Day: April 29, 2010

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: 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 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com. (A $275 value.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Practical Steps to Preparing a Family for TEOTWAWKI, by Mitch D.

Author’s Background I live in Northeastern Minnesota with my wife and four children ages: four to seven.  I teach and am a sports coach at the local high school in town (population 1,200).  We live two hours away from any type of big city, which in our case is Duluth, Minnesota (population 85,000).  My wife is a stay-at-home mom.  Three years ago, we built a new house four miles outside of town on 15 acres that my parents gave us.  Combined, we make just over $56,000 a year.  In just this past year, my wife and I have started making …


Letter Re: Standardizing with DeWalt 18 VDC Power Tools

James: While DeWalt is a good choice for tools, in order to save at least 30% off your next purchase look into the factory reconditioned web sites of DeWalt or in my case Bosch Tools. I used the Bosch 12 volt DC drill, in a production factory setting 10 hours a day for a year as a test. The battery only needed swapping once a day. The results were that I gave all our corded drills to the employees and purchased seven of their 12 VDC drills for the production floor. Bosch also has the 6 foot drop test on …


Letter Re: Observations on Life in Afghanistan

Mr Rawles. I read “Patriots” nearly a year ago and was impressed with the well written plot, realistic scenario and detail oriented implicit planning and tips. I learned a while thereafter of your SurvivalBlog and have been nibbling at it in chunks, trying yet to digest it. I imagine you notice a bit of a self selecting bias in people who read and enjoy your writing, even more in those who choose to e-mail you, so I won’t write the usual bits about how alike we think. I will write that I appreciate what you’re doing with the SurvivalBlog site …


Economics and Investing:

GG sent this: ECB may have to turn to ‘nuclear option’ to prevent Southern European debt collapse Brett G. spotted this article over at NewsMax: U.S. Debt to Hit $20 Trillion, Financial Times Warns Greek borrowing costs hit high as Germany fuels uncertainty over aid. (Thanks to R.I.P. for the link.) RBS sent this piece about foreclosed real estate: Flipping houses is back in South Los Angeles Europe debt crisis spreads to Portugal (Standard & Poors downgraded Greece and Portugal sovereign debt paper to “junk” status today.) Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Pull Back on Europe’s Deepening Debt Woes Europe …


Odds ‘n Sods:

UAE eyes three-month food stockpile. JWR Notes: It is noteworthy that nation states don’t launch into expensive ventures like this, sua sponte. Catch a clue, and stock up, folks! (A hat tip to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o Simon J. sent this technology development news: New Inexpensive Material Will Turn Night Into Day    o o o Rich at KT Ordnance forwarded this one: Agents of Incompetence: ATF Dodges FOIA, Still Has Seized BB Guns (Part IV)    o o o Nick S. flagged this bit of nuttery from Nanny State Britannia: Boy banned from eating …