Letter Re: Lessons from the Yazoo City Tornado

Dear Editor: I have been reading your blog for a while but until Saturday, I never saw how a disaster could unhinge some people so quickly and what lack of preparedness can do to some people. I went to deliver a chainsaw, some gas and water to a relative in Yazoo City and what is usually a 45 minute drive took over 2 hours. Land lines and cell towers were down, and if you had a phone with a certain carrier, the service was very spotty. The traffic was bad and the roads into the town were blocked and we …


Letter Re: Standardizing with DeWalt 18 VDC Power Tools

James, I have ten of the DeWalt 18 VDC power tools and four of the batteries. This is an excellent product line that has proven much better than some of the older 12 volt and corded tools that they replaced. The impact driver, circular saw, and reciprocating saw have already proven to be very useful. These are excellent survival tools because you can get a lot of work done with them and a good set of 3 or 4 batteries without needing [120 VAC utility] power. DeWalt sells almost all of their 18 VDC power tools as “tool only” kits …


Economics and Investing:

A preview of Things to Come, for the U.S. of A?: Iceland reports record 34 percent inflation Portuguese Five-Year CDS at Record High, Spread Wider. Can you spell D-E-F-A-U-L-T, boys and girls? (Our thanks to Brad F. for the link.) RBS sent this: Forget 10% Unemployment, The Real Job Loss Pain Number is 54% Amy R. sent this: U.S. Food Inflation Spiraling Out of Control Courtesy of frequent content contributor Jeff B.: 10 Cities Facing a Double Whammy of Default Risks Thanks to Mark G. for flagging this: The Housing Crash Has Just Started; Get set for falling prices again. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Life in the Big City: Multiple Pedestrians Ignore Dying New York Hero. No comment necessary! Draw your own conclusions about where you choose to live.    o o o Anyone interested in getting ready for a post Peak Oil world should check out Transition US Social Network. Much like the excellent LATOC Forums (which I’ve mentioned in SurvivalBlog many times), there is some lively discussion there. They even had a big discussion about the legitimacy and motives of Survivalists, early last year.    o o o K.S. suggested this article: Crisis, Martial Law, and Black Market Operation – which in …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?” – Matthew 16:1-3 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

Baen Books will soon release the new science fiction anthology “Citizens” edited by John Ringo. All of the authors are not only veteran sci-fi writers, but also military veterans. They include Jerry Pournelle, Keith Laumer, Arthur C. Clarke, David Drake, Joe Haldeman and Robert Heinlein, along with several newer writers, including Survivalblog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson. — Today we present another entry for Round 28 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 …


How to Get Free (or at Least Inexpensive) Fruit Trees, by Jason E.

Anyone following my blog might get the sense that I’m independently wealthy due to all the fruit and nut trees that I’ve planted this year alone. Any person making that assumption would be wrong, I’m simply very cheap. Doing a rough estimate, I’ve come to the conclusion that over 60 perennial fruit and nut trees, vines and bushes have cost me somewhere just south of $250. When you look at a big name nursery catalog and do the math, I’ve avoided costs of close to $1000. In the spirit of teaching and helping us, as Americans and people, I’d like …


Letter Re: The Advent of McBunkers

Hi Mr. Rawles, Here’s an interesting article I just came across: Bunker Mentality: The Ultimate Underground Shelter. This is the web site for the company: Terra Vivos. I guess this concept was inevitable and I would expect that more companies would get into this business. While I don’t fault anyone from wanting to be prepared, I just see tremendous logistical problems that I doubt would be surmountable. It also seems to me that these “McBunkers” might represent a large bullseye target from opportunists. Take care, – BB JWR Replies: I agree! Be very wary of large scale commercial ventures with …


Letter Re: Advice on Moving Offshore

J. Rawles: My wife and I have the chance to buy a farm in the Toledo [southern] district of Belize. With our savings, and [with] what we net out of selling [our house] in San Diego, I can afford to pay cash for it. I really feel the need to “Get Outta Dodge”. The farm has two springs and a creek. I’m self-employed. I write software, freelance, mostly for my former employer. I earn around $80K per year. That [much income] is considered a fortune [in Belize.] I speak decent Spanish, and my wife is fully fluent [in Spanish]. (She …


Letter Re: Standardizing with DeWalt 18 VDC Power Tools

Dear James: As a builder, I rely on 120 VAC current for everything, including charging the dozen or so cordless tool batteries that we use daily. I recently purchased a DeWalt 12VDC “car charger” and am in the process of streamlining my cordless tool collection. I have a bunch of different tools and batteries from a variety of manufacturers, which I’m liquidating. In going to an all-DeWalt power tool collection, I now have the ability to charge all of my batteries (regardless of voltage) from a PV panel and voltage- regulated jump pack. I’m sure other tool manufacturers offer car …


Economics and Investing:

Karen H. sent this indicator that food price inflation is beginning: Wholesale prices rise in March as food costs jump. GG flagged this: Governments Will ‘Bankrupt Us’: Marc Faber Some interesting commentary by our friend Commander Zero: Guns as investments Items from The Economatrix: Are Interest Rate Derivatives a Ticking Time Bomb? Senate Panel Approves Derivatives Reform Bill. And for the inevitable back pedaling, here is press release from a Nebraska Senator’s office on the legislation. (Thanks to M.E. for the latter link). School Districts Around the Country Warn of Deeper Teacher Cuts Job Seekers Too Picky? Demand for US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Andrew B. suggested this analysis from the folks at Stratfor: Dirty Bombs Revisited: Combating the Hype    o o o Reader Bret F. flagged this: Death of ‘Caveman’ ends an era in Idaho. Oh, and here is a link to a video clip about him: Diggin’ Dugout Dick in Idaho. OBTW, I highly recommend the book Last of the Mountain Men by Harold Peterson, about Sylvan Hart (aka “Buckskin Bill”) who lived up in the River of No Return hinterboonies. Sylvan Hart epitomized true self-sufficiency, and was a genuine character. I would have liked to have met him.    o …


Economics and Investing:

A preview of Things to Come, for the U.S. of A?: Iceland reports record 34 percent inflation Portuguese Five-Year CDS at Record High, Spread Wider. Can you spell D-E-F-A-U-L-T, boys and girls? (Our thanks to Brad F. for the link.) RBS sent this: Forget 10% Unemployment, The Real Job Loss Pain Number is 54% Amy R. sent this: U.S. Food Inflation Spiraling Out of Control Courtesy of frequent content contributor Jeff B.: 10 Cities Facing a Double Whammy of Default Risks Thanks to Mark G. for flagging this: The Housing Crash Has Just Started; Get set for falling prices again. …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 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 HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of …