Letter Re: Perimeter Security

HJL, Regarding the recent articles on perimeter security, I’d like to add my two bits. Get a solar powered motion detector light from Harbor Freight, Instead of driving the light, have the unit power an HF frequency clock chip like this. When the security light detects motion, it will power the RF transmitter, sending signals to your HF receiver. All that is needed is the chip, 5.1 volt zener diode with load resistor or 5 v regulator like 7805 or two diodes in series to drop the 6V to 5V just, and an antenna. – MH in Texas


Prep Your Ride- Part 1, by J.U.

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“The best gun is the one you have with you when you actually need it.” We’ve almost all heard or read that old saying at some point in our lives. It is such a common saying because we all recognize the simple truth inherent in those words. It doesn’t matter how many “tacti-cool” guns you have at home in the safe if you’re miles or just blocks from where you live when you suddenly need to defend your own or someone else’s life. The gear you have with you (or close at hand) is the stuff you’re going to war …


Letter Re: Growing Pineapples

Mr. Hugh, This is a very good post on growing pineapples. We have grown them in similar manner for several years. We don’t root ours in water but place them in large (3 gallon) pots with very moist potting soil. They are repotted as needed into larger pots to complete their growing time. Be sure to let the base of the “top” dry out as G.J. says. We prefer raising them in the pots because they can be moved easily to a warmer location as needed, weeds aren’t a problem, and the moisture is better controlled during times of drought. …


Recipe of the Week: Chocolate & Fudge Candy Cane Cookies, by C.S.

Do you have leftover candy canes after the holidays? Do you really want to store them until next year? This recipe is a yummy way to use up candy canes that weren’t eaten! Besides, since they are baked and a calorie is a unit of heat, the calories are just baked right out of them! (Editor’s note: The wife isn’t buying that, but at least I tried.) Cookie Ingredients ½ cup butter, soft 1 cup sugar 1 egg ¼ cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla 1 ¾ cup flour 1/3 cup baking cocoa ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt Icing …


Letter Re: Inexpensive Perimeter Security for Your House in the Suburbs

HJL, After reading this in the blog from “KL”, I too went to Harbor Freight and purchased several units. To offer some further information, each box contains one sender and one receiver. Each box has a small oval sticker on the front identifying the channel. All of my units utilize the same tone. So even if I purchase units with different channels, they all sound the same when they go off. I wish the manufacture offered different choices of alerts per unit. The receiver can utilize an optional 6 volt, 200 mA power adapter, but the manufacture doesn’t offer it …


Keeping Your Head, And Preventing Others From Losing Theirs, by G.F.

In a critical situation, would you rather make war or make peace? I think the idea of cooperating to live through a crisis is much better than a “kill or be killed” scenario. The main reason why we need to think on this topic is that if the unthinkable happens, we can more easily restore our society from scratch. Like the Founding Fathers, we will have a foundation to build on. A pile of dead people is not a good way to start. Peace of mind is the key to happiness, and to have peace of mind you need resources. …


Letter Re: Secession

Thanks for the article. I enjoyed it, but I have a couple of questions: the Supreme Court rulings seem to pertain only to states wanting to leave an “indestructable Union” composed of “indestructable States”, but does that still leave open the possibility of one of the “indestructable States” wanting to separate and become another state and still be part of the United States? You mention Baja Arizona, and certainly there is discussion about a State of Jefferson. There’s also the intent/desire for Silicone Valley to split off and become their own state. I’m sure upstate NY would like to divorce …


Growing Pineapple, by G.J.

In post-Columbian Europe, imported or greenhouse pineapples were a symbol of wealth, often being used for decoration rather than being eaten. Now, imagine a world gone crazy, where even the canned pineapple is only a memory. For those of us who are well-stocked and even have a garden, the loss of trucking and worldwide shipping means a lot of fruits, especially tropical ones, will be simply a memory, kind of like how generations ago received oranges at Christmas as treats. Citrus fruits are not too much of a stretch in parts of the U.S., but pineapples will be rare. What …


Letter Re: Localism

HJL, Regarding “Localism”, the hard, cold facts are that whatever significantly disrupts society to the point of power-grid collapse will induce major chaos, loss of life, loss of comfort, loss of wealth, and loss of security. A moral people (which our nation is not) must be governed by law, even in the absence of external government. Self-control is the foundation of civilization and must be based on a generally-acknowledged code of ethics. For past centuries, the Bible and Ten Commandments formed the platform for society. Now, not even the churches will acknowledge these authorities, let alone the Darwinists. The most …


Strategic Opportunities and Challenges in a Trump-Putin World, by S.G. in Florida

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Lost in the media coverage of the elections is that the Trump administration presents an opportunity for strategic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia that would not had been available if Hillary Clinton had been elected. Despite this opening, the challenges confronting such cooperation are many and formidable. Trump fits the alpha male Russian stereotype: he is a strong leader, brash, displays some recklessness, has a beautiful trophy foreign wife, is a multi-billionaire with a gold-plated apartment, is a relentless self-promoter with a big ego, and is a BS artist but has been successful (so far). Those traits alone will …


Letter: Fat wood Firestarter

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The fire starter recommendations are all good, and they do work. This article is not intended to take away from those talented writers, but I did want to write something that may provide an alternative that takes little prep time, zero storage considerations, is light weight, works in wet conditions, and can be started with one strike of a ferrocerium rod. If you are familiar with Fat wood and building a good pyre, skip down to the 4th paragraph. I have started fires with a Bow and Spindle, Cotton Ball and Petroleum jelly, char cloth, 9-volt battery and steel wool, …


Selecting Footwear and Foot Care Basics, by K.B.

Even the best of weapons, flashlights, knives, bugout bags, et cetera are practically useless if the user has become immobile due to an unnecessary foot injury or footwear related problem. It all starts with selecting the right boots for the job and having a good working knowledge of how to care for one’s feet and then doing it. From the simple Roman (or Ho Chi Minh) sandals to the newest synthetic lined mountain boot, dependable footwear has been an essential for covering rugged terrain, or even not-so-rugged terrain, by foot. The comfortable, lightweight boots that are popular with the military …


Letter: Inexpensive Perimeter Security for Your House in the Suburbs

Mr. Latimer, I reside in southern California in a semi-rural area; however, I do live in a housing tract. When SHTF, my concern would be the security surrounding the perimeter of my property. I do live on a corner property, thus, two sides of my property are of concern. I have come up with a plan for security notification when anyone enters my property or even gets close. I found an inexpensive item at Harbor Freight that will accomplish this notification. The item is an infrared triggered Wireless Security Alert System (Item Number: 93068). The battery operated unit has a …


The Get-Home Cache, by The Feral Farmer

Bugout bags are a popular topic, and the content lists are long and varied, sometimes reading like a LRRP combat loadout. However, they have a couple of obvious problems, including that you have to carry it and keep it handy. It takes a good degree of conditioning to carry a load any distance and a great degree of determination to do so while injured or frightened. Additionally, (unless your kit looks like a baby carrier and diaper bag), your chance of hitching a ride plummets the larger your bag appears to be. Any situation that requires a bugout bag automatically …


Letter Re: Motor Oil

Dear Editor and SurvivalBlog Readers: I have a question about motor oil, because of an incident going back years ago when I had a discussion with a neighbor about changing oil in gas motor yard equipment, lawn motors in this case. I’ll never forget how the neighbor bragged how he never changes oil in his lawn mower. Year after year, it is pulled out in the spring with the old gas and old oil, and away they go. I’ll never forget hearing the screeching sound of that lawn mower motor seizing. Since then, I have heard numerous opinions on oil …