Month: September 2010

Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this article about the latest $30 Billion expansion to the MOAB: U.S. Bails Out Major Credit Unions Sherman Oaks enters correction phase. $1,200,000 home now selling for $720,000. Tamara (over at the excellent View From The Porch blog) posted a link to an amazing video that shows a labor union hiring minimum wage non-union protestors to picket Wal-Mart for paying minimum wage and being non-union. Warren Buffett: We’re Still in a Recession Despite What Officials Say. (Thanks to Brett G. for the link.) KAF sent this: China Allows Banks to Sell Loans on Interbank Market; 21 Lenders Sign …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard reports: Global food risk from China-Russia pincer    o o o River Chief sent this: Seen At 11: Ready For Anything ‘Preppers’ Are Doing Exactly That In Anticipation Of Doomsday    o o o Reader Rod McG. wrote: I don’t know if this is newsworthy or not, but maybe it would be of some use to a “Yuppie Survivalist” who can’t imagine living without their .MP3 tunes: The SABER hand-wind MP3 player. Rod’s comment: “There might not always be a way to trickle-charge your .mp3 player, even if you have cat oil to trade. (A reference to the …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to …


A Range Camp Trailer as a Mobile Retreat, by L.D.

I would like to put forth an idea that works for me and my family. Following my retirement, I took up my passion and have been guiding fly-fishermen for over twenty years in Canada, Alaska, New Zealand, and the Western States. My previous job had taken me to Africa, Australia, Europe, South and Central America…some forty-six countries in all. I was in the oil exploration business, and virtually all my work was in deserts, mountains, marshes, savannas, jungles, and other inhospitable terrain. I have lived in man-camps, tents, trailers, on board barges and ships, cabins, yurts, skid mounted “dog houses,” …


Letter Re: Growing Poppies for a Long Term Societal Collapse

James Wesley; Long-Term Preparedness and the Eight Mechanical Arts by J.D. was an excellent article. I just wanted to point out that there are very effective herbal painkillers. [Papaver somniferum] poppies are the source for morphine. (See: Poppies.org.) It is not currently legal to process poppy sap at home, but it is legal to grow poppies. Poppy seeds can be used to make a pain-killing tea. Yes, poppy tea, morphine and heroin are dangerous addictive drugs, but they have a legitimate place in a long term/multi-generational scenario. I think it is worthwhile to grow the best quality [opium] poppies you …


Two Letters Re: How to Get Your Doctor to Help You Stockpile Medicine

Greetings Jim, I just wanted to offer a few words about my experience with my doctor in helping me to stockpile prescription medication I take daily. A couple years ago while undergoing treatment for migraines, my neurologist prescribed nortriptylene, a rather old antidepressant that can also help treat some types of migraines. My doctor originally prescribed up to 100 milligrams every night at bedtime, but she advised me that if a lower dose kept my migraines away, go with the lowest effective dose. Over time I realized that 50 milligrams every night was sufficient and told my neurologist that on …


Economics and Investing:

Does this sound familiar? Russia’s kopeck coin may soon be scrap metal. (A hat tip to RBS for the link.) B.B. sent us this: For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working Again Also from B.B. a link to a piece over at the GATA site: Brazil’s central bank president says no country can hold dollar up G.G. sent this: Haven Trust is the 126th bank to collapse this year. Items from The Economatrix: The Curious Case for $936 Oz. Silver US Is Bankrupt And We Don’t Even Know It Banking System Collapse, On The Edge Of The Precipice …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Steve L. recommended a recent Survival Podcast episode: An Interview with Chris Martenson.    o o o Jamieson sent this: Solar Flare to paralyse Earth in 2013. See also this BBC report: Are solar flares a real threat? (Thanks to R.L. for that link.)    o o o RBS and several other readers sent this: O Rings for Accuracy on AR15, M16 and AK47    o o o More on the risk of solar flares: Astronomer fears apocalypse 2012 is true



Notes from JWR:

Do you have any favorite quotes that relate to preparedness, survival, self-sufficiency, the Second Amendment, or hard money economics? If so, then please send them via e-mail, and I will likely post them as Quotes of the Day, if they haven’t been used before in SurvivalBlog. (We now have more than 1,700 archived quotes!) Please send only quotes that are properly attributed, and that you’ve checked for authenticity. Many Thanks! — Today we present another entry for Round 30 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint …


The Plan “B” Map, by T.L.F.

To everyone who reads this article, I want you to ask yourself one question: “If a major catastrophe happened tomorrow, would I be ready?” In all honesty, my answer would be no. For me, this is a very scary scenario. I do my best to budget, plan and  continue to stock my supply closet with food and water, but we all know in our current economic state,  it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the funds to build up supplies for “The End of the World as We Know It”. I know there are many people out there who are …


Product Review: The Don’t Die Out There! Card Deck

The Don’t Die Out There! Card Deck is one of the card decks that doubles as an information source, in this case, on disaster response. It’s printed on very sturdy plastic coated stock, about twice as heavy as typical decks, but the same overall thickness. It’s well organized, with each suit covering different areas–Diamonds: survival essentials, signals, navigation and shelters. Spades: situational assessment, evac techniques, water, fire and food. Hearts: First aid, environmental and medical concerns. Clubs: CPR, severe trauma and evacuation of the injured. The Aces serve as indexes, and Jokers as forewords. It’s a handy pocket survival book …


Letter Re: Making Land Navigation and Stealthy Movement Fun

Taking a page from my Marine Corps training from way back and utilizing the civilian environment which we are in I believe I have come across a fun way for groups/families to practice land navigation (land nav) and stealth/concealment at the same time. I have two young teen age children and have been trying to teach them land nav which is somewhat fun for a short time but they haven’t really gotten it yet. One thing kids really like is hide and seek another is to camouflage up. I liked it and in the past become very proficient and blending …


Economics and Investing:

“Hi-yo Silver!” (I’ll spare you the “I-told-you-so” snide comments. Or did that just count as one?) Cy D. mentioned this over at Zero Hedge: Wal-Mart’s CEO Provides the Starkest Visual of the Modern Bread Line Yet B.B. sent us a link to these comments by Howard Katz: Sobering Lesson for the World as Gold and Silver Set to Explode Higher Obama tells UN leaders world has dodged depression. Yeah, right… Items from The Economatrix: Homebuilding Industry Years Away From Recovery Fed Signals It Will Take Further Steps If Needed. [JWR Notes: I get nervous whenever I hear someone with weapons …


Inflation Watch:

The Yahoo-Bing Search Deal May Raise Ad Rates. Online advertisers may see up to a 78% price increase in paid-search rates once Yahoo and Microsoft wrap up their search alliance. Cost-per-click will likely rise sharply as advertisers shift to the single Bing search platform. Unusual Worry for the Economy: Is Inflation Too Low? Corn, Soybeans Hit Two-Year Highs While Cotton Jumps to 15-Year Peak Food Makers Ready to Raise Prices