Month: November 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present the last entry for Round 37 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. (We had a few too many entries to post in this round. The extras will be posted and judged in the next round.) 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. …


How to Make Lye Soap, by Masquita

WARNING: Lye is highly caustic and will degrade organic tissue. Do not allow lye to touch your skin, breathe in the fumes or be taken internally in any way. It will cause chemical burns, permanent scarring or blindness. Do not ever combine lye with aluminum, magnesium, zinc, tin, chromium, brass or bronze. When using or making lye, always wear protective equipment including safety glasses and chemical resistant gloves, and have adequate ventilation.     Basic homemade lye soap is useful for so much more than cleaning up the language of wayward children. Grandma used to rub it on dirty stains …


The SPLC’s Demonization of SurvivalBlog and “Montana Extremists”

I’ve heard from several readers about the absolute hatchet job that was recently inflicted upon me. The statist Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) issued a wholesale smear against me, Pastor Chuck Baldwin, and Stewart Rhodes of Oath Keepers. This was well-documented here: Brandon Smith: SPLC Labels Montana Patriots as “Extremist”. The SPLC is is famous for interspersing legitimate conservative public figures amidst lists of assorted racists, neo-Nazis, xenophobes, anti-Semites, criminals, and Grade A Whackamos. This is the classic “Guilt By Association” smear technique. In my case, it could better be called “Guilt By Non-Association”, since I have no connection with …


Seven Letters Re: Type 1 Diabetes–There Has to Be a Way to Prepare

Dear Editor: Regarding primitive means of extracting insulin, I direct your readers to this article (PDF and images available here.)   Note that the term ‘spirit’ in the paper means pure ethyl alcohol, and modern ethyl rubbing alcohol is not suitable as it contains denaturing poisons. It’s known that the mixtures must be kept at ice water temperatures or the insulin will be degraded. This is not intended for a kitchen chemist, some knowledge of chemistry and lab technique is preferred.   Referencing this article is not intended to give medical advice. – A.N. Onymieux   Hey Jim, I read …


Two Letters Re: No-Name AR-15s

Dear JWR: I first became involved with the AR-15 platform in around 1990. My first two ARs were what I refer to as “garage builds”– someone’s amassed parts or parts kits and threw them together These guns had both used and new parts, including at that time used M16 parts, and neither gun worked correctly or were very accurate. It was due to these two poorly performing guns that I learned to work on the AR design. Since then I’ve built and repaired around 150 guns. In the past 20 years I’ve seen Colts, Bushmasters along with about every brand …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. mentioned this: Jim Cramer: ‘We Are in DEFCON 3, Two Stages Away from a Financial Collapse So Huge …’ Some charming news, by way of SurvivalBlog’s G.G.: Bond Dealers See Fed Buying $545 Billion of Home-Loan Debt in Third Easing Also from G.G.: John Williams: Hyperinflation Warning, Preserve Value with Gold And another: 10 reasons the crisis isn’t over Yet another: States face bleak economic forecast, report says Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Soar On Big Shopping Weekend, Europe Sales Of New Homes Up In October, But Prices Fall Oil Prices Rise On Holiday Sales, Europe Hopes


Odds ‘n Sods:

Another perspective on an important news item that I’ve already covered in SurvivalBlog: ‘Russian’ hackers seize control of U.S. public water system by remotely destroying pump. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o K.A.F. flagged this one: Feds want secrecy on ICE facility for Wake County    o o o R.B.S. sent this: Cursive writing becoming a font memory in Idaho.



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 37 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 …


Gauze and Water: A Combat Medic’s Guide to Preparedness Medicine, by Walker

First a little background: I am an Army Medic with combat experience. I have been a prepper since before I knew what prepping was. I teach wilderness survival and self reliance to the youth in my community as well as hunt, smith and homebrew. This is my personal take on the medical supply situation on a thirty six to seventy two hour bag basis. I have noticed that there have been several articles not just on this site but just about every other site I frequent about first aid kits and the ideal supply list. First off I have to …


How to Find Helpful People Around You, by K.W.

I have lived in the UK for the last 25 years, but the first 25 years of my life I spent in what is now called an ex-Soviet block country, so I have a view from both sides. In the Eastern Europe people would generally be more interdependent, for the simple reason that the society was less commercialized. In the West you can usually buy anything you need, so the biggest issue is to have money to purchase goods and services. In the East there was more reliance on the informal means, especially when times got tougher. Younger people, who …


Two Letters Re: Places Where SurvivalBlog is Blocked From Viewing

James, They are now blocking SurvivalBlog along with Zero Hedge and I Hate The Media from work where I work. Yes I’m on a government network. I assume that more of the alternative media sites are going to be blocked, shortly. I’ll send you updates as they are blocked.  Thanks for your time. – C. in Northern Virginia. Sir: I am a full-time National Guardsman. (Sorta a rarity.)   I just discovered a change when I tried to look at SurvivalBlog, as usual, on my lunch hour. It is now a blocked [by name] on our or computer network . …


Letter From Mike Williamson Re: No-Name AR-15s

Dear Jim, To add to Pat Cascio’s comments on AR rifle construction, I thought I’d share the following: This document explains the criteria. This chart puts them all together One of the very critical components is the buffer tube on carbines.  The aftermarket tubes are of 6061 aluminum, versus 7075, and are milled, rather than being hammer-extruded.  They are about half as strong as mil-spec, and have less gripping surface on the threads.  This is probably one of the most critical areas of failure on the rifle. Please note that Knight’s Armament is not mentioned on this chart, but they …


Economics and Investing:

John R. suggested a piece by Paul Craig Roberts: Bankers have seized Europe: Goldman Sachs Has Taken Over Euro Meltdown: This One European Country Can Bring Down The Entire EU Courtesy of J.B.G.: Italy Is Closer To Collapse Than Anyone Realized, And So Is The World Also from J.B.G.: Should the Fed save Europe from disaster? Items from The Economatrix: Occupy Wall Street’s Latest Plan: Refuse To Repay Student Debt Hungary’s Debt Downgraded By Moody’s To Junk Europe Bond Yields To Keep Stocks Spellbound Why 2011 May Be A Jolly Year For Holiday Retailers


Odds ‘n Sods:

J.K. in Colorado mentioned: Another Family Lost In The Woods.    o o o Time to Stock Up on Lightbulbs. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o G.G. flagged this: Guns Better Investment Than Gold?    o o o News from The American Redoubt: Historic Eastern Oregon hotel going to auction. (A hat tip to loyal content contributor R.B.S. for the link. His comments: “Union is cattle and natural resource area.  Yes, it would not be an easy go but if you don’t bring a Hollywood mentality with you to this part of the world, and are …