Year: 2010

Economics and Investing:

B.B. was the first of several readers to mention this item: US financial system support up $700 billion in past year-watchdog. “Total US government financial system support seen at $3.7 trillion.” Yikes! Brett G. sent this one: How to Upgrade an Old Phone into a Porsche. M.E.W. spotted this: Why Are Banks Withholding Highend Repossessions Over $300,000 From the Market? G.G. suggested the latest from The Mogambo Guru (Richard Daughty): Raising Taxes to Combat Recession: The Ultimate Fiscal Folly Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Drop as Bernanke Warns of Uncertain Economy Firms Want to Rehire, Skilled Workers Scarce Cities Rent …


Odds ‘n Sods:

B.B. wrote to tell us that the second season of The Colony will air this summer on The Discovery Channel, starting July 27th.    o o o Reader J.F.R. mentioned these: Spiral Eye Needles    o o o K.S. sent this: PC giant warns of hardware trojan horse



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 …


Riots and Civil Unrest in America, by B.B. in California

I am writing this article not to glorify what I have seen, but perhaps to make some of you think about some unknowns.  I am a U.S. Army veteran who served in the 1980s, and when I honorably discharged I was recruited into law enforcement at a termination of service briefing at Fort Irwin, California.  From there I went into law enforcement in Los Angeles for over 20 years and never looked back.  I am writing this article because many people are writing about living through and how to survive civil unrest (I am sorry, a riot is a riot …


Letter Re: An Arms and Armor Maker Recommendation

Sir: I recommend that you and your readers look into Windlass Steelcrafts, a company with a wide range of hand-weaponry, armor, etc., from ancient to modern. Most swords, for example, on the market are soft stainless steel. This company provides swords made from a variety of steel, including layered, high carbon, Damascus steel. These people make real weapons: “Its founder, Mr. V. P. Windlass set up this manufacturing plant to supply the British Gurkha regiments with Kukris, their main sidearm weapon.” Here is information on how they manufacture swords. Some examples of their weaponry: A Damascus Viking Sword Erbach Sword …


Economics and Investing:

Dormant accounts to fund ‘big society’ bank. (A hat tip to Chris P for the link.) Norman A. mentioned: King World News interviewed John Williams of ShadowStats. Anthony M. sent this item: Nearly half of North Carolina’s state-chartered banks ‘troubled’ Items from The Economatrix: The Real US Unemployment Rate Could Be 25% Or More US Consumer Confidence Slides To Lowest In A Year The Geography of a Recession (Now updated through May, 2010) Stocks Slump on Weak Revenue for Goldman, IBM Home Construction Sinks to Lowest Level Since October Desperate Retailers Push Christmas in Summertime


Odds ‘n Sods:

Greg M. spotted an article that underlines the vulnerability of SCADA systems: New virus targets industrial secrets    o o o The folks at Ready Made Resources now have a special sale in progress on a very small quantity of full mil-spec AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ weapons sight monoculars. These are autogated and complete with military issue monocular head mounts, manuals, sacrificial lenses, mil-spec soft nylon carry cases, et cetera. The price is just $2,995, which is less than most dealers charge for a standard Gen 3 scope. (And again, these are the much more sought after Gen 3+ variety.) I …



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 …


A Blacksmithing Primer, by Matt M.

The two greatest tools that mankind has, the tools that pulled our species out of the wild and still separate us from base animals, are fire and the blade. A blacksmith crafts and uses both of these tools.  Whether you live in a frontier situation where you have to make do with what you’ve got and make it last or you’re planning ahead for a potential TEOTWAWKI situation, knowing how to shape iron and steel to suit your needs without the use of electricity is a good idea.  This article is intended as the most basic primer to give you, …


Letter Re: Preserving Food at Home Self-Study Course

Dear Mr. Rawles, I thought that the free food preservation course from the National Center for Home Food Preservation would be useful to your readers. Here are some details, from their web site: Preserving food at home, a self-study course. Announcing a free, self-paced, online course for those wanting to learn more about home canning and preservation. * Introduction to Food Preservation * General Canning * Canning Acid Foods * Canning Low-Acid Foods This course is offered in the University of Georgia eLC system. The univefrsity requires registration for you to receive a login. – David L. Economics and Inve


Economics and Investing:

G.G,. sent this: Homeowners Associations: The New Foreclosure Ireland’s credit rating downgraded by Moody’s. Down to Aa2. Ouch! (Thanks to John in Ohio for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Rebound as Investors Await Earnings IBM Lifts 2010 Forecast But Economic Worries Loom Homebuilders Losing Confidence in the Recovery Average Gasoline Prices Down From a Month Ago UK: Hedge Funds Accused as Food Prices Soar Stress Testing Euro Banks Won’t Stave Off a Deflationary Vortex Markets Braced for Turmoil After IMF and EU Pull 17 Pound Billion Hungary Financing Deal


Odds ‘n Sods:

Trent H. was the first of several readers to mention this: Second Act: Jay Shafer; Ten years ago, Jay Shafer downsized to an 89-square-foot house and reinvented both his lifestyle and career in the process. Not much room for storage food, but this illustrates that minimalism has its advantages.    o o o Paul B. sent us a link to some more Gibbonesque musings: Has civilization gone full circle?    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this piece about some implications of deferred maintenance, parts obsolescence, tight budgets, and lean “Just In Time” spare parts …