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)


Notes from JWR:

I noticed that we’ve just surpassed 25 million unique visits. Thanks for making SurvivalBlog such a huge success. Please continue to spread the word to family, friends, and co-workers. Just putting a small link to SurvivalBlog in your e-mail footer or on your blog or web page will greatly increase our visibility. Many thanks! — 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 prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those …


Introduction to UV Air Treatment, by Michael M.

My interest in ultraviolet (UV) light systems began a number of years ago with the introduction of a UV system in the discharge effluent stream of water at the wastewater plant where I work. If it works in water I thought, then why not air! The removal of pathogens from the water was most impressive and a mystery, So I hit the books and the Internet to learn more.   Here is a light summary of what I learned: The sun generates ultraviolet rays. These rays are natures way of purifying the air. When sun passes thru a prism it’s …


Avalanche Lily’s Bedside Book Pile

Since marrying Jim, I’ve started watching some of his collection of movies on DVD. Jim says that seeing them will help give me “a common frame of reference”. A few of them he even considers survivalist training films. I suppose that the endeavor will also keep me from giving him odd looks when he quotes lines from his favorite movies out of the blue. Recently, I’ve watched: Big Trouble in Little China. Parts of this movie really creeped me out. Yes, it seems John Carpenter (the same director who made The Thing) couldn’t resist including horror elements in even this …


Letter Re: Ten Essential OTC Medications to Stockpile

Sir: This was an excellent article.  I was on the right track but it was reassuring to see an M.D. confirm it.  Thanks.    I just wanted to pass along a warning of sorts as it relates to Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) because I know Preppers like myself tend to have unusual shopping habits.  We not only buy a seemingly odd assortment of items all at once, but we probably buy them in larger quantities and with greater frequency than the average shopper.  This is simply for the fact we are stocking the products for future use rather than replenishing them as …


Economics and Investing:

Ol’ Remus writes In Praise of Junk Silver. Frequent content contributor John R. suggested this: Derivatives: The Quadrillion Dollar Financial Casino Completely Dominated By The Big International Banks Paul W. mentioned: China Overbuilding to ‘Hit a Wall’: Chanos The Human Toll of America’s New Ghost Towns. With its incredibly high foreclosure rate, Las Vegas has become the Poster Child of the housing bust. New Madoff lawsuits seek $40 Billion …from banks and hedge funds. Recession Lasting Until 2018 Is Worth Exploring: William Pesek Items from The Economatrix: Stocks End Mixed Ahead Of Senate Vote On Tax Deal   Oil Prices …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I recently mentioned the good news that my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” is presently on sale at Amazon.com for just $6.98. But the bad news is that due to its popularity, they are limiting customers to just three copies per order.    o o o Reader Ben. S. sent a reminder for readers in the U.S.: Anyone enrolled in a Health Savings Account (HSA) should expend their set-aside funds for 2010 on OTC medical supplies before December 31st.    o o o My recent mention of the proposal to make the …