Day: May 14, 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round 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 Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


No Cost and Low Cost Simple Beneficial Habits, by L.L.V.

There are some no nonsense, low-cost hands on things that we can do right now and daily to become more prepared in a slow and steady, simple manner. I recommend using Regularly Unavoidable Training Triggers (RUTTs). Getting in a RUTT could save your life. We all know people that are in a rut.  Some people like to smoke their cigarettes and some spend hours a day in front of the television.  Some people without even thinking about it pick up a little bit of candy or junk food when standing in line at the grocery store.  The truth is that …


Letter Re: The Butter Storage Dilemma

Dear JWR: I’ve been reading your site for some time and thought that some of your readers may find our Butter Storage Solution helpful in their plans. I’ve been a prepper for decades and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about butter. Our stored food reflects our caloric needs as well as having some things to eat that we really like — things that make us feel better. My wife likes butter very much and I began looking for solutions around the turn of the century. Living in New Orleans (or anywhere with a sub-tropical climate) just makes the …


Letter Re: Bedbugs as Disease Vectors

Hi, Jim: Up until now, bedbugs were thought to be harmless from the point of view of carrying diseases. But all that has changed. See: Scientists Discover Bedbugs Carrying MRSA Germ In Study. Instead of [simply] being a pernicious hard to get rid of pest, they may be carrying anti-biotic resistant staph infections and illnesses now. Some houses have such bad infestations of bedbugs there is no getting rid of them and impoverished people abandon those homes. In some cities, the houses are condemned as unfit for human habitation and destroyed. Bed bugs are not found just in beds. Major …


Economics and Investing:

John Embry discusses gold and silver with James Turk. Don’t miss Embry’s comments on the gold to silver ratio (starting 4 minutes into the interview), and about the prospects for hyperinflation, (starting about 10 minutes in). H.D. pointed me to this New York Times article: Gold Mania in the Yukon. C.D.V. flagged this: Social Security deficits now ‘permanent’ Items from The Economatrix: Foreclosures Crush Home Prices Reports of Mortgage Fraud Reach Record Level Stocks Fall as European Financial Crisis Expands Asian Markets Subdued on US Mixed Signals Stocks Edge Higher as Commodity Slide Eases Dollar In Graver Danger Than Euro. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Pierre M. mentioned this excellent PDF: Impact of Severe Solar Flares, Nuclear EMP and Intentional EMI on Electric Grids.    o o o Cheryl N. (SurvivalBlog’s Economatrix) sent this: Coping With Crime After Economic Collapse. (A great one hour phone interview with “FerFAL in Argentina.)    o o o Grant at Emergency Essentials wrote to mention that they’ve just received a few cases of Red Feather brand canned butter, from New Zealand. I will likely sell out soon, so stock up!    o o o One of the editors of the Survival Cache blog kindly posted: Book Review: How to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called …