Year: 2013

SurvivalBlog 2005-2012 Archive Now Available Via Digital Download

It keeps getting bigger and better! The updated and expanded SurvivalBlog 2005-2012 archive now available via digital download. This new edition has expanded bonus material (a digital copy of my book Rawles on Retreats and Relocation–normally $28 in hard copy, 12 Firearms Manuals, and 14 U.S. Military Manuals), an improved user interface (with the same look and feel of the SurvivalBlog web site), and of course one more year of the blog content. The digital download and DVD both include the archives in HTML (10,131 pages) and PDF (7,923 pages). The blog archive is fully keyword searchable. It runs on …


Why Civilian Disarmament in the U.S. is Just a Statist Fantasy

I often have SurvivalBlog readers forward me alarmist e-mails, warning of “total disarmament” of the civilian populace. While there indeed may be plans or schemes to disarm Americans, I don’t consider these threats credible. Let me explain why: I would conservatively estimate that there are about 316 million firearms in private hands in the United States. Of these, less than 10% are logged in any formal registry. Perhaps another 30% have Form 4473s filed with the FFL dealers where they were first purchased, but that is a fractured mishmash of records with a quite perishable life span. It is notable …


Mike Williamson’s Product Review: Numa Sport Glasses

Numa Sport Glasses “Chuck” are glasses you can stomp on. These must be named after Chuck Norris.  They are tough, and flexible enough I even bent them completely in two.  They resumed normal shape in a few moments.  I tried tugging and bending the bows in different directions, bending and straightening.  They sprung back.  I folded them in half at the bridge.  They sprung back again.  The strength and memory of these things is impressive. I tried sitting on them, stepping on them open and closed, putting boxes down on them.  They show no damage. The Chucks took a few …


T.M.’s Book Review: The Debt Bomb

©2012 Senator Tom Coburn with John Hart Published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville Tennessee 349 pages with numerous charts, graphs, index, and list of official reports available to the public. ISBN: 978-1-59555-467-3 I recently read The Debt Bomb: A Bold Plan to Stop Washington from Bankrupting America. The title tells us exactly what this well-written book is about. Our national debt is a bomb more dangerous than any nuke or chemical weapon known to man. While we spend billions chasing a few terrorists around the world, our politicians are killing our economy, and our freedoms, with rampant, unfunded spending. Senator Coburn …


Pat’s Product Review: Hoo Rag Bandanas

My dear friend, the late Chris Janowsky, who ran the World Survival Institute, in Tok, Alaska was famous for always wearing a bandana on his head. And that bandana wasn’t just a fashion statement. Chris wasn’t a fashion trendsetter in the least. Janowsky was, probably the best wilderness survival instructor in the world. The US Marine Corps sent their winter survival instructors to Chris for their training, and in return, those instructors would train US Marines in winter wilderness survival techniques. Now, if the US Marines thought so highly of Janowsky, that says it all in my book. As an …


Letter Re: The Heavy Equipment Threat

Captain Rawles: I’ve been enjoying and learning valuable information from your books and your blog, and thought I’d share some of my expertise in hope of helping others to prepare.   If, like me, you’ve been slowly adding more security to your bug-in location or retreat, you’ve been adding perimeter defenses such as fencing, detectors, etc. in order to prevent people and/or vehicles from easily gaining access to your property.  If you have more funds than I do, then you’ve probably installed harder defenses, such as bollards, ditches, and maybe even concertina wire.  These measures will stop most vehicular threats, …


Letter Re: Power Grid Transmission Lines for G.O.O.D.?

Mr. Rawles, I’ve browsed your site for about a year off and on, and have read Patriots, and am just starting Survivors. Great work I must say, keep up the good work! My question for you is one I’ve tickled in my mind since heading to a camping trip this last summer. While we were driving, and I was mindlessly staring out the side window, I noticed the large power grid high tension lines. (you know the ones I’m talking about with the large steel towers, holding a dozen or so lines high above the earth). I had a day …


Recipe of the Week:

Katy’s Kentucky Chili 1 lb ground or finely diced meat Chili Powder to taste (I tend to use a lot – 1 small jar or equivalent) 3 8 oz cans tomato sauce 1 8 oz can diced tomatoes (optional) 24 oz water (3 tomato sauce cans measure) 3 15 oz cans Ranch Style Beans 1 cup macaroni or broken spaghetti pieces In a dutch oven (or similar sized pot) brown meat until done, drain the excess fat & return to pot. Add chili powder, stir into meat until fully dispersed.  Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water and Ranch Style Beans.  …


Economics and Investing:

Tom Cloud: How to Sell Gold Without Reporting It. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) The Political Implications of America’s Oil & Gas Boom – James Kwak Interview Euros discarded as impoverished Greeks resort to bartering Forget discouraged, 3 million workers hopelessly unemployed Items from The Economatrix: Fed Becoming Worried About Stimulus Side Effects Private Sector Job Gains Offer Hope for Labor Market 65 Percent Of Americans Believe That 2013 Will Be A Year Of Economic Difficulty Retirement No More: Median Net Worth At Lowest Since 1969 The Difficult Part Is Still Ahead…Many Wall Street Experts Expect The Bond Bubble …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Some good news from Canada: Matt Gurney: Ian Thomson acquitted after shooting at his attackers. BTW, donations to help Ian Thomson recoup his huge legal expenses can be sent to: Ed Burlew, In Trust 16 John Street Thornhill, Ontario L3T 1X8 (or phone: 1-888-gun-loss) Barrister Ed Burlew’s bona fides can be found here.    o o o Though nearly all of the dealers in the country seem to be sold out, Bob at Ready Made Resources wrote to tell me that they have three DPMS AR-15s still on hand: Two TAC2s and one Recon. These are not listed at their …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I believe we have long passed the point where the good people of the world are in the majority.  Good, reliable, honest people are a minority.  If we had a severe world-wide crisis now, where governments would be powerless to help, I think we would have massive social unrest and anarchy on our hands.  Some would prey on the innocent, while few would rise in their defense.  Presently, any crisis or war short of collapse will only engender a call from the world-wide majorities for more government power – not less – especially now that a so called “conservative” American …


Notes from JWR:

I’m sad to report that John Noveske died in an automobile accident on Friday night, near Grants Pass, Oregon. John was the president of Noveske Rifle Works. Please keep his family in your prayers. Our sincere condolences. — 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 …


Wilderness Fire Making: We Have Ignition, by Brad M.

I have been a scoutmaster for 18 years. It is a lot of fun teaching scouts how to make fire using unorthodox methods.  Seeing the look in their eyes as they get their first fire built in the outdoors using no matches is a great experience.  As a matter of fact, in winter camps where the ground is not frozen I like to use a trench fire pit with rocks in it, then bury it and sleep on top for a very cozy and warm night. I too was bitten by the survival bug when I was a young scout, …


Letter Re: Just In Case

I was glad to read in M.L.’s article “Just In Case” that he packs some form of flashlight for the train commute. I wonder if he realizes the single-most important use for it would be inside a tunnel. A grid-down situation will stop subway and above-ground light-rail trains which operate on electricity delivered by overhead wire or energized third rail. Grid-down will also bring at least a momentary stop to diesel-powered trains if the signal system goes dark. Earthquake, terror attack, or even a derailment are other ways one might find themselves onboard a train that suddenly gets stopped inside …


Letter Re: Argentina Versus Chile as Offshore Havens

Regarding Doug Casey’s linked article on Argentina: The Freest Place in the World.  Seriously?  That country does all the things we fear the US might do.  Rampant inflation?  Check.  Confiscate retirement accounts?  Check.  Currency controls & dollar-sniffing dogs?  Check.  Crony socialism and capricious Diktat replacing rule of law?  Check.  Punitive taxes on the productive, such as farmer-exporters?  Check.  Hitler-style appeals to nationalism to justify seizure of assets (such as NPF, the largest oil company in the country) or to provoke rows with foreigners (Falklands).  Check.  Profound corruption?  Check.  Argentina is cheap for a reason.  Refer to FerFAL (An Argentine who …