Notes from JWR:

There was recently an interesting write up of SurvivalBlog in the Scripps Metropulse newspaper. Somehow, they came to the conclusion that I live in Georgia. But I can assure them that I indeed live “somewhere west of the Rockies.”

Today we present another entry for Round 18 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include:

First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article in the next 60 days will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value!
Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses.
Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing

Round 18 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entries. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

On Rural Retreat Safety and Secrecy, by E.I.D.

A major worry for many urbanites considering maintaining a rural retreat is their ability to, from a distance, ensure the secrecy and security of their property. Many of us cannot afford a full time retreat-sitter, and must use other legal methods to ensure the security of our property and supplies in both grid-up and grid-down scenarios.

First, county roads running to or through your property are always a liability. I set my retreat as far back off of the gravel county road as possible by clearing my own road, with the help of friends, through thick pine forest. My road is wide enough for a single large vehicle, and is approximately a mile long. The road is not straight, but rather, zig-zags like a large Z, with each leg of the road intersecting with, and then continuing beyond, the next leg, and then stopping at a dead end. This design is advantageous for a few reasons: first, if someone looks down a single leg of the road, they will see it die in a dead end some distance ahead. The “turn off” onto the next leg is not visible until you are almost right upon it, because of the acute angle of the turnoff. Secondly, these turns create many opportunities for barricades or defense concealment. Vehicles must also make sharp turns onto each leg of the road, and thus must slow down to a near stop, making them more vulnerable to fire at these locations.

To disguise the entrance to your road, use natural foliage. The county road near my retreat has ditches dug on either side of it. Rather than putting a permanent bridge or tin horn culvert, I left the ditch as it was. This provides an initial defense, and helps disguise the entrance to casual drivers-by. Because I drive a 4×4 vehicle, I cross this ditch by tossing large logs into the ditch, driving over them, and then removing the logs when I leave and stashing them back in the woods a short distance. One could also use a section of cattle-guard as a portable bridge. Paint it camouflage and stash it back in the foliage.

To disguise the entrance further, I allowed the natural grass and weeds at the first five feet or so of my forest road to grow as tall and thick as they could. I can easily drive my vehicle right over these weeds, but visually, they help to conceal the 8 foot gap in the trees, and deter any unwanted foot-traffic. I didn’t trim any of the tree limbs that stretched across the road (so long as my vehicle could pass beneath them), and even used ropes to train younger limbs to grow across the road as well. This helps to disguise the road itself from air-traffic and satellite photos. It’s true that the limbs sometimes fall across the road, but that just gives me an opportunity to add to my firewood stash.

Make sure that your retreat itself doesn’t stand out too hard from the surroundings. Paint your retreat using the colors of the surrounding area, perhaps even in a camo scheme, and don’t forget about the roof! The roof is most visible from the air, so take great care in painting it so that it blends. Any outbuildings should also be disguised thusly, and some structures can merely be covered with weather resistant camo netting. One of my past bosses lived in a subterranean concrete home that was visible from only one side. Three sides, and the top of the home, appear as a natural grassy hill with small trees and shrubs, but one side of the hill had a door and windows! This would be the ultimate retreat home for anyone willing to invest in it, as he spent very little on heating and cooling the home, and never worried about tornadoes, heavy winds, or other such destructive weather.

Remember that your clearing doesn’t need to be a pasture. My retreat is built amongst the trees, helping to disguise it. I cut the shrubs and smaller or dead trees out, but left the larger, aged trees behind to provide shade and concealment. There’s plenty of room for everything I need beneath these giants, and enough sun gets through for a variety of natural fruiting trees, shrubs, and wild vegetables to grow. Speaking of, make sure to plant many edibles that naturally occur in your area and will grow without your constant attention. My retreat features pecan trees, blackberries, wild grapes, persimmon trees, and wild onions, and I’ll soon be adding other self-sufficient plants to the mix.

