Category: Odds ‘n Sods

DV forwarded this one: Goldman Sachs guru warns of war-debt failure — Is America becoming a global credit risk?   o o o Thanks to B.H. for sending us this: Ammo Makers Prepare for Drop in Demand    o o o J. from East Tennessee Sterilizer Service sent us what might be the answer to the honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) mystery: A Spanish researcher blames an Asian parasite    o o o The Army Aviator sent us this one: Economist: World Is One Hedge-fund Collapse Away From Crisis. The article begins:”The problems in the U.S. subprime mortgage market could …

RBS mentioned this interesting/frightening piece from the Dr. Housing Bubble Blog: The Foreclosure Story: What Does the Process Look Like?   o o o From NewsMax: Homeland General: Attack ‘Could Happen Any Day’   o o o A hat tip to Matt B. for this alert: Castleberry’s canned food recall.

Tom at CometGold.com sent us this article link: Italy set to bail out bank after huge derivatives losses. This is not the end of it folks. You can look for more much, much larger derivatives crises, in the near future, just as I warned you.   o o o DeFazio asks, but he’s denied access: Classified info – The congressman wanted to see government plans for after a terror attack   o o o From a Gander, Newfoundland newspaper come this editorial on the next depression: Unsustainable future. Hmmm, does somebody there read SurvivalBlog?

Reader Ben L. mentioned that the August issue of Popular Mechanics magazine is dedicated to theme of “Survive Anything!”   o o o There is another RWVA Appleseed high power rifle match and clinic scheduled for August 18th and 19th in Ottawa, Illinois. Don’t miss out on this training opportunity. The offer, great rifle training at a very reasonable price!    o o o While wandering that wacky world of Wikipedia, I was looking at the Wiki page for The Sarah Connor Chronicles (SCC) television series, trying to figure out why the link to the SCC Yahoo Discussion Groups Page …

From The Wall Street Journal: State Farm to Drop 50,000 Policies Of Homeowners in Coastal Florida OBTW, The Wall Street Journal is one of SurvivalBlog’s Affiliate Advertisers. They are currently running a special Wall Street Journal Print & Online Combination subscription offer: You get a one-year subscription to both editions of The Wall Street Journal plus an additional 8 weeks free, for $125 – a savings of over 70%. By using our The Wall Street Journal link when you subscribe, we’ll get a little piece of the action. Thanks!   o o o Murphy’s Law: Just one day after I …

Brian H. mentioned an interesting note from retired journalist Charley Reese regarding Swiss preparedness.    o o o Umpteen SurvivalBlog readers have mentioned the new proposed OSHA regulations on ammunition, gunpowder, and primers. Please get involved and write a few letters during the public comment period,.    o o o SF in Hawaii was doing some research on potable water storage and he found this low cost supplier for barrels, and this supplier for large tanks.    o o o Richard of KT Ordnance sent us the link to this entertaining and informative video: Chevy Pickup Truck Versus Various Brands …

Courtesy of our friend Tom at CometGold.com, comes this blog link: Is Mexico About to Fail?   o o o More on the commodities boom: The price of tin reached an all-time high early last week, at over $7 per pound!   o o o Vic at Safecastle is offering SurvivalBlog readers an opportunity to purchase a lifetime membership in the Safecastle Royal buyers club at half-price now through August. Simply enter the coupon code JWRMEMBER on the payment page in the checkout process, and your membership will cost just $9.50. That membership gets you at least 20% off and …

Reader Roger S. sent us an article by David McWilliams in Ireland: World’s financial community gives two fingers to the US. One note of clarification, however: The June 12th auction was of Treasury Bills, not Treasury Notes. The Auction on the 15th was Treasury Notes.   o o o From The Motley Fool’s UK edition, by way of SHTF Daily: It’s Heading For Crunch Time…    o o o Rob at Green Mountain Gear mentioned that he is continuing his special on HK91/G3 Alloy magazines in new, unissued condition. He has just a few 20-packs left. Rob notes: “Some of …

Reader Matt B. forwarded us a link to the new White House Fact Sheet: Implementation of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza   o o o Jericho Convention in Kansas: Oakley officials hope nothing shy of nuclear bomb will keep ‘Jericho’ fans away. If you can attend, there is an opportunity to give a presentation and/or be a preparedness panelist at “Jerichon”. Send an e-mail to: Stacey.Adams@guardiansofjericho.org. OBTW, let me know if you definitely plan to attend and I’ll be happy to send you a free SurvivalBlog t-shirt to wear while you are there, as a conversation starter.    o …

Coutrtesy of SHTF.com, and also recommended by SurvivalBlog reader KB, comes this article about Zimbabwe from The Economist: How to stay alive when it all runs out   o o o Zuke in Iraq sent us this one: Two Bear Stearns hedge funds are now worth nearly nothing. We read further details in The Daily Reckoning: “Last week, all three rating agencies – Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch – announced downgrades of subprime linked debt. And this week, Bear Stearns said investors in one of its hedge funds that bought CDOs on a leveraged basis would get none of …

Emergency “Go Bags” urged for Sydney, Australia Residents   o o o From The Times of London, by way of SHTF Daily: Are these the last days of the Oil Age?    o o o China officials deny flood rats on the menu

Reader “Ed7B” sent us a link to a page at the Medical Corps web site with an account of an emergency appendectomy in a submarine in WWII – with not a doctor for many miles, and a dearth of proper equipment, tools and drugs. Ed’s comment: “They still managed to get this sailor’s appendix out and have a happy outcome. Pertinent to what people can expect when there is no hospital open, let alone a doctor to be found.” Speaking of preparedness for austere medicine, don’t miss the outstanding Medical Corps training on August 24-25-26 at the Ohio State University …

SF in Hawaii mentioned this copy of the US Army Field Manual FM 90-7, housed at the GlobalSecurity.org web site. SF’s comment: “Click on the figures in this manual and you’ll see some good examples of defensive obstacles.”   o o o A Colorado city besieged by copper thieves    o o o I noticed an interesting thread of discussion in progress at The Claire Files forums, on choosing a gun for bear protection, while horseback.

Alt-A: The New Home of Subprime?   o o o The Chartist Gnome reminded me that The Debt Clock is still ticking, relentlessly. We’ll have a lot of explaining to do, to our grandchildren.    o o o From Bloomberg, via SHTF Daily: Dollar Drops to Record Low Versus Euro on U.S. Growth, Rates

InyoKern flagged this piece about Mexico from The Oil Drum. InyoKern’s notes: “The graphs in the comments section are nails in the coffin, too. Have a look and read the comments. Its rather nauseating because its [coming] so soon. We thought we’d have a year or two before things got weird there, yet conditions for collapse in Mexico are getting pre-emptive. “   o o o Charles G. sent us this: Manhattan [New York City] parking spot going for $225,000. Charles comments: “Note the 3rd to last paragraph: ‘Some people are buying parking spots even if they don’t own cars, …