Two Letters Re: Aids to Mapping Your G.O.O.D. Routes

Sir:
We live at our retreat full time in a very rural county in Virginia. Without going into detail, I’ve had conversations with the locals and my sense is that the road signs will disappear if things where to go south. The locals don’t need them and don’t really care to have folks around that would need them.

So if your plan is to go somewhere then you had better drive it before hand, in fact you should have several different ways. Make a notebook of your turns by intersection count and visible landmarks (that can not be moved). Or you may find yourself on the “white edge of the map” — that is an old aviator’s term. – RH in Virginia

 

Jim,
I saw someone mentioned Delorme’s Topo Map product in Thursday’s blog, and I wanted to let you in on a great (and free-to-use) program called USA PhotoMaps. The program is donation-ware, unlimited except for one nag screen which is removed if you donate. It allows you to download Topo Maps and Aerial Photos for any location in the continental US — all free from Microsoft’s Terraserver. I use the program extensively for planning hikes and plotting trails. The program can be used with a GPS to track your location real-time, and it’s got a lot of other bells and whistles. One nice feature is the ability to load in freely available Tiger Street overlay data so that roads on the Aerial Photos or topo maps can be quickly identified. The software won’t automatically calculate routes for you like the Delorme program will, and it is written by one guy so support is limited, but you can’t beat the price. I’ve found it to be a very valuable addition to my laptop. The program can be downloaded from the author’s web site.

While I’m on the subject of software, I should mention one other niche program that’s very useful for keeping a database of locations. The program is called the Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK). It was designed for geocachers to keep track of coordinates for their geocaches, but it can be used with any coordinate-based location data. I use it to mark the locations of caves, gun clubs, hiking trails, and any other special places I might want to go. GSAK is designed to load and retrieve waypoints from any GPS than can be connected to a computer. All waypoints can be plotted on maps, viewed in Google Earth, or viewed in USA Photomaps. A little setup/tweaking is necessary to make full use of the program, but it’s loaded with features including an extremely powerful macro language. With GSAK I can load my GPS full of locations I need to navigate to in just a minute or so. Anyone who needs a location based database with full GPS integration should check out GSAK. It’s available from www.gsak.net and is shareware with a lengthy demo period and $25 registration fee.

And for those who aren’t familiar with the GPS navigation-based hobby known as geocaching, they can learn more about it at Geocaching.com. The skills learned through geocaching like navigating via GPS, reading topo maps and aerial photos may one day prove useful for much more than just fun and games. Thanks for your blog sir, I enjoy reading it. – Doug in Pennsylvania

JWR Replies: Thanks for mentioning those sites. Along the same lines as geocaching, I highly recommend the sport of orienteering–organized by the US Orienteering Federation. (There is a similar organizsation in the UK.) This is more intellectually challenging than most GPS-based sports, since you will use traditional map and compass for land navigation. You’ll learn how to do calculate magnetic declination offsets, intersection, resection, and so forth, all under time pressure. And, like the more extreme forms of GPS sports, it is essentially a race, so you need to move with a purpose. This makes it great exercise, too.

Economics and Investing:

Do you recall the warnings that I’ve made, starting in 2006, about derivatives counterparty risk? Well, CDS paper is just one aspect: Pressure to reveal major AIG counterparties grows.Stay tuned, as the economic depression unfolds, and we see hundreds of counterparties cease to exist. Who will get caught holding the bag?

I spotted this linked at Drudge: 12 percent are behind on mortgage or in foreclosure. “A stunning 48 percent of the nation’s homeowners who have a subprime, adjustable-rate mortgage are behind on their payments or in foreclosure…”

From reader Mike K.: We Are Facing an ‘Inflation Holocaust’: Jim Rogers. “We had the worst excesses we had in credit markets in world history. We’re going to have to take some pain,”

Luddite Jean sent us this Daily Mail article: Bank of England prints £75 Billion and slashes interest rates to 0.5%

From DCB: Stimulus cash may spur massive inflation & jump in commodities.

