Bernanke, Geithner and the Japanese Solution

A curious financial situation has developed in Japan. Largely overlooked in the American press, Japan now has built up a staggering national debt that is approaching 300% of their GDP. This debt exists at the same time that there is tremendous alarm in the global media over Greece’s debt, that is only about 130% of GDP. (And lest we feel smug about those spend thrift Greeks, our own debt is now more than 100% of our GDP, and unlike Japan, we have a trade deficit rather than a trade surplus.) Why has Japan’s monstrous debt been ignored by the press? …


Pat’s Product Review: Buffalo Bore Ammunition–Thinking Outside The Box

I like companies (and people) who think outside the box. I think this comes from my days as a Private Investigator, or when I was in law enforcement. In order to solve “mysteries” I had to think outside the box many times. So it is with firearms and ammo companies – if they want to stay in business, they have to keep coming up with different ideas, in order to pique their customers’ interest.   Some months ago, I review some of the ammo that Buffalo Bore Ammunition (www.buffalbore.com) produces. Tim Sundles, who owns Buffalo Bore, told me he was …


Recipe of the Week:

Recipe of the Week Today we present the first installment of a new column, “Recipe of the Week”. (As suggested by Mrs. M.T. in Alaska.) These will primarily be recipes for storage food. Most weeks we will also feature at least one link to other web sites and blogs that have useful recipes and austere environment cooking resources. Do you have a favorite recipe that you have tested extensively? We are particularly looking for recipes with an emphasis on: storage foods, wild game, home-raised livestock and garden produce, and austere cooking methods (such as solar ovens, Dutch ovens, and so …


Economics and Investing:

Debra P. sent a link to a news clip where a CNN reporter catches on: Hedge fund manager hoards nickels. (Although she muddies the waters by talking about numismatic value and base metal value in the same breath.) And speaking of nickel, this piece comes from Canada: Steel yourself for new non-nickel loonies, (Thanks to C.L. for the link.) A Colorado television station interviewed a “one man think tank”: Melting Gold Coins To Reduce National Debt–Man Says America’s Debt Would Be Erased If Government Would Melt Gold Coins Into Bars, Sell Them To Other Countries. Not only is he severely …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Rhonda T. asks: Need an excuse to prepare? Consider this map, assembled by Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft. (Those Germans know all about Katastrophenvorsorge.)    o o o I just heard from Tom at CampingSurvival.com that they have outgrown their warehouse, so they will soon be moving their operation into a larger one.  To do that, they need to get rid of a huge pile of inventory so they have increased the size of their closeout section, where prices have been marked at or below their cost.  Since their shipping rates are quite reasonable, this is a great way to stock your …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 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 Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


Weapon Use, Slings, Web Gear, and Associated Weapon Equipment, by Racker

Thanks to Jim Rawles and those who participate in SurvivalBlog–such a great source of material. It has been a real pleasure to review the material on this site and note the obvious amount of knowledge available as resources for others in proper disaster planning. When you see nation changing events happening around the world, it is nice to see a level of common people thinking about such things, preparing for such events, and sharing.   I have read other’s ideas on weapons related gear and I agree with many of their thoughts. My personal training comes from the Marine Corps …


Post Collapse Barter: The Rest of the Story, by D.T.R.

Post collapse barter has been a hot topic for as long as I have been lurking around the Survival Community. Yet each time I read the offerings on the subject they have left me feeling like the whole story is not being told. This is an attempt to tell that story.   Post collapse barter is often presented in romanticized ways of a simpler and happier life such as depicted by Eddie Albert playing the role of the Persian peddler “Ali Hakim” in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma.” He went town to town peddling everything from perfume to frying …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: S&P Cuts Credit Ratings for Nine Euro Zone Nations J.J.H. recommended a satirical short film comparing the National Debt to the finances of a family. More monetization ahead: Fed to Weigh Further Easing Amid Doubts About Recovery. The government is now fully addicted to artificial money creation. Items from The Economatrix: There Goes The Neighborhood:  Cleveland To Demolish 20,000 More Foreclosed, Looted Homes Poverty In America Getting Worse China’s Collapse “Will Bring Economic Crisis to Climax in 2012”


Odds ‘n Sods:

M.B. mentioned this: Hard Core Resiliency    o o o R.B.S. suggested a piece over at How To Vanish, titled Cloud Security.    o o o Darknet Rising: A Private, Secure and Anonymous Meshnet Is Emerging    o o o Eric B. was the first of several readers to forward me this link: Mobile phone charger that runs on water invented for ‘people who spend time away from the electricity grid’. And speaking of phone batteries, see this article suggested by Mark P.: SpareOne cellphone claims 15-year battery life, we go hands-on (video)    o o o Ol’ Remus dissects …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.- Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 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 Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


Clothing for the Apocalypse: Wardrobe Considerations for Families with Young Children, by Jeff B.

“I’ve outgrown another dress. That’s the third. I’m having to wear Margot’s clothes after all…” The diary of Anne Frank, by By Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Anne Frank, p. 86. When Anne first heard they had to leave for the Secret Annex, she started to pack. First her diary went in, then her curlers, handkerchiefs, schoolbooks, comb, and a few letters. Miep Gies came and took away some shoes, dresses, coats, underclothes, and stockings. Anne wrote in her diary ” We put on heaps of clothes as if we were going to the North Pole, the sole reason being to …


Candle Making For Preppers, by Jennifer L.

So, you think anyone can make candles.  Well, now that I’ve made a hundred and have tried to teach my friends, I’m not so sure!   I decided a month ago that I wasn’t going to wait for a TEOTWAWKI situation to figure out how to make them!  I’m making them now and thought I would share my “lessons learned” with you.  I know that all of us have plenty of flashlights, batteries, oil lamps and kerosene lanterns packed away.  But if the poles shift and batteries don’t work, if you run out of oil and kerosene…. then candles might just …