Year: 2012

Letter Re: The Wild Boy of Germany–Fact or Fiction?

Jim: There has been a lot of news about an English-speaking boy who claims to have been living for five years along with his father, camping out undetected in the forests of Germany, south of Berlin. Is this fact, fiction, fantasy? – Calvin D. JWR Replies: I was also contacted by ABC News about this, seeking an interview. I reminded them that this was actually a nine month -old news story, dredged up by Huffington Post. I did provide ABC with some background, which I will repeat here, to explain why I’m quite dubious of this boy’s story: 1.) A …


Letter Re: A Definitive Corrosive Ammo Test

Dear Mr. Rawles, Here is the definitive test to determine whether ammunition is corrosive or not.  The procedure is credited to Small Arms Review publisher Dan Shea. This test is simple, quick, cheap and conclusive. THE BRITE NAIL TEST 1. Take a suspect round, pull the bullet and dump out the powder. I like to also take a known corrosive round as well for a benchmark. 2. Take a few brand new “brite” (i.e. non-galvanized) steel nails with a head size just large enough to fit into the case mouth. Degrease the nails in acetone or other and roughen them …


Economics and Investing:

Now we can see who benefited from all that “stimulus”: Private Jobs Down 4.6 Million From January 2008; Federal Jobs Up 11.4%. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) Joe G. sent this: U.S. Home Sales to Foreigners Rise as Low Prices Draw Investors: These numbers are mind boggling: US Federal Deficit Totals $844.5B Through 8 Months. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Mary F. sent this: Dread and Uncertainty Pervade Life in a Diminished Greece Items from The Economatrix: The Euro Is Doomed Gary North:  George Soros Warns EU Going Down In Three Months Data Points to Soft US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Troy J. suggested this article: Dr. Peter Vincent Pry: America May Never Recover From EMP Attack    o o o Greek health system crumbles under weight of crisis. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o Mark T. sent this tongue in cheek: The 10 Best Vehicles To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse    o o o I see that the new Emily Bestler Books web site is has been launched. Emily Bestler Books is the imprint of Simon and Schuster that published my second novel, “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse”. In September, they will be …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry 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 any …


Submarine Knowledge and Survival by U.C.

First, a little about me. I am a Sailor and Submariner. I have spent 20+ years of my life riding submarines in various roles from deck waxer/hull painter to Communications Division and Operations Department enlisted leader. I have taught Communications, Electronic Signals Intercept (ES), OPSEC/Security, leadership and a myriad of other courses. I really started reading SurvivalBlog and other sites after experiencing a deep dissatisfaction with the course our country is heading. I have experienced first-hand the gross inefficiency of the government and the lack of will/strength/backbone to stand up and change things. “Staying the Course” seems to be the …


Letter Re: Food Forest Gardens

Dear Mr Rawles, Further to the recent excellent Food Forest Gardens article, I would like to add my support of Martin Crawford’s book Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops. I would also add that his web site is absolutely fascinating for reading through the varied types (and breeds) of fruit  and nuts. Though it is of UK bias, there are a lot of North American types included and as a source of information on types of trees it is the most extensive  source I have found.   On a personal note I have bought upwards …


Economics and Investing:

The Two Worlds of 2012: Will We Have “Inflation” or “Deflation”? Europe Brings Out The “Capital Controls” Bazooka U.S. Derivatives Probe Eyes Bank Control of LCH.Clearnet Pierre M. sent this: Italy ‘may need bailout’ – The Irish Times Items from The Economatrix: Fed Says US Wealth Fell 38.8% in 2007-2010 in Housing S&P Says US to Avoid “Fiscal Cliff,” Risks Remain Moody’s Cuts Cyprus Sovereign Rating Two Notches Fall In May Retail Sails Driven Entirely By Lower Gas Station Spending


Odds ‘n Sods:

We are pleased to welcome our newest volunteer foreign correspondent, Giorgio in Italy. Here is a brief biography: “I am 40 years old and lucky enough to be married to a beautiful and intelligent soul mate who is an Italian professoressa, fluent in five languages. We have been married eight years, with, alas, no children. We live 8-to-9 months a year in northern Italy, an hour from Milan, with the rest of our time spent in the States or traveling. Having traveled and, periodically, worked in much of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, we have had some experience in dealing with diverse cultures and getting the “other guy’s” perspective. My degree …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all. When the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, who voted without reward according to his own convictions, and who with his fellows formed in war the terrible Roman legion, had been changed into an idle creature who craved nothing in life save the gratification of a thirst for vapid excitement, who was fed by the state, and directly or indirectly sold his vote to the highest bidder, …


Notes from JWR:

Notes from JWR: Today we present another entry 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 …


20 Reasons Why America’s Next Bank Holiday Will Be a Nightmare

The world is on now on the brink of a global credit crisis that could be far worse than the tumultuous events of 2008. The ongoing sovereign debt crisis in the southern reaches of the Eurozone indicate that bank runs in the region will continue, and that more bank closure “holidays” will be declared. Under a bank holiday, virtually all deposits could be frozen and irredeemable for days, weeks, or even months. The key question is: Will this crisis spread to the rest of Europe and then even to the United States? I urge SurvivalBlog readers–particularly those in Europe–to be …


Food Forest Gardens, by Jason T.

Author’s Introductory Note: As I read through page after page of food items and materials that preppers should stock up on, I have to wonder, “Have people really thought out what is coming?” I believe we are heading for at least a collapse of the US dollar, if not all fiat currencies. We are looking at a financial collapse greater in magnitude than the Great Depression. I have spent the last four years studying economics in my spare time, and though I understand that my sources can be (and are) biased, I have looked at a lot of writings from …


Letter Re: Advice on Buying Silver

JWR, My wife and I have been discussing which type of physical silver to buy to get out of dollars, but we are unsure of where to start.  On your blog and in your books, you expound on the benefits of pre-1965 coinage with its 90% silver content, and we have looked at buying these coins in bulk from Northwest Territorial Mint.  While perusing that site, we also found that they sell one troy ounce Silver Eagles struck by the US Mint that are .999 pure silver.  There are pros and cons to both the pre-1965 coins and the Silver …