Economics and Investing:

Got Rhodium? World faces hi-tech crunch as China eyes ban on rare metal exports. (Thanks to Jeremy M. for the link.) GG sent us this: China Tears Up America’s Credit Cards Trent H. spotted this: The Dollar Will Fall, The Only Question is “When?” From John S.: “In the Tank Forever”: U.S. Consumers, Retailers in a “Death Spiral,” Davidowitz Says 1,000 Banks to Fail in Next Two Years (Thanks to Heather H. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Government Agency that Insures Deposits May Need Lifeline of its Own Number of Problem Banks Surges to 416; FDIC Fund Shrinks …


Odds ‘n Sods:

“Use Enough Gun” Department: Alaska man kills attacking 900 lb. Grizzly with .454 Casull revolver (Thanks to FG for the link.)    o o o Frank S. mentioned a video report on the propane re-filler techniques that were previously described in SurvivalBlog.    o o o I encountered an interesting thread of discussion in progress, over at TMM Forums: Bartering with Alcohol and Cigarettes. (I don’t use either, so I have no expertise. Nor do I approve of them. But for those of you that do, I offer this link.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“…the Last Contango in Washington will be different from all previous crises. It will be elemental, devastating, and apocalyptic. It will destroy virtually all paper wealth and render virtually all physical capital idle. It will involve hordes of unemployed people roaming the streets, caring for no law and order, pillaging homes and institutions. It will destroy our freedoms. It may destroy our civilization unless we take protective action.” – Antal Fekete


Letter Re: A Method for Storing Fresh Eggs up to Two Years

Mister Rawles, You can store eggs on the shelf for two years with this simple process: 1.When you gather your eggs simply wipe them off with a dry rags to remove anything stuck on the egg. Do not wash them! 2. Get a partner to help with this next step. Cover the palms of your hands with Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Cover each egg evenly with a thin layer of Vaseline. (This prevents air from entering the shell). Have your partner place the now very slippery egg into a Styrofoam carton. If using cardboard cartons, then line them with plastic wrap …


Two Letters Re: Construction Without Electricity

Jim: The recent Construction Without Electricity article reminded me of a stint spent with the Amish here in southwestern Missouri. I worked making buggy wheels, but one of my duties was to ride a stationary bike which powered a one cylinder compressor so they could spray paint the buggies. The buggy shop owner wanted to run a compressor off his windmill to a pressure tank but the community said that was going too far. With that kind of set up you could run all kinds of air tools. It smacked of being “too modern”. So I rode the bike. – …


Letter Re: Advice on Water Barrel Pumps

Mr. Rawles, Thank you for the blog and the consistency of information that you provide on a daily basis, it is greatly appreciated. In response to the inquiry of water barrel pumps: I have had good luck with this rotary drum pump. They are extremely smooth and easy to operate and I am able to empty a 55 gallon drum of water in quick time. I can not speak as to its longevity since I have not had it long, but it appears to have been constructed well. I recently ordered the one I own to try out and am …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

DHS Warns H1N1 “Could cause serious disruption of social and medical capacities in our country …” H1N1 Could Kill as Many as 30,000 to 90,000 in U.S., Report Says. [JWR’s comment: If you have been debating taking your kids out of public school and homeschooling, then in my opinion the projected deaths for H1N1 should be the deciding factor. But for some numerical perspective, consider these two figures. 1.) The”usual” seasonal influenzas claims around 30,000 lives annually in the US, primarily among the elderly. 2.) It took fifteen years of the Vietnam conflict to kill about 58,000 American, mostly aged …


Economics and Investing:

Dan D. recommended this post and video clip from Mish Shedlock of Australian economist Steve Keen: Global Debt Bubble, Causes and Solutions CRW sent a link to a great video on YouTube: Preparing American for Hyperinflation. The voters demanded “Change”, and here is what they got: Obama Nominates Bernanke for Second Term as Fed Chief. I guess some things don’t change. Be ready for inflation, folks. K.L. sent this Wall Street Journal article: As Budget Deficit Grows, So Do Doubts on Dollar Items from The Economatrix: Auto Industry Braces for Hangover After “Clunker” Party Dr. Housing Bubble: Real Homes of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

$49.9 Million US Contract for .300 Winchester Magnum Ammo. That is a significant quantity, but not enough yet to indicate that the US Army will discard the M24 (chambered in .308 Winchester) as their primary sniper rifle.    o o o Playboy magazine jumps on the 2012 bandwagon. (Read only this re-posted online article and for the sake of your mortal soul don’t read their disgusting, smutty magazine.) OBTW, mention of this article came to SurvivalBlog directly from Liz Sablich, a Junior Publicist with Playboy Enterprises. Do your parents know what you do for a living? These is honest work …



Basic Survival Skills for Children, by M.L.

Children play a part in many of our lives. Protecting them becomes an important issue in daily life as well as in an end of the world as you know it moment. However, what happens when adults can’t be there to protect them? What happens when they may need to protect us?             Our government and even many schools across the country, as well as parents and other adults, often do not see the potential in children. I am not talking about the educated potential one might find in the youth of a suburban school, but the potential to rise …


Letter Re: Battery-Powered Dirt Bikes

Dear Mr. Rawles, Your family is in our prayers, and we hope everything is going as well as possible. Imagine my surprise today as approximately ten dirt bikes drove by me up the street, but weren’t making any noise. I expressed surprise to the friend in the car with me, who responded with, “Oh yeah, there’s a company that makes battery powered dirt bike motorcycles, just around the corner.” Out of curiosity, I headed around that corner and discovered that they were having a large open house, with free dirt bike rides, information on their products, and free hot dogs. …


Economics and Investing:

Tsunami of Home Foreclosures to hit U.S. (A tip of the hat to Heather for the link.) Court Orders Federal Reserve to Disclose Emergency Loan Details (It’s about time!) DD sent us a link to this Newsweek article: Slums of Suburbia Sorting through the rubble of California’s foreclosure tsunami. JWR’s comment: They were Living Large for a while, on NINJA loans, now they are Living Lard, in Manteca. Also from DD: White House, Congress project record deficits; Both see the overall national debt nearly doubling over the next decade From Chris: Senator warns of hyperinflation rivaling the 1980s Greg C. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Honoré scolds Louisiana on storms. A quote (paraphrased): “Every one dollar you spend on preparedness, saves you nine dollars during the crisis”. Don’t miss the wisdom included in the last few lines of the article. (Thanks to Jason A for the link.) KT spotted this: Laos Government Continues to Hunt Former CIA Secret Army. JWR’s comment: Unless they’ve been covertly re-supplied (which I doubt), the fact that they are still mainly using US-made weapons is indicative that they have been fighting defensively in a conservative fashion, rather than offensively. Otherwise, they would have been out of .30 Carbine. 5.56 mm …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“They made up their minds And they started packing They left before the sun came up that day An exit to eternal summer slacking But where were they going Without ever knowing the way? They drank up the wine And they got to talking They now had more important things to say And when the car broke down They started walking Where were they going without ever knowing the way?” The Way, by Fastball, (1991)