Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Parabellum …


Survival Through Adaptation, by Jason G.

Regardless of what you may or may not believe about evolution, it’s hard to argue that the organisms best able to adapt to changes in their environment are generally the ones that survive.  While organisms with less intelligence do this over generations, we humans were gifted with the ability to think and adapt on the fly.  Sometimes this is not a good thing when we are manipulating currency on the fly or making decisions that can adversely affect our survival.  But dealing with those circumstances with adaptive ability is the other edge of said sword. After TSHTF neither I, nor …


Letter Re: David in Israel on Secure Personal Computers

Jim, In response to the current discussion on moving away from Windows, I’d suggest that SurvivalBlog readers take a look at Puppy Linux as well. It is a free bare bones OS that does most of the basic Windows functions and uses very few resources on your computer. The minimal requirements are as follows: • CPU : Pentium 166MMX • RAM : 128 MB physical RAM for releases since version 1.0.2 or, failing that, a Linux swap file and/or swap partition is required for all included applications to run; 64 MB for releases before v.1.0.2 • Hard Drive: Optional • …


Letter Re: The Value and Practice of Journaling

Hi, I just read the article on the use of acid free paper with interest and noted that Hammermill makes printer paper that is acid free. Some of it isn’t much more than regular paper, so it might make a good choice for [long term archiving of] those manuals we print off the Internet. Amazon sells several varieties. God Bless! – Mack G. JWR Replies: That same paper can be used to make bound journals or hardback books from downloaded PDFs. If you are handy with tools, you can do your own stitched bookbinding. This way you can create your …


Economics and Investing:

“Straycat” sent us this: What Is The Best U.S. State To Move To If You Want To Insulate Yourself From The Coming Economic Meltdown? James Grant: How to Make the Dollar Sound Again. (Thanks to Siggy for the link.) John R. suggested a piece by Mike Whitney at Zero Hedge, titled QE2: Last Rites for the World’s “Reserve Currency”


Odds ‘n Sods:

Our friend Tam over at the View From the Porch blog pointed to one of her favorite TFL threads: Reasons to Own a Buncha Guns. This hilarious thread dates back to 1999. Oh, that mention of time travel reminds me: I’m presently just 81 pages into reading Jerry and Sharon Ahern’s new novel Written in Time, and I’m hooked!    o o o I recently received a sample of Choate’s newest telescoping AR-15/M16 stock with battery storage tubes at the cheek positions. This is a cleverly designed five-position telescoping stock that has two storage compartments with O-ring seal threaded caps. …



Notes from JWR:

I’ve been warning SurvivalBlog readers for more than four years about derivatives trading. And now there are now some troubling indicators that there could be a derivatives implosion and/or a credit collapse in the near future: 1.) SurvivalBlog reader Steve K. mentioned this article: Bond insurer Ambac files for bankruptcy. Steve commented: “This is a very, very big problem for the global financial system as Ambac was a huge player in Credit Default Swaps, Mortgage Backed Securities and all other derivatives. It’s all about counter party risk!” 2.) Zero Hedge recently summed up the almost inconceivably enormous overhang of derivatives: …


Bugout Base Camp: My Solar School Bus, by T.K.

In a true breakdown scenario, one of the most crucial survival advantages, if not the most, has to be mobility. Pandemics or violent gangs that overwhelm congested populations can be escaped. More fertile land — wilderness with wild edible plants, big fish in the lakes, and game in the woods — can be reached. And if you can carry your shell on your back, along with an independent source of energy, you’ve got the ultimate survival advantage. An RV qualifies if you have at least $60,000 to toss around in this economy, but a more affordable, challenging (and fun) solution …


Letter Re: David in Israel on Secure Personal Computers

James, Here’s a follow-up to David from Israel’s article on Linux. I encourage your readers to heed David’s advice and wean themselves off the MicroSoft Windows operating system ASAP. Linux Mint Debian is a good OS option. See the Linux Mint Debian tutorial. Here is a description: “This tutorial shows how you can set up a Linux Mint Debian 201009 desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e. that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on their Windows desktops” According to this article, the the Chinese military have already removed …


Letter Re: The Value and Practice of Journaling

Mr. Rawles, M.E.R. makes good points for the practice of journaling. I, too, encourage the activity. I would add a related activity – logging. No, not cutting trees, but recording activities, events, and details. I do my journaling within my log. I am not big on “my feelings”. I am more about doing what is needed and savoring the feelings later. Better? No. Different perhaps. I have found logging to be extremely valuable. My log has been computerized for decades, but lends itself to the same manual media as presented by M.E.R. I have recorded diverse events for years. I …


Letter Re: Advice on Backpacking Solar Panels

CPT Rawles: I realize that you aren’t an advocate of fully-mobile retreating. Yes, I can see the wisdom of having a well-stocked fixed retreat. But since I’m still in college (due to graduate in 2011), my situation is different. Until a get a job, I can’t afford a retreat, and I’m not in any sort of a group. So I’m approaching the whole preparedness thing coming from the viewpoint of “just what I can fit in my car”, with the back-up plan of “just what I can carry on my pack”, or perhaps pushing/pulling a small deer cart, like you’ve …


Letter Re: From Beginner to Fully Stocked Prepper

Jim: This was a great article, but I have one technical question that I’m sure others do as well: the author advises using pool shock to create bleach, and then to use that bleach to disinfect water. But what amount of pool shock creates a standard gallon of bleach? Thanks, Dan. JWR Replies: This letter in the SurvivalBlog archives describes how one 50 pound bucket of hydrated Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione “Pool Shock” can be used to treat up to four million gallons of pre-filtered water.


Economics and Investing:

Greenspan Accuses U.S. of Dollar Weakening (Thanks to F.J.D. for the link.) Sue C. spotted this: Currency Disputes Hang Over G-20 Summit Amherst’s Goodman: One in five distressed homeowners at risk of losing home. (A hat tip to B.B. for the link.) John R. sent this: The Scariest Crash Is The Muni Bond Crash Items from The Economatrix: Doug Casey On Gold’s New High, The Fed, And The Greater Depression   Economic Irony:  Creating Bubbles To Maintain Stability  


Inflation Watch:

Food inflation sees Ben & Jerry’s break through £4 Duane sent: NIA Projects Future U.S. Food Price Increase M.B. pointed us to: Bacon Math. Why your toilet paper is shrinking. (Thanks to Ferd for the link.) Secret Walmart Survey Shows Inflation Already Here