Year: 2011

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Regulators here and in Europe have no idea — repeat, no idea — of the full extent of the derivatives exposure that could be triggered by an “official” Greek default, or by the failure of a major French bank. And if the people in charge have no clue as to the fallout from what may be trillions of dollars in side bets waiting to be triggered in a catastrophic cascade, they’re basically flying blind.” – Matt Miller, in a Washington Post editorial on derivatives titled: Europe’s debt crisis and the danger we can’t see


Notes from JWR:

We are pleased to welcome our newest advertiser, Pantry Paratus. Even though they had been our advertising waiting list for many moons, our staff didn’t get the chance to meet the owners of Pantry Paratus until the recent Denver Preparedness Expo. They have a friendly sales team, excellent customer service, and a great line of preparedness products with an emphasis on food preservation–including vacuum sealers, dehydrators, and home canners. They also offer bulk wheat, peas and lentils grown in The Palouse Hills. Be sure to visit their web site and their blog. — Today we present another entry for Round …


Uses of Thermoses and Hot Water Bottles, by BigSky

I have long believed that quality hot water bottles and steel vacuum thermos bottles and are very valuable survival tools. They are a wonderful intersection of high and low tech that can serve in a number of helpful roles. THERMOSES Fireless Cooking (retained-heat cooking) – I have cooked in WIDE-mouth thermoses many hundreds of times since the 1970s. There are a couple of other articles on this sight covering that fuel-saving application. I would amend the recommendation given re: Aladdin Stanley vacuum bottles, and I will cover that below. Using WIDE-mouth thermoses for “fireless cooking” is one very useful role …


Two Letters Re: A Different Perspective on Packing a Bugout Bag

James, I have to take issue with the last post concerning the contents of a persons B.O.B. The writers experience of humping large loads up mountains under fire notwithstanding, I have to say that the majority of bags and packs being prepared today aren’t for natural disasters,even though they certainly would suffice for that situation.   I live in a Hurricane Zone and survived Katrina, although without having to relocate. And I agree with the writer that I didn’t know of anyone starving to death .I also have read the latest figures showing FEMA is broke and aid to impacted …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent this for the I-Told-You-So Department: Home prices heading for triple-dip. Mark you calendar for June, 2022. That might be a reasonable date for price recovery, barring a mass currency inflation. But even that of course wouldn’t be a genuine market recovery, when gauged in real home values (adjusted for inflation). Don’t miss this great piece by Thomas L. Friedman: Did You Hear the One About the Bankers? (Thank to Jed F. for the link.) Ben S. sent this: The Inflation Shock and the Fall Melt-Up of 2011 Despite Debt Deal, Europe May Slide into Recession John R. sent …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Lee M. sent this article datelined Spartanburg, S.C.: Sheriff: Time For Citizens To Arm Themselves; Sheriff Chuck Wright Doesn’t Hold Back    o o o SDG spotted this: DHS completes Multi-Band Radio testing    o o o Survival Mom very kindly spilled a lot of ink pixels, posting links to my recent radio interview with Peter Schiff.    o o o “Boosters” sent this piece that has been overlooked by the mainstream media: Muslims Stone Catholic Festival-Goers in France.    o o o Over at TechPlus: How to create disposable mail address



Note from JWR:

A quick update on my writing projects: I’ve finished writing the second sequel to “Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse”. It will be titled: “Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse”. Like “Survivors”, it will be a contemporaneous sequel to “Patriots”, but this one will focus more on the latter stages of the War of Resistance. This novel is set mainly in and near Fort Knox, Kentucky. It describes how U.S. Army Captain Andy Laine infiltrates the Provisional Government’s New Army in the midst of the resistance war, and the foundation of a new Constitutional government. The …


Letter Re: Radio Communication and Antennas

All radios need an antenna and the type of antenna chosen will determine important performance characteristics. Let us start with a radio most people are familiar with. The citizens band radio is typically supplied with some form of mobile vertical whip style antenna. This antenna is usually mounted vertically on the vehicle and it radiates radio frequency energy with mostly vertical polarization. Most CB users have vertical antennas so they are most sensitive to similar signals having vertical polarization. If a person using CB radio wanted to make his signal heard by his comrades more and less by people outside …


Letter Re: A Different Perspective on Packing a Bugout Bag

Dear Editor: The unanswerable question becomes what constitutes the absolute needed contents within the much discussed and dissected “Bugout” or “Bail Out” Bag (BOB). The generally accepted definition of a BOB could be summed as providing the carrier with seventy two hours of life supporting kit.  While the initial attempts to define its necessity would likely center around the need to displace due to such things as hurricanes, earthquakes or extreme civil strife I am not convinced this would constitute the apocalyptic SHTF scenario so many individuals seem to envision when compiling their BOB contents lists.  I do support the …


Economics and Investing:

The New American magazine cites my novel “Patriots” in a recent article on hyperinflation. More derivatives news: Credit-Default Swap Risk Bomb Is Wired to Explode: Mark Buchanan. (Thanks to BigTex for the link.) Bob S. spotted this: USDA economic research say CPI of food price to rise 3.5% – 4% in 2011. Reader AmEx (American Expatriate) was the first of several readers to send this: Three Men Arrested In Nickel Theft At Local Steel Plant Meanwhile, some sad news from England: Thieves desecrating memorials to our war heroes every other day as metal plaques and statues are being sold for …


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. sent this article from California that underscores a deep division in all of American society: Steven Greenhut: Rural rebellion brewing    o o o SurvivalBlog reader TTabs has produced another one of his great ultralight “trike flying” videos. This one shows a flight over ponds, rivers, and lakes in Eastern Washington. Not only is this scenic, but consider it some scouting for potential retreat locales. (Eastern Washington is part of the American Redoubt region. And BTW, one advantage of Washington state is that there is no personal income tax.) If you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to watch …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Should these speculations (on the future of humanity) be found doubtful or fallacious, there still remains a more humble source of comfort and hope. The discoveries of ancient and modern navigators, and the domestic history or tradition of the most enlightened nations, represent the human savage naked both in mind and body, and destitute of laws, of arts, of ideas, and almost of language. From this abject condition, perhaps the primitive and universal state of man, he has gradually arisen to command the animals, to fertilise the earth, to traverse the ocean, and to measure the heavens. His progress in the improvement …