Month: July 2014

Our Struggle With Survivalism, by R.B.

This is an honest attempt to put into writing the struggle my family and I have with the issues surrounding our involvement in survivalism and the potential of a societal collapse that may or may not occur within our lifetime. I am doing this because I tend to think more clearly if I put my thoughts into writing, and that forces me to be a bit more precise in my thinking. Additionally, perhaps others like me are struggling with the same life-changing decisions and may find my thoughts helpful. Obviously, the first issue to deal with is whether or not …


Two Letters Re: Justifying Preparation

Hugh: Here in Georgia, a hurricane right up the middle puts power lines in the road and shuts down traffic for a minimum of 30 days. Evidence of that result can be found in the Connecticut Governor’s response to Hurricane Sandy, which was to shut down all state highways. There was no traffic and no grocery store resupply. Counting on FEMA to show up in three days is foolish. In the aftermath of Katrina, it was churches that carried the day rather than FEMA. My family up in New Jersey during Sandy was at the end of their rope after …


Economics and Investing:

Insider Trading and Financial Terrorism on Comex – S.B. o o o It’s So Bizarre, It’s Beyond Comprehension How Bad It Is – David Morgan – H.L. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video: Jim Rogers – Only a Russian/Chinese/Brazil Joint-Currency Can Battle Dollar Dominance Delusional IMF “Delighted” To Be Marginalized By BRICS Video: Jim Rickards – The significance of a BRICS development bank


Odds ‘n Sods:

More police brutality caught on video. We are beginning to see more and more hostile police actions where the police just automatically assume an “us vs them” attitude. Staten Island man dies after NYPD cop puts him in chokehold – H.L. o o o Three More Cases of Deadly Plague Found in Colorado – B.B. o o o It was just a matter of time before a civil plane was shot down in Ukraine’s SAM-infested airspace – T.P. o o o Air Force research: How to use social media to control people like drones. – T.P. o o o Example …




Potential Bioterrorism Agent Found in Colorado, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

July 2014: One of the deadliest diseases on earth is right here in our own back yard, so to speak…with no vaccine, fatal without antibiotics, and on the CDC’s “Category A List” of potential bioterrorism agents. Don’t panic just yet. The disease also occurs naturally, as is the case in this month’s outbreak. However, overnight I’ve changed my outlook on the disease. What I’ve recently described to my students as highly unlikely is instead alive and well on the prairie. I’ve gone from believing I’d never encounter this infection to thinking it’s entirely possible. The next time I see a …


Letter Re: Home Brewing for SHTF

Thanks for providing the warning based on scripture concerning alcohol. Please make sure the readers know and understand that distillation of any alcohol product, without proper state and federal licensing will land them in the federal pen. I don’t think the writer of that post was clear enough on that. We call it ethanol now, but the BATFE still calls it moonshine if the producer doesn’t have his ducks in a row. – G.F.


Economics and Investing:

EPA claims it has the power to garnish wages without court approval – T.P. o o o Pure Manipulation, $1.3B of Paper Gold Dumped Onto Illiquid Market o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Individuals Pile Into Stocks as Pros Say Bull Is Spent The Final Warning: Individual Investors Piling Into Stocks, Market Leverage Hits All Time Highs Video: John Williams of ShadowStats-Terrible Currency Crisis Ahead


Odds ‘n Sods:

Police Militarization: The New Search and Seizure o o o Owners of FAL, L1A1, and LAR-8 rifles will find these almost indestructible magazines of interest: Moses Mags – JWR o o o Going along with today’s article from SurvivalBlog MD, Cynthia Koelker, is this news report: Drug-Resistant Superbug Cases Rise Significantly in Southeastern US. – H.L. o o o From the same organization that has your best interests at heart: 300 vials labeled influenza, dengue found at lab. – P.M. o o o Russian Intelligence Moves Back Into Cuba. – B.B.



Notes for Friday – July 18, 2014

Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of 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), 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, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift …


To Use Body Armor or Not, by J.O.

My father, MDL, was a long-time follower of SurvivalBlog. He spent his life in a constant but relaxed state of preparedness. When he found the website, he found kindred spirits from which he could learn and help learn through several articles he contributed. Often I would find him on his tablet reading old articles at odd hours when he couldn’t sleep. He and I would discuss what he had read and try to apply points not just to preparedness plans but to everyday life as well. I have many fond memories of quality time spent with him gardening, canning, dehydrating, …


Letter Re: Arming Your Neighborhood in a World Gone Feral

While we all agree with parts of this writer’s defensive philosophy and parts of all articles written for publication here, we, as a prepping community, have to apply our own skill assessment tools to what we believe is the best method for ourselves. My own life experience parallels JWR and others, and I make my own assessments having lived all over this county in my 65 years of God-endowed life. My credo has been formed and reformed by those life experiences. I enjoy reading all of the published, submitted articles to SurvivalBlog and that several of my own. As we …