Month: November 2010

Odds ‘n Sods:

US Coal to Gasoline Plant Will be the Largest in the World. The $64 question is: What will be the real EROEI ratio for this production process? If it is not any better that that for corn ethanol, then we may be witnessing little more that political grandstanding.    o o o Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish Department: ACORN Files for Bankruptcy. (A hat tip to Ross H. for the link.)    o o o AmEx (American Expatriate) forwarded this: FEMA’s data collection and analysis of national preparedness information stalled    o o o The folks at Internet Grocer (aka …



Notes from JWR:

I was asked about the implications of the recent political power shift in Washington, D.C., following the November 2010 mid-term elections. Although it was generally good news, I must sadly conclude that we’re still in Deep Schumer. Another $600 billion in monetization was just announced by The Fed. And Senator Judd Gregg, (R-N.H.)–a sitting US. Senator–admitted that in a couple of years unless our level indebtedness is decreased, our sovereign debt position will be no better than that of Greece! (But this is mathematically impossible, since our debt is compounding, so the U.S. will be a great big Banana Republic.) …


Developing Your Healthcare Networking List, by Josh S.

For a while just after my wife and I graduated from graduate school we went without health insurance. We figured that it would be no problem. We are young, healthy, she just graduated with a nursing degree and I with a doctor of chiropractic degree. If there was any small problem we could handle it and get by. If there was a big problem, well, we could have been in trouble. With no health insurance we became very cautious people. On our long hikes and backpacking trips we took care to plan, not hike to close to steep edges, keep …


Constructing a Backpack VHF Field Radio, by Ed S.

Constructing a Backpack VHF Field Radio, by Ed S. Much has been written about life after TEOTWAWKI. Looking at all the different scenarios leaves one thinking that,with so many things that could happen, how can you prepare for all of them? Obviously, you cannot. However, many of the preparations we make can be used across the spectrum of possibilities. One thing that groups need to be able to do is keep in contact with each other. Small hand-held radios, or “walkie-talkies” work for most needs but are limited by range and crowded bandwidth. Both the GMRS and FRS systems are …


Letter Re: Finding Affordable Ham Radio Gear

Sir, Dave’s observations are quite true. There are some really good deals on older radio gear. I have a great fondness for these “Boat Anchor” radios. (Real radios glow in the dark and keep your shack warm in the winter.) That being said, there is a very real caution for the use of the old tube radios. My Kenwood TS-520 is mostly solid state with tubes for the output section to give more power than was available from the transistors of the day. The problem for the unaware is that these tubes have 800 volt power supplies with enough amperage …


Letter Re: Prepping: It is Dental and it is Mental, by Wade H., DDS

Mr. Editor: A good item to have on hand is Oil of Oregano. It stops the bacteria infection in the tooth and gives one enough time to find a dentist to take care of the problem. Last Wednesday, my nine year old Australian Shepherd woke up with an extremely swollen cheek nose and eye. I called the vet and she could not fit Hannah in for a week. I started giving Hannah Oil Of Oregano P73 in the pill form (wrapped up in ground meat). In two days, the swelling went down about 80%. Today Hannah went to the vet …


Economics and Investing:

QE2: Many Americans Haven’t a Clue What It Means (Video) OBTW, they also don’t know what “Keynesian” means. (Another brief video) More Mainstream Media Nonsense: US Federal Reserve Decision Expected to Boost American Economy B.B. sent us this: Freddie Mac Says Net Loss $4.1 Billion Items from The Economatrix: It’s All About The Dollar US Pensions Reaching A Breaking Point? US Federal Reserve’s Latest Bubble Threatens Mayhem Fed Expected to Pump Up to $1 Trillion Into US Economy


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim C. spotted this: The BBC bunker they don’t want you to know about.    o o o Greg W. recommended an article on inclement weather performance of American arms in Korea.    o o o Reader Rick H. a link to a web page that describes how to make 9 volt DC LED flashlights. Rick added this proviso: “When soldering the LEDs try to use a low wattage soldering iron (30 watts or less) and use a couple of small clip-on heat sinks, alligator clips, or crocodile clips (for our British cousins) to protect them from thermal damage.”



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 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 …


Forecasting the Weather in a Grid-Down Situation, by the Old Farmer

I love satellite radar in real time. I’m a big fan of NOAA‘s weather alerts and a unit sits in our kitchen next to the old-fashioned pilot-light gas stove. But over the years I’ve learned a couple of things. One, they’re never completely right, and two, it all depends on technologies we might not have in the not too distant future. I could maybe add a third, just a theory of mine, that computer weather models are based on prejudices that might not be entirely true, like global warming. That could mean that the forecaster is assuming a kind of …


Letter Re: Our Experience with a Chimney Fire

I also had a chimney fire many years ago. This was long before I had ever thought about TEOTWAWKI and I knew absolutely nothing. I did end up with firemen and “lookie-loos” roaming my house and yard and included much embarrassment. The reason I am writing this is that one of the firefighters advised me that I can use a long length of heavy chain and lower it down the stack and do a lot of rattling around. This will not replace regular cleaning, but will knock down the larger pieces of build up. If you have wood that leaves …


Economics and Investing:

Fed Easing May Mean 20% Dollar Drop: Bill Gross. (Hat tips to Greg C. and B.H. for the link.) G.G. sent us this: ‘The World Does Not Need to End’ A Gold Bull and His Prediction: $10,000 an Ounce Are Asian Traders Preparing A Major Squeeze Of Silver Shorts? (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) B.J.G. sent this: Roubini: Japan is ‘Accident Waiting to Happen’ Items from The Economatrix: Why Growth Will Stay Too Weak To Ease Unemployment Economy Offers Mixed Picture Day Before Election UPS Says 2011 Rates Will Rise 4.9% The Next Global Economic Crisis The Utility of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

“LT” pointed me to a sticky post in the Survival section of NorthEast Shooters forums. It’s a long post with lots of pictures, on primitive fire-making.    o o o Reader NLC sent this: NASA Now Ready to Detect World-threatening Solar “Storm of the Century”    o o o Say it ain’t so! Harley-Davidson to make motorcycles in India. Hopefully this production will be sold only in India. (A hat tip to F.G. for the link.)    o o o The bedbug infestation rate is getting worse, especially in the eastern U.S. You can sleep relatively tight, by checking the …