The Palm Stick for Self-Defense, by Kent

The palm stick, sometimes called a Yawara stick, or Kubotan, is an excellent and highly effective tool for self-defense. The tactical folding knife and the concealed pistol typically dominate the self-defense culture, especially when weapons are discussed. However, the palm stick has several advantages and applications that firearms and knives cannot match. Typically a palm stick measure around six inches in length, and about a half inch in diameter. Six inches is a good length, in my opinion. This combines concealment with a length that is still practical for offensive moves. A half inch may be a tad skinny, but …


Letter Re: More About CO2 for Extending Food Storage Life

Hello, Thank you so much for your books and Internet work. I have been storing food using the method of dry ice fumigation with five gallon buckets and mylar bags [as described in “How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It”. and in the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course]. My family and I enjoy using brown rice quite a bit and I have read many articles explaining the oxidation of the fatty acids which is what causes the brown rice to have a short shelf life. What I can’t seem to find is an answer …


Letter Re: A Total Collapse of the Dollar?

James, Chris Wood, of CLSA and author of the Greed & Fear newsletter, was recently interviewed on CNBC and stated that the collapse of the Dollar would likely take place within five years. CNBC’s Dennis Kneale, however, asserts that the Dollar is “self-healing”, so that when the panic begins, “…suddenly people want to go into the Dollar, because the US Government is the most stable government on the planet”. I had to rewind, because I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. This is precisely why looking to mainstream news sources as reliable conduits of factual information is so dangerous. …


Economics and Investing:

J.D.D. sent this British newspaper article: Detroit family homes sell for just $10 CNN Money offers a baker’s dozen of articles about America’s fiscal disaster. (Thanks to S.M. for the link.) Straycat sent us this item: States Facing Financial Doomsday as Debts Mount SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate, George Gordon (“GG”), spotted this: New round of foreclosures threatens housing market My old friend Sandy mentioned this: Iceland, the Mouse that Roared. Odds ‘n Sods:


Odds ‘n Sods:

Richard S. liked this article on aquaculture: Dan Barber: How I fell in love with a fish.    o o o My brother Bruce (the well-known Sacred Geometry author) sent me a link to a YouTube video that has absolutely nothing to do with preparedness, but that is a lot of fun: The Ultimate Rube Goldberg Contraption. (Don’t forget that despite my rural locale, I’m still one of those semi-geeky Makezine guys that likes watching those Eepy Bird Experiments.)    o o o U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade. (Watch out folks: Hillary is at the helm …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 27 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 HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of …


Considerations for Building and Equipping the Underground Room You Need, by Jim O.

My wife and I lived in place with no underground  rooms (such as a basement of a cellar) since we have been married.  As I have matured and my desire for disaster preparation has increased, I began to realize the importance of having an underground room for storage (particularly food storage and other things necessary for survival in the event of a short term or long term TEOTWAWKI) and protection from disasters such as heavy storms, tornadoes, nuclear activity, etc.  My career in construction, specializing in masonry and excavation, made this goal one that was easily attainable and I would …


Economics and Investing:

Courtesy of reader J.D.D.: Why the U.S. can’t inflate its way out of debt Some Tough Love from the editors of Der Spiegel: Built on a Lie; The Fundamental Flaw of Europe’s Common Currency Larry T. suggested this Powerline piece: Buy Gold. Items from The Economatrix: Why Italy Faces a Derivatives Time Bomb Why California is Doomed Double Dip is Coming in 2011 Welcome to the United States of Iceland Big Ax Looming at FDNY: More than 1,000 Layoffs, 62 Fire Companies to be Closed It’s Going to Implode, Buy Physical Gold Now $2,000/oz. Gold by the End of the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

John at SurvivalistBooks.com sent us a link to an interesting article on American preppers, from a French newspaper: If the sh** hits the fan, they are ready for it.    o o o Chuck sent me this: Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping Into the Newest Extreme Sport    o o o Tomorrow is the last day in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are now offering free shipping on mixed case lots, as long as you order in increments of full cases! Get your order in by midnight, eastern …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. – Psalm 149:1-4 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 27 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 HAZARiD Decontamination Kit from Safecastle.com. (A $350 value.), and D.) A 500 round case of …


Survival Slingshots, by Brian W.

When one thinks of a slingshot, the image of the forked stick and rubber band hanging out of the back pocket of Dennis the Menace is usually what comes to mind. Often overlooked in the survival community, the slingshot can be a valuable addition to any survival kit or day pack. For all intents and purposes, the best tool for taking small game that a survivalist can have, in my opinion, is a .22 pistol. Until very recently, though, it was illegal to carry them into state parks. To those who are not up to date on local and state …


Letter Re: The Daylight Savings Time Home and Survival Checklist — Renew Your Preparedness Measures

Dear JWR, On March 14th at 2 a.m. it is the Daylight Saving Time change time in most of the US. So now is a very good time to check some things that you haven’t thought about in a while. I’m sure you heard the Public Service Announcements to change the batteries in your smoke alarm and to test them. That is certainly a good thing to do, but is that the only thing you should do this time of year? Grab a pen and paper and let’s look around your home. Batteries and Battery Powered Equipment Since you’re changing …


Economics and Investing:

Trent and J.D.D. were the first of several readers to send this: Faber and Mish: We’re Doomed and Washington Can’t Do Anything About It A.P. sent us some more gloomy news: World faces a day of financial reckoning Canadian dollar likely to trump US greenback: experts. More FDIC Follies: Four more banks bit the dust in the past couple of days. Items from The Economatrix: OPEC Raises 2010 Oil Demand Forecast US Sales Tax Rates Hit Record High US Dollar Gains as Rating Agencies Warn on Europe Toledo, Ohio Likely to Face “Fiscal Emergency” Robbing The Old to Pay the …