Day: January 10, 2012

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 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 …


Get Home Bag Lessons Learned, by Traveling Salesman David

I’ve been seriously prepping for a decade and consider myself a prepared and competent guy.   Y2K got me started, but the events of the past few years have kicked my preps into higher gear.   I’m confidant with my guns and food storage.  I have alternate power and heat sources established at both our home and retreat location.  I have a co-worker who includes me in his prepper group’s  meetings.  My family (immediate and some extended) is on board with our plans for TEOTWAWKI.   Although I’m not where I want to be, I’m know I’m better off than 98% of the …


Social Cooperative Learning: The Benefits of Belonging to a Group of Survivalists and Preppers, by R.H.

The Beginning of My Journey: Why I decided to Start My Own Meetup Group ­ I began my journey towards preparedness about 3 years ago.  I had wanted to start preparing for an emergency but just didn’t know where to start.  It also felt very overwhelming when I thought of all the work I would need to do in order to go from being poorly prepared to becoming truly prepared.  However that egging feeling of “what if” kept pestering me.  As a San Diego native earthquakes were a natural threat and there was always that fear of the “Big One”.  …


Letter Re: Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI

James, After reading the recent article about Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI: I believe there is some sound G.O.O.D. advice. However, assuming unhindered travels will allow rolling stores of survival gear to pass through any measurable distance unchallenged, is a dangerous assumption. The writer cites experience traveling in a military convoy with hardened, well armed vehicles. But for realistic, civilian style convoys, the dangers are multiplied by lack of experienced scout personnel and soft equipment. If one has sustained an extended bug in and has a supportive neighborhood, that may still remain the best option if bug out was not initiated within the …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this: Illinois Debt Downgraded Again, Worst in Nation Haircuts ahead! Merkel Meets Sarkozy to Draft EU Fiscal Rules as Part of Euro-Rescue Plan. The article includes a quote from IMF Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard: “‘The numbers are not good’ for Greece, Blanchard said on CNBC television. ‘There’ll have to be substantial haircuts.’” [JWR Adds: Along with currency revaluations, be ready for banks runs and currency export controls that may be enacted in many nations. And don’t be surprised if Ben Bernanke comes to the rescue–whether overtly or covertly–with trillions of Dollars from America. This will be money created …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Military Grade Satellite Station Up for Sale in Carmel, California. (Thanks to Doug W. for the link.)    o o o A trust fund has been set up for Sarah McKinley–the much publicized recently-widowed teenage mother in Oklahoma who shot an intruder to protect her infant son.    o o o Keep in mind that Paratus Pantry is running their Preservation Week specials, with a different specials each day from January 9th through 13th.    o o o Ay, ay, ay: Deputies say burglar dumped rare coins into coin counting machine. A son stole his own father’s pre-1965 silver, and …