Month: February 2012

Adjusting Survival Plans to Meet Your Unique Circumstances, by Thomas A.

So, first a quick rundown on my family circumstances.  I am a lawyer by training.  My spouse, a former teacher, is midway through dental school.  We own a (mortgaged) home in the Virginia suburbs of a large city.  My spouse is from a western state, having grown up around guns, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc.  By contrast, I grew up in a small city, in a house without guns.  I was in the Cub Scouts for a few years, but various other interests took over and I never got to do the majority of the important skill-building that being in …


Experiences Prepping in Florida and Texas, by Scott B.

I’ll start this by saying I’m a single 33 year old. I’ve been into preparedness long before I knew there was a word for it.  I don’t really know where it came from in the beginning, though my mother was my Cub Scout leader in elementary school. Some of my best memories were sitting on the floor underneath the dining room table tying knots around the table legs. I also remember reading The Hardy Boys Handbook: Seven Stories of Survival in elementary school, which was a mix of survival stories and information. It is worthwhile to find a copy for your …


Four Letters Re: Celiac Disease: The Gluten-Free Prepping Challenge

Jim: I am also gluten intolerant and I found out much in the same way and the previous writer.  In addition the information provided I would like to point out potatoes.  They can be bought in 50 pounds bags and stored in a root cellar for most of the winter. We buy two 50 pound bags in the fall that last us until late spring.  We also grow 18 different varieties of potatoes and save and grow them from seed each spring.  That way we have the knowledge and ability to ramp up our own potato production in case we couldn’t buy them from the farm …


Two Letters Re: Traditional Tools for TEOTWAWKI, by Bill H.

James, I just read the comment  by one of the readers on the Crosscut Saw Company (in Letters – Traditional Tools for TEOTWAWKI, by Bill H.).   I am on my second crosscut saw I purchased form the Crosscut Saw Company. (The first one that I owned was stolen). I also purchased their saw maintenance manual, and some sharpening tools. I purchased the saws manufactured by them (They also have some of the commercial made saws). Their saws are of excellent quality and workmanship, and definitely worth the money.   If you do decide to purchase one of these saws, purchasing …


Letter Re: Switching to AR-10s for Battle Rifles

JWR, I’ve looked into getting an AR-10 to supplement my AR-15 and considered the SI Defense and CMMG options that accept the widely available and very inexpensive Heckler und Koch G3 20 round magazines.  The former requires minor modification of each G3 magazine, the latter requires modification to an upper receiver, and unfortunately those lower receivers are no longer produced.  I know you’ve mentioned your plan to convert to SI Defense receiver AR-10 rifles, but I did not see a mention of the required magazine modification.  The instructions to modify the magazines can be found here.  The modification involves removing …


Economics and Investing:

Chart: ‘America’s Per Capita Government Debt Worse Than Greece‘. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) The compression of generations – 25 million adults live at home with parents because they’re unemployed or underemployed. Reader R.B.S. sent this: Idaho Rep. Hart pushes gold coins as ‘legal tender’ $6 Gas This Summer — U.S. Economy Falls Off Cliff Items from The Economatrix: Iran Stopped Selling Crude to UK and France Oil Price Hits 8-Month High Gallup Finds Unemployment Climbing to 9% in February US Dollar Could Weaken Amid Euro Talks


Odds ‘n Sods:

An astounding piece from Nanny State Canada: Man arrested for daughter’s picture of him with gun. My advice for my readers in Ontario: Relocate, while you still can! You will find the western provinces are more gun friendly. Vote with your feet! (Thanks to B.B. for sending the link.)    o o o John R. sent this headline from Nanny State Britannia: Widow faces jail for possession of late husband’s illegal pistol after it was stolen during burglary. JWR’s Comment: Don’t miss this quote at the end: “To find a gun is quite bad enough, but to find ammunition is …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The U.S. economic and systemic-solvency crises of the last five years continue to deteriorate. Yet they remain just the precursors to the coming Great Collapse: a hyperinflationary great depression. The unfolding circumstance will encompass a complete loss in the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar; a collapse in the normal stream of U.S. commercial and economic activity; a collapse in the U.S. financial system, as we know it; and a likely realignment of the U.S. political environment.” – John Williams of Shadowstats


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 …


Trial by Snow, by Bill S.

To say we have had a mild winter here in Iowa is an understatement to say the least. That was until recently. It would be safe to say that with temperatures in the 50 degree range I have gotten a little complacent this winter. Like many who read SurvivalBlog I spend time watching the news and trying to keep an eye on the big picture. At least in this case it came at the expense of some of the details. Like everything in life I would like to remind myself as well as all my Brothers and Sisters out there …


Physical Fitness and Training, by Patrick N.

As an avid reader of SurvivalBlog, I have read a countless number of articles on communications, food storage, tactics, weaponry, and a long list of almost every topic involving survival during a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation.  One major area that directly effects all of the aforementioned topics is physical fitness.  As a certified Health and Physical educator that is working on receiving a Certified Personal Trainer certification I take physical activity very seriously. One term that is used frequently in my field is GPP or General Physical Preparedness. GPP is the base level of fitness that a person must have …


Four Letters Re: Could America’s Farmers and Ranchers Face a Rhodesian Future?

Hi Jim,  Reading your article brought back many memories of the period in our land during the 1970s. We lived on the Eastern border and were regularly attacked at night and even during the day and the culprits ran back across the border into Mozambique. We attended many funerals of fellow farmers and their families. One point of interest that you do not mention is that groups of farmers (neighbouring) hired Militia groups of experienced soldiers. Normally about 10 people plus a leader who in some cases was a white man. They patrolled the farm area at night and set up …


Two Letters Re: Traditional Tools for TEOTWAWKI, by Bill H.

James, For best use with most woodworking other than large beams, a draw knife requires a shaving horse. A draw knife very useful for barking logs as they last much longer with the bark removed. You will also need a broad axe and adze to shape beams. A froe to rive boards and shingles is good too. Good books to get are the Foxfire series, as are the primitive series by John McPherson. Also see McPherson’s web page at PrairieWolf.net.      Keep up the good work, – Ted. J   Sir: Having just read the most recent article Traditional …


Economics and Investing:

A derivatives article worth reading, by way of Fierce Finance: Exclusive: SEC widens probe of exchange-traded funds. Currency Debasement Should Take Gold Prices Over $6,000/oz and Silver Above $400/oz Spain barter economy wins followers in grip of crisis. (Thanks to Tim R. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: 18 Statistics that Prove the Economy Has Not Improved Under the Current Administration Colorado Looking At Gold, Silver Currency Turning The Screw On Greece Oil Above $104 After EU Gives Greece Bailout Deal


Odds ‘n Sods:

P.G. sent this: How to Use the Internet in Stealth Mode    o o o Rick B. sent another link to good piece at The How Do Gardener: Crop Rotation in the Home Garden    o o o Jeff G. suggested this: Introduction to the Constitution (a free lecture series featuring Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College)    o o o Some more observations from Ol’ Remus: Guns.    o o o J.M.C. sent us this: More Indiana Women Carrying Guns