Year: 2013

Recipe of the Week:

Sassy C.’s Shelf Stable Chicken Enchilada Chili For my boys with large appetites –the following recipe only serves three people! 1 onion chopped (can be replaced with dried onions) 1 can chopped green chilis–do not drain, add both chilis and juice 1 large can white chicken 1 can corn 1 can black beans (can be replaced with dried beans that are cooked up) 1 can enchilada sauce (I’ve used both green and red–the green is a little more sour, the red a little more sweet. Use the larger can if you want to serve over spinach or lettuce) 1 envelope …


Economics and Investing:

Five years of the Fed and Treasury Department’s forced Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) have badly distorted our economy, removing any pretense of a “free market.” All that we have left are markets on life support. With yields of less than 1/4 of 1%, passbook savings accounts are joke. Money market rates ranging from 0.40% to 0.85% aren’t much better. With ZIRP, local, state, and Federal government over-spending has had no serious consequences. But when rates eventually do spike, there will be a bloodbath. Bond yields are completely out of whack. Banks have been given unrealistically high reserves. So ZIRP …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I recently heard about a useful site: PrepperDating.com. I ‘ve just added that link to my Finding Like-Minded People in Your Area static page.    o o o Sarah Connor saw it coming: Boston Dynamics has been busy working on an entrant for DARPA’s Virtual Robotics Challenge, a contest aimed to create robots that can help in disaster situations. Gee, “…someday save you from a crumbling building.” That sounds so noble. So what about: “… someday relentlessly track you down and shoot you, or crush your skull.”    o o o The good folks at Cajun Safety and Survival are …



Notes from JWR:

Please pray that any protests following the George Zimmerman verdict will be peaceful. I urge my readers–especially those in cities in the southeastern United States–to be prepared to hunker down at home to avoid a lengthy period of rioting. (This could be similar to the west coast riots following the Rodney King trial decision.) The history of riots here in the States shows that riots during summer months can be the worst and the most protracted. — Barton Biggs passed away one year ago, today. He was a money manager who favored personal preparedness. He is greatly missed. — This …


Tea Tree Oil When There Is No Medicine, by B.R. in San Diego

Disclaimer: I am a retired military officer and school teacher.  I have no formal medical or first aid training.  My recommendations are made based on anecdotal personal experience.  Nothing I recommend should be undertaken without first consulting with a physician.   When there is no medicine. Preppers have usually read and probably own copies of well-respected books having to do with post-TEOTWAWKI conditions in which medical and dental care are not available.  Most of us have accumulated some knowledge of what medicines to stockpile, their uses, and shelf-lives.  After persuading a physician to write prescriptions for the desired medicinals, some have …


Letter Re: Old Military Physical Fitness Manuals

JWR, You were spot on with your comments regarding the improper stretching.  In fact, the U.S. Navy has recently made major changes to it’s authorized workout routine because PT standards from just a year ago are now considered potentially harmful.  The new workout routine is as follows…The beginning of a workout involves “Dynamic warmups” instead of stretches to prevent injury.  Here’s a link to the PDF on dynamic warmups.   The workout commences once the full-body dynamic stretches are complete.  “Static Stretching” is only done at the end of the workout.  Here’s another link that highlights good and bad forms. Regards, – Anonymous …


Letter Re: Dehydration and Rehydration Solutions

James, Rehydration can still be accomplished when a person cannot take anything by mouth. Normally he would be given an IV. In a SHTF situation, this may not be possible. Rather one can fill an enema bag with normal saline (very dilute salt water-recipe on the internet-need not be sterile) attach a rubber urinary catheter to the enema tip, Using vaseline jelly feed the rubber catheter into the rectum carefully as not to pierce the bowel and let the tepid salt water very slowly drip in. It should be able to be absorbed because it is going in very slowly and a little higher up rather than being …


Economics and Investing:

Gold And Silver – Knowledge Is Not Of Value. Using It Is Bill Bonner’s latest commentary on mass inflation: Gono, but Not Forgotten F.G. sent this news from Arizona: APS seeks higher bills for new solar customers Items from The Economatrix: Dr. Paul Craig Roberts:  US Trying to Push Back a Dollar Blowup US Consumer Borrowing Up As Credit Card Use Rises 15 Signs That The Quality Of Jobs In America Is Going Downhill Really Fast


Odds ‘n Sods:

Why we need full capacity magazines: Multiple attackers.    o o o Signing UN Arms Trade Treaty While Congress at Summer Recess. (This move arrogantly contradicts the U.S. Senate’s vote, in March.)    o o o Federal judge: Post Office violated man’s rights by banning gun from parking lot    o o o Some sad statistics: 27 Facts That Prove Families In America Are In The Worst Shape Ever    o o o A reader in Oz metioned that the Wikipedia article on the NLR (Nous sommes la résistance)–“an Australian prepper organisation” has been recommended for deletion. It seems notable …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 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 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 …


Airsoft, Pellets, and BBs: Inexpensive M1911 Practice, by M.M.

With the continuing ammunition shortage, inexpensive firearms practice has become impossible.  .45ACP centerfire pistol ammo, when available, pushes a dollar a round.  I haven’t seen .22LR for a lot less than fifty cents a round either.  Ridiculous!  However, there are replica, 1:1 scale copies, air or gas powered guns and ammo that simulate the M1911 firearm shooting experience in every respect except the noise and recoil.  You can practice indoors, in any weather, without disturbing a sleeper in the same room with a “weapon” indistinguishable from the real thing at a price that isn’t just low but down right cheap!   Notice …


Letter Re: Advice on Travel to California

Mr Rawles, I recently read a letter on your website that concerned and disturbed me.  A reader was asking for advice on what to do when they lost their right to self defense when they were traveling to California and how to bring their firearms to the state when visiting.  The issues I take with the e-mail and hope to help the reader understand are that you never lose your right to self defense, no matter where in the world you travel.  Self defense is an inherent right that can be taken from us by no one.  Secondly, self defense …


NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

JWR: I found an interesting free NIOSH publication concerning recommendations for protective equipment when exposed to chemicals. It is technical so this is something that you will have to read ahead to know how to use. It also gives a listing of what the DOT numbers on placards of transportation equipment mean with a reference to what personal protective equipment is needed. If you scroll to page 379 it will reference a page number which tells what the chemical is including the threat and what protective measures need to be taken. – Bill N.