Day: December 13, 2010

Two Letters Re: Force Multipliers for Retreat Groups

Dear Jim: Regarding force multipliers, you touch on early warning with SIGINT, HUMINT and night vision, but I would argue that more immediate early warning through intrusion detection or perimeter security should be stressed as well: If you are not aware of the bad guys approach, then all your other defensive measures are for naught.  Even just having a minute to muster a defense, instead of 10 seconds, could make all the difference.  Imagine an early warning on the approach of intruders at O-dark-thirty, with your entire team wide awake and suited up in defensive positions, vs. waking up to …



Ten Essential OTC Medications to Stockpile by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs really worth stockpiling?  As a family physician my answer is a resounding yes.  Most of the following were actually prescription medications when first released.  (In higher dosages, several still are.)  Although other OTC drugs are worth considering, these ten have been selected due to their ready availability, affordability, safety in both adults and children, and multi-use potential.  Used alone or in combination, they can effectively treat dozens of conditions including:  headache, fever, sore throats, ear ache, menstrual cramps, heartburn, arthritis, ulcers, diarrhea, allergies, hives, congestion, dizziness, mild anxiety, nausea, vomiting, poison ivy, athlete’s foot, ringworm, eczema, …


Force Multipliers for Retreat Groups

In the past 60 years military organizations of First World countries have often dominated their foes in combat because they’ve taken advantage of Force Multipliers. These are technologies or tactics that dramatically increase (“multiply”) their combat effectiveness. These multipliers are typified by electronic communications, aerial bombardment, intelligence gathering, rapid troop transport, electronic warfare, force concentration, and the use of precision guided “smart” munitions. Similarly, I suspect that in a post-collapse world, Constitutional law and order will best be reestablished by those who stand ready to employ force multipliers of their own. These will likely include: Uninterrupted radio communications to provide …


Letter Re: Assembling a Survival Library

Dear Editor: There is a wonderful source for free e-books called Project Gutenberg.  The books are free because the Copyright for these books has expired in the United States. (They may still be copyrighted in other countries). So anybody may make verbatim or non-verbatim copies of those works.   This is a wonderful source of information.  They will even send free cds and dvds that have as many as 29,000 books each if you request.  You can find books on a multitude of ‘How To’ subjects from a time when doing it yourself was the only option.    Of course you can …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers pointed us to this New York Times article: A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Trading in Derivatives Patron Mark mentioned some commentary about the debt problems in blue states that makes a compelling case that severe hard times are inevitable. Cheryl N. sent this: Why Use Gold As Money? Social Security advocates fear payroll tax cut. (Thanks to Sue C. for the link.) Bram flagged this news item: Australia Overhauls Banking Rules


Inflation Watch:

B.B. sent this: Jim Rogers: Fed understates inflation B.B. sent this: China’s Gold Imports Soar Almost Fivefold on Inflation Concern TAC in Illinois mentioned: “A 50 pound bag of white rice at Sam’s Club is now up to $19.47. Up almost three dollars in the last couple of months.”


Odds ‘n Sods:

Dr. John Waterman will be hosting a two hour show on The Prepper Podcast about herbal medicine. That show will air on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Time.    o o o I just noticed that Amazon.com has dropped the price of my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” to just $6.98. This is their lowest price ever, so it would be a good opportunity to get a short stack, for Christmas presents. (Hint, hint.)    o o o H1N1 virus returns, already claiming lives of 10 …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Most of the central banks have a lot of Ph.D.s, with no real world experience. They have read books, but have not been in the trench to “feel” what it is truly like. This is why government employees rarely have anything worthwhile that will ever contribute to society. There is not a single economic statistic that is even valid, no less any plausible guide as to what is going on. There are manipulated so much to try and influence the ‘public confidence’ that it becomes a joke.” – Imprisoned economist Martin A. Armstrong