Note from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $960. This auction ends on April 15th. It is for a large mixed lot, which includes::

1.) A Warrior Aid and Litter Kit, donated by Ready Made Resources. This is an advanced medic kit package that includes a Talon II 90C folding handle collapsible litter, which normally retails for $560, just by itself. This truly a “full up” tactical trauma kit! This sophisticated medic kit normally retails for $1,500.

2.) A “be ready to barter” box of 26 full-capacity firearms magazines, from my personal collection in JASBORR. This box includes: 4 – Brand new “smoke gray” polymer original Bulgarian 40 rd. AK-47 magazines, 10 – brand new AR-15/M16 USGI black Teflon coated alloy 30 round magazines with stainless steel springs and the latest gray anti-tilt followers, 6 – new condition original USGI M14/M1A 20 round parkerized steel magazines, from CMI (the current military prime contractor) 6 – new condition original Glock Model 20 (10mm) 15 round pistol magazines–the latest production type with “SF” front magazine catch notch . All of these magazines are of recent manufacture (and hence are NOT legal to possess in New York.) These magazines have a combined value of approximately $750, in today’s market. Note: If you live in a state where full capacity magazines are banned, then you must choose to: refrain from bidding, or designate a recipient in an unrestricted state, or re-donate the magazines for a subsequent auction.

3.) A large Bury ‘Em Tube (# 6L, 43″ x 6″ with a 5.1 gallon capacity), donated by Safecastle. (a $199.95 retail value)

4.) A NukAlert compact radiation detector donated by at KI4U.com (a $160 retail value). 

5.) An OPTIMUS Terra Cookset for backpacking, tent camping or even WTSHTF, donated by Safecastle. It includes the ultra-compact Crux stove, plus a special small cookset–all very portable and lightweight. (Fuel canister not included.) (a $95 retail value)

6.) A fresh, sealed case of full mil-spec MRE rations with ration heaters, courtesy of CampingSurvival.com. (a $94.95 value)

Thus, this auction has a combined value in excess of $2,800. This auction ends on April 15th. Please e-mail us your bid. Your bid will be for the entire mixed lot.

Letter Re: Paying Off Debts with Inflated Dollars?

JWR,
I understand when you say that hyperinflation will make the price of things go up and up, like a ten dollar or hundred dollar loaf of bread. But what happens to a financed item, specifically the home [that is] mortgaged? Can the lender change the interest rate or the length of loan? What about other financed items like a car loan? If nothing changes then a person would be paying back the loan with inflated dollars, which might be a good thing? Please explain. Thank You, – RenoFlyBoy

JWR Replies: To begin: You had asked: ” Can the lender change the interest rate or the length of loan? What about other financed items like a car loan?” The short answer is no. But don’t underestimate the ability of politicians to monkey with market fundamentals. In the event of hyperinflation, there could conceivably be some sort of tiered inflation indexing of existing debts. This is very unlikely, but given the entrenched army of banking industry lobbyists in Washington, DC, it is not impossible.

You may have missed these five posts in SurvivalBlog from the past three years:

Letter Re: Is it Deflation or Inflation Ahead? Should I Pay Down My Debts? (2009)

Letter Re: Does Future Inflation Justify a Higher Level of Indebtedness? (2008)

Are Simultaneous Inflation and Deflation Possible? (2008)

Letter Re: With Inflation Ahead, Why Be Debt Free? (2007)

Letter Re: Fiscal Fitness (2007)

Take the time to read all five of those posts.

Given the multi-trillion dollar overspending that is in now progress, I still believe that mass inflation of the US Dollar is inevitable. But we are in uncharted waters, at present. (We have just seen an unprecedented asset and debt bubble go “pop”.) Thus, nobody is sure how long it will take to put the economy back on track, and likewise nobody know how long deflation will persist To be safe, avoid debt for the next couple of years. Also, as I’ve mentioned before, it is not morally conscionable to take out a loan that you do not intend to pay back.

Two Letters Re: Barnyard Junk: The Things that You Do and Don’t Need for TEOTWAWKI

Jim:

Regarding post on junk: Right on! When I recommend the OAR system for preparedness the O stands for organization. It does no good to have supplies you can’t find or access. I see an awful lot of farmers with yards that look like the municipal landfill. It isn’t safe or healthy. True preparedness requires doing the work of tracking supplies and useage so you don’t find yourself short or waste hours looking for the tool that you know is here…someplace. One of the best features of the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course is the organized inventory lists. For a beginner, this course is a must-have.- Kathy Harrison, author of Just In Case: How to be self sufficient when the unexpected happens

 

James,
I agree wholeheartedly with Jim Fry. Farms that are eyesores are a blight on the land and on the farmer who created the eyesore.

