Letter Re: The Real Meaning of Christmas

JWR, After reading the intro to Sean F.’s article on “A Christmas Gift for the Unprepared,” there is much I could say about how the World has hijacked Christmas and the unfortunate consequence of Christians becoming dazzled by the tinsel so that they also are confused about what Christmas is really all about. Christmas is actually about a God who loves us pitiful humans so much that he sent his only Son to us as a gift. That is what Christmas is all about–not just “love for friends and family,” as Sean indicates. What better time is there than Christmas …


Three Letters Re: Question on Burying a CONEX

Three Letters Re: Question on Burying a CONEX Jim: I have buried a CONEX for cold storage.  I put a 6″ thick reinforced concrete slab on the top to ensure the 3-4′ of dirt on top would be supported. Also the shelving inside has a support post every 4′ on both sides of the CONEX and this helps support the roof.   It takes a lot of waterproofing to ensure the metal sides and bottom won’t rust out.  The only advantage of the CONEX is the excellent doors and locks.  After finishing the project I would agree with you on simply …


Economics and Investing:

I recently took the tax hit and cashed out my Gold Eagle IRA that had been administered by GoldStar Trust (the assumed the accounts of American Church Trust). I did so because I suspect that precious metals IRAs will be nationalized before I hit retirement age. I’m presently 50 years old. Yes, I know that there is a huge tax hit. But thankfully that tax bite won’t be too painful, since I paid less than $500 per ounce for most of that gold, back when I was working in the corporate world. I then took most of those gold bullion …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Marine Corps Times talks gloom and doom. The author even cited SurvivalBlog.    o o o A rare moment of common sense: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Commutes Sentence of Man Sent to Jail for Owning Guns Legally.Too bad it wasn’t the full pardon that he deserved.    o o o Eric K. sent an article about a shift in America’s political landscape: Massachusetts loses US House seat, political clout. This will give more political clout to some states with conservative leanings.    o o o There’s a mini ice age coming, says man who beats weather experts. (Thanks …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries 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 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 …


Social Networking for the Survivor, by Joshua R.

Social Networking for the Survivor, by Joshua R. It used to be called a ‘couple of buddies’, a ‘circle of friends’, a ‘community’, a ‘neighborhood’…now we have a ‘social network’.  But whatever you call it, we humans are social creatures and surrounding yourself with like minded individuals is enriching to every aspect of life.  As preppers or survivalists (or whatever term helps you feel cozy), we seem to constantly buck the trends of our naïve society and end up feeling a bit lone wolfish.  Through the last two years, as my mentality shifted to one of preparedness and sustainability, I’ve …


Letter Re: Question on Burying a CONEX

Dear Mr. Rawles,   My husband and I live in rural North Central Florida.  We have been working on our food storage and supplies for years.  I keep everything in my house but my husband and I are frugal and we keep the air at 80 degrees in the summer and 68 – 70 in the winter.  Not ideal for long preservation.   We have been discussing a storage shelter for years and I would like your readers and your input on an ideal that I’ve been kicking around.  I was thinking of purchasing a steel freight CONEX container, coating …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. flagged this piece at Zero Hedge: Nordea’s Chart of the Week – Collapsing US Import Demand AmEx (American Ex-pat) sent this bit of gloomage $2 Trillion debt crisis threatens to bring down 100 US cities Over at the It’s All About MunKnee blog: The U.S. Dollar: Too Big to Fail? Items from The Economatrix: Bernanke Denies Printing Money.  Mogambo Not Convinced.   Will Congress Delete Mortgage Deduction?   Higher Gasoline Prices May Linger Into 2011   Oil Prices Climb Amid Cold Snap  


Odds ‘n Sods:

Larry C. wrote to note that Patrice Lewis wrote about the “Golden Horde” in a recent World Net Daily article. Hopefully more WND readers will wake up and start prepping.    o o o Our friend Bob G. sent: 2010’s world gone wild: Quakes, floods, blizzards    o o o J.B.G. sent a link to an article in The Telegraph: Shops hit by snow chaos and panic buying    o o o Ferdinand mentioned this project: Solar Powered DIY Portable Hot Spot    o o o Nature Girl wrote to say that she found a very interesting map tool that …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries 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 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 …


Make Your Own Colloidal Silver, by Bob S.

Silver has been known for thousands of years as a killer of pathogens.  The early Greeks noticed that the wealthy people (who used silver utensils) seemed to never get sick as did the common folk.  In the middle ages, the royal families used exclusively silver dinnerware, and in the mid-1800s in this country, pioneers kept silver coins in their water barrels to guard against pathogens picked up from the trail watering holes. My own grandma placed a silver dollar in the milk can to keep the milk from clabbering in the summertime. There is absolutely no known bacteria, virus or …


Letter Re: Low Power D.C. Lighting

Awhile back I put up several strings of same color strings of  LED Christmas tree lights from Inirgee. They have been just wonderful to deal with over the years. The blue strings work great in the outhouse at night because you don’t lose your night vision. Outside around the house, I tried the cool white but the warm white strings worked much better outside under the eaves. They make a very nice non-obtrusive lighting around the house at night and they are extremely conservative on power. They really make it nice on the driveway and walks. Then I found a …


Letter Re: ATVs for Preppers

JWR: There are some aftermarket mufflers that just about silence the ATV’s.  I use one on my Yamaha when I choose to take my ATV hunting.  While it does not get rid of all the sounds, I would say that it quiets the ATV by about 80%.  ATVSilencer.com is one such vendor of many.  This is the one I use and it wasn’t too bad for me (a computer guy) to install.  The only other issue I have with the ATV bugout scenario is the effects of EMP on ATV’s.  I am in the process of designing and fabricating a …