Year: 2013


Notes from JWR:

Camping Survival has begun their semi-annual sale on Mountain House foods. They are offering 25% off #10 cans and kits, and 15% off all pouches. Order soon! — Today we present another entry for Round 45 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 …


The Water Filter Quest, by Scott H.

Living in a rural southern area of the eastern United States I am keenly aware that we are usually the first to lose power and last to regain power in any natural calamity.  A few years ago, we lost power for over a week.  With recent environmental catastrophes like Sandy et al, I have been reminded of a significant deficiency in my family survival preparations, water filtration.  I am not getting into the nitty gritty of the micron levels of filtration (most units reviewed were .2 microns or better) or the science of the systems.  This is a layman’s attempt …


Michael Z. Williamson on the New DHS “Non-Traditional Threat” Pistol Targets

Apparently, this server is straining as news of the DHS targets is spreading virally. A friend wrote to ask: “Don’t these people have any devil’s advocate types on staff who might say, “Gee Bob, I’m not sure this is the best idea…” Description: [Note: cut and pasted, all typos and bad grammar original to these Protectors and Servers of Freedom] Non-traditional threat dipicting [sic] a hostile young mother surrounded by childred [sic] on a playground. Background is faded further highligting [sic] and highlighting the threat. Full Color realistic target. Size: 23″ x 35″ Site is overloaded.  Target shows an armed …


Letter Re: Diesel Fuel Storage and Dyed Diesel Issues

Greetings, In a short response to Simon S. from “Across the pond” and his letter about using heating oil for diesel vehicles, please let me add one small bit of first hand advice;  The heating oil that you buy for your home is not only dyed differently for tax reasons, it isn’t filtered as well either.  I also live in Europe and I got the idea to burn heating oil in my diesel vehicle once most people started converting (wrongly I might add) to Natural Gas from Russia.  The people who converted were expected to pay a lot of money …


Economics and Investing:

The latest scary chart, over at Jesse’s blog: The Fed is increasing its monetary base aggressively again. G.G. flagged this: Fiscal trouble ahead for most future retirees Manny Pacquiao KO’d by 39.6% Tax Rate, Refuses to Fight in U.S. US Jobless Rate One Of The Worst In Industrialized World (Thanks to C.N. for the link.)


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Elaine K. sent a link to a very recent report commissioned by the Commonwealth of Virginia that provide some great state-level statistics. This could be useful in choosing a state for relocation. Note that the Per Capita Income statistics are skewed because they don’t reflect the value of barter transactions (“I’ll trade you hay for firewood”), and because traditionalists (Mormons, Amish, Catholics, etc.) tend to have large families.    o o o Good for the Gander…: Olympic Arms Joins Magpul and LaRue Tactical and Tells New York Government to Pound Sand. And in related news: York Arms Cancels All …



Notes from JWR:

Another legislative alert: This time is is Maryland that is trying to clone the Madame Feinstein’s gun and magazine ban. Citizens of Maryland are urged to contact their state legislators both vociferously and frequently. — Today we present another entry for Round 45 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 …


A Newbie’s Perspective on Raising Chickens by Adventane, in Northern Virginia

More than fifteen years ago my wife and I began collecting a year’s supply of food.  Once we’d collected almost 20 cases of food in #10 cans, we pretty much let the matter slip from our thoughts.  It wasn’t until about six years ago that we began to realize that we didn’t really know what we had, or how long it might last.  That led us to thinking about what else we needed, and eventually we stepped with full intent into the prepping mindset.  We recently moved out of the urban shadow of a major US metropolis and into a …


Letter Re: Food Storage in the Southern United States

Mr. Rawles, Regarding the letter, Food Storage in the Southern United States by Gary S.,,  in Florida, from May until October, the heat is merciless, making food storage difficult. Some items, like powdered milk, barely last the summer without electrical cooling. Most folks turn their A/C up or off during the day when they are away from home or pay a very high electric bill. .With the droughts of the past few years, even heavily canopied forest home sites can be too hot. Power outages from wildfires, hurricanes, storms, tornadoes,  or heat waves can cause loss of air conditioning for …


News From The American Redoubt:

News from Western Montana: Fertile Ground for Gun Makers    o o o Several new property listings have been posted at SurvivalRealty.com. Nearly half of the 120+ listings are in the American Redoubt. OBTW, one of the latest listings is in Moyie Springs, Idaho–one of the two towns where I maintain mail forwarding addresses.    o o o Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association Position on Gun Legislation: “As our state and country continue to discuss and debate gun control legislation, the position of our association remains steadfast: the MSPOA will not waver in our defense of the Constitution and …


Economics and Investing:

Mainstream media pundit Mark Levin talks serious societal collapse gloom and doom. (In his February 15th show, scroll forward to the 10 minute mark.) A consideration in choosing your locale: State and Local Sales Tax Rates Left In The Dark: Copper Thieves Rob Detroit Freeways Of Light H.L. sent: Texas Prepares to Go it Alone Capitalism works: Private navy goes to war on Somali pirates. (Thanks to KAF for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Ron Paul:  Trade War & Economic Collapse Coming Gas Prices Hit An Historic High:  What’s Driving Them Up? Fed Joining In Alarm Over Distortion It …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Over at Mac Slavo’s fine blog: Guns And Ammo Production Maxed Out: “This is a Society Preparing For War”    o o o A Canadian journalist warns: Gun registration will lead to confiscation.    o o o The power of prefabrication: A 30 story Chinese hotel built in 15 days.    o o o Jeff H. suggested TubeBooks.org. They offer 4.22 GB of free technical books, mainly on radio technology and electrical engineering.    o o o Dan D. sent: Amazon Removing Gun Products From Store. Worse Than eBay.