(You can read all of SurvivalBlog back to its inception in 2005, in our archives.)
I’m James Wesley, Rawles (“JWR”), a survivalist author. I’m a former U.S. Army Intelligence officer and technical writer. I’m now a full-time novelist and part-time blogger and retreat consultant. I founded SurvivalBlog in 2005, and now serve as Senior Editor. (To contact JWR see our Contact Page.)
Because of SurvivalBlog, we are part of something bigger: a virtual community of some of the most brilliant people that you could ever meet. Despite our differences, we all have an interest in preparedness.
For details on JWR’s survivalist philosophy see the Precepts page.
I am a Christian, and hold to Reformed doctrine. My view of history is of the geographical determinist school. My view of economics is of the Austrian school. Politically, I am a Constitutionalist Christian libertarian. All of these have shaped my views on preparedness. HJL has very similar views.
You can also read my full biography. There is also a Wikipedia page about me and my writings.
Since its launch in 2005, SurvivalBlog has been the Internet’s most popular daily blog on survival and preparedness topics. We’ve only missed posting a couple of days in more than 12 years. There are now more than 28,200 archived SurvivalBlog feature articles, letters, and columns.
Subject areas include (in no particular order):
- Disaster Preparedness (Both natural and man-made TEOTWAWKI)
- Self-Sufficiency
- Christianity (I hold to Reformed doctrine and am a Five Point Calvinist)
- Contrarian Investing (with a strong “hard money” precious metals emphasis)
- Survival Logistics (“Beans, Bullets and Band-Aids”)
- Survival Tools–with a strong emphasis on firearms
- Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
- Survival Retreat Locales
- Evaluating Potential Retreat Homes and Parcels
- Retreat Home Construction/Modification
- Photo-voltaic and Other Off-Grid Power
- Communications
- Christian Charity–both now and post-collapse
- Small Unit Tactics
- Retreat Security
- Networking with Like-Minded Survivalists
- The Second Amendment and firearms legislation
- Wilderness Survival
- Supporting our Troops–Tangibly
- Rural Relocation and Self-Employment
- Bartering and The Alpha Strategy
- Survival Vehicles–Restoration and Modification
- Fuel Storage and Alternative Fuels
- Marksmanship
- Emerging Threats
- Privacy and Encryption
- Offshore Options
- Quotes of the Day (please e-mail Hugh your favorites and we will likely post them!)
- Odds ‘n Sods
I tend to use a lot of acronyms. If any of them are unfamiliar to you, please consult the SurvivalBlog Glossary.
Finding the Information You Need in SurvivalBlog
There are now 32,500+ archived SurvivalBlog posts. There it is too much to read through sequentially. To research particular topics, I recommend that you take full advantage of the article categories and blog database Search window available at the top of the right hand column at the SurvivalBlog site. Say, for example, you want to learn more about how to secure your home. In the right hand bar, down below the scrolling advertisements there is a list of topic categories. By clicking on the “Retreat Security” category, only the articles and letters tagged with that topic will be displayed. Or, you can do a more detailed search, using the Search box at the top of the right hand bar. For example, if you enter “Security AND Infrared AND Starlight” only those posts that include all three of those words will be displayed. Use quote marks for searching exact combinations of words, such as “log home”.
Mobile Readers
SurvivalBlog is presented mostly in text, for the convenience of readers with mobile readers. An RSS feed is available. A “SurvivalBlog Reader” App is also available for those that use Android phones.
Letter and Snippet Posting Policy
NOTE: All writings that you send us must be original works and the copyright will become the property of SurvivalBlog. Anyone sending a letter or article grants the right for posting, reproduction, or any other use by SurvivalBlog.
We will post letters from readers that are topical. We particularly encourage letters from overseas. For example, we’d appreciate reading the insights of folks who aare currently surviving hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, secessionist turmoil in Kashmir, convoy IED attacks in Iraq, or kidnappings in Columbia. Please e-mail us your letters. OBTW, we will only post a letter writer’s initials and location unless they specifically tell me otherwise. Parenthetically, I should also mention that we promise not to post your e-mail address or sell it to the V*agra people. Anyone sending a letter or article grants the right for posting, reproduction, or any other use. All writings must be original works and the copyright will become the property of SurvivalBlog.
