Month: August 2012


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 42 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 any …


Coastal Oregon as a Retreat Locale, by LongJim

Years ago, as a young man, I was impacted by the 1970s gasoline crisis, making for long gas station lines and the accompanying angst, which was preceded by a few years by a strange  market-driven meat-shortage. I remember that episode resulted in ground beef prices soaring,  and even companies coming out with “textured soy protein” mixes in cartons as a substitute. That series of events probably steered me into the emerging survivalist-prepper culture, and ever since then, I’ve always had a full pantry of tuna, beans, bullets, and water wherever I went. I carried that mindset over to my career …


Letter Re: An Indiana Disaster Preparedness Meetup Site

Hi Mr. Rawles, To start, your site has been an inspiration to many people, myself included.  I am a firefighter here in Indiana and what I’ve noticed is there are so many different places to get info, some good some bad, but it is tough to get some centralized information for local training’s.  We started a Meetup group in Central Indiana that is growing fast and it is not a monetary site or a forum, just a centralized place to post training events and meetups around the area.  You are one of the main sites we encourage all of our members to go to …


Economics and Investing:

J.B.G. sent: Five years on, the Great Recession is turning into a life sentence Parallel currencies! Coinage Act of 2012 – Congressman Ron Paul R.B.S. sent a link to an interesting Numismaster piece: Fake Silver Rounds Can Cause Real Problem Items from The Economatrix: Growing Paychecks Boost Americans’ Buying Power Fed Can’t Fix US Economic Headwinds Bill Haynes:  We Are Now Seeing Huge Orders For Physical Gold & Silver African Nations Chase Out The Almighty Dollar


Odds ‘n Sods:

Joshua E. mentioned that Savage has resumed making a .22LR/.410 shotgun combination gun, the Model 42. This a a very practical little gun for pest shooting or foraging.    o o o A new blog with some real merit: Prepography.com    o o o A reader mentioned: “A collection of YouTube videos focused mostly on how to have fun making or doing things on your own for little or no money”. His latest video on how to make a flea trap is brilliantly simple.    o o o Charley S. sent this, just for fun: “So papa, how do you …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be republicans and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government. That is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of the Bible." – Benjamin Rush, “A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a School Book”, 1798


Notes from JWR:

Just released! The latest sci-fi novel in the popular Freehold series by SurvivalBlog’s own Michael Z. Williamson: When Diplomacy Fails. This novel is another prequel to Freehold, involving the Ripple Creek crew. Here is a summary: “Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security’s best personal security detail return to action. This time, they really don’t like their principal, World Bureau of State Minister Joy Herman Highland–a highly-placed bureaucrat with aspirations to elected office. Even worse, Highland’s assistant wants to publicize every movement and action for her boss’s pending campaign, which is anathema to good security. With a person of this status, …


Do-It-Yourself Rocket Stoves, by E.B.

I live and prep on a tight budget – at least for the time being. I am lucky to have a fireplace in my home, not a woodstove, nor the room for one, but at least a fireplace. It’s better than no fireplace, but rather inefficient for heating or cooking. It would do in a pinch, but a rocket stove would greatly reduce the amount of wood needed to cook a meal. On my budget even $100 is a lot right now and I began looking into building my own rocket stove. The knowledge is out there, and “improved stoves” …


Letter Re: American Redoubt Coverage

Jim, I’m a long-time blog reader and occasional writer just dropping a note by you to say first of all that I love the blog. I read it everyday without fail. I support you by clicking through to your sponsors and purchasing items. One thing I would like to state for the record is my objection to the constant yammering on about the American Redoubt. [Some deleted, for brevity.] As one who has relocated from Florida to central Kentucky, I can tell you that there are more nice places to relocate to than just the Redoubt. Once again, I love …


Economics and Investing:

Der Spiegel reports: Investors Prepare for Euro Collapse Welcome to the land of the poor and rich – Trading the middle class for economic extremes. Deep Fried Black Swan Lands as China Admits it Has a Food Inflation Problem, Releases Corn, Rice From Reserves. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) Three Warning Signs Showing Why You Should Remain Leery of this Market   Why Alternative Energy Will Never Become Widespread in Our Lifetime Items from The Economatrix: Presenting The Ultimate “Muppet” Indicator The US Treasury Secretary’s $2.4 Trillion Secret Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago? Egan …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Camping Survival has announced an unprecedented Two Day Free Shipping Deal. This is for every order of $149 or more from their web site received on August 15th and August 16th. Free shipping is available only if you use coupon code “freeshipping” during checkout.    o o o Reader Diana V. suggested this: 100-year-old way to filter rainwater    o o o Gary S. mentioned: Cloak of Invisibility?    o o o F.G. sent this: Conquest vehicles reveals the Evade, its new, gigantic unarmored SUV. JWR’s Comments: They should have named this vehicle the Poser. Driving an unarmored vehicle that looks …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Emergency preparedness is a good thing for governments to focus on. But whether talking about the Elliot Lake mall collapse in Ontario or the ongoing efforts to turn Calgary’s communications back on, there’s ample evidence that governments are simply incapable of adequately tackling the complexities of disasters confined to even a single building. If something big ever happens — and sooner or later, something always does — we should all expect to be on our own for days, or longer. The systems we’ve built to support ourselves are just too complicated to repair any faster than that.” – Matt Gurney, …



Essential Medical Skills to Acquire: Part 2, Suturing, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

In Part 1 of Suturing I discussed several aspects of wound closure, including goals of treatment, common lacerations, alternate wound closure techniques, types of suture to purchase, wound cleansing, sterile field, needle size, proper instruments, correct suture placement, and aftercare. In Part 2 of Suturing I will address common mistakes to avoid. Wound closure is not rocket science, and any adult of average intelligence can learn the basic techniques.  Anyone who has sutured has learned from their own mistakes and those of others.  The following advice will help you skip a few errors and should make you look like a …