Odds ‘n Sods:

Courtesy of Eric B.: World warned over killer flu pandemic

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Reader Bill N. suggests checking out what Schmidt & Bender (a European rifle scope maker) has to say about their pricing and the declining value of the Once-Almighty US Dollar

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Eric B. and Brian H. both sent us this: Saving rainwater: Does it belong to the state?

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Regional Banks in Fear of Cash Calls. (A tip of the hat to Cheryl N. for sending that link.) JWR’s comment: The credit crisis is far from over, and we are just starting to see the effects at consumer banks. It is noteworthy that the failure of IndyMac will deplete a one-tenth of the $53 billion reserve of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC has a list of some 90 “troubled” lenders, and IndyMac wasn’t even on the list at the time that it failed. Buckle up for an bumpy ride in the very near future, folks!

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Hawaiian K. sent us this one: Gold to $1,200?

Letter Re: Disseminating Local News and Information in a Grid-Down Societal Collapse

James:
I haven’t seen much information about this, so I ask you: How do you plan on “Getting the word out”? Once the ink/toner runs out of your printer, what will a survivalist group do? We’ve nearly lost the ability, and knowledge, to operate hand-presses. Moveable type suppliers are long gone, and there’s precious little available on eBay. Certainly not an entire printing press. You might find some blocks of moveable type, but not enough to actually make an entire flyer, book, or other piece of information, such as a book or even a Bible.

And we can’t rely on the Internet running after a crash, right?

So I pose the question to you, Sir. Have you considered this aspect of post-crash survivalism? The printing press, and the ability to print, is a key technology that I don’t think we can afford to lose. – Brian in Austin, Texas

JWR Replies: As I described in my novel “Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse”, I advocate acquiring a couple of used manual typewriters and a used hand-crank mimeograph (stencil duplicator) machine. This is tried-and-true 1880s technology. Because they are considered largely obsolete, mimeographs are incredibly cheap (in fact usually free, if you place a “wanted” ad at Craig’s List). Surprisingly, the supplies to operate them are still available.

Three Letters Re: Advice on Motorcycles

James:

I just wanted to forward some info re: motorcycle purchase and operation. I’ve been riding since ’85, have owned four motorcycles (two Suzuki and two Harley Davidson), and keep up with current trends/technology of motorcycles. Here are some fast facts to consider prior to buying:
1. The highest statistic for motorcycle fatalities is individuals operating borrowed motorcycles. Do yourself a favor and be familiar with the bike you ride. Completing a motorcycle training course could be a lifesaver.
2. Both my large displacement Harley Davidson get approximately. 45 MPG each. One operates on premium [gasoline]. The other is carbureted and uses 87 [octane regular] grade. If fuel savings is the most significant factor, you can do a lot better than a large Harley. However, 45 MPG isn’t bad. Furthermore, consider the types of errands you can (or are willing) to do with a bike. For example, I can get four bags of groceries inside of my Harley hard bags.
3. Having a larger / heavier bike will not get blown over a lane when riding alongside large trucks. The key here is to pick your route carefully if you are traveling on a route that has lots of traffic and you are on a smaller bike. If the author of that letter knows he has to get onto a busy highway for ‘x’ miles, ask yourself how soon you will get tired of operating a light 400 pound bike on such roads.
4. My personal opinion is to buy a used motorcycle. You will save a bundle. Just look in the ads and you will find dozens of bikes of all sorts with only 5k on the odometer. Why? I guess people like the idea of riding but the bike just sits in the garage.
5. If your budget is tight, factor in your safety gear (helmet, cool/cold weather jacket, gloves warm and cold weather, chaps, goggles/glasses, tank bag), it adds up. The difference between getting up and driving home versus going the hospital some times comes down to your gear.
6. A personal observation of motorcyclists’ is that the more you ride, the more you wish you had some sort of windshield or fairing in front of your face.
7. If you are considering an Enduro (on/off road legal) consider a KTM, especially the Adventure model, if you can afford it.
8. There is an old saying amongst bikers, ‘there are those who have been down and those who are going down’. Obviously, the point is that biking is dangerous and you can’t be too careful. See #5 again if it went in one ear, and out the other.- Flhspete

