Influenza Pandemic Update:

China Disease Expert Warns of H1N1 Mutation. (Link courtesy of Jack E.) WHO reports mutations of Mexican flu. (Thanks to Andre for the link.) The rest of today’s flu news items are all courtesy of Cheryl (aka The Economatrix): Ukraine Death Toll Reaches 388 Fatal H1N1 Cluster in Texas Raises Pandemic Concern Swine Flu Cases Fall in US But May Rise with Holiday Travel D225G Ukraine Norway Link and China Spread H1N1 Re-Infections Raise Pandemic Concerns Ukraine Dead Approach 400, D225G Spreads H1N1 Changes in D225G and D225E in Norway One Million Iranians Confirmed With Swine Flu. At least 140 …


Economics and Investing:

Frank S. sent this: FDIC cites Loveland’s Advantage Bank; Announcement states business uses unsafe and unsound banking practices Paul D. recommended a short but excellent article by financial advisor, Jeff Clark. “In short, his advice is to learn to grow a tomato!” Items from The Economatrix: Dubai Debt Fears Threaten Credit Crunch 2, and RBS is Exposed Dubai’s Troubles Hint at Troubles Elsewhere Forget Gold and Silver, Invest In Garlic–How to Get “Stinking” Rich Most US Stocks Retreat on Fears Dubai Will Default on Debt Dr. Gary North: Fiat Currency Money Printing Leading To Decentralization and Operational Secession Investors Buy …



Notes from JWR:

There is just one day left in the 33% off sale for the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course, Don’t miss out on this sale! — Today we present another entry for Round 25 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. …


Sharing Your Faith After TEOTWAWKI, by D.P.B.

I can’t help but notice there being a correlation between preparedness and Christianity. Most people I know who are getting involved, and most of the stuff I read on line is written by Christians. The one thing I haven’t read too much about though is what it will look like to share our faith after a collapse. In the grand scheme of eternity being able to grow in your relationship with Jesus and help others do the same is the most important part of being prepared.  A friend of mine used to own and operate a Christian bookstore. His family …


Two Letters Re: “Cross-wire” Your Home Heating and Save Money

Mr. Rawles, First, let me extend my heartfelt sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your wife. As a Christian, I am confident she is in a good place and free of her suffering, though sorely missed by the rest of us. I have been a heating/ air-conditioning / refrigeration technician for the last 30 years. I own and use combustion analyzers to maximize performance of my customer’s appliances and both minimize the carbon monoxide (CO) they produce but also take a snap-shot of the ambient CO level in the building. I feel it is important to …


Economics and Investing:

Damon sent this: U.S. dollar collapse could devastate economy: book Chad S. spotted an article about indigent families now having to bury dead family members themselves. C.K. in Texas mentioned that there was a PBS mini-series this past summer (available online) about how money gained its importance over time. It was called The Ascent of Money and the fourth episode would be of interest to many SurvivalBlog readers. C.K.’s description: “It talks about the hyperinflation that occurred in Argentina years ago (so bad that ranchers wouldn’t bring their cattle to market) and also about the fragile economics of Chinese and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jack H. mentioned a good article in The City Journal: The Cyber-Threat Grows    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson said he thought that this book looked interesting: Confessions of an Igloo Dweller: Memories of the Old Arctic    o o o A reminder that the special two-week 25% off sale on canned Mountain House foods at Ready Made Resources ends on Monday. They are offering free shipping on full (“unbroken”) cases lots. But because of the higher handling costs, if you “mix and match” cans within cases, shipping will be charged.    o o o …



Notes from JWR:

There are just two days left in the 33% off sale for the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course. Order your course binder and audio CD soon! — Today we present another entry for Round 25 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 …


A Frugal Wife’s Contributions to Preparedness, by Desert Dawn

This is for the Ladies: take the lead on frugality to finance your family preparedness! Below are things I do and have done, some for years, some for only a few months. You’d be amazed at how much starts accumulating in your checking account when you do these things. I have paid off credit cares and bought a rifle with scope, some junk silver, 1,000 rounds of ammo and a more than three month food supply since I started being more serious about these things. My husband and I are professionals making good salaries – at least for now. We …


Two Letters Re: Generator Experiences During a Recent Nor’easter

Jim: The letter about Generators today inspired me to write this email. I have owned generators for around 20 years for emergency backup and portable power uses. I use my generator primarily for powering sound equipment in the field. As a result I looked for a quiet generator. The very quiet generators all run at 1,800 RPM, but it is expensive to make a generator that runs slow and quiet, and the affordable portable generators all seem to run at 3,600 RPM. When I purchased my current generator 10 years ago, Coleman had just started using the Briggs and Stratton …


Letter Re: Sources for Food Grade Buckets

Jim, I have found that Dairygold dairy (and probably also other) dairies in Boise, Idaho will sell once used HDPE #2 Food Grade buckets with lids inexpensively. (These were $2 or $3 the last time I bought a bunch of them.) These were used for bringing into the dairy the flavorings for ice cream, so you might have to wash out the strawberry syrup or whatever. These are HDPE #2 and Food Grade marked. They also have some food grade 55 gallon drums, metal and plastic that they will also sell. The same should be true of other large dairies …


Economics and Investing:

Chad S. sent this: Get ready for 65 percent tax rates. Also from Chad: “You could be running out of time to buy gold” The folks at The Daily Bell linked to this piece over at Seeking Alpha: High Gold Prices: It’s the Oil, Stupid Items from The Economatrix: Signs of Life in Stores as Holiday Shopping Begins Food Banks Nationwide Report More First-Time Users Russia to Invest in Canadian Dollars Recession “Is Even Worse Than Feared” Dubai Bankruptcy is a Taste of Things to Come. Global intervention has only bought us time Dubai is a Harbinger of Things to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country … in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to …