Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? [Survival Today - an On going Thread #2]

May 05th,2008

[CottonBall]

Agricultural Engineer..

That's why you remind me so much of a wonderful man that I worked with in my very short time teaching. He had a PhD in organic chemistry, plus masters in that and biology. He lived to grow stuff! He would come to school with the most marvelous fruits. And loved to talk about his farm. Teaching was a side line and I think he'd be glad to chuck it and just farm full time. Now that's what a teacher should be - someone who can actually use the subject (he taught chemistry) and loves it. Not like 99% of the teachers that were there...but that's another subject.

In College, a spreadsheet was hand written and calculations were on our trusty slide-rule

...

I started programming on an IBM 1401 (4k RAM) in Assembler Language. (self taught)..Yep, 80 column cards, keypunch - verifiers, sorters and collators...

You thought I wouldn't know what you're talking about, didn't you? In chemistry in high school, we spent the first few weeks learning how to use a slide rule. And used 'em until my senior year when calculators were more available. And my freshman year at college, I used keypunch cards to do my first programming class! My sophomore year, we got monitors to enter the data and thought we were really high tech! I'm not so much younger than you after all, GG! We may be peers and so I don't know what I'd call you then...

Hey, the spreadsheet inventory sounds neat! Ummmm, any possibility of sharing???

Absolutely. I haven't gotten a patent on it ;) Anyone that wants a copy, just let me know...Freepmail doesn't take attachments, so if you could Freepmail me your address that will take attachments, I'll send the file along. Right now, it will include the entire file in the email message body plus attach the file (I had to see if I could make it work, ya know?). I'd like to change it someday to only include the data that has expired. I'm limited in how much I can type (I use a VR system most of the time here, surfing the net, and emailing), but it doesn't work with Visual Basic. So, I can't do everything I want physically. I also want to add the part that will scan an entry to see if it is already listed and sort them my expiration date. I haven't played with VB to have it sort entries yet - that should be fun to try ;)

My husband thinks I'm nut to be emailing myself, but....you know cuz you talked about doing calculations while farming! Once an engineer, always an engineer! (And that includes many bright right-brained people that don't have their degrees)

[upcountry miss]

32 matches per box. WOW!!! My boxes I have from Ace have 250 matches per box and I can't recall what I paid but I think it was in the $2.00 range. I know they were cheaper in Walmart, but Walmart stopped carrying them. DIAMOND PENNY MATCHES-probably a different match. Maybe those long ones for starting a fireplace. This frugal lady won't be paying over .05 cents per match. Will use paper match books instead. Guess I'll have to get after the friendly manager at Ace again.

[CottonBall]

The FDIC will be unable to cover bank failure obligations.

The FDIC already announced that it will be insolvent by the end of the year if it doesn't raise fees on banks. Perhaps raising the limit to $250,000 until September 2009 was foolish.

[metmom]

Keep on canning, that is the best way to store them or to dehydrate the food.

That triggers a thought..... Canning jars are great ways to store anything even if you don't process the food.

Once you dehydrate your food to the proper moisture level, you can put the dehydrated food in canning jars and just screw on the usual canning jars lids. Although it isn't processed, those canning jar lids still have a great seal and will prevent any moisture from getting in.

Some canning jars are made to be can and freeze jars and are great for storing nuts, grains, and spices in the freezer without have to worry about freezer burn.

I've stored spices in my freezer in canning jars for literally years with very little apparent deterioration or loss of flavor.

Since the jars are basically hermetically sealed, they can keep out insects and other critters that can chew through plastic to get to the contents.

[goat granny]

yes, free republic is a great source of all kinds of information...Got on a thread a few months back, some freeper wanted to know the best kind of home safety gun to get and with hundred replies, about 80% said Remington 870 12 or 20 gage shot gun, some liked the pump, some like the automatic. so I went out and got one.(12 gage pump).My son's approve of it. Good gun One of my son's knew I was getting a shotgun so for my birthday he brought me a big beautiful case, that is too big for me and too heavy. So hes taking it back and buying me shell's. I have 5 boxes of practice shells so he's getting me longer ones...All my son's and most of my grandson's hunt bow and arrow. Several hunt deer also in gun season. My 14 year old grandson got his first deer this year...They won't starve if things get too bad. They can always hunt...

