Category: Odds ‘n Sods

“Bee Prepared” sent us this article from The Guardian: Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point. One in three of UK’s honeybees did not survive winter and spring. Pollination of fruit and vegetables is at risk.    o o o From a farm bulletin, courtesy of reader MK: ShadeTreeConversions.net.    o o o Cheryl N. found this: Merrill Lynch: Credit Crisis is Broad, Deep and Global    o o o Cheryl N. also sent this, from Trident Military: World Camouflage Catalog. It makes handy reference.    o o o Also from Cheryl N.: US Home Foreclosures Increase 55% and Estimated 1,300 Houses …

I was recently interviewed by Kayleen Schaefer of Details magazine. She is looking for other preppers that would be willing to be interviewed. In particular, she’d like to find someone living in tech Baltimore, Maryland or Washington DC area that would not mind having one of the magazine’s photographers photograph of their food storage shelves. They’ve promised not to publish anything that would reveal identities or locales. Please contact Kayleen via e-mail if you’d like to be interviewed.    o o o Thanks to Chris W. for spotting this: Ready for Disaster? ‘Preparedness Movement’ Members Say They Are    o …

Pete in New Hampshire found this web site while preparing to test his Bug Out Bag equipment in the field. Pete mentioned “It allows you to build customized topographical maps of the area you pick and if you pay $20 they will mail it to you laminated, ready for field use.”    o o o This latest bit of Nanny State meddling doesn’t bode well for those of us that like to formulate our own soap or otherwise do any home chemistry: Home Science Under Attack In Massachusetts. (A hat tip to “Crusher” for sending the link.)    o o …

Prince Charles warns GM crops risk causing the biggest-ever environmental disaster. (A hat tip to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o Keith recommended an article by John Silveira with some alternative thoughts about Peak Oil. Keith notes: “The article will remind you what makes this country still work and it points out the pitfalls of assuming that how things are in the present will continue into the future. I’m not saying they are the do-all end-all, but you cannot discount technology, innovation, and free enterprise.”    o o o Mike McG–a veteran intel Cold Warrior–sent us a …

Five Years After Blackout, Power Grid Still in ‘Dire Straits’    o o o I spotted an interesting thread over at the LATOC Forums: Questioning my rural relocation strategy… Obviously, some in the Peak Oil “Doomer ” crowd discount the threat of looting and other lawlessness in a Grid Down America. I’m not one of them!    o o o Cheryl N. found us this: Wachovia boosts loss to $9.11 billion, cuts more jobs    o o o Cheryl also spotted: Credit Crunch Misery Deepens for UBS–Writes Down Another $7.6 Billion

You’ll recall that I promised to feature more good news. Here is some potentially good news for the US Dollar from The Financial Times: Dollar at crossroads amid brighter US outlook    o o o Jay in Florida sent an article that should come as no surprise: FDIC Fund Strained by Bank Failures May Have to Raise Premium. If the bank runs continue apace, the FDIC may have to rely on much more: Namely, “The full faith and credit…”    o o o Fitzy in Pennsylvania found this: The bionic exoskeleton future is almost here.    o o o Wars, …

Perennial content contributor Cheryl N. found this “must read” MSNBC piece: Credit Crisis Prompts Unprecedented Response. It squares nicely with what I have been writing since the Spring of 2007: The global credit collapse is unprecedented, and will be both deep and prolonged. We are nowhere near the bottom yet!    o o o From The Guardian: Greenspan warns more banks may be bailed out. (A hat tip, again, to Cheryl N. for the link.)    o o o John R. recommended a brief speculative piece on state secession, penned by fellow SurvivalBlog reader Bill Buppert, recently posted over at …

Reader Cheryl N. sent us this article that ran in Australia’s The Age, back in June: Talk of financial system breakdown moves from the fringe to the mainstream    o o o Both Dean and KAF mentioned an EMP article, in The Wall Street Journal.    o o o Cheryl N. also flagged this: 2007 Mortgages Going Bad at Faster Pace. “Mortgages issued in the first part of 2007 are going bad at a pace that far outstrips the 2006 vintage, suggesting that the blow to the financial system from U.S. housing woes will be deeper than many people earlier …

Tom from Atlanta wrote to ask me about the recent drop in oil and precious metals, and the simultaneous rally in the US Dollar. He asked: “Does this mean the credit crisis is over, and that commodities will tank?” My answer: Not even close. Just take a look at the US Dollar Index chart. Print out that chart, slap a ruler on it, and draw a trend line. Now ask yourself: At the macro level, is there anything that has changed that will make the USD substantially stronger in the next few years? NO! So we can conclude that the …

John T. spotted this thought-provoking piece by Chris Sullins posted over at Of Two Minds: The Self-Selected Remnant    o o o David in Israel recommends the Pyromid Folding Grille. David notes: “I got mine at an outdoor gear shop closing sale. I was surprised by the high list price for a grille but that was before I used it. Made of stainless steel the infrared energy from the coals is all aimed upwards toward the food, after many seasons of use the once mirror shiny grille is a dull gold color where it was heated but there is no …

Reader KAF suggested this piece over at Pajamas Media: Ask Dr. Helen: Preparing for Disaster — Prudent or Paranoid? It sounds like she might have been reading SurvivalBlog.    o o o Steve N. flagged this article: Iran threatens to shut Gulf shipping lanes    o o o Eric sent us this piece on the significance of “local” produce: Supermarket Chains Narrow Their Sights    o o o A reader e-mailed me to ask: “Do you know of any GPS that has a “Scenery mode” or other mode that chooses back roads instead of major roads and highways, so I …

From Cheryl N.: Dow is Heading for 10,000 “The markets can’t seem to get that the U.S. is in recession, says Kirby Daley, strategist at the Newedge Group. But a downward movement is inevitable. He tells CNBC’s Martin Soong and Amanda Drury to expect a 15% to 20% drop on the Dow in the near future.”    o o o David in Israel recommends The Pocket Chainsaw. “It is the smart answer to the flimsy wire saws found in many survival kits. This tool packed in a can the size of a roll of electrical tape is a 28 inch …

I long hence went on record that the price of productive farm land in the U.S. would not be hurt as badly as residential and commercial real estate, in the current down-trend. A new Bloomberg article bolsters my position: U.S. Farmland Values Reach Record on High Crop Prices. Again, productive farm and ranch land is a relatively safe, tangible way to shelter your assets from the ravages of inflation.    o o o I often get e-mails from folks that are looking to join or form a retreat group, or that are interested in finding a like-minded spouse. Unfortunately, the …

Mark mentioned a Makezine piece about a bicycle powered refrigerator.    o o o Desert T. found us this: Southern Nevada Economy: Analysts’ projections sour. The last quote of the article sums it up: “More and more economists seem to think that this recession we’re in is going to be a long and painful one,” Smith said. “How long it lasts depends on the credit situation. We’re in the hands of the banks.”    o o o David S. found a link to an interesting water purification device    o o o J. T. sent a reminder about a site …

Eric found this one: Stressed banks borrow record amount from Fed. And coincidentally, reader Jeff S. sent us a link to a Fed chart that he calls “The Hockey Stick of Doom.”    o o o Eric also sent us this: Small farming is the future.    o o o Paul from Kentucky flagged this: Zimbabweans dug out coins squirreled away years ago. The government has lopped off 10 zeros, with the new currency! The article begins: “Zimbabweans dug out coins squirreled away years ago in jars and cupboards and headed for the shops, where lines built up as overburdened …