 

Sir,
Posted on your web site, 22 July 2008, a reader was asking about motorcycles. I have recently purchased a 250cc Enduro (street legal dirt bike) from a company in Oklahoma City. This is an air-cooled, wet clutch, 4 stroke, 5-speed motorbike. The down side is that the bike is made in China. They call it the Hi-Bird. They are very similar to the old Honda XL series. Full purchase price was just $1,200 and shipping was free. The bike required some set up at delivery such as installing the bolt that holds the rear monoshock to the lower A-arm, putting on the front wheel and the handle bars and some the trim and the fenders. Pretty simple work if you can read around the errors in the Instruction/Assembly manual.

The bike is electric start but still has a kick starter. It is not a speed demon, probably wouldn’t survive too many back flips but all-in-all it is of good quality. I don’t ride it too fast, hardly ever over 55 MPH but I do ride trails in the hills and it is light and stable with good low RPM torque. My worst complaint is that there is a lot of vibration (buzz) at speeds of 60 and over. So far the economy has out paced my expectations averaging between 73 and 81 MPG depending on speed and usage. You know I thought long and hard before buying a bike made in China, but how many of us absolutely hated SKS rifles before we tried one for fun? If you should choose to share this with your readers they can get more info at chinariders.net. Thank you for your time and best wishes to you and yours. – Walt in Idaho

Hi Jim,
About motorcycles. We believe the Honda Trail 90 is a practical choice and will acquire our sixth one in a trade for a spare utility trailer. There are frequent new listings on Craig’s List in the $800 to $1,500 range in our area. The Trail 90 is rugged, reliable, easily repaired and gets about 80 to 100 MPG. Cruising speed is about 45 MPH. These are often low mileage, but one should expect that some work would be required. Usually little goes wrong. A battery and a carburetor rebuild kit are often all that’s needed to bring them back to life. Other spare parts are inexpensive and plentiful. Replacing the decades old tires is a good idea. Choose one that runs and has the hi/low sub-transmission. These bikes comfortably pull a lightweight trailer and several hundred pounds and do well in the woods. Much like the hi/low range of a 4WD, the low range feature is a big advantage. The hefty and large rack on the back allows a large box to be mounted. A [hard plastic] milk crate is ideal. The spare one gallon can latched to side gives one an extra 90 miles of range.

The low cost of ownership means one can justify storing it [just] for fair weather use. It’s overall design seem ideal for the survivalist. There is a reason the Trail 90 remains popular today. These are tough and useful bikes.

BTW, recently ordered your novel “Patriots” and can’t wait for it’s arrival. – E.L.

JWR Replies: There is certainly no “one size fits all” solution when buying a motorcycle. An Enduro type design (trail/street capable) is a compromise, but they are probably best for those of us that can only afford to buy just one motorcycle. There are some that argue that bigger is safer (on pavement), while others assert that dropping a big bike is sure trip to the hospital. But regardless of what you decide on, be sure to get plenty of training, and of course wear a helmet and all the safety gear. (If anything, err on the side of caution!)

On a related note, SF in Hawaii, mentioned two-cycle motorizing kits for bicycles. They get phenomenal mileage, but you will need to carry mixed gasoline. (Just like with a typical chainsaw engine.) And for nearly silent operation, reader Paul D. mentioned a maker of electric motorcycles. These use the new lithium ion battery technology. They have a range of 40 miles with a 2 KWH battery pack.