When I was in the Army I used to drive for over an hour to spend weekends on a friends parents’ farm in Kansas. The farmer I “worked” for was nicknamed “Tidy” because right from childhood, he had always been fastidious in his habits. Tidy was a Marine and a veteran of almost the entire Guadalcanal campaign. You know what they say – once a Marine, always a Marine! His self-discipline, professionalism and pride showed in everything he did – just as his inner strength showed through his quiet and self-effacing demeanor. His farmstead was always standing tall, as was his equipment and shop. He had one of each piece of equipment that he used on the farm – and they were all in a fine state of repair, with spares on hand for the parts that were critical and/or most likely to break. Going down to work on the farm for Tidy was always a joy, because I knew that whatever jobs he had for me to do, the equipment would be right where he’d shown me it would be, and it would be ready to go. Everything got done in plenty of time for me to get cleaned up and dressed for dinner (Yes, Tidy insisted that everyone be changed out of their work clothes for dinner – never had to tell me that one, it was just obvious that it was expected – just like at home.) with plenty of daylight left to go down to the pond for a little fishing after dinner in the summertime. Keeping your place clean and organized goes a long way toward efficiency and a good outlook on life.

One thing that Jim forgot to mention is the defensive liability created by having piles of junk scattered around the farmyard and the farm in general. Those piles of junk interrupt your fields of vision – and fire – providing concealment for approaching bad actors, and cover for them once they decide it’s time to strike. If the Golden Horde comes pouring through your gate or woodline, the last thing you want to have done is create pre-positioned fighting positions for them. If you truly think you will need something “someday” maintain it and store it under cover, so it will be of use when you need it — not “someday” after the need occurs. In most areas, you can find a place to cut poles for structural members, and you can usually take down old unused buildings for siding boards and 2x4s — so your total outlay will be for metal roofing. You will take your farmstead’s defensive layout into account when planning for the placement of new equipment storage sheds, right?

If you don’t need it – and don’t have a plan to use it in planned-for contingencies, then get rid of it! Don’t be a slave to your stuff!

Just my de-valued two-bits worth. – Countrytek

Two Letters Re: A Carrington Event Space Storm–A Natural EMP Equivalent

Jim,
When looking for places to store sensitive electronics, consider the old-fashioned galvanized steel garbage can. For about a buck a gallon, you can store just about any and all electronics a household might have, safety protected against EPM and other damaging fields. – Jake Stafford, publisher of the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course and loyal SurvivalBlog reader

 

Sir:
Here is another perspective on the problems associated with a Carrington event [, from the Mostly Cajun blog]. Sol assaults Mother Gaia – for real? Regards, – Hunter in Alaska

Economics and Investing:

Alyce at The Motley Fool Goes Doomer: The Four Things You Need. (Thanks to Lynne W. for the link.)

Items from The Economatrix:

Credit Union Collapse Signals Depth of Financial Crisis

On Wall Street, Talk of Trust and Civil War

Marc Faber: It Will All End in Disaster

Economic Dirty Bo Goes Off in NY

In NY, a Second, Silent 9-1-1

Accidents Can Happen (The Mogambo Guru)

The End Game Approaches

Ron Paul: Bankruptcy is Economic Stimulus

 

Odds ‘n Sods:

John C. set this this from Yahoo’s Green Home page: Twelve amazing shipping container houses

   o o o

Reader Rick D.sent this about detergent smugglers Spokane residents smuggle suds over green brands

   o o o

From FloridaGuy: More and more city folk are raising chickens

   o o o

Also from FloridaGuy: Toy-gun sales ban advances to Arkansas House. FloridaGuy’s comment: “‘Your sons will play with dolls.’ This is just more nanny-state foolishness.”

Note from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $760. This auction ends on April 15th. It is for a large mixed lot, which includes::

1.) A Warrior Aid and Litter Kit, donated by Ready Made Resources. This is an advanced medic kit package that includes a Talon II 90C folding handle collapsible litter, which normally retails for $560, just by itself. This truly a “full up” tactical trauma kit! This sophisticated medic kit normally retails for $1,500.

2.) A “be ready to barter” box of 26 full-capacity firearms magazines, from my personal collection in JASBORR. This box includes: 4 – Brand new “smoke gray” polymer original Bulgarian 40 rd. AK-47 magazines, 10 – brand new AR-15/M16 USGI black Teflon coated alloy 30 round magazines with stainless steel springs and the latest gray anti-tilt followers, 6 – new condition original USGI M14/M1A 20 round parkerized steel magazines, from CMI (the current military prime contractor) 6 – new condition original Glock Model 20 (10mm) 15 round pistol magazines–the latest production type with “SF” front magazine catch notch . All of these magazines are of recent manufacture (and hence are NOT legal to possess in New York.) These magazines have a combined value of approximately $750, in today’s market. Note: If you live in a state where full capacity magazines are banned, then you must choose to: refrain from bidding, or designate a recipient in an unrestricted state, or re-donate the magazines for a subsequent auction.

3.) A large Bury ‘Em Tube (# 6L, 43″ x 6″ with a 5.1 gallon capacity), donated by Safecastle. (a $199.95 retail value)

4.) A NukAlert compact radiation detector donated by at KI4U.com (a $160 retail value). 

5.) An OPTIMUS Terra Cookset for backpacking, tent camping or even WTSHTF, donated by Safecastle. It includes the ultra-compact Crux stove, plus a special small cookset–all very portable and lightweight. (Fuel canister not included.) (a $95 retail value)

6.) A fresh, sealed case of full mil-spec MRE rations with ration heaters, courtesy of CampingSurvival.com. (a $94.95 value)

Thus, this auction has a combined value in excess of $2,800. This auction ends on April 15th. Please e-mail us your bid. Your bid will be for the entire mixed lot.

Letter Re: A Well-Rounded Skillset Requires Both Range-Based and Force-on-Force Training

Jim,
I agree with a recent post, Front Sight offers excellent training, and will get the beginning shooter to feel comfortable with their weapon and build in quick and automatic malfunction clearances, but it has shortcomings that all range based training classes share. By default, range based handgun training teaches us:
1) Stand still while you shoot
2) Use two hands when you shoot
3) Focus on the front sight

This type of shooting is a very specialized form of shooting. It is perfect when you are:
1) Target/competition shooting
2) Shooting at the edge of your accuracy range from cover

It is terrible when you are:
1) Dealing with someone shooting back
2) Dealing with potential multiple aggressors
3) Dealing with close range shooters

Why is this? Force on force teaches us that we need to move when we shoot. If you stand and take a traditional weaver stance, you will get a great shot off… and so will your opponent. Of course, neither Front Sight nor any other traditional range will allow you to shoot while you are running, but this is exactly what you need to be able to do.

Force on force teaches us that when we explosively move off the X, we will typically have only one hand on the gun. Why? It’s easier to run that way. It’s instinctual. In a class with Gabe Suarez, after a group Airsoft scenario, he asked the students, “who took a traditional stance?” This was a seasoned class and we all looked around sheepishly. None of us had done it.

I had this assumption that since I had trigger control and sight picture and training, I would be able to outshoot any gang member with his one-handed running shooting. Yes, this is true for distances past 15 yards. Within that distance, (the distance most gunfights take place in) the street style was better. At distances of three yards, a sight picture will just slow you down. Even an untrained gangster at 10 feet shooting as fast as he can pull the trigger will likely put hits on you at the distance despite his lack of professional training and sight picture.

Finally, the traditional sight picture of looking hard at the front sight creates tunnel vision. This is perfect for a sniper shot and stupid for a close range gunfight. You have just traded your peripheral vision for tunnel vision. In one scenario, I was able to put six rounds into my opponent: four body shots and two head shots in under two seconds before he got a shot off at me. Unfortunately, I didn’t even see the second bad guy at my 3 o’clock only 5 feet away as he shot me two times in the side of my torso. Tunnel vision does that. Game over.

You should seriously consider taking a force on force training, not just to learn the skill set, but also to unlearn some range-based behavior that will get you shot in an gunfight. If you can’t get to a class, then buy some Airsoft pistols, [wrap-around] eye protection and a DVD from Suarez International on the subject. – SF in Hawaii

Product Review: AmericaStone Knife Sharpener

Several months ago, I received a sample product that languished on the back off my desk, just for the lack of time available to test it. This is a novel sharpening stone design, dubbed the the AmericaStone. It was not until this weekend that I finally had the chance to try it out. And now I’m glad that I finally did. In the modern parlance, it is “way cool“.

