Odds ‘n Sods:

Ttabs has done it again with another great ultralight low-altitude flying video, over the north end of the Palouse Hills region, in eastern Washington. Be sure to watch all of it. He jumps a band of mule deer, near the end.    o o o Dr. Bob recently wrote and posted a detailed series of article on vitamins. (Dr. Bob is is one of the few consulting physicians in the U.S. who dispenses antibiotics for disaster preparedness as part of his normal scope of practice. His web site is: SurvivingHealthy.com.)    o o o The Ryans over at Total Survivalist …



Pat’s Product Review: CRKT Tao Pen

Long gone are the days when you could actually carry a pocket knife, or multi-tool on a commercial airline. I remember the day, when you could walk onto a plane, and if you hand a handgun (cased) just hand it to the pilot, who would secure it in the cockpit. When you got to your destination, the pilot would hand your case handgun back to you.   So-called “security” measures started sneaking up on us, at airports, ever so slowly. They started limiting us to pocket knives of a certain blade length and no longer. Then they started banning multi-tools …


Letter Re: 2011 Connecticut Power Outages

JWR; I am 69 year old Connecticut native, grew up on 100 acre farm in Eastern Connecticut during the 40’s and 50’s. [The late October 2011 snowstorm caused a lot of damage and the lengthy power failures upset a lot of people. See: Tempers flare over six days of Connecticut power outages.] I know most of the hardest hit areas, and am also a prepper!  Like most of New England, our state was clear cut during the 1700s and 1800s.  I have seen old photos of our rolling hills with nary a tree to be seen.  As a child on our …


Two Letters Re: Buying Spare Deep Cycle Batteries

Mr. Rawles: I’m a long-time SurvivalBlog reader. There was a recent post about dry batteries and where to buy acid.  I live in rural Ohio, in farm country.  I have had no problem buying battery acid at a local auto parts chain store.  I am always adding to [batteries for] tractors and combines, et cetera.  Never thought of it being hard to get.   Last time I bought it it came in a 6 quart container for around $30. Keep up the great work. – Sheepman Dave James, I frequently get questions regarding long term, reliable, battery backup systems. First some …


Economics and Investing:

Some Words of Advice From Kyle Bass (Guns, Gold, and Nickels–He is definitely our kinda guy.) Charles Hugh Smith chimes in, with guest post over at Zero Hedge: The Collapse Of Our Corrupt, Predatory, Pathological Financial System Is Necessary And Positive. (Thanks to L.M.W. for the link.) Super Committee Can Keep the Change: Dollar Coin Proposal Lacks Momentum Items from The Economatrix: German Economists On Greek Referendum:  “The Euro Zone Could Face Ruin” Federal Reserve Lowers Outlook for US Growth BofA Forecloses on Home Destroyed By Ike


Odds ‘n Sods:

Imbedded-For-Life journalist Michael Yon had some great comments on lights and night vision gear. (BTW, if there was ever a journalist worthy of contributions, it is Michael Yon. He does take PayPal donations. Michael is one of my heroes.)    o o o For anyone considering a retreat in northern Michigan, I just heard about Houseworth Realty, in Alanson, Michigan. Doug Houseworth is a realtor that understands the special requirements of retreat properties.    o o o Finally, after two+ years in limbo: ‘Red Dawn‘ remake to come out next year from FilmDistrict. It looks like it will be released …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Beyond the path of the outmost sun through utter darkness hurled- Farther than ever comet flared or vagrant star-dust swirled- Live such as fought and sailed and ruled and loved and made our world.   They are purged of pride because they died; they know the worth of their bays; They sit at wine with the Maidens Nine and the Gods of the Elder Days- It is their will to serve or be still as fitteth Our Father’s praise.   ‘Tis theirs to sweep through the ringing deep where Azrael’s outposts are, Or buffet a path through the Pit’s red …


Letter Re: Motor Vehicles and the EMP Threat

Hi Jim, I continue to be amused by prepper concerns for the vulnerability of their vehicles to an EMP event.  I have followed the EMP issue closely ever since becoming a NBC qualified officer in the service, many years ago.  In 1984, by accident and through a military book-of-the-month club I received a copy of Warday and the Journey Onwards, by Whitley Strieber. Reading the book was another wake up call for me, another step towards becoming a full-fledged prepper.  A few years later, through my wife, I met a friend who was a top expert on EMP.  He explained about …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 37 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


Field-Test Improvements to a Go Bag, by Todd S.

In September of this year I took my JanSport Trail Series external frame backpack, aka “Go Bag” into a controlled field test. It was a 2-day, 1-night, hike and camp excursion into a rainforest in the Olympic National Forest in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. The purpose of my trip was to test my Go Bag as thoroughly as possible. What I learned surprised me and two days worth of practical experience greatly enhanced my previous two years of “theoretically” planning. The concept of a Go Bag for me is not “bugging out” or leaving my home for greener pastures. A …


Letter Re: Uses for Colloidal Silver

Sir: I have seen a lot of things online about colloidal silver being an option to protect yourself from the barium aerosol chemtrails being sprayed over my city. I don’t know how I feel about the idea of inhaling silver particles into my lungs. Do you have an opinion on this subject? Have you used a colloidal silver inhaler system yourself? I trust your advice and I await your response. Thank you, – Diana X. JWR Replies: First, I must mention that I’ve concluded that chemtrails are an elaborate myth. (An example of Urban Folklore that has been debunked.) The …


Economics and Investing:

Liquidity crunch, ahead? CME increases margin call; markets will be under pressure. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) Greek Tragedy, Act II: Der Bild reports that some businesses are getting ready for reintroduction of the Greek Drachma. TUI rechnet schon in Drachmen: PLAN B WIRD AUCH IM FINANZMINISTERIUM BEREITS BESPROCHEN. For non-German readers, here is a rudimentary translation. This might not be “Das Ende der Welt, wie wir sie kennen.” But it might be The End of the Euro As We Know It.(Thanks to S.B. in Holland for the link.) Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) recommended this over …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.R. in Texas was the first of several readers to mention this product from Australia: Dentist In A Box    o o o Not so fast–we’re furious. Fast and Furious: NRA to Launch National Campaign Calling For Holder’s Resignation    o o o K.A.F. sent this from The Washington Times: Feds concerned about hackers opening prison doors    o o o F.G. sent this: New book details starvation during the siege of Leningrad    o o o Tempers flare over six days of Connecticut power outages. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Oh, the wonders [the gospel] will accomplish! It wipes guilt from the conscience, rolls the world out of the heart, and darkness from the mind…It will put honey into the bitterest cup, and health into the most diseased soul. It will give hope to the heart, health to the face, oil to the head, light to the eye, strength to the hand, and swiftness to the foot. It will make life pleasant, labour sweet, and death triumphant. It gives faith to the fearful, courage to the timid, and strength to the weak. It robs the grave of its terrors and …