Tuesday, September 28, 2010

HIGH ALERT: NEW 'TERROR THREAT' According to ABC News

Here is the link to the ABC News article: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-credible-specific-threat-terrorist-attack/story?id=11747364

This is the reason I have done episodes relating to terrorism in two out of the past four episodes (Episode 69 will be posted tomorrow). 

Stay safe and keep prepping! :)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Friday 9-24-2010 News Headlines

#1. Gold Climbs to $1300, Silver at 30-year High
As I've said, I'm not a gold bug but I do watch it for signs of what's happening in the broader economy.  It keeps climbing.  That should tell us something about this "recovery".

#2. North and South Korea Close to War, Russian Diplomat Says
It's hard to believe that there was no real "repercussion" after North Korea blatantly sunk a South Korean warship a few months ago.  In the old days that was called an act of war.  But since North Korea was able to lie their way to a nuke the world community is treating them with kid gloves.  Now think of what happens if Iran gets a nuke.

#3. Food Makers Ready to Raise Prices
This hits directly at the core part of every Survivalist/Preppers' life: the food budget.  We can get by without a lot of things, but food is not one of them.  The solution: buy now at today's prices and stock up as much as you can.  Also, develop some self-sufficiency when it comes to food by gardening, etc.

#4. Warren Buffet Says "We're Still in a Recession"
No, you think?  We're shedding jobs "unexpectedly" every month.  To quote Darth Vader: "Search your feelings.... You know it to be true."

Have a fantastic Friday and weekend! :)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

US Nuclear Weapons Have Been Compromised By Unidentified Aerial Objects?

Reuters Article on US Nuclear Weapons Being Compromised by UFOs.... No Seriously

Put on your tin foil hats for a moment.  This is from Reuters.  Not the Enquirer, although that storied newspaper *cough* has been scooping the mainstream media on certain Democratic scandals (ie. Edwards, Gore) over the past couple of years.  Reuters.
The sci-fi nerd in me says "Weird, but cool".  The rest of me says "hmmmmm"....   I wonder what, if any truth there is to this?  The fact that it relates to nuke facilities is troubling.... 
How does this relate to Survivalism or Prepping?  Well, maybe it doesn't directly (depending on the types of disasters you see happening in the future and UFOs are not one of my major concerns) but it's still kind of interesting.  And if you've ever seen The Day the Earth Stood Still.....  Well, I think we know how the next chapter goes. Watch for a giant saucer to land in DC any time.  Maybe in coordination with the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert faux rally on October 30.  ;)

SURV/PREP 9-23-10 NEWS OVERVIEW

#1. New Al-Qaeda Attacks on the Horizon?
According to this article the threat is the greatest since 9-11.  Let us hope they are incorrect.  Here is another link to the same basic information:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/22/AR2010092203807_pf.html  Looks like it could be "gird your loins" time.

#2. 20 Signs That the Economic Collapse Has Already Started for 1 in 7 Americans
Is this article a little alarmist?  I'm not so sure as it seems well-reasoned in most of the connections it's trying to make.  I suppose if you're part of the 1 out of 7 it's probably spot-on.

#3. House Republicans Roll Out Their 'Pledge to America'
Hmmm....  I'm not terribly impressed but it's better than what the Dems ran on in 2006 to take over the House and Senate (if you've forgotten they ran on little more than "Bush is bad" and it seemed to work).  Not being a big fan of the Republicans what I'm hoping to see is a little more gridlock and less passing massive bills of any sort. 

#4. Jobless Claims Rise Yet Again
Yup.  And wouldn't you know it, they rose "unexpectedly".  Reporters must have a button on their computers that automatically adds "unexpectedly" into any article they write containing the words "economy" or "job market".

#5. Woman Defends Herself Against a Bear With a Zucchini
I guess I was wrong....  You don't need a .44 magnum after all. :)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-22-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

#1. Recession Ended In June 2009?
Hmmm.... For some reason I have my doubts....

#2. Fed Buying Even More Bonds?
Some call this a shell game....   

