Month: March 2010

Economics and Investing:

Paul W. mentioned an insightful article by Janet Tavakoli: Washington Must Ban U.S. Credit Derivatives as Traders Demand Gold. (Long-time SurvivalBlog readers are already familiar with my strong warnings about the derivatives time bomb. Newbies, please take a look.) Eric S. suggested this piece by Chris Nelder: Peak Oil Demand Is Coming, But Here’s Why It’s Not Good News Reader David D. spotted this Wall Street Journal article: Commercial Real Estate Owners Beginning To Walk Away From Properties Items from The Economatrix: Job Openings Up Sharply in January to 2.7 Million Failed Banks May Get Pension-Fund Backing as FDIC Seeks …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mark P. spotted this: For Pennies, a Disposable Toilet That Could Help Grow Crops.    o o o There are now just a few days left in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are offering free shipping on full case lots. These foods are delicious, compact, and have a 30 year shelf life. Order soon!    o o o Two news items about Nanny State Britannia: Countryside ban for children because mums cannot read maps and hate mud, and Britain May Force Owners to Microchip Dogs to Curb ‘Weapon’ …




Make it Modular and Make it Out!, by Ranger Squirrel

One of the skills that has served me best in life is my tendency to make everything modular.  I think I learned it in the Army, but regardless of where I picked it up, it has saved my rear end at home, at work, in emergencies, and even in my hobbies.  Let’s pick on Average Joe for a second.  Average Joe is exactly that.  He likes a beer now and again, listens to classic rock and some country, and works in a job that just barely pays the bills.  He has a commute of about 50 miles round-trip every day …


Lest Any Man Should Boast: A Christian Survivalist Perspective on Race, Religion, and Reason

I often get letters and e-mails, chastising me for being an anti-racist. I call these “nasty-grams.” I get several of them each week. Some folks, it seems, are deeply offended that I look upon everyone as equals. The truth is that people should be judged as individuals. (That is one of my core Precepts.) Anyone that makes blanket statements about other races is ignorant that there are both good and bad individuals in all groups. There is no inherent superiority in any skin tone or facial feature, any more than there is in any particular hair color. I have accepted …


Letter Re: Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying The Looter Mentality

Dear Mr. Rawles, To follow up on your recent blog article, it is sad that we live in a society where people will lower themselves to such activities as crime on the streets. That crime is regrettable, but in the aftermath of TEOTWAWKI, looting will be an absolute unacceptable crime. It will become rapidly, a capital crime. Just as in the 19th Century, horse theft was punishable by death, so will be looting in the aftermath of any societal breakdown which results in any of the scenarios envisioned by either you, or your readers. Essentially, “Rule .308” will apply in …


Economics and Investing:

From The Appenzell Daily Bell: More Sovereign Defaults Loom? Brett pointed us to some great Afterburner commentary on the “carbon credits” nonsense as well as personal initiative versus Nanny Statism: Flying Solo: Choose Freedom Over the Nanny State. I warned you, folks! U.S. Sales Tax Rates Hit Record High. (Thanks to Loren for the link. OBTW, I expect even more tax rate increases as the recession deepens, and more states face crises.) Williams: Expect Hyperinflation Within The Next Five Years. (Thanks to H.H. for the link.) S.M. liked this piece of commentary about the national debt and precious metals by …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jorge sent us this: Detroit City land turned into farmland.    o o o Flavio sent this linkio from a television news show in May, 2008: Farmer Saves $70 a Day by Trading Tractor for Mule Power    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us a link to a great resource of small-scale aquaponics: Faith and Sustainable Technologies (F.A.S.T.).    o o o More videotaped fun at the range with Mongo and Jeff: Thermal imager views of machineguns and tracers.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“‘Value for value.’ Building ‘on the square and on the level.’ The Hippocratic Oath. Don’t let the team down. Honest work for honest pay. Such things did not have to be proved; they were an essential part of life-true throughout eternity, true in the farthest reaches of the Galaxy.” – Lawrence Smith, a character in Robert A. Heinlein’s novel “Double Star“


Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying The Looter Mentality

A recent opinion column The New York Times was titled: The Moral Ambiguity of Looting. Ambiguity? There is nothing ambiguous about it. Let’s have the moral courage to be forthright and uncompromising on this issue: Looting is the theft of property that lawfully belongs to another. There are no “ifs, ands, or buts”. Looting is unconscionable and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. Once looting begins, it soon devolves into: “You have it, I want it, I’m taking it.” And once looting is sanctioned, then where is the dividing line on “acceptable” plunder? Do you draw the line at: …


Letter Re: Radio Communications for Retreat Intelligence Gathering

James Wesley: Ron Y.’s article posted on Sunday is interesting and helpful to those who don’t spend much time around radios other than, perhaps, their favorite music station. For those of us who have had a lifetime of radio listening and, in my case, work with public service units in times of disasters small and bigger, there are a few things I’d add. First is the scanner section of Ron’s information. My work desk has four scanners going at all hours that I am awake. Any one of them might flag something that is of interest or warrants tracking. Frequencies …


Service Recommendation from JWR: Mara Helland

You might have noticed that a CPA service advertising on SurvivalBlog. Her name is Mara Helland. Since it is now tax season, I thought that it would be appropriate to give my personal recommendation, and let you know what services she offers. Like many other CPAs, Mara mainly does tax accounting. But what sets her apart from other CPA firms is absolute privacy. I know that this is crucial for a lot of people, especially fellow SurvivalBlog readers. I don’t know what privacy issues are like in the big cities, but I do know that in small towns, people who …


Economics and Investing:

JDD sent this item: China ready to end dollar peg. The article begins: “The head of China’s central bank has given the strongest signal yet that the country will move away from pegging its currency to the dollar, but he said any changes would be gradual.” Brian B. sent this news story that illustrates that the Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB) won’t stop growing: Program Will Pay Homeowners to Sell at a Loss. I found this linked at The Drudge Report: Congressional estimates show grim deficit picture. Jeff B. offered this for the No Great Surprise Department: IRS to Track …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Rod B. wrote to mention that Popular Science magazine has greatly expanded their free archives to include the entire 137 year collection!    o o o Just in case there’s wholesale panic on the scale depicted in the movie Miracle Mile, reader H.N. in San Diego suggested researching maps of your city’s storm drain system. For example, he mentioned that he found this map of San Diego’s storm drain system, with just a quick web search. (Of course all the usual safety provisos apply.)    o o o Tamara over at the View From the Porch blog mentioned that …