Economics and Investing:

Kevin S. sent this: Fed clears China’s first US bank takeover Faber Sees ’87-Type Crash if U.S. Stocks Rise Without QE3 Andre sent this: Banks prepare for the return of the drachma From G.G.: Postal Service quarterly loss widens to $3.2 billion Items from The Economatrix: Housing Bottom?  Fannie Mae Won’t Seek Tax Dollars Wages Bolster Spending as Americans as Americans Extend Hours US March Wholesale Inventories Rise 0.3%, Sales Climb 0.5% Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Markets Stabilize


Odds ‘n Sods:

Avoid Social Breakdown. Become Resilient. (Thanks to Kevin S. for the link.)    o o o Over at Global Guerillas: Big Twitter is Here    o o o Reader S. R. mentioned that there are some school teacher positions open in a retreat-worthy region: Navajo Public Schools. S.R. describes Jackson County, Oklahoma: “…a nice rural area with good well water at about 10-to-30 foot depth, a long growing season, and that produces wheat, Cotton, Peanuts, and Beef.” They are looking to hire a Computer teacher, Secondary Special Ed teacher and likely a Foreign Language teacher.    o o o Ed. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The CDS [credit default swap] is probably the most important instrument in finance. What [the advent of the] CDS did is lay-off all the risk of highly leveraged institutions – and that’s what banks are, highly leveraged – on stable American and international institutions.” – Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve Chairman, May 2006


Note From JWR:

Today we present two more entries for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for …


Bugging Out About Bugs, by A.D.

After a few camping trips where I learned the hard way about preparing for local wildlife I started thinking about the bugs in my bug out plan and I’m not talking about technical flaws.  Previously I had focused much of my attention on what kind of gear to pack, how to provide food and water, and various routes to travel.  A trip to the Rockies, part of the AT and a few southeastern US adventures later I realized that people weren’t the only hostile forces I might encounter and I didn’t have much prepared to deal with the critters I …


Orientation and Situational Awareness For Your Kids, by B.P.G.

I am a victim. I am a spectator. I am luck incarnate. You would think based on my chosen career for over twenty years as a US Navy SEAL that I would be the poster boy of preparedness. You would think that now retired from the military and currently a security professional that I would have stockpiled food, weapons and supplies in preparation for the next Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 or other mass casualty causing disaster. Instead, like so many others I have assumed luck is on my side. I have assumed that because I have lived a life on the …


Letter Re: A Self-Sufficient Vermonter

Hi James,  Thank you for SurvivalBlog. It’s an incredible resource. I thought you and your readers mind find this interesting: There is a man that lives with his family on his 24 acre parcel of forested mountain in Vermont, completely off the grid using hydro-electric and solar for power and a natural spring for water. He builds everything himself, including his house and workshop. His land is mostly accessible only on foot (though he has cleared a road — by hand). This guy is building a giant mechanical robot. Seriously. But the best part is that all of this is documented …


Letter Re: Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids and Birthdays

Mr. Rawles; When my first child was born, the wife of my husband’s boss gave me 7 bags of clothes her then 5 year old had out grown.  She said, “I know you don’t need these right now, but you will be amazed how quickly he will grow.”  Two years later, when my daughter was born, she gave me 3 bags of girls clothes.  Those clothes were a Godsend.  Every time I found they had outgrown what was in their drawers, I remembered that I had more stored in the garage.  10 years later, I have 2 more kids, and …


Economics and Investing:

F.G. sent this: Postal Service: Will keep rural post offices open Michael A. sent this: Liberty Dollars may be subject to seizure. | AmEx (American Expat) spotted this: Dutch With Food Aid Shows New Economic Reality Engulfing Europe Items from The Economatrix: The Countdown To The Break Up Of The Euro Has Officially Begun Economic Alert:  If You’re Not Worried Yet, You Should Be Analyst:  US Still Headed For Recession Oil Falls To Near $97 Amid Weak US, Europe Demand


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reach out and touch someone: U.S. military snipers are changing warfare. (A hat tip to James K. for sending the link.)    o o o G.G. flagged this tale of a Polar Pure’s “precursor chemical” woes: “Collateral damage.” How the DEA defines your business, your freedom, and your life.    o o o From Kevin S.: Researchers discover cell phone hackers can track your location without your knowledge    o o o Also from Kevin: Private Drone Wars    o o o Another ultralight flying video from TTabs: Dry Falls Washington – Trike Flying. His description of the terrain: Only …



Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Assessing Risk and Analyzing Hazards for Any Scenario, by Kyrottimus

As a former United States Air Force Readiness Troop (formerly known as “Disaster Preparedness” and, I think, now known as “Emergency Management”), AFSC 3E9X1, part of the Disaster Response Force within Civil Engineering Squadron’s “Prime BEEF” (Base Emergency Engineer Force), and having trained heavily with RED HORSE, I was exposed to quite the gamut of “Full-Spectrum Threat Response Plans”. I could go on ad nauseam about the myriad of tasks and responsibilities affiliated with this career field, but I wont. Specifically, this is about the process of performing a Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis. I’m sure as many experts in …


Letter Re: Sunspot 11476 Update

Hi James, At about 12:30 UTC this morning Sunspot 11476 flared at the M4.7 level thereafter remaining at an elevated emission state. As of just a few minutes ago it re-flared, peaking to M1.8. Last night’s read at Solen.info gave the area as 1100 SM and noted significant complexity at at least two points within the spot. This morning’s HMIB from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) platform has in the leading spot a section in which very high positive and negative magnetic gradients are immediately adjacent to each other with strong intermixing occurring. This is almost always a sign that …


Letter Re: A Source for Camouflage Material

Mr. Rawles, While searching around the Internet for camouflage, I came across this web site for Milsim (Airsoft) gamers that has a lot of fairly inexpensive new clothing and tactical items and is searchable by camo pattern.  They have an inexpensive version of Multicam I’m looking at, as well as a number of items in your oft-mentioned British DPM pattern.  I haven’t ordered from them yet, so can’t speak to their service or quality.   Thanks, – Brian  in Colorado