Becoming a Top-Tier Survivalist and Representing the Prepper Community, by M.M. – Part 1

The concept of prepping has been widely publicized throughout the past decade, but it is rarely cast in a positive light, outside of survival dedicated websites, such as SurvivalBlog. The mainstream media networks mock our community by seeking out and casting the most ridiculous so-called preppers they can find to achieve high viewer rankings. The federal government encourages the citizenry to make minor preparations for surviving major disasters by storing several days’ worth of food, water, batteries, and other basic necessities. However, at the same time, it labels citizens who truly prepare (and especially those who own guns and military …


Letter: Vacuum Sealing Ammo

Hugh, I have been thinking of vaccum sealing my storage ammo and just use wood crates to store in bulk. You know, I’d do it with a common food sealer system. Has anyone tried this or made suggestions in this area? Any feedback (good or not) would be greatly appreciated! – C.P. Hugh replies: You can seal your ammo, but you need to be careful about what type of ammo. The powder contains its own fuel and oxidizer (as does the primer), so a storage in a vacuum should not harm the active components. You may still have some tarnishing …



Economics and Investing:

New Rules: Cyprus-style Bail-ins to Take Deposits and Pensions o o o Average Federal Spending Per Household Nearly $30K. – P.M. o o o Egon von Greyerz: Global Deflationary Implosion Will Start Money Printing o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas New Law Would Make Taxpayers Potentially Liable For TRILLIONS In Derivatives Losses – This essentially already exists as they have an implicit guarantee from the government but suppose this would have it officially explicit. JWR has been warning about the derivatives since 2006 Japan Third-Quarter GDP Revised Down to 1.9% Contraction Rate Rises Spark ‘Massive Volatility’ Warnings


Odds ‘n Sods:

The dark secrets of a surveillance state – RBS o o o “Careening Toward A New & Different Kind Of Civil War” – B.B. o o o Russia To Conduct Observation Flight Over US. – M.B. o o o Beloit Police Ask Residents To Volunteer To Have Their Homes Searched For Guns. – T.P. o o o Continuing the open source discussion: Linux Mint 17.1 review—less change is good change. – P.S.



Notes for Monday – December 08, 2014

Book Bomb Day is December 30, 2014: Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own Now available for pre-ordering at Amazon.com, but I’d prefer that you wait for December 30th to order: Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own. This book is a guide to the selection, use, and care of tools. It will also be available as an e-book and audiobook. -JWR o o o On this day in 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. o o o For those in South Florida: …


Guest Article: Six Common Misconceptions About EMP, by G.B., PhD

Many misconceptions about electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects have circulated for years among technical and policy experts, in press reports, on preparedness websites, and even in technical journals. Because many aspects of EMP-generation physics and its effects are obscure, misconceptions from those who do not perceive the seriousness of the effects to those who predict a doomsday chain of events are inevitable. However, not all EMPs are the same, with the most significant effects being caused by E1 and E3 fields. Nuclear bursts detonated at altitudes above 40 km generate two principle types of EMPs that can debilitate critical infrastructure systems …


Scot’s Product Review: Valley Food Storage Meals

The angst of buying the right storage foods made me feel as if I was stuck in a drama, so I turned to Shakespeare and found a suitable quote in The Comedy of Errors: “Unquiet meals make ill digestions.” Although it wasn’t his best play, by a long shot, and the character had more on her mind than food, the thought does have some application to my household. I mentioned in another review that my wife is a pretty intense food person, who loves gourmet meals and is a serious cook. My ten-year-old son is surprising in liking a large …


Recipe of the Week: Cranberry-Orange Bread, from M.L.

With cranberries available right now, it is time to buy them and freeze or freeze-dry them for all your wonderful breads and dessert recipes! This is one that our family loves. It’s very easy, and the family expects lots of it available continuously from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. This bread recipe is great to double and then freeze what you don’t eat right away. (Just don’t put icing on what you want to freeze. When it’s time to serve, remove from the freezer, put in the oven or microwave to warm, and then drizzle some icing over the top. The …


Letter Re: 1 Year Followup on Colorado Flood Experience

I was displaced from Jamestown, Colorado, in the 2013 flood, and was evacuated on a Blackhawk helicopter in the second biggest airlift after Katrina. I live in a town of 300 souls in the mountains, where the flood wiped out 20% of the homes. The most valuable preparation I was able to use was a laminated emergency checklist. The checklist was for a fire, but it served well for the flood. When the helicopters are overhead and you’re freaking out with phones down, it’s important to know to turn the gas tank off, which elderly neighbors and pets need help, …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Daisy Luther of The Organic Prepper has released a 242-page book called “The Organic Canner”. o o o From the Wranlerstar video blog: No More Broken Axe handles along with part 2. o o o From SurvivalBlog reader T.G.: This is a link to a well done video providing an update on Ebola and, more particularly, the misinformation and obfuscation being promulgated by the CDC, et al. I found it interesting that the video cited many of the same sources I cited in my previous writings on the subject. Some of you on this distribution were so kind as to …



Notes for Sunday – December 07, 2014

On another Sunday morning, 73 years ago, America was caught sleeping. Then there was that September morning, in 2001. Let’s pray that nothing like those days ever happens again. – JWR o o o For those who were not around in 1941, I recomend “Day of Infamy” , “At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor” or “Pearl Harbor An Illustrated History”. May we never forget. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 56 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three …