Year: 2009

Letter Re: Food Storage–Will People Ever Learn?

Hello Jim, Of [your oft-mention triad a of] Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids, I want to share some thoughts about the “Beans” category I read that a lot of folks prepping for the future. That’s great, we all should. The day after Hurricane Ike, I saw people in huge lines to get into grocery stores, hours of waiting. The day after! They did not even have one day worth of food in their homes. Then I read lots of info and blogs about people getting their emergency supply of food stored. There is a place for the MREs, beef jerky and all …


Letter Re: Ideas for Home-Based Businesses?

Mr Rawles, I am brand new to this mindset so I hope the that my questions are not redundant. I am a self-employed construction worker in Idaho. I would really like to start prepping and stockpiling. Do you have any suggestions as to a home based business that might prove fruitful? I appreciate your time. – Micah JWR Replies: I have posted several lists and commentary on suggested home-based business ideas. Just search through the “Self Employment and Home-Based Businesses” posting category, starting at the bottom,a nd work you way up. In today’s economy, especially with the prospect of an …



Economics and Investing:

White House forecasts higher budget deficit: ” …a $1.75 trillion deficit, or 12.3 percent of GDP.” Skip sent me this: Is America About to Go Broke? WSJ Video: Dow 4,000 Still in the Cards (Thanks to Chris for the link.) From Greg: Commodities – Shortages stir coffee and sugar prices From Tom S.: Where are Argentina’s coins? Items from The Economatrix: US Red Ink Rises Even Higher, $1.8 Trillion The Federal government will have to borrow nearly 50 cents for every dollar it spends Chinese Deflation Picks Up Speed Local UK Governments Lose 2.5 Billion Income Enjoy The “Rally”…Sucker Punch …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Cheryl sent this: How Gardening Became Fashionable Again    o o o Also courtesy of Cheryl: USA Today Poll: 96% Affirm 2nd Amendment    o o o Now that I’ve successfully met my manuscript deadline with Penguin Books, I can come up for air. For the first time in many weeks, I’ll have the time for some quasi-recreational reading. I’m about to begin 7 Deadly Scenarios: A Military Futurist Explores War in the 21st Century. (Yes, I’ll post a review.)    o o o Mike Williamson (our Editor at Large) mentioned that Survivalblog advertiser Shelf Reliance now has a “monthly …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“All over the world, interest rates have been cut and budgets padded. France’s deficit is running at 8% of GDP. England is running a deficit of more than 12% of GDP. And the U.S. is mobilizing as if it had been attacked by Martians. On the credit side, the feds have cut rates more than ever before, for a monetary boost equivalent to 18% of GDP, according to Grant. As to spending, $13 trillion has been pledged…an amount equivalent to a full year’s annual output of the United States of America. This response is three times more (adjusted to today’s …


Notes from JWR:

Any SurvivalBloggers with a Kindle Reader may be interested to know that there is now a Kindle edition of my novel “Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse“ available. Today’s first article comes from frequent SurvivalBlog content contributor “OSOM.”. His moniker, by the way, is an acronym for “Out of sight, out of mind.”


An Update to the Classic: The Hyperinflation Survival Guide, by OSOM

Published in 1989 to educate US businessmen on how to cope with hyperinflation, Gerald Swanson’s book “The Hyperinflation Survival Guide: Strategies for American Businesses” contains a wealth of lessons for non-business folks as well. If you run a business or have investments, do yourself a favor and read the book. For the rest of us, here is a concise adaptation (and updating) of Swanson’s business lessons for the individual / family. Hyperinflation is defined as “rapid, debilitating inflation that leads to a major devaluation of a country’s currency”. Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil in the 1980s were used as case studies …


Retreat, Barn and Shop Building Resources From Uncle Howard’s

The Uncle Howard’s web site doesn’t come right out and say “Hey, these buildings make a great place to store your preparedness gear!” or “Be sure to ask about our bullet-proofing upgrades!”, but Howard is all about filling the needs of land owners that want to build. There are plenty of off-the-shelf models, but they are willing to have extended conversations to get a one-of-a-kind perfect-fit design. Uncle Howard’s has a drafting department that takes a conceptual sketch all the way to engineered and stamped plans to satisfy buyer with specific needs. The site has some general information stuff that …


Two Letters Re: A Practical Tip on Using Roof Catchment Rainwater

JWR: In response to today’s post, I would like to offer an alternate method to avoid going outside in the rain to flip the value after five minutes. Cut the down drain pipe into about 5 feet from the discharge elbow. At the elbow end install a blank over the opening. Drill a small hole in the blank, perhaps 1/8th inch diameter, and reattached the outlet ducting to a container to catch the runoff. At the above cut in the drain pipe, install a “T” and an ell to move the water downward into a barrel. [During each fresh rain …


Mexican Flu Update:

Top Flu Expert Warns of a Swine-Bird Flu Mix 12 More Swine Flu Cases Confirmed in Massachusetts First Flu Death in Canada; US Cases Rise Mexico Deaths; Cases Higher than Reported Swine Flu May Be More Infectious than Thought Swine Flu Moments and Decisions Lie Ahead WHO Reports Big Jump in Worldwide Swine Flu Cases 3,440 Cases, 29 Countries, 48 Deaths Japan, Oz Confirm First Cases of Swine Flu Swine Flu Lacks 1918 Killer Traits (So Far) US, Costa Rica Flu Deaths Mexico has suspected upswing in cases, delaying school reopening in six states Number of American Flu Cases Overtake …


Economics and Investing:

Now, the truth comes out: Banks Won Concessions on Tests. I figured the “tests” were rigged, but not quite so blatantly. And here are some more details on the “Buddy-Buddy” Creative Accounting: Fed cut banks’ deficits after negotiations: report. (Thanks to Roger Y. for the links.) Reader D.D. sent his one: Next challenge for banks: Credit card losses Number usually tracks unemployment, but this time it may be worse Items from The Economatrix: Global Financial & Economic Crisis: How Much Time Do We Have Left? “The US-Dollar has been technically hyper inflated, even though no one is saying “the king …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Only in America! The Weaponizers (A hat tip to KAF for the link.)    o o o I heard that Midwest Outfitters just received just under one full pallet of 5.56 NATO 55 grain FMJ (“ball”), fresh 2008-production ammo. This ammo is newly-manufactured to military specifications by Bitteroot Valley Ammunition Components in Montana.This is not re-manufactured but made with all new components. The head stamp on this batch is BVAC 08 and the NATO symbol. Right now, just for SurvivalBlog readers they are offering a case of 1,000 rounds for $500 with Free Shipping. At last count, they had only …


Notes from JWR:

For SurvivalBlog readers that are conversant auf Deutsch, there was a review of my novel in the widely-read Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper: Amerikanischer Bestseller: „Patriots“ Wie das Ende unserer Welt zu überleben ist. — The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. is now at $1,100. This auction ends in just four days. It is for a large mixed lot, which includes: 1.) A Three-Color Desert Camo Interceptor OTV (Outer Tactical Vest) size XL only, and a spare Woodland camouflage outer shell, kindly donated by BulletProofME.com. These items have a combined retail value of $960! 2.) A vehicle detection …