Month: October 2015

Economics and Investing:

Big Business Has No Community Or Country Loyalty – So Buy Local – RBS o o o The Worse Things Get For You, The Better They Get For Wall Street, Sent in by J.Q. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Empty Malls in China? A Lesson in Excess Capacity (Zero Hedge) House Conservative Leaders Say It’s Too Late to Prevent a Debt Ceiling Hike (Reuters) Economic Outlook Strongest Predictor of Immigration Views (Gallup) Record Number of Americans Sell Blood Plasma to Make Ends Meet (Zero Hedge) Debt in China: Deleveraging Delayed (The Economist)


Odds ‘n Sods:

I stumbled upon this interesting video from Latvia that illustrates just how long a well-prepared buried cache can remain intact: WW2 Unbelievable airtight container find. My favorite item was the explosive lump of fake coal. (Designed to blow up steam locomotives.) Cool. As Slim Pickens would say: “Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas, with all that stuff!” – JWR o o o Hobby Lobby dared to push back on Obamacare, and Obama will make them pay: Feds Investigate Hobby Lobby Boss for Illicit Artifacts. Sent in by T.P. o o o We normally don’t say …



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 …



Notes for Tuesday – October 27, 2015

October 27th 1858 was the birthday of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. (He died January 6, 1919.) o o o I’m pleased to announce the launch of the web site for my new venture: Liberty Paradigm Publishing. Please take a look. – JWR o o o 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 …


Firearm Noise Suppressor Overview, by S.M.

It seems that ownership and use of firearm noise suppressors, also referred to as “silencers” or “cans”, are increasingly popular in the United States. Manufacturers have responded to the increased interest and demand with new, innovative products. For those considering acquiring suppressors, I thought it might be useful if I shared my recent experiences. While there are many legal hurdles to suppressor ownership, they can be addressed fairly easily at a reasonable cost and effort. Since I am not a lawyer, I can only provide a layman’s perspective. Therefore I suggest that you research the applicable legal requirements of the …


Letter Re: Toilet to Tap

Mr. Latimer, Thanks for bringing to our attention the massive project in LA to turn sewage back into drinking water. I must say that people should be less concerned about picking up a dangerous infections disease (the treatment of sludge is accompanied by heavy use of chlorine and/or ultraviolet light to disable bacteria and viruses) and more concerned about the fact that many of our treatment facilities lack the ability to remove the massive amount of pharmaceuticals and drugs people are on. A lot of treated water being released into the environment contains high levels of anti-depressants, birth control hormones, …


News From The American Redoubt:

Every once in a while, you read about one of those crazy things that you are just sure is a “tall tale”… And then there is that time Idaho Fish and Game airdropped a bunch of beavers. Thanks to P.M. for sending in the link to Popular Mechanics. o o o A new documentary produced in Bozeman, Montana: Unbranded. The amazing story of four men who recently adopted 16 mustangs, broke them, and rode them from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. o o o Officials plan to capture wild horses in southwestern Idaho o o o Casper, Wyoming: …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader P.S. sent in a link to the US 2014 wage statistics. Basically: If you’re making $30K, you are in the 51st percentile. In other words, 51% of the U.S. population is making the same or less than you. If you’re making $60K, you are in the 81st percentile. If you’re making $90K, you are in the 90th percentile. If you’re making $125K, you are in the 95th percentile. A 1 percenter would be making $250K or more, putting them in the 99th percentile. There are approximately 1.1M people who made between $250K and $500K in 2014. A 0.1 …