Month: September 2010

Odds ‘n Sods:

RBS mentioned that there are pictorials of some natural materials building projects available at the Solar Haven web site.    o o o When “Dry Practice” isn’t dry: Deputy in town for firearms training accidentally fires weapon in hotel room. This serves as a reminder: Always double check that your weapon is empty, that you have no ammo in the training area, and that you have a safe backstop! (Thanks to Richard S. for the link.)    o o o A new catalyst: Turning $25 of Natural Gas into a $75 Barrel of Oil?    o o o Dr. A.W. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any outcropping of what is now called ‘a conspiracy theory of history.’ For a search for ‘conspiracies,’ as misguided as the results often are, means a search for motives, and an attribution of individual responsibility for the historical misdeeds of ruling elites. If, however, any tyranny or venality, or aggressive war imposed by the State was brought about not by particular State rulers but by mysterious and arcane ‘social forces,’ or by the imperfect state of the world — or if, in some way, everyone …


Note from JWR:

Today we present a guest article by, Cynthia J. Koelker, MD, the author of 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care. Not only is she a fellow Penguin Group author, but we even have the same editor in Penguin’s Plume division. This is a topic that should interest many SurvivalBlog readers.


How to Get Your Doctor to Help You Stockpile Medicine, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Picture this: Your doctor enters the room and asks, “How can I help you today?” “I’d like enough medicine to survive the end of the world as we know it,” you reply. He narrows his eyes and responds, “Just how much Prozac would you need?” . . . Finding a physician to help you stockpile medications will be a challenge. Unless your doctor, too, believes Armageddon is nigh, he’s not likely to grant your request. Why not? Doctors are responsible for the medications we prescribe and the consequences, intended or unintended. Remember, every medication is a potential poison. You’re probably …


Letter Re: Why a Practice Garden?

Mr. Rawles, Tom C. wrote: “This plot of land 10 feet x 12 feet.” That is 120 square feet. That sounds like a nice patch for half a years supply of storage onions if you know what you are doing, or more swiss chard and radishes that your family will know what to do with, given that you water and succession plant. Lets start at the start with soil preparation. How wet or dry is the existing soil? Get out the shovel and turn over a small bit of your prospective patch. Is it hard as concrete or dry and …


Letter Re: Amish Populations Bugging Out

Mr. Rawles: I saw the response to your link regarding the Amish and I concur. These folks are wonderful and are very good for a community. Where I come from in central Michigan the Amish community makes pallets. Trucks from far and wide go out of their way to come through the area for these high quality pallets. The pallets are just the base of their community. They also run a store that beats everybody, even Wal-Mart, on price. Sure, they don’t sell all that cheap Chinese stuff, but I consider that a plus. I can’t go past the store …


Economics and Investing:

Does this sound familiar? Investors seeing farmland as safer bet than stocks. (A hat tip to M.M. for the link.) This piece by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard is thought provoking: QE2 in Round Trillions Nevada unemployment rises to all-time high 14.4 percent. US Government ‘hiding true amount of debt’ Fed hints it could buy more bonds Items from The Economatrix: Gerald Celente: We Won’t Recover $2,500 Gold Could Easily Result in $178.50 Silver UK: Middle Class Families Could Face “Lie Detector” Tests Over Taxes 20 Signs That The Economic Collapse Has Already Begun For One Out Of Seven Americans How High Will …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mac Slavo (over at the SHTFPlan blog) asks: How Many Guns Are Too Many? FWIW, here in The Un-Named Western State (TUWS), owning 40 guns is considered just “a decent collection”, and “serious collectors” must have at least 100 guns. (Thanks to K.T. for the link.)    o o o K.T. sent us a link to an interesting video produced by the CATO Institute: Cops on Camera.    o o o I stumbled into this, while web wandering: Double The Anger: Two “Mad Max” Sequels Shooting Back To Back. Oh, and speaking of anticipated movies, the release date for the …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 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 …


Hunting Rifle Selection for Big Game: Plain and Simple Basics, by SplitHoof

Recently I have been asked by a number of friends and associates for specific recommendations on the selection of suitable rifles for hunting big game (including feral hogs, deer, problematic black bears, etc.). Rather than spending considerable time conversing with everyone on an individual basis through a whole bunch of e-mail messages, I will offer some of my own brief personal observations as a starting point, and then will be glad to answer any additional questions for those who may be so inclined to ask.  I must make it perfectly clear from the start that I do not consider myself …


Letter Re: Family Preparedness: How to Protect Your Infant Child

Good morning Mr. Rawles, In regards to the “Family Preparedness: How to Protect Your Infant Child“, I just wanted to comment that wool diaper covers need to be washed less often, do not smell at all and two is all you need. Plus, they are just more comfortable for infants than plastic, no matter how cute or functional. They also breathe better and keep baby warm even when wet, which is important if you are changing less often than usual. Mother-Ease diapers are handy – no folding, no velcro, and they are one-size fits all. You can also buy doublers …


Letter Re: Amish Populations Bugging Out

JWR- Regarding this recently posted link: Amish populations bugging out, gradually heading west, Southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon have been under “invasion” for a number of years, mainly by Amish Mennonites – an offshoot of the Old Order Amish. Unlike the other invaders from California and other urban high populations who bring with them all their problems, attitudes and sometimes rudeness, these are good quality people who bring with them many fine qualities, morals and values. They are respectful and genuine. Most are skilled carpenters or have similar “hands-on” skills. While they tend to keep to themselves as far as …


Economics and Investing:

Susan H. sent this: U.S. Dollar Now Ripe For Catastrophic Devaluation. Here is quote that might have a familiar ring: “The inflation vs. deflation debate has been raging for nearly three years, but I suspect that when all is said and done, we will find that both sides in a sense were correct. The people who consistently miss the mark on what is truly going on in the economy are those who blindly insist that this is an either/or situation. The fact is, we are seeing symptoms of BOTH deflation and inflation simultaneously. Deflation in jobs, stocks, real estate, and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

When the subject of widespread EMP comes up, some folks blithely say: “We can just go back to vacuum tube technology”. But consider all the underlying technologies and metallurgy represented in this video produced by an electronics hobbyist in France: Hand Making Vacuum Tubes. (Thanks to Gaston for the link.)    o o o Bob G. mentioned this book excerpt: Books of The Times: ‘The Coming Famine’ by Julian Cribb    o o o L.H. spotted this: What NASA says you should keep on hand, for disasters. It all fits in a trash can. L.H. had this comment: “Not a …