Letter Re: The SurvivalBlog Ten Cent Challenge

Sir,

This is a note to follow up on the envelope that I mailed you last week, for my first year of 10 Cent Challenge subscription. (I’m the guy that sent you a stack of ’bout $70 worth of Liberty [Bell “Forever” US] postage stamps and the newspaper clipping on the IndyMac bank run. You were right in your prediction about bank runs!) I just want to let you know how much your blog means to me. I read it almost every day. It is amazing how much practical knowledge you have passed on to us readers. I am very grateful! You’ve raised my awareness by a mile, and what I’ve read [in SurvivalBlog] has saved me from making some mega-costly mistakes in my preparedness. Those two things by themselves are more than enough justification for pitching in my ten cents a day.

Your economic predictions have been spot on–almost eerie! I like your blog so much that I put a graphical link to SurvivalBlog down at the bottom of my e-mail template, so I can be an Ambassador for SurvivalBlog. I think that your blog is “just right”as a mix of education, motivation, practical and old-time skills, tactical goodies, news summaries, and inspiration. Don’t change a thing sir, just keep it coming!

Please let the Memsahib know–she is in our prayers for a quick and complete recovery. I know that hospital bills can be insane these days. I hope my subscription helps a bit.- T.G., in northwestern Nevada

Odds ‘n Sods:

Cheryl N. sent us a link to an article over at Stan Deyo’s web site that indicates that the freeze-dried storage food shortage is now even more severe than was previously reported: Mountain House Out of #10 Cans Through 2009. Most Mountain House dealers have sold completely out, and a are refusing to take back orders for # 10 cans. Meanwhile, Walton Feed has temporarily suspended taking new Internet orders, presumably so they can catch up on their order backlog. OBTW, the folks at Ready Made Resources tell me that they still have a few #10 cans of Mountain House freeze dried foods “in captivity.” Call them immediately, if you want any of the following: Instant White Rice, Beef Teriyaki with Rice, Lasagna with Meat Sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, Oriental Style Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Sliced Strawberries, Eggs with Real Bacon, Sweet Peas, Green Beans, or Super Sweet Corn. Their quantities still on hand are extremely limited, so don’t hesitate!

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SF in Hawaii forwarded a good background piece on adenovirus: Emerging Killer Virus Starts Like a Cold, But Kills Many

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The every cheery Ambrose Evans-Pritchard offers this economic analysis: The global economy is at the point of maximum danger. (Thanks to Trent C. and “Wolf” for the link.) And speaking of bad news, don’t miss this commentary by Jim Jubak: The huge threat to the US economy. (Thanks to Micah for finding the latter.)

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For the next couple of weeks, the folks at SurvivalRing are offering an expanded set of their reference CDs, which includes two extra CDs, and a DVD data disk of their entire file sets. Enter the password “patriot” to get the special discount price. The regular price for their two CD set was $40. For this special, they’ve knocked off $5 off the price, and they have almost quadrupled the data of PDF and HTML documents. I highly recommend getting a set for your reference library. And even if you decide not to get a set of their CDs, you should still check out their large library of free manuals and other resources.

Letter Re: Advice on Motorcycles

Good Morning:
What’s your opinion about motorcycles for personal transportation in the tough times ahead? Obviously much better on gas but I wonder if I would be more vulnerable to public disturbances? I live in a very rural area but have to commute into the city for my job. Would you spend the money to get one or would that money be better spent on eliminating debt? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. – Dave P. in South Carolina

JWR Replies: In a “slow slide” situation where the power grid stays up (“Grid Up”) and law and order are maintained, a motorcycle could have great utility. The current high gasoline prices are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, so owning a fuel-efficient motorcycle makes sense for day-to-day commuting and for other purposes. My general preference is for air-cooled medium-displacement engine motorcycles with off road suspensions (a.k.a. “dirt bikes”) that have the features to qualify them as “street legal.” About 350CC is ideal, but sadly that engine class is no longer available in the US market. (There are, however, lots of used 350 dirt bikes on the market.) Heavier bikes with large displacement engines (500CC, or larger) have inferior fue economy and more importantly are very difficult to get back to an upright position following a mishap in which you “dump” your bike. (The weight limit might be as little as 300CC for someone of small stature with limited upper body strength.)

