Month: August 2011

A Note of Thanks From Pat Cascio

I would like to say thanks to all the SurvivalBlog readers, who took the time to drop me an e-mail to thank me for my articles and efforts, writing for SurvivalBlog. I personally responded to every one of you who wrote. I’m sorry my responses couldn’t have been longer, but I received more than 100 e-mails from SurvivalBloggers, and it took me quite a while to catch-up to them all. I sincerely appreciated hearing from each and every one of you. I’ve learned that SurvivalBlog readers are usually a very intelligent bunch of folks, not your average run-of-the-mill, gun store …


Letter Re: Ireland Shipwreck Illustrates Some Preparedness Principles

Letter Re: Ireland Shipwreck Illustrates Some Preparedness Principles JWR: This news article: American crew members tell the story of their rescue off West Cork coast illustrates some preparedness principles. There are a lot of lessons in this story: (1) What will you be wearing [or “everyday carrying”] you when you’re tossed into a survival situation? (2) Experienced sailors caught short. Preparedness mindset? [Preparedness oversights] could be fatal. (3) In a group willing to help, but can’t be seen. Flare pens [should be] in an always-worn survival vest. (4) Rescued by Gooferment forces standing by. Who pays for that, and all the other, rescues? …


Letter Re: Prepping for Missionaries and Other Long Term Foreign Workers

Dear Mr. Rawles, I have been following the thread on “Prepping for Missionaries and Other Long Term Foreign Workers.”  My business partner and I have more than one hundred mission trips between us and have been first responders to several of the latest disasters including the Tsunami in Banda Aceh, Hurricane Dean in Jamaica, and the Earthquake in Haiti. Several of the writers and especially P.J.H. has been spot on in their information.  Problems in the mission field or for the foreign worker have a direct correlation to the lack of understanding for the culture of the country where they …


Economics and Investing:

RJK sent this: End Game Approaching in Europe: No Way Out But Debt Restructuring Back to the Future: Gold, JPY, DAX, Paulson – CRASH? Report: Crop losses in Texas top $5 billion. (Thanks to Michael W. for the link.) How to Dig Yourself Out of Credit Card Debt Thanks to Chris S. for spotting this: President Hugo Chavez announced Wednesday he is nationalizing Venezuela’s gold mining industry and intends to bring home $11 billion in gold reserves currently held in U.S. and European banks. Items from The Economatrix: A Big Bounce, Ounce By Ounce, and Gold Takes Off Core Wholesale …


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. sent this: Illinois to feed Asian carp to the poor    o o o R.J. asks: "Better than nothing?", in pointing us to this: ThinkGeek : Ultimate Survival Kit in a Water Bottle    o o o In conjunction with National Preparedness Month (in September), Emergency Essentials is giving away one of their "Traditional 2000" Year Supply food storage packages that is worth more than $1,600.    o o o S.T. mentioned this: How to Remove Yourself From People Search Websites.    o o o Fast and Furious’ a prelude to gun registration? (Link courtesy of James C.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with [my] whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and [in] the congregation. The works of the LORD [are] great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work [is] honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 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 $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


If You Cannot Evacuate, by B.A.F.

Most of us do not have the funds to purchase and maintain a survival retreat, however there are effective things the ordinary citizen can do to help themselves and their families get through the troubled times ahead. I could write reams on this subject, but for the purposes of this article I will concentrate on a few basics to help your family get started on the path to survival. I have been watching in horror for months as the U.S. government races towards the abyss. The British press truly nailed it when, after the debt ceiling vote was announced, the …


Two Letters Re: Free or Inexpensive E-Books

JWR: I thought that the SurvivalBlog readers could use these: Everyday Foods: A Wartime Cookbook Emergency: Citizens Handbook for Disasters There are many more free e-books in the Kindle store. These are helpful to a newbie such as myself. Good luck and God bless! – NewbieLane James Wesley; I thought that your readers might like to know that Amazon has the Kindle reader edition of the “Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide” by J. Wayne Fears for just .99 cents. Regards, – Chris L.


Letter Re: Tetanus: A Nasty, Fascinating Bug

Dear Jim- I read with high interest the article about Tetanus from Dr. Bob. I found his information to be very important and helpful. I have just one point to include in the care of the neonate upon delivery and that is the essential practice of cutting the umbilical cord with a tool that is as clean as possible; sterile, if at all possible.  The tool doesn’t have to be a surgical instrument per se, just a clean, clean, clean piece of equipment be it a pair of scissors or a razor blade, etc. We buried many a newborn child …


Three Letters Re: Finding Prepper-Friendly Churches in The American Redoubt–Expanding The List

Hi Jim, There’s a great local cowboy church called Gold Hill Church, near Deary, Idaho. It is not only prepper friendly, but even “dog friendly”. Another prepper-friendly church is the Community Church in Southwick, Idaho. Also, I noted that one of the churches you listed in Bonner’s Ferry appears to be a Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) church. As I grew up in that church and greatly admire much of the values of the SDA subculture, it always concerns me when an SDA[-affiliated] church does not let people know that they are really an SDA church. The books they list for sale …


Economics and Investing:

John Embry interview with James Turk at Gold Rush 2011. David Morgan: $75 Silver Price Looming K.A.F. sent this: Employees Bid Farewell to Corporate America. A few of them are wisely heading to the hinterboonies. Also from K.A.F.: Biden to sell US debt deal during trip to China, Japan It is all about revenue: New York City bridge tolls will be bumped up to as much as $7 per crossing. Items from The Economatrix: The Beginning of the Endgame U.S. Economy’s Wild Ride is Far From Over World Bank Chief:  Global Economy in “New Danger Zone” A Reason for the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Our friend Bill Buppert (of ZeroGov) has some sage advice on field maintenance of AR-15s, M4geries, and AR-10s.    o o o Captain ABM spotted this: Do-It-Yourself Battlefield Medicine Saves Lives    o o o F.J. mentioned a piece over at the Tiny House blog: Idaho Sheep Wagons. BTW, in SurvivalBlog, I’ve previously mentioned a modernized incarnation of these wagons, from another maker: Expedition Range Camps. (Complete with photovoltaics!)    o o o F.G. sent us some odd news from the Mickey Mouse State: Nanny State Madness: California’s Proposed ‘Fitted Sheet’ Law    o o o A reader mentioned a …



Don’t Buy This Book (Yet!)

Please don’t order any copies of my upcoming novel “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse” until its release day, October 4th, 2011. The cover art was masterfully rendered by mixed media artist Tony Mauro, Jr. of New York. He took my vague one-minute verbal concept description, and he nailed it. I am very happy with his design and his choice of color palette. It really captures the essence of the novel. (The lead character, Andy Laine, is depicted on horseback in Texas, in the midst of The Crunch. You’ll see how closely Tony matched the storyline when you read …