Category: Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog reader “Cyberiot” mentioned that readers with concerns about pandemic flu may be interested in a new and growing online storybook sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Pandemic Influenza Storybook: Personal Recollections from Survivors, Families, and Friends” includes first-person accounts of the 1918 and 1957 flu pandemics. Readers are encouraged to contribute their own recollections. Speaking of flu pandemics, earlier this year, New Scientist magazine published a detailed analysis of how a 1918-scale influenza pandemic would affect the US economy.    o o o I’ve heard from a reader that he plans to attend the ASPO …

U.K. state memo warns of “anarchy” in the city streets. (Thanks to Florida Guy for the link.)    o o o Yishai flagged this for us, from The Morning Brief: “This could be the mother of year-ends,” Brian Sack, of Macroeconomic Advisers and a former Federal Reserve chief market analyst, tells Bloomberg, which says the Fed may have to increase the cash it provides to banks and brokers beyond already-record levels to help them balance their books at the end of the year in the wake of six bank failures in the past two months and rising concern about Lehman’s …

With a web search, I came across a couple of Tsunami e-mail alert pages. One for coastal Alaska, coastal Canada, and coastal United States, and one for the entire Pacific Ocean. Speaking of alert e-mails, Weather.com provides free regional e-mail/cell phone severe weather alerts. And, as I’ve mentioned in SurvivalBlog before, anyone interested in radio propagation can get free solar flare alerts. (The latter is also useful for those of use that enjoy watching auroral displays.) But presently, of course, we are at a sunspot minimum.    o o o David F.sent us a link to an article that confirms …

C.S.D. mentioned an interesting product with several survival application: Gloshade. Note that these reflectors will also work with infrared chemical light sticks.    o o o More economic news and commentary, courtesy of SurvivalBlog’s Economic Editor: Fannie & Freddie: Buying Friends in D.C., Fannie & Freddie Bailout Destined to Fail as US Debt Doubles, Mortgage Giant Overstated Its Capital Base, Fannie and Freddie: Just the Beginning of the Derivatives Deleveraging Bailout, Lehman Bros. Worth a Big FAT Zero?, Fannie Mae Faces Investor Lawsuit, Berkshire, in Blow to Banks, Reins in its Deposit Insurer, Wall Street Trading Gets Zero Value from …

Reader I.T.N. wrote me to ask: “I noticed that [the base metal value of] a nickel is [down to] now 4.9 cents. (due to a sharp decline in nickel as of late) Do you think this is temporary, or should I begin to spend the milk jugs full of nickels I acquired.” I expect that spot price of nickel will rebound in coming months, as the US Dollar resumes its decline. With more rapid inflation looking likely, I expect that a US five cent piece will have a base metal value of 10 cents (twice its face value) within two …

Universal flu vaccine tests start in the UK    o o o We can now chalk up another $200 Billion in the Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB). It’s now official: U.S. Seizes Fannie and Freddie. This confirms my suspicion that there is no such thing as “too big to bail out”, but the dictum of “too big to fail” is in full force. I predict that these bailouts will continue in both the public and private sectors, in a “widening gyre.” The bailouts won’t end until the US dollar is destroyed as a currency unit. Get out of any dollar-denominated …

Just as I predicted a more than a year ago, and again more explicitly in October of 2007, the hedge fund failure rate is about ready to turn into an avalanche, in agonizing quarterly installments: Hedge funds ready to blow as positions liquidated. (A hat tip to Mike McD. for for finding that link.)    o o o For all of you that have been waiting, after many months of shortages, Mountain House has finally resumed selling their freeze dried foods in #10 (one gallon) vacuum-packed cans on the civilian market. My advice: Get them while you can. When the …

We saw this one coming: U.S. Rescue Seen at Hand for Two Mortgage Giants. The Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB) continues to grow!    o o o Season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (TSCC) begins tomorrow (September 8, 2008). In agreement with the fans at The Sarah Connor Society, I consider it is the best quasi-survivalist show on television. Don’t look for many useful preparedness tips, but at least it is entertaining and motivational for those of us with the preparedness mindset. Meanwhile, the fourth feature film in the Terminator movie franchise (“Terminator: Salvation”)–starring Christian Bale and Sam …

