Day: November 4, 2007

Note from JWR:

Today we present another article for Round 13 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $2,000!) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. I will again be sending out a few complimentary copies of my novel “Patriots” as “honorable mention” awards. Round 13 ends on November 30th. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.


Home/Retreat Power Generator Noise Reduction by “Jerry the Generator Guy”

This article describes practical methods to eliminate four of the issues surrounding generators and their use. Relatively common objections to home generators include; (1) They are often very noisy. This noise does/would bother both us and our neighbors. (2) This high level of noise can serve as a “vermin attractor”. The vermin may need to be discouraged via your “biped eradicator”. (3&4) Moving a generator inside a building will create both fire and exhaust hazards. I have read that after Hurricane Katrina there were several attempts to perform what we used to call “five finger discount” of someone’s generator. The …


Two Letters Re: Colville, Washington as a Retreat Locale

JWR: Important consideration on Colville. It is near a very large Indian Reservation (Colville Tribe) and while there is a considerable amount of private property within it’s boundary, you have no hunting rights there. The First People are friendly, but distrustful of outsiders and in a SHTF scenario, would likely view you and yours as fair game. Unless you are a tribal member, buy outside the reservation. I was near to closing a deal on a very nice property [inside the reservation] when another agent took me aside. – EAG Hello Jim, I have been reading your daily letters, comments …


Letter Re: Rolled Oats Versus Steel Cut Oats for Storage

Dear Sir, I love your blog and read it every day. I have a background in chemistry. I believe that the fat content, per unit weight, of rolled oats is essentially the same as cut oats. What is different is the density. I agree with the point that the cut oats store more densely. More importantly, the access of oxygen to the oil/fat is faster in the (thinner) rolled grains relative to cut, and faster in cut oats relative to whole oats. I would bet that the rolled oats will go rancid faster in a warm climate. Other than that, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Courtesy of KTO: Food crisis looms as climate change, fuel shortages bite    o o o Reader Tim P. found this article interesting from a sociology standpoint: The California Fires: Where were the Looters? Tim’s comment: Of course with a long term situation the results would end up differently, but this is an interesting contrast in any case.    o o o Tim P. also found us this one: The Coming U.S. Drought (Is Here)    o o o China Hikes Fuel Prices Amid Shortages (A hat tip to RBS for sending that link.)