SHTF-Oriented Fitness and Martial Arts for a Middle-Aged Couch Potato, by Dimitri G.

First off: English is not my native language. I apologize if this article is not easy to read. I hope that its usefulness will outweigh the inconvenience. I am 40 years old, overweight by about 50 pounds, and I regretfully admit that in the past 15 or so years I became a “couch potato”. In other words, my physical fitness is not up to the challenges of any survival situation. When I was a lot younger, I practiced karate, boxing, and weight lifting. I was pretty tough, and even back in high school there was no bully who would risk …


Letter Re: Soda Vending Machines as Gun Vaults

James Wesley: For use as an unobtrusive and inexpensive alternative to purpose-built weapons safes, I recommend finding an old, non-functional soda vending machine. Remove the guts (we call it the ‘stack’) and refrigeration system, but leave the lights in the door. (Be careful, the light ballast wiring will bite: 5,000 volts).   Tap into the 110 Volt AC wiring on the vending machine to power your Goldenrod Dehumidifier.   Store your valuables inside where the guts used to be.  Lock the door and keep the key.  [If it will be at your private business but in a location that might …


Economics and Investing:

Steven M. sent this: Soaring battery prices “devastating” U.S. lead producers. The Coming China Economic Super Crisis. (Thanks to J.McC. for the link.) The suffocation of unsustainable global debt – Total global debt is now over $190 trillion and more than three times global GDP. Contagion with European Union Toby Connor: Stocks are re-entering a parabolic “bubble” phase Frequent content contributor Diana V. mentioned this over at Zero Hedge: Artemis On Volatility At World’s End: Deflation, Hyperinflation And The Alchemy Of Risk Items from The Economatrix: Why High Inflation is Inevitable Employment Gains Slow, Jobless Rate Drops Bernanke Says Financial …


Odds ‘n Sods:

J. McC. mentioned some commentary from Tom Chatham, over at SHTFPlan: If Technology Fails, Just How Long Are Your Long Range Plans?    o o o Islamic power grab in Mali. JWR’s Comments: This does not bode well for the region (including neighboring Darfur region and the fledgling nation of South Sudan.) It appears that that the new Islamic government in Tripoli (courtesy of your tax dollars) will be providing arms to not just the Tuaregs but also the Janajweed. Mali and Chad provide just slim pickings for these bandits and slavers. I suspect that South Sudan will soon see …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude.  Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation.  It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute." – Thomas Paine


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 …


My Top Five Favorite Plants

Nature is amazing, I love plants. Not only does just looking at them produce a calming effect, they are beneficial to us in every way. From food, to medicine, glue and rope, plants give us everything we need. These are my top five favorite plants because they are amazing, easy to grow or find and have many uses which are especially valid in TEOTWAWKI. Here are my favorite plants found in the wild, and in the garden, and the reasons why. 1. Garlic  Garlic is great for two reasons, it is a food and a medicine. All parts are edible except …


Hot And Badly Bugged, by J.H.L.

Protection from mosquitoes can be difficult but mosquitoes in hot weather are a particularly difficult problem. Years ago I used to know an old leather-skinned Florida Cattleman that never noticed several mosquitoes biting his bare arms; they didn’t even raise a bump. Most of us aren’t that lucky. I was a little allergic back then, a mosquito bite would often make a sore; this is more often true for children. These sores can easily get infected due to the inching and scratching over a long time period. Mosquitoes can also carry serious diseases like Malaria and Encephalitis which might not …


Letter Re: Advice for a Partially Disabled Prepper

Mr. JWR: I am 57, been collecting prepping supplies for the last 5+ years, but was involved in an accident in 2008 where I was disabled. I’m ambulatory, but limited in lifting and such (three inoperable herniated discs in lower back) – I am planning moving to the Redoubt, but fear that my limited abilities will make me less than attractive or welcome to any community or preppers I may encounter. I do have manual skills in building both small items up to buildings, but cannot actually do the work. Is it worth it for me to move there? I …


Letter Re: Sneaky Places to Store More Stuff

Sir: My husband came up with a great idea to store more items out of sight. He is slowly placing our buckets of storage food in the ceiling of our basement in between the floor joists. He cuts a couple 1×6 planks the proper length, and bolts them down securely [with lag bolts] them a few inches apart on the lower "lip" of the joist which is about 1/2", and places the bucket on top of the planks. Once he completes the drop ceiling, all food storage will be safely tucked away out of sight. Should we need the food, …


Economics and Investing:

Surprise, surprise: New Script Calls For More U.S. Quantitative Easing AmEx sent this: New Rules Target Offshore Funds Diana V. sent this: Canada unveils digital currency. Diana’s comment: I hope it will work if the grid goes down! Savings come slowly for hybrid, electric car owners B.B. sent this item: Stuart Varney on why food prices have skyrocketed in past year Derivatives dirty pool: JPMorgan Trader Accused of “Breaking” CDS Index Market with Massive Prop Position. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) NFP Big Miss: 120,000, Expectations 205,000 Unemployment 8.2%, “Not In Labor Force” At New All Time High …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Painkiller sales soar around US, fuel addiction. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o Homeland Security Mission Creep: Keeping An Eye On Everyone    o o o James C. mentioned this insanity, across the pond in Nanny State Britannia: Tobacco display ban comes into force in England    o o o Kevin S. mentioned this infographic: Your Chance of Dying.



Notes from JWR:

La fin du monde tel que nous le connaissons! I just heard that Penguin Books has signed two more foreign rights contracts for my best selling book How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: French language rights (to be published by Editions Altipresse) and Lithuanian language rights (to be published by Media Incognito.) There are now 12 foreign publishing contracts in place to produce the book in 11 different languages. I’m also pleased to report that the book is still in Amazon’s top 250 titles (overall), even though it has been out since September of …


Pat’s Product Review: Windham Weaponry M4 Clone

I hear from SurvivalBlog readers daily. I enjoy hearing from you all, and many of you want me to do test and evaluation on “Whatever” firearms, knives or other survival gear. I wish I could test everything you all want me to test, but it is impossible for a number of reasons. First of all is the expense involved, and secondly, the time involved in doing a round of test and evaluation – there’s not enough hours in the day. I constantly get SurvivalBlog readers asking me to test various AR-15 style rifles on the market. Honestly, there are so …