Day: June 8, 2010

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: 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.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Treatment of Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis in Austere Conditions, by D.P.A., EMT

This article will provide background information on allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, and overview the initial management , or “buddy care”, of these conditions. Some of the procedures described in this article will require additional medical training in order for the provider to become proficient. These conditions range from mild to life threatening. After a societal collapse which results in austere living conditions, definitive medical care would not be available. As a result most life threatening pathologies would not be treated. The good thing is that allergic reactions are readily reversible, in most cases, with prompt treatment. In these cases definitive …


Letter Re: Recent Ohio and Michigan Tornadoes

Good Morning Jim, Well the Schumer Hit The Fan here in northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan this past weekend with a rash of tornados. We lost seven lives and countless buildings in the area. Tornados are a scary reminder of how quickly bad things happen and how a survival / preparedness mind set is important. One case in particular caught my attention that prompted this quick message from me. One man lead his family to the safety of his basement before the storm hit. While waiting the power went out so he went upstairs with his dog to start his …


Letter Re: Refilling Small Propane Cylinders

Jim: One-pound propane cylinders are easily refillable if you use a couple of tricks. A filling adapter is available for under $20 from [Harbor Freight and other merchants. You need a full 20# cylinder as the "donor". Place it in a warm place or in the sun for a couple of hours. Chill the empty one-pound cylinders in your freezer. Join the cylinders. using the filling adapter. The filling procedure is that you invert both of the joined cylinders and open cylinder valve. Refills take about one minute each. Regards, – Rob S.


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: U.S.’s $13 Trillion Debt Poised to Overtake GDP: Chart of Day Brett G. sent us this: Experts: Europe to Push US Back Into Recession Mac F. liked this essay by Monty Pelerin: Worse than a Depression Complexity and Collapse: Empires on the Edge of Chaos by Niall Ferguson. (A hat tip to Thomas P. for the link.) Laura Bassett reports: Disturbing Job Ads: ‘The Unemployed Will Not Be Considered’ (A hat tip to Simon J. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Central Bank Gold Holdings Expand at Fastest Pace Since 1964. (Why do central bankers …


Odds ‘n Sods:

A bad portent of future lawlessness, in hard times: The End of Empathy. “A University of Michigan Study of nearly 14,000 college students has found that they have less empathy than college students did during the 1980s or 1990s. In fact, today’s college students scored about 40 percent lower in empathy than their counterparts did 20 or 30 years ago.” (A hat tip to Rebecca S. for sending this link.)    o o o Jeff B. flagged this troubling news story: Mystery Crop Damage Threatens Hundreds of Acres.    o o o Reader James C. pointed us to a YouTube …