[CottonBall]

“Vacuum packed in Mylar.”

Can you please give us more details about this?

I see MaxMax hasn't been back yet, so I'll jump in again. I'm so proud of my newfound knowledge! ;)

Mylar (new name is Mylyn) was invented by Dupont in the 50's. It's a thin polyester sheet, essentially. It can be coated and w/r food products, is coated on one side with aluminum (or bonded to the Al). This makes it barrier resistent - to moisture and oxygen.

The HDPE buckets I got (food grade buckets) have a Mylar bag in them and then the contents put in. The Mylar bag is then vacuum sealed to remove the oxygen. This creates a long-term storage environment that will be moisture and oxygen free (and you have a handy bucket with handles to carry it around in or stack). My only concern with it now is rodents. My cats better be ready to earn their keep!

[CottonBall]

I wish I had not read that.

Same here, WCG. Unless one is able to grow all the food they need, there's not much hope. Any money saved will be worth nothing. Retirements worked for will be unavailable. And the riots and crime will be unfathomable.

Sadly, it doesn't even sound that far fetched to me anymore!

[CottonBall]

Gee, I was busy getting ready to ‘process’ a batch of chickens and got in a hurry...

Speaking of which, I keep forgetting to ask you what canned meat is like. I keep envisioning the canned meats in the grocery store - weird texture and nondescript taste! I imagine home canned meats are better?

[STARWISE]

Thank you, Granny .. I’m afraid all the ‘survival’ type issues are going to be part of more and more threads.

Have a peaceful weekend ...... ;)

[CottonBall]

Can find them in Diamond match site but Ace never heard of them dispite the fact I have been buying them there for years until they ran out several months ago.

LOL! How frustrating is that!

[DelaWhere]

>>>What is this person’s background?<<<

Seems he has a series of websites one of them is:

http://market-ticker.org

I don’t know that he is a financial big-wig but he sure shoots straight from what I am seeing in some of his other posts.

His Resume:

Karl S. Denninger
karl@denninger.net

I am available for selected engagements at the present time. If you have specific requirements and would like to discuss them with me, please email me with some general information including the location of the required effort, and we can discuss your requirements and my availability to handle your specific needs. To get around my “spam filter” please place the word “consulting” in the subject line. My specific areas of expertise include:

* Internet security and the design of secure communications systems.
* Infrastructure design for E-Commerce, Internet and Intranet applications.
* Systems architecture, including high-availability, scalable systems, particularly on Unix systems such as Linux or FreeBSD.

Professional History

* 1987 - 1998: D&D Software / Macro Computer Solutions, Inc: Chief Executive officer; responsible for general corporate management, strategic planning and systems engineering, including the operation of a major regional Internet Service Provider and all aspects of ISP operation, both from a technical and business perspective. The corporation was acquired by Winstar Communications in August of 1998.

* 1991 - 1993: VideOcart, Inc, Chicago IL: Responsible for all network design, implementation and operation of the US National VideOcart backbone and local area networks, based on TCP/IP and open systems protocols. Responsible as the programming team leader for network software development in the VideOcart network, a 24x7x365 high-availability distributed system for displaying point-of-purchase advertising on grocery shopping carts.

* 1989 - 1991: A.C. Nielsen Bannockborn IL: Responsible for network engineering on the Bannockborn Campus as well as general corporate connectivity in an open-systems (Unix-centric) environment. Managed the I.T. staff related to providing internal “customer service” functionality, performed systems planning and engineering, and designed and implemented both ethernet and fiber-optic connectivity. Responsible for the development, installation, security and maintenance of the firm’s Internet connectivity.