Perhaps the ultimate for preppers would be a Kawasaki KLR 650 diesel/JP8 bike, which is the 611CC civilian equivalent of the M1030 tactical motorcycle.now fielded by the US Army, USMC, and US Air Force, in small numbers. They are a bit heavy (see my preceding proviso), but they are quite sturdy.

If you plan to use a motorcycle as a last-ditch “Get Out of Dodge” (G.O.O.D.) vehicle, then I recommend that you conceal any spare fuel cans inside panniers, to reduce the likelihood of being targeted by looters. (Auxiliary cargo racks for dirt bikes are made by ProMoto and are available from CycleBuy.com. Both hard and soft dirt bike cargo panniers are available from Moto-Sport Panniers.)

A motorcycle has great mobility advantages to most other vehicles–especially in stalled traffic situations, or for off-road trail riding–but keep in mind that you will also be far more vulnerable to attack than when riding in an enclosed vehicle. (So they’d be a poor choice for a “Grid Down” situation when things get Schumeresque.) As with any other preparedness measure, there are trade-offs.

I don’t recommend going into debt to buy a motorcycle unless you live in a dry climate and are certain that you will ride it almost daily, commuting. (In that case, the motorcycle will pay for itself in a few years, through gas cost savings.) If you aren’t sure that you will end up riding regularly, it is best to borrow of lease a motorcycle for a few months, just to see if you will stick with it.

Rather than taking on any new installment debt, I believe that is far better to sell off some non-essentials to finance a dirt/street bike purchase. Do you really need a big screen plasma high definition television, or a Hummel collection, or a Jet-Ski? Re-think your priorities and get practical.

Just as with buying a car, it best buy a used motorcycle, to get the most for your money. Just be sure to have it inspected by a qualified motorcycle mechanic before you make a purchase.

Letter Re: Advice on Photovoltaic Power Systems

Greetings! I’m a long time reader, first time writer. I have been interested in “off-grid” photovoltaic power systems as a way to generate power should the grid go down. I’m pretty well versed on electricity and concepts, but what name brands would you recommend for the main components (panels, charge controller, batteries and inverter)? Though I have heard of things like Trace, Xantrex, gel battery and pure sine wave, my practical knowledge is limited. I apologize if this has been covered before – point me in the right direction and I’ll check the archives. Also, have you ever heard of a dual setup where one could run their house the standard, “on-grid” way and then flip a switch near the breaker box to have all the outlets in the home powered by solar? Keep up the good work! – Josh in Illinois

JWR Replies: All of the major brands of monocrystaline weatherproof photovoltaic (PV) panels are essentially comparable in terms of their rated output, service life, glazing strength (impact resistance), and ability to withstand the weather. Most have similar warranties (although some are slightly better). For these reasons, PV panels should be considered a commodity, and as such, the price per watt should be the main determining factor in picking a brand. (Although if you are like me, you might prefer to buy an American-made product.)

Batteries are another commodity, at least if buy traditional lead-acid deep cycle (“golf cart” type) batteries. Because of their high shipping weight, I strongly recommend that you buy the batteries for your system from a local dealer, such as your local Interstate Batteries dealer. Be sure to do some comparison pricing before you buy. If the dealer offers a “core” credit and you are buying an entirely new system, be advised that dealers are often not particular about what you provide them for your trade in. (They are essentially just looking for a source of lead plates for recycling.) If their core refund terms are based strictly on battery weight or the combined number of Amp hours capacity, one trick is to ask around locally at venues such as Craig’s List, for free used car, truck, and tractor batteries. (Batteries that are so old and sulfated that they will no longer hold a charge.) Part-time mechanics often have a dozen or more such batteries available, free for the taking. Depending on the size of your system, if you have a strong back and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, this can save you several hundred dollars.

As for inverters: Inverter technology varies considerably, depending on maker. The Trace brand inverters are now sold under the Xantrex Technology name, and they still control a large portion of the market. Their major competitor in the US is Outback Power Systems, an up-and-coming company that was started by a group of former Xantrex engineers, following some serious disagreements with the Xantrex corporate management. The Outback brand holds a slight margin in inverter technology.

