Year: 2011


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 …


Choosing Survival Group Partners, by C.G.

What kind of person are you and how does that relate to surviving the end of the world as we know it? I am far from completely prepared for TSHTF scenario but I am working hard on it.  I do a lot of reading and research on the subject and one of my toughest areas has been in finding other like minded individuals of which I would be able to trust in a post-TEOTWAWKI situation!  I never really realized how difficult this could be.  In my close circle of friends there is but one that is even close to being …


Letter Re: Advice on Privacy in Firearms Purchases

Hi Jim,   If I buy a handgun on AuctionArms.com and have it shipped to a FFL will the authorities know it is registered under my name?   Thank you,   – John G. JWR Replies: The following applies only to SurvivalBlog readers in the United States: Well, considering that by law, final delivery of a gun bought out of state means that you must fill out a Form 4473 that will be kept on file permanently with your dealer. Also, an Instant Background Check will be required. So, yes, you will leave a paper trail. (Although it isn’t “registration”, …


Letter Re: Archery Equipment for Those Living in Gun-Deprived Locales

Jim,   I just want to add a few comments on Archery as a means of self defense from someone who is no overwhelming expert on the subject, but has had a hand in Archery since childhood. So I put something together to assist those forced to use a bow in self defense. Bows can be swift, silent, accurate and deadly, and in the right circumstances, may be preferable to a firearm.   Let me state at the very beginning that shooting wooden arrows out of most modern compound bows should not be done and usually will result in the …


Economics and Investing:

Debt Default Fears Will Spread To US and Japan, Warns Citigroup   Deepening Crisis Traps America’s Have-Nots   Prepare for a Greek Default     Brett G. suggested this piece: JPMorgan’s Dimon: More Cities Will Go Bankrupt John R. liked this one: The New Financial World Order Evolves Further Also from John: Here’s That Big Citigroup Report On Why Absolutely No Sovereign Debt Is Safe Items from The Economatrix: How The Government Spins Unemployment (Paul Craig Roberts) Fed Prints Another $600 Billion to Keep US Recovery on Track   Oil Surges on Offshore Drilling Report   Housing Market Slips Into …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. sent this item of interest, from Popular Mechanics: Rise of the Preppers: Survivalists Get a Makeover Can disaster preparedness become a lifestyle without turning into survivalism?    o o o Magnetic Pole Shift May Close Airports    o o o Peter King’s silly gun ban idea. Beyond ludicrous… How can you create an exclusion zone that moves?    o o o Just as predicted: Here They Come For Your Money – Dozens of States Are Raising Taxes in 2011    o o o Sean B. sent us another testament to the protective value of “mass”: Credit Protection: Bouncer’s cards …



The California – Wyoming Travel Dictionary

Ray X., a SurvivalBlog reader in Wyoming has compiled a lexicon, with translations for Californians who are visiting Wyoming, or vice versa. Note: This doesn’t apply to conservatives who are fleeing California. (Since they already speak the language of Wyoming.) In California In Wyoming Diverse or Lifestyle Choice Sinful and Perverted Arsenal of Weapons Gun Collection Delicate Wetlands Swampland Undocumented Worker Illegal Alien Cruelty-Free Materials Synthetic Fiber Assault and Battery Attitude Adjustment Heavily Armed Well-protected Narrow-minded Righteous Taxes or Your Fair Share Coerced Theft Commonsense Gun Control Gun Confiscation Plot Illegal Hazardous Explosives Fireworks or Stump Removal Nonviable Tissue Mass …


Letter Re: Intestinal Parasites and Water Filtration

Hi James, I thought I would pass this one along: Intestinal Parasites May Be Causing Your Energy Slump. This article talks about intestinal parasites, many of which are found in our drinking water, and their effects on chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is one good reason for people to start using their Berkey filters on a regular basis and also start cleansing their bodies of these parasites. I have my filter in the closet, but after reading this I think I will put it on the counter and start using it to filter my tap water. I …


Letter Re: Mobile Fuel Storage System

James, Let me introduce your readers to propane and the many possibilities it offers your planning and TEOTWAWKI preps, that you will likely never have thought of before. Over the last number of years I have carefully thought out and planned a “system” if you will of key pieces of equipment which all operate on a single, inexpensive and highly efficient and large mobile fuel storage system. Naturally, I have the standard wood stove and gasoline operated family vehicle(s), but what is most interesting is some of the items I have been working on and extensively testing/ using on the side.   …


Two Letters Re: More Flooding in Australia

Hi Jim,   Just to let you know, a TEOTWAWKI situation came to our town (Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia) two days ago.  Toowoomba is known as the Garden City, and sits at the top of the Great Dividing Range, at 3,000 feet above sea level.  After weeks of constant rainfall that soaked catchments of a drought stricken region, we received six inches of rain in an hour. This deluge caused a flash flood (that has been since called an “Inland Tsunami”) that raged through the middle of Toowoomba.  The speed of the flood took everyone by surprise and cars and people …


Economics and Investing:

Frequent content contributor B.B. spotted this: Offshore Gold Rush: AngloGold, De Beers hunt gold under Atlantic Eric Rosenbaum asks: Should the US Raise Its Debt Ceiling… or Default? The piece includes this: “Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner this week found himself in the unenviable position of representing the US government in the role of a delinquent credit card customer asking for a higher credit limit. In place of that line on a credit card account statement that reads ‘available credit’ insert ‘national debt ceiling.’” (Thanks to reader C.D.V. for the link.) G.G. sent this: Bank intervention as euro debt crisis deepens …


Odds ‘n Sods:

<<p>Frequent content contributor C.D.V. sent us the link to an interesting (and beautiful) “heat map” which may aid is selecting retreat locales. It shows locations that are furthest in travel time from major cities.    o o o W.T. suggested this piece over at Grant Cunninghan’s site: Firearms Lubrication 101. (Thanks to W.T. for the link.)    o o o Reader Jenn. C. mentioned an article that she penned for The Sarah Connor Charm School blog site: Survival Food Strategies for Real Food Minded Modern Warriors.    o o o One Poor Harvest Away From Chaos. (Thanks to Cheryl N. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The United States and its leaders are stuck in their own Catch-22. They need the economy to improve in order to generate jobs, but the economy can only improve if people have jobs. They need the economy to recover in order to improve our deficit situation, but if the economy really recovers, long-term interest rates will increase, further depressing the housing market and increasing the interest expense burden for the US, therefore increasing the deficit. A recovering economy would result in more production and consumption, which would result in more oil consumption, driving the price above $100 per barrel, therefore …