Very Busy in the Preparedness Marketplace

Just a quick note ...

I have not had much time of late to post to the blog here. The crisis preparedness marketplace, pretty much through October, has been overwhelming us with demand at Safecastle.

An additional part of my unavailability has been our efforts to retool a couple of our order fulfillment processes. At times, it's been like rewiring the house with the power still on. Or at least like running through the house with my hair on fire.

All in all, I'd have to say that our little company is in a growth spurt and we are doing our best to keep everyone happy as we go.

It's a time when there are again many new people shopping for "last minute" preps. This time, it's the worrisome state of the economy and the uncertainty of what a liberal, progressive government will actually mean to our daily lives.

We're here to help in whatever way we can. Peace of mind is what we offer, though given the sheer magnitude of the risks ahead, we must admit that there are limits to what a full larder can do for your insomnia today.

Stay safe!
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

Any Honest Journalists Left?

Orson Scott Card is well-known as a sci-fi novelist (whose books are great reading for preparedness nuts). He is also a newspaper columnist who declares himself to be a Democrat.

But given his party affiliation, and judging from his two most recent columns, he may be the LAST American journalist out there with some integrity.

VERY important reads here:

Would the Last Honest Journalist Please Turn On the Lights?

Upholding the Constitution
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

In a Storm, You've Gotta' Be Tied Down

What are your anchors in life?

In other words, what is it that you absolutely rely on, believe in, and live for?

In major crisis those anchors are hopefully going to be solid enough to keep you from being swept away in the madness and chaos.

God, family, home, country, money, liberties, work, booze, drugs, sex ... the possibilities are many. Some of them obviously are going to be more effective than others in getting you through tough times.

Time to Reassess and Batten Down?

Make your own judgment as to where we are headed, but it seems to me that we are at an auspicious point in history. We who are here to sail through these increasingly turbulent seas are not all going to make it to shore.

You want to get there, I suggest right now looking very carefully at what it is that you want to live for and what it is you think will help you make it.

Consider too that a few of those "givens" on my short list may just disappear suddenly. Or they may be transformed into unrecognizable shadows of themselves. If that happens, you might find yourself confusingly adrift.

Tie-down to more than one solid mooring. Get yourself right with God and your family in particular. All else may be little more than shifting sands.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com

Prepare for an Unchecked Liberal Mandate

What does it mean to look into a not so murky crystal ball and see a government fully liberalized after this upcoming election? ... With both houses of Congress brimming over in Democratic majorities and the most liberal president ever in the White House?

I could weave a a prediction or two, but then that would make this blog a bit more political than I want to have it.

Nontheless, from a preparedness standpoint, it's important to understand what in all likelihood our new America will look like very soon.

Read all about it here in a WSJ piece:

A Liberal Supermajority

Get ready for 'change' we haven't seen since 1965, or 1933.

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Excerpt:

Though we doubt most Americans realize it, this would be one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history. Liberals would dominate the entire government in a way they haven't since 1965, or 1933. In other words, the election would mark the restoration of the activist government that fell out of public favor in the 1970s. If the U.S. really is entering a period of unchecked left-wing ascendancy, Americans at least ought to understand what they will be getting, especially with the media cheering it all on.

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

Panic, Food-Run in Iceland

Is Iceland perhaps a telescope into our own future?

Icelandic Shoppers Splurge as Currency Woes Reduce Food Imports
By Chad Thomas

Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- After a four-year spending spree, Icelanders are flooding the supermarkets one last time, stocking up on food as the collapse of the banking system threatens to cut the island off from imports.

``We have had crazy days for a week now,'' said Johannes Smari Oluffsson, manager of the Bonus discount grocery store in Reykjavik's main shopping center. ``Sales have doubled.''
Bonus, a nationwide chain, has stock at its warehouse for about two weeks. After that, the shelves will start emptying unless it can get access to foreign currency, the 22-year-old manager said, standing in a walk-in fridge filled with meat products, among the few goods on sale produced locally.

Iceland's foreign currency market has seized up after the three largest banks collapsed and the government abandoned an attempt to peg the exchange rate. Many banks won't trade the krona and suppliers from abroad are demanding payment in advance. The government has asked banks to prioritize foreign currency transactions for essentials such as food, drugs and oil.

