Odds ‘n Sods:

A number of people have sent in this link to Selco’s Blog, True Nature of Survival. It is particularly relevant because of the conflicts that we are seeing in Ukraine and Valenzuela. If your main concern is your survival or that of your family, then it makes perfect sense. My problem with it is that it is from a pretty self-centered perspective. If our founding fathers had held to the same ideals, the revolution would have died a quick, crushing death. The supposition is that you cannot affect the outcome, so don’t even try. Yes, there is seemingly senseless death …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. Not for nothing was the revolver called an ‘Equalizer.’ Egalite implies liberte. And always will. Let us hope our weapons are never needed—but do not forget what the common people of this nation knew when they demanded The Bill Of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, and the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny.” – Edward Abbey, Abbey’s Road


Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three 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 normally cost $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


Survival Health and Fitness

There is a preparation we can all make that doesn’t required much money, much storage, or much expertise. Yet it should be a critical component of your readiness. Yes, it is your personal health and fitness. If you started 2014 with good intentions but haven’t had the success you hoped for, this article is for you. This commentary outlines the whys and hows of improving your health and fitness. Survival Benefits to Improving Health and Fitness Prevent ever needing, or even reverse the need for drugs that you may no longer be able to get when the SHTF. Statins (Crestor, …


Letter Re: List of Lists

Hi, My fiance and I really appreciate the work that you do at SurvivalBlog.com. We are Reformers who are trying to figure out our strategy as I speak. We live in British Columbia and were looking to South America, but realize that maybe being in English-speaking remote BC would be a better idea. I am a horse/farm girl. He has always been a city boy. I know the meaning of hard work, and I am taking everything sometimes too seriously. (I think I over focus.) I am actually just reading Jim’s novel Founders. At any rate, I thought that on …


Letter: Hoarding

Hello Hugh. I have been following what is going on in Venezuela and the hoarding situation. Now of course their regime has made it illegal to hoard anything. So, I have been following what items that are in short supply. Not in any particular order they are: toilet paper, milk, powdered milk, coffee, corn flour, wheat flour, diesel, all soaps of any kind, and tires for cars and trucks. A black market is thriving, of course. The penalties for hoarding range from 6 to 14 years in prison. The very government that created this mess is now trying to lay …


Economics and Investing:

This was sent in by B.B.– Myths and Lessons of the Argentine Currency It’s a very straight forward piece that helps us to understand exactly what is going on in the Argentine economy. Items from The Economatrix: Why Gold Might Drop Another 50% Jobless Claims Drop; Consumer Prices Stay Tame January Inflation Subdued Despite Biggest Jump In Electricity Prices In Four Years “Polar Vortex” Shock And Awe: The Utility Bill Arrives (And Why It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better)


Odds ‘n Sods:

DGC sent in Who Will Protect You From The Police? The Rise Of Government-Sanctioned Home Invasions along with this note: “Some of you I am writing to are fathers, as am I. This situation is so very terrible I don’t know where to begin. This is not what American is supposed to be. We all need to do something about this; each of us has a responsibility as citizens in a Republic to speak up when these things are happening. I am sending this link with an email and some quotes from the bill of rights and our founding fathers …



Notes from HJL:

We are introducing a new, temporary column today. The trickle of news from the Ukraine is fast becoming a flood of information. As the situation develops, we will keep track of it in the “Clash in Ukraine” column. o o o Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day …


Ultimate Survival Skill, by L.C.

You’ve got your bug out kit, know your route, have the map, GPS, song-line, idea about who, what, where, when, and how; you even have the shiny where-with-all to bury stashes, practice an escape plan, share it with family, and then sleep better at night. “Be prepared” is the motto, and you have all the supplies, but can you succeed when the unpredictable, yet inevitable true survival situation confronts you? That question stalks your mind from the shadows in their many forms. Making a primitive fire from scratch takes practice, but can you make that fire when you’ve only had …


Letter: Response to Xstat Dressing

Hugh, I am a former 0000-8404 (Field Corpsman), and I saw the link to the XStat Dressing on Survivalblog. I followed the link and read about it. It has a radiopaque marker in it so that it will appear on X-ray to ensure it is fully removed prior to wound closure. While this would be a force multiplier in the battle on blood loss in ‘normal’ times, I wouldn’t recommend this to someone in times when you may not have access to modern medicine. When you have an open wound (puncture, penetration, et cetera) it is very difficult to identify …


Letter: Social Media

Hugh, When social media is discussed on this site, opsec always seems to take front seat. Entering details of your life and a network of your contacts into a database you don’t own is certainly cause for pause. I don’t have a social media account because I find them obnoxious. However, the letter regarding using social media for intel was spot on and, though Hugh stated that this was just one useful instance, I believe the writer of the letter indicated several, none of which could be effectively reproduced with the level of ham radio activity we have going on. …


Clash in Ukraine:

Video – protestors fire stones from home-made catapult – 51 secs. o o o Video – More Ukrainian Sniper and Street Combat Footage videos with Live Feed o o o Video – Live Fire: Ukraine Military Deploys Snipers Against Protesters o o o Article – Truce Broken – At least 50 Dead As Ukraine Protests Re-Ignite – Live Feed


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sent in by MGB: http://remineralize.org/ Read the rock dust primer. Also read the article on biochar and rockdust. In the article they talk about mixing compost, biochar and rock dust. FYI I was able to find a source for rock dust, not from dolomite, but just rocks from the ground. Elam Sand and Gravel in West Bloomfield. All others I called had rock dust from dolomite (limestone). o o o The FCC is sounding a lot like Joseph Goebbels to me – JBG o o o Venezuela is also suffering much the same as Ukraine. Andreina Nash has produced a …