Year: 2010


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 31 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 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm …


The Value and Practice of Journaling, by M.E.R.

One little-known technique which can be used to survive tough times, even TEOTWAWKI, is not necessarily an all-important or crucial one; but the optional activity might nevertheless prove to be invaluable to both ourselves and others.   It is also a great distraction from our problems of the day, helps combat boredom, and can serve as a stress management tool.   The technique?  Journaling!   Journaling is simply the act of writing personal thoughts in a diary.  Although seemingly simplistic, keeping a personal journal is often encouraged by spiritual mentors, health care professionals, and even some employers (truck drivers keep logs of …


Six Letters Re: Preppers as Foster Parents

JWR, My family and I signed up to be foster parents in Arizona and went through the initial home review, interview and application.  The social worker made some recommendations about adding a door to our loft.  I did not feel that her walk-through was invasive at all but we never made it to the official state inspection.  We had to enter a lot of data into the State’s foster care web site and that bothered me a little.  I have actually thought about logging back in to erase everything.  What we found was that as the economy was changing more and more …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this: Dark Ages for a modern Middle Class – Modern day debt serfdom and rising prices not seen through the consumer price index. Coffee up 50 percent for the year. What Will Cause the Next Crisis? Jonathan C. sent: California: The Lindsay Lohan of States The Wall Street Journal reports: Ireland’s Fate Tied to Doomed Banks Steve K. sent a link to a very scary mortgage fraud deposition. Super-sized pensions, and a doomsday scenario. (Thanks to Ben G. for the link.) More FDIC Friday Follies: Three bank closures in Arizona and Georgia. Items from The Economatrix: Hiring Remains …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Frequent content contributor F.G. sent us a priceless OK Go music video clip demonstrating effective camouflage. The Ghillie suit band members start to join in at 51 seconds into the video.    o o o Yorie sent this: Meet the Israeli Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle – AvantGuard    o o o Alan sent me a link to a Dmitry Orlov lecture at UC Berkeley.    o o o Steve K. liked this video: Why Can’t Chuck Get His Business Off the Ground?


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The Great Depression was caused by Federal Reserve expansion of the money supply in the 1920s that led to an unsustainable credit-driven boom. When the Federal Reserve belatedly tightened in 1928, it was too late to avoid financial collapse. According to Murray Rothbard, in his book America’s Great Depression, the artificial interference in the economy was a disaster prior to the depression, and government efforts to prop up the economy after the crash of 1929 only made things worse. Government intervention delayed the market’s adjustment and made the road to complete recovery more difficult. The parallels with today are uncanny.” …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 31 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 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm …


Survival Seeds – Advice from an Avid Gardener, by Mrs. W.

I have watched with some concern as the survival seed business has exploded these past few years. Advertisements abound for survival garden seed buckets that cost upwards of $100 and promise a years supply of food for a family. Since most Americans have never grown more than a few tomato plants they are unaware that many of these claims are overblown. Anyone who has tried to produce most of their own food will tell you that things never go perfectly. There is always some blight, freak weather, or insect invasion that knocks out at least one of your main crops. …


Letter Re: Preppers as Foster Parents

Dear Mr. Rawles:   Thank you for your dedication to the survivalist movement.  As a Ten Cent Challenge subscriber, I appreciate being able to read many of the posts and comments on your web site.  I am hoping to pose a question to you and your readers about becoming foster parents as survivalists.    First, I little about us:We live in a small suburban community in Ohio.  Because of several issues, we have decided to retreat in place.  With a little land, we have created a suburban homestead with a large garden and a small chicken flock.  We have also …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. forwarded this link: The rest of the world goes West when America prints more money. Here is a key quote: “This crazy money-printing is going to be seen as the primary cause of Western inflation, food riots and a commodity price spike.” Reader J.B.G. sent this: Is Soros Betting on U.S. Financial Collapse? Also from J.B.G.: Two Million People About to Be Denied Unemployment Benefits Frequent content contributor B.B. sent this: Chinese Credit Rater Downgrades U.S. Jon in New York flagged this: Centro, facing money problems, plans to combine, eliminate routes north and west of Syracuse. Jon noted: “Comments …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Le emperor sans culottes: Texas Governor Rick Perry correctly opined “…Social Security is bankrupt and is a Ponzi scheme, and if you’ve got a young 20-something-year-old, they know for a fact that they’re not ever going to see that.”    o o o Joshua S. pointed us to a good reason why you should be prepared everywhere you go — even on vacation: Hungry Ship Passengers Told to Eat Tic-Tacs    o o o Yet another member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns is facing criminal charges, this one for wife beating: Mayor’s wife takes stand to accuse Bradley of domestic …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty." – President John Adams, June 21, 1776


Notes from JWR:

On November 11th of each year we honor to our nation’s military veterans. We sincerely thank you for your sacrifices. And for the families of those who made the supreme sacrifice, you are in our prayers. — Today we present a guest article as well as another entry for Round 31 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 …


Expired Medications – Part 3: General Principles, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I reviewed the available information regarding expiration dates of specific medications, primarily antibiotics and antiviral drugs, as tested in the FDA’s Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP).  Although antimicrobial medications are important, what about other common drugs used on a daily basis?  If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes, chronic pain, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, heart disease, or other serious condition, will medications be safe and effective beyond their expiration dates?  The following is excerpted from my upcoming book, Armageddon Medicine: Published data has documented the safety of many medications beyond …