Day: September 5, 2011

Note from JWR:

My apologies if my SurvivalBlog posts are fairly sparse or terse for the next six days. This is “crunch week” to complete the second sequel novel manuscript that I’ve contracted with Simon & Schuster. My wife (“Avalanche Lily“) has been helping me fine tune the last few passages. That book should be released in October or November of 2012. In the meantime, the “Book Bomb” day for for the first sequel to “Patriots” (“Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse) is October 4th, 2011. Thank you for waiting until that day to order your copy! By waiting, we hope to …


Some Useful Influenza Facts, by Dr. Bob

In my head it sounds like the start to a Schoolhouse Rock song….”innnn flu enza!  It’s contagious, it’s outrageous…influenza a virus that …”  Anyway, enough reminiscing about my childhood and on to the topic.  First things first:  “flu” is one of the most overused and improperly used terms in all of medicine–arguable the king of misused medical words.  Influenza is a respiratory virus.  It is not what most people call “flu” or “stomach flu”.  It is not a little cold that you have that people call into work for because they just feel sniffly.  Influenza is an enveloped RNA virus classified …


Pat’s Product Review: The Para P14 Returns

Para Ordnance started the trend with hi-capacity 1911-style handguns back in the 1980s. People said it couldn’t be done – putting more than 7 or 8 big ol’ .45ACP rounds in a 1911 frame, and still have a gun you could wrap your fingers around. Para Ord proved everyone wrong! Para didn’t start out with a complete 1911, instead, they manufactured a frame only. And, people could simply fit the slide, barrel and other upper parts onto the Para frame. I still remember the first Para frame I saw – it wasn’t nicely finished, and it was a little bit …


Book Review: Nothing To Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

Dear Mr. Rawles, Here is my review of the book Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick. This a book with great insights for preppers and survivalists, especially in the famine food area.  As you are aware, North Korea suffered a disastrous ten-year famine in which possibly as many as 20% of the population died of starvation and most of the rest were severely malnourished.  This book is about several families and how they did and didn’t make it through those years.  Particularly striking to me were instances where they were eating and, more-or-less, surviving on …


Economics and Investing:

We Are in ‘Worse Situation’ Than in 2008: Roubini. (Thanks to Neil H. for the link.0 S.M.O. sent a link to some astute observations by Jeffrey Snider about what he calls a silent run on fiat currencies: Ghosts of Lehman And a Budding Bank Crisis. U.S. Debt Held by Public Tops $10 Trillion for First Time—Up 59 Percent Under Obama Federal, State, and Local Expenditures as a Share of GDP at WWII Levels. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) ‘Houseboats’ for Rough Economic Waters G.G. sent this: Chart Shock: The Real Unemployment Rate is 22% K.A.F. liked this humorous piece …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I’ve asked Avalanche Lily to put this at the top of my Christmas list: FLIR Scout PS24. I never thought I’d see a good quality compact thermal imaging monocular below $2,500. What a pleasant surprise. Note to our overseas readers: Sorry, but these are Federally export-restricted.    o o o For just three days, September 6th through the 8th, Safecastle will offer a 25% discount on Mountain House cans (and pouches, too)!    o o o Bob S. sent this: Minnesota landowners livid over mineral contracts.    o o o John Jacob Schmidt, the host of Radio Free Redoubt has …