Letter Re: Relative Costs of Food Storage Approaches

Hi James,   First and foremost thank you for all of your efforts and wonderful guidance in the art of survival.  I am currently about 70 pages into your novel Patriots and I love it!   I have a quick question that I can not seem to get great advice on with regards to food storage.  Is it better (cost effective, overall nutrition, and space saving) to purchase pre-packaged “kits” like eFoodsDirect’s one-year or six-month supply of dehydrated foods, or build your own storage?  I know that most may say get all you can or do both…but if you had …


Two Letters Re: Tactical Movement in a Post-TEOTWAWKI World

Sir: The author mentioned odor control: Do not use deodorant or “foo foo” water. Use rubbing alcohol to deal with odor-causing bacteria. it evaporates leaving no scent. It can be used as an antiseptic and as a fire starter. My family carries a quart of isopropyl alcohol in each of our “git kits” Keep the Faith. – Bill in North Alabama James: The writer has some great tips but I have to disagree with one thing he says. As for sleeping in old tractor trailers and old railroad cars, I say nay. These may be dry enclosed places, but they …


The Wikileaks Backchannel Fiasco

It will be years before the full implications are felt from the unauthorized release of 251,287 U.S. State Department cables. (Of these, 15,652 of the cables were classified Secret or Secret/NOFORN.) In the end, the Wikileaks fiasco might even destabilize a number of governments, including those in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, the U.A.E., Egypt, and Turkey. The most immediate effect may be seen in Saudi Arabia. Starting in the 1930s, a status quo developed there through tacit agreements between the House of Saud, its rival princes, and the Wahabbist clerics. In essence, King Abdulah ibn Abdul Aziz’s ruling faction is …


Economics and Investing:

Kleptocracy in action: France seizes €36 billion of pension assets. We’re told that this was done to pay off some of their welfare debt. I thought that the French had done away with pissoirs, but apparently they still have a very large one. But of course the French are tres brillant, so I shouldn’t doubt their judgment. Thanks to Pierre M. for this item: Hungary Follows Argentina in Pension-Fund Ultimatum, `Nightmare’ for Some Marc the former 91B mentioned Chris Martenson’s commentary on Peak Oil: It’s Official: The Economy Is Set To Starve B.B. sent this news item from Oz: Millions …


Odds ‘n Sods:

J.D.D. sent this inaccurately titled article: U.S. Army Unveils ‘Revolutionary’ XM25 Rifle in Afghanistan. It is actually a 25mm grenade launcher, not a rifle. This seems to be sort of Niblick: The Next Generation.    o o o The odious S. 510 food bill looks like it may come up for a vote in the full Senate. Please contact your Senator and insist that this piece of bad legislation be stopped.    o o o Our friend Patrice over at the Rural Revolution blog suggested this article about EMP: Report warns Obama about ‘new’ Dark Ages. “Airplanes would fall from …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"I foresaw that, in time, it would please God to supply me with bread. And yet here I was perplexed again, for I neither knew how to grind or make meal of my corn, or indeed how to clean it and part it; nor, if made into meal, how to make bread of it; and if how to make it, yet I knew not how to bake it. These things being added to my desire of having a good quantity for store, and to secure a constant supply, I resolved not to taste any of this crop but to preserve …


Notes from JWR:

The Rawles Gets Your Ready Family Preparedness Course is only rarely offered at a discounted price. Until Monday December 13th, the publisher is running a special sale. Don’t miss out on the chance to get a copy for yourself, or to give one as a Christmas gift. — Today we present another entry for Round 31 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 …


The Disappearance of the Anasazi Explained, by Ben F.

