We got our first significant snowfall yesterday and last night at the Rawles Ranch. Snowballs were flying fast and furious. The Rawles kids are looking forward to sledding, but it may be a few more days before we get an accumulation sufficient for their sleds.
James, In reading the letters on this subject, the responses seem to center on alternate technology to complete the task. When I first saw the topic, my thoughts were to my OCS class in Camp Upshur in the summer of 1987. One of the challenges was to keep yourself in clean clothes, given a limited number of washing machines (I think it was maybe 8 machines for a platoon of 55 to 60). I was waiting to do laundry and noticed a long sink with trays by it. We had scrub brushes and laundry detergent, so I took the opportunity …
Hi Jim, I just wanted to pass along this web site. I found it while surfing the net and thought you might be interested in the area 20 years after. As a side note I’ve read that some of this story/web site may not be totally factual. Such as she didn’t ride through there alone, but with a tour group, etc. I don’t have any more info, but even if she was with a tour, the readings look actual and so do the photos. Still interesting none the less. Take care, – Tom JWR Replies: Many thanks. This is of …
Hi Jim, Don’t know if this has been covered before, but I think that a 5.11 tactical vest could serve as a “bug out bag” in a vehicle. Easy to slip on, no worries about taking it on and off as you get in/out of a vehicle. Everything you need right within reach. It may not carry as much as a knapsack, but it sure could provide enough gear to get you through a day or so. Best, – R.S.
Dear Jim, I saw the article posted on SurvivalBlog about cannibalizing ammo [by Mr. Yankee). Unfortunately, that’s a really bad idea where powder and primers are concerned. Projectiles are fine, if they don’t get warped out of round or weakened by oxidation. First of all, you don’t know what powder is in the case. You can guess, but overpressure runs the risk of exploding the casing and possibly damaging the rifle (and yourself!). Second, “light” loads are more likely to explode a casing, not less. If the powder burns too fast it can spike the pressure without moving the bullet …
The U.S. Dollar’s long term slide versus the Euro resumes, in earnest. I’m still predicting that it will soon take $2 to buy a Euro. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Invest in tangibles to protect yourself from the Dollar’s inevitable demise! If you haven’t already done so, give the folks at Swiss America a call. SurvivalBlog reader Mike The Blacksmith comments on the slide in the dollar versus foreign currencies: “The question is how long, how fast?” o o o Michael Z. Williamson dropped me a line to point me to a detailed article at …
"The groups conserving civilized values and preparing for the renaissance will have to enjoy notable freedom from the immediate anxieties which would otherwise exhaust their energies; and this could happen only by means of an initial endowment made soon enough (that is, before the dark age begins) by the planners of the survival groups. This initial endowment could not be in money, since money would obviously be among the first casualties when the systems break down. Instead, it would have to be an endowment of concrete things; tools, implements, motor-generator sets, non-perishable good which a monastic community would make more …