Year: 2009

Tactical River Crossings–An Emergency Alternative to Bridges, by Jacob R.

Many of you could be faced with the unique challenge of crossing a river during any number of “The End Of The World As We Know It” (TEOTWAWKI) scenarios. I have pre-positioned a respectable stock of supplies at my primary “Get Out Of Dodge” (G.O.O.D.) retreat site, however have multiple caches at various locations to ensure my family has a fighting chance at survival.  While I hope and pray to be able to evacuate my family safely via vehicle just prior to any TEOTWAWKI scenario.  Murphy’s Law reminds us that, “What can go wrong, will go wrong.”  Hence any prudent …


Letter Re: Range Report from Another Distaff Appleseed Shooter

James Wesley,| My hubby and I attended an Appleseed Project shoot last weekend at a local range. Our reward for all our planning to finally make one. Wow! What an openly honest and insightful man Fred is about his Appleseed project mission. I chatted with him throughout the weekend. He is truly a passionate visionary and an active proponent of legislative action. He can readily account accurate attestation on any Revolutionary War topic concerning the acts of examples of Freedom and LIberty and the Preservation of Civilian Rights to bear Arms, by our Forefathers. With that vision and mission, he …



Economics and Investing:

From Karen H.: Trailing Indicators: Out of a Job, Some Decide to Take a Hike Don’t Trip in Your Search for Higher Bond Yields Blaine sent this: Ten Big Companies Veering Towards Bankruptcy DD flagged a news item: FDIC considers borrowing cash from banks; Insurance fund that protects depositors is quickly running out of money Jim Jubak asks: Will US repeat mistakes of 1937? Items from The Economatrix: Reversal: FDIC May Need Bailout from Banks Ten Big Companies that are Veering Toward Bankruptcy Rebound In Commodities Carry Stocks Higher Oil Rebounds as Dollar Weakens Landmark Decision Promises Massive Relief for …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Marko liked this piece on Mexican desert living that he found on Treehugger: Young Couple Says NO to a Mortgaged Life    o o o From my old Defense Electronics magazine compadre Ken Timmerman: U.S. May Face 9/11-Scale Threat from Venezuela    o o o Slack: the unused portion of economy’s productive capacity, U.S. economy is swimming in spare capacity    o o o I heard that to pay off some large legal bills stemming from BATFE harassment (no Federal charges were ever filed), KT Ordnance is running a half-price special on all of their 80% complete receivers (except the …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The great body of our citizens shoot less as times goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world. The first step – in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come – is to teach men to shoot!” – Theodore Roosevelt


Note from JWR:

My #1 Son has created a static memorial page for my late wife, Linda (“The Memsahib“). This new page includes a link to the newly-established Linda Rawles Memorial Fund for her favorite charity, Anchor of Hope Charities. They are the main sponsor of the Anchor Institute, a Christian school and orphanage in rural Zambia. It is a very deserving charity, with hardly any overhead expenses. You can make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or by check. My thanks to the more than 100 SurvivalBlog readers that have already sent contributions totaling nearly $4,825 to this worthy charity! May God Bless …


Letter Re: Think of Preparedness as Insurance

Jim, We preppers get labeled all sorts of things from mildly eccentric to paranoid, and so I ask, is it so imbalanced to want insurance? Clearly most people have health insurance (if they can afford it) car insurance (mandatory), home insurance and life insurance so why stop there? When friends ask about my lifestyle, this is my argument. 1) Why do you have firearms? Police insurance. If the police can’t come in time, (can they ever?) or are overwhelmed (Los Angeles riots anyone?) or just go home (Hurricane Katrina?) then you may need need firearms. 2) Why do you have …


Letter Re: Chronic Troubles with PT/MMC Pistol Night Sights

Jim, As people are typically trying to find advice on tritium sights and what brand to get, I figure I’d share my bad experience with one supplier so as to keep others from repeating my mistake. A few years back I had my Springfield Trophy Match sights fitted with tritium inserts by PT Night Sights (a part of MMC Night Sights). At first I was disappointed. I had them install the 3-bar system on the rear sight, which I generally like. The front sight however was noticeably dimmer than the rear though, which is not how it’s supposed to be. …


Three Letters Re: Will Junk Silver Be Accepted for Barter, Post-Collapse?

Jim: I am not surprised that ordinary people in Dallas, Texas (or anywhere else in the US) are not aware that pre-1965 US quarters and dimes are 90% silver. After 40 years of continual dumbing down the average high school graduate today probably couldn’t tell you what the word “sterling” means either. I just checked Dex Online for coin dealers in Dallas, Texas. Dex brought up 18 coin dealers. Dex also brought up 18 antiques and collectibles dealers (who always know the value of old coins.) I don’t think there would be a problem converting pre-1965 “junk” silver coins into …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Swine flu ‘could kill millions unless rich nations give £900m’ UN report says pandemic may result in anarchy unless western world pays for antiviral drugs and vaccines. Thanks to John L. for the link. Brazil Registers 899 Swine Flu Deaths UK: Rise in Swine Flu Cases Signals Second Wave UK: Deadly Second Wave of Swine Flu “On Its Way” Another School District Closing Near Knoxville, Tennessee


Economics and Investing:

Tamara (of the View From The Porch blog), linked to this by Les Jones: Three tales of inflation From DD: Retraining roulette: New skills, no new job Trent forwarded this video link: Bullish Today, Marc Faber is “Highly Confident” the Future Will Be Very Bleak Items from The Economatrix: Weiss: From Deflation to Inflation. This is a significant change, because up until just recently, Marty Weiss had for more than two decades been warning about deflation. World Stocks Lower as Investors Eye Fed Meeting Oil Falls Below $71 Amid Weak Demand House Moves to Extend Unemployment Benefits IRS Extends Amnesty …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Damon mentioned a web site that describes the construction of inexpensive sand water filters.    o o o Directive 21 (one of advertisers) just added the Go Berkey Kit to heir product line. It is a smaller (one quart) Berkey system. It definitely fills a preparedness niche.    o o o Just as he predicted in an e-mail to me, my friend Jeff’s edits to the Wikipedia page on the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.were repeatedly ripped out by an anti-gun cabal. I am amazed at how Wikipedia has become so politicized and manipulated by the Politically Correct. Oh well, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“This first stage of the inflationary process may last for many years. While it lasts, the prices of many goods and services are not yet adjusted to the altered money relation. There are still people in the country who have not yet become aware of the fact that they are confronted with a price revolution which will finally result in a considerable rise of all prices, although the extent of this rise will not be the same in the various commodities and services. These people still believe that prices one day will drop. Waiting for this day, they restrict their …


Note from JWR:

My forthcoming nonfiction book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” includes several pages of material that is redundant to my currently published book “SurvivalBlog: The Best of the Blog”. So I ‘ve decided to discontinue self-publishing the latter. If you’d like your own copy of “SurvivalBlog: The Best of the Blog” then be sure to order one before September 30th, when it will be dropped from the Clearwater Press products page.