Social Cooperative Learning: The Benefits of Belonging to a Group of Survivalists and Preppers, by R.H.

The Beginning of My Journey: Why I decided to Start My Own Meetup Group ­ I began my journey towards preparedness about 3 years ago.  I had wanted to start preparing for an emergency but just didn’t know where to start.  It also felt very overwhelming when I thought of all the work I would need to do in order to go from being poorly prepared to becoming truly prepared.  However that egging feeling of “what if” kept pestering me.  As a San Diego native earthquakes were a natural threat and there was always that fear of the “Big One”.  …


Letter Re: Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI

James, After reading the recent article about Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI: I believe there is some sound G.O.O.D. advice. However, assuming unhindered travels will allow rolling stores of survival gear to pass through any measurable distance unchallenged, is a dangerous assumption. The writer cites experience traveling in a military convoy with hardened, well armed vehicles. But for realistic, civilian style convoys, the dangers are multiplied by lack of experienced scout personnel and soft equipment. If one has sustained an extended bug in and has a supportive neighborhood, that may still remain the best option if bug out was not initiated within the …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this: Illinois Debt Downgraded Again, Worst in Nation Haircuts ahead! Merkel Meets Sarkozy to Draft EU Fiscal Rules as Part of Euro-Rescue Plan. The article includes a quote from IMF Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard: “‘The numbers are not good’ for Greece, Blanchard said on CNBC television. ‘There’ll have to be substantial haircuts.’” [JWR Adds: Along with currency revaluations, be ready for banks runs and currency export controls that may be enacted in many nations. And don’t be surprised if Ben Bernanke comes to the rescue–whether overtly or covertly–with trillions of Dollars from America. This will be money created …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Military Grade Satellite Station Up for Sale in Carmel, California. (Thanks to Doug W. for the link.)    o o o A trust fund has been set up for Sarah McKinley–the much publicized recently-widowed teenage mother in Oklahoma who shot an intruder to protect her infant son.    o o o Keep in mind that Paratus Pantry is running their Preservation Week specials, with a different specials each day from January 9th through 13th.    o o o Ay, ay, ay: Deputies say burglar dumped rare coins into coin counting machine. A son stole his own father’s pre-1965 silver, and …



Notes from JWR:

I’m pleased to announce that the new, greatly-expanded, SurvivalBlog Archive CD 2005-2011 is now available for ordering and immediate shipment. As an improvement to the now discontinued the 2005-2010 edition, this latest edition includes an extra full year of the blog and bonus electronic copies my book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation” in three formats: PDF, MS-Word, and HTML. That book normally sells in hard copy for $28. The new CD-ROM sells for just $14.95. It is now packed in a DVD case, for extra protection in the mail. The order fulfillment company takes credit card orders. With the SurvivalBlog …


Pat’s Product Review: Buck Knives Hood Hoodlum

It’s nice when a real survivalist designs something, instead of an arm chair commando or wannabe survivalist. The late Ron Hood was well respected in the survival field, as a true expert in wilderness survival techniques. Hood collaborated with Buck Knives (www.bucknives.com) , to come out with the Hood Hoodlum fixed blade survival knife. Unfortunately, about a week after the knife came out, Ron Hood passed away – a loss to us all, and he will be missed.   Ron Hood also spent 20 years teaching accredited college courses on survival skills. Not too many survival instructors I’ve heard of that …


Letter Re: A Reliable Propane Insulin Refrigerator

James: I’d like to suggest one solution for grid-down insulin refrigeration: I have purchased a Dometic RC4000 3 way portable refrigerator for insulin.  It runs by 12 VDC,  120 VAC  and LP gas.  It is an absorption type ammonia system (as used in recreation vehicles) and appears to be a high build quality unit manufactured in Hungary.  It is the size and shape of a large wheeled ice type cooler but with only a small 1 cu ft cooled area.  It is perfectly suitable for long term insulin protection and uses 1 lb of propane a day  =  18 days …


Two Letters Re: Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI

JWR, I have deployed twice to Afghanistan. [Details deleted, for OPSEC.] I am sure that you realize this and I hope you will share this with your readers. Waiting months after TEOTWAWKI to drive to your retreat is more than foolish, it is suicidal. Anyone driving post-event without an armored vehicle (or with one, just look at the ambush scenes from “Patriots“) will take casualties. Every day in Afghanistan uneducated people with limited training successfully ambush and kill highly trained military personnel driving heavily armed and armored vehicles. Now imagine an ambush that has had months to be perfected, probably …


Economics and Investing:

John R. recommended a podcast interview of Martin Armstrong: Capital Controls Coming In The US Stephen M. sent this: Record Consecutive Treasury Dump From Fed’s Custody Account. [JWR’s Comment: And this comes amidst Eurozone turmoil when U.S. Treasury paper should be seen as a relative safe haven. So this some very bad news!] The fragility of “Just In Time” inventory processes: Global Economy Could Endure Disaster For Only a Week. (Thanks to Steve H. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: The Possibility of $1,000 Silver Before Hyperinflation Factory Orders Rise, But Business Investments Slip Oil Price Stays Around $103 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Beast of the Bronx: Three-foot rat ‘found in New York City shoe shop‘. [JWR’s Comment: So what’s next? Enormous killer cockroaches?]    o o o Reader Steve H. mentioned this review of a sturdy battery charger: Joos Orange Solar Charger.    o o o Gregg P. mentioned some free courses offered by way the AMA: CitizenReady.    o o o This one put your Editor into a laugh spasm: The single greatest Amazon product review ever written: “Blood Rayne Arm Blade With Sheath & Adjustable Handle.”    o o o B.B. sent this: As Crop Prices Soar, Iowa Farms …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When private industry makes a mistake, it gets corrected and goes away. As governments make mistakes, it gets bigger, bigger and bigger and they make more, more and more because as they run out of money, they just ask for more and so they get rewarded for making mistakes. In the meantime that is exactly what we are doing by subsidizing companies which are failing, we have a reverse Darwinism, we’ve got survival of the unfittest, the companies and people that have made terrible mistakes are being rewarded and other people are being punished and being taxed.” – Peter Schiff


Notes from JWR:

Do you have any favorite quotes that relate to preparedness, traditional skills, self-sufficiency, economics, self-defense, or individual liberty? If so, then please e-mail your properly attributed quotes to us and they will likely be featured as SurvivalBlog Quotes of the Day. (We’ve now archived more than 2,300 quotes.) Thanks! — Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice …


Driving, Post-TEOTWAWKI, by B.E.

The TEOTWAWKI has occurred and you have made the decision to G.O.O.D. and head to your retreat location.  The electricity is out, but your vehicles still work.  You’ve stayed in your house for the last few months, kept a low profile, and have been able to avoid the initial chaos and Golden Horde of people leaving the cities.  Ideally, your suburban neighbors and relatives are somewhat prepared and you have banded together for protection and mutual sharing of resources.  Your retreat location is big enough for your family plus three other families.  How do you safely drive everyone to the …


Five Things Every American Should Do But Won’t by Dennis E.

We’ve all seen him on the news: The guy who is buying sheets of plywood, beer, potato chips and other survival essentials as the approaching hurricane can be seen over his shoulder in the distance. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans aren’t much better when it comes to being prepared for emergencies. However, recent disasters have proven that the sheer magnitude of an event can overwhelm relief efforts, coupled with cutbacks in personnel, budgets and equipment, place the onus squarely on our shoulders. Many citizens don’t see the need for preparedness, and that’s their prerogative, however a relatively small investment now …