Month: March 2013

Home Power Systems: Energy Efficiency and Conservation, by L.K.O.

(Note: This article is part of a series of feature articles about alternative / sustainable / renewable energy solutions for self-sufficiency. Previous related articles in SurvivalBlog that complement this one are “Home Inverter Comparison: Off Grid and Grid Tied” and Home Power Systems: Micro Hydro. Upcoming article topics in this Home Power Systems series will include: Photovoltaics, Batteries, Wind generators, Solar Water Distillers, Solar Ovens, and Solar Water Heating.) Overview of Energy Efficiency and Conservation : The First Step in a viable Home Power System The most recent article in this series, Home Power Systems: Micro Hydro, in a way …


The Right to Open Carry Guns: Use It or Lose It

The American concealed carry movement can now be chalked up as a bona fide victory. CCW permits are now available in 48+ states. (To be safe I’d say around 46 or 47 states, depending on several factors. For example, permit issuance policies are not always uniformly non-discretionary in every county within a state.) The logical successors to the concealed carry movement are the Constitutional Carry Movement (aka permitless concealed carry) and the Open Carry Movement. In my opinion, both of these are worthy endeavors. I’ve said the following before, but it bears repeating: Whenever someone must buy a license or …


Americans Against Illegal Mayors: Demand A Plan

Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns political pressure group is hard at work. Working with several paid lobbyist, advertising, and public relations firms, they are about to launch a $12 million television ad campaign, pressing for “comprehensive background checks”. Banning private party sales of used guns (forcing all gun sales to go through licensed dealers) will lay the groundwork for a nationwide system of gun registration. But Bloomberg’s Buddies have some public relations problems… The latest news is that another member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been arrested. This time it was Mayor Craig Lowe of Gainesville, Florida, …


Pat’s Product Review: Clearly Filtered – Additional Products

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A few months ago, I did a review on Clearly Filtered water purification products, and the response was overwhelming to say the least. You can’t survive for more than a few days without a source of clean, safe drinking water. We aren’t necessarily talking about surviving out in the boonies, with only mud puddles to drink from. There are many times, when your tap water isn’t safe to drink. Think about it, how many times have you heard on the television news about contaminated drinking water, from a big city water supply,and “boil water” warnings? This happens too often if …


Letter Re: Advice on Home Security Webcams

Dear Mr Rawles, We are looking for a good security system for our land. Animals and IR alerts aside, we are now in the market for a good multiple camera system. As the area is heavily wooded and vast, cables are out of the question. We would like purchase something that requires little maintenance, in order to prevent continuous activity in the area; blackout technology is a must. We were wondering if you or other SurvivalBlog readers have any recommendations? Thank you for your time, and May God Bless you and yours. – Mary B. JWR Replies: These days, wireless …


Recipe of the Week:

K.A.F.’s Italian Tomato Bisque This bisque is made from Dried Storage Foods Ingredients 1?2 c dried chopped onions 1 c dried carrot dices 1?2 c dried celery 2 qts water 1 c dried tomato powder 1?2 c dried tomato dices 1?2 T italian seasoning spice blend 1?2 T granulated garlic 1?2 T seasoned salt 3?4 T kosher salt 1?2 T texas pete or any mild hot sauce 1 T balsamic vinegar 1 c heavy cream 1?2 c parmesan cheese Instructions In a 6-quart stock pot, combine the onions, carrots, celery, water, tomato powder, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and …


Economics and Investing:

