Survival Skills and Gear, Part 1: Bug Out Kits and Bugging Out, by E.F.

Introduction If the normal daily routine of our lives is suddenly and violently interrupted by events large and dangerous (such as major riots, natural disasters, or a a terrorist nuke) how prepared are we to “bug out?” If it’s time to leave, and leave immediately, are we ready? What do we take? Important papers? Guns and ammo? Food and water? Clothes? Camping gear? Baby diapers and sani-wipes? Family photos? Medicine? And where do we go? A friend’s farm? A wilderness cabin or campground?A small town? And what direction? Upwind? Downstream? How do we travel? By foot, or car, or bicycle? …


Product Review: ATI Talon Shotgun Fore End Rail Package

The ATI Talon Shotgun Fore End Rail Package is a replacement fore end for Mossberg, Remington and Winchester pump shotguns. The kit contains the fore end, adapters for all three brands and most models, nine 2” Picatinny Rail sections and plenty of machine screws for mounting. Installation was very simple. The instructions are clear, the adapter sections are marked M,R,W for brand and F,R for front and rear. All that’s involved is unscrewing the fore end nut, sliding on the ATI and appropriate adapters, and tightening the nut. It took a few seconds with a file to improve barrel clearance …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent this: Another Illinois Bank Fails. KAF flagged a Fox Business new report: Fed’s Hoenig: Record-Low Rates a ‘Dangerous Gamble’ Andrew H. spotted this: 800 interested in 5 jobs Items from The Economatrix: Economic Growth Prospects Dim in US After Retail, Trade Reports US Cities Face Up to Massive Cuts Stocks Rise On Earnings, Economic Reports Oil Breaks Losing Streak, Prices Climb Wheat is New US Gold “Hindenberg Omen” and Imminent Market Crisis Savings Accounts Will Become Obsolete if Inflation Rises Next Week Greek Economy Deeper in Recession than Forecast


Odds ‘n Sods:

Greg and Kat spotted an article about An idea carried too far Cult of less: Living out of a hard drive. Greg’s comment:” The move to not buying clutter is a good one, of course. However, what happens to the people highlighted in this article in an EMP or another power-down event? Once their batteries run out, and the utility companies can’t provide water and other services, and the food deliveries stop they won’t be “virtually homeless” they will be starving and without barter assets or other resources. Online banking won’t help then. Hopefully they’ll analyze their situations and start …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 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 between $500 and $600, 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 500 round case of …


Little TEOTWAWKI – A Children’s Book, by Benny in Florida

This may sound like a children’s book that the tells the story a young native American girl, but don’t be fooled. TEOTWAWKI is very scary for mature adults, but is terrifying to children. When we TEOTWAWKI discuss related issues at our house, my wife and I always make sure that we have a private conversation between just the two of us. After we have sorted things out we will discuss it with our children in an appropriate tone and with as little alarmism as possible. Last week one of our conversations started out with my wife asking “What will the …


The Second Amendment–The Ultimate Guarantee of Safety and Liberty

Recently, there was a news story about Senator Harry Reid scoffing at the concept behind the Second Amendment. This illustrates not only how unhinged Reid has become, but also how the mass media, liberal think tanks, and political parties all underestimate and mischaracterize the right to keep and bear arms. It is is our well-armed bedrock culture that under-girds our society, and keep both criminals and tyrants at bay. The Second Amendment is not some obscure an archaic code. It is in actuality the strongest guarantor of our individual liberty. This was made abundantly clear in the 2008 U.S. Supreme …


Letter Re: Drive Your Own Sandpoint Well

Mr. Rawles, After reading the excellent article about drilling one’s own sandpoint well, I did a little more research, thinking this would be a perfect solution for backup water for our situation. I found a great resource with basically the same instructions, but he also includes diagrams. The best part, though are the instructions for a do-it-yourself “inertia pump” that can be used to draw water from wells deeper than a pitcher pump can handle. Thanks for all the info you share on your site, I’ve learned so much from you and your contributors. – Trucker Girl


Economics and Investing:

Chris in Virginia liked this piece over at Sharon Astyk’s blog: Things Fall Apart – Slowly California’s economic crisis de jour: We Want Our IOUs Morris S. liked this piece by James Rickards at The Financial Times: Fannie and Freddie’s bond market upheaval. “OSOM” recommended a piece over at the GATA about the silver exchange traded fund (ETF) – SLV. OSOM’s comment: “Both SLV (and GLD for Gold) are not safe investments! I would not touch either of them with a ten foot pole.” G.G. sent this: Schiff: The Fed Is Feeding An Addiction By Continuing Quantitative Easing Also from …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ooh!, Ooh! I’ve been looking for a site like this: Make Your Own Seasoning Mixes. (Thanks to S.D. Spy for the link.)    o o o Jeff B. forwarded the link to this piece from National Pravda Public Radio: Deadly Whooping Cough, Once Wiped Out, Is Back    o o o The Obama Administration’s anti-gun bias is evident: US opposes Seoul’s bid to sell old rifles. (Thanks to Jeff B. for the link.)    o o o Reader Rick D. suggested a YouTube video demonstration of Grover Rocket Stoves.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Interestingly, NPR ran a local story over the weekend — an obscure little item — saying that Amtrak was determined to raise the average speed of its passenger trains running north from Connecticut through Vermont from 40 miles-per-hour to 60 mph. That would be some triumphant accomplishment! It would bring us back to about an 1860 level of service. Of course, I happen to believe that we will be lucky in a few years if we are able to enjoy an 1860s standard-of-living, so maybe this little side venture in public transport is perfectly in tune with America’s future.” – …


Medical Care in TEOTWAWKI, by GeorgiaDoc

JWR’s book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” has motivated me to add a little more light for those who may be in a situation where a physician is not available, but caring for someone needing sophisticated medical care. I am an Internist, and have been working in an urgent care setting for 20 years. Before that, I had a number of years experience working in several Emergency Rooms (ERs), and a trauma center. Since I am not formally trained in ER work, I have concentrated more on stabilizing patients to get them to …


Letter Re: Gaining Pharmaceutical Knowledge

Dear Mr. Rawles: I recently read through the cluster of articles regarding preparation measures for antibiotic storage and use on your blog, starting with A Doctor’s Thoughts on Antibiotics, Expiration Dates, and TEOTWAWKI, by Dr. Bones. As the medic for my family resilient survival group and an EMT paramedic, I have learned of some resources relevant to this discussion that will be useful to your readers. The first is the Sanford Guide. This is a book used daily by physicians and other healthcare providers worldwide to assist with empiric antibiotic treatment of infectious diseases. Empiric therapy means that you’re not …


Letter Re: A Doctor’s Thoughts on Antibiotics, Expiration Dates, and TEOTWAWKI

James, Antibiotics can also be purchased on the internet. While I am no attorney, the Wikipedia article about online pharmacies provides some info on the legalities of ordering prescription grade antibiotics from Canada. While I’m certainly not advising anyone to break the law and order antibiotics or any other prescription grade drugs on line, it seems a like a real grey area for the Government to crack down on Americans that do order prescription drugs on line. Maybe another reader with some legal expertise can clarify what the Government enforces when it comes to ordering prescription drugs on line? Thanks, …