The crisis is already hitting clothing retailers. A short walk from Bonus in the capital's Kringlan shopping center, Ragnhildur Anna Jonsdottir, 38, owner of the Next Plc clothing store, said she can't get any foreign currency to pay for incoming shipments and, even if she could, the exchange rate would be prohibitively high.

``We aren't getting new shipments in, as we normally do once a week,'' Jonsdottir said. ``This is the third week that we haven't had any shipments.''

Bankrupt

Iceland's 320,000 inhabitants have enjoyed four years of economic growth in excess of 4 percent as banks and businesses expanded abroad, buying up companies from brokerages to West Ham United soccer club. Now, the three biggest banks, Kaupthing Bank hf, Landsbanki Island hf and Glitnir Bank hf have collapsed under the weight of about $61 billion in debts, 12 times the size of the economy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The central bank, or Sedlabanki, ditched its attempt to peg the krona to a basket of currencies on Oct. 9, after just two days, citing ``insufficient support'' in the market. Nordea Bank AB, the biggest Scandinavian lender, said the same day that the krona hadn't been traded on the spot market, while the last quoted price was 340 per euro, compared with 122 a month ago.

``There is absolutely no currency in the country today to import,'' said Andres Magnusson, chief executive officer of the Icelandic Federation of Trade and Services in Reykjavik. ``The only way we can solve this problem is to get the IMF into the country.''

Imports Dependency

The International Monetary Fund sent a delegation to the island last week. Prime Minister Geir Haarde said on Oct. 9 his country may ask it for money after failing to get ``the response that we felt that we should be able to get'' from European governments and central banks. The state will also start talks with Russia over a possible 4 billion-euro ($5.5 billion) loan.

Iceland's rugged, treeless terrain, a barren stretch of volcanic rock, geysers and moss, means the country imports most food, other than meat, fish and dairy products.

Magnusson said last week that one of Iceland's largest supermarket chains was unable to get any foreign currency to make purchases abroad and another retailer's electronic payment didn't go through. Iceland will begin to see shortages of ``regular goods'' by the end of the week if nothing changes, he said.

``We are struggling to make the economy survive from hour to hour,'' Magnusson said. ``There is an enormous amount of capital that wants to get out of the country.''

Sedlabanki told lenders on Oct. 10 that residents who want foreign currency should first prove they need the money for traveling by providing documentation for their trip.

Essential Goods

Wholesalers are demanding that importers pay before any goods are shipped, said Knutur Signarsson, head of the Reykjavik-based Federation of Icelandic Trade. Under normal circumstances, wholesalers abroad would extend credit for 30 to 90 days, he said.

``Many of them ask us to pay cash before they send the goods to Iceland,'' Signarsson said.

``Because of the situation, Iceland has become a country that no one trusts any longer.''

Bogi Thor Siguroddsson, owner of Johan Roenning, an import and retail business which has about 7 billion krona ($71 million) in annual sales, says he's instructed his purchasing managers to only import the core goods, including light bulbs, lamps and electrical cables, they need to serve their customers.

``It's enough to have the credit crisis,'' he said.

``Then you have the currency crash. Unfortunately, we have shown that we can't handle it ourselves.''

Food Inflation

Icelanders, whose per capita gross domestic product is the fifth highest in the world, according to the United Nations 2007/2008 Human Development Index, will have to tighten their belts.

Shoppers are paying more for the goods they do get. The cost of fruits and vegetables, nearly all of which are imported, have gone up about 50 percent in recent months, said Steinunn Kristinsdottir, a 33-year-old Reykjavik resident who was leaving the Bonus store with her cart full.

``This situation really has been a bit troubling for people,'' she said. ``They don't know what's going to happen.''
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

What a Week! ... and It's Only the Opening Act

I think we all probably feel a little punchy after enduring the week the markets dragged us through. Thing is, at this point it all means so much more than just economics and living standards.

Look around and you will see that nations and alliances are recalibrating all over the world. Everything's different now. Some recognize it already, more will soon.

J.R. Nyquist today posted a provocative commentary on a budding potential partnership between Germany and Russia. In fact, he references STRATFOR's George Friedman as having introduced the facts a few days earlier. This is an ABSOLUTE-MUST READ. The link is below (click on his title) along with a short excerpt.

My comment--If geopolitical history teaches us one thing, it it that nation-states are fickle in their loyalties. And unfortunately that is out of necessity.

