Year: 2007

Odds ‘n Sods:

Jason in North Idaho mentioned: Far-flung exurbs hard hit by housing downturn   o o o There are just 8 days left in the big “Container load sale” at Survival Enterprises. I can see from their availability chart that some items have sold out, and that they are now running low on their remaining inventory of both the “Bacon bits” (bacon TVP) and the shortening powder in the #2-1/2 cans. One bit of unexpected good news: The owner of Survival Enterprises just e-mailed me and mentioned: “We just found 10 more cases (we thought we were out) of Corn Starch …



Note from JWR:

The SurvivalBlog benefit auction for a pair of MURS band handheld transceivers, with optional extended range flex antennas ends on February 15th. The high bid is currently at $150. These radios were kindly donated by Rob at $49 MURS Radios. Check out his products. What Rob sells are a lot of radio for the money. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from the SurvivalBlog readers that have bought these. As previously mentioned in the blog, Kenwood 2 watt MURS handhelds have far better range than FRS radios, they require no license, and can be custom programmed for, MURS, 2 Meter …


Two Letters Re: Electric Golf Carts as a Retreat ATV Option

Dear Mr. Rawles, I have a few points to add to the golf cart idea. first, It is feasible [to convert an electric golf cart into a quasi-ATV.] I worked a a mechanic at a golf course. Power is power. Most carts use four 6 volt batteries [cabled] in series to make 24 volts. Second, some very necessary tools and parts for the job, many feet of battery cable, end fittings and a good swagger [–a cable terminal swaging tool.] Look for these at your nearest auto store. [JWR Adds: These tools are also available at most marine supply stores. …


Two Letters Re: Advice on Sawdust and Other Barn Waste as Fertilizers

Jim: Something to very careful with when composting sawdust is to be absolutely sure you do not have any sawdust from pressure treated wood. There is a myriad of nasty chemicals in this wood that will destroy your compost heap. Sawdust should not be added directly to your garden because it absorbs and holds moisture and other nutrients. Wood ashes are fine, but only add 1 or 2% Phosphorus and 3 to 7% of potassium. Wood Ashes have an alkaline effect on your soil. I put eggs shells and coffee grounds and wood ashes directly into the garden all winter …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Federal budget explosion: $2.9 TRILLION! Gee, you don’t suppose that this will be inflationary or that it will force higher taxes…   o o o An interesting article ran in Disaster Recovery Journal‘s 20th Anniversary issue: No Rain, No Power. Written by Ugandans, it describes how the recent drought in Eastern Africa has created a systemic power crisis. Lack of hydroelectric power has forced the Ugandan power utility resort to lengthy “load shedding” power blackouts.    o o o The folks at Safecastle wrote to remind me that they now have a Safecastle Royal Buyers Club, with hundreds of high-quality …


Jim’s Quote of the Day

"The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man’s rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence. A proper government is only a policeman, acting as an agent of man’s self defense, and, as such, may resort to force only against those who start the use of force. The only proper functions of a government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others, to settle disputes by rational rules, according to objective law. But …


Note from JWR:

There are just 10 days left in the big “Container load sale” at Survival Enterprises. Based on the running inventories posted on the web page, many items have sold out.Get your order in while there is still a good assortment of these long term storage foods! The prices are less than half of retail.


Letter Re: Advice on Using Oak Acorns as a Survival Food

Hi:. I live in Florida where there are a lot of oak trees with a lot of acorns. Is there any way to prepare acorns so that humans can eat them in a survival situation? Thanks. – Joe in Florida The Memsahib Replies: Yes! The California Indians’ main staple was acorns. Along the creek where I played as a child, there were many grinding holes in the rocks where the native California women ground their acorns into flour. One anthropologist has speculated that it was the acorn as a diet staple that made the development of civilization in Europe possible. …


Letter Re: The CDC’s New “Five Categories” for Pandemic Severity

Mr. Rawles, Given the unique nature of a flu pandemic, (or a “biological” attack), how would one assemble their retreat group after possible outbreak in one’s immediate area, (within 50 miles) with confidence? The vehicle alone that they travel in could be laden with contamination and the door handles become a scary transmission device. Seeing is believing, invisible is invisible. “To Group or not to Group?”, that is the question. – The Wanderer JWR Replies: There is no way to be certain to avoid exposure if an influenza outbreak is in close proximity. But odds are that the first outbreaks …


Letter Re: CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Training

Jim- I’m just finishing up the nine-lesson [Citizen Corps] CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. I highly recommend it. Besides the very good information on dealing with a variety of scenarios, I really like the heavy emphasis on taking care of yourself and your family first. This gets constant reinforcement. So though the training is intended to help you be useful as a first responder, it is even more useful in helping you harden up your home, yourself and your family members. Of course it’s also a very good way to invite your neighbors into a local cohort group: instead …


Letter Re: My M1911 Loyalty Has Been Shaken–I Bought a Beretta

Dear Mr. Rawles, I just finished “Patriots” and enjoyed it very much. I have been reading SurvivalBlog for over a year now. Today I went to my local gun shop to trade off a Springfield 1911 Micro Compact, which never worked worth a hoot, even after a return to the factory. The Micro Compact is not the only 1911 I have ever owned, I have several Colts, full size, Gold Cup, Government Model, et cetera. I wanted something different, and I have always wanted a Beretta M9, ever since seeing the movie “Die Hard“. So with a little haggling I …


Odds ‘n Sods:

For those of you that have a fast Internet connection, watch SAR expert Robert Nielsen’s recent Google Tech Talk lecture video: Wilderness Survival: Building and Using a Wilderness Survival Kit. It will be one hour of your time, well-spent.    o o o Reader P.M. sent me flyer that mentioned the Earth-Box gardening system. P.M. says that he has used these for two years with great success. They can be put on wheeled platform or casters, allowing them to be moved indoors at night when frosts are expected.    o o o Rourke (moderator of the Jericho Discussion Group) mentioned …


Jim’s Quote of the Day

"People commit crimes because they are people—because they are innately selfish and do not care how their behavior affects other people, unless they have been raised to behave otherwise or unless they fear the criminal justice system." – Thomas Sowell, Barbarians Inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays, p. 21


Note from JWR:

I’ve been asked by several blog readers about quantity pricing on autographed copies of the latest (expanded) edition of my novel “Patriots”. Here you go: 1: $22, Book Rate postage paid in the United States 2: $20 each, Book Rate postage paid in the United States 3 to 5: $19 each, Book Rate postage paid in the United States 6 to 10: $16 each, Book Rate postage paid in the United States 11 to 25: $14 each, Book Rate postage paid in the United States Full cases of 26 copies $325 (just $12.50 each), Book Rate postage paid in the …