Let me start by saying that the AmericaStone is the best compact knife sharpener that I’ve ever used. For my test, I used my current primary everyday carry pocketknife, a tanto point CRKT Carson M16-02Z. I must admit that this knife gets more than its share of hard used around the ranch, some of which borders on abuse. My only excuse is that this knife is often the only tool available, particularly on the days that I don’t carry my Leatherman Wave. In the past year, this knife has cut umpteen pieces of bailing twine, been used as an impromptu horse hoof pick, a utility scraper, letter opener, and even tasks far beyond its intended design as a wire stripper and as a screw driver. (Yes, I’m guilty of almost habitual expediency!) Its original factory edge was gone, and in fact the knife was downright dreadfully dull. Before my sharpening stone test, this knife was good for little more than a letter opener. But just ten minutes later, it had an edge that was good, if not better than the edge that came from the factory.

The AmericaStone design is unique. It has a patented double beveled edge on one side. I don’t know why someone didn’t think this up years ago. It really works. Take a look at the video at the AmericaStone web site. This is an excellent product. They are quite compact, and they come with a useful belt pouch. The only suggestion that I can make is that for use when at home, it would be useful to have a detachable handle, perhaps with a thumbscrew clamp. But even without that, this is a product that is well worth buying!

Letter Re: TEOTWAWKI Medicine and Minor Surgery

James,
In general, [the recent medical articles are] great stuff to have on your web site. However, it is really best for trained and knowledgeable medical and paramedical people to get involved in medical and surgical issues rather than looking at these as Do-It-Yourself projects! With all due respect to your many readers with far greater mechanical intelligence than I have, the Almighty engineered the body and sustains it in a more complicated manner (beyond human comprehension) than the best human conceived and built retreat plan!

As soon as you finish a course of antibiotics, drink yogurt, (fermented) buttermilk, or kefir a few times a day for a few days to replenish good bacteria in your guts and prevent the likelihood of getting an antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Please make sure a patient is not allergic to the antibiotic being considered or a related antibiotic (any Penicillin allergic patients is allergic to all the similar drugs (e.g, Augmentin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, dicloxacillin, etc). About 10% of patients with a real drug allergy to a penicillin will be cross allergic to any cephalsporin class antibiotic such as Keflex (cephalexin), cephadroxil, cefdinir, Cefzil (cefprozil), etc. I highly recommend people with serious allergies to any of these drugs print out from a Google search (or copy from a medical text) all the drugs in the class every couple of years because new ones are constantly being introduced into medicine.

Without getting too technical the penicillin and cephalosprin class drugs all share a chemical structure called a beta lactam ring. If you are allergic to any of these antibiotics, ask your doctor if you should be considered allergic to other and even all beta lactams. The beta lactam-containing antibiotics are even more broad than just penicillin-type antibiotics and cephalasporins and also include very potent and broad-spectrum activity non penicillin and non cephalosporin antibiotics such as Primaxin (imipenem) other "penems" and aztreonam (all are injection only drugs at this time).

Also use of Cleocin (clindamycin) is very significantly associated with a diarrhea that may prove fatal if the specific toxin that causes this "pseudomembranous colitis diarrhea" is not quickly neutralized with either oral vancomycin or Flagyl (metronidazole), very different types of antibiotics that kill the Clostridium difficile bacterial overgrowth germ that produces the toxin. In fact, use of any antibiotic or anticancer drug may result in this type of serious diarrhea that needs this specific treatment. But this complication is particularly associated with use of clindamycin (even short exposures) and more than 10 day courses of all other antibiotics.

It is best to treat cellulitis and indeed any minor skin infection, with warm soaks several times a day, before resorting to use of antibiotics and surgical incision to drain pus and look for a foreign body. Packing material, if needed, can also be made of any wick shaped piece of clean latex to temporarily drain pus and other fluids. As long as there is no latex (rubber) allergy, one may improvise to use a clean and rinsed of powder residue strip from a latex glove, unlubricated condom, or even a balloon. Change the packing material daily. When drainage of fluid from the wound slows, usually only takes 1-3 days, let the wound close on its own after irrigating it with warm sterile (requires vigorous boil for 10 min) water or packaged sterile saline solution.

