Month: May 2013

Economics and Investing:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) spotted this: Passed from War to War’: Germany’s Small Arms Exports Double. Mike’s Comment: “This news story has been picked up by most German major papers. It is being seen as a way to attack Angela Merkel’s “Merkel Doctrine”. I believe it is safe to say that this might decrease the number of German Federal International Small Arms Export Licenses. This might impact the supply of H&Ks and Walthers in the US, which may push up retail prices.” Mike also flagged this from Stratfor: The Growing Importance of the Arctic Council The Japanese …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Anyone looking for a genuine Faraday room to protect their electronics from EMP and solar storms should contract with TruProtect.    o o o Whoa, there Facebook Bots! Some tirelessly industrious web bots have mined data from Wikipedia and created tens of thousands of unauthorized Facebook pages. For example: There is one in my name, one titled Patriots, one titled Survivors, and one titled American Redoubt. To clarify: these were not my creation, and the Facebook company never asked my permission. I’d prefer that they be removed, but that would require a costly lawsuit. (Facebook creates “fan” pages for umpteen …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 46 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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 …


Bad as a Bullet: Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases, by D.K., DVM

We have SCUBA friends from Canada who do a lot of camping, and one year the wife came down with a debilitating illness that put her out of work for many months.  The medical system there did not make it easy to consult a specialist, especially one familiar with arthropod-borne diseases.  She showed all the symptoms of Lyme disease, including weakness, fever, sore joints, lethargy, headaches, and muscle aches.  Plus she had been exposed to ticks while camping.  She suffered for over a year before she slowly recovered.  Though it was never confirmed to be a tick-borne illness, odds are …


News From The American Redoubt:

Quite the confab! I heard that Freeze Dry Guy, the staff of the Paratus Familia blog, Chris Walsh of Revolutionary Realty, Joe Snuffy (author of Suburban Survival: Preparing for Socio-Economic Collapse) and John Jacob Schmidt of Radio Free Redoubt will all have tables or booths at the upcoming Patriots and Self-Reliance Rally at Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on July 26, 27 & 28, 2013. Among the many speakers will be three names that should be familiar to SurvivalBlog readers: Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Stewart Rhodes (of Oath Keepers), and Cope Reynolds of Southwest Shooting Authority. (Cope was one …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader Bob in Manassas, Virginia sent a strong word of warning that stock, bond, and derivatives traders now leveraging to the hilt: Investors Are Borrowing Like Crazy To Leverage Up Their Stock Market Bets. Bob’s comment: “You have often spoken of the risks associated with derivatives. In addition to that risk, the article here demonstrates that investors have historically low (negative) net worth in their accounts due to margin leverage. I would suggest that one strongly possible consequence is that because most of these are institutions of one sort or another and most are using computer-based trading, when the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

You might have noticed that the former “Free Tibet” movement has quietly morphed into to the “Save Tibet” movement. I suppose that the word “Free” sounded too much like an active verb for those in the Kumbaya crowd…. I find that pitiful. Some of us still support the Khampas and their tactics. (Yes, there are still a few of them, stalwartly soldiering on. Sort of like The Forest Brotherhood, but without as much forest.)    o o o Good news from the Live Free Or Die State: State’s stand-your-ground law intact    o o o Chuck H. sent this news …



Notes from JWR:

Today is celebrated as Memorial Day in the United States, a day when we honor those who have died in combat, defending the nation. We are in their debt. — We can also celebrate that the Illinois legislature just voted to repeal the state’s concealed carry ban, with a veto-proof majority. It is now up to the Illinois State Senate, that is notoriously more statist. If they do the right thing, concealed carry may soon be legal in all 50 States! Freedom is on the march. Let ‘s press on to make that no permit open or concealed carry (“Constitutional …


Incendiary Words: Of Detonations and Denotations

I find it curious that the definition of “weapon of mass destruction” has become more elastic and quite geographically dependent in recent years. When it is used to describe events overseas, the phrase still seems to include only lethal chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. But here in the States, it can mean something as small as a pressure cooker packed with 10 pounds of black powder, or even just a home-made hand grenade containing perhaps eight ounces of explosive. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has ordered laser-guided GBU-38 JDAMs up to 2,000 pounds dropped on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and Yemen, yet …


Tornado Survival Tips, by Mat Stein

NOTE: This article is adapted from my book When Disaster Strikes: A Comprehensive Guide for Emergency Planning and Crisis Survival. Who could not be shocked and saddened by the images of massive devastation left in the wake of recent tornadoes that struck in Oklahoma and Texas? Though nothing can guarantee absolute safety in the path of a tornado, outside of a shelter with reinforced concrete and steel walls, understanding something about the nature of tornadoes, safety tips for surviving a tornado strike, and which common folklore is to be trusted or ignored, will improve your chances for making the right …


Pat’s Product Review: B.A.S.E. Ultimate Survival Kit

I hear from SurvivalBlog readers on a daily basis. I hear from a lot of you. I take the time to answer each e-mail I receive, too. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m ignoring them. Many times, I hear from readers, just thanking me for a particular product I reviewed, and they purchased, and found it to be exactly as I said it was. A lot of e-mails are “fan” letters of a sort, and I’ve made some new friends because of these e-mails. Although I don’t consider myself as any sort of celebrity, and I’m certainly no expert – …


Recipe of the Week:

Pamela B.’s “Goat Gurt” Yogurt In response to your call for recipes, here is my recipe for home made “Goat Gurt” or “Yo Goat.”  Of course, yogurt can also be made from cow’s milk or sheep’s milk, soy milk, or even from dehydrated non fat dry milk, using this method.  We prefer the goat’s milk because it seems to provide that perfect tang.  We usually eat it plain with sweetener.  I have also included some other dairy products that can result if your goat gurt “fails.” Excellent Goat Gurt Ingredients: 7 Cups goat’s milk 2/3 Cup powdered milk (optional, but …