Odds ‘n Sods:

Wow! This may be the ticket for advanced medical care in TEOTWAWKI: Super-Cheap Paper Microscope Could Save Millions of Lives – O.C. o o o DGJ came across this article on why you might want at least one article of Hi-Vis clothing or equipment in your emergency car kit or BOB. If the ‘event’ you are getting away from is a natural disaster, or something similar, being noticed might be a good thing! Having options other than all-camo could be a wise decision. o o o This new item from KRQE in albuquerque follows on the heels of a long …







Guest Article: High Quality Survival Tools, by J.F.

Flight Jacket I like black flight jackets. They are dressy enough to wear to an art reception and common enough to be worn to a junk yard. They’re made of water-proof nylon and have two large button outside pockets, two large inside button pockets, and a pocket on the shoulder. The best one that I have found is sold at Alpha Industries. If you look in the left front pocket, there is a white label that states Alpha Industries Jacket, Flyers, Man Intermediate. On the shoulder pen pocket is a small black label sticking out with a gold sort of …




Pat’s Product Review – Solar Flare Solar Cooker

I must say that, in all my years of testing products, the Solar Flare Parabolic Solar Cooker has been one of my most challenging products to test. Made in the U.S., in Bountiful, Utah, this cooker proved a handful. No, not the product itself, rather the weather in my part of Oregon. For the better part of almost a month, we had very heavy, low-hanging fog. It’s been totally frustrating, to say the least! Anyone who is a prepper, survivalist, camper, or hunter, should understand the “Rule Of Three”, and that is you should always have three ways of accomplishing …




Pat’s Product Review – Buck Knives 110 Folder 50th Anniversary Edition

Buck Knives, www.buckknives.com , has been around for about 100 years, depending on who you talk to. Their most popular folding knife is still their Model 110 lock-back folding knife that is made in their plant in Post Falls, Idaho. Many people say that imitation is the sincerest form or flattery. If that’s the case, then the Buck Model 110 lock-back folding knife is probably one of the most copied folding knives in the world, if not “the” most copied folding lock-back knife. The Model 110 is now celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014, and every model will have “50” …




Recipe of the Week: Homemade Biscuits, By M.B.

Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup butter or margarine 3/4 cup milk Directions: Combine all dry ingredient and blend well with whisk. Cut in butter until resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stir in milk until all comes together to form a dough ball. Turn out dough ball onto a heavily floured surface. Let set for a couple of minutes and then knead for about a minute and then re-flour surface and pat out to about 1/2? thick. Cut biscuits with floured biscuit cutter or thick drinking glass or a …




Letter Re: Magnum Research

Pat Cascio product review on the Magnum Research 1911C generated an interesting conversation with a SurvivalBlog reader: There are a plethora of 1911s on the market, many of them suitable for combat. If I am going to own a gun from Magnum Research, it would have to be a Desert Eagle. – B.P. o o o Ben, I have owned a Desert Eagle in .50AE. It wasn’t one of the plated weapons but just a plain parkerized version. I will have to admit that the “fun” factor was second to none on that handgun. However, the reality is that it …




Letter Re: Kansas Bill

Sir, I am writing in response to the article link about the Kansas bill seeking to legalize police retaliation. I will first state that I do not agree with a second agency not being able to do an investigation– a fair and impartial investigation should always be the case. That said, I served 13 years in the infantry ending as an LRS team leader and currently serving with 15 years at a large, midwest police department. My department will take any complaint. A complaint can and has been taken over the telephone (even anonymously) with nothing more than the allegation …




Economics and Investing:

Warnings Of Rising Food Prices Follow ‘Bad Weather Events’ o o o As Predicted, Stocks Make New Highs o o o Items from The Economatrix: Only 11% of long-term unemployed have a steady full-time job in a year, study finds 6 economic consequences of a new cold war February leading indicators rise 0.5% U.S. jobless claims rise 5,000 to 320,000




Odds ‘n Sods:

There is an epidemic of death and contagion sweeping across the farms of this country that is barely getting a mention in the mainstream media. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus – K.F. o o o A Dozen Uses For Empty Soda Bottles – R.J. o o o Non-Christians Given ‘Special Consideration’ In Union Teacher Contract – TPY o o o The Law Society has issued guidance on how to use Sharia Law in Wills, Trusts and Estates disputes in England and Wales. The guidance effectively enshrines Sharia into common legal practice for the first time and will make it easier to …







Notes from HJL:

We are ready to start looking for a new Product Review Editor. Applicants must have an extensive background of varied experience in working with survival-related products, as well as have writing and editing experience. The ability to provide interesting, personal anecdotal stories relating to use of guns, knives, paracord, water storage, food preservation, and other survival-related items make the reviews interesting and is a much-valued attribute. Products will be sent to the applicant with the expectation of written reviews. Most products must be returned to the manufacturer or sales person who sent them in for review. This editor position pays …




What the Locals Really Think, by Gonzo

A lot of us, in the prepper community, are eager to get out of town, establish ourselves in the redoubt, and hunker down for the coming storm. Too often we put little thought in how the locals will receive us upon our arrival. Everyone knows that being integrated with your new neighborhood is important, but how you go about this integration can be the make or break point of your preps. As an educational guide, I offer the following conversation that occurred between my cousin and I over chat recently. First, here’s a little background on my cousin. He is …




Letter Re: Dual Ring Village

Regarding the comments on the Dual Ring Village. Thank you for the comments and criticisms. Objections noted: Monolithic structures susceptible to urban fires. Fire breaks missing. Obsolete fixed fortification. Susceptible to bombardment, siege. These may be true. However, the outstanding features and functions of a dual ring village are not constrained to that of a defensive fortification against a military force. Engineering benefits The curved walls are self supporting, stronger than equivalent flat walls, and thus outperform rectilinear structures of the equivalent volume and surface area. The dividing walls further strengthen the inner and outer curved walls. The enclosed spaces …