Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Joe P. sent us a link to this news story (by way of The Drudge Report): Prices for key foods are rising sharply. Speaking of food price increases, I heard from the folks that run Best Prices Storable Foods (aka The Internet Grocer) that they will make significant price increases on the 23rd of August. If you have been thinking about ordering, place your order by August 21st to get the current pricing. It is noteworthy that storage food price hikes typically don’t occur until the end of each calendar year. This year, however, the wholesale foodstuffs costs and shipping …

Felix D. mentioned an interesting piece over at The Discerning Texan blog: The Coming Age of Urban Terror   o o o Our colleague Bill Bonner, co-editor of The Daily Reckoning notes that “Bank Owned” is the latest real estate brochure newspeak to describe foreclosed houses.    o o o Frequent contributor Michael Z. Williamson notes that there is a nifty new development that may revolutionize lubricants in the near future: Boric acid nanoparticles.

Aside from some overtly political Quote of the Day blog entries, I do my best to downplay political issues in SurvivalBlog. This is primarily because the blog has an international readership. (After all, what interest would someone in France or Indonesia have in American politics, any more than I would have an interest in theirs?) But I do make an exception for the border control issue. Clearly, lax border security could be the modus operandi for terrorists, possibly with weapons of mass destruction. So that makes this political issue also a survival issue! If you are concerned about border security, …

Courtesy of SHTF Daily: Israeli website causes panic in NY. I’ve warned SurvivalBlog readers before: The DEBKA files material is predominantly gray propaganda that originates from the Russian Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti (FSB).   o o o Reader J.D. recommended this vendor for knives: The Outlaw Knife Shop. I haven’t done business with them yet, but they seem to have a great inventory!    o o o I’ve been told that there are just a couple sets left for the outstanding Medical Corps “Medical Response in Hostile Environments” field medicine course. It will be held on August 24-25-26 at the Ohio …

Russell suggested this article on The Nightmare German Inflation (circa 1922-1924) You will note some strong similarities to the hyperinflation in present-day Zimbabwe, as described by Cathy Buckle. And, BTW, if the Federal Reserve over-reacts to the current credit crunch, they could crash the US dollar, too.   o o o Dave S. recommended a web page at the C. Crane radio web site, on preparedness.    o o o Frequent contributor Ben L. sent this: Fifty percent of U.K. drivers cannot read a map. If you find your family’s map reading skills lacking then spend a few weekends orienteering. …

Ken M. sent us this: The US Banking/Derivatives Contagion Spreads Still Further: BNP Paribas (France’s Biggest Bank0 Freezes Funds as Loan Losses Roil Markets   o o o Christopher D. recommended a site with simple instructions on rain barrels.   o o o Hawaiian K. flagged this useful article: Top 100 Items to Disappear First in a National Emergency    o o o Adam M. sent us the link for this photographer’s tour of a civil nuclear fallout shelter, beneath Lucerne, Switzerland. I wish that the U.S. had a real civil defense system (like Switzerland’s), instead of just printing pamphlets …

Tom at CometGold.com sent us the link to this “must see” video clip: Charlie Rose interviewed two journalists about debt securities, the sub-prime debacle, and the emerging liquidity crisis. New York Times scribe Floyd Norris described the recent wave of margin calls on debt securities as “the functional equivalent of a run on the bank.” Katherine Burton of Bloomberg News admitted that the credit crunch will “go on for a long time.” In related news, don’t miss this news story from Reuters: Central banks move to calm panicky money markets. This isn’t just a traditional credit squeeze, folks. This is …

By way of SHTF Daily: Minneapolis bridge disaster draws attention to neglect of U.S. infrastructure   o o o David D. recommended this article on some medicinal uses of honey    o o o Hawaiian K. sent us this: The Incapacitating Flashlight–An LED flashlight makes culprits vomit. If police start to use these, I can predict lawsuits from epileptics.    o o o Thanks to SHTF Daily for posting this piece from Bloomberg: U.K.’s Subprime Crisis May Be Worse Than U.S.’s

HikerLT, DAV, and Mark B. all forwarded this gem (by way of the Drudge Report) from The Daily Telegraph: China threatens ‘nuclear option’ of dollar sales. Mark’s comment: “This is why trade deficits are a strategic and political liability! The American people have virtually put their economic future and well being in the hands of the Chi-coms!”   o o o Chris S. sent us a news story link that illustrates the signs of the times: Lead stolen from church roofs to ship to China   o o o I have updated my Links page with a new section on …

SurvivalBlog reader Chuck accurately notes that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is in a predicament. At this juncture the Fed can neither raise nor lower interest rates without powerful macro level repercussions. Chuck mentioned that Mad Money host Jim Cramer made a passionate plea to Ben Bernanke to consider cutting interest rates that would in turn help the market and the people who are losing their jobs on Wall Street. More liquidity via lower interest rates might mean a brief respite for the battered US residential real estate market as well as the equities markets. But if Mr. Bernanke lowers …

Don’t miss out on the special $99.95 sale for my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course. This is the first time that it has ever been sold for 1/3 off the regular price. The sale ends on August 8th, so place your order soon!   o o o Ben L. sent us this: Water Tables Falling and Rivers Running Dry    o o o I just heard that the prices of most of the SurvivalBlog t-shirts will be increasing soon. (The maker had previously been charging the same for shirts printed only on the front and those printed both front …

The following video clip link was recommend by Richard at KT Ordnance. That manic CNBC TV market analyst Jim Cramer says “Just Walk Away” from upside down home loan situations. He also accurately describes the incipient “2 and 28” ARM home loan rate reset disaster. I have said before in SurvivalBlog: If people get sufficiently upside down in their mortgages in the midst of a recession, they will indeed pack up and abandon their houses, leaving their bankers to clean up the mess. Feel free to quote me on this prediction.   o o o Don’t miss out on the …

Matt B. sent us this bit of news that didn’t come as much of a surprise: Bear Stearns Declares Bankruptcy   o o o GDS flagged this: Climate Change Linked to Doubling of Atlantic Hurricanes   o o o Alfie Omega forwarded us this: $10 Million Fire at Spokane Fuel Depot a likely act of Muslim terrorists in U.S.

Ken McC. sent us this: German bank becomes first EU victim of U.S. subprime mortgage woes. Ken’s comment: “The economic problems are demonstrating a world wide effect.” Meanwhile, Thanks to SHTF Daily we read: Bear Stearns halts redemptions in third hedge fund   o o o Reader David P. recommended this data on diesel generators.    o o o The high bid is still at $300 in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction for a brand new Big Berkey water filter, kindly donated by Ready Made Resources. They are one of our most loyal advertisers. The auction ends on August 15th. Just …

From SHTF Daily: Four ways to prepare for a global financial crisis   o o o This Gun Free Zone video (recommended by Richard C.) provides a bit of comic relief.    o o o RMV forwarded us this: The Numbers Don’t Add Up for Baby Boomer Retirees. Here is a quote from the article: “Consider the outlook. From 2005 to 2030, the 65-and-over population will nearly double to 71 million; its share of the population will rise to 20 percent from 12 percent. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—programs that serve older people—already exceed 40 percent of the $2.7 trillion …