We reserve the right to reject or edit letters for foul language, blasphemy, racism, anti-Christianity (or bad doctrine), antisemitism, anything that promotes, endorses, or incites potentially dangerous or harmful acts or behavior, and assorted off-topic tin foil hat rants about Gray Aliens. If you see “[Rant Snipped]” in a letter, then you’ll know that someone crossed the line.
We also edit letters to conceal the identities of their writers, which might otherwise be compromised by the letter contents or contextual references. Please let us know how you’d like your letters or articles signed.
Comments
We no longer allow comments on most of our blog posts. We do posts deleted letters and snippets from readers. Those must be kept civil and polite at all times, or they will never appear. Al other questions, suggestions, or anything directed to the editors themselves should be sent in the form of an e-mailed Letter To The Editor. Please use either “For Posting” or “Not For Posting” in your e-mail subject line.
No Forums
Why is there no SurvivalBlog forum? Because:
- They are a security risk to my readers. Ditto for mailing lists. We don’t compile any mailing lists!
- I don’t want to have to have the time to moderate a forum.
- I know from past experience that if I were to allow a forum or un-moderated comments it would quickly degenerate into a venue for flame wars and foul language.
So I will pick and choose the letters and snippets that will be posted. (It’s my ship, and I’m the Captain. Sorry:)
JWR and AVL are the only “filters” for what is posted on SurvivalBlog. Just e-mail us what you’d like to post. (There is no “Post” button, so don’t look for it!)
Disclaimer and Disclosure: Per the SEC Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (as amended): I am not a paid investment counselor or adviser. I am not a stockholder of any company. I am not employed by any company. I receive no payment or benefit from any company in exchange for my investment recommendations. I do not make stock buying recommendations. Make all investments at your own risk.
All Free, But Copyrighted
The content of this blog site is free to access but copyrighted. Permission to use up to 800-word excerpts is summarily granted (no need to e-mail me for permission), but only if you include full attribution–most notably the survivalblog.com URL. Don’t miss reading through the SurvivalBlog archives, both my posts and letters from readers. There are some real gems there!
Surviving What, You Ask? (A Statement of Purpose)
The purpose of this Blog is to inform and motivate readers to take steps that will help prepare themselves and their families. Survival is not just about guns, groceries and gadgets. More importantly, it is about having friends that you can trust when times get hard, such as for:
- A Dollar Crisis/Monetary Collapse (witness the hyperinflation in Zimbabwe)
- Naturally occurring plague or pandemic
- Nuclear Blackmail (North Korea and China have already made public threats)
- Terrorist LNG fuel sector or power grid attack
- Terrorist nuclear, biological, or chemical attack
- Fuel and/or food shortage crisis
- Major volcanic and/or earthquake events
- Nation-state nuclear, biological, or chemical attack
- Localized severe weather events (such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods)
As well for these far less likely but potentially even more cataclysmic possibilities:
- Asteroid or comet strike
- Tidal Waves/Surges
- Global War
- Martial Law
- Invasion
- Science Accidents (Genetically modified crop failure, nanotechnology “gray goo”, et cetera.)
- Climate change
Special Note on Social Networking
Please refrain from trying to get me to join Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Gab, or any of the plethora of social networks. I get more than 200 e-mails a day. That is bad enough, but getting an extra 30 proclaiming that “John Smith is following you on Twitter” drives me crazy. I don’t respond to any of these. Thanks!
Advertisers and Donations
Yes, I have advertisers, but only sellers of products and services that I know and trust. I depend on my banner advertisers to pay for this site. However, you have my promise that any advertiser that engages in shady business practices or that sells shoddy merchandise will be booted off the site, pronto! If you want to be an advertiser, then e-mail JWR.
I also humbly accept voluntary subscription donations to help cover the expense of web hosting and bandwidth. I appreciate your support!
Disclaimer: (per FTC File No. P034520): We accept cash-paid advertising. To the best of our knowledge, as of the date of this updated posting (August 24, 2011), none of our advertisers that sell the products mentioned in this article have solicited us or paid us to write any reviews or endorsements, nor have they provided us any free or reduced-price gear in exchange for any reviews or endorsements. As an Amazon Associate, we earn sales commissions.
Terms of Service
Use of information from SurvivalBlog is voluntary. Subscriptions are voluntary. Anyone that no longer wishes to subscribe can cancel their subscription. Refunds for up to 11 unused months are available for anyone that has pre-paid more than one month.