#3. New Computer Virus Weapon Targeting....  Iran's Nuke Reactor?
Hmmmm.....  This is interesting for a couple of reasons.  First, if specific facilities or systems can be targeted like this then any of our systems of support that rely on computer inner-connectivity could be at risk.  And second, perhaps there's a way to deal with the Iran threat without open warfare. 

#4. Amish Heading West
The invasion has begun.... ;)

#5. Dollar Drops Dramatically Due to Dopey Fed Decision (how's that for alliteration?)
It will be interesting to see where this goes from here as far as devaluation of the dollar and what other steps the Fed may be planning to take. 

#6. You Know What We Haven't Had For a While?  A Good Bailout....
Like the other bailouts have been soooooo successful...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-21-10 NEWS ANALYSIS



#1. Is the FDIC Going Broke? (registration at New York Times required to read the whole thing, unfortunately)
What does it tell us when the FDIC, the public government entity set up to insure banks don't fail has to borrow from banks to stay solvent?  And just yesterday weren't some of the "experts" saying the recession was over? 

#2. Government Hiding True Amount of Debt
When you add in all of the various entitlement programs you begin to see just how gargantuan the amount of money the US owes.  Comparing that staggering amount (many, many trillions) to the GDP and an Argentine-type crisis is probably the best we can hope for long-term.  The one positive (if you can call it that) is that many countries are in even worse shape. 


#3. China Tells US to Stay Out of South China Sea Dispute
Over the past few years China has been building up their military in an unprecedented fashion.  Their new fledgling blue-water navy seems designed for use against the US and her allies and it is likely that the disputes mentioned in this article could ultimately come to a head in future conflicts over natural resources.  Keep an eye on this.  One of the few potential scenarios left for future large-scale traditional international conflicts would be in this part of the world, and there can be no question that China's burgeoning economic might is financing a huge buildup in their war machine.  One solution to avoid financing our own potential enemies: Stop buying cheaply made goods at Wal-Mart.  Just my opinion...

#4. Jimmy Carter Says US More Divided Than During Civil War
Is this washed-up has-been just trying to make news?  I don't like to denigrate a former president but it almost seems like Carter has been saying things either to stir the pot or to sell his new book.  Raising his profile at this time is probably not a good thing as it merely reminds people of the weakness of the current inhabitant of the White House.  Anyway, as far as how this pertains to the Survivalist/Prepper:  Let's say he's righ

t?  What does that mean for the potential for civil unrest?  Violence?  Economic hardship?  So we must analyze his words and see if we can glean any real insight from them, although I personally doubt it.

#5. For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working Again

Think of the long-term implications of this.  What percentage of the workforce does this describe?  Probably a fairly substantial portion.  The anxiety of this fear coupled with the inability to find work is a huge concern for a lot of people.  Also, the less people working the worse the economy is going to get.  So....  If you have a job try to make sure you're allocating your current funds to insulate yourself somewhat in case this ever happens to you. 

#6. Mort Zuckerman Says We'll Be Lucky To Avoid Another Financial Decline (VIDEO)
I try to listen to hear what the general "sentiments" are in the media, not because I trust what they say but because often they drive both the narrative and create the very events they're warning against.  For many people this recession/depression (whatever you want to call it) has already been devastating.  Now imagine the job losses continue at this pace for a long time.  How will that affect you and your family?  And what steps can you take now to guard against that potential outcome?

#7. WEIRD NEWS: I Guess it shows the rising power of the TEA Party Movement when even Obama tries to align himself with them
Oh my goodness....  I wonder what internal polling gave the White House the idea that the current president should try to find a way to tie himself to the TEA Party?  This November is going to be fascinating for political junkies like me.  :)

Monday, September 20, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-20-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

It's probably anyone's guess what they're discussing, but it should raise the personal alert level for anyone who considers terrorism to be a potential concern (which should be the case for just about everyone in the post-9/11 world).  Or could this be related to Iran and Hezbollah?  

This is the kind of event, if it were true, that shows us two things: 1) The world's political dynamics can shift very quickly from singular events and 2) Perhaps the Iranian regime is less in control of things in their country than they want other countries to think (as in one part of their government says one thing and another provides a different response to just about everything that happens there).  Many have been predicting another Middle East conflict, this time with Iran, and while I don't think that's certain to happen it's worth watching what's taking place there.