National survival is a complex and delicate operation. Interacting international economies, competing military maneuvers, ethnic mixing and/or segregation, cultural head banging, and elitist puppeteering are just a few of the upper level gears that grind and quake.

Eventually, it all seizes up, breaks down, and demands demolition before reconstruction can take place.

I suspect that where we really are now is a point where nations are going to have to make a clear choice as to what side of the battlefield they will line up for the great demolition derby.

The Monster at the Bottom of the Abyss
by J. R. Nyquist
Weekly Column Published: 10.10.2008

In an October 6 article titled The German Question, STRATFOR’s George Friedman poured a pitcher of cold logic on America’s plan for NATO’s future. It appears that Germany is determined to block NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. The long-term implications of this decision are stunning. “Since NATO operates on the basis of consensus,” wrote Friedman, “any member nation can effectively block any candidate from NATO membership.” The Russian invasion of Georgia has forced Germany into this position. The conflict in Georgia has forced the Germans to clarify their geopolitical thinking. What we see now, quite clearly, is Germany turning away from NATO. They can call it whatever they like. They are thinking as Germans. Russia’s thrust into Georgia was a masterstroke because it successfully redirected Germany’s political sensibility from a NATO-centered view to a German-centered view. In Europe there is one question that stands above all others, and the Germans must give the answer. Either Europe will confront Russia in a new Cold War, or Europe will become Russia’s partner. According to Friedman’s logic, Germany has already decided on partnership with Russia.

Imagine a partnership between Russia and Germany. The Russians supply the military muscle, the natural resources, and cheap labor. The Germans supply the technology, the money, and European finesse. Friedman says that Germany’s energy situation is “desperate,” and that German leaders are merely looking after their country’s national interest.

[snip]
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NORAD Now Vulnerable

Frickin' bureaucratic, bean-counting, dimwits! Read it and weep:

Dangerous move for NORAD?
Relocating facilities fraught with security risks
Michael de Yoanna and Bill Gertz

THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Sunday, October 5, 2008

excerpt:

Critics say a decision two years ago to move the operations center of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to the basement of an office building on Peterson Air Force Base in nearby Colorado Springs and to disperse other missions at the mountain could undermine U.S. national security.

According to military and defense sources familiar with the missions and U.S. government documents obtained by The Washington Times, the move — billed as a cost-cutting measure — received insufficient government review, violated previous Pentagon directives, may have broken U.S. law and has left the United States less able to track potential threats and the operations center more vulnerable to attack.

"We see decisions like closing Cheyenne Mountain that are driven for cost purposes only, not military requirements," said Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney. "Cheyenne Mountain should remain an active facility but cost pressures are driving combatant commanders to make riskier decisions."
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

For Two Weeks Only: 25% Off All Mountain House Cans (and Free Shipping ++)

We asked our buyers club members for input yesterday on whether this was the right time for a big Mountain House sale. A strong majority want this opportunity now, so here it is.

From October 2-15 Only ...

A two-week sale on all our Mountain House can listings.

Not just a little sale, but a 25% OFF sale!

Our listings will reflect the sale price starting tomorrow ... both in our buyers club store and in our eBay store ... for buyers club members and non-members alike!

As always shipping is FREE to the lower 48.

Remember, you have the option of interest-free financing if you make an 8-case package or 35-case package purchase in our eBay store. You must apply for the eBay credit card there to get that deal. If that credit card offer is not something you want, we ask that you make your purchase in our buyers club store (membership not required for these sale prices).

Buyers Club Members Are Issued High-Value Vouchers for Volume Purchases!

As always, membership does have its privileges. Buy ANY 8-cases of Mountain House cans and receive a $120 Safecastle voucher good for a subsequent purchase of anything in our store (other than Mountain House cans).

Buy any 35 cases of Mountain House cans and receive a $500 voucher! (Same terms as above.)

Yes, you can use any or all of these offers together as a member. That's quite a deal.

The 25% off is good only till Oct. 15, so don't delay.

MH is the world's premier storage food, good for 30 years! At today's prices! ... lock it up--it's money in the bank.

Stay safe (and invest your money wisely)!

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Oh, and of course you'll want to know how quickly you will take delivery of your order. Mountain House is right on top of their orders at the moment. They will ship your food fresh directly to you and you'll have it within two to three weeks.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

Bailout Buggered

The U.S. House of Representatives has defeated the controversial $700B bailout bill. At the last minute, the vote was politicized (Pelosi's closing speech before the vote), skewering the outcome of the vote.

Whether that bill's defeat was for better or for worse, what is now before us is what we are going to have to endure. In terms of being prepared for consequences, expect some extreme polarization going forward in D.C., so effective solutions are going to be a long shot coming out of our federal government. Of course, that won't stop them from continuing to roil the waters.

In the business and financial world, expect sudden seizing-up of the wheels of commerce. At the very least, we may soon see all available credit dry up.

On Main Street, look for increasing hardships to touch all of our lives. Yes, we were going to be impacted one way or the other, but it is clear that the sheer precipice of the fall is upon us and we will be going over the edge together in short order.

An immediate concern for all now is how we react as a people. I believe that is key. Panic is a possibility. Runs on banks and/or on food, supplies, and fuel are what many are thinking today.

Will it happen? I won't speculate on that.

But this is one reason why many of us have chosen to prepare ahead of time, in case of widespread crisis. Today very likely qualifies as an initial milestone in a genuine national (and indeed global) crisis.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

Market crash this week?

Up against such dire, apocalyptic warnings with regard to imminent consequences if the bailout effort does not pass immediately, I can't see as how these politicians would have the guts to stand fast against it.

Bailout failure 'will cause US crash’

The US stock market could suffer a devastating crash with shares losing a third of their value this week if Hank Paulson’s financial bailout plan fails, US Treasury officials have warned.

By Tim Shipman in Washington and Edmund Conway
Last Updated: 10:14AM BST 28 Sep 2008

The financial system could face a meltdown of 1929 proportions unless US politicians succeed in their efforts for a $700bn rescue scheme, experts added.

The warning came as Republicans and Democrats met in Washington for a rare weekend debating session to attempt to seal agreement on the contentious plan, aimed at preventing a long-lasting recession in the US.

Officials close to Paulson are privately painting a far bleaker portrait of the fragility of the global economy than that advanced by President George W Bush in his televised address last week.

One Republican said that the message from government officials is that “the economy is dropping into the john.” He added: “We could see falls of 3,000 or 4,000 points on the Dow [the New York market that currently trades at around 11,000]. That could happen in just a couple of days.

“What’s being put around behind the scenes is that we’re looking at 1930s stuff. We’re looking at catastrophe, huge, amazing catastrophe. Everybody is extraordinarily scared. It’s going to be really, really nasty.”

Investors fretted about contagion into Europe, where Fortis, which was part of the consortium that bought ABN Amro last year, fired its chief executive after liquidity concerns pushed shares down more than 20pc to a 14-year low. Holland’s ING and BNP Paribas are looking at buying the bank this weekend.

London investors have warned that the FTSE could suffer falls of as much as 1,000 points - a fifth of its value, if the deal falls through.

Peter Spencer, economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Item Club, said: “This is the time you have to bail people out and ask questions later. It is very difficult to see how the US banking system would survive without that.This has the potential to make 1929 look like a walk in the park.”

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, said: “We hope sometime [Sunday] evening we can announce some kind of agreement in principle. We may not have another day.”

Rebel Republicans - who see Paulson’s proposals as socialism by the back door - were warned they will be responsible for causing an “amazing catastrophe” if they continue to oppose the plans, which would see taxpayers buy up the bad debts of failing banks. Instead they want an insurance scheme for banks, which would spread the cost to private enterprise.
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Confluence of Events Focusing Social Angst; Rage Not Far Off

I try hard to keep this blog from becoming political. It's about crisis preparedness for all, regardless of stance or background.

That said, I sense that we are at a point in America where, if you want to be positioned for game-changing events, you need to be looking very carefully at what is happening all around us within our nation right now. In a nutshell:

• The potential for a Great Depression is at best a coin-flip proposition for the near-term. An immense bail-out in the works is merely an overly optimistic patch to delay an inevitable catastrophic blowout. Yet, even this emergency rescue effort is seen mainly in D.C. by those players as political and/or financial opportunity.


• The highest-level political-campaign fray is on the verge of going fully off the reservation. The mainstream media have stopped covering campaigns objectively, candidates' families are in the crosshairs as fairgame for cruel and baseless public attacks, and now even governmental and law enforcement personnel are openly using their authority to intimidate political opponents.