Staring at the “Arrival: Imminent” message flashing on the screen of my Garmin Etrex, I stumbled into the canyon below the Banister Ruins cliff dwellings in Grand Gulch Utah at about midnight. I couldn’t be sure where I was, because darkness obscured the familiar landmark of the ruins. I dropped the 50-lb pack with 10 days of freeze-dried foods and other paraphernalia, marked the spot on the e-Trex GPS, and then tried to follow the shifting arrow to the spring that was supposed to be there.     Instead, I would confront an 800-year-old secret for which my technology would be no …


America’s Terrorism Problem Isn’t Domestic

SurvivalBlog reader R.F.J. sent me a link to a recent news account about the would-be Portland, Oregon bomber, Mohamud Osman Mohamed. Reading that article confirmed something that has been very clear to me for more than 20 years: America’s terrorism problem isn’t domestic. As others have already pointed out, the purveyors of terrorism in America and elsewhere are mostly Islamic Middle Eastern Men, predominately ages 18 to 30. All the leftist hand-wringers whine on endlessly about “fairness”, and decry that horrid “profiling.” But the latest incident in Portland is just another in a long, long, string of Islamic Middle Eastern …


Letter Re: Modern Motor Vehicle Reliability

I have worn many hats, but the one I wore the longest was as a 12-volt installer. You know, stereos, alarms, custom fabrication; think Unique Whips, but with less drama and more snow (I live in Canada). After working as a mechanic, it seemed a lot more interesting and enjoyable than getting filthy fixing other people’s problems.                 What I have learned during my years working on vehicles has led to a personal conviction: I will never rely on a newer vehicle. I have seen too many newer vehicles  brought in on a hook with no-start issues, no-shift issues, and …


Letter Re: Rifle Sling Recommendations

Dear Sir,   When you have some time, I’d like to hear your recommendations on the best sling option for L1A1 or FAL rifles (perhaps also for fixed stock and full length ARs). There seems to be a lot of ‘tacti-cool’ stuff out there, with a zillion buckles and straps to get in the way and strangle you. Single-point and 3-point are all the rage right now (as well as hip holsters and chest rigs), but it seems the old 2-point is still best for patrol and general carry. What do you use and/or recommend?   I’ve been leaning towards …


Two Letters Re: Dealing with Common Addictions–True Readiness for Disasters

Jim,   I enjoy SurvivalBlog and have started preparing. Food storage and making some sort of preparations had been in the back of my mind since January. Then the power went out here for six hours. I treated that as a sign and got started buying food and silver.   I do have to say though that while breaking costly addictions is a great plan, caffeine has more value than just the power to keep us awake and alert. I’m a Registerd Nurse, and in my research I read that Caffeine is related to theobromine, a bronchodilator used to treat …


Economics and Investing:

Lynn G. sent this: Seven Towns Where Land is Free John R. flagged this news item: IMF’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn wants fiscal and reform powers given to Europe Reader B.B. suggested this article: Debt commission co-chairman predicts ‘bloodbath’. B.B. also mentioned a Zero Hedge piece, where Tyler Durden asks: Are Expert Networks About To Be Exposed As The Ringleader In The Biggest Insider Trading Bust In History? Tam over at View From The Porch had some commentary about an article on modern day house squatters: Another step closer to Mad Max? John R. sent this commentary by Lawrence A. Hunter: Save …


Inflation Watch:

The latest official CPI figure: 0.2%. Yeah, right… (After some masterful hedonic adjustments and excluding “volatile” food and fuel–things that matter the most to consumers.) Reader P.T.R. notes: “I noticed that I needed to re-stock some Tang [freeze-dried orange juice powder].  At the store, I noted that it’s now sold in a larger container, so I thought ‘they’re trying to sell more product — the Large Economy Size ploy’.  It wasn’t until I got home and compared it to a canister That I had purchased a couple of years back that I saw the real differences.  The old container held 12.3 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Long-time content contributor Chad S. sent this: People trampled at Target store as Black Friday mob rushes in. Chad’s comment: “I just saw this story, Jim. Can you imagine how bad this would be in a Schumer-hits-the-fan scenario, when people actually need stuff?”    o o o I’m already a fan of Glock re-set dry practice training triggers (like those produced by Southwest Shooting Authority. As I’ve previously mentioned in SurvivalBlog, I prefer using these for dry fire, both for safety and so that you don’t get into the bad training habits that are created when you constantly rack the …