Year: 2010

Letter Re: Implications of the National Strike in India

Sir, I logged a computer help desk report today after the auto update system deleted my sound card. I was annoyed with my computer and irritated when the India based call-taker misheard what I was saying. He apologised saying he had been on at work very early today. We continued the call and I casually asked what time he had started in the morning. He went on to tell me they had stayed overnight in the office due to a national strike in India. He had started at 5am, it was now 1pm and although he was due to finish …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. spotted this item in The New York Times: Robert Prechter’s Market Forecast Says ‘Take Cover’ Tom J.in Vermont sent this: Davidowitz: US Economy a “Complete Disaster” Thanks to Chris G. for this link: Barack Obama: The great jobs killer “Falcon” suggested this piece by Bob Chapman, who suggests that thing might get downright medieval: Struggling and Faltering to Manage Economic Recovery. Chapman writes: “As a result of this and other failures we are about to experience the worst economic collapse since 1348 [during the Great Plague.]” Items from The Economatrix: Fannie-Freddie Bailout Could Cost Taxpayers $1 Trillion Why Canada’s …


Odds ‘n Sods:

David in Israel wrote to say that he liked a podcast on NPR about the Starfish Prime nuclear tests.    o o o R.P.B. mentioned a brief video about the new “Fortified” home building standard.    o o o F.J. suggested this piece over at Lifehacker: Convert a Regular Bicycle into a Cargo Bike for Gas-Free Grocery Hauling


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Smokin’ my pipe on the mountings, sniffin’ the mornin’ cool, I climbs in my old brown gaiters along o’ my old brown mule. The monkey can say what our road was — the wild-goat ‘e knows where we passed. Stand easy, you long-eared old darlin’s! Out drag-ropes! With shrapnel! Hold fast — ‘Tss! ‘Tss! For you all love the screw-guns — the screw-guns they all love you! So when we take tea with a few guns, o’ course you will know what to do — hoo! hoo! Jest send in your Chief an’ surrender — it’s worse if you fights …


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 …


How Long Can You Tread Water? by Tom S.

Noah may have questioned God about why he should build such a big boat.  To quote the comedian Bill Cosby, God might have asked: “How long can you tread water?” In the event of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) burst 250 miles above Kansas or a super solar flare, the loss of the electrical grid would stop almost all food production and importation in the USA.  Some estimate there is, at any given time, more than 1,000 pounds per capita of food in consumable form available in the USA.  Unfortunately, it is very poorly distributed and will not be available to …


Letter Re: Surviving A Home Invasion Robbery

Dear Mr. Rawles: I am intrigued by the fact that almost all the responses to the recent post on surviving a home invasion robbery focused on material issues such as doors or the proper firearms for home defense. All of these were intelligent, well-reasoned — but off target. Napoleon said, “The moral is to the physical as three to one.” Susan and Mike had the most important survival factor: courage. As soon as Susan realized what was happening, she decided to fight, rather than submit and hope for the best. She ran for Mike and attempted to close the bedroom …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate, George Gordon (“G.G.”) sent us this one: Illinois facing ‘outright disaster’ amid budget crisis Items from The Economatrix: 40% of Florida Home Sales are Foreclosures Fed Made Taxpayers Unwitting Junk-Bond Buyers Denninger: The Clock is Running Out Gold Miners and Explorers Face Serious Supply Problems Pelosi: Unemployment Checks Fastest Way to Create Jobs Market’s Swoon Prompts Fear of the Dreaded “Death Cross” A Depressing Thought: Deflation Pending Home Sales Plunge Record 30% Layoffs Climb as Housing Slump Deepens 1.3 Million Unemployed Won’t Get Benefits Restored Stock Futures Head Lower to Open Third Quarter New Jobless Claims Rise …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I recently received several review copies of EMPact America’s ‘America in the Dark‘ three-disc DVD/CD-ROM Set. This is an awesome documentary. I highly recommend it! Parenthetically, it is apparent that the mass media has largely overlooked the full implications of the EMP threat. It is mostly folks in the blogosphere that are paying substantial attention to it. Stock up! And be sure to protect your redundant electronics by storing them in galvanized trash cans or holiday popcorn tins with tight-fitting lids.    o o o The Rural Revolution blog had a great piece about reusable canning lids.    o o …



Notes from JWR:

Thank God for our Independence and Liberty! — 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 …


A Survival Suburban Homestead:  A Prepper’s Twist on the Homestead Movement – Part 1, by D.M.T.

As a member of the architectural profession, I am acutely aware of the multitude of sustainable issues emerging within our own society and the civilized world in general.  Urban homesteading is beginning to emerge because many people are beginning to come to the realization that there could be a major economic crash, Natural disaster, etc that could result in a disruption or failure in our food distribution chain emerging as directly applicable to many concerns facing many preppers regarding any failure or crises resulting in a disruption or collapse of the food distribution chain. But, urban homesteading is not the …


Letter Re: Sustainable Chicken Farming

Mr. Rawles, I’ve had chickens for about three years now, but in doing some research before I got mine I stumbled on the best source for chicken info: BackyardChickens.com. Now, I hear things all the time about chickens that people will discuss with me that I already knew because I read an in-depth discussion on the subject already on the forum. Also the moderation is very good so the site is kept very family friendly. For instance did you know Apple Cider Vinegar is good for their health? If so did you know you shouldn’t provide it in galvanized containers? …


Letter Re: Jim Rickards Comments on “The Financial Equivalent of the Atomic Bomb”

Hi Mr. Rawles, King World News featured an interview with James Rickards, Senior Managing Director at Omnis, Inc. and Co-Head of the firm’s practice in Threat Finance & Market Intelligence. The audio is linked within, as is the Jim Rickards article it stems from. Here are some excerpts: “There are legitimate concerns over the safety of citizens in the event of a financial collapse in the United States where confidence is lost and the dollar plunges. We are mired in a depression, and the central planners continue to look for solutions to keep the monetary system from completely buckling. In …


Economics and Investing:

Reader M.T. sent us this link: Gerald Celente: The Crash Is Underway H.L. sent this: Fears of Global Slowdown Hammer Stock Market Payback Time – Budget in the Red, Illinois Has Stopped Paying Bills (thanks to B.B. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Obama Says US Economy “Strengthening” Despite Weak Data US Auto Sales Seen Slowing with Recovery in Doubt City Budgets Snuffing 4th of July Fireworks Joint Chiefs Chair Reiterates Debt Is National Security Threat BP Shares Soar on Takeover Talks Greek Austerity Rage Spills Into Athens Streets One Million Protest Italy Austerity Package Crackdown! Is the Massive …