Letter Re: “One Second After” — A Book Review with Some Advice

I have been reading the novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen. I just finished it. Whew, what a heavy book. I decided to write it up as a “lessons learned” book review. A couple of you may be wondering why I sent this to you. Well, I just thought of you and know you to be like-minded … I think. That is, concerned about what the future holds for us as a nation, as crazy and uncertain as things are getting in the world. I’ve been following the elctromagnetic pulse (EMP) threat for a couple of years now …


Letter Re: A Simple But Effective Firearms Caching Technique from Afghanistan

CPT Rawles: While there are many potential methods to emplacing a cache of supplies, I wanted to provide some insight into a very simple but very effective cache method that I have saw during a recent deployment to Afghanistan. Most Afghans rely on the karez system for getting water for survival and watering plants. For an aerial view of what the karez system looks like, look at Michael Yon’s photo essay on water in Afghanistan. The lines of holes dug in the ground are the karez system. Some of these tunnels are very deep in order to get to the …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate George Gordon (“G.G”) flagged this article by veteran prepper/economist Howard J. Ruff: Gold and Silver Insurance Also from G.G.: Italy Banning Cash Transactions Over €5,000 As Latest European Austerity Package Revealed One more from G.G.: Number of the Week: 75% Chance of Greek Default Moody’s Reiterates U.S. Spending Risks Credit Rating Jim D. suggested this article by Mish Shedlock that illustrates the incredible depth of California’s budget crisis: California to borrow next 20 years worth of bottle returns. Items from The Economatrix: Falling Home Prices Stir Fears of New Bottom Consumer Confidence Up Again Factory Orders And …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Just 24 hours left! Safecastle (one of our most loyal advertisers) is running a special sale that ends May 29th, with 25% Off All Mountain House #10 Cans, and free Shipping to the Lower 48 States. There are additional freebies, depending on the quantity that you order. (See their web page for details.)    o o o Reader Steve H. spotted a fascinating “heat” map with some implications for picking retreat locales: World’s most and least touristy places. Steve’s comments: “This is an interesting map that could give some insights into less visited regions for retreat location planning and determining …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 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.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Moving to a Small Town as a Retreat (And Why it’s Good to Do it Now), by Bryan B. in Alaska

Two years ago, I was a busy guy. I worked 50-to-60 hour weeks as an equipment and auto mechanic in south central Alaska. I was a Dad, delivery driver and taxi for the family, and maintenance man for our aging trailer. We lived a couple miles from a town of 15,000 on a .75 acre lot with a mobile home. My decent pay barely paid all the bills and fuel costs of going to work. To top things off, I had just “woke up” to what was going on and had no idea how I was going to prepare for …


Letter Re: Automated Budgeting Tools for Preppers

Hi James, One of the pages on my web site has to do with budgets. It’s a short page, and takes into consideration that there are four basic pay periods for individuals not working under contract (IRS Form 1099 workers). On it, I’ve included four spreadsheet files that are Excel compatible. These are blanks, with calculations that carry over from month to month, and are not too involved. I wanted them to be useful for people that have basic computer skills, but feel uncomfortable with traditional budget software packages. I also included a link to OpenOffice, which is an open …


Letter Re: Caring for Babies in TEOTWAWKI

Hello Mr. Rawles, What a fine blog you have! I read with interest the entry Caring for Babies in TEOTWAWKI. I respond to the part about breastfeeding your infants. The author makes many excellent points about the tactical advantage of breastfeeding infants as opposed to relying on formula, including the potential to feed other members of your family. If you are successfully breastfeeding when the balloon goes up, it would be very advantageous for your family to have a battery operated breast pump, simply to collect more milk. The author also included a very touching video of a woman acting …


Economics and Investing:

Brett G. highlighted this news article: Roubini Predicts 20 Percent Stock Market Fall Also from Brett: 25 Questions to Ask Anyone Who is Delusional Enough to Believe That This Economic Recovery is Real Reader M.S.B. sent this piece by Egon von Greyerz: Hyperinflation Guaranteed Jonathan C. forwarded this: Global Banks May Need $1.5 Trillion in Capital, Study Says Also from Jonathan C.: FDIC Closes on Sale of $233 Million of Notes Backed by Commercial Real Estate Loans. Jonathan’s comments: Reading between the lines of the $233 Million sale is the fact that it is a 77% discount since the assets …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jeff B. sent this scary article link: What if a hurricane were to slam into the oil slick?    o o o Robert S. sent us the link to this charming news: Dengue Fever in Florida Portends a Growing Problem    o o o JM from Michigan mentioned the many older (out of copyright) on-line books and info that are available at Archive.org. BTW, it is also the home of the “Way Back Machine”– a fascinating web archive search tool that allows you view deleted web sites, or to see what current sites looked like in their early days.    …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 28 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.), and D.) A 500 round case …


Caring for Babies in TEOTWAWKI by A. & C. K.

You’ve seen it in the movies: the very pregnant woman gets stuck in traffic, or an elevator, or wherever on the way to the delivery room. (Although, a very pregnant woman was recently rescued by Sheriff’s helicopter on I-40 during the recent floods here in Middle Tennessee!) On the screen she usually makes it to the hospital with some stunt driving from a frantic father or some Samaritan will deliver the baby in the back seat. The whole affair ends with smiling patients and doctors happily mewling over a freshly swaddled newborn. Then everyone heads home in their nice family …


Letter Re: Advice on CB Radios

Jim, My husband and I have been studying and implementing many of your recommendations in your book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” and I have a question about the Cobra 148 GTL 40-channel CB radio. Does it work on DC power only, or can it be used in our safe room on AC power? The shortwave receiver you recommended also includes CB, so why do we need another CB radio? Although these are old technologies, they are new to us, so we would appreciate more info. Thanks. – Linda G. JWR Replies: Like …