Month: November 2010

Economics and Investing:

Brett G. sent this: Fed Warns of 4.25 Million More Foreclosures Through 2012 From Russia Expert, a Gloomy Outlook. (Thanks to Siggy for the link.) P.D. flagged: Tent Cities, Homelessness and Soul-Crushing Despair: The Legacy of Decades of Government Debt and Mismanagement of the Economy Inyokern highlighted this one: Ireland fears civil unrest as bank crisis deepens Items from The Economatrix: Home Prices Will Keep Falling   Job Seekers Find Bias Against Unemployed   Jobless Benefits Cost So Far:  $319 Billion US Banks Insolvent If They Face Loan Losses   What’s Really Behind QE2?   ECB Tightens Screws on Ireland, …


Inflation Watch:

Brace yourself for more high inflation, Mervyn King tells George Osborne. $4.00 Gasoline By The End Of 2010?   Our friend Fred C. sent this: “Riceland brand rice in 50 pound bags at my local Sam’s Club in Arkansas was $13.95 in July. Then it jumped to $14.60 in late September. Last night I noticed that the pallet with Riceland rice bags on it had 25 pound bags instead of 50 pound bags, and they were priced at $8.95 each. (The equivalent of $17.90 per 50 pounds.) Gap, Wal-Mart Clothing Costs Rise on `Terrifying’ Cotton Prices China to subsidize food …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I’m scheduled for a two hour interview on the EMPact Radio podcast on Wednesday. That should be interesting.    o o o Something tells me that there will be some bargain prices soon: Solar Panel Makers Face Supply-Glut `Armageddon’: Chart of Day. Thanks to reader Chris S. for the link.    o o o Seen over at Paratus Familia: A novel concealment holster for women.    o o o J. in the Great White North recommended this five minute video: You Can Eat Dandelion    o o o I just finished reading Jerry and Sharon Ahern’s new sci-fi novel, Written …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It could unfold very, very quickly. Because deflation is a swing of poverty feedback, it can take awhile to build up. If you try to explain to people what’s coming, because it doesn’t happen instantly, they tend to go back to sleep. The thing they need to understand, however, is that when it does hit a tipping point, a kind of critical mass, then it can unfold exceptionally quickly. Then it’s very much like having the rug pulled out from under your feet. So I tell people all the time, prepare now because it’s better to be two years too …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries 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 $795, 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 Fiocchi 9mm …


The Post-SHTF Store, by J.P.C.

So much has been written on preparing solely for survival of TEOTWAWKI. What about after? What about five years after? Granted, if something minor happens and we could overcome it within a month or so, I truly see precious metals quite viable. However, should the whole world fall to its knees and we would be looking at years before any sort of progress could be made, I think material goods would be much more important. This list is not meant to be a final checklist, but rather a starting point that you could adjust, add, or take away from. These …


The Four Levels of Disaster Preparedness Competence, by Todd D.

Using the theory of competence awareness that you can apply to any skill, or knowledge based discipline i.e. cooking, auto repair, etc. I am taking a writers license to make a revision to Dr. Abraham Maslow’s conscious competence theory, and apply the theory to Disaster Preparedness. Unconsciously Incompetent: The UI represents approximately 90% of the population of the nation. Using Hurricane Katrina as an example, hundreds of thousands of people felt it was the role of the government to make sure that individual citizens would have food, water, clothing and shelter. These same people believe under no circumstance, the individual …


Economics and Investing:

Roubini: Debt Nightmare Unfolding in Europe The blame game is on: Bernanke Takes Aim at China Governor Warns Cities May Go Bankrupt. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) The American Way of Life, As Things Fell Apart, Nobody Paid Much Attention. Items from The Economatrix: How Gold Performs During Periods of Deflation, Disinflation, Runaway Stagflation and Hyperinflation   Debt Collectors Stalking, Publicly Humiliating People Through Facebook   US In Terribly Dangerous Territory, Bond Market May Be Headed Toward Implosion   Gold Investing:  A Bet Against The Idiocy of Money Creation (The Mogambo Guru)   US Home Starts Drop More Than …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I was doing some web wandering and found this: British national builds a ‘tsunami-resistant house,’ powered by solar energy    o o o Reading this synopsis, I would surmise that the script writer for the upcoming “modest budget” guerilla film Remnants must read SurvivalBlog. Watch the latest trailer. Oh, and their clip of “Merle’s Basement” may strike a chord. (Thanks to C.H. for the link.)    o o o Scott F. recommended this web page for some details on suturing: Operational Medicine 2001 Field Medical Service School Student Handbook.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson …



Notes from JWR:

I was tickled to see that Glenn Beck interviewed Lisa Bedford “The Survival Mom” on his television show. (Nov. 18, 2010.) Hopefully this will encourage a broader cross-section of America build a food storage program. — 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 $795, and B.) Two cases of Mountain …


Prepping for Kids, by Rose in Minnesota

A Christian homeschooling wife and mother of three, I find that the subject of children isn’t often addressed by survivalists.  Perhaps it goes without saying that we will teach our children the skills they would need to survive in any given situation, but I know how easy it can be to overlook this vital task in the busyness of raising a family. At the other end of the spectrum, I do not want to raise children who are crippled by fear of the world they live in, nor do I want irresponsible sissies dependent on electronic entertainment and happy meals …


Update on Writing Projects

I’ve had several readers ask me about the status of my upcoming novels. Here is the news, in brief: I submitted the manuscript for the first sequel to “Patriots” in July. Atria Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) plans to release it around October of 2011. It is currently being edited. OBTW, I had the chance to meet my editor, Emily Bestler, in person for the first time last month. She is a very skillful editor. After seeing how wonderfully she edited Glenn Beck’s new novel “The Overton Window“, I am convinced that she will do a great job …


Economics and Investing:

Voting with their feet: Low-tax states will gain seats, high-tax states will lose them. (Thanks to John M. for the link.) The Southern California residential housing crater is not improving. Commentary by Simon Black, over at the Sovereign Man blog: The First Signs of the Coming Dollar Crash are in Hong Kong. Items from The Economatrix: G20: World Gangs Up On America; The Dollar’s Days As Reserve Currency Are Numbered Three Big Banks Cutting Deals on Foreclosures   Pension Insurer Reports Wider Annual Deficit   China Assaults US Monetary Easing 


Odds ‘n Sods:

Following some very expensive lobbying, S.510 passed a cloture vote in the U.S. Senate earlier this week. What a huge disappointment to see this bad legislation will probably be passed. The big question is: How will that bill and the considerably different H.R. 2749 (the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009) from over in the House be reconciled? Please contact your congresscritters and ask them to do their best to get this legislation stopped.    o o o Reader Ron L. noted: “What happens when you have a displaced populace? Disease. Then unrest. It’s happening now in Haiti.”    o …