Day: March 24, 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 33 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 Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Pack Rats and Keeping the Water Running, by Sunflower of Kansas

Background:  You might say to yourself, I have no farm, I have no pump house, and I surely have no rats. My response to this is, “yet.” If and when the Sunflowers hit the fan (SHTF), you surely may have a rodent problem. Rodents can impact whatever integrity you may still have in regard to your utilities. That utility may be communications, electric, or as discussed in this article, water. This is a true account about my dealings and responses to confronting troubles with Pack Rats. The purpose is to provide a few tips, not to dictate any exact method …


Thrive to Survive: Premium Nutrition During High Stress, by B.W.

Wheat, cereal, and bread–the staff of life–is considered a cornerstone staple for human nutrition.  It played the lead role in the food pyramids we were taught in school.  But in truth, wheat is an inferior and “dirty” protein source.  And, the two people who know this best are allergists and athletes. Eighty percent of our immune system is in our gut.  And this makes sense, because humans have eaten a lot of foul, rancid, germ-ridden, nasty things over the course of our evolution.  And before nutrients are assimilated into our bodies, the intestines act as our first immunological line of …


Two Letters Re: Build Your Own Wood Gas Generating Stove

JWR,   Just a brief note in relation to the recent post regarding gasification. In researching the issue further, I found on Wikipedia’s wood gas generator article that producer gas should not be compressed beyond 15 psi due to liquefaction of some of the compounds and the possibility of severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the event of a leak. I like the idea of storing the gas for future use, but care and caution should be used. My suggestion would be to store the gas in an outdoor location far removed from people and animals to prevent health issues if the storage container …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Chad S. spotted this: Gas, food prices double whammy for rural families. Lorimer Wilson at the It’s All About Munknee blog recommended this piece: For the Last Time, Is Gold in a Bubble? Reader C.D.V. sent us this article evidencing Minnesota’s budget crises: Rosemount Decides To Stop Capturing Stray Cats Items from The Economatrix: North Carolina May Issue Gold Tender   Economic Disasters Which Threaten To Rip World Financial Markets To Shreds   Why Gold Is No Longer An Effective US Dollar Hedge New Homes Are Becoming A Bad Deal In Weak Markets   Oil Tops $105 Per Barrel …


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.A.F. was the first of several readers send this: Armed Beauty Queen Fatally Shoots Intruder in Florida Home Invasion. Don’t miss the bad OPSEC mentioned near the end of the article.    o o o Libya: UN air strikes aid rebels. JWR Notes: I still have a lot of “cui bono?” questions about this military adventure. Why are the French so heavily involved? What reconstructions deals were made, in order to create the coalition? Why was Germany so incensed that they withdrew their troops from NATO? Is Gaddafi’s gold reserve an issue? How about the Libyan Dinar? (Were there plans …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If you are a warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be “on” 24/7 for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself… ‘Baa.’ “- LTC David A. Grossman, “On Combat“, 2004