Month: June 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 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 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Prepping From the Ground Up, by N.V.

As a newcomer to the survivalist game (and by newcomer, I mean that I haven’t planned for anything bad to happen in the future except for my daughter reaching dating age), I thought it would be interesting to detail how I came to be reading this web site at this point in my life and the steps I have taken so far as a “virgin” survivalist.   I became interested in it recently due to several factors. The first is I have always found literature regarding end of the world scenarios to be fascinating.  I have read everything from On the Beach …


Letter Re: Securing Windows With Plywood The Fast And Easy Way

Sir: I’ve been researching ways to secure windows in a SHTF scenario and it seems that one of the best ways to do this is by screwing pre-cut sheets of plywood to the window frame.  This will take many screws and it will leave screw holes in your window frame if/when it comes time to take down the plywood.  It also takes precious time to put a lot of screws in even with a powered screwdriver and depending on the size of the window, you might need several people to hold the plywood in place while you put the screws …


Guest Article: The Screaming Fundamentals for Owning Gold and Silver, by Chris Martenson

This report lays out an investment thesis for gold and one for silver.  Various factors lead me to conclude that gold is one investment that you can park for the next ten or twenty years, confident that it will perform well. My timing and logic for both entering and finally exiting gold (and silver) as investments are laid out in the full report. The punch line is this: Gold and silver are not (yet) in bubble territory, and large gains remain, especially if monetary, fiscal, and fundamental supply-and-demand trends remain in play. Introduction In 2001, as the painful end of …


Economics and Investing:

F.J. suggested the tax infornmation from Kiplinger’s, for helping to select reterat locales: Retiree Tax Heavens (and Hells) Reuter’s reports: S&P to deeply cut U.S. ratings if debt payment missed Kostas sent this: Greece faces general strike, more cuts planned. This article includes a quote from deputy prime minister, Theodoros Pangalos: “A return to the drachma would mean that the next day banks would be surrounded by people trying to get their money out. The army would have to use tanks to protect [the banks] because there wouldn’t be enough police to do it.” Alexander in Germany flagged this one …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers mentioned this: President Obama’s Executive Order 13575: Rural Council.    o o o Veteran SurvivalBlog contributor K.T. wrote to mention that someone recently scanned and posted Jeff Cooper’s article on Defensive Architecture from the first year of P.S. Newsletter. Note that, to the best of my knowledge, this was posted in violation of copyright. I believe that the copyright shifted from Mel Tappan to his widow Nancy Tappan, then to Karl Hess (who subsequently renamed the newsletter Survival Tomorrow), and then presumably to Karl’s heirs and assigns when he passed away. BTW, I wish that someone would republish …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Bryan Prescot:  “When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” Agent Alex Marlow:  “Conversely, sir, when you have a nail, you can bang at it all day with a screwdriver, a shoe or your hand and get nothing except hurt.  Whereas one good blow with the hammer makes the problem go away for good.”  – From Do Unto Others by Michael Z. Williamson. (Mass market paperback edition available August, 2011 from Baen Books.)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 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 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Electronics for Mobile Self Sufficiency, by Blue Sun

I believe that the ultimate survival strategy for the ultimate collapse of civilization goes far beyond simply fortifying and stocking a retreat and locking yourself into a potential box canyon, I believe that the last resort for survivors is to develop the skills and knowledge to exist for years, or even for the rest of your life, in the most extreme and remote areas as a hunter-gatherer with nothing in terms of equipment except what you can carry on your back. So, here I will present part one of my must-haves for total self-sufficiency: self-contained electronic tools that can be …


Letter Re: The Argument for Return to Constitutional Principles

Dear SurvivalBloggers: Growing up along the shores of Lake Michigan, I often looked upon the most foundational landmarks of the region; lighthouses.  Each was unique in design but singular in purpose, their sole function being to provide a beacon of hope and direction amidst turbulent times of treachery and despair.  When a vessel lost its bearing, wandering aimlessly, the lighthouse was ever present to guide the way to safety.  Throughout history, man used tools such as lighthouses as guideposts toward security and prosperity.  Without them his efforts were often misguided, lost, and smashed upon the rocks of hopelessness. America’s shores …


Economics and Investing:

Does this sound familiar? Tony B. sent us some news from Australia: Royal Mint wants 5¢ coins scrapped. Yes, when inflation embarrassingly gives coins a base metal value that exceeds their face value, governments make they conveniently declare them a “nuisance” or “too expensive”. You can either look at it as a function of “rising commodities prices” as the media suggests, or more accurately as a declining Oz Dollar. G.G. spotted this over at Total Investor: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Prepper Dad? Even Robert Kiyosaki Is Warning That An Economic Collapse Is Coming Martin Weiss warns of derivatives doom: Government …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I just read that Hazel Dickens passed away earlier this year. She was a great bluegrass singer who will be greatly missed. She’s singing in heaven now. Hearing about her passing reminded me of where I first heard her: KFAT in Gilroy, California. When I was in college, I avidly listed to KFAT, mainly for the bluegrass and gospel-bluegrass music. Their western swing and rockabilly music was also fun, though a good portion of that was not very edifying. (They played plenty of rowdy-honkeytonk-doper songs.) But to their credit, KFAT’s play list was truly eclectic, including: Emmylou Harris (the station’s …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 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 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Lessons from Life on The Edge: The Evolution of My Go Bag, by Tim K.

I was stranded on the streets of Los Angeles because my so called “friend” stole my rent money.  Down and out, with no one to help, in a state where I knew nobody, I started out with nothing but the clothes on my back.  I started out grabbing odds and ends in an attempt to get by and make do.  I got some give-away matches from a corner convenience store and used a coffee can to cook whatever I could find.  After some finagling, I came up with a thick black garbage bag which held my supplies: Rain poncho I …