A Doctor’s View of TEOTWAWKI, by Michael S., M.D.

Dear Mr. Rawles, I am a physician in Iowa and have read SurvivalBlog and many books related to survival including yours. In general there are many good thoughts and insights in the Blog. History predicts the future and some facts of history seem to have been overlooked by many survivalists. Many predict that in a long term situation, those left would be in an 1880s situation. In Iowa, most counties had a peak population in the 1880 census. Most counties in Iowa have lost population every census since then (1940 was generally flat) this means that the land could support …


Letter Re: California’s Water Filter Ban

Mr. Rawles, My name is Christian and I live in California. I have been reading SurvivalBlog for some time now. I am currently serving in the National Guard. I was wondering if you knew why California does not allow Big Berkey filters and most ceramic filters to be shipped to California. Do you have recommendations for another one? As you well know, California is in a grave financial situation–one that could have catastrophic consequences. Prepping in California has been a way of life because of earthquakes, and recently wildfires. Thank You. Sincerely, – Christian R. JWR Replies: Your question went …


Letter Re: Observations on a Major Midwest Snow Storm

Hello JWR,   I would like to post a brief observation from the most recent snow storm here in Minneapolis this past weekend as it relates to the “Golden Horde“.  A very large storm system that started Friday evening and ended up dumping 18 inches of snow till Saturday evening.  It will go down on record as the fifth largest in the history and as you probably know it caused the Metrodome’s roof to collapse.  I am a daily reader of SurvivalBlog and have been for some time now.  I have been making my preps for a few years now after finally …



Economics and Investing:

US will lose AAA credit rating, says M&G’s Jim Leaviss. (Kudos to J.B.G. for the link.)   Items from The Economatrix: Stocks, Bond Yields Rise As Fed Sticks By Stimulus   Good Signs: Retail Sales Up, CEOs In Hiring Mood   Stronger Reports, Fed News Push Treasury Rates Up   Stocks Fall As Euro Worries Overshadow US Growth   Factory Output, Low Prices Give Economy Boost   JP Morgan And The Great Silver Caper  


Odds ‘n Sods:

N.J. doctor supplied steroids to hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters. (A hat tip to Chris M. for the link.)    o o o B.B. pointed us to: Tea Party Charter: Defense of Property & Revival of Virtues Equals Liberty    o o o Étienne de la Boétie (a pen name) has kindly made available a Survival Retreat Operations Manual. While nor perfect, it may be a good starting place for groups that want to write their own. (Note on the included photos: Somebody needs to re-package that bagged rice in buckets!)    o o o Global Eruption Rocks the …



Notes from JWR:

Because my preparedness course is now out of print, we are substituting it with a new prize for this and subsequent rounds of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The new prize will be expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value. These products are American-made and designed to last for many years. — Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the …


Fight and Survive–Warrior and Scholar, by D.W.

I observe that a good deal of survival related information is centered around gear, politics, guns, BOVs, BOLs, BOBs, how to plant a garden on the south slope of a rocky mountain in the wintertime using solar panels to warm up the non-hybrid seeds and so on ad nauseam.  Meanwhile the most basic, primary, and must-have survival skill is largely ignored.  What I’m referring to is personal, hand to hand self-defense.  Now I know what a lot of you are thinking, especially the CCW guys and gals out there.  “If someone messes with me I’ve got a surprise for ‘em.”  …


Letter Re: Radio Communications and SIGINT

Jim, I’ve been a follower of your writings since you wrote your shareware novel “The Gray Nineties“. After seeing some recent postings on SurvivalBlog regarding communications, I decided to write you. I have been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator since 1984. Before that I was a “skip shooter” on the 11 meter band. My Army MOS was 13E. I’m presently a Certified Electronic Technician working in the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) industry. Survivalists who use tactical radio communications, whether it is CB, MURS, FRS, marine band, or VHF/UHF ham, need to be aware of a police scanner technology called either …


Letter Re: A Firewood Sawing Reality Check

Dear Mr. Rawles: As a devoted prepper, I have been trying to be diligent in practicing what I preach.  This past weekend was a bit of an eye-opener for me and should be for most of my fellow travelers.  In anticipation of future gas shortages and the impossibility of maintaining reasonable security while running a chain saw, I recently purchased a one-man, 36 inch, made in Germany, crosscut saw.   Saturday morning, I spent a couple of hours building a sawbuck.  Then the education began.   At this point, I need to interject that I’ve been burning wood for the past …


Letter Re: Experience with Motorized Bicycles

JWR, I discovered motorized bicycles last year after going from and $80,000 annual income a year to zero. I first saw a kid riding one in Los Angeles and asked him where he got it and the details. Turned out that a distributor of these kits was located up the street from me. After much research and trial and error, I found a Diamondback beach cruiser full size bike from Dicks sporting goods with a front fork that had a gas shock, for less than $200 on sale. I then purchased a kit online and followed the instructions. Needless to …


Economics and Investing:

Marty Weiss: Warning: Muni Bond Chaos Imminent The Fed’s Contrarian, With a Wary Eye on the Past I found this sign of the times linked at The Drudge Report: Grave Robbers Steal 400 Urns From Cemetery A big electronics retailer’s stock drops 14% in one day: Best Buy’s holiday fumble. Items from The Economatrix: Shoppers Shunning Credit Cards   Roubini Sees Roots Of Next Crisis   Eric Sprott’s Double-barreled Silver Issue  


Odds ‘n Sods:

David H. sent us this: The new hungry: College-educated, middle-class cope with food insecurity.    o o o Mullen: Risk of War Rising on Korean Peninsula. (Thanks to veteran content contributor KAF for the link.)    o o o Reader Paul G. sent this story about a Neighborhood Watch lapsing into Roy Bean-style vigilantism: In Mexico, a legal breakdown invites brutal justice.    o o o Life imitates art… This description of New Detroit by Mish Shedlock sounds like something out of Paul Verhoven’s Robocop movie: Detroit is Halting Garbage Pickup, Police Patrols in 20% of City: Expect Bankruptcy in …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The creation of crimes after the commission of the fact, or, in other words, the subjecting of men to punishment for things which, when they were done, were breaches of no law, and the practice of arbitrary imprisonments, have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.” – The Federalist, #84 (Attributed to Alexander Hamilton)