Day: August 12, 2009

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 24 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize: A.) 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, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) and C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $345 value.) Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing …


Preparedness Beginnings, by “Two Dogs”

I am a retired Marine Corps officer and Naval Aviator (jets and helicopters), commercial airplane and helicopter pilot, and most recently, an aircraft operations manager for a Federal agency. I graduated from numerous military schools, including the U.S. Army Airborne (“jump”) School, U.S. Navy Divers School, Army helicopter, and Navy advanced jet schools. In addition, I have attended military “survival” courses whose primary focus was generally short-term survival off the land, escape from capture, and recovery from remote areas.  Like most Marine officers, I attended The Basic School, an 8-month school (only five during the Vietnam era – my case), …


Three Letters Re: Acquiring Pre-1965 Silver Coinage

Jim: One of the easiest ways to quickly go through a roll of quarters, dimes, or halves, is to look at the coins edge on. If any do not have the copper color on the edge then it is probably silver. When you look at a clad coin, you’ll notice a bit of copper on the edge. Then take a look at a silver coin and you’ll see that it doesn’t have the copper color on the edge. This is how I quickly go through rolls of coins. Enjoy, – KJ JWR Replies: Thanks for reminding SurvivalBlog readers–especially those of …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Swine Flu Outbreak Suspected in Israeli Military Prison Palestinians Confirms First Swine Flu Death 50-yr-old Jerusalem Man 5th Israeli Swine Flu Death Iran Bans Pilgrimage to Mecca as Swine Flu Spreads Mexico Swine Flu Cases Jump, LatAm Deaths Soar 19 New Swine Flu Cases in India, Total 616 Swine Flu Death Triggers Panic in Western India


Economics and Investing:

Reader DD sent this piece about prospects for hyperinflation: A Pessimist or a Realist? Also from DD: Why Ronald is Smiling From A.W.: Billions in Bad Loans Still Threaten U.S. Banks Items from The Economatrix: BoE Pumps Another 50 Billion Pounds into Economy BMW’s Profits Drop 76% Clunkers Could Spark Auto Sales Crash Later On Chrysler Schedules Factory Overtime on Clunkers Demand Geithner Asks Congress to Boost Federal Debt Limit Consumer, Celebrity Bankruptcies Skyrocket Russian Economy Hitting “Dead End” US Banks Still in Tight Straits Despite Profits Japan Airlines Posts Net Loss of $1 Billion, Plans Cuts The Future Made …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim H. sent us this: Three-in-one oven could ease energy needs in developing world    o o o This thread over at the often-wacky Above Top Secret forum is a must read: An event at my grocery store. This describes the chaos caused by a minor power and data glitch that caused credit card and WIC payment terminals to go down. And then the store’s ATM (“cash machine”) went down… Keep in mind that this was just a brief interruption at one grocery store. Extrapolate from this small event for a more serious, widespread situation, where the power grids go …