Important Provisos For SurvivalBlog Readers

(Please Read This!) SurvivalBlog, a private information service, is obliged to post some disclaimers and provisos, annually. These notices are current as of January 1, 2016 and remain in force unless later specifically revoked or modified by the Editor. Advertising and Reviews Per FTC File No. P034520: SurvivalBlog accepts cash-paid advertising. To the best of my knowledge, as of the date of this posting, none of our advertisers that sell the products mentioned in this blog have solicited SurvivalBlog or our staff to write any reviews or endorsements, nor have they provided me any free or reduced-price gear in exchange …


Letter Re: Shaving Problem/Solution

HJL, As we have been reminded this year in the Northwest and elsewhere, power outages can occur at any time for a variety of reasons (fires, floods, wind storms, snow, ice). As the utilities shutdown, electricity goes off. If we have been diligent, we have been getting ready to the best of our ability and means for at least short-term self sustainment. We have food, several gallons of water, and various supplies on hand. As I was updating the health and hygiene portion of being prepared I discovered that shaving could become a real problem for me. I have stocked …


Letter: Voting – More Important Than Ever

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HJL’s Preface: The arguments laid out in this letter are good arguments, and they make sense for the most part. However, SurvivalBlog speaks with one voice and one mind on the issue of voting in the upcoming elections. There are some issues that are so important that compromise is impossible. The political establishment has created an atmosphere where practically all issues are on the table. There is very little difference between the Democrat and Republican parties today (except, perhaps, for the speed at which they push this once great country into moral oblivion.) A prime example of this would be …


Economics and Investing:

A Year of Sovereign Defaults? – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: 2015 Was the Hardest Year to Make Money in 78 Years Chicago PMI Plummets to 42.9; Lowest Since 2009 Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Is It Time for a Skyscraper Alert? (Mises Institute) Excerpt: “The important thing to remember is that skyscrapers do not cause economic crises. Rather they are just a very noticeable example of the distortions taking place throughout the economy when interest rates are [kept] artificially low by the central bank.” Puerto Rico to Default on Some Debt (Reuters) Of course the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader P.H. wrote in: I just saw this a few minutes ago. It could turn out to be critical, or turn out to be nothing: Three of Cliven Bundy’s sons, militia seize federal building in Oregon. The “federal building” that they took over was the little offices at a National Wildlife Refuge 50 miles out in the countryside, outside of Burns, Oregon. It’s a kinda big deal but not nearly the deal that would have happened if they took over a “federal building” in town. I hope they brought sandwiches and dressed for the weather ’cause the government is going …



Notes for Saturday – January 02, 2016

Update: The 10th Anniversary edition of the SurvivalBlog Archive DVD is now being prepared for release. For the first time, the archive will be a 2-DVD set. The first disc is a full archive of SurvivalBlog since its inception in 2005, with more than 20,000 articles and letters. The second disc is ALL bonus material, including more than 2,000 U.S. military manuals and training publications. The 2005-2015 Archive will also be available as a digital download, at a reduced price. The Archive DVD and digital download version should both be orderable by around January 10th. Thanks for your patience! – …


Letter Re: Some Harsh Lessons of Beekeeping

HJL, I’d like to respond to Gilpin Guy on his response to Some Harsh Lessons of Beekeeping. The new Honeyflow system is amazing when it comes to collecting honey. I don’t see how it addresses any of the problems from the original post. It wasn’t honey collection that caused the hive failure, it was pests, and the Honeyflow won’t help with those. Here in Florida, colony collapse is close to 40% every year. This incredible number is not due to honey extraction. Also, the letter states that “since you don’t need a bee suit, smoker, or honey extractor. “ I …


Economics and Investing:

Gold Undervalued Due To Massive Stock Dilution & Debt o o o The Herd Is Heading For A Cliff – Sent in by J.Q. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Puerto Rico Avoids Loan Default by Dipping Into Cash Reserves (Washington Post) The real headline should be this statement from well within the article itself… ““The use of over $100 million in reserved funds to make debt service payments for several of the Commonwealth’s issuers should underscore that the Commonwealth is running out of options to pay its debt…” Brutal Economic Warning Sign from America’s Midwest (Business …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to Building a Motion Detector Alarm That Reports Time and GPS Location Data. An interesting concept as long as the network stays up. o o o Swedish Society Collapsing Amid Horrific Crime Wave From Muslim Refugee Swarm – Now Trying To Stop Onslaught…. – Sent in by B.B. o o o Krayton Kerns welcomes his 15th grandchild into this world with a special letter: My Letter to Number 15 o o o The gun I got for Christmas: Photographer captures everyday Americans showing off their new weapons at the firing range the day …



Notes for Friday – January 01, 2016

John Cantius Garand (January 1, 1888-February 16, 1974) was born in St. Rémi, Quebec. John Garand designed one of America’s best known battle rifles, the M1 Garand. General Patton praised Garand’s design, writing to Chief of Ordnance Lt. Gen. Levin H. Campbell, Jr., (January 26, 1945): “The M1 rifle is the most deadly rifle in the world.” o o o Good news for those who read SurvivalBlog on a mobile device, but whose eyes are not as sharp as they once were…pinch zooming has now been implemented on the blog. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round …


Letter Re: Some Harsh Lessons of Beekeeping

Keith K, Thank you for that informative write up on beekeeping. I’m jumping in to beekeeping this spring with an innovative new hive called the Flow Hive. You can check out their product at honeyflow.com. I have no experience with beekeeping, but this seems to be a revolutionary product that might make enough of a difference to you that you’ll give it another try. I think the non-invasive method of collecting the honey may help with your mortality rate and level of effort since you don’t need a bee suit, smoker, or honey extractor. The method also doesn’t remove the …


Economics and Investing:

‘Cash has run out’: Debt-ridden Puerto Rico heads toward New Year’s default – RBS o o o Reader GP sent in a link to this map showing which states are in the red: Is Your State Busted Or Busting Loose? o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News The Formlessness of Progressivism (Mises Institute) Excerpt: “As vague and misty as most modern leftist ideals can be, they do share one solid, bedrock principle: the need for continuous expansion of the government’s role in our lives. The government’s heavy handed regulation of our industries has imposed unbelievable barriers and costs …