Month: January 2012

Letter Re: Some Thoughts on Burning Coal

Sir, Probably the biggest gap in our survival preparations at present is having a good source of energy if we have to stay underground for an extended period. If surface conditions are such that we cannot venture outside, then most likely there will be problems with our photovoltaic panels, solar water heater and hydropower, all of which are above ground. With currently available technology, propane seems to be the only reasonable solution to support heat, hot water, and electricity. Propane can be stored indefinitely and furnaces, stoves and generators that run on propane are readily available. However, storing enough propane …


Letter Re: The Overnighters: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Hello Mr. Rawles,  I felt compelled to write in regarding Frank C’s recent article, The Overnighters: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You, and share my experiences working in the non-profit world over the last four years.  While my experience is significantly different from Frank’s, he is in my opinion right on the money.   I live and work in a northeastern state.  The state has a low population, is very rural, but has a massive “public assistance” community within its borders. In other words, lots of “social programs.”  I am a die hard capitalist, gun-owner, conservative, Christian.  Not the best prepper, …


Economics and Investing:

Ted B. sent this: European Union agrees on Iran oil embargo The Economist reports on Romania: Anger management: The government struggles to contain a growing protest movement Courtesy of Rex N. comes this link: Danger Ahead! Says the Bank of Canada Over at KITCO: Comex Gold Ends Higher On Bullish “Outside Markets,” Positive Technicals Items from The Economatrix: Gold Bottom Targets Trend to $4,000 IMF in Need For $1 Trillion / The Private Greek Bond Fiasco The Debt Supercycle Reaches its Final Chapter Jim Sinclair:  There Will be a Run on Gold Stored in the US On Banks Refusing Cash …


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.D. in Ohio mentioned this fascinating paper in the medical journal Nature Neuroscience: How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality. In essence, some people’s brains aren’t wet-wired to accept the the prospect of calamity. This may explain why trying to convince some of your family members to prepare is like talking to a brick wall.    o o o Some good privacy news: High Court Rules Warrantless GPS Tracking Unconstitutional    o o o A new M9 solar flare has everyone’s attention. It is the biggest since 2005. BTW, I recommend signing up to receive free solar …



Notes from JWR:

Welcome aboard, to the thousands of new SurvivalBlog that just heard about us for the first time in the recent Reuters news article. To come up to speed quickly, take a few minutes to read the About page, and then SurvivalBlog’s Quick-Start Guide for Preparedness Newbies. — 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 …


Recession and Black Swan Events, by Don M.

Financial calamity can take many different forms.  The Brazilian saga of hyperinflation / depression / recovery from the 1980s leading to one of today’s most robust economies is a classic tale of overcoming adversity.  Argentina’s economic collapse in 2000-2001 followed by hyperinflation in 2002, debt repudiation and seizing foreign deposits is another story with a solid recovery afterwards.  The disastrous 20-year Japanese experiment with deflation and negative growth is at the other end of the spectrum. Which will the US experience first?  And, how quickly will we feel the scorching fire of hyperinflation or the freezing blast of deflation? The …


Six Daughters in Camouflage: A Father’s Legacy by Michelle S.

From all appearances we are a typical family in our white trash, low rent neighborhood in the suburbs. Normal for our family of 9 has been living the last twenty-odd years on much more love than money. Scraping by, scrounging, bartering, repairing and repurposing things constantly in order to keep the home fires burning, gas in the tank, peanut butter and jelly on the table. Good times were relishing the pure gold of fat laughing babies, silly kids, and slow paced days when everyone was reasonably content at the same time. What even our blatant survivalist solar panel/gun collecting/FedEx-bringing-cases-of- MREs- …


Two Letters Re: Lessons From an Ice Storm

Dear Mr. Rawles, I have been a daily visitor to your site for about three years now. I want to drop you a line regarding our experience in the big Pacific Northwest ice storm–wit effects still being felt. I live with my wife in a suburb of Tacoma, part way between the city proper and the farm country. The television and Internet news sites all warned of a “massive” and “record breaking” storm that would move into our area this past Monday. We are on PSE power and have our own water well. We consider ourselves pretty well prepared (we …


Letter Re: Solar Panel Restrictions are Another Reason to Hate HOAs

JWR: This television news segment was disturbing: Should HOAs restrict solar panel use? They cited “architectural standards.” The family made the mistake of challenging the authority of the homeowner association (HOA) to pre-approve all changes (including tone of roof shingles, type of planted grasses, whether or not RVs can be parked on your property, et cetera) and impose their notion of right and good on you and your house, at your expense. HOAs should reduce the market value of a house by 40% at least, IMHO, for anyone contemplating surviving a grid-down, phones-down, plumbing-down situation. Why would anyone subject their …


Letter Re: Hypertension Prevention and Planning

JWR, Regarding the recent article Hypertension Prevention and Planning, by  Dr. Bob and Docswife, I recently learned about a Chinese herb called Jiaoguluan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) .  Jiaoguluan is a vasodilator, and is reputed to have several beneficial properties.  An Internet search  turns up research that suggests that is reduces blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels.  How much credence to give to a lot of what’s on the net is hard to determine.  The plant can be grown in the US and brewed into a tea, which is the traditional Chinese way of taking it. Perhaps some SurvivalBlog readers are knowledgeable …


Recipe of the Week:

Wolf Brother’s Hardtack Based on the Civil War Recipe: Army Hardtack Recipe Ingredients: 4 cups flour (preferably whole wheat) 4 teaspoons salt Water (about 2 cups) Pre-heat oven to 375° F Makes about 10 pieces depending on how you size them. Instructions Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add just enough water (less than two cups) so that the mixture will stick together, producing a dough that won’t stick to hands etc. Mix the dough by hand. Roll the dough out, shaping it roughly into a rectangle.   What I did was to roll it into a cookie …


Economics and Investing:

A credit crunch is looming! European banks prepare for worst, hoard cash. (A hat tip to Sue C. for the link.) Steve F. sent this news, which represents one more reason to stockpile nickels at home: Nickel will outperform Gold in next 12 months: Deutsche Bank What To Expect: QE3, $2,200 Gold, and The Trillion Dollar Bazooka Kinsley: About Rising Inflation, Please Remain Worried. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Silver and the Gold Standard Government Math Hides True Unemployment Hungary May Be First To Default Warning Signs That We Should Prepare For The Worst


Odds ‘n Sods:

I was briefly quoted in a Reuters article that was a featured link in The Drudge Report: Subculture of Americans prepares for civilization’s collapse. The same article more extensively quotes Michael T. Snider, who writes the excellent blog The Economic Collapse.    o o o I just heard about a new blog on the scene: Prep-Blog.com. Check it out.    o o o Getting Out of Dodge, by Doug Casey    o o o My editor at Penguin Books confirmed that my nonfiction book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” is now available Costco …