Month: June 2013

Notes from JWR:

Camping Survival is running a sale on Wise brand storage foods, with deep discounts from June 12 to June 18, 2013. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 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 …


Survival Tips From the May 20, 2013 Oklahoma Tornado

Let me first say thank you to all who have contributed to this blog for your columns and all your wisdom.  Without this site, my experience during the recent tornado would have been much different! For some background info, I have only been prepping for about a year. I have been an Emergency Medicine physician for over 10 years.  I treated patients of the May 3, 1999 Moore, Oklahoma tornado during my training years and I was involved in door to door search and rescue for the recent May 20, 2013 tornado. While my house was not hit, it did …


Letter Re: Some Disturbing Trends in an Eastern Nanny State

Dear Mr Rawles, I have a couple of disturbing events in my state (southeastern New England) I wish to report to you and your readers. I do not have medical  insurance.  Because of this I go to the local health  center run (until now) very well by the local hospital. and I have benefited greatly by their care. However, this past week I became quite sick, and made an appointment to be seen by one of their doctors. Upon entering I saw they have new computers and scanners. A patient must use this to check in. This is done by …


Economics and Investing:

A SurvivalBlog reader in Belgium who prefers to remain anonymous wrote to mention three noteworthy changes: “…in Belgium in the last two weeks cash transactions were limited, transactions in gold and silver were limited, and the historical weapons list abolished which [previously] allowed us to buy [some antique cartridge guns] without a permit. These had included many older military rifles such as the Lee-Enfield, Mosin Nagant, Schmidt-Rubin, etc.” Pat Cascio flagged this: Gun ammo running out in Australia as US citizens buy big. A Bitcoin documentary in the making: “Can a newly married couple survive when every living necessity can …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. suggested this article: The risk of a catastrophic solar storm that would leave countries including the United Kingdom and United States without electricity for days or even months will peak in 2015, a new report claims.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson spotted this: ‘Pro-Gun’ Ricin mailer turns out to be Hollywood anti-gunner. By her shifting stories, it can fairly safely be deduced that she was setting up her husband for arrest. Her psychological problems provide a new treble entendre to the description “Bad Actor.”    o o o House Votes to Eliminate Service …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 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 …


Mad Max Modifications: Improvised Armor for Vehicular Platforms, by A.D.B.

Recent conflicts overseas, namely the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, have shown the usefulness of hardened vehicles in environments where governments were unable to provide for the security of the public or governments ceased to function at all.  Lessons in vehicle defense were hard learned in many cases, however the ability to freely maneuver under adverse conditions (such as those that may be encountered post-SHTF) is a much needed capability.  Improvised systems and designs based on proven engineering methods to defeat small arms and small improvised explosives can be adapted for use by the prepared individual to provide for a …


Letter Re: Harnessed Animal Power

Dear JWR: There is an estimated 250,000 animal-powered farmers in the U.S. doing all or part of their farming with animals. I’d recommend http://smallfarmersjournal.com/ for some good reading and information and a visit to Horse Progress Days to view the latest in modern equipment. Almost anything can be done with animals that can be done with tractors, even combining with a motorized forecart. Horse Progress Days has some interesting support equipment, including well made coal stoves and manual transplanters. If it’s in reach of you, I suggest attending for an eye-opening experience. The food is good, too. – James L.


Letter Re: Drawing the Line on Noncompliance with Unconstitutional Laws

Hello Mr. Rawles,  As an avid reader of your blog I felt compelled to send this email. I noticed again in your Sunday blog that your telling people to not register there firearms. While that may be easy advise for someone living in a free state, those of us who can’t relocate due to various reasons and live in Progressive hell holes like myself (in Connecticut) find that advise to be very dangerous. If you do not register your firearms here and get caught with them after our new unconstitutional new “laws” go into effect, it’s a class “D” felony …


Letter Re: Chicken and Beef Bouillon Without MSG

Hello, I would like to point out to everyone that even though the Better Than Bouillon labels say “NO ADDED MSG” it does still contain some MSG. Those of us who are made very ill by MSG have learned to triple check all listed ingredients. Here is a quote from Food Renegade that explains this better than I can: “Hydrolyzed soy protein is an ingredient that always contains MSG! (source) Because the manufacturer didn’t add an ingredient called “mono-sodium glutamate,” they can “truthfully” claim “No MSG added” on their label. Yet, nothing is stopping them from adding ingredients that contain MSG. In …


News From The American Redoubt:

Ministry Opportunities in The American Redoubt Several readers have written to mention these current ministry opportunities in the American Redoubt region. Pray hard! One of these might be the right fit for you, by God’s providence. Idaho: Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum, Idaho has a Youth Director opening, Full-time. E-mail your resume to: office@pcbw.org or mail it to PCBW, P.O. Box 660, Ketchum ID, 83340. First Presbyterian Church Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has an opening for a Director of Children and Family Ministries. E-mail: office@cdafirstpres.org. Woodland Friends Church, near Kamiah, Idaho is seeking a pastor. (Originally a Quaker …


Economics and Investing:

Getting ready for a cashless society? France Prohibits Sending Currency, “Coins And Precious Metals” By Mail The Maduro era: Venezuela hit by fears of hyperinflation and recession Silver Prices: Paper, Physical and the Coin Dealer FDIC closes North Las Vegas bank; will reopen under different ownership Items from The Economatrix: Financial Insider:  “We Are Moving Into The Last Stages Before An All-Out Collapse” Greenspan: Taper Now, Even If Economy Not Ready; Marc Faber: Even QE99 Won’t Help Us May Jobs Reports “Pleased No One” Says Paulsen


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim W. sent: The Obama Administration Plans to End All Federal Protection of Gray Wolves    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson has released two new humorous T-Shirts that are bound to be the height of fashion at gun shows and at shooting ranges: Soliliqy and AK Impact.    o o o Two more of Mike Bloomberg’s “crime-fighting” mayors are in hot water. The latest headlines: Mayor gives home makeover documents to grand jury and E. Orange council demands mayor Bowser resign after he admits to sexual affair in legal papers. Twice-convicted Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is …