Notes for Wednesday – October 28, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. …




Survival Electronics- Part 1, by K.A.

Many preppers seem to think that a catastrophe would automatically cause society to revert to the 1800’s and that no electronics will survive. This unspoken assumption is not necessarily accurate, since there are a number of ways in which electronics can survive a crisis and play an important role in a survival or SHTF situation, particularly for short- and medium-term or local situations, such as storms, fires, or when forced to evacuate or go mobile. This article explores the advantages of some devices in various categories: physical needs, information, communications, and morale. Understanding Modern Lithium-ion Batteries Before we delve into …




Letter Re: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Dear Mr. Latimer, Having said that you have tried the home freeze dryer personally, I would like your opinion on a dilemma. If you could purchase Mountain House products at 70% off retail or spend the money on the dryer, which would you opt for? Thank you for your response and for all you and JWR do. – T.M. Hugh responds: Without question, I would choose the freeze dryer, but cost has very little to do with this decision. Practically all commercial freeze-dried foods have high sodium contents as well as other ingredients that we just don’t add to our …




Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to Town Hall explaining why central banks are accepting the risks of super-low rates. o o o Items from the Economics Team: 5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money (Simplicity Relished) China’s Fix for Falling Profits is Only Making Things Worse (Business Insider) The Data Isn’t Good: U.S. Companies Warn Recession is Coming (Zero Hedge) The Fed Can’t Raise Rates…But Must Pretend It Will (Mises Institute) 3M Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs (Bloomberg Business) Weatherford International Plans 3,000 More Job Cuts by End of 2015 (Fuel Fix) o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: …







Odds ‘n Sods:

Have you noticed the growing potholes in the roads lately? It’s not your imagination. Reader G.P. sent this in: To save money, states give up on repairing some rural roads o o o From GJM: Eat ALL Your Dining-Out Meals In Red-State Restaurants, and Let Blue-State Disarmed Communist Serf Restaurants Serve “From Each Cook and Server According To Abilities, To Each Patron According To His Needs”, and bring a gun! Help improve probity and courtesy among those with Blue-State habits! Freedom-embracing Indiana Restaurant Gives 25% Discount To All Gun-Packing CCW Patrons! (Editor’s warning: NSA/DHS Facebook account required to view the …