Month: November 2009

Solar Electric Vehicles for TEOTWAWKI, by Pete Montgomery

Having been a “prepper” for more than 25 years, growing up in Florida where you had to be prepared for the inevitable annual hurricane, I have experienced many powerful storms, with the associated loss of power and the joy of waiting in line for gasoline. These experiences have cultivated a growing interest in solar power and how it relates to providing power in an emergency situation. Until recently photovoltaic (PV) power solutions were out of reach and electric transportation was just a pipe dream. I always wished that I could have a motor vehicle that didn’t depend on the “grid” …


Two Letters Re: Maintaining OPSEC in a Geographically Extended Retreat Group

James, An idea for maintaining security: One could setup and run their own IP telephone server and use encrypted IP phones to communicate amongst their group. Asterisk is an example of an open source telephony server that runs on Linux. The server must be connected to the internet and has to be made specifically aware of the particular encrypted phones that the group uses. The phones must also have Internet connections. The entire comm channel is encrypted. If the server can be kept secure, then I think there is no point in the channel that is subject to monitoring. If …


Economics and Investing:

Flaw in US Data Overstates Growth, Productivity. (Thanks to Garth for the link.) Jonathan H. sent this from The Wall Street Journal: Three Decades of Subsidized Risk K.T. sent this: CNBC – Dollar Will be Utterly Destroyed, Global Currency, New World Order Bobbie-Sue spotted this interview: Peter Schiff: The Government Chose Wrong. Here comes inflation! Items from The Economatrix: Dollar Down Again as G-20 Backs On-Going Stimulus Stock Volatility Sign of Aging Bull? UK: Zombies Lurking On Every High Street Credit Card Firms Hurry to Raise Rates Now Ex-CitiGroup Boss Becomes A Glass-Steagall Convert BoE Says Financiers are Fueling an …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Damon recommended this tutorial written by a university professor: Beginning Cheesemaking.    o o o Tom at Camping Survival (one of our loyal advertisers) has announced a special “Overstock Giveaway”, just for SurvivalBlog readers. Only the first five readers that respond via e-mail will receive a FREE Coghlan’s C Tech Wireless Weather Station. Here is a description: “This device lets you keep an eye on the weather conditions and trends. The high-impact body with rubberized finish is weather-resistant for reliable service in outdoor environments. Includes a long-lasting lithium battery and includes a lanyard cord for carrying. The detachable wireless sensor …



Letter Re: Food Storage–of Mice and Moths

Mr. Rawles, I’m writing both a thank you and a warning. First, thank you, thank you, for putting together the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course. By getting almost all of our storage food at Sam’s Club and packaging it ourselves in 6-gallon “super pail” food storage buckets, we saved hundreds dollars, versus buying commercially-packed storage food. That alone made the course worthwhile. (Not to mention the ton of other useful information it includes.) I have also loaned our course binder to both my sister and to my sister-in-law, so the course has also gotten triple the mileage! Now …


Letter Re: Maintaining OPSEC in a Geographically Extended Retreat Group

My Dear Brother in Christ, Before I get to my question my wife and I would like to express our sympathy (a overused word I now but heart felt) at the loss of your partner and our sister in Christ. I know there is joy to be had for her being with Jesus but the loss is still felt by you and your kids and our prayers are with you. Now my main question. Do you have any ideas regarding security with it comes to putting a group together where the potential members are separated to the extent that it …


Economics and Investing:

Raymond sent this New York Times piece: Inside The Global Frenzy For Gold Several readers sent this: Gold price hits record high as dollar wanes. JWR’s advice: Wait until the next profit-taking dip in precious metals, but then invest in silver, not gold. (I anticipate that silver may dip to as low as $12 per ounce, a proportionately much deeper drop, than gold. Watch the silver-to-gold price ratio closely! In the long term, the value of silver will gain versus gold, since silver is being consumed–and not reclaimed–from industrial use. (Nearly all gold is reclaimed, but an incredible amount of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jeff B. flagged this from ABC: Massachusetts family of six lives off $4 per week for food. Coupon clipping pays off! For anyone on a low income: If you have the time, but not the cash, then this is one way to stock your larder. (With our Search Posts on SurvivalBlog box, enter the word “coupons” to find previous articles with links to online printable coupons and discount codes, such as this one.)    o o o Jim W. and Norman both suggested this 60 Minutes segment about a former US spy chief’s dire warning about the vulnerability of America’s …



Note from JWR:

The special sale price on the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course from Arbogast Publishing began Friday night, and will run until November 30th. Just the first folks that order will also get a free copy of my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It“, so order soon! The course is designed to get a family’s food storage squared away in a hurry, by stocking up on bulks foods, most efficiently a “big box” store such as a COSTCO. Oh, and speaking of COSTCO, my new book is now being sold there (for …


Two Letters Re: Food Grade HDPE Storage Buckets

James, Some time ago mention was made on the site regarding “square buckets” [that are food grade]. I came across this deal which readers may be interested in (I have no relationship with these folks). The company is called Five Star Preparedness, in Utah. God Bless, – Bob B. JWR: I have searched your great site, and the Internet in general for more info on storing grain (such as wheat) inside good used food grade plastic pails. So far I have learned that a mylar food grade bag should be used inside the [sealed HDPE plastic] pail to put the …


Letter Re: Retreat Construction, Afghan Style

Mr. Rawles, Regarding your discussion of adobe construction – Adobe can be used for structural and exterior construction in a range of climates based on how you make it. I used to work for a company in Fresno, California that made stabilized adobe – it included a bituminous emulsion (tar-like stuff that’s water proof) to make the bricks water proof. They have been sold across California in residential and commercial construction. Their products included several that were considered structurally sound enough to meet California’s earthquake codes and generally made walls from 12 inches solid to 18 inches (two row with …


Letter Re: Clarification on the Distribution of SurvivalBlog

James, Would you be kind enough to add me to your e-mailing list for your blog? I would appreciate it. Thanks, C.R. – Lebanon, Oklahoma JWR Replies: For the privacy of my readers, I don’t keep any e-mail lists. My blog is accessed by readers with a web browser either by clicking a bookmark, or by using our RSS feed. Just be sure to book mark our URL, or better yet, make it your browser’s home page. SurvivalBlog has been updated daily, without fail, since its inception in 2005. All of the blog’s content, including nearly 8,000 archived articles, letters, …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Amid shortage, big NYC firms get swine vaccine. Reader Garth S. (who sent us the article link) asks: “So is this how it works? I get six zeros behind my salary and I can get to the front of the line?” World First As Swine Flu Found in US Cat Critically Ill Swine Flu Patients Spend Weeks in ICU Scandal: NHL Team Gets Priority Flu Shots WHO Targets Hemorrhagic H1N1 Cases in Lviv, Ukraine. So, assuming that his is a new, more lethal strain, I’m led to ask: Will contracting the current mild strain circulating in the US protect someone …