It’s very possible that others will discover your retreat, and thus you must take care to make sure your property is safe. Some items, such as guns, ammunition, and other items purely stored for TEOTWAWKI can be properly packaged and buried on site. I plan to bury such items in both sealed ammo cans and large rubber tubs. I also plan to build an underground brick pit, approximately the size of a small car, in which I can easily stash and remove large rubber tubs full of supplies. This pit will be covered with a painted steel or aluminum lid, and covered with a layer of soil and grass seed to disguise it. Some items, however, cannot be adequately hidden…such as your cabin, recreational vehicle, or trailer. For this purpose, I once devised a cheap and simple idea to give snoopers the idea that someone might be home. Simply hook up motion sensor lights, such as what you might already have at home, but wire up the light inside the building, and make sure the motion sensors have adequate coverage of all likely areas of approach. If someone gets too close, the lights turn on (inside your building), lighting up the curtained/shuttered windows and giving the appearance that someone has just turned on the lights. This system can easily be powered with a solar 12 VDC system. Speaking of windows, one should always use heavy shutters to cover all glass windows on one’s retreat. These shutters should lock from within, and the screws should not be accessible externally. Again, if someone really wants in, they will likely get in, but this might be enough to deter a child looking to snoop or make some trouble.

This setup could be utilized in other creative ways: for example, how about a secondary motion sensor that initiates the playing of a loud recording of a vicious dog, snarling and growling, inside the building, or the sounds of a mountain lion in a nearby thicket? (Thanks, Ferris Bueller.). Obviously, these “tricks” are not a foolproof security system, but they may deter the casual local kid who wanders upon your property – in some cases making him too fearful to return.

Three Letters Re: The Potential Perils of Bank Safe Deposit Boxes

Hi James –
Nice letter from D.C. today, but for cryin’ out load Jim, please advise him to get his precious metals out of a bank’s safety deposit box. He seems to be able to afford a decent wall safe and the few bucks it might cost to install and camouflage it. When banks fail, they close the safety deposit boxes too – at least for a while. Not a great strategy to be cut off from your contingency funding right when you need it most. Too, get sideways with the IRS, and you will go to bank to see your safety deposit box sealed with a red and tagged nylon strip. Happened to a friend of mine – these guys play hardball!
Keep up the good work, and continued prayer that you wife is healing well. – Duck n’ Cover

 

Mr. Rawles:
As a metals investor myself, I am always looking for the opportunity to sell high and buy low and keep a healthy reserve for the future.As its been stated,Silver is a good buy and so is Gold at the current prices. Unfortunately, when you deal with an ETF, you are still dealing with paper. In case of emergencies, getting your gold might take months and could never come at all ! The last rally in March proved this to be true because there were huge delivery delays-even up to 8 weeks and more! Thinking a safe deposit box at a bank is safe? I wouldn’t! Your a lot safer having a Safe at your home, In your possession. Money, Gold &Silver will not do you much good when you don’t have it in your possession and you need it now. With the economy and the many bank closures, I in fact have very little money in my accounts–just enough to pay bills and have any form of currency (metals) in my possession.

There can be nothing worse when your bank is closed, the ATM machine has you locked out and you cannot get your metals out of your safe deposit box. Now what do you do? – Richard In California

Hi Jim,
At the end of DC’s letter about physical gold, he wrote “My local bank offers a nice sized safety deposit box free of charge, that is easily capable of storing several million dollars of gold. I’m comfortable leaving the asset there.” I would not consider safety deposit boxes safe at all — they’re way too easy for the authorities to confiscate for any or no reason. You wrote about this [happening in England] back on June 6th. The news story listed there has expired — here’s a different link to the same story: Thanks, – James

Odds ‘n Sods:

From Cheryl N.: Dow is Heading for 10,000 “The markets can’t seem to get that the U.S. is in recession, says Kirby Daley, strategist at the Newedge Group. But a downward movement is inevitable. He tells CNBC’s Martin Soong and Amanda Drury to expect a 15% to 20% drop on the Dow in the near future.”

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David in Israel recommends The Pocket Chainsaw. “It is the smart answer to the flimsy wire saws found in many survival kits. This tool packed in a can the size of a roll of electrical tape is a 28 inch linked saw which when used with included plastic handles or looped to a bow of wood makes your light back country woodcutting a snap. I have been rough with this saw but I have kept it clean, sharp, and oiled, it has never let me down after over ten years of use several times a year.”

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Matt in Texas flagged this commentary from real estate and banking guru Mike Morgan: The World’s Grandest Ponzi Scheme Unravels

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Reader JT forwarded this: Companies Tap Pension Plans To Fund Executive Benefits

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Also from Cheryl N.: Hundreds of banks will fail, Roubini tells Barron’s

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The Wall Street crash doesn’t mean that there will be any general or serious business depression. For six years American business has been diverting a substantial part of its attention, its energies and its resources on the speculative game… Now that irrelevant, alien and hazardous adventure is over. Business has come home again, back to its job, providentially unscathed, sound in wind and limb, financially stronger than ever before.” – Business Week, November 2, 1929

Note from JWR:

I noticed that the spot prices of gold and silver took a substantial dip yesterday. I still consider this a secular bull market in precious metals. If you have your survival gear and supplies squared away, then you might want to take advantage of these dips, and buy yourself some silver coins. Keep these well-hidden at home for use as a bad times barter currency, and as a hedge against inflation. Given the declining purchasing power of the US Dollar, gold below $900 per ounce and and silver below $17 per ounce are bargains.

Letter Re: Physical Gold Versus Synthetic Gold, a View Redux

Dear Mr. Rawles:
You don’t seem to be the type of guy who enjoys saying “I told you so” when you are proven to be right, but I thought I’d at least give you that opportunity. Back in May, I wrote to you singing the praises of synthetic gold ownership via Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and opined that “physical gold combines the worst of all worlds.”

I’ve since started building my long position in gold (and silver), and I surprised myself by deciding quite early on to hold physical metals rather than to express my long position synthetically. This was particularly surprising, because I am just barely of the view that an extreme economic collapse could be coming, and by both profession and education, our household is very knowledgeable about capital markets. We’re more or less optimistic about the future; I mean, we live in New York City, of all places!

Still, when I really thought about it, I concluded that physical gold was a superior asset for somebody looking to hedge a downside risk over the long-term (as opposed to actively trade a position). I thought your readers might benefit from hearing my logic.

First, the single biggest benefit of synthetic/ETF gold is that it can be bought and sold at low transaction costs. But when I thought about it, I realized that I was not looking to trade. If gold doubled this year, I would not sell; I would only wonder if my “worst case” investment thesis was coming to pass, and whether I should increase my position while there was still time. Similarly, if gold fell in half this year, I would not sell—it would be an opportunity for me to get longer at lower cost. When I thought about it, then, the “low transaction cost” rationale for ETF ownership, really wasn’t that much of an advantage. I want a 10% net worth position in physical metals, and I want to hold it long term as a hedge. Period, paragraph.

Second, it isn’t like purchasing physical gold is all that expensive. Krugerrands are widely available at about a 1% markup (spot + $10) if you live in a town where there are some reasonably large bullion dealers. And even if you don’t, you can always buy from a reputable internet dealer like Tulving, and pay perhaps 2-3% over spot, provided you are able to purchase five ounces or more at a time to amortize the shipping cost.

Third, even though you might pay more at the front end, if you plan to be a long-term holder of gold, you slowly recover this cost by avoiding the annual .40% expense ratio charged by ETFs. If you plan to hold five or more years, the up-front cost of physical purchase via the internet, is entirely offset by avoiding the recurring ETF expense ratios.

Fourth, ownership in an ETF provides significant regulatory and taxation risk. Under current law, capital gains on gold sales are taxed at 28%, and there are no limits on buying and selling. But who knows what might happen in a hyperinflationary environment? As most fiat currencies fail, the government attempts to stave off collapse by instituting “official” exchange rates, or limitations on currency conversions, to avoid a wholesale run on the currency. In order to have an effective currency control, it seems obvious that you also need to put controls on intermediate stores of value, such as gold. (Otherwise, you would just sell your de-valuing dollars and buy gold, and then subsequently swap into a stable asset).

Physical gold is much more difficult for the government to “control” (setting aside the somewhat paranoid “confiscation fantasies” of many gold bugs). Moreover, the asset is much more difficult to tax. I’m not advocating tax evasion in normal circumstances, but I could certainly imagine a situation where desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps the government is imposing confiscatory “wealth taxes” on financial assets, as former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich has proposed, and which some states like Florida had (until it was recently repealed); or perhaps high taxes are levied on gold profits in order to discourage ownership of gold, and impose a de facto currency control. Even my conventional imagination can dream up many dark scenarios.

Fifth, I hadn’t fully appreciated, until I thought about it, exactly how compact a form of wealth physical gold really is. At current prices, if you were buying one ounce Krugerrands, you could transport $1,000,000 with only about 1,100 coins. This amount of gold would fill around 44 coin rolls (of 25 Krugers each), and would weigh about 88 pounds. Easily cached, transported, even smuggled if necessary.

Sixth, when I looked into how secure ETFs were, I could never quite get comfortable that you actually owned, in a risk-free way, the gold backing the ETF. I’ve come to understand that the bullion banks that settle the world’s gold trades, have both “allocated” and “unallocated” accounts. With the former, your ownership of the gold is absolute—the gold is titled in your name, secured separately, etc. However, with unallocated accounts, your claim to the gold is merely an interest against a collateral pool which may or may not be adequate to cover all claims; this is particularly true because bullion banks apparently lend out gold from unallocated accounts, thus approximating fractional reserve banking! All of this was new to me. Granted, some of the sources I relied on were sort of gold-bugish, like this report, pp. 66-70 — but on the other hand, the report was well written and mostly well reasoned. Reading the iShares ETF prospectus didn’t clear up anything at all, except it established that GLD does in fact use both allocated and unallocated gold accounts. Since I couldn’t figure out one way or the other what the truth was for certain, it seemed that physical gold was just a safer course.

Seventh, I realized that it was in my best interest to gain expertise in “normal times” about how to source, authenticate, transport, and store physical gold. I’ve since spent many hours, developing relationships with local dealers, reading gold forums, investigating the reputation of online dealers, observing eBay auctions, sourcing gold through Craigslist, etc. I’ve also bought several different sets of instruments from Fisch Instrument (recommended on SurvivalBlog), a digital scale, a set of digital calipers, and a bullion reference guide. All of this knowledge should be valuable, if it ever looks like there will be a dollar run, and I want to try to build a large [precious metals] position fast. While others will have to research, I’ll have pre-existing relationships, multiple sources, and most of all, experience, that might give me an advantage over others.

Eighth, it turned out storage was really not a big deal. My local bank offers a nice sized safety deposit box free of charge, that is easily capable of storing several million dollars of gold. I’m comfortable leaving the asset there. Really, when you think about it, it seems just as safe behind a five ton steel door, as it does at some bullion bank in Zurich with god-knows-what institutional risks embedded like naked short gold positions, derivative counterparty exposure, etc.

These were basically my reasons for ending up with physical metal rather than synthetic ownership. Thanks for forcing me to challenge my earlier assumptions. – DC

Letter Re: Innovations in the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes

Dear James,
Take a look at this article. The innovation of the second device which acts as an artificial barrier to the small intestine, described in this article, is noted to effectively cure Type II Diabetes. This may be the long-awaited answer for those who wish to remove themselves from the daily dependency of self administering antihyperglycemic medications. This could also be one very effective option
for the resolution of their coinciding carbohydrate intolerance which causes their obesity. This is a non-invasive endoscopic procedure. – KAF

Odds ‘n Sods:

I long hence went on record that the price of productive farm land in the U.S. would not be hurt as badly as residential and commercial real estate, in the current down-trend. A new Bloomberg article bolsters my position: U.S. Farmland Values Reach Record on High Crop Prices. Again, productive farm and ranch land is a relatively safe, tangible way to shelter your assets from the ravages of inflation.

