Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Nick at BulletProoofME.com will be running a SurvivalBlog-only special from Dec.15th through Dec. 22nd. The 30%-off special is for the mil-spec Interceptor Outer Tactical Vest. The similar sale that they ran last year for SurvivalBlog readers had an exceedingly large response. This special pricing is only available because of a military contract overrun. Note that they are running low on inventory this time around. (e.g., no size Medium on sale this time.) All items will be first come, first served.    o o o Reader T.H.Y. wrote to ask me: “Why do you bother putting flash hiders on your bolt …

Storm Cuts Power to More Than One Million Homes in New England. But of course SurvivalBlog readers were well-prepared. One key quote from the article: “It’s kind of lawless out there right now. There’s a lot of people very frustrated, stacking up at the gas stations. It’s pretty ugly.”    o o o Sans culottes! Wall Street sage Jim Rogers declares that most of the big banks in the US are “totally bankrupt.” The comment was made in the Reuters Investment Outlook 2009 teleconference: “Without giving specific names, most of the significant American banks, the larger banks, are bankrupt, totally …

Reader Scott D. suggested this piece on commentary: Constitutional Convention Sleight of Hand?    o o o Courtesy of Hawaiian K.: How a Zero-Electricity Fridge Will Bring Medicine to the Developing World    o o o From Sean M.: Money is not the only thing you can lose in a failing bank    o o o Ann M. sent this “must read” piece from Fortune magazine: Eight really, really scary predictions; Dow 4,000. Food shortages. A bubble in Treasury notes. Fortune spoke to eight of the market’s sharpest thinkers and what they had to say about the future is frightening. …

M. in the Dakotas sent us a link to an article on solar storms and possible damage to power grids.    o o o A reminder that Foodsaver vacuum packers are being offered at a special sale price, just during the month of December. You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last.    o o o I just got an e-mail from our old friend “Trasel” (who will soon return …

Mosby reminded me about the upcoming annual National B.O.B. Weekend.    o o o President-almost-elect Obama says that he doesn’t want to take your guns. But if he is truly a supporter of the Second Amendment, as he claims, then why does he use the Brady Center for Civilian Disarmament‘s mantra of “Common sense gun safety laws”? Common sense to them means reducing the populace to owning just sling shots and BB guns. My level of trust for BHO on this issue is miniscule. I recommend stocking up on semi-auto firearms and full capacity magazines before he is sworn in …

Thanks to “asderathos”, who created a YouTube video of my recent interview on the Armstrong & Getty radio show. It was pretty cute how he (or she?) used a photo of “Burt Gummer” (Michael Gross from the movie Tremors) for my portrait. My favorite quote from the interview: “This guy is disappointingly reasoanable.” I guess they were hoping to interview a real wild-eyed lunatic. Sorrry to disappoint.    o o o From Cheryl, our volunteer Economic Editor: Wall Street Extends Rally on Infrastructure Plans — Oil Prices Up on Talk of OPEC Cut — Interest Rates Heading for Zero — …

As my friend “Kevin Lendel” likes to say: “Such a deal!” More than 175 SurvivalBlog readers have bought Foodsaver vacuum packers at the special December sale price. Don’t miss out on this! You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last. BTW, I recommend getting the optional set of Mason Jar suction attachments, as they are particularly useful.    o o o “AZ-V” mentioned this CNBC clip where Hugh Hendry, a …

John B. pointed us to an interesting article in Slate on the effects of inflation in Argentina: Coins more valuable than bills. This ties in with my advice starting in 2007 on buying up rolls of US nickels . This is just one of several tangibles strategies to get prepared for the incipient mass inflation in the United States.    o o o New ID Scanners at Borders Raise Privacy Alarm. These RFID scanners can be overcome by an expensive commercially-made wallet, or by something a simple as a few wraps of aluminum foil. Speaking of privacy, nearly a dozen …

Reader “Photo Man” sent us this: Mob runs riot as Zimbabwe runs out of water.    o o o Courtesy of Eric comes this link: The American Crisis and the Case for an Inflationary Depression    o o o Rich Fleetwood at SurvivalRing mentioned that he has just finished creating a brand new DVD book library. It has 4 DVDs containing over 4,000 Third World appropriate technology books and articles, and a multi disk package of Alex Weir’s 44 CD library (which he asks as many folks as possible to both mirror, and offer, to readers all over the world). …

One of our neighbors–and where we live, the term “neighbor” means anyone in a 10 mile radius–mentioned that she recently obtained 20 dozen Mason-type canning jars offered gratis on Freecycle. The boxes of canning jars almost entirely filled up the back of her SUV. In my experience, Freecycle and Craig’s List should be watched diligently by preparedness-minded families. The tighter your budget, the more crucial these resources are! And, BTW, if you benefit from Freecycle, be sure to return the favor, by offering the things that you no longer need.    o o o Bob G. mentioned an informative piece …

Derek C. sent us the link to the full text of the recently mentioned nuclear and biological terrorism threat report, in PDF.    o o o Mike Williamson mentioned Survival Straps. Mike’s comment: “I came across these in another forum. Someone skilled at braiding could make their own, or can support an American small business by buying one of these. We each have a bracelet made in this fashion, that are stylish and useful. Parachute cord is always a useful thing to have on hand.” JWR Adds: Paracord can also be unbraided into individual nylon threads, with even more uses …

Reader Vanya O. wrote to ask: “When do you expect that the MOAB will end?”. I expect the MOAB to drag on for several more years–and possibly a full decade–reaching absurd proportions. States, counties, and cities, and pension funds may eventually be bailed out by Uncle Sugar. That last stage of the MOAB may very well culminate with a direct bailout of individual subprime mortgage holders. Yes, it will be your tax dollars at work: Paying off the mortgages held by your NINJA neighbor, who for the past few years has been living in a house that he could never …

I was pleasantly surprised with the first two episodes of the new BBC television series “Survivors”, that debuted last month. It is a remake of the British series from the 1970s, produced by Terry Nation. Aside for some anti-gun stereotypes (the only characters shown acquiring guns are “Tom Price”–a convicted murderer, and “Dexter”–a drunken sociopath), the story thusfar seems fairly plausible. The acting, cinemaphotography, production value, and music all seemed above average for a television series. I got a BBC review copy, but I’ve heard that the series will be available at a site called Mininova. (But I don’t think …

I found this linked over at TMM Forums: Biodiesel home-brewers on the rise, with many skirting regulations    o o o If you’ve ever wondered why the precious market is so volatile, this piece by Jason Hommel makes it quite clear: The Tiny Size of the Gold Market. It doesn’t take much to move such a thin market.    o o o I’ve often mentioned the utility of owning Foodsaver vacuum packing unit. We have one here at the Rawles Ranch that we’ve used regularly for 15 years. The only drawback has been their high retail price. But for a …

Glenn in Arizona mentioned that Bill Ray of The Register, draws some good practical conclusions after watching the remake of the British television series Survivors.    o o o The Chartist Gnome mentioned that he expects a breakdown in the current strength of the USD Index in the next few months. He wrote in a recent e-mail: “The [US] Dollar strength we saw was based on the relative weakness of the Euro, not any inherent strength in the Dollar. (Because here [in Europe] funds managers use more leverage than [is] used in the States, the [banking] crisis has hit Europe …