Letter Re: Archives of SurvivalBlog

Dear James: During the major winter storm here in Texas in January we experienced many hours without electricity. The power outages were caused by rolling blackouts and also by storm related damage. Our family made the decision to use the situation as an opportunity to “see what it would be like”. One major thing that we noticed that we were totally un-prepared for was the loss of the Internet. We quickly discovered how many times a day we use the Internet as a source of reference and information. Our thoughts were previously about e-mail and news updates. Those we could …


Letter Re: The Importance of Acquiring First Aid Supplies in Depth

James,   I have been a part time survivalist for many years.  I thought about the topic while still serving in the Army and after retiring I have moved, slowly, to position my family to be able to survive if the Schumer hits the fan.    I live in a brick home on 1-1/2 acres, surrounded by vast farmland.  Work cooperatively with neighbors to develop cooperative relationships that would benefit all parties if the worst happens.  Have the guns and ammo thing covered.  Food?  Still working on it but think we could make it for six months or more in …


Letter Re: Bacteria-Infected Meat in U.S. Supermarkets

JWR,   I thought I’d pass this along for your consideration to publish this link: Quarter of Meat Supply Contaminated With Drug-Resistant Bacteria. This article may be alarming to some of our population, but to most of your readers I suspect it is not a surprise and many have even known or anticipated such an anecdotal report as we’ve been observing an increase in drug resistant bacteria for some time.    What I took away from this article is the benefit of the extreme care it takes to not only raise animals for consumption (apparent source of pathogens) but thoroughness …


Letter Re: Buying Military Surplus Directly

Mr Rawles,     Thanks for hard work and invaluable resources. I have a suggestion buying surplus military equipment. It appears the government liquidators mentioned have some sort of fees involved. Anyone can go to the DoD’s Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service web site.  This eliminates any middleman and lets you look at available equipment online.   In addition and maybe more usefully, every military base that I have served on or visited had a Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), and they hold regular sales, some walk-in like a surplus store and others by sealed or open lot bidding. …


Economics and Investing:

C.D.V. sent us a link to a Zero Hedge piece: Jobless Claims Huge Miss to Expectations of 380K, Print at 412K, Previous Revised Upward, Core PPI Higher Than Expected Also from C.D.V.: Zoellick Sees Economic Risks From Food Prices, Debt, Inflation. In related news: World Bank president: ‘One shock away from crisis’. (Thanks to Mark W. for the latter link.) Pierre M. was the first of several readers to forward this link: More Americans leaving the workforce. John S. highlighted this one: Banks Face $3.6 Trillion ‘Wall’ of Debt: IMF J.H. was the first of several readers to mention this …


Inflation Watch:

U.S. Companies Shrink Packages as Food Prices Rise. Reader Bryan E. wrote to mention: “Over the weekend we had visitors who are in the wholesale food distribution business. They were relating that they had experienced a 14% increase in wholesale food prices during just the month of March. Here are some examples: Item Size March 1st Price April 1st Price Sugar 55 lb. $33 $37 Flour 50 lb. $11 $16 Butter 30 lb. $74 $91 Margarine 30 lb. $17 $24 Catfish 15 lb. $54 $89 Cheese 42 lb. $2.55/lb $2.91/lb Restaurateurs are greatly concerned about how they are going to …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) recommend this National Geographic documentary: Witness: Disaster in Japan. Mike’s comments: “This is an excellent presentation.  The first 30 minutes is raw footage from cell phones, local cameras and news, with almost no commentary.  There are English subtitles.  Watching six minutes of magnitude 9.0 shaking and collapse, followed by 20 minutes of blasting waves demolishing buildings and sweeping everything inland in a filthy black crush, is very sobering. The sheer level of devastation is a reminder that natural disasters dwarf anything that we might do ourselves.”    o o o How about Gas …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Last, but by no means least, courage—moral courage, the courage of one’s convictions, the courage to see things through. The world; is in a constant conspiracy against the brave.  It’s the age-old struggle–the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your conscience on the other.” – General Douglas MacArthur


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


How Long Will Your Provisions Last?, by D.G.

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Growing up on a farm in the Midwest I was exposed to the “self-sufficiency” mindset early on, even though I probably didn’t fully appreciate it at the time.  I can remember my grandmother keeping a large kitchen drawer nearly stuffed full of aluminum foil scraps, string, and assorted sacks and bags, all to be reused and never thrown away until completely used up.  Being snowed in for a few days each winter was never a big concern.  When the electricity was out we had propane and firewood to heat the house, plenty of food had been canned in the summer, …


Letter Re: Steel Cables as Road Obstacles for Rural Retreats

Hello,   I bought and read your book (“How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”) and have read several sections of your blog, but I’m having a lot of trouble finding an item you mentioned several times – “defensive road cables”. I have Googled this exact term and all I get is your article quoted over and over. Can you please send me a link or two or three where I can buy these or other info that will help me find them. Thanks.   – M.B.V.  JWR Replies: To block vehicle traffic from roads, …


Letter Re: Coffee in a Post-Collapse Society

Dear Mr. Rawles,   I would like to add one more consideration to the post-collapse coffee junkie.  My fellow caffeine addicts may be under the misperception that their fix has to come from Java, Columbia or China.  Not strictly true.  Although it is not “coffee” per se, there is a native plant which can provide a caffeine jolt, hold off that dreaded withdrawal headache for you or be used to treat asthma attacks.  Ilex vomitoria var pendula, a.k.a. “Weeping Holly“, is the only native caffeine producing plant, and grows very well anywhere other hollies grow.  The preparation is a little …


Economics and Investing:

Reader J.B.G. suggested this article: World Bank: Food prices have entered the ‘danger zone’ C.D.V. sent this: Chris Martenson: Insolvent and Going Deeper By way of the Fierce Finance e-newsletter, I found this: Is Goldman Sachs Too Big to Fail? T.L.B. liked this one: What The Silver Vigilantes Understand That You Probably Don’t (Arithmetic, Human Nature and other Stuff) From my friend Bob G.: 20 Signs That A Horrific Global Food Crisis Is Coming Items from The Economatrix: US Burning Economic Candle at Both Ends Feds’ Exit Doors Close:  Inflationary Spiral Ahead Keeping Capital In A Depression Commodities Plummet On …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Disaster in the Deep South: Death toll from severe storms rises to 17    o o o C.A. in Oregon mentioned: Price of Tomatoes Has a Lot to Do With These Thefts    o o o F.J. suggested this, over at Lifehacker: Download Emergency Medicine Manuals for Free    o o o Sun’s Storm Season Finally Heating Up. (Thanks to Steve S. for the link.)