This is why you and I are responsible for our own protection and that of our family.  If I understand correctly, there is even a Supreme Court case precedent that says law enforcement are not required to protect citizens.  That should be all the more reason to prepare for your own protective needs.

I haven't listened to this episode myself yet, but it looks interesting and appears to cover some topics of interest to CMFSP listeners.  I want to connect people with the best and most useful information possible, so I have no qualms about sending you to other podcasts if I think it might benefit you. :)

This is a forum thread relating to the use of houseboats in survival/disaster situations.  Comments include both the pros and cons of such an idea, and since I know some listeners have thought of this as an option I felt it would be an interesting thread for some of you.


This is a site I found quite some time ago, but related to Episode 50 of the Chip Monk Family Survival Podcast it might be informative for you to go poke around a bit and see what information they have.

And finally, in the category of Weird Weather you may have seen that two tornadoes hit NYC at the end of last week.  From what the article says tornadoes are not a frequent occurrence in New York, so this goes to show that whatever you think you're preparing for you should also try to anticipate the unexpected. 


Friday, September 17, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-17-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

#1. Five Men Arrested for Plot to Assassinate Pope
While it's hard to determine how serious of a threat this was, I mention it to illustrate how quickly things can happen in our modern world.  What would the effect be if this had happened?  Worldwide?  In your country?  In your community?  Something to consider, at least.....

#2. Lost Decade of Family Income in the US
The so-called Great Recession has hit many families like a body blow.  If you look back at Japan's Lost Decade in the 1990s you may see some parallels that should cause us all some concern.  Again, the best strategies for something like this is be out of debt and try to position yourself and your family to be able to get by on as little $$$ as possible. 

#3. How Hyperinflation Will Happen in the US
Having studied what happened in Germany in the 1920s and Zimbabwe much more recently the idea of hyperinflation does concern me.  One suggestion I have is to consider trying to always convert the additional cash you have, gift cards, etc. into tangibles at your earliest opportunity in case something like this were to happen and you would be left holding pieces of paper or plastic that have no intrinsic value.  We should never fall into the trap of "it can't happen here" because it can.

#4. Survivalist Forum Thread on Survivalistboards.com on Hobo Cuisine
Hobo food?  Yum.  Well, at least useful.  I make something like this from time to time just to prep my stomach for the possibility of someday having to get by with whatever we can get a hold of in the food department. 


#5. Exhibit #297450 in Leftist News Bias in the US
Why does this matter to Survivalist/Prepper types?  Only that we should always remember that the news we're being fed has a bias of some sort.  And here's a clear case of someone getting fired for not adhering to the Mainstream News official line.  Doesn't hurt to remember to "read between the lines" sometimes to find out what is really happening.  

#6. Poverty in the US Reaches 50 Year High
I suppose I don't really need to say anything more as the headline says it all....

Keep on prepping and have a great weekend! :)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-16-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

#1. 1 in 7 Americans Living in Poverty
While the definition of "poverty" might be suspect, the basic idea that so many families are in difficult financial situations should be a concern to all of us, as "but for the grace of God go we".  We could very easily find ourselves in that situation, so to be as ready as possible for uncertainty (having food, water, shelter, etc.) before something happens takes a lot of stress away if the unexpected does occur. 

#2.  Foreclosures Rise/Repossessions Hit Record
This housing situation seems pretty bleak even after all the home-buying credits and loan modification efforts that have been made by our enlightened leaders.  I've been more concerned myself about the potential for a massive drop in the Commercial Real Estate market, but it seems that the housing situation is still bad and getting worse.  A lot of this is related to peoples' concerns about the economy and a lack of motivation to purchase a home based on uncertain job situations, etc. So, ask yourself what would it take for people to feel confident again?  Changes politically?  Drastically improved job market?  Something else?  With that in mind, I doubt we'll see a recovery in housing until some of those positive things take place.

#3. Gold Hits Another Record High Near $1278
I brought this up a couple of days ago, but you can see the trend here.  As listener Sean pointed out, you don't want to be purchasing Gold at a peak before it drops substantially so you'll have to determine what the best moves to protect yourself are.  However, just seeing Gold continue to move up in price should be a reminder to us of how fragile this "recovery" really has been and how quickly things can change again. 

#4. Kansas Resolution Would Reaffirm 2nd Amendment Rights
Hmmm....  Why would people in Kansas feel this was necessary after the recent Heller and McDonald decisions?  Hmmm....  Perhaps there are people who don't believe that all attempts to curtail our constitutional rights have really been ended.  Despite the fact that this is on Fox News, notice the institutional media bias against those who believe in the 2nd Amendment. 

#5. Deadly Whooping Cough Outbreak
This is concerning, especially if you have young children.  At times like this I try to remember what is most important and if that means keeping your children away from situations where they could contract diseases as much as reasonably possible then it's worth doing.  Pertussis is not that big of a deal for most adults but can be deadly with younger children. 

#6. Boy Rides Horse to High School
What have we come to as a society that this is news?  Makes those of us who aspire to self-sufficiency/self-reliance want to be even more dedicated, don't you think? 

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-15-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

#1. TEA Party Candidates Rock the Vote in Tuesday's Primaries
I'm not really a fan of either party, although I definitely (like most Americans) have not liked what I've seen over the past two years.  Ignore what you hear all the 'experts' say.  Something is afoot in the USA and it is going to make the elections in November something fascinating to students of political history like myself. 

#2. 60 Hunters Targeted in "Hunting Probe
While I believe strongly in following all applicable laws, something doesn't smell right about this and I can't quite figure out what.


#3.  More Homeland Security Nonsense (This Time From Pennsylvania)
Okay, once again we have several citizen groups being targeted as potential terrorists.  You might remember what happened back during the first year of the current administration (http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=94803 ), and it's obvious this is still going on.  What would the Founding Fathers have thought of this?

#4. Allen Greenspan Admits Stimulus Didn't Work (and calls for raising taxes)
It's not like he was part of the problem for at least two presidential administrations that I can think of....  (/sarcasm off)  The reason I link to it is that it's becoming fairly clear for anyone paying attention that the economy is in some pretty tough straights.  Even Greenspan admits it....

#5. A Woman's Perspective on Self-Defense
I've taught classes to ladies pertaining to how to protect themselves, but this great post over at Survivalblog.com encapsulates a number of different themes and ideas in a single package.  Definitely worth a read for my female listeners.

#6. From a couple days ago: Farmer Sued For Too Many Crops
Talk about bureaucracy getting out of hand, here is exhibit 256,968.  Remember to find out what the zoning laws are in your area as you plan your self-sufficiency efforts.

#7. Chinese Think Tank Says They Will Win a Trade War with the US
Anyone who doesn't think that something is going to come of the rise of China on the international scene is, in my opinion, deluding themselves.  Where's Nixon when we need him? ;)  Fortunately, at the moment they need the US, but that could start to morph and change if the financial crises of the past two years start to escalate as many fear they will.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-14-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

#1. Long Odds on Economic Recovery (NY Times)
I'm not a big fan of the writer of this article, Herbert, but when even the NY Times is admitting the depth of the problems with the economy after trying to "prop it up" for so long that tells us something.  The gist of this article is that the American consumer no longer has the buying power to bring on a real recovery.  This affects the entire world as much of the economic growth of the last half-century have been based on purchasers in a few countries buying consumer items manufactured in lower socio-economic nations.  Here's a telling quote: "The middle class is finally on its knees. Jobs are scarce and good jobs even scarcer. Government and corporate policies have been whacking working Americans every which way for the past three or four decades."



#2. Gold Reaches Record High
Certain survival "pundits" have been predicting huge price increases in Gold, and I've had this almost subconscious-level impression that they're probably correct.  Is this the beginning?  I can't tell for sure, but it is interesting that we're seeing this surge in conjunction with other indicators (such as the Yen, etc.)  Gold is a bit rich for my budget, as it's too compact a store of value (Silver is a little better for our family on our income) but for some of you it might be a good time to re-assess your approach to gold. 



