Day: January 23, 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries 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 …


A Primer on Harvesting Iron-Rich Sustenance, by Dr. R.

Introduction My family has harvested food from our farmland for generations. I would love to say that since I was a child, I had gone into the fields with my father and grandfather and learned the ways of hunting and ethical harvesting of animals for food and resources, but unfortunately, I made very few decisions which I consider to be wise until I lived to be around 26 years of age. It was around that time that I formally accepted Christ in my heart, and around that time the seeds of becoming a true skeptic were planted. As a young …


Recognizing Societal Fragility and Making Substantive Preparations, by C.P.

I was raised in a small town outside the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois  A normal kid in the 1970s, I really didn’t care about anything except getting out of high school and moving on with my life.  I hated history class, geography was alien to me, and other than having to know the constitution in order to pass out of eighth grade, politics didn’t mean much to me, either.  I did, however, try to get my fellow classmates to vote in a mock presidential election in 1980.  My family didn’t discuss worldly events.  In essence, I had no clue.  After …


Letter Re: One Man’s Approach to Preparedness

Sir: Just to let everyone know, I am new to the prepper lifestyle, and new to the kind of changes one must make in one’s life to begin saving as opposed to spending, or maybe a better way of saying it is to say “ changing what your spending your money on ”   where before it may have been a new dirt bike, man toy,   or flat screen television, now my extra cash (after my tithe and savings) is going to preparations.   My change in spending habits quickly brought about a realization , that some items that …


Letter Re: Experiences in the Southeastern Ice Storms

Jim, I would like to add my two cents to the discussion of the Great Carolina Blizzard of ’11. I had some similar experiences to B.H.: Deep frustration over dead batteries in cars. I had two every day drivers that just would not start. While it was fairly cold for our area, I suspect that high humidity added to the cold had a draining effect on the batteries. In the future, I would think about a short start and warm up every 8 hours or so on vehicles that I knew were to be needed on short notice.  It took …


Letter Re: Question on The Rapture Versus Tribulation Preparedness

Mr. Rawles; I have been reading your blog for a few months. I am a young Christian. I’ve been attending church four years and saved for three of those years.  I have been doing some preparations for “survival” as per your blog in all areas after observing the financial collapse and other related events in recent years.  Many at church say I am wasting my time cause we will all be raptured prior to the tribulation.  Any brief comments would be appreciated. Thanks, – Jim V. JWR Replies: You are not wasting your time. The concept of a pre-tribulation rapture …


Economics and Investing:

The MOAB that never ends: Thomas Sowell: Fed Trapped in Endless Easing Cycle. (Thanks to Brett G. for the link, that includes an interview clip.) The FDIC Friday Follies continue with bank closures in Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia Reader Mac F. sent this item: Stimulus Writ Small: Tiny California Town Prints Its Own Currency Germany Should Prepare for Greek Default, Adviser Feld Tells Handelsblatt. (A hat tip to John R. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Is Silver Bottoming?   Silver Up as US Mint Reports January Eagle Sales Reach Record High   Fear And Love …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jeff M. highlighted this: Yellowstone Magma Bubble is Swelling. This is yet another reason not to live in the eastern U.S. (Geologists tell us that the last time the Yellowstone caldera blew up, it buried the east coast under six+ feet of volcanic ash.)    o o o Reader Kevin S. mentioned this news item: Chinese Troops Stationed in North Korean Special Zone    o o o Jason G. flagged this: Schneider Electric Recalls Xantrex GT Series Grid Tie Solar Inverters    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this interesting article: Web-controlled guns are illegal. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and blessed [shalt] thou [be] in the field. Blessed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy …