Year: 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 32 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Realistically Raising Chickens for Meat in a Survival Situation, by B.R.

As both an organic, pastured chicken farmer and someone very interested in preparing for any possible future disruption in the food chain, I have given much thought to what it would take to keep my flock going if everything went to heck in a hand basket. Eggs or Meat? Over the past several generations, chickens have been selectively bred to either grow fast and put on lots of meat quickly or crank out eggs like a Pez dispenser. The problem with this specialization of breeds is that it has created fragile, problem prone chickens. The modern breeds require high octane …


Letter Re: Question About Eris (Planet X) Tidal Forces

Dear JWR,   I will present some facts and allow you to draw your own conclusions.  Having been in Army Intelligence, I am certain that you are capable of analyzing data and arriving at multiple possible scenarios of likely outcomes: 1.)     There are currently 9 [well-known] planets in our solar system; 2.)     According to physicists, objects of greater mass attract objects of lesser mass (same goes for planets); 3.)    On October 31, 2003 a new , 10th planet (Planet X [also known as Eris]), was discovered outside our solar system, but traveling towards it in an elliptical orbit; 4.)    See …


Letter Re: Increasing Preparedness Planning Through the Rules of Three

JWR,   SAA Joe makes some good points in his article. He states however that “Hopefully 3 minutes without oxygen is self explanatory.  You have to breathe to survive!” then offers no solutions to a scenario where that may become a problem.   Scenario: You are stuck in traffic on the interstate due to an overturned tanker truck a few hundred feet in front Of you when a cloud of unidentified gas starts rolling towards your car from the overturned tanker. What do you do?   Scenario: You are at home which is located ¼ mile from a heavily used …


Economics and Investing:

Bryan E. noted that Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has proposed a list of budget cuts that will total $500 Billion dollars in savings. “The Houston Cannonball” mentioned a link at Zero Hedge for a map of the dozens of riots in recent weeks across the globe that can be attributed to price hikes as well as a few price hikes in the US. Sue C. sent this: Budget deficit to hit $1.48 trillion. The congresscritters in Washington D.C. now have us swimming in red ink! Items from The Economatrix: Mike Ruppert:  The Beginning of Systemic Failure Regulators Shut Down …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent a link to this photo montage: Ancient Defense Tower Becomes a Sleek Home    o o o Analysis: Egypt shows how easily Internet can be silenced.    o o o Reader J.M.C. sent the CNN piece: Utah Base Lockdown. J.M.C.’s comment: “Scooby-Doo says: ‘Rutro!’”    o o o I was pleased to see that SurvivalBlog was just ranked #1, among survival blogs.    o o o Chris Matthews: Obama Plans Separate Gun-Control Speech



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 32 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


The Calorie Content of Survival Foods, by G.C.T.

“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower While I sit and type, the Mid-Atlantic States and much of the rest of the country are locked in a deep freeze.  Wrapped in a blanket and staring at the fire, the furthest thing from my mind is the warm breeze of spring and my summer vegetable garden.  Yeah, right!  The only thoughts that seem to pass through my brain while staring at “the poor man’s television” is TEOTWAWKI, fishing (trout season is just around the corner), …


Training and Practical Tactics, by Southwest LEO

First and foremost let me say that this is in no way meant as the definitive way to do things. This is only one man’s opinion of things that I have used in my job and have kept me safe over 15 plus years on the job (I am also not a tactical operator–I am just a beat cop). Also know and respect your local laws when training. Safety is also a factor. I have done live fire training and even with all safety being a priority wearing body armor and having an instructor right next to you my pucker …


Letter Re: Two Snowbound But Prepared Elderly Sisters

We are sisters, age 67 and 73  and live in Southeastern Connecticut near the shore on several acres.  We were fortunate that we grew up on a 100 acre Connecticut farm where we grew our own food, farm animals, had a smoke house, three freezers filled with what we raised, three ponds, learned to shoot, trap, fish, and had very capable parents.    Until several years ago, we lived as most Americans do, on the grid with only a week or two provisions in the home.  I had moved to West Virginia in 1990 (retired early) and lived alone with …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. suggested: Silver Coin Sales, ETF Outflows Show Divergence In Markets Jerry Robinson: State of the Union: Four Absurd “Solutions” to America’s Debt Crisis Foreclosure Document Fraud Drives Notaries to Take the Fifth Items from The Economatrix: Paper Money Madness:  Inflation-Fueled Economic Growth Does Not Indicate That An Economy Is Getting Stronger   Marc Faber Expects 10% Drop in S&P 500   Market Manipulation, Why Gold And Silver Have Declined   Roubini Says US Risks “Train Wreck” From Bond Vigilante Wrath   Financial Meltdown Was “Avoidable,” Inquiry Concludes 


Odds ‘n Sods:

A word of warning for readers in the Northwest who live on the coast: Seismic fault beneath us is ‘fully loaded’ after 311 years    o o o America Needs Community, Not Collectivism. (A tip of the hat to Susan H. for the link.)    o o o Reader D.I.W. astutely observed: Amazingly Newsweek declares “the issue at the core” of the Giffords tragedy – in the first sentence of an article. No debate. Nothing other than gun control would have saved the situation. They didn’t even bother to say “the issue he believes to be at the core …” …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 32 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …