Year: 2013

Odds ‘n Sods:

A reader in Oklahoma asked about Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressant drugs. Here is the short answer: Big Pharma has replaced Big Tobacco as D.C.’s unassailable legislative pressure group. SSRI drugs are a $50 billion per year industry. So don’t expect any highly-publicized congressional hearings that detail the links between mood altering drugs and school massacres, even though the evidence is plain as day. OBTW, Forbes recently posted an excellent article on this subject, but it must have hit too close to the mark, because the editors spiked it, just a few days later. (The huge advertising budgets of …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"You’re going to see more social unrest. You saw huge riots in Greece, and you’re seeing huge riots in other parts of the world over food (and lack of food) and those are actually derivatives of the financial problems that we’re seeing. We’re exporting inflation to some other nations. Going forward it’s going to be a problem." – Kyle Bass


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Four-Tier Survival for the Newbie, by C.H.

A little about me: I am 27 years old, I have been married to my wife for 7 years. We have two boys, ages six and 22 months. Both my wife and I are school teachers; I also coach football and power lifting. So, we are the epitome of the American middle class. I have always enjoyed hunting, camping and the outdoors. So I have developed some basic “outdoorsman” skills throughout my youth and early adult hood. As a young child and early teen, I was very interested in survival, homesteading, and living off the land. I remember reading Foxfire …


Letter Re: Advice on M1A Rifle Assembly and Disassembly

Mr. Rawles, Great information, as always.  I read with considerable interest the article on 308 battle rifles by Ulysses in Montana, and it made me think once again of my M1A and the one dilemma I have with it; how to break it down for cleaning.  I come from an M16/AR-15 background, having spend some years in the Army.  It is also very easy to find a wide variety of videos on the AR-15 platform,  many with great video closeups of how to break down and clean that weapon.  Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a similar video for …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker, SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor, wrote to mention that registration is now open for her Survival Medicine classes to be held next week in Georgia, and another in March, in Ohio. Details can be found on her web site: ArmageddonMedicine.net.     o o o   Doc Cindy also recommended “Get doxycycline while you can.  There is a nationwide shortage with pharmacies already running out.  Price increases up to 2000% are expected.”       o o o For those who love white papers, futurism, and conjecture, reader A.D.K. suggested this heavily link-laden U.S. Air Force web site: Future Conflict Studies    …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10 – 13 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of the late Carla Emery (born 1939, died October 11, 2005.) She is well known in self-sufficiency circles as the author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living. (Which was just re-released in a new 40th Anniversary edition.) Carla is greatly missed by preparedness and self-sufficiency-minded families. — Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice …


Functions, Not Lists!, by Travis K.

This blog has endless resources for researching the needs and goals of a person preparing for an anticipated event.  Whether that event is unemployment, extended backpacking, or a SHTF scenario, you are likely to develop a “to-do list” for that event.   These lists might be compiled on loose paper, on a computer, or lodged in your brain.  Most of us make lists in one form or another since they are invaluable for organization.   While a “to-do list” is convenient for simple events such as going to the grocery store, they tend to be detrimental to a project such as “prepping”.  …


Letter Re: A Lifetime Gun and Magazine Purchases in Just a Few Months?

Brother Rawles, Thank you to you and Ulysses in Montana for the detailed article on .308 battle rifles.  The current political environment kicked me into high gear, buying one.  Ulysses information helped me out tremendously.  It will help me save time and money on getting familiar with a new caliber and rifle.  In the beginning hours of the Gun Grab I picked up an Armalite AR-10 lower receiver and mags. I’ve got a number of 5.56 AR’s but have been putting off getting my “dream” rifle for a couple of years.  Depending on what happens in Washington DC, I might trade it toward a FAL …


Economics and Investing:

Bernanke Playing with Fire-Laurence Kotlikoff Peter Schiff: Congress Can’t Fix The Post Office, How Will They The Fix Deficit? Reader H.L. sent: Hotel Mama: Bad Economy Has Young Europeans at Home Items from The Economatrix: Gold & Silver Set Up For Explosive 2013 Silver Will Soar 100s Of Dollars Higher Long-Term Unemployment Highest Since WWII


Odds ‘n Sods:

Easier Flashlight Mod Increases Run Time 3.6X    o o o Fascinating! How a Canadian history buff (may have) solved a Second World War ‘pigeon-code mystery. (Thanks to Karl H. for the link.)    o o o How to Make Batteries From Spare Change    o o o Gregg P. sent: Search of DNA Sequences Reveals Full Identities. In First World nations, law enforcement agencies are busily building huge libraries of blood and tissue samples (cheek swabs.) If eugenics ever regains popularity, or if “genetic profiling” for a family criminal tendency or psychological abnormality ever emerges, then this is very …



Notes from JWR:

Tomorrow, Saturday January 19th, 2013 will be National Gun Appreciation Day–a great day to attend a gun show (and make a private party gun purchase), go to your local shooting range, or buy some ammo. — Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 …