Pharmacists are also great resources for their knowledge of drug side effects and allergy-related issues. Diabetics or people taking steroids (such as for asthma, bronchitis, lupus and other rheumatologic diseases, etc), should expect their blood sugars to go very high when they experience infections and understand that their bodies are less capable of fighting infections.

Bottom line: people with medical skills and knowledge and those with mechanical and gardening knowledge, etc. need to band together and help each other out when the situation calls for more than a few band aids, an epoxy repair, and growing a few veggies for supplemental fresh produce in the summer. – Yorrie in Pennsylvania (a retired physician)

Economics and Investing:

Gerald Celente Predicts Economic Armageddon by 2012. (A hat tip to Reader P.D. for the link.) OBTW, take it as a warning sign if you hear that Gerald Celente has moved from New York to say… Wyoming.

From D.V.: Goldman Sachs’s Cohen Predicts More Bad News on Banks

Items from The Economatrix:

Our New National Currency: The US Fuffle

IBM to Cut 5,000 US-based Jobs, Shift Work to Emerging Markets

Wall Street Turns Cautious But Logs Third Weekly Advance

Failed Bank: Omni National Bank, Atlanta Georgia

Lendman: Obama’s Latest “No Banker Left Behind” Scheme “Nobody can be confident that the US yet has a workable solution to its banking disaster….If this is not frightening, I do not know what is.”

Consumer Advocates Call for Geithner’s Resignation

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Europe Finally Gets Monetary Helicopters

Irish Economy Hardest Hit by Economic Downturn

Wall Street Balks at Geithner’s Reform Plans
Two More Quit AIG as Bonus Anger Grows

The Day The Dollar Dies

Total Meltdown and Civil Unrest; Wall Street’s Manipulated Market Rally

Odds ‘n Sods:

In the “Why am I Not Surprised?” Department: Clinton targets assault weapons. “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she’ll be arguing for tougher gun controls as part of efforts to help Mexico fight violent drugs cartels.” Okay, so let me get this straight: Hitlery says that we should give up our Second Amendment rights in order to stop drug gangs from misusing guns in Mexico. What is next? Giving up our First Amendment rights, in order to stop libel and slander in Canada? (They might use American-made typewriters and bullhorns, dontcha-know…) OBTW, here is the none-too-subtle spin on this invented topic, from CBS. (BTW, I used to call CBS the “Rather Biased network.” Dan Rather is gone, but the bias is obviously still there.)

   o o o

And speaking of Mexico: Glenn Beck says Mexico may trigger an American collapse (Hat tip to E.L.)

   o o o

The New California Gold Rush: Modern-day gold diggers party like it’s 1849

Letter Re: A Carrington Event Space Storm–A Natural EMP Equivalent

Jim-
New Scientist magazine article recently published an important article titled “Space storm alert: 90 seconds from catastrophe.” The article outlines possible scenarios for the risk of solar storms that could severely damage national grids and vital electrical and electronic systems. The effects would be catastrophic and devolve societies into a desperate survival situation for individuals.

One quote from the article:
“Over the last few decades, western civilisations have busily sown the seeds of their own destruction. Our modern way of life, with its reliance on technology, has unwittingly exposed us to an extraordinary danger: plasma balls spewed from the surface of the sun could wipe out our power grids, with catastrophic consequences.”

Could off-grid standby equipment such as power generators or solar cells also be damaged? See the National Academy of Sciences report. (After registering, you can download a free PDF file of the report): Best Regards, – Gregg T

JWR Replies: I’ve received more than 20 letters in the past 48 hours from readers concerned about this article. In my opinion, this natural “EMP-like” effect is just another reason to get prepared. The probability in any given lifetime is quite low, but the impact if it were to happen would be devastating.

Most home non-grid-tied photovoltaic, micro-hydro, and wind power systems will probably be safe from a Carrington Event. (The field strength and coupling effects will be roughly analogous to that of nuclear EMP.) If you have a microprocessor-controlled battery charge controller, then one fairly inexpensive measure is to buy a spare. But for most of us, buying a spare large inverter is cost-prohibitive. In the event that your large (whole-house) inverter get fried, then perhaps your could plan to revert to DC-only system, and store a couple of spare small inverters for crucial AC loads.

As with any other “EMP redundant” radios and other electronics, you should store your spares in ammo cans, all-metal cookie tins, or similarFaraday cage structures.