Month: June 2010

Letter Re: The Disappearing Suburban Basement–Questions and Answers

Dear Jim: There has been such a great response to the article I wrote about using the basement in my home as a survival retreat, and I want to thank everybody for taking the time to read both parts—and to respond with some great questions. I wanted to take a moment and address a few of the questions, and perhaps give a little deeper insight into the arrangements, processes, and the solutions I have found to each of the various questions. First, and most importantly, I would like to stress that I’m not claiming this to be the ideal solution. …


Economics and Investing:

Evan D. suggested this: The Death of Las Vegas. Niall Ferguson: Debt Has Taken Down Empires Before, There Is No Reason Why It Won’t Happen Again. (Thanks to Eric J. for the link to the lecture. JWR Adds: Don’t miss his discussion of “The Metrics of Doom”, starting about 28 minutes into the video. Europe Troubles Are About to Start: Wilbur Ross (Thanks to Brian B. for the link.) Kevin A. sent this incredible article: State Wants to Borrow From Pension Fund, to Pay the Fund. The article begins: “Gov. David A. Patterson and legislative leaders have tentatively agreed to …


Odds ‘n Sods:

All that I’ve been hearing from SurvivalBlog readers thusfar about the National Geographic documentary Electronic Armageddon has been positive. It is about the effects of a High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) on the US. Check your local listings for repeat showings! For further research on this topic, I highly recommend the EMPact America web pages.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson mentioned this free NAS on-line book: Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report    o o o RS.R. noted this: Green Gadgets: Nokia Unveils New Bike-Powered Phone Chargers



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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), D.) A 500 round case of …


Self Defense Against Knives, by Keith W.

With all the preparations people make for TEOTWAWKI, one skill that I’ve noticed that a lot of people lack is personal self defense in close quarters combat (CQC). I’m not talking about their collection of weapons only here, but rather their overall sense of what self defense really means and what it really requires. People have a in inherent duality to their nature. In normal times, nearly all humans have an aversion to killing each other. However, in a survival situation (even just a perceived survival situation) people can be exceedingly vicious if they think they have to be. This …


Letter Re: Check Prices When Buying Storage Foods!

Mr. Rawles: I had a shock when I went to the supermarket the other day. I had gotten into a habit of buying beans and lentils in the little one pound clear plastic bags. I had also bought a lot of white rice in two pound bags, just one [bag] at a time. That was convenient, but I wasn’t paying attention to the price tags. When I went to stock up, I found that the difference in price [per ounce] just between the 1 pound bags and the 10 pounds sack was huge. They charge like three times as much …


Letter Re: A Suburban Bug-In Problem (Or Maybe a Resource)

Since the 1950s many homes have had them. Since the 1970s many building codes have required them. What? A sump pump. Yeah, that thing in the hole in the corner of the basement that kind of hums every once in a while. You don’t think about it much do you? But it keeps your basement floor dry. If the electric goes out, for any reason, for very long, you may have a big problem. I have seen over a foot of water in a 30×25 foot basement after just a mild spring rain. They make “battery back up” auxiliary pumps, …


Two Letters Re: The Disappearing Suburban Basement

Jim, Everyone who reads your blog should own and read Nuclear War Survival Skills, by Cresson H. Kearny. [It is available for free download in PDF, but be sure to also get an EMP-proof hard copy!] Chapter 6 deals with ventilation, lets the air out of assumptions about the subject (couldn’t help myself) and explains how to do it without electricity for when the Schumer really Hits The Fan. – R.J.W. Sir: For those planning to use the basement for a retreat, do not forget to test for Radon Gas, a carcinogenic found in many basements throughout the county. Here …


Economics and Investing:

The mainstream media finally raises serious alarm about derivatives: Big Risk: $1.2 Quadrillion Derivatives Market Dwarfs World GDP.(Thanks to JDD for the link.) FWIW, I’ve been warning about this since 2006. Fannie-Freddie Fix at $160 Billion With $1 Trillion Worst Case. (Thanks to Brian B. for the link.) Scott S. call this article at Zero Hedge a “must read”: Extend And Pretend – A Guide To The Road Ahead Reader P.D. spotted this: 20 More Signs of a Full-On Economic Collapse SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate, “George Gordon” sent us this: Number of the Week: Default, Not Thrift, Pares U.S. Debt A …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mike M. highlighted this interesting article from southern California: Wealthy homeowners seeking privacy are increasingly buying adjacent properties.    o o o Reader F.J.R. sent this uber-doom prediction on an Extinction Level Event: The end of the world as we know it; Forget man-made threats – the catalyst for the apocalypse will come from outer space, warns astronomer Chris Impey    o o o For those in coral snake country: Why Snakebites Are About to Get a Lot More Deadly. (A hat tip to Damon for the link.)    o o o Another Medical Corps Field Dentistry class is now …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …


Colloquium (CQ) Groups–Part Two–What We Have Learned, by H.B. in North Central Idaho

The first part of this series described the foundation for success in starting a community preparedness group.  If you haven’t read it yet please do so now before proceeding. The first step in implementation is to find a few like-minded individuals with whom you can share ideas, receive counsel and help spread the word about the first CQ.  As I mentioned previously I used the wisdom and connections of a local businessman who saw a lot of like-minded folks come through his door.  I also sought counsel from a few others whose temperament and personalities were complementary to my own …


Letter Re: Bug Out Bags for the Elderly and Those with Bad Backs

Hello Mr. Rawles, I noticed that another bug out bag article was posted to SurvivalBlog. The love affair with the bug out bag is for the physically able. For those of us who cannot shoulder a 50 to 70 pound pack, there ought to be an alternative. My wife and I are both 69 years old and in relative good health. Neither of us could shoulder a 40+ pound bag and go any significant distance. The answer to this is mechanical leverage. We bought two yard carts like those used to move plants around at commercial plan nurseries and greenhouses. …