Year: 2008

Two Letters Re: The Shenandoah Valley as a Retreat Locale?

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers: I currently live in Virginia and what Jim said about retreat locale selection is generally accurate. That’s not to say “all is lost!”. Hardly, there are some advantages you have in our area that I’ve only found in a couple other places in the US, and you can successfully find a retreat location. You just have to work harder at it. The simple fact that most people live where they do is because it’s easier. The more remote locations, and the more secure, tend to be more work to live in. It’s all balance and trade off. …


Letter Re: Holster, Sling, and Web Gear Recommendations

Jim, Long before the current trend in drop-leg holsters, we used some in Army Aviation to clear the armor on the seats in some specific aircraft. The one I flew had more armor coverage, and frankly even a drop-leg wasn’t going to work, so the shoulder holster was the way to go for me. Tanker wear shoulder rigs, as well as desk jockeys for the very same reason. Your pistol needs to be out of the way to do your primary job. That’s the Army though. Just because Big Army does it, or uses it, it doesn’t mean it’s really …


Odds ‘n Sods:

With Gustav Approaching New Orleans Residents Stocking Up on AR-15s and ammo    o o o KAF sent this: Rat meat in demand as inflation bites    o o o L.A. Police Gear (a likely new SurvivalBlog advertiser) is having a 10% off sale, for Labor Day Weekend. Enter coupon code “LABOR”.    o o o Kevin A. suggested a background article on economics by Louis Even, titled Guernsey’s Monetary Experiment. Here is a key quote: “The issues of national currency by the States of Guernsey caused neither inflation nor idleness. They created activity and prosperity. But these issues did …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“At this point, our bet remains that the Feds will go to default mode which means cranking up the printing presses into the red zone, letting the dollar move ever closer to its intrinsic value: zero. That they’ll follow this route is suggested by two inputs. First, a depreciating dollar means a reduction in the trillions of dollars in obligations now owed by the U.S. government. And, secondly, foreign holders don’t vote.” – David Galland, as quoted by The Silver Bear Cafe


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 18 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article in the next 60 days will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 18 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing …


Night Operations–Gain the Tactical and Psychological Edge, Even Without the Aid of Night Vision Devices, by Pete C.

Sometime in the future, in a post-TEOTWAWKI environment, your retreat group may decide to send out small teams to conduct either reconnaissance or security patrols. They may want to collect information on what is happening at the nearest town or confirm/ disprove the accuracy of any information (rumors) previously attained. Whatever the mission, these teams must function as a cohesive unit every time. Their success or failure will depend on everyone’s ability to operate during darkness or periods of reduced and/ or limited visibility (to include rain, fog, snow, etc.) even if they do not have the aid of night …


Odds ‘n Sods:

“I think there is a 90% probability the great crisis will be upon us within ten years” says Richard Maybury, of the Early Warning Report newsletter. Maybury has been uncannily prescient on geopolitical and economics for many years. Thanks, to Nick, for the link    o o o F.M. sent us this: PEMEX Expects Oil Depletion in Seven Years    o o o OSOM flagged this article: Fannie and Freddie Failure Would be Catastrophic. OSOM’s comment: “So the question is, how much of our taxpayer money, and inflationary fiat money will be used to bail them out?”    o o …



Note from JWR:

Many thanks to the several new 10 Cent Challenge subscribers hat have signed up in the last few days. These subscriptions are entirely voluntary, and gratefully accepted. The Memsahib’s recent hospitalization was incredibly expensive, so your support of SurvivalBlog is particularly appreciated this month!


Letter Re: The Shenandoah Valley as a Retreat Locale?

Mr. Editor: I live 50 miles west of Washington, DC. How do you feel about the Shenandoah mountains area as a retreat location? I was thinking about building a cabin with a Safecastle underground [blast/fallout/security] shelter. I have not yet bought the land yet but it is a good time to do so. I look forward to talking with you soon. – Mike JWR Replies: I highly recommend Safecastle’s shelters, but a shelter by itself will not ensure our safety in truly desperate times. You will also need geographic isolation. I think that anywhere that is within one tank of …



Letter Re: Holster, Sling, and Web Gear Recommendations

Jim, Love ya brother, but low rigs are not necessarily”Mall Ninja.” A coupe of circumstances warrant them; First, body armor like US military issue Interceptor Body Armor (IBA). Having a pistol on your hip when wearing IBA/rack gear is not fun. The gun and gear is always gimping you and hanging up, especially when you’re in and out of vehicles. Second; when you’re wearing a BDU or ACU type top that isn’t tucked in. Again, it’s constantly binding or hanging up and, unlike an open front vest, digging up under the top to get at the gun and then trying …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Dave in S.C. recommended a handy FAQ on DC batteries.    o o o Cyberiot sent us this article: Problem bank list keeps growing. It includes this troubling metric: “FDIC says list of troubled banks in 2nd quarter grows to 117 with $78 billion in assets – up from 90 banks, $26 billion in assets in 1st quarter…” Speaking of the FDIC, several other readers suggested this article: FDIC weighs tapping Treasury as funds run low. I’ve said it before: Be ready for a massive wave of bank runs, folks.    o o o Reader “MGB” suggested a piece over …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Ludwig von Mises warned us that governments will destroy free-markets long before they ever understand how they work. I would like to add that governments will destroy free-markets if they do not like the message of the market. Government intervention after all is nothing but a blatant attempt to change the market’s message about the price of some good or service. We have seen this intervention time and again by governments around the world, including the U.S. government. Sen. Lieberman’s bill to prevent institutional investors from buying commodities is a good example of this penchant to destroy the market process …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 18 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article in the next 60 days will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 18 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing …