Year: 2013

Letter Re: Can I Burn Home Heating Oil or Kerosene in a Diesel Engine?

Jim, I hope all is well. I noted your reply to this blog post: Letter Re: Can I Burn Home Heating Oil or Kerosene in a Diesel Engine? You mention that home heating oil is nearly identical to diesel fuel. Three additional clarifications may be useful for your readers. The first is that depending on your locale and type of heating system, “home heating oil” (HHO) may refer to a blend of different fuel oils, some of which may not be suitable for internal combustion. If you plan on using HHO in a diesel engine, ensure that it is Number …


Economics and Investing:

Burke C. sent: The Most Important Number In The Entire U.S. Economy G. G. suggested: Record Number 21 Million Young Adults Living With Parents Eric Sprott On Gold & Bail-Ins Items from The Economatrix: Gold And Silver: Load The Boat-Back Up The Truck — Peter Schiff Gold, Silver and Hyperinflation The Coming Shortage Of Physical Gold That Will Change Everything


Odds ‘n Sods:

R.B.S. sent: Apocalyptic images reveal the shocking scale of devastation in Syria    o o o The recent Idaho Patriot Rally, as seen by a leftist rag: Preparing for the ‘inevitable collapse’: Patriot rally attracts hundreds to Farragut    o o o Sara J. mentioned a free classic (out of copyright) Kindle book: Home Vegetable Gardening -a Complete and Practical Guide to the Planting and Care of All Vegetables, Fruits and Berries Worth Growing for Home Use.    o o o Herr Sprave is still experimenting: Did This Monster Slingshot Just Set A World Record? (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him. If the sun be risen upon him, [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; [for] he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or …


Notes from JWR:

August 2nd is the anniversary of the death of my great-great-great uncle, William B. Weaver. He was a deputy sheriff who was shot and killed in the mining town of Tuscarora, Nevada, in 1880. He is remembered as the first Nevada lawman to be killed in the line of duty. — I’m pleased to report that the cover design, editing and layout of my upcoming book Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse has been completed. An audiobook and various e-book formats will soon be produced. Everything is on track for the October 1st release date. All of the …


Every Day Carry in Non-Permissive Work Environments, by D., Esq.

I’m a lawyer.  I’m a criminal defense lawyer.  Every day I put on a suit and I walk though metal detectors and into a courthouse where guns, ammunition, and knives are not permitted.  Other days I may visit one or more jails, where it should be no surprise that the above are prohibited, as are lighters, flammable materials, and pretty much everything else. I also happen to be a prepper. I think I have a pretty good idea what may be coming in the not too distant future, and I want to be ready. How do I balance these two …


Letter Re: If Life Gives You Tomatoes, Make Salsa!

Dear James, Regarding the recent contribution from S.M.: If Life Gives You Tomatoes, Make Salsa! I have to question where exactly in Arizona they are. We’ve been in the Phoenix metroplex for eight years and I have to tell you nothing survives 115+ degrees.   Arizona has an amazing array of climates. Most people picture Arizona as the low desert that really only takes up about 1/3 of the state. With elevations anywhere from 300 feet (Yuma area) to 7,000 feet (Flagstaff area) the growing zones really do vary more than you’d think.   I do agree with S.M.’s first …


Economics and Investing:

Reader James W. sent this: Why QE Can Never End. [JWR’s Comment: I concur. Quantitative Easing monetization is a pitiful sham. The Fed and Treasury Department fully intend to ride their False Prosperity Bull to death. They will only stop their monetization scheme when they’ve thoroughly destroyed the value of the U.S. Dollar.] Canada Threatens U.S. with Oil Trains if Keystone XL Not Built Items from The Economatrix: What Would You Do If A Bank Stole Everything You Owned? It Is Happening Again:  18 Similarities Between The Last Financial Crisis And Today Here’s The Real Reason Why Wall Street Is …


Odds ‘n Sods:

As a bonus for SurvivalBlog readers, Ready Made Resources is offering a free box of infrared chemical light sticks (10 pieces), and a free mechanical surface trip flare for chemical light sticks (a $53 value) with the purchase of a AN/PVS-14 3rd gen+  autogated ITT pinnacle night vision scope/monocular. As usual, the original data sheet, carry case, head mount, and sacrificial lens are included. Ready Made Resources also includes a free weapons mount (a $99 value) and free shuttered eyepiece (a $40 value), which most dealers only sell as accessories. These scopes are priced at $2,695, with free insured shipping.  …



Notes from JWR:

August 1st is celebrated annually as Swiss Independence Day, in recognition of the signing of the Federal Charter of 1291, which united Switzerland’s first three cantons. As of 2013, Switzerland has been free and independent for 722 years. (Our Republic is just a wee fledgling, by comparison.) Having a well-armed populace has assured those seven centuries of freedom for Confederatio Helvetica. Today at the Rawles Ranch we plan to do some target shooting with our Schmidt-Rubin rifles and our SIG PE57, to celebrate. — The clock is now ticking for residents of Maryland. They have until September 30, 2013 to …


Writing Contest Winners and New Prizes

We’ve completed the judging for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. But first, I’d like to announce that two new prizes have been added to the prize package for Round 48, et sequitur. These are: A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy. This addition brings the value of just the First Prize package to $3,990! and, A full set of all 22 of the books published by PrepperPress.com. This is more than a $200 value. This addition brings the value of just the Second Prize package to $3,020! Many thanks to these companies for their generosity. They …


All-American Tool Manufacturers

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Following up on my recently-posted list of field gear makers that have all American-made products, I’ve compiled a comparable list of American tool makers. The Sell-Outs Some companies that have long been thought of as “American” companies now produce most or all of their tools overseas. For example, Craftsman (the Sears house brand) now produces many of their tools in Asia. Others include: Cooper, Disston, Eastwood, Greenlee, Lufkin, Milwaukee, Peerless, Porter Cable, Shurlite, Snap-On, Thorsen, Vise-Grip, Vermont American, Weller, Williams, and Winchester. The many, many others are almost too numerous to list. Some of the “good guy” companies that I …


Letter Re: Preparedness Course Question

Mr. Rawles: If I get the downloadable “Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course” can I print out a copy for my reference binder? Is that considered okay? (I have a giant binder with 4″ rings that my husband got in the Navy that we use for all our prepping references, except for recipes.) With My Regards, – Sheila C. JWR Replies: Yes, since you are legitimately downloading it, you are certainly welcome to print out a reference copy for your own use.


Letter Re: If Life Gives You Tomatoes, Make Salsa!

Dear James, Thank you to S.M. for the great article about gardening in the desert southwest (If Life Gives You Tomatoes, Make Salsa!). I’ve spent most of my years in the desert southwest near the metros of Tucson, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque and have grown gardens in these regions for the past decade. In 2010 a similar article was published in SurvivalBlog titled Starting Your Desert Backyard Garden. I was one of several readers that submitted some helpful comments and tips on that article. This is my fourth season growing in the high desert of Northern New Mexico. I’m at …