Day: December 20, 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 38 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 …


How I Survived an Attempted Murder, by A. in Ecuador

I am an American in Ecuador, and I have a story to tell.  This happened in July and I should absolutely be dead.  A little introduction to the kind of person that I am.  Growing up in Alaska and playing in the great outdoors has always been a huge part of my life.  When I was a couple of years old, my wonderful father would strap me on his back and take my sister and I fishing.  I absolutely love him for that.  The beauty and serenity of the great outdoors has always been a stress reliever for me.  My …


Mike’s Product Review: Pro Ears Gold Predator Earmuffs

I love these muffs. I’ve had a pair of Pro Ears Gold Predator earmuffs for 18 months, and I haven’t found a flaw. So let me tell you what I’ve found that’s good: The first thing one needs from muffs is noise suppression, obviously. The Gold series have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 26. There are several factors that contribute to an NRR, one of which is frequency dependent. Pro Ears seems to have picked frequencies that are specific to shooting. The muffs have proven adequate for large bore rifles, .44 magnum revolvers and even make standing in the …


Six Letters Re: Advice on Sleeping Bags

JWR: As a long time camper, backpacker, outdoorsman, and now K-9 SAR Tech, I understand that temperature regulation at night can be a problem.  Here are some of the tricks I’ve used: I almost always use a silk bag liner.  This has multiple advantages: 1) silk feels warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot (2) silk protects the sleeping bag from dirt, minimizing the amount of needed washings and prolonging its life (3) in the winter, silk will make you bag about 5-10 degrees warmer (technically speaking, this “drops” you temp rating number- a 35 degree bag becomes …


Economics and Investing:

This may be our last “big dip” buying opportunity for silver: Gold to drop in Q1, far from retesting record high: Reuters poll Thief Injured Attempting to Steal Copper Wire From School. Solar Power becomes cheaper than diesel generators in India. (Thanks to F.J. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Pathogenesis of Central Bank Ruin 12 Bullish Factors Driving Gold to $2,000 and Higher Despite Recent Setback Public Confidence in California Falls as Economy Improves The Sacrifices I Made to Survive Sharp Drop in Shopping Since Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Sales Up, But Returns May Set Record Illinois Debtors Thrown …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Thinking Outside the Box Barn: Those Clever Nebraskans. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson for the link.)    o o o Gingrich Collapses in Iowa as Ron Paul Surges to the Front. I urge SurvivalBlog readers in the U.S. to keep up the momentum in Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign by supporting it financially, and by displaying campaign signs and bumper stickers.    o o o Corey B. wrote to tell me that Self Reliance Illustrated has temporarily made their past issues available for free download.    o o o An interesting read: Retroactive Surveillance and The Digital …