Bill N. recommended bookmarking the National Weather Service Doppler Radar Maps Page.    o o o The latest big dose of Gloom-und-Doom from SurvivalBlog’s Economic Editor: House Price Crash Goes Global, In the Eye of the Credit Crisis Hurricane, GM, Ford, Chrysler on Sales Collapse Risk Bankruptcy, Purge the [Financial] System of its Failures, Two Wall St. Brokers Accused of $1Bn Subprime Fraud, GMAC To Cut Staff, Close Mortgage Operations to Cut Costs, I Want To Scare The H*ll Out Of You, Tice: Huge Stock Decline Ahead, Lightening The Mood With A Deflator (The Mogambo Guru), Pick-A-Payment Loans Turn Poisonous, …

Dave S. flagged this: Greek youths rob supermarket, hand out food    o o o More economic cheer, gleaned by SurvivalBlog’s Economic Editor, Cheryl N.: Fed Imposes Financial Sector Imperialism Over US, HSBC Super-Rich Clients Moving Into Cash, No Credit For Central Bankers by The Mogambo Guru, Ponzi Dynamics Still At Play, Gustav Hits US Economy, More Impact Due to Weaker Economy, and Intaxicating Rebate Checks–The Mogambo Guru.    o o o I generally agree with Bill Gross, but his recent suggestion smacks of socialism to me: U.S. Must Buy Assets to Prevent `Tsunami,’ Gross Says. (A hat tip to …

I’ll begin with some positive news from an Australian newspaper, by way of reader Kevin A.: Fifty Reasons To Thank NASA    o o o FerFAL (SurvivalBlog’s correspondent in Argentina) recently posted some quotes and commentary on Gabe Suarez’s description of his training trip to Argentina.    o o o Pamela mentioned a commercially-made fireplace log rolling machine that speeds the newspaper rolling process that was described in a SurvivalBlog article posted earlier this year.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Economic Editor Cheryl N. sent us another batch of economic news and commentary: Credit Crunch Cancer Metastasizing, US National Debt …

I noticed that the spot price of silver dipped below $12.70 per ounce for the first time in many moons. Given the pitiful intrinsic value of the US Dollar, in my opinion silver priced anywhere south of $13.50 is a bargain. Buy on the dips!    o o o Reader “MGB” flagged a web site that illustrate which countries to avoid for offshore banking: This US IRS page shows the countries that have “transparency” via tax treaties And MGB recommend the Sovereign Society web site as a resource for comparing banking privacy of various nations.    o o o Naish …

KAF recommended this: Documentary shows tough reality of doctors in war. (Warning: Not for children or for the squeamish!)    o o o Cheryl N. sent us yet another raft of economic news and commentary: Stagflation Becoming Economic Reality, FDIC Admits Short-Term Loans Might Be Needed, The Building Storm: Gold, the Dollar and Inflation, WAMU The Killer Bank, US Thrifts Lost $5.4bn in 2Q, Second Largest Ever, Bankruptcy Filings Near 1M in Past 12 Months; Up Almost 30%, Economic Depression: Who Will Suffer Least?, Credit Crunch: It’s Just The Beginning Of The End, Private Foreign Investors Dump US Debt, and …

Eric sent us this tale of unintended consequences: Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid’s Limits    o o o Some interesting demographics: The study is a bit dated, but a 2001 survey showed Wyoming as the state with the highest rate of gun ownership: The top three states were Wyoming (59.7%), Alaska (57.8%), and Montana (57.7%). Following close behind—all at around 55%–were Idaho, South Dakota, Mississippi and West Virginia. By the way, a neighbor told me that when a gal in Wyoming gets serious about finding a husband, all she has to do is switch her perfume to Hoppes #9, …

Reader A.M. in Cocoa, Florida sent a link to a very interesting video clip about a solar/hydrogen powered house. Coveting is a sin, but I must admit that I sorely wish that I had his sort of budget.    o o o Kevin A. recommended a piece of commentary by Darryl Schoon: Don’t Cry For Me Argentina… Save Your Tears For Yourself    o o o Some escalation in the war of words in the nascent Cold War II: Russia Issues warning : Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, and Russia bans poultry imports from 19 U.S. …