Healthy Food Storage, by R.J.

A common staple in any good prepper’s store is food and another is medication.  We make sure to have loads of food that will last a long time (grains, legumes and corn) and do not realize that eating these very things help contribute to cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and cardiac syndrome X (just to name a few).  WTSHTF where in the world are we supposed to get chemo medication?  Or who is most qualified to do a triple bypass or mix up a new batch of insulin?  If the need ever comes to actually use our stores it would be …


Letter Re: Advice on Precious Metals Investing

Mr. Rawles: Please tell me, what would be the best form to purchase gold to store, that is not a stock [or an Exchange Traded Fund]? I cashed out a penny stock that my father left me, which will cover almost one once of gold. Thanks, – Wendy H. JWR Replies: At the present time, I don’t recommend gold for most investors. Instead, I recommend silver. The silver to gold ratio is currently around 63 to 1, which is way out of whack. It should be closer to it historic norm, which is 16-to-1. This means that gold is relatively …


Economics and Investing:

Dow Crashes About Three Percent as Euro Drops, Jobless Claims Rise Stocks Dive, Dow Off 376 on World Economic Worries C.D. in Northern Virginia liked this piece: One financial doomsday scenario. Flavio sent this linkio: What’s Next – Minor Correction or Major Decline? G.G. flagged this: A surprise jump in UK inflation to 5.3 per cent means that not a single savings account on the market offers an interest rate higher than the cost of living. Items from The Economatrix: Merkel: Bailout has Bought Only Time, Not A Solution Soros Sees No Bottom to World Financial Collapse US Consumer Prices …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers mentioned this: Fallout shelters for a new generation. I’m reserving any judgment on this particular venture (since it is only in its early stage of what has been promised). But I must say that in general I’m opposed to getting involved in large commercial shelter projects. For around $35,000, you can construct your own fully-stocked in-home underground shelter with a blast door and HEPA air filtration for a family of five. Why spend more for just one shelter space in a distant locale, and in a shelter that belongs to someone else? And what are the chances that …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“An armed republic submits less easily to the rule of one of its citizens than a republic armed by foreign forces. Rome and Sparta were for many centuries well armed and free. The Swiss are well armed and enjoy great freedom. Among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible. It is not reasonable to suppose that one who is armed will obey willingly one who is unarmed; or that any unarmed man will remain safe among armed servants.” – Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince” (1532)


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 …


From Zero to Prepared in Five Years, by Jon the Marine

At the young age of 17 and a half after having completed High School earlier than most of my peers and with parental consent, I joined the United States Marine Corps. The date was June of 1999. The next four years of my life would be interesting, exciting, dangerous, and eye opening. Quickly making me leave the naive boyhood I had then, and realizing what a dark place most of the world really is. At the end of my four year commitment, I returned home from a year deployment in Afghanistan, and chose to discharge honourably once my contract was …


Three Letters Re: Four Great Preparedness Myths

Dear Mr. Rawles, I read with a great deal of interest Dan B.’s piece on the Four Great Preparedness Myths, and although I have to agree with points 3 and 4, I have to take issue with the first two in his list. He says that “no one who has actually tried to defend themselves against a large group of determined assailants actually thinks it can be done”. Yes, no one person can defend themselves against a horde of attackers very long. But a group of ten or more, if they prepare themselves mentally, logistically and above all spiritually, can …


A Closeup View of the Rioting in Thailand

Hello Mr. Rawles, I haven’t corresponded with you in quite some time;. I hope you are keeping well. The reason I’m writing is that I’ve just received an email from a woman I used to work with who came from and went back to Bangkok, Thailand. I thought your readers might be interested (especially in the second paragraph). “Things are getting very bad out there. They are happening on major streets of Bangkok and they are not far from my house. I can hear Helicopter flying over head and can see black smoke over the sky. This morning the red …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this from Mish Shedlock: Illinois Doesn’t Pay Bills; Crisis Pushes Businesses to Edge of Bankruptcy Also from G.G.: Germans lead gold rush frenzy Chad S. sent this one: GM wants more subprime buyers; will lender agree? Also from Chad S. come this article from Detroit, Michigan: Landscapers find workers choosing jobless pay Items from The Economatrix: Lloyd’s of London Warns of “Perfect Storm” Threat to Insurers Markets Plunge as Merkel Delivers Euro Warning and Bans Short Selling Congress Blocks Indiscriminate IMF Aid to Europe US Housing Starts Jump, Wholesale Prices Fall Stocks Slide After Investors Focus on Europe …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader R.B.S. pointed me to a web site that I heretofore hadn’t heard of: Escape From America Magazine    o o o Ben L. mentioned a new electric “limb lopper” electric chainsaw. They are quiet, but of course for Grid Down situations, always keep a gas chainsaw on hand!    o o o F.S. pointed me to an interesting site: Modern Stronghold.



Note from JWR:

Do you have any favorite quotes that relate to preparedness, survival, self-sufficiency, or hard money economics? If so, then please send them via e-mail, and I will likely post them as Quotes of the Day, if they haven’t been used before in SurvivalBlog. Please send only quotes that are properly attributed, and that you’ve checked for authenticity. Many Thanks! — 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 …


Pregnancy and Nutrition in Hard Times, E.C. in Alabama

As a mother of a toddler with one on the way, and a former medical student and “birth junkie,” I’m very interested in the plight of the pregnant woman and newborn child in Third World nations (i.e. women with no access to higher-level medical attention) and in TEOTWAWKI scenarios.  Pregnancy is a vulnerable time in a woman’s life, and her nutrition is paramount. Of course, quitting any noxious habits, like smoking, drinking, and drugs of addiction, is crucial. Beyond that, good nutrition is the best prenatal care mother and child can get. The modern pharmaceutical industry would have you believe …


Letter Re: Self-Storage Spaces as Caches

Hello Mr Rawles, I have been reading your blog for about a year and truly have benefited from the valuable information. In regards to the round or disc lock for the self storage units, I have found that these locks can be easily picked by a simple pen as demonstrated on YouTube. Here is the following link: If anyone knows of another device/lock that can not be easily picked I sure would appreciated it. Sincerely, – Lynn in Washington JWR Replies: Even the best padlock should be considered only a delay–not a true barrier. Most padlocks –including disc or “hockey …