Year: 2012

Letter Re: Sugar and Salt Storage

James, In response to the article “Re: Sugar and Salt Storage” you mentioned: “You can either buy mylar liners with zip-lock tops, or plain bags, and heat seal them. (The latter method takes a special tool that is fairly expensive.)” Mylar bags can be heat sealed rather effectively, quickly, and easily using only an electric clothes iron and a scrap piece of 2×4.   Leave enough room in the mylar bag to allow the bag to extend out the top of the 5 gallon bucket.  Lay the 2×4 on the bucket edge, and using a hot clothes iron, slowly heat …


Economics and Investing:

Those pesky derivatives have come back to bite: ISDA: Greek Debt Restructuring Triggers CDS Payouts. Since CDS contracts are measured in many billions of dollars, the counterparty risk is huge. As previously mentioned, they are calling this default a “credit event”, since it sounds more gentle and palatable for the sheeple. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) U.S. to sell $6 billion in AIG stock. What does an America with no middle class look like? Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Borrowing Nearly At Pre-Recession Level Why Job Growth Might Mean Unemployment Oil Up On Greece Hopes You Won’t Believe The …


Odds ‘n Sods:

12 states on path to [concealed carry of] guns with no permits. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o Cry havoc! Reader H.M. mentioned a company that gives new meaning to the familiar old Shakespearian phrase: The Dogs of War.    o o o A personal request from JWR: For our collection here at the ranch, I’m looking for an antique Swiss 7.5mm Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifle with a serial number below 236,500. It must be offered by a fellow private party here in the United States. I’m only looking for one with a nice bore and …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed [be] thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 …


A Poor Man’s Guide to Prepping and Food Storage, by T.P.

I started not to write this piece- not because I feel any shame about my approach to survival and prepping, but largely because I will be misunderstood or dismissed- as I have been whenever I try to enlighten friends and co-workers of the needh to have a survival plan. But I feel it may help others who are not wealthy enough to buy thousands of dollars worth of MREs or hundreds of pounds of hard red wheat and a grinder… and frankly, because I do not welcome the competition for my supply of food and supplies. Many years ago I …


Middle of the Road Family Embraces the Prepper Mindset by C.L.

So how does one start down this journey of becoming a prepper?  For me and eventually our family, it was a gradual transition, which included the convergence of medical, physical and political convictions.  This was not a planned journey but rather one, which we have come to embrace as our only path to survival. We are a typical family in one sense and atypical in another.  We have led a typical life of work, play and trying to get ahead.  Where our life has veered from this typical course is the support we must provide to one of our children …


David in Israel on Coronal Mass Ejections

I’m writing to remind readers that the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that began March 8, 2012 will sweep away low speed particles clearing the way for a few days for a somewhat possible 1859 Carrington Event style kill shot should there be another large CME.  I suggest that SurvivalBlog readers keep up to date on SpaceWeather.com though utilities and emergency services will also be watching this.  Even if there is another larger CME and the utilities disconnect to save their equipment any long conductor can act as an antenna for the radio waves produced by an ionospheric event. So be …


Economics and Investing:

Tyler Durden: Some Observations On Recent Gold (And Silver) Volatility. (Thanks to K.P. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Global Markets: The Greek Bailout, The CDS Market, and The End of The World Lehman Emerges From 3.5 Year Bankruptcy Huge Spike In Repeat Foreclosures Claims For Jobless Aid Up; Low 4-Week Average Also Rise


Odds ‘n Sods:

AmEx (American Expat) sent a PDF link to an expert analysis (published by Virginia Tech) on the potential impact of a major earthquake along the New Madrid Fault Line. This is food for thought, and cause to do a bit of padding and strapping down.    o o o FBI director: Have to check whether targeted killing rule is outside US only. It is not very reassuring, seeing men like this seated in high places. Let’s add Robert Mueller to the same list as Eric Holder. They must be forced out of office with a public outcry, as soon as …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"While we benefit in some ways from modern technology, I do wonder what state our world would be in if we suddenly lost the electrical power necessary to keep our communications functioning.  Would the younger generations know how to grow crops to feed a family?  Would they know how to drop anchor and wait for the catch?  Would they know how to survive by the sweat of their brow?  New is good.  Old is necessary." – Reverend Billy Graham


Notes from JWR:

SolarHam has issued another solar flare warning. This would be a good day to unplug your radios, detach your antennas, and make sure all of your spare radios are safely tucked away in Faraday cans. (If nothing else, this is good practice for “The Big One”.) Here is a related news article. — Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the …


Warm, Protected and Modest: What to Wear in Difficult Times, by Marilyn E.

My father, a World War II veteran, suffered from trench foot, still suffers from its after effects. He contracted the condition in Europe by having cold, wet feet for days on end. A similar condition called immersion foot may be familiar to veterans who served in Vietnam where the water was warmer, but still caused loss of circulation. Dry socks are not a luxury. Warm, dry clothing is not only a joy and a comfort, it can save your body parts and your life. Protection from sun and wind, thorns and brush, cold and damp can be essential to your …


Out of the Neighborhood and Into a Community, by J.N.

As a firearms enthusiast, I have spent far too much time reading gun-related forums.  The collective knowledge of the larger forums is amazing and far outweighs the poorly thought-out words of the few ignorant posters who have nothing to add.  Often, after catching up on my favorite firearm sections, I find myself checking out the survival/preparedness sub-forums that the major firearms forums all seem to have.  Limited on the depth of their information, I usually hop over and research a topic on survival-specific forums and blogs where the levels of knowledge and experience are at much higher standards. The topics …


Letter Re: Sugar and Salt Storage

Dear SurvivalBlog Editor: I’m running out of storage room for my food storage.  Would sugar or salt stored in mylar bags and food grade bucket with a gasket lid deteriorate if stored in a hot, humid environment, (such as garage)?  Thank you for any advice you could offer. Take care, – Stephanie K. JWR Replies: The beauty of salt and sugar is that they are “self-storing” and can have extremely long useful storage lives (potentially centuries) if they are protected from moisture. Just a bit of humid air and inadequate packaging will turn either of them into solid bricks, fairly …