Day: February 6, 2010

Notes from JWR:

In recognition of his many months of faithful service in finding links to relevant news articles for SurvivalBlog, George Gordon (“GG”) has been given a place on the SurvivalBlog masthead. Like our other volunteer editors, he will be in it just for the glory, and perhaps the occasional free book or two. George Gordon is the nom de plume of an American businessman who closely follows economic developments and hence says that he “is getting more and more worried.” His pen name is is an homage to George Gordon Lord Byron, the British poet who was famously described as “Mad, …


The “Power of Ten” Planning Model, by Sandkicker

This article has nothing to do with any special properties of the number ten, but rather refers to a progressive planning method based on the size of a problem. This is a way to organize thinking and planning for chaotic situations.   “If you fail to plan, you’ve planned to fail”.   It would be irresponsible to present any particular plan as suitable for everyone, however, these are some guidelines on how and why you should develop your own plans.  Why do I have the nerve to write this piece?   I’ve been in the middle of more than one “adventure”… and in …


Two Letters Re: Lessons Learned from the Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2010

Dear Editor: The Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2010 is now melting away and as usual there were lessons learned.   Many of these should have been “known” before but we are never as prepared as we should be.  In that vein I am going to rehash several things that went right, a few that went wrong, and others that we can improve on the next time that “life as usual” is not. First, the setting: I live in Southwestern Oklahoma and have been here for almost three years.  About January 22nd we started getting word of an impending ice/snow storm scheduled …


Economics and Investing:

There has been a veritable torrent of bad economic news in the past few days. Here is just a sampling… Ponzi Scheme: The Federal Reserve Bought Approximately 80 Percent Of U.S. Treasury Securities Issued In 2009. (Thanks to Duane for the link.) George Gordon (“GG”) sent this: 20 Reasons Global Debt Time Bomb Explodes Soon Also from GG: Sprott: Gold to gain 30% in 2010, higher interest rates to hurt US economy and another from GG: Fears of ‘Lehman-style’ tsunami as crisis hits Spain and Portugal Chad S. forwarded this: North Korea’s economic moves bring new misery John G. liked …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Please stop! Some well-intentioned (but naive) folks are forwarding the e-mail titled “See with your own eyes Nephilim” with several Photoshop-doctored pictures of supposed skeletal remains of 16-foot tall humanoids. Here is a link to one of the original photos that they doctored. Again, please stop forwarding this fakery!    o o o Kurt B. sent this: Nuclear missile threats to U.S. mount; Report warns of Pyongyang’s aims    o o o Chad S. spotted another piece from Nanny State Britannia: Cheers! Brits toast new shatterproof pint glass. Chad Adds: “Note that this was developed by the British Government, not …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The people of every country are the only guardians of their own rights and are the only instruments which can be used for their destruction. It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of people themselves, that, too, of the people with a certain degree of instruction." – Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to W.S. Smith, 1787