Day: December 14, 2009

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 26 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.) C.) A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Luger, 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP ammo, …


Survival Tools, by SJH

I’ve read many articles regarding “survival “ and “preparedness” topics, my conclusion is that an important area has been missed. Lots of planning seems to focus on food storage, water, supplies, and so on, yet I have not seen or read anything about “survival tools — how to be prepared for anything mechanically”. So after considering this topic for several years, I’ve decided to introduce my own topic as far as tools for the self-reliant individual. My background includes 30 years of mechanical equipment repair on automobiles and trucks/trailers to heavy construction equipment including dozers and cranes. Having been exposed …


Letter Re: Space-Efficient Shelving Systems for Retreat Storage

Hello Mr. Rawles, I am new to your blog but after reading “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” and currently reading “Patriots”. I am an active reader of your blog. I am an Eagle Scout and by living the Boy Scout motto, Be Prepared. I have already been living the lifestyle without even knowing it. However, there are things that I still need to work on which is also complicated by the fact I am currently in the military and some of the areas are lacking due to the complex issues this create for …


Letter Re: Goats for Thrifty Livestock Feeding

I love the Christmas season, and it is not for all the time and money wasted watching kids rip open boxes with toys or gadgets that they will forget about in a month. I can really reduce my hay bill for January even in the worst winters. Round about December 21st, I post small notices at the library, banks, and other places that will let me that advertise; “Tree Removal – $5 Mountain/Clean Trees or $10 all others” Costs me less than an hour of my time to make and post the notices and nets me between 50-100 trees a …


Four Letters Re: Sources for Prescription Medications?

Editor’s Note: As previously mentioned, when this thread was started, the use of anything other than USP Human Grade antibiotics on humans should only be considered in the most dire of circumstances, where there is no other choice. Jim, In reference to the question of sources for prescription medications, I recommend that readers interested in stocking up on medicine take a copy of Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid, by William Forgey, to their primary care physician and show them the list of medications listed in the book. Explain to the doctor that you are preparing and that you would like …



Economics and Investing:

Tom W. liked this piece by Todd Harrison at Minyanville: What in the World Is Going On? Trent H. suggested this video clip: Globe “Overdue for a Currency Crisis”; Why Jim Rogers is Buying Dollars GG flagged this: The Coming Wave of Debt Defaults Items from The Economatrix: Sovereign Debt Defaults the Next Shoe to Drop? House Passes Massive Overhaul of Wall Street’s Regulations US Foreclosures to Reach Record 3.9 Million in 2009 North Korean Won Plunges 96% after Gov’t Reevaluation Venezuela Debt Holders Rush For Exits As Banks’ Woes Surface


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s British-born Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson catalogued another article on the descent into Nanny State Britannia: Three -inch pocketknives illegal in the UK.    o o o I was just introduced to a great dry firing trigger kit for Glocks, made by Southwest Shooting Authority. These provide a very realistic feeling trigger pull and trigger reset. Unlike those made by their competitors, the Southwest dry practice kits have a 90 day warranty, and are useful for up to 50,000 trigger presses. Installation and removal are a breeze. (It takes less than a minute for anyone that is familiar …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Sure I am that this day – now we are the masters of our fate; that the task which has been set us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause and an unconquerable will-power, salvation will not be denied us.” – Winston Churchill, addressing a joint session of the US Congress, December 26, 1941