Day: September 1, 2013

Notes from JWR:

Today is the sad 30th anniversary of the willful air-to-air missile shoot-down of KAL Flight 007, which took the lives of 269 people, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald and Tae Kwon Do Master Hyong Ung “Billy” Hong. There were 105 Koreans, 62 Americans, 28 Japanese, and 23 Taiwanese on board. The airliner was a Boeing 747. The Soviet fighter was a SU-15, piloted by Major Genadi Osipovich. He had direct orders to shoot down the plane. — Today we present Part 3 of a four-part entry for Round 48 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round …


National Preparedness Month — Three Concurrent Mountain House Sales!

During National Preparedness Month, Mountain House has removed their Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) restrictions on their authorized dealers for long term storage foods packed in #10 cans. This is the first time the company has ever done so, and it has created the opportunity for low prices that haven’t been seen in decades. Three SurvivalBlog advertisers are Mountain House dealers, and I strongly recommend that you stock up to take advantage of these sales prices in September. Here is a summary of the three September sales: A month-long sale on Mountain House long term storage foods began today at Safecastle. …


Stuff Hitting the Fan: A Position Paper – Part 3, by R.L.

(Level II Scenario, continued) Utilities For me, a 1,000 Gigawatt generator is not needed. Just 12 volt deep cycle storage batteries and a photovoltaic panel to charge them up, along with with a homemade generator from a lawnmower engine fan belted to a Chevrolet car alternator will be enough to power some communication electronics and spot lighting.  Deep cycle batteries are preferable to regular 12 V car batteries as they last much longer, but car batteries will certainly do in a pinch.  Incandescent lights need more power than fluorescents which need more than white LED arrays. Do some experimenting.  Another …


Letter Re: Declining Aquifers

Hello Mr. Rawles, I am a great fan of your work and I eagerly anticipate the release of your new novel.   I live in rural Northeastern Colorado, where both sides of my family settled in the 1870s.  The mid-sized ranch, 1,900 acres, that I live on has been owned by my family for 104 years.  I raise cattle, goats, horses and hay along with my dad, my wife and kids.  I also have a “government job” in local emergency services to help make ends meet.    I read the recent article by Denise Chow of Live Science, titled Water Woes: …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Mike H. sent: Silver Outshines Everything in the Market During August The Case For Why Silver Is Better Than Gold Smoking gun? Spreadsheet of high-profile hires found Items from The Economatrix: Is the Housing Recovery Still On Track? Get Ready For A ‘Massive Interest Rate Shock’ Soon The Global Financial Death Spiral?


Odds ‘n Sods:

R.H. kindly sent us the full scoop on Maryland’s new ban on semi-auto rifles and standard capacity magazines that goes into effect in one month (October 1, 2013.) Vote with your feet, if you can. But if you can’t, then stock up, soon!    o o o Common Household Items that Add Hundreds of Dollars to Energy Bills. [JWR’s Comment: Don’t overlook the umpteen power cubes (AC to DC transformers) throughout your house. By simply plugging them in to a $5 power strip you can turn off those “wall warts” with the flick of a switch when they aren’t in …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from …