• Racial and class distinctions are increasingly front and center in public discourse, needlessly being brought to bear in order to deflect attention from relevant issues.


• The old-standard hot button issues of religious freedom, abortion, gun control, and the relatively new issue of illegal immigration are finding more zealous proponents willing to push the envelope to further their causes.

The overall mix is growing more volatile. Many political figures of the liberal persuasion are purposely stoking the fires of discontent and anger in their ranks, as well as goading the opposition. Conservatives are becoming very frustrated with the partisanship evident in areas where the common good has traditionally precluded such activity.

What happens next?

Anger and frustration is elevated in the population. Where anger is yet absent, fear about our economic instability is prevalent.

Editorials at established media outlets openly talk about the possibility of revolution, race wars, and societal collapse.

These developments are impossible to ignore. One incendiary event could indeed now throw our world into total chaos.

The outlook is bleak. Yes, we could conceivably find cause to reunite if for instance we are attacked from outside our country. But at the moment, I believe there is more potential for a divisive crisis within that could destroy what we recognize today as the basis of our country and way of life.

Not at all a pleasant thought, I know. But this possibility is forefront in many well-placed experts' overviews today. Are the consultants saying it WILL happen? Not outright as yet, but there is plenty of advice circulating that folks should not be surprised and that they be ready for anarchy if it comes about. And yes, the government is ready, but how ready is the question.

As a family man, I am as reluctantly prepared for this as I want to be.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

Putin Says Russia May Initiate Nuclear Cooperation with Venezuela

According to Breitbart, Russian Prime Minister Vlad Putin is saying today that Russia may launch nuclear energy cooperation with Venezuela.

Say what? Hugo Chavez with nukes? Ahmadinijad with nukes? Did we turn left instead of right back there when the exit said "Road to Nowhere?"

This is of course a meaty little test for the would-be presidents ... something to chew on at one of the debates.

This will not happen without bloodshed--probably a whole lot of it.

Unless, that is, President Obama decries it to be wise and fair. Hmmm ...

Say, did I mention that we sell the best fallout shelters in the world for your dollar?

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastle.com/

Is Social Upheaval in the Official Plan?

There are telltale signs out there that not only has the current financial crisis been planned for at the highest levels (this was seen coming over the horizon a long time ago), but that actions are being taken to deal with growing social tensions.

Nope--this is not out of Conspiracies 101. I have a very strong aversion to fringe imaginings.

Today's column by Todd Harrison at CBS MarketWatch is a nice example of some of these thoughts, put into the big-picture context of the current financial crisis (please click on the title to read the entire column) ...

Shock and Awe
Commentary: Five things you need to know about our current state of affairs

By Todd Harrison

Last update: 12:01 a.m. EDT Sept. 24, 2008

Excerpts ...

The free market system officially broke last week and the ramifications are profound. A new world order is upon us, one that will forever change the construct of capitalism.

... angst is palpable and tension is high as we edge toward what promises to be a very tenuous election. See related MarketWatch column.

Indeed, anticipation of social unrest may be the catalyst for the decision to transfer troops back to the states. Beginning Oct. 1, a military army brigade will be an "on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters," the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment of this kind. See related Army Times item.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

There's No Crying in Preparedness

This month has been a particularly challenging month on the homefront, wouldn't you say? The fact that it is National Preparedness Month is fitting.

Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike pounded and inundated the south and southeast--with hundreds of casualties, and billions in damages.

In the wake of those storms, a megastorm of a different level of lethality comes swirling through--the threatened meltdown of the global economy--the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, they say.

And ... we can't lose sight of the ongoing or re-emerging issues with Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, and Al Qaeda that keep generating all their own dastardly headlines.

As if we need another little bump in our coffee, this is all happening in the midst of a presidential campaign that promises to be one of the most contentious in our history.

No Whining, Crying, or Panic

Has there ever been a better time to check and re-check your preps? How much would it take right now to pull down this whole teetering mess and force Americans to find out the hard way how resourceful and committed to each other we can be? (Or would that be committed to "what's mine"?)

Yes, Virginia, this IS the time to be serious about your preparedness planning.

It's NOT the time to be panicking, locking up with worry, or freezing in the spectacle of the growing headlights of the oncoming tractor trailer loaded with trouble.

