Year: 2013

Valuable Prepper Concepts I Learned From My Zombie-Obsessed Teenager, by Mark P.

Any parent of a teenager can attest that those highly coveted, deep and meaningful conversations between child and parent, the ones we wish occurred daily, are actually far and few between.  Try as we might, discussions surrounding topics like school, church, employment, and planning for the future, usually result in blank stares or moans and groans. But a very wise woman (AKA my wife) once explained that when it comes to communicating with your kids, a good conversation on a ridiculous subject is better than no discussion on an important subject.   Sort of a “if you can’t beat them, join …


Two Letters Re: Basic Mechanics Skill and Knowing Vehicular Limitations

Jim, The king of the hill when it comes to breaking loose lug nuts is the four-way lug wrench. It is also called a “cross wrench” by some folks. I have used them since I was a child learning everyday fixes from my father in the 1960s. But beware of cheaply-made imports. I have bent and actually broken a few of the cheap ones while helping friends break lugs loose on their vehicles using their cheap four way lug wrenches that I had told them not to buy, but they ignored my advise and went cheap. Sitting on a desolate …


Economics and Investing:

Brendan D. sent this: How long do we have before seeing hyperinflation? Where’s sense of crisis in a 17% government shutdown? Items from The Economatrix: “The Party Is Over” For Housing — And Bank Earnings: Chris Whalen Heavy Metal: Gold Could Rush Back To $1,425 Says Jeff Kilburg Ron Paul: “The Country Is Bankrupt… The People Are Being Bamboozled”


Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) suggested this: The Truth About Barrel Length, Muzzle Velocity and Accuracy    o o o Reader B.B. sent this headline from one of those Miscellaneous Eastern Nanny States: Massachusetts Police Chief Confiscates Man’s Guns and FOID Due to “Immaturity”    o o o I was recently interviewed by Alan Colmes. He is obviously dubious about individual preparedness, but it was a pleasure to be on his show. Alan mentioned that even after Superstorm Sandy he would feel safer living in mid-town Manhattan that he would be in a place like The Rawles Ranch. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice. I heard my country calling, away across the sea, Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me. Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head, And round her feet are lying the …


Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of Jonathan Edwards (born 1703, died March 22, 1758), a prolific Calvinist theological writer. Many of his writings were later collected in the multi-volume book The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards, edited by John Gerstner. Every serious Bible scholar should have a set of those books. — Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …


A Voice in the Bean Aisle – Faith and Prepping, by Connie H.

I couldn’t help but notice the white plastic bags that covered the handles of the gas pumps at the corner gas station.  “Out of Gas”, said the sign. No gas on account of a hurricane a long, long way from Springfield, Tennessee.  Fortunately, I had filled my tank earlier in the week and was only there to get ice. But it all seemed fishy to me how a storm so far away would affect us like this. And honestly, a vague sense of worry lingered in the back of my mind until the following day.  The trucks arrived and filled …


Letter Re: A Handy Small Faraday Cage

James, I found a surprise at the local Wal-Mart the other day: an American made 6 gallon galvanized metal container with locking lid (the bail is shaped to hold the tightly fitting lid closed when pulled up). With the lid on, it is approximately 15 inches high and about 14 inches in diameter at its widest point. The manufacturer is Behrens Manufacturing in Winona, Minnesota. Besides making a great small container for feed, etc., it could be a great EMP shield for your smaller electronic devices that will easily fit under a counter or bench. The price is good also: $14.97 …


Letter Re: Loading Your Own Ammunition

Mr Rawles, I’m writing to make a few points about the article Ken in Montana wrote about reloading, as there are some issues I have with it. I’ve only been reloading since 1999, but . . . . First, Winchester primers are also brass in color, so anything other than silver doesn’t automatically mean they’re Remington. Additionally, people who are just getting into reloading should ask around about the reliability of the primers they’re going to use, as some primers have harder cups and don’t detonate reliably. I generally only use Winchester and CCI. I’d be interested to know where …


Economics and Investing:

Happy 100th Anniversary, Federal Income Tax. [JWR’s Comment: Both the Federal Reserve banking cartel and the Federal income tax are at the One Century mark. Just imagine what America could have been like, without them!] Texas eliminates sales tax on precious metals coins Treasury warns default could be worse than Great Recession. Items from The Economatrix: World Bank Whistleblower Karen Hudes Reveals How The Global Elite Rule The World The Connection Between Government Shutdown & Customer Deposit Grabs Dollar Pressured By U.S. Politics, Global Stocks Flatline


Odds ‘n Sods:

I heard about a great maker of Kydex holsters and other gear in Dallas, Oregon: Survival Sheath Systems.    o o o For AR owners who have a yen for gadgets: Deployable Compact Armorers Tool    o o o Pierre M. sent: Desperate MSM Moves to Kill Off Article Comments    o o o Buried deep in a Stars and Stripes article about new grooming and tattoo standards for soldiers, was mention that the U.S. Army intends to adopt a Multicam variant for their standard issue utility uniform.    o o o James C. suggested: 17 Great Ways to Utilize …



Notes from JWR:

Today is the birthday of the late Charlton Heston (born in 1923 as John Charles Carter,) a well-known American actor and past president of the NRA. He died April 5, 2008. — Today we present another entry for Round 48 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.) …


Loading Your Own Ammunition, by Ken in Montana

With the current shortage of ammunition and the consequent high prices, it makes more sense now than ever before to learn how to reload your own fired brass casings.  I even suspect that in the future, this may well be the only way for the ordinary citizen to obtain ammunition. It’s not at all difficult, it only requires a little understanding of the process, and the ability to follow directions. This will become very important later, as each caliber requires its own set of powders, charges, primers, and bullets. No one can learn them all, there are millions of potential …


Letter Re: Prepping and a Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

JWR, We’ve been preppers since the late 1970s when we were living in a New Jersey seaside apartment and our long term food was stored under furniture in a 400 square foot apartment.  After that a job relocation to a more rural area enabled us to buy a 35 acre fixer-upper farm where we lived for 16 years and learned how to garden, raise livestock, heat with wood, and become generally self-sufficient.  Then we bought our second rundown farm in upstate New York (we were suckers for fixing up dilapidated farmhouses) and started up a commercial sheep operation on 360 …