Year: 2012

Beyond the Defensible Space: Fire Safety and the Structure of Your Home, by Matthew Stein

Given the record breaking droughts, heat waves, and fire storms of the summer of 2012, if current scientific predictions of global warming prove anywhere near correct, then the we can expect that this scary situation will become the new normal  in the coming years. Whether you are a homeowner wishing to improve the fire resistance of your current dwelling, or are planning to build a new home, beyond creating a “defensible space” around your home there are a number of other actions you can take to improve the chances that your home will survive a local wildfire. These guidelines are …


Pat’s Product Review: BTB Sport Optics Sunglasses

I don’t care how many times I tell students who are coming to take a firearms class from me to bring hearing protection and eye protection. And, more often than not, at least half the students don’t bring either eye or hearing protection. I keep a box of soft foam ear plugs and safety glasses on-hand at all times, for those forgetful, or maybe they are neglectful students.   My eye doctor tells me, there is no cure for blindness. And, for hearing loss – well, it’s something a lot of people learn to live with, with either hearing aids, …


Letter Re: A Flooded Basement and Rusting Canned Foods

Greetings Jim, I hope you can help me figure out if much of my preps are imperiled. I had water leaks in my basement a few months ago after major storms overran my roof’s gutters and caused water to seep down into the front half of my basement. So I turned on the dehumidifier I keep in the basement and let it run until the basement floor was dry, then let it run an extra 24 hours just for good measure. Well, there appears to be a bit of residual moisture in the air in my basement, and when I …


Letter Re: Common Ground With Greens

James Wesley: While the compact fluorescent bulbs are good at saving energy, even better are LED bulbs. I know they are expensive, but they are coming down in price and can be had at very reasonable prices on eBay. Not only that, but they “burn” cool to the touch and contain no mercury. A broken CF bulb practically warrants a HAZMAT crew! L’s last even longer than compact fluorescent bulbs and are made of plastic so there’s no worries about breakage. I’m building a solar power system for my home, and plan on switching to LEDs. – Dave, RN


Recipe of the Week:

Michelle W.’s Baked Oatmeal The following shared with me by my wonderful neighbor and adopted mom, who received it from the owner of a bed and breakfast in the heart of Amish country, Lancaster Pennsylvania. I double the recipe, mix it overnight and cover with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge. the next morning, as soon as I awaken, I remove wrap, put pan in a cold oven, turn oven on to 350 and bake about 1 hour or until the top is brown and crunchy.  I like to add fresh fruit (blueberries, peaches, apples are divine) prior to …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this: Where Borrowing $105 Million Will Cost $1 Billion: Poway Schools. A 40 year bond. What insanity! This typifies the institutionalized myopia of California. Is The Greek Calamity Economy Headed For Revolt? “‘Dire’ is no longer the right word to describe the situation in Greece. Unemployment hit 23.1% in May…” Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Goldman Sachs: No CDO charges by SEC. Once again, bankers are told implicitly told that they can gamble recklessly with derivatives with no repercussions. Someday there will be a huge implosion… Deep Schumer for scrap metal thieves? Sen. Schumer aims to make …


Odds ‘n Sods:

When he penned the prescient lyrics to the now classic song “A Country Boy Can Survive”, Hank Williams, Jr. was apparently 30 years ahead of his time: The Mighty Mississippi to Run Dry? (OBTW, the “The interest is up…” part of the lyrics won’t be for another couple of years…)    o o o My sister recommended this novel: The Dog Stars. Yet another post-apocalyptic novel makes it into Amazon’s Top 100.    o o o KAF sent this: Cycle on the Recycled: A $9 Cardboard Bike Set to Enter Production in Israel    o o o A tidbit sent …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest…and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals." – Noah Webster, 1828


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 …


Common Ground With Greens, by Kyle J.

Survivalism is at its most basic a selfish endeavor.  I don’t state that as being a negative thing, but rather as being morally right and good.  We are supposed to want to live.  And to that end, we obviously want those that we love to live too.  Environmentalism on the other hand, often seems to push selflessness.  It is usually built around messages of sacrifice, restriction, and admonition of the self for the greater good of society.  I get frustrated listening to environmental rhetoric that beseeches me to seek out environmentally friendly actions for no other reason than eco- altruism, …


Letter Re: Milsurp Concertina Wire Now Must Be De-Militarized

Dear JWR: Recent concertina wire sales at GovernmentLiquidation.com are now coming with the following notice: "All scrap under this contract requires mutilation by the buyer prior to removal if allowed at location or mutilation must be witnessed and certified by DOD personnel at buyers facility. Title to the material does not pass to the buyer until the scrap has been mutilated. Buyer agrees to allow USG personnel to witness destruction." So much for cheap, domestic military surplus concertina wire. 🙁 – Mr. C.


Economics and Investing:

El Jefe Jeff E. first of several readers to send this news: US Banks Told To Make Plans For Preventing Collapse G.G. flagged this: Study: Almost Half of Americans Die With Less Than $10,000 in Assets Also from G.G.: Slow path to progress for U.S. immigrants: 43% on welfare after 20 years From B.B.: New retirees receiving less in Social Security than they paid in, marking historic shift Items from The Economatrix: Financial Algorithmic Trading Could Gold Be Tripped Up By Coming Deflation? Gold Poised For Upside Breakout of Current Range


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader H.L. recommended this at Truth Is Treason: 38 Survival Downloads and Handbooks – Pioneering, SHTF, Engineering, Urban Gardening, Defense, and More    o o o James C. spotted these DIY instructions over at the new EDC and Prepping Blog: Making a Bushcraft Knife from an Old Putty Knife    o o o Reader KAF sent this: Genocidal Sudanese regime’s appointment to UN human rights council all but certain, watchdog says. “It’s like putting “Jack the Ripper in charge of a women’s shelter.” Meanwhile, in Nigeria, more Islamic genocide: 19 killed in church massacre as gunmen go on the rampage …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his …


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 …