Economics and Investing:

Reader John S. spotted this: California is a greater risk than Greece, warns JP Morgan chief I found an article linked in a piece by Dr. Gary North that illustrates just how deep a hole the Federal government is digging: $126.9 Billion and Counting. The charts in Nathan’s recent blog piece tell a thousand words. This is no ordinary recession. We’ve fallen off a cliff. George Gordon spotted this: Gold Hits Record High In Euros, Pound. Items from The Economatrix: Ron Paul Discusses Coming US Collapse Jim Rogers: Pound Could Collapse Within Weeks Housing Recovery Looking Shakier than Expected Consumer …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Straycat” says: Don’t count on 911, and don’t be one of the Sheeple: Man Dies During Storm When 911 Calls Go Unheeded    o o o Devon yachtsman jailed for ‘piracy protection’ shotgun. (Thanks to Dane S. for the link.)    o o o Reader Steve K. found this: Backpack Hydroelectric Plant Gives You 500 Watts on the Move    o o o Bob G. sent this humorous short video clip of BHO addressing a US Navy audience. (BTW, more often that not, Navy “Corpsmen” end up with a surviving patient, rather than a corpse. So they get my …



Notes from JWR:

The news from Chile keeps getting worse. I’m now of the opinion that there wasn’t more extensive looting in Haiti simply because there were very few things of value available to loot. The country is that poor–desperately poor. But in Chile, there is some loot worth stealing, and my-oh-my has the thin veneer of civility been torn away! SurvivalBlog reader Bob G. sent this from The Daily Mail: Security concerns spread as Chile quake death toll rises. Bob’s comment: “Do you remember the docu-drama After Armageddon? The comment by one the people in that show was that “we are nine …


Letter Re: Honeybees for Retreat Defense

Dear Jim, I’m very sorry to hear about your recent loss! God Bless! Thank you for all the work you put into your survival blog to get the much needed word out! It is much appreciated! My wife and I live in the mountains of Western Oregon and the following is one of the defensive strategies we use that may be of interest to your readers. A good defense from mobs for a couple living alone is bee hives. A hive of bees tipped over will attack anything that moves within 50′ to 100′ of the hive day or night. …


Two Letters Re: Cost-Effective Emergency Water Treatment

Jim, Having been a small municipal water system operator in Upstate New York, I have some experience with basic water treatment. The link provided in ” Chris in West Virginia’s” article is sound in regard to using Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione. One would want to use a test kit to measure residual chlorine in the water and maintain the level between 0.3 and 1ppm after initial treatment. To treat water, chlorine is added until the level is at least 0.5ppm after an one hour contact time. It is critical that the chlorine have time to interact with the water and some method …


Three Letters Re: The Art of Humping a Pack

Hi Jim, In Section 2 – Packing, Blake in Arkansas talks about using 1 gallon Zip-Loc bags for packing items. This is an excellent idea which I have used over the years in my sea-kayaking camping trips. However, another way of evacuating the air from these bags is to use a straw. Method: With bag ready for closure, insert a straw into the Zip-Loc bag. Zip the bag up to the straw. “Press” out as much air as possible (not smash). Then, use the straw to suck out the remaining air from the bag. Remove straw, and zip closed. Voila! …


Economics and Investing:

GG flagged this: WTO says global trade shrank 12 percent in 2009, biggest collapse since Second World War From Brian B.: Head of IMF Proposes New Reserve Currency – ABC News Another from GG: American reliance on government at all-time high Items from The Economatrix: Manufacturing Grows in February, Jobs Gauge Rises January Spending Increases But Income Growth Slows January Construction Spending Slides IMF Says New Reserve Currency to Replace Dollar is Possible Mish Shedlock: Short-Selling Restrictions “A Great Indicator of Imminent Market Crashes” Temporary Hiring: A Different Kind of Signal Jobless Benefits Begin Ending on Sunday


Odds ‘n Sods:

Garnet sent this one: Gun fans cheer Starbucks’ policy    o o o In case you missed it in the theater, the DVD of Roland Emmerich’s 2012 mega-disaster movie is scheduled to be released today.    o o o Ready Made Resources has launched a semi-annual 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are offering free shipping on full case lots. These foods are delicious, compact, and have a 30 year shelf life. There is now less than two weeks left for the sale, so order soon!    o o o Teresa F. sent …



Note from JWR:

I’ve received a lot of e-mails from readers about the big Richter 8.8 earthquake in Chile, and and the fears of subsequent tsunamis. The death toll is now above 700, and climbing. Here is a quote: “Chilean state television reported that 209 inmates had escaped from a prison in the city of Chillan after a fire broke out, while the president-elect, Sebastien Pinera, reported seeing some looting while flying over damaged areas. He vowed ‘to fight with maximum energy looting attempts that I saw with my own eyes’.” Much like the recent earthquake Haiti, it illustrates that the world can …


Letter Re: Purchasing an Antique Firearms Battery

Jim, In a previous post you mentioned that Chilean 1893 Mauser rifles were not safe to fire [standard commercially-loaded] .308 [Winchester] because of excessive chamber pressure, but that these were safe to fire 7.62x51mm NATO. In your Antique Firearms FAQ you reference antique Mausers that have been converted to .308 [Winchester]. Can you recommend some antique Mausers that are safe to re-barrel for .308? I ask because I’ve had a difficult time finding 7.62x51mm hunting rounds. Thanks, – Dylan F. JWR Replies: The rifles that I used for those .308 Winchester,. 6.5 x 55, and .257 Roberts conversions were Turkish …


Five Letters Re: The Art of Humping a Pack

Hello Mr. Rawles, Blake’s recent post on the fine art of “humping a pack” is much appreciated. I’m a bit of a backpacker, but have never been subjected to the rigors of “forced humping” for Uncle Sam. I’ve found that I rapidly become an unhappy camper when my pack weight exceeds 45 pounds. Thanks go to Blake for his service to our Country! The magic (but painful) blister remedy to which he referred is Tincture of Benzoin (sometimes abbreviated Tr. Benzoin). This mixture of specific tree resins in alcohol, and it’s cousin, Compound Tincture of Benzoin, are used in health …


Economics and Investing:

JDD sent this: Greenspan: Worst Financial Crisis Ever, Including the Great Depression. Blunt words: Bernanke delivers warning on U.S. debt. (Thanks to A. H. in Tucson for the link.) GG suggested this, over at Seeking Alpha: Something Very Strange Is Happening With Treasuries Kevin S. sent us two interesting map links: Bank Failure Map and Interactive Job Loss Map


Odds ‘n Sods:

NPR reports: Solar Storms Could Be Earth’s Next Katrina. (Kudos for R.T.K. for sending the link.)    o o o The folks at Medical Corps are holding another one of their excellent three-day Combat/Field Medicine School courses, April 30th through May 2nd. The class will be held near Caldwell, Ohio at the Ohio State University Extension building. Contact: Chuck Fenwick at 740-783-8009 for details.    o o o Former New Orleans Detective Pleads Guilty in Katrina Shooting Cover-up. That investigation is just scratching the surface. I’m not sure if all of the bodies that were buried after Hurricane Katrina were …