Day: August 15, 2012

Notes from JWR:

Just released! The latest sci-fi novel in the popular Freehold series by SurvivalBlog’s own Michael Z. Williamson: When Diplomacy Fails. This novel is another prequel to Freehold, involving the Ripple Creek crew. Here is a summary: “Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security’s best personal security detail return to action. This time, they really don’t like their principal, World Bureau of State Minister Joy Herman Highland–a highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations to elected office. Even worse, Highland’s assistant wants to publicize every movement and action for her boss’s pending campaign, which is anathema to good security. With a person of this status, …


Do-It-Yourself Rocket Stoves, by E.B.

I live and prep on a tight budget – at least for the time being. I am lucky to have a fireplace in my home, not a woodstove, nor the room for one, but at least a fireplace. It’s better than no fireplace, but rather inefficient for heating or cooking. It would do in a pinch, but a rocket stove would greatly reduce the amount of wood needed to cook a meal. On my budget even $100 is a lot right now and I began looking into building my own rocket stove. The knowledge is out there, and “improved stoves” …


Letter Re: American Redoubt Coverage

Jim, I’m a long-time blog reader and occasional writer just dropping a note by you to say first of all that I love the blog. I read it everyday without fail. I support you by clicking through to your sponsors and purchasing items. One thing I would like to state for the record is my objection to the constant yammering on about the American Redoubt. [Some deleted, for brevity.] As one who has relocated from Florida to central Kentucky, I can tell you that there are more nice places to relocate to than just the Redoubt. Once again, I love …


Economics and Investing:

Der Spiegel reports: Investors Prepare for Euro Collapse Welcome to the land of the poor and rich – Trading the middle class for economic extremes. Deep Fried Black Swan Lands as China Admits it Has a Food Inflation Problem, Releases Corn, Rice From Reserves. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) Three Warning Signs Showing Why You Should Remain Leery of this Market   Why Alternative Energy Will Never Become Widespread in Our Lifetime Items from The Economatrix: Presenting The Ultimate “Muppet” Indicator The US Treasury Secretary’s $2.4 Trillion Secret Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago? Egan …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Camping Survival has announced an unprecedented Two Day Free Shipping Deal. This is for every order of $149 or more from their web site received on August 15th and August 16th. Free shipping is available only if you use coupon code “freeshipping” during checkout.    o o o Reader Diana V. suggested this: 100-year-old way to filter rainwater    o o o Gary S. mentioned: Cloak of Invisibility?    o o o F.G. sent this: Conquest vehicles reveals the Evade, its new, gigantic unarmored SUV. JWR’s Comments: They should have named this vehicle the Poser. Driving an unarmored vehicle that looks …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Emergency preparedness is a good thing for governments to focus on. But whether talking about the Elliot Lake mall collapse in Ontario or the ongoing efforts to turn Calgary’s communications back on, there’s ample evidence that governments are simply incapable of adequately tackling the complexities of disasters confined to even a single building. If something big ever happens — and sooner or later, something always does — we should all expect to be on our own for days, or longer. The systems we’ve built to support ourselves are just too complicated to repair any faster than that.” – Matt Gurney, …