Letter Re: Earthquake Hazard, Risk, and Mitigation

James: Thank you for your interesting and informative web site and mission.  Just a few short thoughts on earthquake hazard, risk, and mitigation, since it’s a pet interest of mine for some time and I come at it from a slightly different background than some.  I’m a southeastern US resident in an area about 300 miles give or take from the New Madrid fault zone.  My community is actually located in the second most seismically active area east of the Rockies, so I do have some personal investment in the topic.  Additionally, I have more than 20 years’ experience in …


Letter Re: The Hard Truth About Starting Your Survival Homestead

James: That was great post [by Mitch M.], many thanks to all who share their experiences on your blog. Nothing beats mentoring, even by internet!  However, I would like to share that RoundUp is a dangerous product and should not be used anywhere you plan to grow plants for food.  The following is an excerpt from an article at The Institute For Responsible Technology web site: “Monsanto used to boast that Roundup is biodegradable, claiming that it breaks down quickly in the soil. But courts in the US and Europe disagreed and found them guilty of false advertising. In fact, …


Avalanche Lily’s Bedside Book Pile

I heard that Mark Harrison (the husband of Erin Harrison, who produced the excellent Homesteading for Beginners DVD series) was just involved in a freak accident that nearly cost him his life. While attaching some siding on a building under construction at their farm, a co-worker slipped and accidentally put an industrial staple into the back of Mark’s head, stapling his hat to his head. The prongs of the staple penetrated one inch into his skull. One brain surgery later, it looks like Mark has a good chance of making a complete recovery. Please keep Mark and his family in …


Economics and Investing:

John R. flagged this: Egypt’s Super-Rich Begin Moving Their Money to Switzerland Also from John comes a bank run news article: Egyptian Banks Open, And The Government Is Forced To Use Cargo Planes Full Of Cash Mal sent us this: Why You Need to Own Nickels, Right Now Reader M.B. highlighted this one: South Korea must prepare for food crisis Bob Chapman: Almost a Total Dollar Devaluation By The Fed In his video blog, Peter Schiff warns of rapidly-rising bond yield rates. Andy A. suggested this: Silver in complete backwardation


Odds ‘n Sods:

Hillary Clinton calls historic meeting of ambassadors. Wow, 260 ambassadors and counsels in simultaneous transit! Something is afoot, folks. The bottom line is that the world’s governments can print unlimited supplies of currency, but they can’t print food. I anticipate that a regional war or perhaps even global war is just around the corner.    o o o Why America Should Be Driving on Natural Gas    o o o Ms. M. sent this article about “Generation Rx”: Pharmacies Besieged by Addicted Thieves    o o o I just heard about an interesting new product, made here in the U.S.: …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 33 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


The Hard Truth About Starting Your Survival Homestead, by Mitch M.

I have noticed a frightening trend being used by many of the “survival seed” companies that have started up in the past several years. The same trend shows up on many “survival/ prepping” web sites. This is pushing the idea that in TEOTWAWKI one merely needs to open the bucket and have an instant survival homestead. That isn’t necessarily so. Does buying the latest fancy rifle with rangefinder, laser pointer, and fancy toilet paper holder make you a marksman? There is a range of preparations and skills necessary for running a successful farm or homestead. That is why our forefathers …


The Ethics and Methodology of Sniping after TEOTWAWKI, by P.A.

Introduction Having served as a scout-sniper section leader in the United States Marine Corps’ Fifth Marine Regiment for two years from 2002-2004, I would like to share my thoughts regarding the application and role of sniping and long-range precision marksmanship (herein defined as shooting beyond 700 yards) in a TEOTWAWKI scenario.  Since the end of my enlistment I have had the opportunity to discuss emergency preparedness scenarios with the well-prepared, the well-grounded, and those that were neither.  Given my background the subject of sniping frequently comes up, and the sum of those conversations have led me to believe that there …


Letter Re: Cold Weather Patrol Tactics and Techniques

Dear JWR: Regarding the recent Cold Weather Patrol Tactics and Techniques article, just one note about condensation prevention from bringing a cold weapon indoors. Packing or leaving a heavy duty garbage or similar bag outside and placing your weapon inside the bag can greatly reduce condensation from the indoor climate. Just place your weapon completely inside the bag. I like to compress the opening in my hand like a balloon opening and instead of blowing into this opening, I suck as much air out as I can with my lungs. If two or more deep inhalations are required to remove …


Three Letters Re: How Your World View and Preparedness Mindset are Influenced by Your Eschatology

James: Regarding the recent piece on eschatology and prepper Christian world views: We must suffer. I’m not sure which is correct; post-trib, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-mil, whatever. But I know this: Some hold to pre-trib rapture simply because of an assumption that God won’t let His children suffer. But that turns a blind eye to the unmentionable suffering of Christians in the world today. The Bible tells us to expect suffering: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom.” (Acts 14:22) Peter said, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing …


Economics and Investing:

Avalanche Lily spotted this: Report Card on Obama’s First Two Years. Those commodity inflation numbers look very troubling. What we are now witnessing is not so much commodities going up as it is the U.S. Dollar going down in purchasing power. If you haven’t done so already, then start shifting out of Dollar-denominated investments and into tangibles! Don’t overlook buying long term storage foods as both a hedge on inflation, and as a survival reserve for your family for times of scarcity. Analyst Warns of 2015 Bank Crisis Amid ‘Upbeat’ Davos. “The fundamentals haven’t been addressed at all,” Wilkinson, a …


Inflation Watch:

Companies Stock Up as Commodities Prices Rise. (This sort of hedging can of course start a snowballing effect.) Why Global Food Price Inflation Really Matters   Reader B.B. highlighted this: As World Becomes Zimbabwefied, Cotton Futures Surge 17% In One Month Treasury TIPS: A Looming Disaster for Small Investors Inflation ‘Higher Than Official Statistics Reveal’. (An interview with Marc Faber.) Supermarket surprise: smaller servings, same price. Bond Market Flashes Inflation Warning: Jump in U.S. Treasury yields signals market fear that Fed is behind the curve on prices


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. sent a link to some amazing photographs of the largest snow and ice storm to hit the U.S. in decades.    o o o Kayaker, 64, completes marathon paddle across Atlantic. (Thanks to Patrick T. for the link.)    o o o You may have heard of the documentary film “Far Out” that profiles Heimo and Edna Korth’s trapping family who live year-round in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The documentary is again available at VBS.tv.    o o o Reader “InyoKern” wrote to recommend the IMCO Windproof Lighter from Austria. These were originally known as the “Trench …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“There is a difference between an ‘optimist’ and a fool. An optimist is somebody who looks at bleak facts and decides to make the best of the situation that they can. A fool is somebody who looks at bleak facts and decides to ignore them because they are too upsetting.” – Matt Savinar, Editor of Life After The Oil Crash