Year: 2011

Economics and Investing:

C.D.V. sent us a link to a Zero Hedge piece: Jobless Claims Huge Miss to Expectations of 380K, Print at 412K, Previous Revised Upward, Core PPI Higher Than Expected Also from C.D.V.: Zoellick Sees Economic Risks From Food Prices, Debt, Inflation. In related news: World Bank president: ‘One shock away from crisis’. (Thanks to Mark W. for the latter link.) Pierre M. was the first of several readers to forward this link: More Americans leaving the workforce. John S. highlighted this one: Banks Face $3.6 Trillion ‘Wall’ of Debt: IMF J.H. was the first of several readers to mention this …


Inflation Watch:

U.S. Companies Shrink Packages as Food Prices Rise. Reader Bryan E. wrote to mention: “Over the weekend we had visitors who are in the wholesale food distribution business. They were relating that they had experienced a 14% increase in wholesale food prices during just the month of March. Here are some examples: Item Size March 1st Price April 1st Price Sugar 55 lb. $33 $37 Flour 50 lb. $11 $16 Butter 30 lb. $74 $91 Margarine 30 lb. $17 $24 Catfish 15 lb. $54 $89 Cheese 42 lb. $2.55/lb $2.91/lb Restaurateurs are greatly concerned about how they are going to …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) recommend this National Geographic documentary: Witness: Disaster in Japan. Mike’s comments: “This is an excellent presentation.  The first 30 minutes is raw footage from cell phones, local cameras and news, with almost no commentary.  There are English subtitles.  Watching six minutes of magnitude 9.0 shaking and collapse, followed by 20 minutes of blasting waves demolishing buildings and sweeping everything inland in a filthy black crush, is very sobering. The sheer level of devastation is a reminder that natural disasters dwarf anything that we might do ourselves.”    o o o How about Gas …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Last, but by no means least, courage—moral courage, the courage of one’s convictions, the courage to see things through. The world; is in a constant conspiracy against the brave.  It’s the age-old struggle–the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your conscience on the other.” – General Douglas MacArthur


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 …


How Long Will Your Provisions Last?, by D.G.

2

Growing up on a farm in the Midwest I was exposed to the “self-sufficiency” mindset early on, even though I probably didn’t fully appreciate it at the time.  I can remember my grandmother keeping a large kitchen drawer nearly stuffed full of aluminum foil scraps, string, and assorted sacks and bags, all to be reused and never thrown away until completely used up.  Being snowed in for a few days each winter was never a big concern.  When the electricity was out we had propane and firewood to heat the house, plenty of food had been canned in the summer, …


Letter Re: Steel Cables as Road Obstacles for Rural Retreats

Hello,   I bought and read your book (“How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”) and have read several sections of your blog, but I’m having a lot of trouble finding an item you mentioned several times – “defensive road cables”. I have Googled this exact term and all I get is your article quoted over and over. Can you please send me a link or two or three where I can buy these or other info that will help me find them. Thanks.   – M.B.V.  JWR Replies: To block vehicle traffic from roads, …


Letter Re: Coffee in a Post-Collapse Society

Dear Mr. Rawles,   I would like to add one more consideration to the post-collapse coffee junkie.  My fellow caffeine addicts may be under the misperception that their fix has to come from Java, Columbia or China.  Not strictly true.  Although it is not “coffee” per se, there is a native plant which can provide a caffeine jolt, hold off that dreaded withdrawal headache for you or be used to treat asthma attacks.  Ilex vomitoria var pendula, a.k.a. “Weeping Holly“, is the only native caffeine producing plant, and grows very well anywhere other hollies grow.  The preparation is a little …


Economics and Investing:

Reader J.B.G. suggested this article: World Bank: Food prices have entered the ‘danger zone’ C.D.V. sent this: Chris Martenson: Insolvent and Going Deeper By way of the Fierce Finance e-newsletter, I found this: Is Goldman Sachs Too Big to Fail? T.L.B. liked this one: What The Silver Vigilantes Understand That You Probably Don’t (Arithmetic, Human Nature and other Stuff) From my friend Bob G.: 20 Signs That A Horrific Global Food Crisis Is Coming Items from The Economatrix: US Burning Economic Candle at Both Ends Feds’ Exit Doors Close:  Inflationary Spiral Ahead Keeping Capital In A Depression Commodities Plummet On …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Disaster in the Deep South: Death toll from severe storms rises to 17    o o o C.A. in Oregon mentioned: Price of Tomatoes Has a Lot to Do With These Thefts    o o o F.J. suggested this, over at Lifehacker: Download Emergency Medicine Manuals for Free    o o o Sun’s Storm Season Finally Heating Up. (Thanks to Steve S. for the link.)



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries 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 , …


Caving Caveats, by S.B.

I’m an amateur caver, all the caves I know of I found through a local college caving course which I’ve taken a few times. We learned from our instructor, a former Marine, with lots of experience, that most cavers are very zealous when it comes to locations of caving sites. Largely because graffiti pop-culture day-hiking tourists are so devastating to pristine cave environments, serious spelunkers will not share that information beyond their associations. I would not expect to find that kind of information resource online. Serious cavers simply won’t breach their own operational security (OPSEC) to do that. IF anyone were …


Chickens: Easy and Fun Food for Your Family’s Survival, by Southern Miss

Raising chickens is a wise investment in your survival, especially if you are now living on your rural retreat. We live in the deep southern United States, so it would be much different the farther north you live. I can only speak out of my own experience, so you will have to take what I say, combine it with all the other things you have read, heard and experienced on the subject, and modify it for where you live. Housing You need to have plenty of room for the chickens to live. If your chickens free range every day, less …


Letter Re: The MGI Hydra Multi-Caliber Rifle

Mr. Rawles-   I continue to enjoy your blog.   I read with interest Pat Cascio’s review of the MGI Hydra rifle.  I can think of a one very good scenario where such a system is very valuable:  In a political environment where licensing restricts the number of guns that one can own.  The Witness brand semi-auto handguns are popular in Europe for this very reason.  One receiver can support several different caliber conversions.  Unfortunately, those same places usually take a dim view of private ownership of AR-15 style weapons platforms, so other restrictions may prevent ownership in any case. …