Month: September 2011

Odds ‘n Sods:

K.A.F. flagged this: Antique Apples Getting a New Life.    o o o For those living in or near Denver, there is a Self Reliance Expo scheduled for September 16th and 17th. They will have a lot of great exhibitors. SurvivalBlog will have a staffer there walking the show floor, to do a write-up. One of the exhibitors at the expo will be a new company called Pantry Paratus. Their web store will soon be launched. They have a great line of preparedness products, with an emphasis on do-it-yourself food processing and storage. Their broad line of products includes a …



Notes from JWR:

Today marks 10th anniversary of 9-11-2001. We have not forgotten the nearly 3,000 lives that were taken by Islamic terrorists. Please remember the families of the victims in your prayers.. Soon after 9/11/01 our nation launched what some have dubbed the Global War On a Noun. We can never win a war against a tactic. We need to have a defined enemy. Unfortunately, too few in Washington D.C. have the requisite fortitude to close our borders to radical Islamists and to expel those of them who are already here. Sadly, I believe that won’t happen until after a couple of …


Protecting You and Yours During a Mass Casualty Incident, by Officer Tackleberry

Unfortunately, mass casualty incidents have become more and more frequent both worldwide and here in the U.S.  A mass casualty incident takes on several names with suicide bombing, active shooter, and multi-prong attacks being the most common.  The primary goal of all of these incidents is the same: kill and maim as many people as possible while maximizing fear and chaos. Before I go in to the details of this article, I need to provide a precursor.  I will be providing details on how you can respond as well as awareness to avoid and/or prevent being a victim of such …


Letter Re: SKS Rifles in Canada

Dear JWR: Fearing confiscations of the more “controversial” VZ-58 clones that have hit the Canadian market, I recently sold one and am actively trying to sell another.  Not wanting to sell the thousands of rounds of 7.62×39 Czech surplus ammunition I have for them, I have been giving very serious consideration to procuring one (or several) SKSs as a replacement. To be clear, I don’t think the SKS is the best choice for a primary rifle.  For me personally, that honour belongs to the AR-15 in .223 (even if, as required by Canadian law, mags must be pinned to 5 …


Letter Re: A Photovoltaic Lighting Option

Hi Jim, Just bought a bunch of these ‘underwater’ solar floodlights, from Northern Tool: Sunforce Solar Powered Underwater LED Floodlight, Item# 121178 They are very bright for a single LED and they will stay on until dawn if they get a full day’s charge. The light is more of a spot light and is better than most flashlights being able to light up over 60 feet away fairly well. These are great for low maintenance perimeter lighting and [unlike typical solar pathway lights,] are waterproof. Their batteries are NiMH AA cells and are replaceable. The lights plug into the panel …


Economics and Investing:

The game of public debt charades in the District of Criminals (DC) continues: Senate Approves $500 Billion Increase in Borrowing Authority. (Thanks to Chris G. for the link.) Some interesting research by Mac Slavo of SHTFPlan: Banks, Governments Move To Restrict Personal Gold Bullion Purchases Over at The Daily Bell: Fitch May Downgrade China and Japan: Worldwide Depression Draws Closer I found this linked over at The Drudge Report: World Entering ‘Dangerous New Phase’: Lagarde Items from The Economatrix: The Future for Most Americans:  Pathetic Jobs, Bad Debts, and a Lousy Economy Bring Out Your Dead – UBS Quantifies Costs …


Odds ‘n Sods:

For those who look for scriptural foreshadowing of modern events, Matt B. sent a link to a PDF over at Steve Quayle’s site: The Watchmen, 911 and the Harbingers    o o o Authorities Confirm Gun Found in Arizona Is Third at U.S. Crime Scene Tied to ATF’s ‘Fast and Furious‘. And in related news: Gunwalker Explodes into the Heartland. (A hat tip to K.A.F. for the links.)    o o o Spare me the Political Correctness, just give me the facts: Pearl Harbor’s New ‘Vision’.    o o o CenterfireAntenna.com (that also does business as USDipole.com) is giving a …



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.) …


My Road to Preparing, by New-To-Me in Nevada

We don’t have a lot of money, however with everything that is happening in the world today and all of the signs yelling in my face that I better get ready or face not being able to feed my family of 6, I started prepping.  I have taken a class at our local community college on the subject and learned a lot of very useful information.  However I didn’t stop there.  I sought out and purchased numerous books that are on the book list here at Survival Blog and did some extensive research on the subject.  Just recently I decided …


Anthrax Review for TEOTW, by Dr. Bob

Anthrax is a good, scary topic that deserves a brief review.  There are three ways you can get anthrax:  cutaneous, inhalation, and alimentary.  Cutaneous anthrax is by far the most common type, often associated with farming and ranching.  The spores get into the skin through cuts or scrapes and then multiply locally.  The disease begins with a very small pimple that quickly enlarges and often blisters.  It the erodes and leaves and painless necrotic ulcer with a black covering.  The surrounding tissue swells up due to the toxin released by the bacteria and lymph node swelling and pain can occur. …


Three Letters Re: Lessons Learned From a Recent California Power Outage

Dear Jim Yesterday at about 4:00 p.m. there was a massive power outage in the southwest. All of San Diego County And other parts of Southern California were without power for almost 12 hours some still are. I learned a few very good lessons from this experience. I do consider myself a prepper but am limited to how much I can store because I live in an apartment. I had concentrated on food, water, and defense measures for the long run, but had completely ignored some more immediate short term supplies. First and foremost, I overlooked cash. I have been …


Letter Re: Letter Re: An Early Baby Boomer’s Bug Out Bags

Jim: The type of flexible bandages [that were recently mentioned in a follow-up letter to “An Early Baby Boomer’s Bug Out Bag”] can be ordered through Schneider’s Tack Company for about $.99 apiece, in boxes of 18.  I use these all the time and they are great for all sorts of emergency fixes as well as wound care.  The rolls available at the drug stores can run $3.00 or more. Just order Vet Flex bandages, item # 30955, for a case.  SurvivalBlog is the best web site ever. – Kate in Colorado


Economics and Investing:

Cue the the Gianini Requiem: Reports: Bank of America to shutter 600 branches Another Sob Story: Saab to appeal creditor protection rejection. Who would have ever thought that Saab would be bailed out by China? John R. suggested this over at Zero Hedge: ECBCTRL+P: The Next Steps In The European Implosion. The piece begins: “Wondering what is next for Europe? Don’t be. With Jurgen Stark, aka the last real hawk at the ECB, gone, here comes ‘the printing.’” Items from The Economatrix: Fed Says 12 Regions Grew Modestly this Summer The Worst is Yet to Come Only Precious Metals Can …