Influenza Pandemic Update:

Andre in the EU sent this from Radio Nederland: H1N1 Pandemic Continues. Maryland Reports First Drug Resistant H1N1 Cases Mutated Swine Flu In Baltimore, Maryland. The drug-resistant type… 442 Dead In Ukraine, Nearly Two Million Infected Tamiflu Resistance in Spain and US Georgia H1N1 Tamiflu-Resistance Crosses Tipping Point Transmission of Fit Tamiflu Resistant H1N1 in Maryland CDC: Swine Flu Continues to Decline in US. Worried about second wave after the first of the year.


Economics and Investing:

Reader HPD mentioned this article: 24 States Borrow Money To Pay Unemployment Benefits. HPD’s comment: “Don’t worry. The Fed sees signs of recovery… Besides, Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi are on the scene to fix it. “ Another missive from Dr. Housing Bubble: Wall Street and Housing Neurosis: The Real Cost of California Homeownership. Extreme Foreclosures, Option ARMs, Renting Utility Costs, and Breaking the Financially Twisted Psychology. Noah C. spotted this: Heh, I Thought Dubai Was a Non-Event. Here is a quote: “Refusal to stand-still means there’s an immediate default, which means the [credit default swaps] go boom” Items from …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Hope in the Northwest” stumbled across a good basic web site with articles on common health issues, with pictures included. Some useful topics covered are bugs, eye diseases, foot problems, etc. There’s also basic info on treatment for common illnesses.    o o o The Californization of Colorado continues: Colorado State University bans guns on campus. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o The folks at DNS Down announced that they are now giving away their software free of charge, as a public service. Be sure to check it out!    o o o Glade …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The only thing that can stop a bad man with a gun, is a good man with a gun” – Major Lars Laine, a fictional character in the forthcoming sequel to “Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse”, scheduled for release in 2011. The working title is: Veterans: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse. Its storyline will be contemporaneous with that of JWR’s first novel, and will have a few cross-over characters. This novel will be set primarily in the southwestern United States.


Note from JWR:

Tommorrow, December 7th, Americans remember the Imperial Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. On a Sunday morning, 68 years ago, we were the recipients of a well-planned and executed raid. According to an Internet history page: “The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed, and 1,282 wounded.” This day is a reminder that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. — Today …


Solo Survival in a Societal Collapse?, by Wry Catcher

When it comes to natural and man-made disasters, I’ve seen my share, and each was a learning experience. Although diverse in type, all of them shared a common factor: a dire impact on the human populations they affected. That impact, in turn, led to dangerous encounters with some rough criminals. Some people cannot cope, so they turn to ruthless behavior. Other people are selfish opportunists. While we may have pity for those who can’t cope with the stress of a survival situation, we should nonetheless remain vigilant for those who would do us harm in any way and for any …


Economics and Investing:

More Friday Follies: U.S. Bank Failures Continue Apace. “Cleveland-based AmTrust Bank, with 66 branches and roughly $8 billion in deposits, was closed by regulators Friday, as the ongoing credit crunch continued to claim victims.” Financial institutions urged to make banking accessible UN says global economy will bounce back in 2010. [Again, one for the Economic Humor section.] Items from The Economatrix: Goldman Sachs December Party Ban: No Groups of 12 Or More. So, 10 lords a leaping, nine ladies dancing is totally OK. But if you see 12 bankers — they’d better be banking! Most Americans Not Confident About Financial …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Joe H. mentioned a site with an animated map of global air traffic patterns that was linked once before on SurvivalBlog. Joe’s comments: “Two key things to note are that you can see the ‘sunny side’ and air traffic seems to increase by a factor of five as daylight arrives, and there is not much air traffic routing around Cuba– a hole in the traffic.”    o o o C.B. was the first of several readers to mention this Popular Science article: How to Build a Propane-Fired Metal Forge    o o o Reader Michael G. wrote to mention that …



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 …