Month: September 2011

Product Review: Magpul Dynamics The Art of the Tactical Carbine DVD Set, by Mac D.

As many people who are presently watching local and global events I have a heightened concern with our general social situation on many levels. As part of my preparations I had identified some potential deficiencies with my actual ability to use firearms in a defensive manner if it were to be necessary.  Like many, having the time, funds and opportunity to attend formal instruction in utilizing a rifle in a tactical manner just was not coming together in a timely manner. To my advantage I have actually spent time in the Marine Corps (combat veteran) and Coast Guard (boarding team, …


Letter Re: Coalbed Methane and Retreat Locale Selection

Mr. Rawles, I wanted to send a quick note that one option for a retreat’s power/heating needs could be met with a natural gas well on the property.  Here is a link to a map which shows coal bed methane areas in the United States.  If someone was so inclined, a well could produce natural gas for a retreat for as many as 100 years and allow for a completely independent fuel source which can be added to other sources such as wood stoves and the like.  Best Regards, – Jon H.


Letter Re: Lessons Learned From a Recent California Power Outage

I have been a prepper most of my life.  Growing up in a foreign country is a relatively rural area everybody was a prepper by definition.   Limited services, almost no government, many subsistence farmers. I also spent a fair amount of time in the Navy doing bad things to bad people. Enough said.   When we lost power out here in San Diego County I was almost happy!  Finally I would get to put into use some the plans that many of us have been making. Maybe that sounds bad but after lugging my bug out/bug home bag for years I …


Economics and Investing:

China to ‘liquidate’ US Treasuries, not dollars. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) This headline was trumpeted over at The Drudge Report: Mortgage default warnings surged in August. Kweku is in a heap ‘o trouble: UBS $2 billion rogue trade suspect held in London. (Also by way of Drudge.) Gerald Celente: “Things Are Going to Get Much Worse…Society Is Breaking Down” JDD flagged this: Trump Accepts Gold Instead of Dollars From Tenant Items from The Economatrix: US Faces Challenges The Fed Can’t Solve Unemployment Facts We Would Rather Not Face US Drops In Ranking of Most Competitive of World Economies …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Margaret G. mentioned this bit of Philippine barrio ingenuity: Solar Water Bottle “Light Bulbs”.    o o o Floyd sent this link: Viewpoints: The ultimate fear of ‘Contagion’ tests trust in health care    o o o And just for fun, for any of you who are The Blues Brothers fans: Frostie Dancing To “Shake Your Tail Feathers”. (My dear sweet Mom sent me the link.)    o o o Does this remind you of a book you’ve read? Cash-strapped adults hunker down, bunk up    o o o A bit more of the truth comes out: White House received …



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.) …


Next Steps: Prepping for the Middle Expertise, Middle Life, Middle Philosophy Preppers, by A.L.G.

Salutations! And for those of spiritual and religious bent, Blessings, from my wife and I in these troubled time. A few weeks back, after my assistant’s grandson returned to his school year, he brought home a “bug” as the kiddies often do. My assistant naturally fell ill, and a week later, sure enough I found myself on my couch with my wife good-naturedly giving me some grief (and chicken soup…) With some time on my hands, and not much energy to actually do anything, my mind started turning as I laid there and watched an earthquake hit D.C. and a …


Letter Re: Making Cow Pie Fertilizer “Tea”

Letter Re: Making Cow Pie Fertilizer “Tea” I’m writing to describe how to make cow pie fertilizer “Tea.” This mild natural liquid fertilizer solution is for use on continuous production vegetable plants and ornamental’s. Use it just like you would when watering. It does not burn plants, the nutrient value is about 1-1-1. Materials: -We use a 325 gallon metal caged water tank (this tank will never again be used for potable water), sitting on a small portable trailer that can be pulled with a riding mower, tractor, or ATV, you can also use a non-toxic 55 gal. drum or …


Economics and Investing:

Jerry P. sent this: Greece, Europe struggle to contain debt crisis Porter Stansberry: Enough Already, Let’s Return To The Gold Standard   Amid Market Turmoil, Gold Stocks Find Heavy Accumulation Willem Weytjens: Gold 1980: Deja Vu?   Items from The Economatrix: International Oil Prices Fall as Demand Eases Fear of Greek Default Hurts Markets in US, Europe Bank of America Cutting 30,000 Jobs The Gold and Silver Precious Metals Tsunami


Odds ‘n Sods:

  Alt-Market’s Safe Haven State Project has selected Montana as their prime destination. And not coincidentally, Brandon Smith (the founder of Alt-Market) recently relocated to northwestern Montana. Congrats! If you aren’t familiar with it, Alt-Market is an information and community web site that has an emphasis on sound money, preparedness, and barter networks. Check it out.    o o o Argentina: Surviving without money. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)    o o o Steve M. sent this: Gun store owner had misgivings about ATF sting. This whole fiasco has a rotten stench…    o o o Tamara (of …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or any number of men, at the entering into society, to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights; when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution, is for the support, protection, and defence of those very rights; the principal of which, as is before observed, are Life, Liberty, and Property. If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand …


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.) …


Odds And Ends That You Won’t Want To Be Without, by Sonny Jim

I believe in having all the “big” things, to prepare for the possible breakdown of civil society.   I have a large home outside of a small mid-west town, and expect 12 people to arrive to hunker down, if things do fall apart.  I need to be able to feed and supply of them, perhaps for years. So I have 1,200 gallons of Kerosene.  This is intended for heating the home for 3 winters, and I have 3 Kerosene heaters to do the job.  The Kerosene is stored in in 3 large 330 gallon plastic totes, half buried in my back …


Two Letters Re: Skip Watching The Movie “Contagion”

  Dear Mr. Rawles, I too went and saw “Contagion” with my wife.  It has been interesting to read the various posts about this film, but again I have a different take.  The photography was good, the cast excellent, the script okay, the pro-government and big pharma propaganda was outstanding!  What we came away with was the understanding that the CDC can solve anything (except AIDS of course) and the big pharma can then come to rescue at any time. Yes the movie did a good job portraying would probably happen during this type of event in terms of clearing …