AmEx (American Expat) sent us this: The Silver Rush at MF Global G.G. sent this: Missing $4,155? It Went Into Your Gas Tank This Year Items from The Economatrix: Global Economic Crisis: The US an Insolvent and Ungovernable Country IMF Warns that World Risks Sliding Into a “1930’s-Style Slump” Celente’s Trends Prove Accurate; What Will 2012 Bring? Price of Oil to Remain High as OPEC Limits World Production at Oil Price
Reader Dale C. mentioned that he was poking around on the net and found a great resource for many different topics. For example, he found a very informative piece about harvesting trees for firewood. (See G1554 in the forestry section.) o o o Evacuation plan for Brits in Spain amid warning euro collapse could leave them stranded. (A link suggested by my darling wife, Avalanche Lily.) o o o Connie W. mentioned that there are thousands of new job opportunities in The American Redoubt, as oilfield service contractors like Schlumberger and Halliburton are ramping up their operations in …
"The home to everyone is to him his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence, as for his repose." – Edward Coke
Today we present another entry for Round 38 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 of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 …
I am an American in Ecuador, and I have a story to tell. This happened in July and I should absolutely be dead. A little introduction to the kind of person that I am. Growing up in Alaska and playing in the great outdoors has always been a huge part of my life. When I was a couple of years old, my wonderful father would strap me on his back and take my sister and I fishing. I absolutely love him for that. The beauty and serenity of the great outdoors has always been a stress reliever for me. My …
I love these muffs. I’ve had a pair of Pro Ears Gold Predator earmuffs for 18 months, and I haven’t found a flaw. So let me tell you what I’ve found that’s good: The first thing one needs from muffs is noise suppression, obviously. The Gold series have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 26. There are several factors that contribute to an NRR, one of which is frequency dependent. Pro Ears seems to have picked frequencies that are specific to shooting. The muffs have proven adequate for large bore rifles, .44 magnum revolvers and even make standing in the …
JWR: As a long time camper, backpacker, outdoorsman, and now K-9 SAR Tech, I understand that temperature regulation at night can be a problem. Here are some of the tricks I’ve used: I almost always use a silk bag liner. This has multiple advantages: 1) silk feels warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot (2) silk protects the sleeping bag from dirt, minimizing the amount of needed washings and prolonging its life (3) in the winter, silk will make you bag about 5-10 degrees warmer (technically speaking, this “drops” you temp rating number- a 35 degree bag becomes …
This may be our last “big dip” buying opportunity for silver: Gold to drop in Q1, far from retesting record high: Reuters poll Thief Injured Attempting to Steal Copper Wire From School. Solar Power becomes cheaper than diesel generators in India. (Thanks to F.J. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Pathogenesis of Central Bank Ruin 12 Bullish Factors Driving Gold to $2,000 and Higher Despite Recent Setback Public Confidence in California Falls as Economy Improves The Sacrifices I Made to Survive Sharp Drop in Shopping Since Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Sales Up, But Returns May Set Record Illinois Debtors Thrown …
Thinking Outside the Box Barn: Those Clever Nebraskans. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson for the link.) o o o Gingrich Collapses in Iowa as Ron Paul Surges to the Front. I urge SurvivalBlog readers in the U.S. to keep up the momentum in Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign by supporting it financially, and by displaying campaign signs and bumper stickers. o o o Corey B. wrote to tell me that Self Reliance Illustrated has temporarily made their past issues available for free download. o o o An interesting read: Retroactive Surveillance and The Digital …
"Understanding, replaces imaginary fears with real ones." – Mason Cooley
My sincere thanks to the readers of SurvivalBlog, for your generous support of Anchor Of Hope Charities, in memory of my late wife, Linda (“The Memsahib”.) You’ve donated more than $5,800 this year alone and more than $45,000 in all to the Linda Rawles Memorial Fund. This fund benefits a Christian mission and boarding school and other charities in rural Zambia. Anchor’s team from Indiana recently returned from Zambia, where they were busy putting new shoes on the feet of more than 9,000 children. (That trip was from November 24th to December 11th.) Anchor Of Hope is a fully qualified …
I’ve been a prepper for over 40 years, starting back when we were called survivalists. I still have the .22 rimfire AR-7 rifle and Ruger Mk. II pistol bought in the 1970s, as well as other gear. I’ve also always had a bug-out-bag (BOB) in my vehicles, and still do today, even though I’m retired to my retreat. Over the years, the contents of the BOB changed as new items came out or old ones were discontinued (or discredited — remember the Aqua Timer?). My BOB got larger, as I was now packing for two and my bug-out location got …
Dear Mr. Rawles, Would you please address outdoor sleeping gear for women? I feel like I am very prepared. However, the one glaring problem I have had my whole life is sleeping comfortably outside in about any season. When I was 20, I just didn’t care but now that I am 40 and have five kids, not getting enough sleep is not an option. I would love to hear how others, especially women, stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The biggest problem I have is that I either sweat too much and freeze (doesn’t …
It is time to cue up “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana: Fitch says comprehensive solution to eurozone crisis is ‘beyond reach’ – statement in full. (Thanks to Jim McC. for the link.) J.B. sent a new article about Alabama Rate Increases: “These people are going to end up rioting about this.” Norwegian city to adopt The Vilnius Solution to panhandling? ‘Fine people who give beggars money’. Items from The Economatrix: Is The Gold Bull Really Dead? Massive Downward Revisions Imminent: National Association Of Realtors Miscounted Millions Of Home Sales Over Last Five Years. Europe’s Crisis: Goldman Warns of …
I was interviewed by John Jacob Schmidt, for a Radio Free Redoubt podcast that just aired on Sunday. The theme of this podcast hour was “Taking The Gap”. It should soon be available for download. o o o Reader D.B.C. sent some good news: Congress overturns incandescent light bulb ban. JWR Adds a Bit of Humor: It would have been a shame to see incandescents banned. BTW, reporters missed mentioning that enforcement of the proposed ban would have constituted racial profiling of people from South America. (Many of whom are of Incan descent.) o o o How I …