Areas of Significant Expertise

* Unix System Administration: 15 years of experience in System V, BSD, and IBM AIX Unix systems. Specific areas of expertise include Internet-connected systems, security, HTTP service (including web farms), Usenet news service, DNS (domain name servers) and system clustering in both enterprise and Internet service provider environments.

* Systems and Application Programming: 15 years of experience in both system and application programming, particularly in “C” on Unix environments. System clustering, security, application and management software experience, both individually and as a team leader in major project environments.

* Unix System Security: 15 years of experience in “hostile” environments, including Internet Service Provider and corporate system development. Expertise in security auditing, firewall technology and secure site planning on both electronic and physical levels.

* Internet Backbone Operation: 5+ years of experience in backbone core routing, including the design, operation, and configuration of the Network 99 national Internet backbone, the MCSNet regional network, and multiple complex corporate installations. Comfortable with CISCO backbone hardware, including the 7xxx series of equipment in a national infrastructure format. Telephone circuit and vendor expertise including DS1, DS3, OC-3 circuit and transport formats.

* Corporate Operation & Management: 10 years of experience operating a small and mid-size business, including negotiation with vendors, employment matters, financial issues and top-level management.

[CottonBall]

I opened 3 replies to answer and had to re-sign in on all three of them.

How annoying! I don't think I could resign up again since I have no idea what my password is. I'm glad you remember yours ;)

[CottonBall]

My thoughts always run to “what if we had absolutely nothing” and the way it looks, I may have to find out!!!

I don't know why....but I've always had this thought in the back of my mind....if I was picked up and dropped in a new place without any money or anything, could I survive?

[WestCoastGal]

Thank you for the background information.

Very scary stuff indeed!

[Eagle50AE]

This is the best I can find

case of 36 boxes x 250 = 9000 matches

good luck

http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Strike-Anywhere-Kitchen-Matches/dp/B00114477G

[Velveeta]

I’m here, Granny!
Proud of your thread.
Thanks to all posters for a great compilation of interesting everything. :-)

[STARWISE]

I’ve been using food grade hydrogen peroxide for over 20 years, medicinally, and as a mouthwash, foot bath, sore healer, keeping veggies fresh. There are multiple uses, and it’s not without its controversies, especially (as you can imagine) the FDA’s position for medicinal use, but I’m a believer.

It’s oxygen and water, and it’s an extremely potent chemical that must be diluted ... I use 10 oz. in a gallon of distilled water, which is recommended, and always keep a spray bottle at the kitchen and bathroom sinks. I keep the main bottle refrigerated.

It’s also used for faster, more effect seed sprouting, and in place of chlorine for pools and hottubs, among many other uses.

Here’s some info

###

Additional Uses For Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:D6VAzSIyqUsJ:www.h2o2hydrogenperoxide.com/addition.html+h202+food+grade+hydrogen+sprouting+seeds&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

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H2O2 - Many Uses of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

http://organicgarden.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/h2o2-many-uses-of-food-grade-hydrogen-peroxide/

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Here’s the Google search results

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=qCT&q=h202+food+grade+hydrogen+peroxide&btnG=Search

[DelaWhere]

Oh, I should also note that Karl Denninger Received The Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Awards February 26, 2009
from Accuracy in Media which is a citizens’ media watchdog organization whose mission is to promote fairness, balance, and accuracy in news reporting. Founded in 1969, AIM is America’s first non-profit press watchdog group.

The Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award was established in 2005 to honor those who have made outstanding contributions in the tradition of Reed Irvine by independently covering and reporting on news that was misreported or ignored by the mainstream press.

[buckeye49]

I really didn’t expect it like this, either. I’ve seen the quote on FR many times, about how this country could only be brought down from within. I forget who it was, but it looks like he knew what he was talking about!!

I always thought it would be more of a Red Dawn scenario.

[buckeye49]

Do you mean like foraging off the land, or begging from door-to-door? LOL. I wonder if any of us could survive completely alone.