One of our favorite slogans at Safecastle reads: "Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves." That means, take responsibility.

Right now, it should be enough to know that things are getting kind of dicey out there in the world. This is no longer a case of imagining what MIGHT happen IF "such and such" was to happen. Fact is, it may just be that a whole lot of "suches" are damming up in the doorway right now, needing just the right jolt to come surging through your livingroom.

So what are you doing about it? Watching it unfold in living color? ... or worse yet, maybe blogging about it? ;-)

How about instead getting that last big project done that you know you really want completed before things get turned upside down? Or topping off the supplies while you can. Can you think of a better time to do it?

Personally, I think it's time.

Stay safe.

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Get Ready ... Seriously - http://www.safecastleroyal.com/

Remember Me

Love and kudos to all who are putting it on the line for the rest of us!

Interest-Free Financing for Mountain House Emergency Food

For Everyone--Buyers Club Member or Not!

This Offer is for Our Two Mountain House Volume Packages Listed in Our eBay Store, Only till October 30

Mountain House cans are once again available after several months of the factory working through towering backlogs of orders.

We also notified you that their new pricing policy requires us to NOT apply member discounts to our Mountain House listings. However, we do continue to ship those orders free anywhere in the continental U.S.

Financing! No Payments Till 2009!

We are working on ways to further maximize the value we can offer you with your Safecastle Mountain House purchases. We expect to be making other great offers in the future.

But right now, we can extend this offer to everyone (U.S. residents)--NO PAYMENTS, NO INTEREST UNTIL 2009, when you make a Mountain House package purchase on our eBay site.

See:
48 Mountain House #10-cans
210 Mountain House #10-cans

This offer requires applying for the eBay MasterCard and is good for your first eBay purchase over $50 using that card. (See offer details below.) To apply for the card, click on the eBay MasterCard link on the qualifying listing (under the "Buy It Now" button) or click here.

Offer details:
Thinking about applying for an eBay MasterCard? Great! Here's how the application process works...When you apply, you will first be considered for an eBay MasterCard, which can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. If you don't qualify for an eBay MasterCard, you will then be considered for a PayPal Buyer Credit account, which can be used on-eBay and anywhere PayPal is accepted.If you are approved for an eBay MasterCard between September 3, 2008 - October 30, 2008, and spend $50 or more on eBay, in a single transaction, you won"t need to make any monthly payments or pay any interest for 4 months if the promotional balance is paid in full within 4 months. This offer only applies to your first, single purchase made on-eBay over $50 (the total transaction amount will receive the financing promotion) made between September 3, 2008 - October 30, 2008, using your new eBay MasterCard as the source of funds through your PayPal account. All purchases are subject to credit approval.Under this promotion, no monthly payments are required on the promotional purchase and no interest will be assessed on the promotional purchase as long as: (1) You pay the promotional purchase amount in full by the end of the promotional period, (2) you pay, when due, the minimum monthly payments on any other balances on your account, and (3) you pay any optional Debt Cancellation charges related to the promotional transaction in full by the end of the promotional period. If you fail to satisfy these conditions, all promotional terms may be terminated and interest may be assessed on the promotional balance amount from the date of purchase. This offer does not apply to non-eBay purchases. Standard account terms apply to non-promotional purchases and, after the promotion expiries, to your promotional purchase. This offer will be terminated and the Delinquency Rate may apply if you fail to make a minimum payment when due, you exceed your credit limit or cash advance limit, or you make a payment to us that is not honored by your bank. As of July 1, 2008, variable APRs are 12.24%, 15.24%, 18.24% and 21.24%. Variable delinquency APR is 29.24%. Minimum finance charge is $1.00 USD. See your credit card agreement for standard terms.If you qualify and are approved for a PayPal Buyer Credit Account between September 3, 2008 -- October 30, 2008, and spend more than $50 on-eBay, in a single transaction, you are also eligible to make no payments for up to 4 months and will pay no interest if paid in full within 4 months. This offer only applies to your first, single purchase made on-eBay, between September 3, 2008 - October 30, 2008, using your PayPal Buyer Credit Account as the source of funds through your PayPal account. All purchases are subject to credit approval.Under this promotion, no monthly payments are required on the promotional purchase and no interest will be assessed on the promotional purchase as long as: (1) You pay the promotional purchase amount in full by the end of the promotional period, (2) you pay, when due, the minimum monthly payments on any other balances on your account, and (3) you pay any optional Debt Cancellation charges related to the promotional transaction in full by the end of the promotional period. If you fail to satisfy these conditions, all promotional terms may be terminated and interest may be assessed on the promotional balance amount from the date of purchase. This offer does not apply to non-eBay purchases. Standard account terms apply to non-promotional Purchases and, after the promotion expires, to your promotional purchase. This offer will be terminated and the Delinquency Rate may apply if any required minimum payment is not made when due two times in any six consecutive billing periods. Once the delinquency rate is in effect, standard account terms will apply if the minimum payment is made when due for six consecutive billing periods. As of July 1, 2008, variable APR is 20.80%. Variable delinquency APR is 24.75%. Minimum finance charge is $1.00 USD. See your credit card agreement for standard terms.Financing is only available to U.S. residents over 18 years of age. Subject to credit approval by GE Money Bank.This card is issued by GE Money Bank pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated.