#3. August Retail Sales Gains Ease New Recession Fears

I'd like to believe this is good news, and maybe it is.  However, I've been alive long enough to know that every August there's a little bit of a retail "bump" from kids heading back to school so I'm not sure if this is significant or not.  The comments below the article are worth reading.

#4. New Drug-resistant Superbugs Found in Three States

"An infectious-disease nightmare is unfolding: Bacteria that have been made resistant to nearly all antibiotics by an alarming new gene have sickened people in three states and are popping up all over the world, health officials reported Monday."  This follows the reports from a month or so ago that Great Britain was reporting the same issue coming from India (and India denying it, of course).  The overuse of antibiotics has been of concern to me for a long time, and I think this could be the harbinger of what's to come as far as infectious-disease crises of the future.  Something to keep an eye on, for certain. 


#5. US Border Agents in Firefight With Mexican Gang
I was wondering if and when we'd start to see something like this.  I hope I'm wrong with this assessment, but it appears that it may just be a matter of time before the drug violence across the border begins to really spill over into the US.  If you live in a border state, now is the time to really think through what you and your family would do if what we've been watching in Mexico were to begin occurring here in the States, as well as keeping up the pressure on your elected representatives to protect your state's borders.

#6. IMF Fears 'Explosion' of Social Unrest
I'm not a big fan of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) but I'm thinking they could be right on this one.

#7. Today's Sign that the Apocalypse is Upon Us: Apes Rampaging in the Streets
Just a little humor for the day. :)  Bonus points if you notice that there's a little "tag" on the end of today's CMFSP episode from Planet of the Apes.

Monday, September 13, 2010

SURV/PREP 9-13-10 NEWS ANALYSIS

Greetings CMFSP Listeners,
Today is Day #1 of my News Briefing/Aggregating efforts.  Here are a few things I'm following for September 13, 2010:

#1.  Tensions Still Flaring Over Mosque
We're clearly in the upswing of a new cycle of the "clash of civilizations".  Whether this will result in more terrorist attacks or other specific acts being justified by these "controversies" is unclear, but it wouldn't hurt to put yourself in the mindset of "what would I do if ________ happened?" and prepare accordingly.

#2. Doomsday warnings of US apocalypse gain ground
Does it seem like more people are waking up around you every day to how fragile our economy is?  In most ways that is wonderful from the viewpoint of a survivalist/prepper, but it also means you're competing with more people for the typical "prepping" resources, which means prices are likely to go up.  I'm projecting that between now and 2012 (because of all of the hype surrounding the Mayan Prophecies, etc.) that we're going to see another Y2K-sort of buildup.  Back then, there were shortages on generators, long-term storable food and the like as 1999 wound down, so it makes sense to buy what you need now if your budget allows it.

#3. Fear as Food Prices Soar
This is a UK-based article, but the basic premise extends throughout the world.  I had projected in a prior episode that we could start to see the direct effects of food shortages over the next few months and you're starting to see a few.

#4. Asteroid Near-Misses Common
Just this past week we had two small asteroids come quite close to the Earth.  Obviously, they didn't hit or cause any damage, but their existence was unknown until just before they passed by.  What that tells us is that although this is a rare event (an asteroid hitting the Earth) it could happen without much warning and then, well, we're living the plot to Deep Impact/Armageddon.

#5. Hurricane Julia Forms in Atlantic
We've had a couple of hurricane events over the past month or so, and here's another one churning up in the Atlantic.  Could be nothing, or could be everything.  Check out my podcast episode about Hurricane Survival tomorrow for tips about how to deal with one if you are in a location Julia might have in her sights.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

ARTICLE: Here Are 13 Signs That We're Actually In A Depression Right Now

http://www.businessinsider.com/david-rosenberg-depression-2010-9

I'm not certain I agree with all of the points he makes since he's comparing all of them with "the peak", but his basic premise is....

Well...

He might be onto something.

Creepy.


A Big Bucket of "Sorry"

Hey there Chip Monk Family Survival Podcast listeners,
I apologize that I haven't yet been able to get much material up and running on this blog, but I am working on it.  Beginning this next week I will begin posting each day's top news stories relating to prepping, along with Chip's brief, but hopefully insightful comments. 
Thanks for your patience!