Items from The Economatrix:

Unemployment Rate Bolts to 8.1%, 651,000 Jobs Lost in February

Stocks Turn Lower After February Jobs Data

BofE Starts Printing Presses

Morgan Stanley Predicts Downturn Will be Worse than the 1930s Depression

GM Says it Will Go Bust in Days Without Bailout

US Stocks Down

Food Stamp Enrollment Jumps to 31.8 Million People

Paralyzed Markets Plunge to New Depths

Talks Underway to Sell Off The Hartford’s Life Insurance and Annuities Operations

Odds ‘n Sods:

Luddite Jean, reporting from Nanny State Britannia, tells us that eBay.UK and eBay Ireland are banning most knife sales, starting March 10th. The only exception will be some kitchen cutlery. (But not any sharp, pointy knives, those might be dangerous!) The logic of this move escapes me. Ostensibly, this is being done “…to help further protect our members…” So henceforth, law-abiding Englishmen will have to rely on just ASBOs and harsh language to fend off the yobs.

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J. in Northern California sent us this link to articles on some huge prisoner releases caused by the state budget crisis: from a Sacramento television news station, and from a newspaper in San Francisco.

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Are you a doctor? Then this might be of interest: Towers Productions is currently looking for a doctor (a licensed M.D.) to host a new show that is in development. “Ideally, I am looking for a M.D. who enjoys traveling, has survival skills and a charismatic personality. The show will discuss basic health issues in different climates, so a well rounded knowledge of medicine and weather is great. No TV experience is necessary. The show is in development so nothing is set in stone” Contact: Becky Cattie, Casting Director Towers Productions. Phone: 312-993-1550 x 203. E-mail: becky.cattie@towersproductions.com

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Don W. mentioned this piece that might seem humorous to some SurvivalBlog readers: Urban “Homesteading” in Pasedena

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool:–an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that." – Alan Ladd as Shane – Shane, 1953. (Screenplay by A.B. Guthie, Jr. and Jack Sher)

Note from JWR:

I was just quoted again in The New York Times, by Adam Cohen: Out of Work? Read a Recession Blog. Or, Better Yet, Write One.

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The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $1,110. This auction is for a large mixed lot, which includes::

1.) Another “be ready to barter” box of 38 full-capacity gun magazines, from my personal collection in JASBORR. This box includes: 4 – Used original East German 30 rd. steel AK-47 magazines in a “raindrop” camouflage pattern belt pouch, 12 – Excellent-to-new condition original Bundeswehr contract HK91 (G3) alloy 20 round magazines, 6 – Well-used but serviceable condition original Austrian FN-FAL steel 20 round magazines with cartridge counter holes, 10 – Used AR-15/M16 USGI (all Colt made!) alloy 20 round magazines, and 6 – Excellent to new condition original (Norwegian contract) Glock Model 17 9mm 17 round pistol magazines (early type, with “U” notch). All of these magazines are of pre-1994 manufacture (and hence legal to possess in New York.) These magazines have a combined value of approximately $700, 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.

2.) A huge lot of DVDs, CD-ROMs and hard copy nuclear survival/self-sufficiency references (a $300+ value) donated by Richard Fleetwood of www.SurvivalCD.com

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

4.) Five cases (200 pairs) of AMMEX Heatworks chemical hand warmers (a $182.50 value), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com

5.) A Brunton Solarport 4 (4.4 Watt) compact photovoltaic power panel and 6/12 VDC power adaptor set, including as USB power port. This is a $120 retail value, courtesy of Ready Made Resources.

6.) A Pelican Model 1400 waterproof case in olive drab, ideal for pistols, Starlight scopes, or communications gear. This is a $95 retail value, courtesy of Scorpion Survival.

7.) A Non-Hybrid Garden Security Collection, Garden Bean Collection, and your choice of a pint of fertile grains (Hull-less Oats, Spelt, or Winter Rye), a $50 + retail value, courtesy of Seed For Security.

Thus, this auction has a combined value in excess of $1,600. This auction ends on March 15th. Please e-mail us your bid. Your bid will be for the entire mixed lot.

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Don’t forget to write your entry for Round 21 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include:

First Prize: 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 21 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

Letter Re: Best Shotgun Pellet Size for Home Defense?

