Day: May 20, 2011

Note from JWR:

A recent Live Science article, “The Draw of Doomsday: Why People Look Forward to the End” mentions SurvivalBlog. But like most mainstream media reports, it both denigrates and misinterprets the value of preparedness. — Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 …


Diabetic Preparedness – Storing Insulin in a Grid Down World, by Robert M.

I have spent time and money on food and water preparation, on preparing my family plan for emergency situations that might last an extended period of time. I have purchased and prepared medical and hygiene supplies, trying to cover as many areas as I could. Even with this much preparation, there was still one other important issue I needed to address. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation, a major concern for me and my family is electrical power. This concern isn’t centered on the ability to watch television, listen to music, or even cook food. Those are what I would consider …


Letter Re: Surviving TEOTWAWKI with Infants and Toddlers

Dear James, I read your blog weekly.  Very good stuff.  Regarding the recent article Surviving TEOTWAWKI with Infants and Toddlers, by M.A., I just wanted to add couple things, being a mom of five.  Having things like Tiefu (for headaches, pains, sinuses), acidophilus (for stomach woes, can be used with infants and will put an end to diarrhea) Otic solutions for inner ear pain (there is no way to sooth a baby in ear pain without this stuff), Vertifree for children and adults with symptoms of vertigo caused by allergies and such.  Castor Oil for muscle pains.  Having the same bracelet …


Two Letters Re: Assuring M1911-Series Autopistol Safety

Mr. Rawles, While I agree, of course, with Steve V.’s assertion that firearms need to be handled safely, people should be familiar with their firearms, and training is a good thing; I very much disagree with the assertion that operating the slide of an automatic pistol the correct way is “an extremely bad habit”. First, his complaints about what happens when racking a slide with thumbs on opposite sides of the slide and facing opposite directions aren’t very valid in my opinion. The notion that a shooter’s hand and arm conceal the pistol making it “hard to see exactly where …


Economics and Investing:

More than a dozen blog readers suggested this must read piece: Hedge Farm! The Doomsday Food Price Scenario Turning Hedgies into Survivalists. Here is a quote from the article: “When asked if this is an end of the world scenario, the hedge-fund manager replied, “It really is. I tell my fiancée this from time to time, and I’ve stopped telling her this, because it’s not the most pleasant thought.” Reader Stephen M. wrote to mention: “One of my favourite indicators as to economic health is the Baltic Dry Index.  It is simply a measure of the shipping costs to move …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Lulu is offering free shipping until the end of May. This includes the SurvivalBlog 5-Year Archive CD-ROM. Use coupon code FREESHIP305.    o o o Lynn G. sent this: US official: growing threat from solar storms    o o o An amazing collection of disaster pictures: Mississippi Floodwaters Roll South. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)    o o o KAF sent this: Equine Herpes Outbreak Hits Western U.S. States    o o o Reader Lynn G suggested: In the bleak light of the Depression: Rare colour photographs of the era that defined a generation