Odds ‘n Sods:

From Cheryl: Ignore “Best Before” Dates On Food. (BTW, there is a detailed table with food shelf lives, distinguishing various packaging, in the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course.)    o o o KAF spotted this: Scots Guards Sniper Kills Taliban Leader with Longest Shot (Something tells me that he wasn’t using a 5.56mm)    o o o The recent mention in the blog about storing coal reminded me to mention that AntiqueStoves.com (one of our advertisers) sells both wood burning and coal burning cookstoves.    o o o Eric S. mentioned this Popular Mechanics article: Seven Really Nasty Diseases …



Letter Re: Grid Beam Construction

Hi Jim, Memsahib, “Gridbeam” is a building system that’s been getting some attention recently among do-it-yourselfers. I’ve seen references to it on Kevin Kelly’s Cool Tools and the Makezine web site. Gridbeam is described as a sort of “Erector Set system for adults”. It’s simply a length of squared wood, aluminum or steel with precisely drilled holes [at regular intervals] along its length. Holes are drilled in both directions so that they intersect in the beam’s middle. Sections are simply cut to desired length and pieced together. Additional pieces can be designed and added on to connect pieces at different …


Letter Re: Accumulating $1 Coins as Protection from an Eventual Currency Exchange?

Hello Jim, I have recently read your article on nickels. It was very interesting! I have been thinking about the $1.00 coins as a weapon against currency revaluation, here is my theory. If they revalue the U.S. dollar–say they take a 0 zero off. (You take a $10 dollar bill to the bank, and they’ll give you one hot off the press $1.00 bill.) If the Feds do not recall the coins, their face value is still $1.00. Am I missing the big picture? Need Help – Kevin in Las Vegas JWR Replies: In terms of their compactness per dollar …


Letter Re: Storage Underground or in Humid Climates

Hi; [In response to the comment on varnish steel food cans,] I have some experience with long term storage and especially underground storage. Since there aren’t any books that I could ever find on this subject, trial and error is how you learn (or maybe you get lucky and the subject is covered on SurvivalBlog!). Metal cans eventually will rust and especially if in an underground shelter or root cellar. Moisture is always in the air, no matter how well your structure is built. This may not be true if you have the means to have something professionally designed and …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Argentina Confirms 337 Swine Flu Deaths 15-year-old Brazilian Girl Taking Tamiflu Dies on Flight from US WHO Reports Swine Flu Now Resistant to Anti-Viral Drug Relenza WHO: Swine Flu Spreads to Most Remote Parts of the World [JWR Adds: Madagascar?] WHO: Younger People 12-17 at Greater Risk to Catch Swine Flu New Influenza Drug Successful in Trials Swine Flu’s Worst Case Scenario: Paranoia or Preparedness? Eight US Cities Line Up for Swine Flu Vaccine Test


Economics and Investing:

Flagged by KAF: US government to loan Petrobras $10 billion. Note the comments in the article about increasing costs of exploration , and strong competition with China for new oil fields. Also from KAF: Wish you weren’t here: The devastating effects of the new colonialists. Cousin Al sent this: Soaring deficit may defy forecasts. (A quadrupling budget deficit? Yikes!) This Jay Taylor “Turning Hard Times Into Good Times” pod cast was linked from the Total Investor news aggregation site: Will Silver Outperform Gold? Items from The Economatrix: China’s Wen: “The financial crisis is continuing to deepen and spread.” Coming Soon: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Witt sent this piece by Victor Riesco: Cash for Clunkers, a Highway to H*ll. Witt’s comment: “It’s sad to see the American people being bribed by their own government, and with their own money no less, and spending their savings and burdening themselves with yet more unproductive debt.”    o o o Jerry E. sent this: Peak Oil Latest–Yikes!    o o o From FG: Teen called 911 from shower during home invasion. Note the mention that teh goblins had an AK and body armor. The threat spirals are spinning up, folks!



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 24 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.) and C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $345 value.) Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing …


Preparedness Beginnings, by “Two Dogs”

I am a retired Marine Corps officer and Naval Aviator (jets and helicopters), commercial airplane and helicopter pilot, and most recently, an aircraft operations manager for a Federal agency. I graduated from numerous military schools, including the U.S. Army Airborne (“jump”) School, U.S. Navy Divers School, Army helicopter, and Navy advanced jet schools. In addition, I have attended military “survival” courses whose primary focus was generally short-term survival off the land, escape from capture, and recovery from remote areas.  Like most Marine officers, I attended The Basic School, an 8-month school (only five during the Vietnam era – my case), …


Three Letters Re: Acquiring Pre-1965 Silver Coinage

Jim: One of the easiest ways to quickly go through a roll of quarters, dimes, or halves, is to look at the coins edge on. If any do not have the copper color on the edge then it is probably silver. When you look at a clad coin, you’ll notice a bit of copper on the edge. Then take a look at a silver coin and you’ll see that it doesn’t have the copper color on the edge. This is how I quickly go through rolls of coins. Enjoy, – KJ JWR Replies: Thanks for reminding SurvivalBlog readers–especially those of …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Swine Flu Outbreak Suspected in Israeli Military Prison Palestinians Confirms First Swine Flu Death 50-yr-old Jerusalem Man 5th Israeli Swine Flu Death Iran Bans Pilgrimage to Mecca as Swine Flu Spreads Mexico Swine Flu Cases Jump, LatAm Deaths Soar 19 New Swine Flu Cases in India, Total 616 Swine Flu Death Triggers Panic in Western India


Economics and Investing:

Reader DD sent this piece about prospects for hyperinflation: A Pessimist or a Realist? Also from DD: Why Ronald is Smiling From A.W.: Billions in Bad Loans Still Threaten U.S. Banks Items from The Economatrix: BoE Pumps Another 50 Billion Pounds into Economy BMW’s Profits Drop 76% Clunkers Could Spark Auto Sales Crash Later On Chrysler Schedules Factory Overtime on Clunkers Demand Geithner Asks Congress to Boost Federal Debt Limit Consumer, Celebrity Bankruptcies Skyrocket Russian Economy Hitting “Dead End” US Banks Still in Tight Straits Despite Profits Japan Airlines Posts Net Loss of $1 Billion, Plans Cuts The Future Made …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim H. sent us this: Three-in-one oven could ease energy needs in developing world    o o o This thread over at the often-wacky Above Top Secret forum is a must read: An event at my grocery store. This describes the chaos caused by a minor power and data glitch that caused credit card and WIC payment terminals to go down. And then the store’s ATM (“cash machine”) went down… Keep in mind that this was just a brief interruption at one grocery store. Extrapolate from this small event for a more serious, widespread situation, where the power grids go …