Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Reader RBS mentioned the Plants For A Future Database    o o o Derivative Trades Jump 27% to Record $681 Trillion. I’ve warned you about the derivatives bubble. Someday in the near future it is likely to implode and cause an unprecedented economic catastrophe.    o o o Still more sub-prime fallout: Bank of America Closing Beleaguered Institutional Cash Fund That Has Withered From $34 Billion to $12 Billion    o o o Tim and RBS both sent us this: Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer

David B. suggested a “must read” article by Charles Hugh Smith: The Unintended Consequences of the Housing Bubble Bursting    o o o Student-Loan Problems Add to Debt Worry    o o o s SF suggested this TED talk: Thomas Barnett: The Pentagon’s new map for war and peace    o o o There is some insightful commentary from Alex Wallenwein posted over at Gold-Eagle.com: Credit ‘Crunch’ – or Credit Collapse?

Plains states ice storm leaves 410,000 without power    o o o A reminder that BulletProofME.com‘s special free shipping offer just for SurvivalBlog readers, ends tomorrow (Wednesday, December 12th)    o o o Currie flagged this one for us: Mortgage Meltdown–Interest rate ‘freeze’ – the real story is fraud. Bankers pay lip service to families while scurrying to avert suits, prison    o o o SF in Hawaii mentioned a video clip on how to use a cordless drill motor as a battery charger.

Economist Peter Schiff comments on the US “teaser” interest rate freeze: The Mother Of All Bad Ideas. FWIW, I agree with Schiff, and I’ve previously warned of the perils of government meddling with the free market.    o o o By way of the recently revamped SHTF Daily web site: Moody’s Report Predicts House Prices Seen falling 30 Percent    o o o The special sale at Ready Made Resources for their Deluxe pocket-sized survival tool kit will end soon–once their on-hand supplies have sold out. I highly recommend this kit. Someday it may save your life, or the life …

`Decoupling’ Debunked as U.S. Collapse Infects World o o o I heard that Green Mountain Gear is reducing their inventory of new-in-the-wrapper original West German Bundeswehr contract HK91/G3 magazines. All of these are Rheinmettal made! The 10 pack sale special is just $74.99 plus postage. Shipped via US Mail. (The total will be adjusted for postage when charged/shipped.) o o o SF in Hawaii suggested this Self-Priming Manual Siphon Pump. The price seemed a bit high, so I did a price comparison with the tried-and-true Black & Decker Jackrabbit hand pump. (Which can also be used to prime a siphoning …

A reminder that BulletProofME.com’s special free shipping offer for SurvivalBlog readers, ends on Wednesday, December 12th    o o o Eric S. flagged this useful piece: Honey Beats Meds at Soothing Kids’ Cough    o o o The high bid is now at $250 in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction, for six items: 1.) a Katadyn Pocket water filter, (with a $200 retail value) 2.) a Watersafe field water test kit ( a $27 retail value), both donated by Ready Made Resources, 3.) A copy of the latest edition of “The Encyclopedia of Country Living” by the late Carla Emery (a …

“Boosters” mentioned that there is a Genesis Communications Network (GCN) shortwave/satellite/Internet radio program/podcast called “The Armchair Survivalist:” that airs on Saturdays from 5 to 6 pm Central time. It is also available as an “on demand” podcast. Boosters noted: “Listening to the archival loop today, the host [Kurt Wilson of Survival Enterprises] whom I am sure you know made mention of SurvivalBlog to a “Justin” who called into the program. SurvivalBlog readers might want to give it a listen. It is a nice addition to J.R. Moore’s Sunday RBN program. John also promotes you heavily with regard your books and …

Bush to outline 5-year mortgage rate freeze plan. (Don’t miss the reader’s comments below the article.) My comments: Here comes the mega-meddling. Cui bono? And who will bear the cost? I suspect that it will be us, the taxpayers. If so, we will be bailing out someone else’s “I bought a house that I couldn’t afford at the top of the market, and now I can’t sell it” uncontrolled instant gratification and greed. How charming.    o o o In one of his recent DownRange.tv audio podcasts, host Michael Bane (well-known for his “Shooting Gallery” television show on The Outdoor …

“The Other Jim R.” sent us this: Report: World food prices to rise    o o o Morgan Stanley’s warning: Credit crunch alert over UK economy. (A hat tip to RBS for sending us that link.)    o o o From The Financial Times: Car makers warn of tough times in US    o o o Paulson says mortgage plan to be ready this week. My comment: Freezing adjustable rate mortgages to their “teaser” rate levels will only make the housing crash last longer. Delaying the natural market readjustment will only make matters worse.

I found this piece from Peter Schiff over at Gold-Eagle: The End Of Consumer Credit As We Know It    o o o It appears very likely that the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors will cut interest rates again at their upcoming meeting (Tuesday, December 11th). If it is a 50 basis point cut (or more), it could kick off another huge round of Dollar-dumping worldwide, and we might see the USD Index drop down into the 60s. Speaking of the Dollar’s continuing fall, RBS sent us this from The Economist: Losing faith in the greenback    o o o …

The folks at Ready Made Resources mentioned that they are now down to their last 90 bottles of Polar Pure. Because this product uses iodine crystals (which have been deemed a methamphetamine “precursor chemical” by the DEA), once the small remaining supplies have sold out, there will be no more Polar Pure produced in the US. This is your last chance to stock up, folks! Note that because of the short supply, Polar Pure is no longer listed in the Ready Made Resources online catalog. There is a limit of five bottles per customer. To order, call: 1(800) 627-3809. You …

“Florida Guy” sent us an article that clearly warns that the recession bellwether is starting to bah loudly:  Sears profit plunges 99 percent    o o o More bad news for the dollar as the UAE gets ready to dump it. (A hat tip to L.W. for send us that.)    o o o Eric S. suggested this article from Der Spiegel: Is Atomic Radiation as Dangerous as We Thought?    o o o Thanks to Hawaiian K. for sending this article from Harper’s: Six Questions for Chris Whalen on our speculation-based economy and the 2008 elections. This guy is …

Bruce A. found this article about Tamiflu for us: Panel Seeks New Warning on Flu Drug    o o o Frequent contributor Eric S. sent us this from The Australian: Chinese tiger has nothing in tank. The piece begins: “China is running out of fuel. Police are guarding petrol stations in several inland provinces to prevent fights, as shortages of petrol and diesel are causing huge queues of trucks, buses and cars.”    o o o Pete D. sent us a link to a downright scary article on Credit Default Swaps from the Sudden Debt Blog: CDS: Phantom Menace    …

Reader Michael C. mentioned that there is a nice selection of online bushcraft books at the Backyard Bushcraft web site.    o o o S&P Says Third-Quarter Housing Prices Dropped by Sharpest Rate in Index’s 21-Year History    o o o Bob M. in Pittsburg sent us this article link: The “Free Money” Credit Card Brawl at KMart. Bob’s comment: “I’m not sure which is more appalling; that people would riot, and behave thusly, or that they think that ‘credit’ is in fact, ‘free’ money!”    o o o From The Wall Street Journal: Study Warns of Decline In Value …

Paris suburb riots called ‘a lot worse’ than in 2005    o o o EU President Barroso: Weak dollar a ‘problem’ for world economy    o o o The precious metals market has been volatile, jumping up and down on every bit of international economic and financial news. I currently suggest “at-or-below” buy prices of $818 for gold, and $14.42 for silver. As always, buy on the dips! And, as previously mentioned, be sure to get your beans, bullets, and Band-Aids squared away before investing any excess cash in precious metals. It now appears very likely that the Federal Reserve …