Day: December 4, 2010

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 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 $795, 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 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Survival Sixth Sense, by Jody D.

Birds take flight before a devastating tsunami.  A little dog runs out of a building before a massive earthquake.  (Begin to play spooky music now.)  A banker pulls his funds from the market just prior to a ruinous crash.. Luck, foreknowledge, divine guidance, coincidence?  No.  In each case, they were simply more in-tune with the environmental ebb and flow that surrounds them.  That minor change in the normal pattern which betrayed impending disaster and great loss.  With animals, it is a natural physical sensory extension.  With the banker, an uncomfortable sweaty hunch alerted to by a mind rooted in market …


Letter Re: Just In Time Consumers

James Wesley,   Thank you for all that you do and the wonderful, informative web site.  I have been active for about a year and am working on my introduction and first contribution to Survival Blog.  Ironically I have basically been employed all of my life in one of the industries, consumer package goods, which is one of the key industries so tied to technology that if TEOTWAWKI hits would be significantly impacted.  Earlier today I came across an article in The Wall Street Journal which emphasizes the needs for preppers to be more prepared and to also know what your …


Letter Re: Advice on AK, SKS, and Mosin Rifles

Mr Rawles,   I’ve read through your section on firearms and have a question about the rifles.   As I’m very much on a budget, I am looking to add one or two self defense rifles for the TEOTWAWKI type scenario.  I’ve been looking into the AR rifles and find that they are ungodly expensive.  I’ve found some Bushmasters that seem to be in good shape for around $800, but these were chambered in .223, which seems like a fine personal defense caliber, but is not versatile enough to use to kill game, should you have the opportunity.  The .308 …


Letter Re: Walking Sticks for Self Defense

Dear Editor: That sidearm on your hip may have a lot of admirable qualities, but so long as rule of law is still in effect here in the US, there are some places you simply can’t take it. On a plane, for example, or into a Post Office (which is where folks tend to “go postal”). Further, even if you are armed, there still could be a problem with an attacker who is relatively close. Several sources assert that, at 21 feet an armed, fast-moving attacker could close the gap and fatally assault you with a knife, sword, or blunt …


Letter Re: Cooking Beans and Canning Meat

Dear Mr. Rawles:   In response to Marie H.’s essay on canning beans and meat, I’d like to add a few thoughts.   The ability to preserve food through water-bath and pressure canning is, in my opinion, one of the most important of the domestic arts survival skills there is.  But as every experienced canner knows, the Achilles heel of canning is maintaining a supply of lids.  The problem with the everyday canning lids you find at the grocery store is that they must be discarded after every use.  Oh sure, I’ve experimented with reusing lids with some success, but …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. recommended: The road to a US insolvency crisis F.J. liked this piece by Simon Black: Disappearing Bank Accounts. The article begins: “If you don’t have money outside the computerized banking system, you should do so now. You just never know when the system is going to go down.” Randy F. suggested this book review: The Penniless Billionaires: A Tour of Inflationary Eras Past and Present Items from The Economatrix: Cutoff of Jobless Aid Would Lower Economic Growth   Happy Holidays?  28 Hard Questions It Would Be Great If We Could Get Some Real Answers To   The Gold Standard …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric J. sent us the link to this fascinating article: Iowa’s hardest years: Stories from the farms during the Great Depression    o o o For anyone that missed hearing it live, here is the link to the podcast of my recent two hour Q&A interview on the EMPact America show.    o o o Steve K. sent this video: Nigel Farage (United Kingdom Independence Party President), Representative Member of the European Union speaks about Turkey’s admission to the European Union. Steve’s comment: “Sounds like our immigration policy here in the United States. Listen to the results that are anticipated.” …