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 …




Weapon Use, Slings, Web Gear, and Associated Weapon Equipment, by Racker

Thanks to Jim Rawles and those who participate in SurvivalBlog–such a great source of material. It has been a real pleasure to review the material on this site and note the obvious amount of knowledge available as resources for others in proper disaster planning. When you see nation changing events happening around the world, it is nice to see a level of common people thinking about such things, preparing for such events, and sharing.   I have read other’s ideas on weapons related gear and I agree with many of their thoughts. My personal training comes from the Marine Corps …




Post Collapse Barter: The Rest of the Story, by D.T.R.

Post collapse barter has been a hot topic for as long as I have been lurking around the Survival Community. Yet each time I read the offerings on the subject they have left me feeling like the whole story is not being told. This is an attempt to tell that story.   Post collapse barter is often presented in romanticized ways of a simpler and happier life such as depicted by Eddie Albert playing the role of the Persian peddler “Ali Hakim” in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma.” He went town to town peddling everything from perfume to frying …




Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: S&P Cuts Credit Ratings for Nine Euro Zone Nations J.J.H. recommended a satirical short film comparing the National Debt to the finances of a family. More monetization ahead: Fed to Weigh Further Easing Amid Doubts About Recovery. The government is now fully addicted to artificial money creation. Items from The Economatrix: There Goes The Neighborhood:  Cleveland To Demolish 20,000 More Foreclosed, Looted Homes Poverty In America Getting Worse China’s Collapse “Will Bring Economic Crisis to Climax in 2012”




Odds ‘n Sods:

M.B. mentioned this: Hard Core Resiliency    o o o R.B.S. suggested a piece over at How To Vanish, titled Cloud Security.    o o o Darknet Rising: A Private, Secure and Anonymous Meshnet Is Emerging    o o o Eric B. was the first of several readers to forward me this link: Mobile phone charger that runs on water invented for ‘people who spend time away from the electricity grid’. And speaking of phone batteries, see this article suggested by Mark P.: SpareOne cellphone claims 15-year battery life, we go hands-on (video)    o o o Ol’ Remus dissects …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.- Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (KJV)