Year: 2014

The Value of Human Relationships in a Grid-Down or Survival Event, by J.C.

There is an often-overlooked type of disaster preparation, which everyone can make a regular part of their lives, that has the following characteristics: It costs nothing, except time. It can reap benefits every week, year in and year out. It comes in really handy in a grid-down or other scarce-resource event, and it helps the prepper out in unexpected ways and pays dividends when you least expect it. I am talking about human capital– the network of relationships we form in our community with those public servants and elected officials that may, in the future, have interactions with us during …


Letter Re: Christianity and Family Defense

Hello Mr. Latimer, I noticed your response to M.E.’s question regarding Christianity and Self Defense on Friday, November 21st; while I thought you provided good information, I noticed that there was another article on Survivalblog called “The Survivalist Mindset: A Biblical Case for Preparedness and Self-Defense” by Brian D. that may also be helpful to readers.


Economics and Investing:

Russia Grabs Another 18.7 Tonnes Of Gold In October From The Market o o o Gold Repatriation Stunner: Dutch Central Bank Secretly Withdrew 122 Tons Of Gold From The New York Fed o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Peter Schiff: The Abenomics Death Spiral If You Are A US Investor Who Is Bullish Japan, Look Away 3 Of The 10 Largest Economies In The World Have Already Fallen Into Recession – Is The U.S. Next? Behold The Surge In Real October Earnings


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sometimes the old way actually is the better way. Automation Makes Us Dumb – G.G. o o o Taurus Curve – A Contoured, Wearable Pistol o o o One Quarter of all Americans, aged 17-24 are too Obese to Enlist – T.P. If you are too obese to enlist, you are pretty close to being too obese to survive. Now would be the time to fix that, before the SHTF. o o o The parents refusing to vaccinate their children against polio – Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog Editor At Large. o o o One of the many reasons gun sales are …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Luke 3:3-6 (KJV)


Notes for Saturday – November 22, 2014

Today is remembered as the birthday of the late Eugene M. Stoner. (Born 1922, died April 24, 1997.) He was the designer of the AR-7, AR-10, AR-15, AR-180, the Stoner 63, and several other firearms. (The AR-10 was the basis of the AR-15 which in turn spawned the very widely used M16 and all of its variants including the M4 Carbine). It has been estimated that as many as 3.7 million rifles from the AR-15 family are owned by civilians in the United States, and military production M16 vatiants well exceeds 8 million rifles. o o o Today, we present …


Survival Information Binder, by C.L.

Introduction I am assuming that, since you are reading this, you are either prepared for the uncertain future we face, in the process of preparing, or curious about the subject of the preparedness lifestyle. You may have supplies on hand or have a support group of like-minded people to help when TEOTWAWKI occurs. You may have thought about possible scenarios that could occur and what you will do when they do happen. Do you have a backup plan? Do you have a second backup plan? Did you train others to do your job or jobs? Does everyone know how to …


Letter: Solar Sidewalk Lights

Hugh, Preppers encourage others to buy several Aladdin lanterns, along with mantels, fuel, and more for the collapse. I think that is now old technology. It would be better to get a number of the solar lights people use along their sidewalks. Just over the last year or so, the technology has substantially improved, with lithium batteries, et cetera. They will last forever. In the great collapse, put them outside to collect solar power (making sure no one steals them), and then bring them in at night for light by which to read a good book! Incidentally, they will make …


Economics and Investing:

$4.15 Per Pound: Ground Beef Climbs to Another Record High. – G.G. o o o Multiemployer Program Posts Record Deficit, Single-Employer Shortfall Shrinks, PBGC Says. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Deformations On The Dealer Lots: How The Fed’s ZIRP Is Fueling The Next Subprime Bust David Stockman: Take Cover Now – They Don’t Ring A Bell At The Top Part-Time Jobs Putting Millions in Poverty or Close To It


Odds ‘n Sods:

The FBI Is Very Excited About This Machine That Can Scan Your DNA in 90 Minutes. – T.P. o o o This is how preppers are treated in Germany. This guy built his basement as a safe bunker for his family, including food, air and water filtration, and other stuff. Some neighbor told the police (OPSEC!) and destroyed everything, because he stocked up on ammo. That’s not allowed there. He had no license. The site is in German, but you can use Google Translate to read it. – CDV o o o New DHS immigration rules: Drunk drivers, sex abusers, …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” Genesis 26:28&29 (KJV)


Notes for Friday – November 21, 2014

We are coming up on the end of Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Get your submission in soon! o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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 …


Four Exercises To Stay In Shape While Holed Up, by Zac T.

As a brief introduction about me, aside from being an MPH student, I am an exercise physiologist and personal trainer. When I am not correcting peoples’ form and working in cardiac rehab, I spend my spare time backpacking, lifting weights, and reading economics books. Let’s say that you were a prepper. I say “were” because, for the point of this article, The Big Event has already happened, and now you’re not so much prepping as you are surviving. You stockpiled food, medicine, water, and ammunition. You read all the books. You built a secret retreat. Now there’s not much for …


Letter Re: Christianity and Family Defense

Hello Mr. Latimer, I have been engaged in a lot of discussions lately about gun rights, and I have noticed that many of my more liberal friends who still identify as Christian always bring up the “turn the other cheek” verse from Scripture to defend their anti-gun stance. Instinctively I know I have a moral obligation to defend my children against attackers with whatever force necessary, but I’d love to have cogent scriptural exegesis on this issue at my fingertips. Do you know of a good resource for me to study? I appreciate your help! – M.E. Hugh Responds: Perhaps …


Economics and Investing:

Ukraine Admits Its Gold Is Gone: “There Is Almost No Gold Left In The Central Bank Vault” o o o Serfdom is the New Normal ~ Gus Demos & Michael Krieger . – W.L. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Obama’s Secret Treaty Would Be The Most Important Step Toward A One World Economic System As Ruble Falls Even Teeth Cost Too Much to Fix As Debt Piles Up, Japan Tries to Lock in Low Borrowing Costs