Letter Re: Observations on Hand-Powered Tools

Sir: I’m 60-ish. My old man had a lot of projects using “recycled” lumber and nails, and you know who did the nail recycling. As an electrical engineer and general artificer, I would pass along some thoughts if I may. I was involved in a demonstration at a Navy base in the 1980s where a bicycle was coupled to an alternator and sealed beam lamps were attached for a load. One would pedal the bicycle up to speed, and the MC would switch on a lamp. Then two. Then the third. Very few could maintain output for two lamps, and …


Economics and Investing:

From reader J.D.: Rural America Surprisingly Prosperous, Study Finds Reader Ben M. suggested this article: How to Tell if You are Saving Enough. Items from The Economatrix: Retailers Report Surprise Drop In November Poor Report On Services Saps Stock Market Gains Services Sector Activity, Retail Sales Disappoint Weak Demand Puts Natural Gas Prices At 52-Week Low North Koreans In Shock As Cash Banned US Loses Another 169,000 Private Sector Jobs UN Economists Fear Hard Landing For Dollar Yen And Dollar Both Weaken US Service Industries Unexpectedly Contract Charting The Great World Trade Collapse As Housing Goes, So Falls The Economy …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Todd H. mentioned a newspaper article about Cupertino’s Fairgrove Neighborhood    o o o Michael W. mentioned that Wiggy’s makes a dog coat that is insulated with Lamilite— the same material as their sleeping bags. Michael says: “Our dog loves hers.”    o o o Damon S. found an article on pinhole emergency glasses.    o o o From CNET News: EFF Sues Feds For Info On Social-Network Surveillance



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 26 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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 Fiocchi 9mm Luger, 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP ammo, …


Planning Ahead for Your Family Pets, by Margaret

Many of the very informative articles that have been written, talk about Getting Out Of Dodge (G.O.O.D.), plotting alternative routes, allowing for problems along the way, practising packing the vehicle and having fuel and supplies at en route stop-over points. May I suggest that another plan that needs to be thought out ahead of time is for the family pets? When people go away for the weekend or go on holidays, quite often a neighbour or family member comes in to feed and check up on the pets and this works out fine. Alternatively an ice-cream container of dry food …


Letter Re: Distilled Spirits for Barter

James: First, thanks for the blog useful information is so hard to come by nowadays. With regards to alcohol I would add a few bits First, Everclear 190 is a great addition it any backpack or bail out bag, This wonder bottle has a subject all its own. If for barter purpose you choose booze there is a bit of an OPSEC point to make. Trading liquor has risks especially if you are dealing with someone who may be looking for a lucrative target. Trading a sealed bottle of bourbon or even worse taking said bottle from a visible case …



Economics and Investing:

A recent piece at the Dr. Housing Bubble blog: Shadow Inventory in 10 Prime Southern California Cities. How Pent up Inventory and Option ARMs are the new Front for the California Housing Market. K.T. sent this from Dan Denninger: FDIC Deposit fund had negative $8.2B balance in Third Quarter Jeff B. spotted this: More Evidence Gold is Being Hoarded as Comex Fulfills Gold Contracts with Paper Items from The Economatrix: Where Dubai Leads, Britain Could Soon Follow Lloyds To Suffer Further Job Losses Fears Of Credit Card Crisis As Bank Write-Offs Double Peter Schiff: Bull Market in Gold or BS? …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Brian S. noted that plastic drum liners look like a good way to re-use otherwise sketchy 55 gallon drums for at least storing washing water. Brian’s comment: “I’ve ordered other items from US Plastics before. It is a good place to buy in bulk.”    o o o From Cheryl: At Midnight Last Night (Dec 1st), The UK Ceased To Be A Sovereign State    o o o Frank B. sent us two clever bike trailer building articles at Instructables: Combined cart bike trailer and Shopping Cart Bike Trailer



Notes from JWR:

Do you have any favorite quotes that relate to preparedness, survival, self-sufficiency, or hard money economics? If so, then please send them via e-mail, and I will likely post them as Quotes of the Day, if they haven’t been used before in SurvivalBlog. Please send only quotes that are properly attributed, and that you’ve checked for authenticity. Many Thanks! — Today we present another entry for Round 26 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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 …


In Praise of Betadine, by A. Woofer

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In 1940, Reserve Constable Albert Alexander scratched his face.  Accounts differ on whether this occurred while shaving, or an encounter with a rose bush.  In either case, the Constable had a minor scratch  which became infected. What makes Constable Alexander’s story notable, is that his was the first wound infection treated with the then-new antibiotic, penicillin. It almost worked.  When first treated, Constable Alexander improved dramatically, but the hand-purified supply of antibiotic available ran out before the infection was eliminated. The infection returned, and he died from the combined staph and strep infection of the wound.  Welcome to the reality …


Three Letters Re: Securing Bedroom Doors Against Home Invaders

JWR, Blessings on you and your ministry. Regarding securing bedroom doors and walls article: For new construction, it would be acceptable to place a 1/8 inch 4′ by 8′ [plywood] panel behind the drywall. Paneling is built with two or three plys, like plywood. A wall so constructed would be only 1/8 inch thicker, but considerably stronger, and would slow down any intruder. Of course, even this would not stop a bullet. – Jim P. in Texas. James Wesley; I read the recent blurb on securing interior rooms, something I have been working on for a while. Seems to me …