BTW, we've still got a few hardcover copies left of "

World Made By Hand" by James Kunstler that we'll send to any buyer of these packages, while supplies last (one copy per customer).

Stay safe!

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Get Ready ... Seriously - www.safecastle.net

$6M Cave Home Virtual Tour!

End of the world got you down? Looking for a practical haven in which to invest your hard-earned riches as the financial world comes crashing down all around?

Check out this 380-acre, six-million-dollar Arkansas property, including a home built into a warren of caves.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - www.safecastleroyal.com

Never Forget 9/11/2001

Never retreat. Never rest.

After Months of a Locked Pipeline, Mountain House Cans are Available and Shipping!

It's been several months since Mountain House stopped taking new orders from dealers on their canned foods. They were being socked in with orders from all over the country at a pace five times their previous high.

Now, we can announce that Safecastle has been given permission to start taking orders again, effective immediately!

Note that Mountain House food is now being produced at record levels, and the company has maximized production capabilities. They have worked through their backlog and are in the process of fast building a stockpile for ongoing demand.

Get It Now

As we've learned over the last several years, we cannot take for granted the availability of food of any kind in our just-in-time system. In particular, in an era of rising food prices, long-term storage food is becoming more recognized as not only a hedge against crisis, but an investment that pays off in financial terms as well.

Thus, we expect the demand for Mountain House food to remain very strong. Of course, if and when another major disaster happens, many more folks will again come to realize the need for this kind of critical disaster deterrent.

Prices

For something like seven years, Mountain House prices went unchanged earlier in this decade. But then, the world turned. Now supplier, production, and transportation costs are escalating steadily. Mountain House has had to try to keep up and now has a policy of updating prices twice a year. (Hint--prices are not adjusting downward.)

So, while the good news is that the food is available again at today's still-reasonable prices ... that means they are definitely not listed at yesterday's prices.

Most significantly for the Safecastle Royal Buyers Club--Oregon Freeze Dry, the producer of Mountain House food, has mandated dealer participation in a strict new pricing agreement. For us, that means we are not permitted to permanently offer discounts on Mountain House canned foods (pouches remain discounted). We WILL be allowed to offer members up to three short-duration sales in the course of a year, and we will certainly do that.

But be advised that from here on out, there can be no standard member discount on the cans. That fact is posted prominently on each of our MH can listings.

The Premier Prep Food in the World

Mountain House freeze dried food , is universally recognized as the top emergency preparedness and outdoor/adventure food in the world. Safecastle is proud to have been re-confirmed as a Mountain House dealer, and we will work with Oregon Freeze Dry to provide our members and customers full satisfaction on every transaction.

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Get Ready ... Seriously - www.safecastleroyal.com

Hurricane Preparedness

Thank God that Hurricane Gustav was not more destructive than it was, and that Gulf Coast residents took seriously the warnings and evacuation orders. Lessons learned all around, obviously, from Katrina a few years ago.

Now, it appears that a few more big storms are in the clip ready to engage the southeastern U.S. and/or locales in the Carribean and Atlantic. Forecasters are saying this looks to be a very active hurricane season, perhaps right into December.

If you're near the coast, stay aware.

It also wouldn't hurt to review NOAA's Hurricane Preparedness pages.
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Get Ready ... Seriously - www.safecastleroyal.com