An Apology, In Advance

My apologies if my blog postings the next few weeks are irregular and not up to snuff during our time of grief. It will be some time before my life, and the lives of my children get back to some semblance of normalcy. During this lull, I encourage you to delve into the nearly 7,500 searchable archived SurvivalBlog posts. Thanks for your patience.







Linda’s Favorite Hymn

And Can it Be that I Should Gain? And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? ’ Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies: Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine. ’ Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, Let angel minds …




Memorial Services and Condolences

We are not planning a public memorial service. Please do not send cards or e-mails of condolence. Linda told me that she would much prefer that that you spend that time and effort in sharing the Gospel of Christ with those that are unsaved. If you feel convicted to do anything in memory of Linda, then please support our favorite charity, the Anchor orphanage and school in Zambia. They are setting up a Linda Rawles Memorial Fund. I will post details on donations, in the next few days. Thanks for your prayers. With sincerity, – James Wesley, Rawles The posts …




Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 24 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) and C.)A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.) Second Prize: A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret …




How to be a Civilian Operator–Training Just 8 Hours Per Week, by Cody H.

Throughout the history of warfare there has always been an elite class of warriors that had superior skills, tactics, and mindset. Today is no different with each branch of our military having its own elite class of warriors.   When you think of a Navy SEAL, Delta, Pararescue, Green Beret (Special Forces or “SF”) , or Force Recon, what phrases run through your head? “Intense”, “Highly disciplined”, “Extremely fit”, “Tough”, “Well rounded”, “Deadly”. These are well-deserved phrases that can be applied to any of the special forces operators and the foundation that built these men is their mindset and training. …




Letter Re: Living in the Time After TEOTWAWKI

Dear Mr. Rawles I read with interest the letter you posted this morning (September 10, 2009) from Bear in California with regard to the skills and services that will probably be required in a post-SHTF scenario. It was all good stuff, and it caused my eyes to drift towards a set of books that have been on my bookshelf for over 30 years. Although, somewhat dog-eared since they only came out in soft cover, they are still highly valuable to me. I am referring, of course, to the Foxfire series that came out in 1969. While you are probably aware …




Economics and Investing:

“The Other Jim R.” was the first of several readers that sent us this: Federal deficit hits $1.38 trillion through August. Mr. W. sent this: Three more down: 2009 Bank failure tally hits 92 Items from The Economatrix: Treasury Sees Millions More Foreclosures Job Openings Down 50% From their Peak in 2007 Why $200 Per Barrel Oil is Just Around the Corner A Year After the Financial Crisis, a New World Order Emerges “System Risk Laundering” — Systemic Root Causes, Part II Forbes: The Dollar Collapses Gold Climbs to 18-Month High as Dollar Weakens US Growth to Slow After “Clunkers” …




Odds ‘n Sods:

This is not overtly related to survival and preparedness, but I found a page of photos linked over at Tamara’s blog simply fascinating: Abandoned Soviet Fortifications and Cities of the Kola Peninsula.    o o o Heather H. liked this piece: Quick Preserves an Alternative to Canning    o o o Cheryl flagged this: CSIS Report: US Preparing for North Korea Collapse Scenario. (Thankfully, the Dear Leader has decreed that a societal collapse will not be tolerated.)




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Never forget, even for an instant, that the one and only reason anybody has for taking your gun away is to make you weaker than he is, so he can do something to you that you wouldn’t let him do if you were equipped to prevent it. This goes for burglars, muggers, and rapists, and even more so for policemen, bureaucrats, and politicians.” – from the novel Hope by Aaron Zelman and L. Neil Smith




Notes from JWR:

Your prayers for The Memsahib would be greatly appreciated. Her remaining life in this mortal world will probably be just a few days. She is secure in her faith in Christ Jesus. I pray that you share our steadfast faith. — I heard that our friend Jeff created a real tempest in a teapot, with his edits to the Wikipedia page on the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. Be sure to copy and paste it before the Politically Correct crowd eviscerates it. — Today we present another entry for Round 24 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize: A.) …




The Disaster Garden–What’s Not in the Can, by C. the Old Farmer

“I’m going to garden if the Spinach hits the Fan…I’ve got my seeds in long term storage,” my prepper friend sighed with an attitude of  that’s taken care of now, thank goodness!  I asked if he had a garden.  “No, but I’m ready to start one if I have to.” As a homestead gardener of over 30 years from a long line of homestead gardeners, here is some practical advice culled from my years of experience growing food.  There is no instant garden by digging up the back yard.  I wish it were so!  Lawn grass is one of the …




Letter Re: Should I Buy Camouflage Web Gear?

Sir, I’m looking at various load bearing equipment (LBE), spurred by today’s writing contest entry and several pro-gun friends who have been harping on my lack of LBE. They make the same point as you do – if you can’t carry it, why have it? I see a lot of very nice, military or military-looking LBE equipment. Like a tactical vest with magazine pouches and hydration bladders and so forth. And I can get nice military or military-looking clothes (in [digital camouflage] ACU [pattern], for example). I drool over the cool looking gear. However, other than the magazine pouches, most …







Economics and Investing:

You might have noticed that gold set a record weekly closing price on Friday at $1,005 per ounce, and silver closed at a respectable $16.70. I expect some profit-taking in the next two weeks, so be ready to buy on this dip! From Jeff D.: Treasury sees millions more foreclosures Ben M. spotted this piece quoting Mr. Magoo Alan Greenspan. Market crisis ‘will happen again‘ Items from The Economatrix: Government Paid Dealers $1.2 Billion for “Clunkers” NYC’s Tavern on the Green Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trade, Jobless Claims Figures Show Recession Fading Money Market Fund Guarantee Program to End …