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I often get e-mails from folks that are looking to join or form a retreat group, or that are interested in finding a like-minded spouse. Unfortunately, the two paid services that I’d heard good things about–Conservative Match and Liberty Mates–both seem to have gone out of business. I’m now recommending eHarmony.com, because of their high success rate. I just updated our Finding Like-Minded People in Your Area static web page, accordingly.

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Reader Tim L. suggested an article by the Austrian school economist George Reisman. It explains the dynamics of the current credit crisis and puts everything into context for understanding of the economic forces at work.

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Cheryl N. flagged this: Panicking Fed Scrambles to Hide Credit Crisis Truth

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Bill N. sent a link to a web site that describes how to make Biltong. (South African jerky.)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Of course most people underestimate the warrior characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman peoples anyway. It takes a heap of piety to keep a Viking from wanting to go sack a city." – Jerry Pournelle, in a reply to reader e-mail, in Chaos Manor Mail # 141, February 19-25, 2001

Letter Re: Retreat Region Demographics and TEOTWAWKI

Hi James,
Thanks much for the exceptional information you provide. Your book “Patriots” and your site have been tremendously helpful in my preparation efforts. I’m not there yet, but well on the way.
As far as a retreat location goes, I’ve heard you and others cautioning folks away from poorer areas. I think you might want to re-think this somewhat, and for one simple reason: Poor folks are already used to doing without.

Consider two post-TEOTWAWKI scenarios:

One, an affluent or even typically middle class family suddenly has little food in their pantry and no grocery store from which to stock up, no restaurants open, no gas to put in the BMW, no X-Box to play or HDTV to watch, and no mall to go to. Their credit cards no longer work, and the personal “connections” they’re used to being able to make use of to get what they need are no longer available. Used to being self-contained (which is different than being self-sufficient), they may not have meaningful relationships with their immediate neighbours.

Two, a poorer or lower-middle class family, already used to partially getting by on their homestead garden, the basics of life, a 20-year old beater of a vehicle or none at all, and none of the unnecessary trinkets of modern city life. They have no credit cards to begin with, and are accustomed to working on a limited cash basis, even bartering with neighbors. Poorer country folks in particular are used to being relatively self-sufficient out of sheer necessity, and often have a strong sense of defending what is theirs and the means and willingness to do so while remaining willing to help friends and family in times of need.

In short, I see the first family rapidly shifting into freak-out mode, resorting to whatever daddy thinks necessary in order to make a flailing attempt to continue their prior lifestyle. As you rightfully say, civilization is but a thin veneer.

I see the second family getting by with far fewer and less lifestyle-shattering modifications.
Do any SurvivalBlog readers have thoughts on this? – CH

Section 13(3), Rule 1830, Rule 308, and Naivete

The news headlines have been packed with economic Gloom and Doom, in recent weeks. To many observers, things seem to be spinning out of control–with collapsing credit markets, massive bailouts, emergency cash infusions, and taxpayer “stimulus” checks descending like Manna from Heaven. Given all this news, it is timely to discuss three rules: Section 13(3), Rule 1830, and Rule 308.

Section 13(3)

Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act (of 1932) empowers the Federal Reserve banking cartel the power to lend to any corporation or to any individual using any collateral. The only proviso is that the Fed must declare that this lending is necessary for “unusual and exigent circumstances.” Recently, trying their best to counteract the global credit collapse, the Fed has frantically handed out cash at an alarming rate. Since February of 2008, I’ve been warning you about the “Non-Borrowed Reserves” figure at the Federal Reserve web site. Bank reserves are plummeting deep into negative numbers. As I’ve mentioned before, when you look at the US banking industry in aggregate numbers, there are effectively no genuine reserves left. If the average bank depositor was aware of this, then there would already be huge bank runs in progress. But the Generally Dumb Public (GDP), is still largely ignorant, and continues to be lulled into a sense of complacency by their long-standing universal depositor’s insurance that is backed by “the full faith and credit” of the US government.

