Day: October 14, 2009


Water, Water Everywhere?, by David in Israel

James, I think it important to remind the readers of survivalblog to assess their water supply situation in the event of a local or national emergency. Much of the western united states even the well irrigated areas are actually truly considered high desert and could nor supply even 10% of the population should access be lost to the water supply infrastructure. Unfortunately many people have lived their whole life with functional first world plumbing and the clear knowledge that magical faucets, toilets, and shower heads will always have a supply of clean potable water. It is imperative that anyone planning …


Letter Re: Abandonment of the Dollar is a Premature Rumor

Dear Jim and Family, I wanted to comment on the alleged threat of the Saudis to decouple the US Dollar from Oil sales. They’ve been saying that for a decade. The Iraqis promised to do it, one of the primary reasons for the invasion. The Iranians did it, but nobody cares because they’re an oil importing nation so they don’t actually matter much. The Venezuelans have been trying to get the rest of OPEC to do it since we nearly got Chavez ousted in a coup backed by the US. Pity that failed, but there will be a next time …


Letter Re: Devotional Candles as an Emergency Source of Light and Heat

Mr. Rawles, I am enjoying your “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” book, which I purchased on Friday and have read most of it by now. I have something to offer to you by way of experience regarding votive candles as good emergency candles. We are practicing Roman Catholics and, as such, have lots of experience with the 10″ candles that you recommend for emergencies or even small-scale food heating. While they cannot be beaten for long-term service ( a week to 10 days per candle), the amount of light and heat you obtain …


Letter Re: Notes on Fuel Transfer Pumps and Fuel Filters

Jim, Your info on using electric fuel pumps from junked cars (also included in your new book) was great. Here’s a twist you may not have considered: Use the pumps from GM vehicles. They are essentially submersible gasoline pumps. Rig one with wires and connector and discharge hose. The pumps are about the size of 2 D-cell batteries–so they can fit fit down barrel bungs, underground tank fillers, holes in most 5 gallon buckets. They are designed to operate the fuel system around 30 PSI on most gm cars (pressure limited by relief valve in injection system) so they can …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

US to Stop Counting Flu Cases, Too Many to Count Swine Flu Study Shows Hardest Hit Are Women Spring Swine Flu Put Many Already Hospitalized Patients Into ICU 76 Children Have Died in US From Swine Flu Relenza Warning After Patient Dies Turning Flu Powder Into Liquid US Study Confirms H1N1 Swine Flu More Serious in Young Areas Hard Hit By Swine Flu in Spring See Little Now Japan Tamiflu Resistant Teen Had No Tamiflu Record Swine Flu’s Surge in ICU Cases Reveals Winter’s Toll Swine Flu Spreads Like Wildfire Across US, 19 Kids Die in One Week


Economics and Investing:

Karen H. sent this: Dollar Facing ‘power shift Also from Karen: Stone Calls U.S. Economic Growth Outlook “Troublesome” in 2010 GG sent this: Silver Lining: Jim Rogers Talks Up Commodities Reader D.D. sent the link to a good piece by Bill Fleckenstein: Your dollars are just Monopoly money Items from The Economatrix: Gary North: The Fed’s Schizophrenic Monetary Economist Failed Financial Policies and Rising Unemployment in the US Stocks Bear Market Rally Will Soon Be Over Government Deficit Spending Killing the US Free Market


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader FG sent this: Terror struck four generations in deadly home invasion. F.G’s comment: “You must be armed at home, folks!” Meanwhile, The Other Jim R. sent me this home invasion news story. He noted: “This one was in New Hampshire, which is not exactly ‘big city’.”    o o o Cheryl alerted us to this: “Large Insect” Sparked Missile Truck’s Crash.    o o o Cops’ Rising Use of “Stop and Frisk” Questioned


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live as slaves.” – John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of the Cause and Necessity of Taking up Arms, 1775