Year: 2013

Letter Re: Storage Foods at COSTCO Stores

James – I am on Long Island in New York. Recently I ran into a great deal at my two local Costco stores for 72 hour [storage food] buckets.  This was advertised as a combination food, cooking (fire) and water (filter) kit. At Christmas these buckets were $79.99 each–a bit pricey. However when I was there on Tuesday, the [local store’s] price had dropped to $9.98 a bucket! So I cleaned them out. These buckets are still on their web site for $79.99 apiece. I just wanted to pass this on to you so your readers could get in on …


News From The American Redoubt:

My favorite gunsmith for rebluing guns is Mel Doyle’s in Plummer, Idaho. They have very reasonable rates, and they do fantastic work. They can also handle more than just bluing and Parkerizing. For example they’ve done a few Saiga shotguns conversions for our family and cured Avalanche Lily‘s Galil rifle of a wicked “Curse of the AK” trigger slap. Mel and his staff run their bluing tanks almost every workday. If you aren’t local to the area, you can simply mail them a rifle or shotgun, and they will reblue it and mail it back to you. (Handguns or handgun …


Economics and Investing:

Cyprus Salvaged After EU Deal Shuts Bank to Get $13 Billion. (A 40% higher haircut for large depositors! The Russians are fuming.) Rick Rule: Gold Fear Trade, Silver Greed Trade, Platinum Math Trade NY Times: Younger Generations Lag Parents in Wealth-Building Silver Prices Before the Monetary Collapse Michael Pollaro: Cyprus, Anything But Unique and Why to Worry Items from The Economatrix: Federal Reserve Sees Slow Recovery For Years To Come Veteran Unemployment Dropped To 9.9% In 2012, Though Still Higher Than Non-Vets FedEx Raises Red Flags About Global Economy


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Seven States Running Out of Water. JWR’s Comment: But consider that watching year-to-year drought conditions give you only the micro view, while monitoring long term the depth of aquifers (water tables) gives you the macro view. (Looking at longer time frame provides better long term planning.) Be sure to study aquifer depletion before choosing a retreat locale!    o o o Sacred mystery: Blockbuster ratings for ‘The Bible’ confound Hollywood. JWR’s Comment: What “mystery”? People just like to watch uplifting and wholesome things.    o o o A bit of humor: As every real prepper knows: Le papier ne …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"To see why stock prices and hiring are not correlated, imagine yourself as the owner of a pizza shop. The economy has been bad, and people are buying less pizza, so you fire two of your cooks and reduce the number of pies you prepare. Suddenly, your cousin Ben wins the lottery and decides to give you $10,000 for a piece of your business. Now that you have another 10 grand in the bank, and your business is worth a bit more, are you suddenly going to hire back the two cooks to make more pies that nobody will buy? …



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