Notes for Saturday – January 24, 2015

January 24 is the birthday of Tamara K., the editor of the View From The Porch blog. This is also the birthday of René Barjavel (born 1911, died November 24, 1985). This prescient French science fiction author wrote several books with survivalist themes, including Ravage, which was titled Ashes, Ashes in its English translation. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 56 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), …




2005 -2014 SurvivalBlog Archive Now Available!

The expanded 2005-2014 SurvivalBlog Archive is now available as either a digital download, or as a DVD. Now, you’ll get not just one extra year of the blog but many more bonus books. (49 books, in all!) This is a complete archive DVD of all of the SurvivalBlog posts from 2005 to 2014. The article titles on this DVD are keyword searchable and are provided in both HTML and PDF. Effectively, it emulates SurvivalBlog offline, on your PC. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. With this DVD, you’ll always have access to the SurvivalBlog archives, even if the Internet …




Why You Should Build Community Before SHTF, by J.W.

Establishing a network of local contacts is imperative for long-term survival during and after SHTF. As survivalists and preppers, we take excruciating measures to prepare the tiniest details for what events might come. We read up on which ammo will pierce an engine block the best. We invest time choosing food-grade plastic in which to store kitchen staples, and we upgrade to the fanciest water-purification systems and run practice drills for if an intruder were to crash through our front door. Then, we debate those things on the Internet, because we as humans love to get lost in the details. …




Three Letters Re: Livestock Guardian Dogs

HJL, We’ve had Anatolian Shepherds for twelve years. They are very independent dogs and very protective of their charges. They must be acclimated early but will guard your herds and flocks thereafter. Ensure you have good fences to keep wandering animals away from your herd and flock, as the dogs will kill them. I’ve had to bury all manner of animals that have tried to eat my chickens. Get two dogs, so they have each other to burn off excess energy with each other rather than try to do so with the herd. I don’t allow visitors near my guardians, …




Economics and Investing:

Currency Wars: Is Surrender And Option? o o o The United States Is Imploding, On The Eve Of Destruction. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Draghi Commits to Trillion-Euro QE in Deflation Fight – I love it. “The risk of deflation forced Draghi’s hand.” Again, it’s more nonsense. It should read “with deflation threatening to collapse our debt-based monetary system, Draghi bails out the banks and sets the pace for assets bubbles” Davos Not So Sure About That Fed Rate Increase You’re Expecting




Odds ‘n Sods:

From SurvivalBlog reader B.B. comes this video – Lars Andersen: a new level of archery . I have long sat on the border of whether archery was a path i wanted to go down for SHTF. High power bows and the need for feeding them aluminum shafts have always kept me in check. However, this video has changed my perception completely. This is now a skill I highly desire. o o o Background checks: inside the mind of Alan Gottlieb – RBS o o o The Worst News Story of 2015. – J.L. o o o The ultimate nanny phone: …