Year: 2008

Letter Re: The Wal-Mart Discount Prescription Promotion

Jim, I’m a Family Doctor in rural Michigan, and a Major in the Army Reserve Medical Corps, who enjoys your blog every day. A pharmacist friend, who works at WalMart just gave me their new list of $4 drugs for 30 days and $10 drugs for 90 days [sales promotion]. What a bonanza! If your friendly local doctor will do it, he can prescribe for you, drugs such as Cipro 500 MG (a great broad-spectrum antibiotic), # 90 count for $10. Or Ibuprofen 800 MG #90 count for $10, or a very wide selection of medications for diabetes, high blood …


Two Letters Re: Alternatives to Firearms for Defense and Hunting in a Survival Situation

Mr. Rawles, In his article [Alternatives to Firearms for Defense and Hunting in a Survival Situation], Bill H. missed something very important in his segment on air rifles, the modern large bore pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifle. I have a Quackenbush .308 caliber. It shoots standard .308 diameter cast lead bullets into one hole at 25 yards and does about 800 to 900 feet per second. It is my first choice for killing stray/feral dogs. Filling the reservoir with a hand pump is a tiresome job and plinking with the gun is not fun due to the work it requires. However …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Dennis B. forwarded us a link to an editorial by Richard J. Greene on the dangers of buying “electronic” gold via Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Something tells me that there is some creative accounting going on. In fact, I’ll go on record as stating that I have my doubts that there is a tangible ounce of gold in custody for every “ounce” purchased.    o o o I heard from a reader about a new and informative reference site: Set2Survive.com.Take look.    o o o Several readers sent this: Avian Flu Found In Tyson Chickens (in Arkansas). “Oh, but it …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he …



Observations on Real World Pistol Malfunctions and Failures, by PPPP

Mr. Rawles, I just returned from instructing a handgun course with 42 people on my range, and another 40 on my brother’s range. (He is also an instructor). I wanted to pass along some information on handgun maintenance and note several observations from this weekend that are typical in the courses we teach (approximately 800 rounds fired [per student] over several days). First., the [Model] 1911 model handguns took top honors in failures (defined as taking you out of the fight, not just a malfunction). Six of the approximately 25 [Model] 1911s had these problems. (includes both ranges). This is …


Letter Re: An Oil Trader’s Observations on the Market Implications of War with Iraq

Jim, I’ve been trading crude oil for a few decades now, and in the last two sessions I’ve seen trading like I haven’t seen since Desert Storm, large unexplained up moves, $5.50 yesterday (6/5) and as I type this the market opened $6.00 higher. For a huge liquid market such as Crude Oil, these are large moves. I went to the Jerusalem Post to search out any open source tidbits/indicators and I stumbled upon this article. To buttress this, Gold is up $22 and Silver up 35 cents. The first piece of Israeli ordnance to hit Iranian soil could cause …


Letter Re: Advice on Backup Power for a Ranch in Western Canada

Hello, I’m debating with myself. Do I install wind power or purchase and fill another diesel tank? The wind power would be the best investment, but my concern is the wind tower would be a giant sign that a prepared person lives here. I live in the middle of the Canadian west 10 miles from a town of 1,000 people 40 miles from a city of 25,000 people and 250 miles from a city of 400,000 people. I own 1,000 acres and my yard is in the middle. Does the distance from large population give me enough protection to install …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Diesel thieves wreak havoc on California farmers    o o o Yishai found us this, by way of Glenn Reynolds over at Instapundit: If GPS Gets Knocked Out, the government has a backup plan.    o o o I missed this news article when it was posted a couple of weeks ago: Home Foreclosures: Crisis Is Only Getting Deeper. More recently, we’ve read: Bernanke urges more action to stem home foreclosure crisis    o o o Some analysis by Frank Barbera: Return of the Credit Crisis – Did It Ever Leave? We still haven’t seen the full impact on the …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I say that the Second Amendment doesn’t allow for exceptions — or else it would have read that the right “to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, unless Congress chooses otherwise.” And because there are no exceptions, I disagree with my fellow panelists who say the existing gun laws should be enforced. Those laws are unconstitutional [and] wrong — because they put you at a disadvantage to armed criminals, to whom the laws are no inconvenience.” – Harry Browne, August 8, 2000, speaking at a Second Amendment rally in Arkansas


Notes from JWR:

I was pleased to hear that SurvivalBlog.com got fair treatment in a CNN television news special segment about survivalism that aired on Thursday. The following is another article for Round 17 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win two valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificates. (Worth up to $4,000!) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. Round 17 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entries. Remember that articles that …


Alternatives to Firearms for Defense and Hunting in a Survival Situation, by Bill H.

While in a modern setting there is no replacement for a well maintained firearm, individuals who read Survival Blog are well aware that the terms “Modern”, “Optimal” and “Best Case” are unlikely to apply in the not so distant future. Most tools can serve more than one purpose. A large Crescent wrench can be used as an impromptu hammer for example. Likewise your .308 battle rifle could be used to hunt rabbits, but it has several drawbacks to be being used in such a way. However just as a proper tool kit has a hammer as well as a Crescent …


Four Letter Re: Healthy Harvest Food Storage and Emergency Supplies

Hello SurvivalBlog Readers: I just wanted to put in a plug for the newest SurvivalBlog sponsor, Healthy Harvest. I’ve been doing business with Jan for at least 10 years. The customer service is great. Jan has always been prompt and responsive in her communications. Her prices are competitive and her knowledge of products is excellent. If you live in the Southwest Washington/Northwest Oregon area, you can pick up the products in person at her warehouse. While Jan no longer has a retail store, she does offer occasional open warehouse days with food samples and discounts on product. She will let …


Odds ‘n Sods:

How “safe” are safe deposit boxes? Read this article that Simon in England sent us: £14 million seized in deposit box search. Did all 7,000 boxes drilled open belong to “master criminals”? I doubt it. Where is the libertarian outcry? There is now hardly any expectation of privacy remaining in the UK, and property rights are fading fast. Take the gap!    o o o Hawaiian K. sent this piece from the George Washington Blog: The Derivatives Market is Unwinding! This confirms some of my predictions. Take a look at the piece that I wrote about derivatives a couple of …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely….The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble …