Year: 2012

Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. flagged this article at Popular Science: Where Will The Next Pandemic Come From? And How Can We Stop It?    o o o Wade J. mentioned an interesting approach to dog training.    o o o F.G. sent: War Horses Fade Into History While Bayonets Still Linger    o o o Ron M. sent this: Homegrown revolution — Gardeners expand to tackle Alaska’s food insecurity    o o o H.L. mentioned this over at the excellent SHTFPlan blog: Murder, Rape, Robbery and Assault Skyrocket In Bankrupt Stockton, California. (Don’t miss the fascinating comments that follow, mentioning militias and one …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the …


Notes from JWR:

Please pray for those who end up in the path of Hurricane Sandy when it makes landfall. It looks like it may be a bad one. — October 27th is the birthday of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (born 1858, died January 6, 1919). He was the 26th U.S. President (1901–1909). — Today we present another entry for Round 43 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 …


Defending Against the Smallest Enemies, by J.R.M.

It is human nature to approach preparedness according to gaps that we see in our plans.  Most of us make checklists (see List of Lists), have 72 hour bags (BOB), and cover the three B’s (Beans, Bullets, and Band-Aids).  We rotate food and water, learn new skills, and do anything we can to bridge the gap between our perceived lack of preparedness and what we consider as “sufficiently prepared”.  We may get so caught up in building bunkers and buying bullets that we operate in an “out of sight, out of mind” mode.  Sure, we should prepare for four-legged and …


Letter Re: Avoiding Bad Company

James: Huey F. makes some excellent points in his article.  I would just like to add the caveat that not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is one.  We have been burned twice in the last several years by people who we thought were Christian brothers and sisters who turned out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Due diligence is necessary, especially if you’re going to be living with someone.  Just because a mouse is in the cookie jar, it doesn’t make him a cookie.  And thanks, JWR, for all you do.  Sincerely, – Barbara in Tennessee


Economics and Investing:

G.G. suggested this: Fed considers upping QE3 size and language The ultimate tangible? Here is an asset that isn’t “created” by a Federal Reserve and US Treasury collusion: Iowa Farmland Sets Sales Price Record. (Thanks to Dan T. for the link.) Jim Rickards – Currency Wars Simulation. (Thanks to Rick A. for the link.) J.B.G. sent this news item: Bundesbank slashed London gold holdings in mystery move Items from The Economatrix: The Good Old Days Are Over Fabian Calvo:  Massive Foreclosures After Election 9 States With Sinking Pensions Good Economic Data Meets Bad Earnings-Which One Is Wrong?


Odds ‘n Sods:

Storing Spare Radio Gear – Preparing for Long Term Storage    o o o Geoff S. was the first of several readers to send this: Big Brother’s New Toy: An EMP Cruise Missile    o o o Reader Denise G. wrote to mention that it in some states it is illegal to fail to report to arresting police officers that you are carrying a concealed handcuff key. In Florida it is a felony!    o o o Instructables gets practical: Firearms for Catastrophic Disasters    o o o Law Enforcement Looking To Create A Searchable Database Of Everywhere Your Vehicle …



Notes from JWR:

Today is the birthday of Robert D. Maxwell, another one of America’s few living recipients of the Medal of Honor. He was born October 26, 1920. — Today we present another entry for Round 43 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 …


Dutch Oven Cooking, by Louie in Ohio

When I think of Dutch Oven cooking I usually have visions of campfires and Scout Camp, of apple cobbler and savory stews. But as I further my preparations for TEOTWAWKI I realize that I want my Dutch ovens at my retreat. Any heavy pot with lid can be used and called a Dutch oven. But when I say Dutch oven I am referring to the three legged cast iron (or aluminum) covered pot that is normally used outdoors.  Much of the information I give you is basic and you may wish to explore these topics in depth. One of the …


Letter Re: Testing 20 Year Old Home-Canned Tomato Sauce

Jim: To follow up on a recent post: According to canning sources, it is the Vitamins A, C, B1, B2 that are the most susceptible to degradation over time with  33%- 50% losses immediately upon canning and additional losses of 5-20% per year (based on storage conditions).  Let us look at best (33% loss at canning and 5% per year ) and worst case (50% loss at canning and 20% per year) losses per year for five years. Percentage of Remaining Vitamins: Storage Period Best Case Worst Case Year One 62.7% 40% Year Two 59.5% 32% Year Three 56.6% 26% Year Four 53.7% 20% Year Five 51% …


Economics and Investing:

R.B.S. sent: Across Corn Belt, Farmland Prices Keep Soaring Brad in Texas spotted this: US may soon become world’s top oil producer The Next Stock Market Crash Will Be Bigger Than “Black Monday” PIMCO Recommends Hard Commodities To Weather Inflation Items from The Economatrix: IMF’s epic plan to conjure away debt and dethrone bankers We Have Been Warned – Part 2 The Demise of Cash World “Close” To Recession:  Stanley Fischer


Odds ‘n Sods:

Readers in Australia will likely find this company of interest: Outback Watertanks    o o o An interesting podcast: What Homeschoolers and Homemakers can learn from Preppers.    o o o Don’t miss out on the Ready Made Resources sale on Mountain House long term storage foods. They are offering 25% discounts and free shipping for Mountain House foods in #10 cans. The sale ends on November 5th.    o o o The PlayStation handset that fires mortars and the world’s deadliest catapult: Lethal ingenuity of outgunned Syrian rebels. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Matt …



Notes from JWR:

October 25th is remembered as the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade, in 1854. This British cavalry charge against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava was led by Lord Cardigan during the the Crimean War. — Today we present another entry for Round 43 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.) …