Month: April 2010

Letter Re: Understanding Hydrocarbon-Based Fuel

Mr. Editor: I wanted to comment on the article “Understanding Hydrocarbon-Based Fuel”: There is good info in this article but it really sells ethanol short. I think it will give preppers the misconception to stay away of ethanol. I’ve been studying ethanol for a couple years. I run an oil burner I’ve converted, and intend to build a large still. My 2000 Ford F-150 will run 50% ethanol without issues. It will run 100% E-85 fine but the check engine light will come on because the oxygen sensor sees too clean of exhaust. There are lots of false and manipulated …


Letter Re: Spokeo and OPSEC

Howdy, Last night on the news I heard a report about a new web site called Spokeo that combines phone book information, map info, personal info and social networking site info to create a profile for people. [It is an OPSEC threat.] I typed in names for my family and was surprised at the amount of info that was available. You can go to their “Privacy” page (linked at the very bottom and on the right) to remove a name. I did it this morning and it already took us off. Just to let you know in case you also …


Letter Re: Advice on Pistol Holsters

Jim, One more small tip on holsters, specifically the Blackhawk holsters with the single finger tension release. As an NRA Instructor who’s taught many handgun shooters, I’ve seen problems with the release when someone is under stress, as in a practical range exercise. One of my fellow instructors showed me a small addition to the holster, which I have retrofitted on all of mine. Simply take a small piece of stair tread tape, sometimes called skateboard tape (which is essentially sticky backed sandpaper), and attach it to the area of the release that needs to be depressed to release the …


Letter Re: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Resources

JWR, While concealed carry reciprocity [as recently discussed in the blog, with accompanying maps] is the best way to ensure legality of concealed carry in other states, it does not tell the whole story. For example, Washington state does not recognize a concealed carry permit from Idaho or Montana. However, Idaho and Montana honor one from Washington. If I was to only have looked at the Washington reciprocity page I would not have known that. I have found the best way to be absolutely sure it to check the individual states web site, but the previously given links did do …


Economics and Investing:

Voting with their feet: “Atlas Shrugged” taxes blow up in Maryland’s face. Thanks to Richard Z. for the link. Marc Faber and Mish Shedlock on Inflation, Deflation, Doom and the End of Civilization. (Thanks to Aaron for the link.) RBS spotted this: Sharp Increase in March in Personal Bankruptcies. (So this is the “Recovery”?) Water bills go up in down economy as usage drops. (Thanks to RBS for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Health Plan May Hobble Economic Recovery CBO: Student Loan Takeover Adds $52 Billion to Deficit Harrisburg, Pennsylvania May Miss Debt Payment; Go Into Chapter 9 Bankruptcy …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Thanks to IJS for sending this: Firestorm over wolf introductions erupting throughout Western states    o o o A reader mentioned the portable photovoltaic power systems made by Powerenz.com. They look interesting, but I haven’t yet seen this gear in person.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us a video clip with a warning on contaminated imported seafood.



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 HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of …


Dirt Time–Learning Practical Tracking Techniques, by James K. in Alaska

These are the opening words from the book The Tracker by Tom Brown, Jr. & William Jon Watkins: “The first track is the end of a string. At the far end, a being is moving; a mystery, dropping a hint about itself every so many feet, telling you more about itself until you can almost see it, even before you come to it. The mystery reveals itself slowly, track by track, giving its genealogy early to coax you in. Further on, it will tell you the intimate details of its life and work, until you know the maker of the …


Three Letters Re: Advice on Pistol Holsters

Jim, In response to the question on holsters: A couple of years ago, I read a series of articles by a man recalling his experiences in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He lived in a parish outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. After evacuating his family and letting the storm pass, he returned to repair/protect his home. Upon return, he found a checkpoint had been set up at the entrance to his cul-de-sac by some neighbors that stayed through the storm. His house was one of the 15 or so homes on this closed street. The homes were without power, had …


Economics and Investing:

Mind-Boggling Budget Deficit (The Mogambo Guru) GG recommended this ShawdowStats article published late last year that was previously available only to their paid subscribers: Hyperinflation Special Report RBS sent us this: The Continuing Decline of the Consumer ….More Struggling Borrowers Face Pay Garnishment Items from The Economatrix: Private Employment Fell in March States Delay Tax Refunds to Help Their Bottom Lines Wall Street is Driving Up Oil Prices More Financial Bubbles Ahead in the US Housing Market US Bankruptcy Filings Highest Ever Since 2005 Hoarding Not Hiring–Corporations Stockpiling Hoards of Cash Geithner Delays Currency Report L.A. City Employees Make Impassioned …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Some good news: Christian faith: Calvinism is back. (A hat tip to Tom W. for the link.)    o o o Mike M. suggested: Urban Forager; A Bitter Green Bouquet. (Our thanks to Mike M. for the link.)    o o o This recently-posted bio was over-the-top. (I certainly don’t belong at the beginning of that list, or perhaps even on it at all, since I’m from the subsequent generation of survivalists.) I’m only posting it because it includes a clip of one of my interviews where I give some practical advice.    o o o Lisa mentioned that Breadtopia …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his …


Notes from JWR:

I just heard from my editor at the Plume Division of Penguin Books that another publisher has purchased the rights to produce a Korean language edition of my non-fiction book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”. That is simply amazing. — 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 …


Understanding Hydrocarbon-Based Fuel

Background Fuel supplies are essential for many aspects of modern society. Complex supply chains rely on hydrocarbon-fueled trucks, trains and planes to deliver food and other supplies in near real-time. Natural gas is is used to heat homes and fuel generators that supply approximately one-sixth of all electricity produced in the US. Large-scale food production is only possible with diesel-fueled farm equipment and synthetic nitrate fertilizers, made from natural gas. It is not hard to imagine that anything more than a brief blip in fuel supplies would result in TEOTWAWKI. We have seen the result of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike …