and all efforts to re-inflate it have failed. National congresses and parliaments, are throwing trillions at the problem, but they have done no good. The policy wonks in government, and their cronies at the central banks are essentially clueless. Their uniform reaction to each failed “stimulus” policy seems to be: …