Day: January 27, 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 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 …


TEOTWAWKI Home Dentistry, by Frank J.

 A dental problem occurring in an environment where access to professional care is limited or absent may progress to a point which seriously degrades the functioning of the afflicted individual. A dental emergency would be defined as a medical emergency where pain or swelling originates from the teeth, jaws or gingiva (gums). The vast majority of dental emergencies arise from either tooth decay or periodontal disease commonly referred to as gum disease. Both are a result of a bacterial infection but follow different pathologic paths. Tooth decay has its humble beginnings when certain bacteria, ever present in the mouth, adhere …


The Survival Trunk Gun by J.S.

There are plenty of forum postings and articles online on the subject of “trunk guns,” but I haven’t seen one that is survival or SHTF specific.  Many postings on SurvivalBlog detail a prep list and/or their B.O.B. list their firearms but rarely describe those carried in a vehicle on an ongoing basis. This is where the legal disclaimer comes in, right at the beginning.  I’m not a lawyer or firearms-related legal expert.  Do not assume anything mentioned herein is legal where you live or travel, I take no responsibility for illegal acts that stem from this article.  MOST parts of …


Web Gear Basics, by Jeff J.

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I had been thinking for some time about what topic I should write about that may help others here on SurvivalBlog. I myself am fairly new to prepping and have tried to soak up all the information this site provides and that Mr. Rawles has graciously provided. Last year I purchased and read the book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It.” I enjoyed the book incredibly and learned so much more. For one, I realized that I am far from reaching my goals of being self sustaining and providing for the needs of my …


Letter Re: Making Swimming Pool Water Potable?

Dear Jim: When I teach classes on water storage and preservation I am often asked this question. I usually respond with a few questions of my own: 1.) Name all of the reasons you need water? 2.) Tell me what percentage each of those requires?, and: 3.) How many of those could you do with pool water just the way it is? The truth of the matter is that the only reason you would need to “purify” pool water is for drinking or cooking. Washing, (dishes, clothes or bodies) doesn’t  require any pool water purification. Same with flushing the toilet …


Economics and Investing:

John R. suggested this piece by Rick Ackerman: Finally, It’s the Fed That Has Become Too Big to Fail Reader AmEx (American Expatriate) sent this: Gold Holdings in ETPs Plunge Amid Signs of Recovery Nevada Unemployment: The Worst Gets Worse Items from The Economatrix: Second Wave of Housing Bust Hammers More Cities   Consumer Confidence Index Hits Eight-Month High   US Economy Contracting, Pound Plunges   World’s Economy Recovery Continues, Says Think Tank  


Odds ‘n Sods:

I heard from the developer of an interesting shelter system designed for natural disasters: LifeCube. It is a 144-square foot inflatable shelter that is transported in a 5-foot cube of pallets. The shelter is a very clever design and looks ideal for short-duration natural disasters.  However, its long term viability is dubious.  (Since it requires electricity (or compressed air), and once the integrity of the inflated envelope tubes is lost due to any large punctures, the structure will collapse. But I’ve been told that the fabric portion of the shelter is manufactured by the Patten Company which invented the inflatable …