Guest Article: Future Chaos: There Is No “Plan B”, by Chris Martenson

Note: This article builds on my recent report, Prediction: Things Will Unravel Faster Than You Think. It explores the coming energy crunch in more detail by looking at existing government planning and awareness, and the implications of what international recognition of Peak Oil as early as 2012 might mean. The hard news is that there is no “Plan B.” The future is likely to be more chaotic than you probably think. This was the primary conclusion that I came to after attending the most recent Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO) in Washington, DC in October, …


Three Letters Re: Keeping Secrets in Suburbia–Constructing Our Hidden Basement Room

James Wesley: In the article “Keeping Secrets in Surburbia–Constructing Our Hidden Basement Room, the author describes the difficulty they had removing hard-packed dirt with the consistency of dried concrete, and using an air chisel to break it up for removal and excavation. I’ve faced a similar problem with an underground excavation of a basement and egress tunnel in the granite and sandstone beneath the foundation of my own retreat home in the Western US. My answer came in the form of a good deal on a slightly used Bosch #11304 “Brute” breaker hammer electric jackhammer, suitable for use either with …


Economics and Investing:

J.B.G. sent this: Officials hint Fed on the verge of more easing. Thanks to S.M. for sending this bit of confirmation to an earlier report: China Said to Widen Its Embargo of [Rare Earth] Minerals Sue C. sent: 11 state pension funds that may run of out money Items from The Economatrix: Gerald Celente: “We Are Living On Borrowed Time” Reaching For Yield In The Bond Market (The Mogambo Guru) Dollar Declines for Fifth Straight Week on Prospects of More Monetary Easing By Fed Say Good-bye To Traditional Free Checking Silver On The Move Silver Shipments From China, Biggest Exporter, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

K. in Montana sent this: Demand for Guns, Food Stamps Indicates Uncertainty    o o o Cyber attack threat ‘could be next Pearl Harbor’    o o o End of the Earth Postponed. (Thanks to Ian for the link.)    o o o Rob H. highlighted this: French Fuel Depots Forced Open Amid Strikes



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 between $500 and $600, 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 …


Keeping Secrets in Suburbia–Constructing Our Hidden Basement Room, by A.

A year ago our preparations had grown to a point where it was becoming noticeable to the guests who visited our home. Our ability to keep our tin foil hat craziness under raps was becoming increasingly difficult. Aside from the fact that we have teenage boys and a daughter and all of their friends regularly tromping through our house, for security reasons alone, all of our assets were virtually displayed in our basement and needed to be hidden. Yes, our guns are in safes, but the last thing we need is some parent freaking about ammo cans, reloading equipment or …


Letter Re: Evacuating Wisely — With Livestock

James, Growing up and living on the Gulf Coast, for about 50 years, has given a lot of evacuation experiences to me. The most educational evacuation for us was Hurricane Rita. We thought Rita was coming inland way south of us. A family had evacuated to our house. Got a early morning call, that Rita had grown and was heading right at us. Visitors were sent on their way and we began loading up. Now loading up is a major logistics operation, as we have a farm. We successfully evacuated 4 equines, 3 dogs, 3 people and 3 vehicles. 7 …


Economics and Investing:

KAF flagged this: Pimco sells US Treasuries ahead of QE2 Siggy sent this: Fed Needs to Pump Trillions More Into Economy: Analyst Foreclosure Mess: The Price Tag for Big Banks Banks listing foreclosures at 30 percent off peak prices. From a $1.5 million home to $630,000. Items from The Economatrix: Not So Golden Years: Rise In Capital Gains And Dividends Would Hit Seniors Hard Martin Weiss: Gutting The Dollar Is Now Official Money Printing Set To Devalue Every Dollar You Own Martin Weiss: Two Game-Changing Decisions Bank Stocks Push Market Broadly Higher; Dow Up 81 Industrial Production Falls 0.2% In …


Inflation Watch:

Wal-Mart Jacking Up Prices Worldwide Hyperinflation Race Soaring prices threaten new food crisis. Shocking Corn Prices–The Other Rising Gold Market and Cotton prices surge to 140-year high and Copper price up sharply… and these are just the “C”s! Industrial Metals Price Tally Up, up, up!


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Food Crisis of 2010. (Thanks to F.J. for the link.)    o o o Also from F.J.: Coleman Quad Lantern. [JWR Notes: I suspect that these are made in Mainland China, so buyer beware!)    o o o Dave B. mentioned another good reason to store extra fuel: Fuel imports into France surge as protests imperil transportation.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s correspondent David in Israel mentioned: “A good link for everyone is SpaceWeather.com. It is a good way to get your radio prop reports and also track flares which might damage satellites or power grids. There is a …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Didn’t seem to me that Owen Chantry was taking any chances, though. When he put his pants on in the morning he also put on his gun belt and his gun. Most men put their hat on first. He put on that gun belt ‘fore he drew on his boots. ‘You figurin’ on trouble?’ I asked him once. He threw me a hard look. ‘Boy,’ he said, ‘when a man comes at me shooting I figure he wants a fight. I surely wouldn’t want him to go away disappointed. I don’t want trouble or expect trouble, but I don’t want …


Note from JWR:

Today we present two entries 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 between $500 and $600, 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 …


Tactical Training for the Modern Family, by Jeff F.

In discussions with other members of the preparedness world one thing becomes abundantly clear. Training is secondary to supplies and generally is handled exclusively by the head of the household. I have found that being a former Marine, and a gun enthusiast, as well as the director of my family’s survival plan that many conversations with others all end up at the same spot on the map. The question I pose to the other males leading the charge is, “what happens when the SHTF and you go down early by brick/bullet or from a tap on the shoulder from Murphy?” …


Retirement and Surviving TEOTWAWKI, by Pat M.

All over the Internet are articles on surviving really hard times that are expected.  I note with some humor that most of these articles are talking to about 28-46 years old age groups, at least under-50 somethings.   I have seen nothing directed to the under 26 year-old or much over the 50 year-old.  Considering that we have a problem with what has been termed as an aging society retiring, what about us folks that can no longer throw on a 70 lb pack and hike 20 miles into the wilderness, or no longer have a sufficient income to prepare a …