Month: November 2015

Notes for Saturday – November 21, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. …


An Alternative to Calcium Hypochlorite, by TLS

I have read articles and posts, as well as listened to preppers discuss the use of Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal-Hypo) as a water sanitizer in The-End-Of-The-World-As-We-Know-It (TEOTWAWKI) situations. I owned a swimming pool business for over 20 years, and during that time I used Cal-Hypo, Sodium Dichloro-S-Trianzinetrione (Dichlor), and Sodium Trichloro-S-Trianzinetrione (Trichlor) extensively in both commercial and residential swimming pools. I also installed and maintained many salt-chlorine generator systems. Every time I read about someone planning to use Cal-Hypo for long-term storage to provide water sanitation in TEOTWAWKI, I cringe. Cal-Hypo has many serious shortcomings. The disadvantages are: Cal-Hypo degrades and …


Three Letters Re: A Solid Solution On Securing Home Defense During A TEOTWAWKI Situation, by B.M.

HJL, I can see some problems. First you must store it and deploy it when things go down. Second, if it is winter, you really don’t want your windows and doors broken. You want to defend them first (maybe both inside and outside). Third, even if you can insure you are safe, you will need to be able to go the other way, perhaps multiple times per day. Fourth, it doesn’t provide security if they decide to firebomb or shoot into your house. Fifth, if there is a fire or something else, you may have to get out fast, but …


Economics and Investing:

They would have you believe that the U.S. economy is recovering and strengthening. Actually, the dollar is strengthening because everyone else is debasing their currency faster than we are; however, it’s all downhill. The Fed Induced Farce. Link sent in by J.Q. o o o The Baltic Dry Shipping Index Just Collapsed To An All-Time Record Low o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: Barclays to Pay $150M More to Regulator in Forex Probe (Reuters) Citrix to Restructure: 1,000 Pink Slips Coming (Triangle Business Journal) Los Angeles and the Crisis of Homelessness (Los Angeles Times) Chinese Paddy Wagons Pick Up …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Evidently your TV now sends ultrasonic messages to your phone, which tell your phone to transmit your information back to the advertiser. Wonder what else this technology could be used for… How TV ads silently ping commands to phones: Sneaky SilverPush code reverse-engineered via Linux News. Link sent in by K.F. o o o These assignments were discovered by accident when the child brought the work home from school. How many more of these indoctrinating assignments are never caught by parents? Public schools, by design, indoctrinate your children with values that you have little or no control over. In fact, …



Notes for Friday – November 20, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. But first, there’s a word from JWR on establishing your Preparedness Library. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice …


Establishing Your Preparedness Library, by James Wesley, Rawles

Anyone who is serious about family preparedness recognizes the importance of having hard copy (EMP-proof) references on hand. In addition to the binders of reference articles, recipes, and technical manuals that I often mention in SurvivalBlog, I strongly recommend that you buy some particularly useful published reference books. These books include: First Aid — (American Red Cross Handbook) Responding To Emergencies Strategic Relocation–North American Guide to Safe Places by Joel and Andrew Skousen Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson The Encyclopedia of Country Living (Tenth …


Survival Trapping: The Efficient “Hunter”- Part 2, by J.C.

Basic Sets: Leghold traps have a few basic types of sets. The main one is referred to as a dirt hole set and is by far the most common and popular for this style of trap. A depression slightly larger than the trap is dug out and the trap is set down into it and “bedded”. This means to solidly seat the trap to reduce any movement at all. Most animals will immediately leave the set area, if they feel the trap move as they step on it. Once the trap is bedded, then use the screen to sift fine …


Three Letters Re: A Solid Solution On Securing Home Defense During A TEOTWAWKI Situation, by B.M.

JWR, I’m sure I won’t be the only one commenting on this article, but I come to this site for good advice sound information; this article concerns me a lot. I have learned enough in the past couple of years to see the total unworkability of this approach, but I worry about newcomers seeing this and either heeding this advice or seeing through it and getting turned off to the whole site. What’s this family going to do when the mob torches the house, shoots through the (non-bullet resistant) walls, or just breaks through with a chainsaw or pick axe …


Economics and Investing:

The Pension Problem Is Worse Than You Think – G.G. o o o If The Economy Is Fine, Why Are So Many Hedge Funds, Energy Companies And Large Retailers Imploding? – M.A. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video interview: USA Watchdog -Craig Hemke-Get Physical Metal Because the End is Coming Video- Mike Maloney Hidden Secrets of Money- Episode 6.. – If you have not seen the first five episodes, I would strongly encourage you to do so… They are all very well done. Items from Professor Preponomics: Terrorists: A Dangerous and Costly Economic Threat (Fox News) WSJ Reports: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader T.Z. suggested this link profiling an excellent book review: From Sun Tzu to Fourth Generation War o o o Robert Griswold (of Ready Made Resources – A SurvivalBlog advertiser) was interviewed on The Common Sense Show by Dave Hodges. There is some excellent information in this interview about surviving a terrorist attack like those that have just happened in Paris. With the holiday season upon us, this is information you need. o o o Man cave? or Apocalypse bunker?In any case, I’m not sure why you would advertise this to the world-at-large, but perhaps you can garner a …



Notes for Thursday – November 19, 2015

There are less than 2,000 Rawles XL Voyager knives left on hand at Cold Steel. Because this is a limited edition knife, they are likely to sell out before Christmas. Order yours soon. All profits benefit two Christian charities. o o o Ready Made Resources is having a sale on PVS-14 2nd Gen+ Autogated Night Vision. If you’ve been wanting a PVS-14 but can’t afford the Gen 3 units, this may be for you. o o o The owners of Naturally Cozy (one of our long-term Writing Contest prize sponsors) have launched a new venture: PrivyPaper.com. They provide the solution …


Survival Trapping: The Efficient “Hunter”- Part 1, by J.C.

Trapping animals is a skill that is as old as time itself. From a simple stick-triggered rock deadfall to modern day legholds and automatic snares, these devices increase the efficiency of gathering that all-important meal. There are many myths surrounding trapping and most notably the modern leghold style traps. It’s best to dispel some of these myths in the beginning, so as to not bog down the discussion of their use in the field for both survival and non-survival situations. It is best to refer you to the National Trappers Association for more detailed information on the myths and misunderstandings …