Swiss To Vote On Gold Repatriation UK faces Fitch downgrade over debt levels H.M. suggested: The Lessons of Cyprus: NRD’s Asset Seizure Risk Cube Charley S. sent: As Cyprus Implodes, Bitcoin Interest Explodes Senate Passes $3.7 Trillion Budget, Its First in Four Years Cyprus tax mess: If 6.7 billion euros is needed to secure the bailout, as it is the latest, that means a taxation of 19.1%. Items from The Economatrix: Sinclair:  Lagarde’s IMF Disaster Forces Bernanke Out Of Fed Cyprus To Keep Banks Shut Into Next Week As It Seeks Deal To Avert Disaster Forget Cyprus, Nobody is Stealing …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Mark H. sent: Data on MRE Shelf Life Dictates Shorter Shelf Life –New Chart    o o o What Is An “Assault Rifle”? – You’ve Probably Been Lied To. Starting a 5:55, watch him transform a humble Mini-14 into something “Evil” looking–at least in the eyes of Chuckie Schumer and Dianne Feinstein. But we must remember that outward appearances are meaningless: Esse quam videri. (Translated: “To be rather than to seem.”) That should be our byword, whether we are judging the looks of a rifle, or the looks of people. Just because a rifle is black doesn’t make it …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Why do you allow these men who are in power to rob you step by step, openly and in secret, of one domain of your rights after another, until one day nothing, nothing at all will be left but a mechanised state system presided over by criminals and drunks?" –  Die Weisse Rose (The White Rose), Resistance Leaflet 3, 1942


Notes from JWR:

March 24th is the anniversary of the mass escape of Allied POWs from Stalag Luft III, in 1944. Of the 76 men who escaped, just three made “home runs” to Allied territory. In a dastardly deed, 50 escapees who were re-captured were executed by the SS, on orders from the highest echelons of the Nazi government. I had the honor of meeting one of the Stalag Luft III survivors, Colonel Jerry Sage (1917-1993) of the OSS, late in his life. (In the movie The Great Escape, Steve McQueen’s character “Captain Virgil Hilts” was loosely based upon Jerry Sage. Sage once …


Survivalism: A Jewish Perspective, by DystopianLiving

Since I am Jewish, I read with interest “A Prepper’s Holiday” by C.E.B. (posted March 7th), in which the author described what he has learned by observing the Old Testament holidays of Passover and Sukkot. It occurred to me that Jewish history and culture – being largely a five-thousand year track record of survival against all odds – actually has quite a few lessons that would be relevant to SurvivalBlog readers of all faiths. Here are a few. 1) WHEN IN DOUBT, GET OUT In 1941, Adolf Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. At the time, my grandmother and her family …


Letter Re: One Christian’s Plan for When Things Fall Apart

I would like to thank B.H. in North Idaho for his candid discussion of world views and the church.  As a Christian, I have the same beliefs that he has.  And as a Christian, there is no way I cannot feed the hungry and the poor.  Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God and the next is to love your neighbor.  That means charity.  And charity entails feeding the hungry.  I may run out of food and die myself, but I know God would bless what I did for others.  As long as I’m doing what God …


Letter Re: Dealing With Mentally Unbalanced Trespassers

James, In Hearthkeeper’s account of the man arrested for trespassing while attacking a chicken run, she mentions that they had decided to “press charges” as it seemed the cops were aware of the guy, but nobody else had wanted to press charges.  Her rationale was that now he would get some kind of evaluation in jail.   Well, he probably won’t.   I don’t work in a jail environment anymore, but when I did it wasn’t that long ago.   What they did was well-intentioned and the right thing to do, but let’s point something out…   Under every state law …


Economics and Investing:

A new “Let’s Rip Off The Russians” plan? Cyprus weighs big bank levy; bailout goes down to wire. Tarrant lawmaker seeks to create Texas Bullion Depository Cyprus Says It’s Close to Bailout Deal as Bank-Deposit Tax Back ‘on the Table’ Is Cyprus deposit levy the first sign of widespread wealth tax? What You Think Is True Might Be False and Costly! Items from The Economatrix: Pictures From a Cyprus ATM Line [Cheryl’s Comment: Imagine if this were Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York, where there are quite a few more people…] The Cyprus Crisis Isn’t What It Seems …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Role of Biometrics in Future Domestic Conflicts    o o o The television series Revolution is scheduled to resume airing new episodes on Monday, March 25, 2013. While it is not up to par with Jericho or even Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles, it is the only quasi-survivalist game in town on television.    o o o Kensington digs in with ban on ‘mega basements’    o o o J.B.G. sent this from England: Could we face gas rationing? British gas reserves could run dry in 36 hours after freezing householders turn the heating up