Sir;
I recently got a Mossberg “Mariner” [12 gauge pump action] shotgun as my main home defense type gun. What size shot should I use for home defense? (The owner of my nearby gun shop said to use #8 bird shot, since buckshot or rifle[d] slugs ‘will go though two houses.” Is that true?) Thx, – Perry Noid in St. Paul, Minnesota

JWR Replies: I’m afraid that your local gun shop owner was spouting some oft-quoted urban folklore. For some genuine, Grade-A, tested truth on this subject, see this Box ‘OTruth article.

For what it’s worth, I am still a big believer in using #4 Buckshot for home defense. To my mind, it strikes the ideal balance between penetration and likelihood of a high number of vital organ pellet hits. The standard factory 12 gauge 2-3/4″ load of #4 buckshot contains 27 pellets of .24″ diameter. That is definitely a home-invasion countermeasure!

Letter Re: The Impact of FDIC Insurance Rate Increases on Small Banks

Mr. Rawles,
We live in mostly rural northeastern Oklahoma. Our local newspaper just printed an informative editorial about FDIC changes which result in huge fee increases for member bank. Here is an excerpt from the editorial Oklahoma banks paying price for bailouts:

“Imagine paying $500 per year for your car insurance and then being told it had gone up to $4,000 even though you have been a perfect driver with no accidents, no moving violations. That’s the magnitude of premium increases local bankers are facing. The local banks I spoke to had no part in the sub-prime loan implosion and did not receive one cent from the bail out. However, they were not expecting large “assessments” in addition to huge premium increases. The first assessment, due September 30th, will likely be 4 times larger than all of the premiums each bank paid in 2008. Another assessment, half that size is anticipated before the end of 2009. To put this in perspective, a bank that paid, for example $250,000 in total for 2008 would pay nearly $500,000 per quarter this year, have an additional $1 million assessment in September, and another half million later in the year for a total of $3.5 million for 2009. So, if your bank fails, the Government takes your bank, if you operate a fiscally responsible bank, the FDIC will now take a big chunk of your bank’s money.” [signed] Bailey Dabney, Publisher, Claremore Daily Progress

– Kevin A.

JWR Replies: A recent news story makes it clear why the FDIC was forced to increases their rates: FDIC’s Bair Says Insurance Fund Could Be Insolvent This Year. (A hat tip to SurvivalBlog reader “Hin” for the link.) After the much-publicized Northern Rock bank run in England, the FDIC felt obliged to double the insurance coverage for depositors. Without that grandstanding move to set people at ease, bank runs might have started in the US. But despite increased insurance and greater scrutiny of member banks, the fundamental flaw of fractional reserve banking remains: Only a small portion of your deposits is available for withdrawal at any given time. If public confidence collapses, there will be large scale withdrawals, precipitating full-scale bank runs. Be ready, folks. If bank failures spiral out of control–and there is now a substantial risk of just that—things could get very nasty, very quickly. The “final guarantor” for the FDIC is of course the American taxpayer. Promises will be kept, even if there are huge bank runs. Helicopter Ben has plenty of paper and ink. It just may take a long time to print that many greenbacks and set things back in order. But in the short term, if there is a banking panic, depositors may have to wait six months or longer, to be reimbursed.

Keep a cash reserve at home. Maintaining up to two month’s wages, mostly in $20 bills, would be prudent–if you can afford it! But don’t just sit on a pile of greenbacks, diversify. You should also keep some liquid tangibles on hand. By tangibles, I mean pre-1965 mint date circulated “junk” 90% silver US dimes, quarters and half dollars, and perhaps a few fractional gold coins. (Buy gold coins only after you have $1,000 face vale in silver for each family member. The silver can act as your barter reserve.) Store your coins in hidden wall and door caches. You might also consider leaving a small “sacrificial” portion of your coins in your home gun vault–just in case you are forced to open your vault at gunpoint, in the unlikely event that you are caught off guard in a home invasion robbery.

DO NOT store your precious metals in a bank safe deposit box! In the event of “bank holiday”, you will not have access to your coins. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all safe deposit boxes sealed, in the event that BHO channels FDR and there is another 1933-style gold confiscation. (Presumably, the box holder’s first access following a banking holiday would only be allowed under the watchful eyes of authorities.) There are just a few private safe deposit companies that are not bank-owned, like this one in Las Vegas, Nevada. Those might be immune from the depredations of grabby politicians, but don’t count on it.

