Month: July 2006

Four Letters Re: Solar-Powered Versus Self-Winding Watches

James, If in the market for a solar powered watch, I think that the Casio G-shock “tough solar” is much more durable than the Citizen Eco-drive watch. While G-shocks are readily available in the US, it is important to note that the Japanese domestic market G-shocks are generally superior to the ones they export. Yes, the Japanese save the best stuff for themselves. Higuchi.com is a reliable source for Japanese watches. Regards, – MP   Jim, After all the discussion about the benefits of automatic watches, I have to say several things. I have a lovely Swiss top-brand automatic watch …



Note from JWR:

About half of the cache of 50 books that I recently found at an estate sale have now sold or are pending sale. (The same ones that I first mentioned on June 28th.) There are still some great titles on: preparedness, self-sufficiency, homesteading, gardening, canning, shooting, livestock, recipes, carpentry, outdoor survival, NBC protection, fire protection, offshore relocation, and a few “hard money” investing books. I have reduced the prices on many of the remaining books. See my mail order catalog for details. Please let me know via e-mail which ones that you want me to set aside for you. OBTW, …


Letter Re: Pre-1899 Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Rifles and Ammo

Jim, I read your novel, “Patriots” in 2003. It reinforced my survivor beliefs and encouraged me to take additional steps to become more prepared. I also enjoy reading SurvivalBlog.com and visit your site many times each day. Over the last six months I have followed your advice in purchasing three pre-1899 rifles. All three are Finnish M-39 Mosin Nagants chambered for 7.62x54R ammo. I picked up one from AIM Surplus when [it was] first listed in December 2005. It appears to be in very good condition with a 1895 Tula receiver and 1944 SAKO barrel. The other two I purchased …


Two Letters Re: Insulin for Diabetics in Event of TEOTWAWKI

Dear Jim, I’m a family physician and my wife has had Type 1 (insulin-dependant) diabetes mellitus since age 9. There’s an inhaled insulin (“Exubera,” manufactured by Pfizer) that offers some promise for long-term storage, as it’s a powder. It was released last winter, so there isn’t much clinical experience with it yet. Problems such as irregular absorption and possible lung injury are still under investigation. Oral insulin therapy may also suffer from irregular absorption and will likely have the same shelf-life issues as injectable insulins. The only practical long-term solution for the insulin-dependant diabetic is to extract injectable insulin from …



Note From JWR:

Ordering deadline extension! Thanks to all of you who ordered my preparedness course. Publisher Jake Stafford just wrote me with good news for those who missed the July 4th deadline: “Jim, Our weekend staffer promised a few of your readers that if they mailed payment postmarked by July 5th due to the July 4th postal holiday, they would qualify for the special pre-publication pricing. Now, to be fair to all, we must hold the window open for everyone for the extra day, including web orders at www.readyfortheworst.com. But that window closes at midnight, Pacific time, July 5th.” For those of …


Letter Re: Insulin for Diabetics in Event of TEOTWAWKI

James: I was wondering what your thoughts on perishable things like insulin might be in a worse case scenario…. as it needs to be refrigerated at all times, and even if you were to get a large supply. How long could it last as it deteriorates quicker than pills…and pills might be easier to manufacture after a bad scenario whereas insulin would be very difficult to make. Diabetics would probably have a limited life in a TEOTWAWKI., right? – CWW JWR Replies: Insulin is indeed a problem for those that envision a long term socioeconomic disruption. However, I challenge the …


Letter Re: A New Global Survival Gear Test Web Site

G’day Jim, Just a quick note to make you and SurvivalBlog readers aware that the newly-established Survival Gear Test web site is currently looking for volunteer gear testers from all over the world. The URL is http://survivalgeartest.phpnet.us/. We aim to become the first port of call for survivalists before making equipment purchases. We are non-profit, no BS and receive no money from manufacturers or retailers. We will provide an unbiased, accurate evaluation of equipment that survivalists from all over the world may wish to acquire, without having to wade through advertising spin. Survival Blog readers interested in submitting reviews of …


Letter Re: An Interesting Extra High Power 12 Gauge Single Shot Shotgun

Dear Jim, I found an article about this custom 3-3/4-inch 12 gauge, with energy exceeding that of a .50 BMG. It has extreme power, for very large game or certain anti-armor applications. It’s legally a shotgun, and easier to reload than rifle cartridges. Also, custom projectiles are easier to make. Some of the conversions are on readily available single shot receivers.One advantage is that the converted shotgun will still shoot all standard 12 gauge shells [of shorter lengths.] – Michael Z. Williamson


Odd ‘n Sods

The World Bank estimates that an Asian Avian Flu pandemic could cost up to $2 Trillion Dollars. That is assuming 70 million deaths worldwide. My personal estimation is that their figure is low, since the pandemic itself won’t be the biggest killer–rather, that will be the economic displacement (if not a full scale economic collapse) that will be induced by the pandemic.    o o o The U.S. personal savings rate goes negative.    o o o Asian Avian Flu most deadly in teens and young adults — an eerie echo of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic      o o …




Letter Re: Recommendations on Hardening a Garage Door?

Mr. Rawles: Hello again from England. The blog is going from strength to strength, keep it up! With regard to the door hardening, I’d suggest a thick layer of ballistic nylon contained in a quilt as defence against chainsaw or reciprocating saw attack. Ballistic nylon is a lot cheaper than Kevlar and works in a similar manner to the laths mentioned in the article, i.e it clogs up chain and reciprocating blades. It would quite possibly foul up a drill attack also, but I have yet to verify this… It would not, of course, stop a projectile attack. Ballistic nylon …


Letter Re: Preparedness Lessons Learned from The K.T. Ordnance BATFE Raid

Jim, I thought I would give you an up-date on my raid. First, I’m not in jail, nor have I been charged with any crime. Everything that can be written has been written at this time.[JWR Adds: For example, see the discussions at the AR15.com Forums, at LibertyPost.org, 1911Forum.com, et cetera. ] In retrospect, there are some things I should have done, but that I didn’t. (I pooh-poohed some of your preparedness ideas, shame on me. Learn from my mistakes.) 1) Did not stash my extra arms and ammo, and now I don’t have them. 2) Should not have been …