Year: 2015

Notes for Thursday – October 01, 2015

On this day in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T–the world’s first truly mass-produced automobile. The Model T had an initial pricetag of $825 (and was only available in black.) But by 1925, with the economies of scale, the price was reduced to just $260. o o o Today, we present the first 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 …


Judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest — Winners Announced!

Our staff has completed the judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes are awarded as follows: First Prize goes to Iowa Farm Boy for Traversing the Hinterlands – (Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3.) Second Prize goes to A.J. for Learning How to Grow Food in the American Redoubt. Third Prize goes to Redoubting Thomas for The 20% Solution. And Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift cards) go to these nine fine articles: The Aging Prepper, by R.H. MultipleFamilies on Your Retreat, by Farmer Brown Buildinga Simple Multiband Antenna That Works, by The Consultant …


New Prizes For Round 61 And Beyond

We are pleased to announce that three new prizes have been added to the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest prize packages, starting with Round 61. (Which begins today, October 1st, 2015..) These prizes are: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case–a $1,700 value. (Added to the First Prize package.) Note that this prize is just their “starter”-size mobile off-grid power system. They build them all the way up to 3,000 watts! A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from …


Wilderness Fire: An Unexpected Retreat From Our Retreat, by L.F.P.

We have a boat-in only glamorous camping (“glamping”) retreat on a large lake in the West on the very edge of Wilderness-designated public forest land. The nearest road is more than three miles away. We were there in early August on summer vacation from the city. Several small lightning-caused wilderness fires had been burning for more than a month during the ongoing drought conditions. These fires flared up in very rugged terrain due to a rare severe August windstorm with gusts above 60 mph. The smoke had started to get noticeable on the lake and light ash was raining down …


Letter: A First-Hand Perspective on Europe’s Immigration Crisis

Hugh, My wife and I have just returned from a two week vacation that I had planned long ago to Hungary, Austria, and a bit of Germany. I’m not sure how great the coverage of this was in the U.S., but I would like to give the readers a briefing. Upon arriving in Vienna, we discovered that our train to Budapest had been cancelled. One look around the Westbahnhof train station revealed literally thousands of immigrants. Rail officials could do little to offer suggestions as to what to do. It was up to us to find our way out. We …


Letter: Fall Season Prepping

Dear Mr. Rawles and Mr. Latimer: Since the Autumnal Equinox has passed us by, may I offer a link to a relevant string of articles? I have been contemplating seasonal adjustments to my preps, and Cheaper Than Dirt has a series of blogposts that I found useful in provoking thought. I hope folks find this useful, as we tune our plans for the changing seasons. Thank you for your blog, and all you do. – Skyrat


Economics and Investing:

Preparing For Collapse: Record Eight-Year Silver Buying Intensity Continues o o o Chris Martenson: Buy Gold While You Still Can! — An important update on the supply of physical gold o o o BofA Issues Dramatic Junk Bond Meltdown Warning: This “Train Wreck Is Accelerating” Items from The Economics Team: The Hard Landing Has Arrived: Chinese Coal Company Lays Off 100,000 (Zero Hedge) Wallstreet Braces for Grim 3rd Quarter Earnings Results (Reuters) Clark Howard: Don’t Fall for Scams!


Odds ‘n Sods:

Why I Chose the Self Sufficient Life o o o Everyday Kitchen Chemistry: Understanding Baking Soda and Baking Powder (Articles like this one teach us the mechanics of kitchen chemistry and help us to become more independent and resourceful and prepared.) o o o ISIS Planning ‘Nuclear Tsunami’ o o o The XM42 Flamethrower-What Freedom Looks Like. The flames are projected up to 30 feet. You can buy one direct from the factory, in the powder-coated color of your choice at XM42.com. I suppose that one of these would be great for clearing brush in the springtime or for igniting …



Notes for Wednesday – September 30, 2015

On this day in 1787, the Columbia left Boston harbor to began the first ever around-the-world trip by an American-flagged vessel. o o o Today, we present the final entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day 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 …


Base Layers and Their Differences – Part 2, by A.S.

If you recall from the first installment of this article which was posted early this month, I discussed the start of base layering principle which I am sure most people are very familiar with–especially those who read this blog. I also brought up the types of material used such as Polypropylene, Merino wool and the new fibre Tencel. In this installment I want to break down some information on the other layers involved and give my thoughts from long time use of garment materials that work in longevity. Goretex jackets are great for hikers and for those who take trips …


Letter Re: One Source of Emergency Fuel for Diesel Engines

Mr. Rawles, I really enjoyed your Christian-themed survivalist books and always wondered what my family and I would do under similar circumstances. Now I’m a little too old to be doing any of that;. But I thought I’d pass on something to you for for your future books and for the SurvivalBlog readership. I worked for more than 45 years in the electric utility industry in substation construction and maintenance. When our large transformer oil trucks were finished work at the end of the day, we’d always dump the left-over transformer insulating oil into our diesel truck’s “saddle tanks” and …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals, and Meaning by Nancy Pearcey Last of the Mountain Men by Harold Peterson Movies The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013). This bittersweet comedy supposedly set in Montana, but was filmed mostly in western Canada and made by a French director in cooperation with Australian and Canadian production companies. The Pianist


Economics and Investing:

Reader S.J. asked about an update on the Bullion Direct debacle that was first publicized back in June. There is a good summary on the bankruptcy here. Needless to say, this bankruptcy–which involved $25 million in physical gold purchases that were never made on behalf of customers–illustrates just how foolish it is to entrust your precious metals with any institution. Keep them well-hidden at home, folks! o o o Switzerland probes banks over precious metals price fixing o o o Over at Zero Hedge: TheWorst Part Is Central Bankers Know Exactly What They Are Doing Items from The Economics Team: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Peter S. suggested watching Mark Steyn’s September 26 speech in at the Danish Parliament building in Copenhagen: The Danish Muhammad Cartoon Crisis in Retrospect (Video.) By the way, some of Steyn’s remarks tie in to the theme of my upcoming novel, which is titled Land of Promise. o o o Over at Zero Hedge: TheWorst Part Is Central Bankers Know Exactly What They Are Doing o o o G.G. flagged this: Intense Solar Flare Unleashed from Unruly Sunspot. (This was the big M7 solar flare seen just before and after the recent Blood Moon.) o o o Sotomayor:‘Do as …