Month: July 2012

Note from JWR:

Today we present the last two entries for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. All other accepted entries that are still in the queue will roll over into Round 42. (As usual, we got a torrent of entries in the last few days of the month.) 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 …


Maintaining Posture as a Hard Target, by A.K.

As a former Sergeant of Marines, terrorism awareness was second nature.  It was not until I transitioned to civilian life that I realized the average guy doesn’t have a clue what a “Hard Target” is.   A Hard Target is a target that presents the lowest probability of being destroyed or overtaken.  I am breaking it down to three basic sections: 1. You’re self, 2. you’re vehicle and 3. you’re Home.  To start you need to rethink your wardrobe.  You should purchase clothing that helps you blend in. This means no wild colors or clothes that sport expensive name brands or …


Cold Weather Travel and Survival, by Sven J.

If you live in the American Redoubt or any of the Northern US, you deal with a lot of cold winter weather. But all of those folk living in warmer places, you need to take heed too, because cold weather can touch you too in a survival situation. In January 2010, Florida experienced temperatures in the mid-30 degrees Fahrenheit (F) range, cold enough to kill the unprepared individual.   I grew up in Alaska, and spent my childhood and teen years exploring the woods and the mountains, often far from any trails. Winter is actually the optimum time for travel …


Letter Re: Swiss Fallout Shelter Specifications

Dear Mr Rawles: A follow-up to my last letter: Spiez is where the Swiss have their federal testing lab for Civil Defense.  The lab has an english version of its website.  At this link  your readers may acess the list of tested and aprooved components ( for CD shelters) and in a seperate document, the list of aprooval holders.  Interested readers can then with a search engine find the companies who make components of interest one of which is Lunor. This company also has an English version of their web site.  Readers can from there select blast doors, NBC filters,  valves etc.  Spiez …


News From The American Redoubt:

I heard that a new and quite conservative prepper-friendly Baptist church has been planted up in Bozeman, Montana. Calvary Baptist Church, an independent fundamental Baptist church, will be pastored by Philip Brown. According to his newsletter, Brown felt strongly convicted to relocate his family to Montana. He mentioned that some quite providential things fell into place, to make it all happen. See their video introduction.   o o os Reader Joe W. sent this interactive map: Multiple Shootings in the United States. Notice a big hole in this map? There have been almost no multiple shootings in the heavily-armed American …


Economics and Investing:

The Fiscal Times reports: Disability Benefit Program Is Going Broke. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Corn prices hit record as crops shrivel Get ready to pay more for your steak Items from The Economatrix: Home Prices:  Bottom Or Bubble? Future Silver Supply More At Risk Than Gold Still Think That Money Market Fund Is “Cash”? 17 Reasons Why Those Hoping for a Recession in 2012 Just Got Their Wish


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. flagged this: The world’s first 3D-printed gun. (This technology proves the futility of any further statist dreams of effective “gun control.” The djinn has escaped the bottle.)    o o o Sticking to their guns: Marines place $22.5M order for the Colt .45 M1911.    o o o One to add to your toolbox: Sugru is a new air-curing rubber that can be formed by hand. It bonds to most materials and turns into a strong, flexible silicone rubber overnight.    o o o 370 million without power in India. (Thanks to Mitch K. for the link.)



Notes from JWR:

For a new hardback edition, I’ve been asked by Ulysses Press to create a new Revised Edition of my novel Patriots. This new edition should be published in October, 2012. Eventually there will be three hard copy formats: a hardback book, a trade paperback, and a mass market paperback. This new edition is the opportunity for me to correct some anachronistic errors that have developed over the 21 year life of the novel. (I wrote the first draft in the winter of 1990-1991.) For example, I’ve changed Doug Carlton’s father from a Vietnam veteran to a Desert Storm veteran. And …


C.J.’s Book Review: Long Term Survival in the Coming Dark Age, by James Ballou

I had long been interested in buying Mr. Ballou’s book Long-Term Survival In The Coming Dark Age: Preparing to Live after Society Crumbles. He has several compelling titles out there about survival skills. I selected  this one because the cover caught my eye: a Foreword by Ragnar Benson. For those who don’t know this author, he has written many excellent books on the subject of Survival and Preparedness. He is considered one of the originals along with Mel Tappan, and Kurt Saxon who were among the main Survivalist writers  in the 1970s.  Benson also often disagrees with his contemporaries, making …


L.W.’s Book Review: World Radio TV Handbook

The World Radio TV Handbook (“WRTH”) is a large annual handbook that contains a comprehensive directory of radio and television broadcasting stations worldwide. It also includes articles, technical reviews and commentaries about many aspects of shortwave listening, DX (long distance) chasing, and selection of suitable radio receivers. Revised and published annually, the reader is assured that the information contained therein is fresh and accurate. (I did my review based on the 2011 edition.) Anyone who has listened to a shortwave radio will know that it is often difficult to determine the identity of the station as it is being heard. …


Letter Re: Maintain The Tool: Weight Control and Preparedness

James Wesley: The article by N.H. about weight loss was pretty accurate. The only problem is the recommendations. That is, following the US dietary guidelines. I don;t recommend that. To make a long story short, study up on the “paleo” way of eating and exercise. Six years ago I cured my growing blood sugar problem and lost 30 lbs in 4 months. I’ve maintained that ever since then. I fear that a lot of “preppers” are fat and out of shape because they eat what they store, that is, they consume lots of wheat and vegetable oils because they store …


Recipe of the Week:

Marie’s Zucchini Ratatouille 2 TBS olive oil 1 large zucchini squash, sliced in half lengthwise and then into semicircles 1 medium onion, sliced 2 TBS minced garlic (fresh or reconstituted dried flakes) Heat oil at 400 degrees in an electric skillet and add squash, onion and garlic. Saute for about 15 minutes until zucchini slices start to brown. Add: 1 TBS chopped herbs: basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme are best. Add 2 Roma tomatoes, cut in wedges and saute an additional 5 minutes until tomatoes are soft Chef’s Notes: We served it over leftover tuna/rice casserole (not at all French!) and …


Economics and Investing:

J.N. suggested this over at Zero Hedge: $10 Trillion M2 Is Now In The Rearview Mirror. So the aggregate money supply has been expanded from $4 trillion to $10 trillion in less than 12 years. So it is no wonder gasoline and milk are both over $3 per gallon. Martin Armstrong: Why Property Taxes Will Soar, Why the Risk of Civil Unrest is Rising Exponentially and Why We Will See The Rise of a Third Political Party Items from The Economatrix: Earnings Show Recession May Be “Fast Approaching” Growth In U.S. Slows As Consumers Restrain Spending First Year of U.S. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Pierre M. sent this: Rise in Weather Extremes Threatens Infrastructure. Here is a key quote: “Some utilities are re-examining long-held views on the economics of protecting against the weather. Pepco, the utility serving the area around Washington, has repeatedly studied the idea of burying more power lines, and the company and its regulators have always decided that the cost outweighed the benefit. But the company has had five storms in the last two and a half years for which recovery took at least five days, and after the derecho last month, the consensus has changed. Both the District of Columbia …