Charge controller technology is still advancing, but all of the major brands are roughly comparable. Just be sure to get a controller that can handle your anticipated needs, even if you eventually add a few panels. Also keep in mind that the more “bells and whistles” on a charge controller equals greater vulnerability to EMP. (They are fairly inexpensive, so it is wise to keep a spare, stored in a Faraday cage enclosure, such as a a steel ammo can.)

Ready Made Resources (one of our most loyal advertisers) offers free consulting on alternate power system system siting, load requirements/system sizing, and so forth. Be sure to take advantage of this very generous free service. They can design true “turn key” system for you that will require no upkeep other than periodic battery maintenance. A grid-tied system can be set up to provide “automatic failover””–meaning that there will be no interruption of power to your home or retreat more than at most a few moments, in the event of a power failure.You can also design a system that will allow you to sell power back to your power utility–the much-touted “meter running backwards”–depending on your local laws and power company policies.

Letter Re: The Importance of Pistol Holster Selection

I ‘lurk’ a lot and by doing so, learn a bunch but a discussion came up in another environment and made me think and I wanted some feedback so here goes…
In responding to someone who planned on getting a hand gun as a part of their survival planning and was seeking advice I said this:
This topic however hits home as I’ve been in training over 20 years and am still a certified ‘pistol’ instructor. I spent a lot of time doing law enforcement, corrections officer and even civilian hand gun / shotgun training. With that said, getting a hand gun is a big step and will require a lot of time and effort to truly make it worthwhile.

So, get the weapon and supporting materials (ammo, cleaning stuff etc.) and very important, the training. Then practice – lots. A .22 [rimfire] conversion kit with what ever you get, while extra expense will be well worth the investment. A good holster, belt (and mag pouch if you go auto) are also necessary – don’t skimp on the holster/belt. Many cops and civilians training with the ‘off duty’ gun or weekend carry civilian style try to get by with an inexpensive holster on the belt they got at Macy’s in men’s clothing. I’ve got a holster, belt and mag pouch that set me back $300 made by a pro and custom cut – but the gun always fits, always comes out when I draw, never shifts all day long, and is very secure. You may be betting your life on your gear so get the best you can for your situation.

To wrap up: If you do this, you must commit to training and continued practice with re-training for as long as you carry a sidearm. That’s at least monthly and not a simple box of shells once or twice a year. That means time, money and serious (very serious) mental and physical effort on your part. Good luck and stay safe.

So, am I ‘on target’ with this or am I missing something? I know it always pays to have a second set of eyes look over anything critical going out and something like this I think is very important to get right. The other point is that I see all over the place information on this or that gun, this or that cleaning stuff and lots and lots about ammo but almost never anything about a carry system (holster for sidearm) and that concerns me as stuffing a .45 in my back pocket or waistband may work but it’s not safe, good or effective. Comments? Thanks! – Paul

JWR Replies: I agree wholeheartedly. I have often met consulting clients that invest $170+ in custom holsters from a fine holster maker like Milt Sparks, yet they expect a lightweight”dress” suit belt to suffice. The belt is almost as important as the holster. In general, the stiffer and wider, the better. In most cases you will want a sturdy belt to provide support and to insure that the holster, spare magazine pouch, and flashlight pouch stay securely in place. Parenthetically, I’m a believer in carrying a small tactical flashlight (such as a Surefire) at all times. They are useful for shooting situations and more mundane things like car maintenance, and finding a key slot in a dark hallway. Also, in these days when windowless “tilt-up” slab architecture has become the norm, when visiting an office building or a “big box” store, you might find yourself very much in the dark, in the event of a mid-day power failure.

Odds ‘n Sods:

SF in Hawaii sent this: Top 25 things vanishing from America: #1 — The family farm

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SF in Hawaii also found this interesting product with a novel design: The WASP Knife. I haven’t had the chance to try one of these, so I’ll reserve judgment. The concept certainly seems novel. Note that if you use a compressed air knife in a self-defense situation in which your opponent meets his maker, and if you subsequently meet his heirs in court, then you can expect to have your motives questioned.

