October 21, 2008
Survival Blog, I've Bookmarked It
I have added Survival Blog to my bookmarks and blog sidebar. Not that I think the end of the world is coming but because the content offers interesting perspective.I'm not a big gun guy, I have one in case a deranged type tries to enter my house and harm my wife or kids, but I don't have a cache or collection.
One relative and a close friend in Tennessee keep weapons in number, both for different reasons. One because he takes the second amendment to heart and the other because he thinks terrorists are skulking about in the woods. Amazing, I know.
Early on in our marriage we considered buying some land in Southern Oregon, near Ashland. The seller was a local guy who took us around to various lots he had for sale. For the excursion he brought along a deer rifle and at one point pulled over on a quiet mountain pass and shot off a round.
As the day went on he confided he had over 120 rifles and his local group of friends sported hundreds of weapons.
That was 25 years ago and last I heard no one has invaded Oregon in that time, unless you count Californians looking or a better life.
For my purposes survival means how we get by if the currency takes a plunge and how we will get by if bread trucks stop delivering product, in sufficient quantity to the grocery stores. We witnessed a run on rice last Spring. Panic buying cleared the shelves at Costco on mere rumor that there was a shortage coming. Food riots broke out worldwide and people died over rice supplies. Those riots didn't get much media attention here.
Would we riot if bread and eggs became hard to get? Not likely, but how many of us know how to bake bread and who among us suburbanites have laying hens in the backyard. When I go to the store and look at who's shopping I can safely, sadly say the majority would not survive a real test.
Last Christmas our friend Anna gave us as part of our gift a gallon of uncooked pinto beans in a container that looked like it came out of 1960's bomb shelter. It looks army issue. It sits in the pantry and will remain there hopefully forever. If I have to open it then it means everything went to hell and I am in full survival mode.
I'm not predicting a great downfall or even an economic depression but just in case I plan to study up on the the definition of "gulching" and look in on Survival Blog now and then.
Labels: Food Hoarding
June 09, 2008
Gas Lines In Spain As Truckers Say "No Chingues"
Roughly translated - don't screw with us - as they strike, protesting high fuel prices. Truckers in Madrid and other parts of Spain have quit delivering fuel to gas stations causing long lines at stations with no gas!"15 percent of the capital's outlets had run out of fuel. Manuel Amado, president of Catalonia's owners' federation, said 40 percent of Catalonia's 1,714 stations had sold out.
The stoppage led to lengthy lines at many gasoline stations across the country as drivers rushed to fill up.
Drivers were paying the equivalent of about $7.32 per gallon of diesel Monday. By contrast, diesel was selling in the U.S. for about $4.75.
Truckers also blocked a number of roads around the country, including some leading into the center of Barcelona and the international border with France.
"We are the ones who move the goods that this country needs to keep working. If we stop because we haven't got the money to buy fuel then the country will stop..."
Why am I writing about it on Firefighter Blog? Because we are not far away ourselves from seeing truckers here mount a similar campaign. I haven't read anything to suggest a general strike by truckers is imminent but when it happens there wont be a dramatic announcement
I've posted on the subject of food hoarding and thankfully aside from a mini-run on rice at Costco stores we haven't experienced shortages and associated food lines.
What is your plan if gas and food delivery trucks day screw it?
Image credit, Britannica.com.
Labels: Food Hoarding, Off Topic
April 24, 2008
Food Hoarding Intensifies Worldwide
The other day I pointed to the subject of food hoarding. Since then I'm reading and hearing much more about the issue. Think about it, if food becomes scarce or even a perception of scarcity catches hold the resultant panic could cause rioting that would place first responders between rioter and burning buildings.It's at a tipping point in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Philippine farmers caught hoarding could face life in prison, while Malaysian stores have been stripped of palm oil.
The subject in Asia is the availability of rice and according to Reuters Thailand, producer of 1/3 of the world supply of rice says they have enough rice to meet export demand, for now. Indonesia has curbed exporting rice to meet demands of the own and to stave off "social unrest".
Today Brazil halted rice exports.
According to Reuters;
"The surging price of fuel and food, which some analysts attribute to panic buying by both consumers and governments rather than a dire shortage of supply, has so far sparked riots in Africa and Haiti, (where 24 have died due to the unrest so far), but not Asia"
In the U.S. Costco, Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart's Sam's Club are limiting purchases of flour rice and cooking oil. This New York Sun article spells it out well;
"At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy.
“Where’s the rice?” an engineer from Palo Alto, Calif., Yajun Liu, said. “You should be able to buy something like rice. This is ridiculous.”
The bustling store in the heart of Silicon Valley usually sells four or five varieties of rice to a clientele largely of Asian immigrants, but only about half a pallet of Indian-grown Basmati rice was left in stock. A 20-pound bag was selling for $15.99.
“You can’t eat this every day. It’s too heavy,” a health care executive from Palo Alto, Sharad Patel, grumbled as his son loaded two sacks of the Basmati into a shopping cart. “We only need one bag but I’m getting two in case a neighbor or a friend needs it,” the elder man said.
The Patels seemed headed for disappointment, as most Costco members were being allowed to buy only one bag. Moments earlier, a clerk dropped two sacks back on the stack after taking them from another customer who tried to exceed the one-bag cap.
“Due to the limited availability of rice, we are limiting rice purchases based on your prior purchasing history,” a sign above the dwindling supply ....."
Considering most U.S. cities only have a three day supply of food, due to supply/inventory efficiencies, (don't you love those MBA's) any interruption of the distribution chain could trigger an outright panic.
With diesel fuel hovering at a $4.20 per gallon average it's only a matter of time until we hear from the truckers.
It's a bad combination of tight supply and high prices. It could pay to be a step ahead.
The Wall Street Journal says "Load Up The Pantry"
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Labels: Food Hoarding
April 21, 2008
Food Hoarding Coming To a Neighborhood Near You?
I heard the reference to "Food Hoarding" three times while surfing through the cable news channels this morning. The topic is a major concern in India where distribution of foodstores to rural provinces is not always on a predictable time table.Here we have no problem with distribution, yet. I confess our pantry is pretty well stocked and I intend to add to the canned goods supply. Why?
My concern is truckers are about fed up with the price of diesel and there is about to be a revolt. Our local grocery stores are nothing without daily deliveries and it's trucks that deliver the goods.
Have you ever seen your local supermarket sporting an empty bread section. I have once on a Sunday night and frankly it stopped me cold. Not because I missed my bread but it showed me how fragile the distribution chain is.
When I was a teenager I recall the oil embargo and waiting over an hour to fill my Mustang. It left an impression that at any time those holding us hostage to commodities hold the key to our comfort.
So what happens when the truckers say enough? You be the judge how your neighborhood will react if the store shelves start looking like those in a typical middle class Russian city.
Should first responders fill the pantry? It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to load up on canned and bulk goods at the station.
Labels: Food Hoarding, Off Topic
