Letter Re: Standardizing with DeWalt 18 VDC Power Tools

James: While DeWalt is a good choice for tools, in order to save at least 30% off your next purchase look into the factory reconditioned web sites of DeWalt or in my case Bosch Tools. I used the Bosch 12 volt DC drill, in a production factory setting 10 hours a day for a year as a test. The battery only needed swapping once a day. The results were that I gave all our corded drills to the employees and purchased seven of their 12 VDC drills for the production floor. Bosch also has the 6 foot drop test on …


Letter Re: Observations on Life in Afghanistan

Mr Rawles. I read “Patriots” nearly a year ago and was impressed with the well written plot, realistic scenario and detail oriented implicit planning and tips. I learned a while thereafter of your SurvivalBlog and have been nibbling at it in chunks, trying yet to digest it. I imagine you notice a bit of a self selecting bias in people who read and enjoy your writing, even more in those who choose to e-mail you, so I won’t write the usual bits about how alike we think. I will write that I appreciate what you’re doing with the SurvivalBlog site …


Economics and Investing:

GG sent this: ECB may have to turn to ‘nuclear option’ to prevent Southern European debt collapse Brett G. spotted this article over at NewsMax: U.S. Debt to Hit $20 Trillion, Financial Times Warns Greek borrowing costs hit high as Germany fuels uncertainty over aid. (Thanks to R.I.P. for the link.) RBS sent this piece about foreclosed real estate: Flipping houses is back in South Los Angeles Europe debt crisis spreads to Portugal (Standard & Poors downgraded Greece and Portugal sovereign debt paper to “junk” status today.) Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Pull Back on Europe’s Deepening Debt Woes Europe …


Odds ‘n Sods:

UAE eyes three-month food stockpile. JWR Notes: It is noteworthy that nation states don’t launch into expensive ventures like this, sua sponte. Catch a clue, and stock up, folks! (A hat tip to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o Simon J. sent this technology development news: New Inexpensive Material Will Turn Night Into Day    o o o Rich at KT Ordnance forwarded this one: Agents of Incompetence: ATF Dodges FOIA, Still Has Seized BB Guns (Part IV)    o o o Nick S. flagged this bit of nuttery from Nanny State Britannia: Boy banned from eating …



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 …


Digital Archives and Your One and Only Mortal Life, by Dakota Diamond

When you finally die and I know your not eager to, the world will certainly go on. You might be so lucky to have someone cry at your funeral. Regardless of how important you thought you were, your death will not be as special to the world or to yourself. You will be dead like the billions of animals and species before you.  After a week, maybe two, life here on planet earth will be the same as before you died. Most, if not all, will not miss you in the caring ways that you would want to believe. Like …


Letter Re: Lessons from the Yazoo City Tornado

Dear Mr. Rawles, I live in Albertville, Alabama.  We were hit by a tornado Saturday night. The things that I witnessed in Albertville were very similar to that of Yazoo City [which was recently described by another SurvivalBlog reader.] I would like to add to some things for you to consider: The tornado in our town stayed above the ground for a large part of the destruction.  This means that if you had trees close to your house, more than likely, you are going to have damage. Do not have trees too close or allow them to get too big.            …


Two Letters Re: Constructing a Permanent Underground Cache

I want to thank JIR for his article and the efforts he went through showing us how to construct and supply underground caches. I just wanted to suggest an alternative to the custom made containers by using a 300 gallon spherical below ground septic tank. They are made of watertight plastic with a o-ring sealed lid and weigh around 110 pounds. (See the Tank Depot web site.) The rough size of the tank is 54″ in diameter and 51 inches tall with a 20 inch manhole cover. You would also only dig 118 cubic feet for a 5 foot diameter …


Economics and Investing:

“Hambone” sent us a link to a must-read piece over at Seeking Alpha: Current U.S. Dollar Currency Controls Blaine sent an interesting article as follow-up to my link from Saturday: GM is using our tax dollars to repay our tax dollars to get more of our tax dollars at a reduced interest rate. A nice deal if you can get it. H.T. sent this: Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability. This U.S. Senate report begins: “The Congressional Oversight Panel’s February oversight report, “Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability,” expresses concern that a …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric S. sent this bit of NOAA prognostication: Warming in America; Mass migrations, water wars, and insect plagues. How will climate change reshape the electoral map? Even without “abrupt” climate change, economic and demographic shifts dictate that times will likely be difficult, for decades to come.    o o o Gary and Marie K. were the first of several readers to send us this piece that originated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Prepping for the worst    o o o Ay, ay, ay: Two Illinois lawmakers ask governor to deploy National Guard to help quell gun violence in Chicago. (Hat tips to …



Notes from JWR:

We are praying for the folks in the tornado-ravaged portions of Mississippi. OBTW, one the readers’ letters posted today is a first-hand account of traversing the aftermath. — Because of some manufacturing difficulties, one of the prizes for the First Place winner of the writing contest has been changed. Instead of a A HAZARiD Decontamination Kit, the folks at Safecastle.com are substituting a 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator. (A $275 value.) We greatly appreciate the generous support of all of the companies that provide writing contest prizes! — Today we present another entry for Round 28 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …


Constructing a Permanent Underground Cache, by JIR

If you are concerned about hiding a large amount of goods from looters, neighbors or other busybodies, remember that no indoor hiding place is likely to survive a determined search. If your home is the only place you have food and provisions, you may be forced to fight against very long odds to try to keep it. If you are forced to abandon your home in the middle of the night or burned out by looters, you might appreciate having a store of food and other gear in a safe, undetectable location where you can recover it. You might want …


Letter Re: Lessons from the Yazoo City Tornado

Dear Editor: I have been reading your blog for a while but until Saturday, I never saw how a disaster could unhinge some people so quickly and what lack of preparedness can do to some people. I went to deliver a chainsaw, some gas and water to a relative in Yazoo City and what is usually a 45 minute drive took over 2 hours. Land lines and cell towers were down, and if you had a phone with a certain carrier, the service was very spotty. The traffic was bad and the roads into the town were blocked and we …