Day: October 28, 2009

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 25 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 $350 value.) Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing …


Precious Metals in Context: Prudence, Moderation and Balance, by Gentleman Jim from Colorado

As I read the occasional letters and articles on SurvivalBlog about storing/using precious metals (PMs) during a TEOTWAWKI of whatever sort, I must conclude that every single writer is absolutely correct–and yet also mostly wrong. You might ask: How can everyone be right and wrong, simultaneously? It’s because most preppers seem to anticipate and plan fairly narrowly for the use of PMs. IMHO, if you’re taking such a narrow lane down the preparation highway, you’re not thinking big enough. Any situation following a currency collapse will be complicated by varying degrees of social disorder, economic breakdown, extreme paranoia among the …


Letter Re: Protein Powders as Emergency Survival Foods

1

Mr. Rawles, I’ve been following your site for some time and thoroughly enjoy it. The information provided here is outstanding. I’m writing to make a suggestion for a short term and possibly long term survival food. A quick premise. I’ve been working out and lifting weights off and on for the last three to four years. I lifted weights when I was much younger and I needed to incorporate them to get back into shape. Now that I’m a little older and wiser I’ve been using the internet to find out more about fitness and physical development. I’m by no …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Europe swine flu spreads, ‘millions’ infected in U.S. CBS Reveals Swine Flu Cases Seriously Overestimated Increase in flu is called dramatic “Massachusetts has seen a jump in flu activity this week that has led one Central Massachusetts high school to close and that appears to signify the arrival of the second wave of swine flu.” Health officials scramble to counter H1N1 myths. WHO: nearly 5,000 swine flu deaths worldwide. Synopsis of H1N1 Activity between Oct. 11-17 (Week 41) CDC 2009 H1N1 International Situation Update Germans Unhappy With Alternative Swine Flu Vaccine for Politicians, Military


Economics and Investing:

Nouriel Roubini, One on One: More Doom and Gloom (Thanks to GG for the link.) GG also sent this: Morgan Stanley analyst: Deflation, Then Inflation. (Gee, where have I heard that before?) Jen H. forwarded this: Iceland says goodbye to the Big Mac The recent profit-taking in sliver (down $1 per ounce!) has created a dip that might be a good buying opportunity. Items from The Economatrix: “Fighting The Last War”: Proposed Wall St. Reforms Won’t Stop the Next Crisis Commercial Property Kingpin Capmark Files for Bankruptcy US Stocks Overvalued By 40% Ambrose Evans-Pritchard reports: Food Will Never be So …


Odds ‘n Sods:

GG sent us an article with more about modern-day urban chicken raisers: When the Problems Come Home to Roost.    o o o Reader BB ran across a human-powered product which can act as a well pump. BB’s comment: “Unfortunately, they will not ship to the US, Canada nor Western Europe, but it’s an interesting device I haven’t seen before. Certainly a good small scale off-the-grid solution.”    o o o Reader F.R suggested this article: Solar lantern lights up rural India’s dark nights.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me.” – Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, The Matrix, 1999. (Screenplay by Larry and Andy Wachowski.)