Rule 1830

At 6:30 p.m. (1830) on Friday evening, this story was released the news wires: Florida Bank Closed by FDIC. This was the eighth reported US bank closure in 2008. Hmmm.. This is not the first time that the FDIC waited until after business hours on a Friday evening to make an announcement of a bank closure, to minimize mass media attention. So I guess I’ll have to add a new new Rule to my list: Rule 1830. To minimize any ruffled feathers, The Powers That Be will wait until 1830 on Fridays to issue any “bad news” press releases. It will be interesting to see how the Federal bank regulators try to spin the news stories about any more extensive bank runs. As I’ve written in before: they are coming!

Rule 308

What will happen if the economy tanks, plunging the western World into an extended economic depression? If the Schumer hits the fan, you may have to implement Rule 308. What rule is this? Rule 308 not a rule at all, but rather an informal collective understanding that if times get truly Schumeresque (times when law and order evaporate), you may have to handle your own law enforcement, with a rifle in hands. Hence, the number 308–which refers to .308 Winchester. (Also known as “Rule 303” in British Commonwealth countries, as popularized in the movie Breaker Morant–referring to the.303 British cartridge.)

Naivete

In my three years of correspondence with hundreds of SurvivalBlog readers, I’ve encountered a few people that seem to be in denial of Rule 308. Most of them are either pacifists or they are naively confident in the ability of their local police or sheriff’s deputies to faithfully arrive on their doorstep, just a few minutes after being summoned, ready to arrest and haul off any marauding goblins. Most recently The New York Times article that featured some Suburban Survivalists. One of them mentioned to the reporter that she didn’t own a gun, because she didn’t “want to shoot anyone.” I don’t want to shoot anyone either, but I’ve if I’m ever forced into inimical circumstances, I’ve made the option of self defense available to myself and to the members of my family. I’ve done so by buying plenty of guns and ammo, and by taking the best training available (at Front Sight), and by practicing regularly. I refuse to be just another helpless victim. I certainly won’t eschew the means of self defense, as some others have done. There are far too many people that assume that someone else can handle such tasks for them, regardless of circumstances. This is the same sort of naivete that I was talking about near the end of my recent interview with Alternet. How can people be so incredibly naive?

Even in normal times, the police have a spotty record of rapid response. More often that not, a violent crime is over and the criminals have departed the scene by the time that the police arrive. Sadly, the police end up just filling out paperwork and body bags, post facto. It goes against all reason and common sense to expect that in a disaster situation that the police will arrive even the same day, and even that is assuming that there is still a functioning telephone network. Other folks somehow expect that the goblins will pass them by, just because they themselves are somehow special and enlightened beings. That is hogwash. Dennis Wholey, a television host and producer, said it best: “Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.”

Four Letters Re: Vision Care, Post-TEOTWAWKI

Hi Jim,
Acting on a recommendation from another reader, I’m happy to report that quality of the six pairs of eyeglasses purchased from Zennio Optical are good. These glasses are surprisingly inexpensive and only cost $150 for all six pairs, which is less than the typical cost of one pair [from most other sources]. The ordering process does require some thought and time to measure your current pair, yet a variety styles and sizes can be ordered insuring that at least one pair will be satisfactory. I’m happy with all six pairs and at those prices felt bold enough to order a pair of which can easily be worn inside goggles. Ask your optometrist to provide you with your pupilary distance (PD) at the time of the examination. In a pinch, even an old prescription could be used as it is not verified by the company. – EL, somewhere in Montana

Jim,
From your posting from today (August 1st), my optometrist always advises me to keep my old pair of prescription glasses as a spare in case the new one breaks. I keep my last three most recent pairs of glasses (one in my car, two in the house) for emergencies. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, having a two or three-year old pair of glasses is better than having none (besides, you have already paid for them). I donate older pairs of glasses to a local charity (always keeping the three most recent pairs). – David M.

 

Mr. Rawles,
Took a dig into your own archives, and came up with this letter. I remembered seeing the adjustable eyeglasses on the Discovery channel a while ago, and that post was the first Google hit when I searched “adjustable glasses Africa”. The web page indicates that they normally only sell in bulk, but I shot them an e-mail to see if I could get a sample pair or five, for a nominal fee, of course… – Aaron in Florida

 

JWR,
A few notes regarding vision care etc. (I am an optometrist). Not sure if this is worth posting or not, you won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t:

Buying lot of contact lenses to stock up is a good idea if you are worried about SHTF scenarios. However stretching your wearing time in order to make them last longer, such as wearing monthly lenses for three months, is not a good idea. I have seen numerous cases of bacterial conjunctivitis, and almost always it is because people have worn their contact lenses longer than directed or slept in contact lenses they should not sleep in. Note that many eye care centers will not allow you to stock up on extra contact lenses because that is the way some people try to avoid yearly eye exams (i.e. buy three years of contact lenses and then see the optometrist every 3 years rather than every year). Another problem with stocking up on contact lenses is that your prescription may change, and you may be stuck with contact lenses that are less than perfect for you–although, in a SHTF world they would be ok. So weigh your options and priorities.

Regarding glasses: safety glasses are truly a notch up as far as durability. To be called “Safety Glasses” they must pass ANSI Z87.1 standards, which calls for both tougher frames and lenses. They are about the same cost as regular glasses, but they are both heavier and stronger. The lenses must withstand greater forces, and are therefore thicker at their thinnest point. So, if you are worried about your glasses “holding up” in a post-SHTF world, you may want to have a pair of safety glasses. Again, the primary problem would be if your Rx changes.

Another consideration is the scratch protection your lens offers. I have seen lenses from Sears and WalMart that are one year old and scratched so much you can barely see through them. If you are worried about a SHTF scenario, I would recommend a high-quality scratch coating. At our office we sell TD2, and it is fantastic; I am sure there are other offerings at other places. You generally get what you pay for.

Lasik and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are also good options (as already noted); like the country doctor, I am biased towards PRK and in fact steer my patients away from Lasik due to flap complications.

In regards to overall eye-health issues (both pre- and post-SHTF), I would add the following top two tips: (1) Listen to your body. If you are a contact lens wearer and your eye(s) is (are) bothering you, get your contact lenses out! The worst infections come with the story, “Well, I knew there was a problem, but I had a basketball game, so I couldn’t wear my glasses!” or something similar. So make sure you have at LEAST one pair of backup glasses, and use them immediately if your eyes do not “like” the feeling of your contact lenses. Of course if problems persist see your local optometrist. (2) Wear safety glasses, preferably with side shields, anytime you cut, hammer, split wood, ride a motorcycle, etc.
Hope this helps, – Country Eye Doctor

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mark mentioned a Makezine piece about a bicycle powered refrigerator.

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Desert T. found us this: Southern Nevada Economy: Analysts’ projections sour. The last quote of the article sums it up: “More and more economists seem to think that this recession we’re in is going to be a long and painful one,” Smith said. “How long it lasts depends on the credit situation. We’re in the hands of the banks.”

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David S. found a link to an interesting water purification device

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J. T. sent a reminder about a site that we’ve mentioned before: a Global Infectious Disease Alert Map. There is a good write-up of the site at Computerworld.

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J.S. told us that there was a good article recently posted The Oil Drum site, discussing the financial aspects of Peak Oil.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The more the government is allowed to do in taking over and running the economy, the deeper the depression gets and the longer it lasts. That was the story of the [19]30s and the early [19]40s, and the same mistakes are likely to be made again if we do not wake up.” – Congressman Ron Paul, from The Crisis Is Upon Us