Mike’s Product Review: Brunton Restore USB Solar Charger and Portable Power Pack

USB power is rapidly becoming standard for portable electronic devices, and makes it easy to charge them from either computers, 12 volt DC automobile sockets or 120 volt AC electrical outlets.  However, what do you do when traveling away from such conveniences? The Brunton Restore photovoltaic charger and its relatives provide a variety of recharging options for the traveler or outdoorsman. Fully charged, the unit can dispense at least two full recharges to phones, cameras, GPS or similar devices, from its 2,200 mAh battery. This was doing full recharges of a drained device from a fully charged Restore. I wasn’t …


Letter Re: Silver Content of U.S. Silver Dollars Versus Smaller Denomination Coins

Dear Editor: Perusing your wonderfully informative blog and static pages I stumbled across a bit of inaccurate information I thought you may be interested in correcting: Silver dollar bags ($1,000 face value) contain approximately 765 ounces of silver 90% .50/.25/.10 bags ($1000 face) are calculated at 715 ounces of silver. The “industry standard” is 715 ounces. Respectfully, – Shawn JWR Replies: To the best of my knowledge, what I posted was accurate. Because of a long-standing congressional mandate, the silver composition of Silver Dollars has always been higher (per dollar increment) than that used in dimes, quarters and half-dollars.  Oddly, …


Economics and Investing:

Courtesy of David H. comes a link to a fascinating interview: Nomi Prins on U.S. Banks’ Derivative Exposure. The counterparty risk in the opaque OTC derivatives market is potentially huge! Reader Tom M. sent this prediction of social disorder in Europe and beyond: Why all signs point to chaos They’ve learned how to work the system: 30 Major U.S. Companies Spent More on Lobbying than Taxes Damon S. sent this: Silver price: Hey Silver Bugs, You Cryin’ Yet? [JWR’s Comment: I’m using this dip as the opportunity to add a bit more silver to my silver stash in JASBORR.] Items …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Brittany K. spotted this: Deconstructing a Safe Room (infographic)    o o o The nail that sticks up: Police seal off south China village, cut food supplies amid protests over land sales. (Thanks to Samuel H. for the link.)    o o o B.B. mentioned: Should you leave the USA before the collapse? Words of wisdom from someone who tried    o o o Until December 25, 2001, Freeze Dry Guy is offering 25% back in their Survival Bucks (Loyalty Dollar purchase credits) on Mountain House long term storage foods packed in #10 cans. They’ve also extended their sale on …



Note from JWR:

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 …


When The Lights Went Out in The Southwest, by R.H.

The following is a chronological list of events and occurrences when the lights went out on September 8th, 2011, or what I like to call “The Great Blackout of 2011”. 3:38 p.m. – I live in San Diego, California, and when the lights went out I was at home taking a nap. For some reason after I got home from teaching that day I was exhausted (probably the heat) and needed to rest.  It was a good thing too because I would need my energy in the hours to come.  While I was sleeping I could hear my phone going …


Letter Re: A Mail Forwarding Service in The American Redoubt

James Wesley: We have opened up Kamiah Copy & Shipping Center in Kamiah, Idaho. (I consider Kamiah the unofficial capital of the American Redoubt).  Part of our services are private mailbox rental.  As a long time SurvivalBlog reader and contributor (you’ve seen my posts under the bylines B.H. in Spokane, Western Washington and North Central Idaho) I am quite familiar with the need for OPSEC and the desire for some individuals to begin to establish ties to the American Redoubt.   We are offering 5” x 12” mail box rentals for $10 per month.  A 12-month pre-paid rental gets you …


Economics and Investing:

If you’ve been waiting for a dip to buy some more precious metals, this is it. (As usual, I recommend buying silver rather than gold. And since platinum is at an odd point in its history where it is worth less than gold, I’d recommend buying a few Platinum American Eagles, Credit Suisse 1 Oz. Platinum Bars, Platinum Australian Platypus coins, or Platinum Nobles, if you can find any. ) Peter Schiff: How Are You Going To Survive When Gold Is Money Again? Yet another advantage of The American Redoubt, to consider: Map of Electricity bills by state. This dovetails …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Glenn Beck’s GBTV has announced a new television series about off-grid living: Independence, USA. “Join the Belcastro Family as They Prepare for an Independent Life Off the Grid.”    o o o Cheryl N. recommended: Antibiotics and Their Use in Collapse Medicine    o o o Paulette W. suggested this piece: Dark Arts for Good Guys: The Right to Knife    o o o Judy T. sent this news from Western Washington: Poacher shoots cows with arrows in Cowlitz County


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Anything that is on paper anything that involves a promise or a commitment is no longer valid because as we said there isn’t a rule of law anymore. People can steal from you. Your money can be confiscated. And think how easy now it is to confiscate people’s wealth. Most of our wealth in this society exists as zeroes and ones on a computer server. It takes no effort whatsoever to steal zeros and ones on a computer server. So what I have been telling people is you need to get into physical commodities. And the rule of thumb is …


Notes from JWR:

Readers with Android phones will be pleased to hear that there is now a free “SurvivalBlog Reader” App available. It was kindly developed by “B.C”. — who I’ve just awarded a $200 Amazon gift certificate, as a token of my appreciation. — 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 …


Sucking Chest Wounds and Exsanguinations, by Walker in the Woods

With all of the injuries that we learn to treat in the Army’s combat medic training program, there are two killers that must be addressed immediately after any contact with the enemy. The first is the sucking chest wound… and I have to say, these quite frankly, suck. Forgive the humor but they do just that. The medical field describes these wounds as this: Sucking Chest wound- a wound received by way of penetration or laceration to the thoracic cavity which causes air and or blood to be trapped in the pleural space. Air is sucked through the wound during …


Letter Re: Budget Rifle Battery Basics

Jim, I just purchased an very clean cosmoline-packed SKS at local gun show as my first rifle (other than a .22 LR) My only purpose to own it is Golden Horde repellant. I know it’s not your favorite, but it’s the best my budget would allow right now. Now that I’ve gotten the cosmo out, I just got a very clean cosmo-packed Mosin at a great price from a local dealer. Is it redundant to own both weapons? I’m no enthusiast just prepping for the worst. I hate bolt action (especially since I shoot off left shoulder)  but it seems …


Three Letters Re: “I Can See You” — A Digital View of Your Survival Preparations

Mr. Rawles: As always, thank you for your excellent blog which is required daily reading for anyone who wants to stand a chance, post-TEOTWAWKI. A quick note about Tuesday’s essay, “”I Can See You” — A Digital View of Your Survival Preparations,” by Dave X. Though the points Dave makes, regarding database files on every aspect of our lives, are valid, it is important to remember the PSYOPs of the secret police in communist East Germany, the Stasi. They tried to intimidate the citizenry into submission by implying that they had a dossier on every citizen. After the collapse of …