Month: July 2010

Letter Re: Situational Awareness, Instincts and “Wargaming”

Hello, James That was an excellent article by H.H. (Situational Awareness, Instincts and “Wargaming”.) I would like to add to his points one additional. Many people who carry for protection don’t get taught one of the golden rules of self defense tactics. That golden rule is this: Picture yourself having squared off with a would be assailant. You get to the point of having pulled your firearm out and aligned in the threat’s direction. If the would-be assailant moves, you move. He takes 4 steps to your right, you take some steps in the opposite direction. By moving if he …


Economics and Investing:

S.J. sent us this link: The Scariest Unemployment Graph I’ve Seen Yet Dave D. suggested this article: U.S. may face deflation, a problem Japan understands too well Reader “AmEx” (American Expatriate) sent us this: Uncle Sam has worse woes than Greece From reader RBS: U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion, Barofsky Says Geithner: Let Tax Cuts Die. (Can you detect the desperate need for revenue?) A hat tip to B.G. for the link.


Odds ‘n Sods:

David R. relayed this article: Warren Pollock Warns Of Emergency Drug Shortage as EMTs Told to Go to “Alternate Protocols“    o o o If you like the Multicam camouflage pattern, then check out this home-based business, that makes Multicam clothing and packs, all reasonably priced: BadMoonRizing.com    o o o F.G. sent this: Desperate cities try giving away land, to get any taxes later. Here is a quote: “Around the nation, cities and towns facing grim budget circumstances are grasping at unlikely — some would say desperate — means to bolster their shrunken tax bases. Like Beatrice, places like …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“As Chief Executive of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, I hereby declare a state of unlimited national emergency until such time as new elections are held, and congress reconvenes. In the devastated areas and in those other areas where normal functions of government cannot be carried out, I hereby declare martial law, to be administered by the Army. I appoint Lieutenant General George Hunneker Army Chief of Staff, and Director of Martial Law in the Zone of the Interior, which means within the forty-nine states. There have been grave dislocations of communications, of industrial, …


Notes from JWR:

We are pleased to welcome our newest advertiser, Maxpedition Hard Use Gear. They have a huge product line of very sturdy field gear. And, unlike many of their competitors, none of their products are made in mainland China. For a short time, they are offering a special 5% discount for SurvivalBlog readers. (Use coupon code 5SB810.) — 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. …


A Doctor’s Thoughts on Antibiotics, Expiration Dates, and TEOTWAWKI, by Dr. Bones

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As a recently-retired physician who is married to a nurse-midwife, my preparedness group looks to us as the post-TEOTWAWKI hospital and medical staff. Medical progress has been exponential and even just the last decade of scientific breakthroughs can equal a century of improvement in medical treatments, surgical techniques and pharmaceuticals. However, in the years (months?) ahead, the crumbling of the infrastructure and devolution of society in general will very likely throw us back to a medical system that existed in the 19th Century. Let’s take an example: When the U.S. was a young nation, the average woman could expect to …


Changes for 2011, The Taxman Cometh

Recent news articles about U.S. tax law changes have prompted dozens of SurvivalBlog readers to contact me with their concerns. Some of these e-mails asked me for advice on how to minimize the impact of these tax law changes. First let’s go over the changes in the tax law that have been announced: 1.) The Federal income tax rates are increasing starting with tax year 2010, with the top tax rate jumping to 39.6%. Meanwhile they are reinstituting the death tax, creating higher capital gains taxes, and the elimination of some exemptions for people that are married and for those …


Letter Re: Day to Day Survival–From the Perspective of a Homeless Man

It may not be TEOTWAWKI, but the end of “your world” may be closer than you think. Mine came eight years ago with the end of my wife’s battle with cancer. With the down turn of the economy and a mountain of medical bills, we had already leveraged every penny that we could. We took out a second mortgage, maxed our credit cards, sold the boat, the four wheeler, and travel trailer. Since then I’ve sold my pickup, her car, the tools of my trade (I’d been a carpenter), and anything else that could bring in a dollar. I’ve been …


Letter Re: Thoughts on Beginning Preparedness

James, There have recently been some really good posts on SurvivalBlog. I found B.J.H.’s Thoughts on Beginning Preparedness very interesting. Not just because of useful information, but because it highlighted the differences between each of us and our situations. My first survival/TEOTWAWKI book was When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency by Matthew Stein. It made sense to me, so I started with lots of extra house/car keys, hidden appropriately. Next was Bug Out Bags (BOBs) for the whole family, and emergency bags in the cars. Then I started stockpiling food and water for …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate G.G. sent this: Nielson Probability of US Hyperinflation or Debt Implosion Both G.G. and John G. suggested this article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: The Death of Paper Money F.G. mentioned: The Middle Class in America Is Radically Shrinking. Here Are the Stats to Prove it K.A.F. sent this Fox news item: Treasury Plans to Sell 30% More of Citi Stake.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader R.F.G. recommended an Instructables piece on rain water collection barrels. R.F.G.’s comment: “Sometimes all you need is a few pictures to make something ‘brain dead’ simple.”    o o o G. &K. suggested this news article from Kentucky: Growing number people growing their own groceries.    o o o Nancy Tappan very kindly sent me a review copy of her fledgling magazine, The New Pioneer. It is subtitled “The Complete Guide to Self-Reliant Living.” I am very impressed with the magazine. The articles are well-written and fit the back-to-the-land/prepper audience very well. The premier issue was a hefty 128 …



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 …


Thoughts on Beginning Preparedness, by B.J.H.

Preparing for the end of the world as we know it is an understandably daunting task, especially for a beginning prepper. The path to securing yourself and your family should ultimately end in a self-sufficient rural retreat, but there are many steps down that path. It is easy in the beginning stages of your preparation to feel discouraged by the shear size of the task in front of you. The amount of information to be taken in, the sudden awareness s of your vulnerable present condition, the list of tools you never knew you needed, and the anticipated financial and …


Letter Re: A Police Officer’s Comments on High Stress Reactions

Dear Mr. Rawles, I have enjoyed your books and SurvivalBlog for several years now. They have helped me prepare myself and my family for dark times we hope are not coming but look more and more certain each day. I wanted to attempt to share some of my knowledge with this community in hopes it can help prepare others. After 9-11 I made a career change and became a police officer in Northern California. I have been blessed to receive a lot of specialized training since become an officer. Some of this training has included: firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, …