Two Letters Re: Voting With Your Feet–Comparing Economic Freedom in the 50 States

Jim:

When I read that academic study of economic freedom in the various states, and saw the summary map, it was a strong piece of “ah-ha” confirmation for me. It immediately struck me that what a close correlation there is to what you had posted two years ago in your State Rankings on places to move with the best retreat potential. [in 19 western states.] Independently, you nailed those recommendations squarely, sir. Bonus Brownie points for you! Wishing You The Lord’s Blessings, – Ted J.

JWR,
I read through the PDF that you mention in your “Voting with your feet” post . Today’s prisoners could be tomorrow’s Golden Hordes. I recently saw this in the Wall Street Journal. Prison Population of a few states. The report also noted huge discrepancies among the states in regard to the total corrections population — one of every 13 adults in Georgia and one of every 18 in Idaho at one end of the scale, one of every 88 in New Hampshire at the other extreme.” – Jonathan

Economics and Investing:

HPD flagged a sobering article from The Market Ticker: What’s Dead (Short Answer: All Of It) It is amazing seeing something like this coming from a relatively mainstream blogger like Karl Denninger: “Civil unrest will break out before the end of the year. The [active component] Military and [National] Guard will be called up to try to stop it. They won’t be able to. Big cities are at risk of becoming a free-fire death zone. If you live in one, figure out how you can get out and live somewhere else if you detect signs that yours is starting to go “feral”; witness New Orleans after Katrina for how fast, and how bad, it can get.” (It sounds like Karl must have read my novel.)

Hawaiian K. flagged this piece of possibly good news: What Stimulated the Gun and Ammo Market? Prices will fall, if supply catches up to demand. The $64 Dollar question is: Will that happen before a new ban is enacted? That is anybody’s guess…

Mojopie recommended a Wired article by Felix Salmon: Recipe for Disaster: The Formula That Killed Wall Street. Mojopie’s comment: “This articulates very well how and why CDOs and CDS derivatives caused this mess our economy is in.”

Thanks to Steven L. for spotting this: Second Liens Forgiven: Are You Kidding Me? “But I can’t tell you how many homeowners I’ve interviewed who took out home equity lines to put in a pool or buy a fancy car or put an addition on the house that includes a fancy new kitchen with a Viking six-burner. And I’m supposed to pay for all that?”

Items from The Economatrix:

Roubini: US Financial System Effectively Insolvent

Citigroup Shares Tumble Below $1

GM Auditors Raise the Specter of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Dow Drops Another 200 on Worries Over Banks, GM

Europe’s Banks Face $2 Trillion Shortage

US Private Sector Cuts 697,000 Jobs in February

JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, BofA Face Ratings Cut

Now as the “Much Greater Depression” Progresses

Bank Woes Drain FDIC Fund

8.3 Million US Mortgages Upside Down

GM Europe: 300,000 Jobs at Risk

More US Consumers, Businesses File for Bankruptcy

As Projects Grind to a Halt, Homesites Turn to Wasteland

Critics See Understaffed, Overwhelmed Treasury

Taxpayers Have Lost Billions on Citigroup Bailout

Top Obama Officials Defend Tax Hikes as Necessary

Gold Halts its Losing Streak

Odds ‘n Sods:

William B. alerted us to an economy story from South Korea that is actually a preparedness story if you read between the lines: Empty Containers Clog South Korea’s Busan Port as Trade Slumps. We can safely conclude that it is just a matter of time before the price of used CONEX containers plummets. As previously noted in SurvivalBlog, CONEXes have potential for aboveground storage, and even conversion into housing. (On the latter, just ask any returning Iraq vet about “CHU” billets.) OBTW, the ones to look for are they type made with Corten (aka “Weathering”) steel. Just don’t make the mistake of burying a CONEX without first doing some serious engineering for load bearing and lateral stresses. They are not designed to withstand the weight of soil on their sides or roofs. (Most of their strength is in their corners, for stacking.).

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The latest essay from Bill Buppert: The Evil That Men Do: Willful Submission To Illegitimate Authority

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Ben M. found this on: ‘No proof’ of bee killer theory.

