Day: March 3, 2016

Notes for Friday – March 04, 2016

March 4, 1678 was the birthday of Venetian Baroque violin virtuoso and composer Antonio Vivaldi, best known for Le Quattro Stagioini (The Four Seasons). (He died in 1741.) o o o The good folks at Always Empowered have announced that they are now offering a special 10% discount for SurvivalBlog readers. Just enter the discount code “prepared” at checkout.  They also now offer a clever new transportable 500-watt wind power generator called the “Tactical Turbine.”  Anyone living in a windy but cloudy region (or planning an expedition or a bugout to such a locale) should check out those turbines.. o …


Bees and Lavender: The Perfect Symbiotic Relationship Yielding Health and Healing, by K.T.

Many survivalists have found their bit of land, and it is deeply inspiring to read online the various journeys of men and women turning those plots into small Edens, into havens of self-sufficiency, or even into comely places to make a final stand. But for those of us who will not be planning to bug-out, or who aren’t lucky enough to have an extended guerrilla skillset, it is wise, I think, to find activities or projects that are multi-faceted in their rewards. I would like to suggest that anyone who can, consider the pairing up of two simple elements whose …


Letter Re: Low-Carb Paleo and Primal for Preppers

Dear Editor, Regarding the article “Low-Carb Paleo and Primal for Preppers, By T.Z.”, there are a few points of this article that should be clarified. The low-carb diet can be used to great effect, however you need to be aware that you can overdue it and cause yourself harm. Symptoms of harmful ketosis are thirstiness, feeling tired, peeing a lot, feeling sick to your stomach, belly pain, throwing up, dry or flushed skin, trouble breathing, confusion, and fruity smelling breath.  The main benefit of the ketosis diet is the lack of hunger your body feels when on the diet, making …


Letter Re: Solar Power Subsidies

HJL, The author of the article on Solar titled Cost Of Defecting From The Grid is a mistaken. It only affects people who are on the grid. It is an economic subsidy problem and should not affect prepping directly. What was happening is that the utilities were forced to buy solar energy at retail, whether they wanted it or not. If you were charged (for example) $0.15/kWh, the utility would have to pay you the same if your meter ran backward. This caused too many people to install solar systems not because they were worried about the grid going down …


Economics and Investing:

Over at The Deviant Investor: Silver Prices in Five Years? o o o CBC reports: Canada sells off most of its gold reserves. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Understanding the Federal Reserve’s Shell Game (Mises)How the US Government and the HSBC Teamed Up to Hide the Truth from a Pennsylvania Couple (Liberty Blitzkrieg via Zero Hedge) Warning: Commentary following article may contain foul language and/or inappropriate avatar images. International News UK Exposed to Steel Deluge as US Clamps Down on Chinese Imports (The Telegraph) ECB Ready with New Stimulus: Bank …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The new face of the patriot movement is a Kansas-raised teenager. (Thanks to loyal content contributor RBS for the link.) o o o J.B.G. was the first of several blog readers to send this: Hard to find bread in shortage-stricken Venezuela  (JWR’s Comment: Why must the inevitable folly of socialist centrally-planned economies be repeated over and over?) o o o Tam, over at the always entertaining and informative View From The Porch blog mentioned the clever new “Get Off Me” Tool #4 from FLC Knives. It provides a covert method of carrying a small penetrating weapon that is probably not …



Notes for Thursday – March 03, 2016

Today is remembered by sci-fi fans as the birthday of James Doohan. He played Chief Engineer Montgomery (“Scotty”) Scott in the Star Trek television series and films. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia.  He was born in 1920 and died on July 20, 2005 in Redmond, Washington. This is also the birthday of bluegrass and folk guitar legend Doc Watson. (He was born in 1923 and passed away in 2012.) o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


An Apolitical Discussion of Politics in the U.S. Today, by W.B.

I would like to start out by saying that most of the people who visit sites like SurvivalBlog know deep in their hearts that something bad is happening or is about to happen. What that is no one is quite sure, but there are so many different things in play that we are deeply concerned. Many things we cannot control because of Nature’s Forces or other Nations’ Forces. The one thing we can control is our Nation’s forces. Can we turn this country around? I don’t know, but I cannot sit around and just get prepared without trying to correct …


Letter Re: Fitness for Success When the SHTF

Sir, I agree with most of what J.P.M. has said about fitness. But I think doing large numbers of sit ups are bad for the spine. Listen to what this guy says in this video. – Mr. Sport JWR Replies: HJL and I agree that “crunches” rather than “sits ups” are the more appropriate exercise for most people of all ages. Not only are they inherently less damaging, but they also tend to be better for your back and can target the abdominal muscles more effectively. (That is, depending on how you position your hands and feet during crunches.)


Letter: Ammunition Versus Silver for Barter

Dear Editors, So here is my ten cents worth… I believe in buying silver bullion now, but dumping it when spot silver hits $30, $40, or $50 per ounce. If you are buying now, then a $20 per ounce (or more) gain per ounce is far better than most any other investments. In fact, I would be happy to sell my bullion at $3 below spot, when silver is $40 an ounce! Remember, if things get really bad, you can’t eat gold or silver. In my estimation U.S. pre-1965 silver coinage is apropos for what I would call the intermediate …


Economics and Investing:

Glenn Reynolds: Cash is the currency of freedom o o o J.L recommended this at Zero Hedge: What’s The Real Unemployment Rate In The US? o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Another Economic Slump, Another Communications Test for Fed (Reuters) Get Used to an America Where Owning a Home is Not Part of the Dream: You Cannot Afford a Home on that Income! (My Budget 360) Did Free Markets Cause Flint, Michigan Water Disaster? (Mises) Michigan Senators Reach $220M Proposal Affecting Flint (The Detroit News) Detroit’s Latest Crisis: Its Dilapidated Schools Have Hit Their Debt Limit and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Mark McC. mentioned upcoming film that was directed by Mike Norris (the son of Chuck Norris), that imagines America under martial law after a self-inflicted EMP strike destroys our electrical grid: Amerigeddon. o o o And speaking of movies, here is a review of a very dark, heavy, and brooding post-Peak Oil collapse British film released in February 2016, set in Ireland: The Survivalist.  (JWR’s Comment: Without even seeing it, I’d say: “Skip it.”  I’m only mentioning this review in the blog because the film’s title might attract American viewers. This is a warning, not a recommendation.) o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It takes more and more effort to compress a spring, but when it goes to solid no amount of force is enough. We’re about there. Should a serious run on physical cash occur the public will suddenly become aware of what’s going on. The big picture. Conspiracy fact. Gold and silver will be next up for a run, particularly silver, together with brass-lead assemblies. Those already having physical currency and stashes of these metals should do well in their little corner of the world, the prudent ones at least. ” – Ol’ Remus, Editor of Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report