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Kevin A. sent us an AP news article: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Paulson Warns Of More Tough Times, but Paulson also sought to reassure an “anxious public” that the banking system is sound. he said: “…our economy has got very strong long-term fundamentals, solid fundamentals. And you know, your policy-makers here, regulators, we’re being very vigilant.” Upon reading that, Kevin’s wife suggested Paulson sounded like the politicians during the Great Depression. And she was right. Here are some similar-sounding quotes from the Great Depression.

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KT recommended Mayberry’s Keep It Simple Survival! blog.

Letter Re: Pre-Assembling Charity Food Packets for Storage

JWR –
I am putting together food stores, and collecting food grade buckets for bulk storage (local store lets them go for 60 cents each), but I had a question come across as I was planning this out.
Based on my own sense of charity, as well as your comments, I thought about a self-contained package that could be handed out, some rice, wheat, dried veggies and more, all sealed with a gamma lid using your dry ice method. Not only would this be good to avoid having multiple bulk cans open at once, but also as I said if people in need come asking, you can hand of 3-to-5 days food in one package.

Then I started thinking about comfort foods, pretzels, chips, candy bars and the like, and I wondered if you can actually put all of these different food products in the same can, separated into baggies, and if so, can you keep some foods like pretzels/chips or candy in their original packaging or repackage them in baggies? – Geoff in North Dakota

JWR Replies:

Using separate clear plastic baggies–or better yet mylar bags–within a sealed container is a practicable solution.

Distributing whole wheat is only marginally workable, since most folks are used to baking with wheat flour. But this raises two issues: If distributing flour, does the recipient have access to a working baking oven or Dutch Oven? In most disaster situations, that would be a rarity. And, if distributing while wheat, does the recipient have a access to a wheat grinder. Of course you could instruct them to make wheat berries (soaked wheat to eat as hot or cold cereal). But then they must have water available and at least 10 hours to soak the wheat. Because of the much shorter shelf life of flour (versus whole wheat), you might consider packaging the wheat in the form of freshly-ground flour, only on an "as-needed" basis, after the onset of an emergency.

Letter Re: Satellite Images and Your G.O.O.D. Route

Hi James,
While they are still available, now might be a good time to use one of the satellite image sites (like Google Earth) to download and print out detailed satellite images of planned bug-out routes. Having those images with you during a bug-out strikes me as a great way save time and energy by knowing exactly where important survival-related features are located. For example, my own route includes a stretch of rather barren territory with no lakes or streams shown on the topo map, but the satellite images show ponds and small reservoirs too small for inclusion by the map makers. As they may only be seasonal irrigation ponds I wouldn’t want to depend on them, but at least I would know where to start looking, if it became necessary. The images also show features that flat maps only approximate. And, while nothing takes the place of actually checking the route personally before it is needed, one could take a “virtual walk” of their route to get an idea of what they might encounter, and adjust their plans accordingly.

My prayers are with your wife for a speedy and full recovery. My best, – John in Colorado

Letter Re: Springfield Armory XD Pistol Accessories

James-
I wanted to thank you for the great web site! It’s fantastic!
I was on the Springfield Armory web site yesterday, and noticed that they are having a 20% off sale on all accessories, including XD magazines, through July 31st. I picked up four more, and thought I’d pass the info along.

Keep up the great work, and I pray for a healthy recovery for your wife. – Kristopher in Afghanistan

JWR Replies: Thanks for your prayers for The Memsahib. We are now hopeful that she will make a complete recovery.

I am enthusiastic about the XD pistols. Now that spare parts for the XD pistols are available, they are my top pick for self defense pistols.

An important reminder to all SurvivalBlog readers in North America: Front Sight’s Gun + Gear + Training special offer (that includes a free XD pistol in your choice of calibers) will be ending soon, so don’t hesitate!