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Readers have been asking me for more light-hearted news, to counter all the economic gloomage. Well, here you go: The McNugget Emergency

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"You and I as individuals can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but only for a limited period of time. Why should we think that collectively, as a nation, we are not bound by that same limitation?" – President Ronald Wilson Reagan

Notes from JWR:

Notes from JWR:

Since SurvivalBlog’s readership is growing so quickly, I’ve been overwhelmed with questions from newbies. To help folks get up to speed quickly, I just created a new static page: SurvivalBlog’s Quick-Start Guide for Preparedness Newbies. It can also be accessed by clicking the “Getting Started” button in our top bar.

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A brief reminder that Safecastle’s “Ratcheting Rewards” 25% off sale on 30-year shelf life Mountain House canned foods is expiring at midnight (Eastern time) on Friday, March 6th. Get your order in soon!

Aids to Mapping Your G.O.O.D. Routes

Mr. Rawles,
I appreciate everything you do to keep everyone working toward preparing. To that end I would like to supplement your notes with a product I have been using for a few weeks now that have greatly improved my Get Out of Dodge (G.O.O.D.) plans.

Along with US Geological maps I have used the excellent Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer to plan my back road escape routes. Recently I found that they now offer ($29.95 plus the cost of the software) an “all you can use” annual subscription to their entire map collection in digital format.

Unfortunately you do need software (Topo USA or XMap) to utilize this product but many hikers use this software so it is not a “one trick” software product. With the software you can trace routes and save them for printing and uploading to the Delorme GPSes. Software is pretty complicated so I recommend setting aside some time to learn it to get the most utilization.

These innovations have significantly improved my escape plans with alternate and fall back routes. Aside from the GPS routes I have printed out high resolution color maps using iGage water proof laser paper.

Once you have timed the routes in various traffic conditions. Put a detailed map copy in each BOV and another in the family BOB. These give us options, as well as providing the all-important putting a plan in writing step.

One Tip: The departure rush from major sporting events [at large sports venues] are not bad for simulating the traffic snarls in an emergency. you can improve your options to lock down agreed upon routes.

Regards, – JNC

Letter Re: Learning Beekeeping is Worthwhile for Self-Sufficiency

Hi Jim –
I am a beekeeper and would recommend your readers look into the option of keeping bees. Honey bees produce food that stores without excessive processing (it has two things to fight spoilage, a natural antibiotic and the sugar concentration is so high it won’t support bacterial growth). I use the conventional Langstroth bee boxes but a person desiring to use the bees for home or farm could benefit by using the inexpensive top bar hive method. The top bar hive produces comb honey and the wax makes great candles. Top bar hives are not migratory in nature so they are best suited for permanent installation. Bees have predators and skunks won’t bother your bees if you get the bee box off the ground and up on a stand. The stand will allow you to work the bees without bending over. When working the bees you must smoke them a little to calm them down and choose a mild day. There is not enough room or time here to get into the details of the hobby of bee keeping but with the Internet and perhaps a local beekeeper for a mentor, you too can enjoy the science and art of beekeeping. Regards, – Uniform Delta

Letter Re: Cloudcroft, New Mexico as a Retreat Locale

Mr. Rawles,
I read your book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation“, which is a very good resource. In it, you didn’t mention one area that interested me a little bit, and that was the area around the Lincoln National Forest, near Cloudcroft, New Mexico. I’ve driven through there a few times, and it might do well in a depression. Of course, it’s too close to the Mexican border, which might lead to a problem, though I’m not sure which direction the refugees will be heading. You probably heard that the mayor of Juarez has sent his family to El Paso to live. Here in Florida, it seems that many of the immigrants are heading home.

There’s game and some water in these parts, but water is still an issue when the rain is insufficient. The towns of Weed and Mayhill are worth considering. The mountains offer the usual advantages in keeping strangers out or unaware. By the way, I know of people making a living in nearby Orogrande from the gold, as well as the great rock hounding. There’s a moderately large Indian reservation north of this area, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as it’s largely empty. Of course, Alamagordo, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas are too close, but, in a meltdown scenario, the roads could be blocked fairly easily. – Paul in Florida