Day: July 18, 2012

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 41 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for …


An Overview of Neighborhood Defensive Strategies for Worst Case Situations, by Johnny N.

We’ve read about it in books, watched it in movies, or seen it on the news: People joining together to defend their neighborhood.  The point of this article is to review the general details needed to correctly accomplish this difficult objective.  Successfully defending a neighborhood in a societal collapse is extremely difficult, and it’s not even close to being as easy as it is commonly portrayed.  As you read this, please remember the golden rule of security: it is like being pregnant…either you are or you’re not!  Being partially secured is not much better than being completely unsecured.  Overview and …


Water Collection and Storage Issues, by Brian J.

Mr. Rawles, My wife and I began prepping approximately two years, prepping for what exactly is still unknown. We first were concerned with the economy going South (and still are) and begun to stock up for this type of event, as well as work on our debt’s. We quickly begun to realize that our path was not a straight one with no intersections, the deeper we got the more work we found was needed to compensate for a host of problems that could arise, and before we knew it, we were preparing for a multitude of scenarios. Each time you …


Letter Re: Cinder Block Safety Concerns

JWR: I have read plenty of entries on your site about people using concrete block (“cinder block”) for square foot gardening and raised bed gardening.  I didn’t know how to post this so, I thought I would just email you this information.   I have been in the Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) (Concrete Block) industry for almost 11 years.  I started as a yard hand and have recently worked my way up to Plant Manager and Site Safety Manager (two hats due to downsizing and the economy).  I see many people write about using these CMUs or cinder blocks to …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. suggested: Don’t fear the fiscal cliff — fear the welfare cliff Sue C. spotted this item: Political feuds, denial drove San Bernardino to bankruptcy SurvivalBlog’s G.G. suggested this by humorous economic commentator Richard Daughty (“The Mogambo Guru”): So Freaking Obvious (SFO) Items from The Economatrix: When Bankers Get Nervous, Watch Out Retail Purchases In U.S. Unexpectedly Decrease 0.5% Oil Declines From Seven-Week High Amid Global Economic Concern Fewer US Companies are Planning to Hire


Odds ‘n Sods:

Game Over. The Score: Bad Guys With Masks and Guns: 0 Old Guy with Pocket Pistol and Guts: 2 Read a description and see video clips: Charges unlikely against man who shot robbers    o o o OSOM recommended a great primer on tri-fuel conversion of small generators: Don’t Depend on Just Gas…    o o o An emigrant who grew up in East Berlin asks: America, Where Art Thou? (Thanks to J. McC. for the link.)    o o o F.J. liked this Do-It-Yourself project: Replace a Kitchen Cabinet Drawer with a Produce Storage Drawer    o o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When the chips are down, however, survival involves something more than run-of-the-mill ingenuity. Something extra is called for, an extra degree of imagination and a concern that seems groundless at the time, the ability in the midst of abundance to prepare for famine.” – by John E. Pfeiffer, The Creative Explosion: An Inquiry into the Origins of Art and Religion