Odds ‘n Sods:

G.S. in the State of Jefferson flagged this: Preparing for a ‘nuclear event’ – LA Daily News    o o o Wicket sent an item that illustrates the point that sometimes the most simple solutions are entirely effective and adequate: Man fights intruder after using ‘beer can’ alarm.



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 26 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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 Fiocchi 9mm Luger, 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP ammo, …


Survival Banking and Economics, by the Survivalist Banker

Survival is more than just having supplies, it is possessing knowledge, and specifically knowledge about free market (Austrian) economics and banking. One of the fundamental reasons for past productive success in the United States is because there were less intrusive government regulations, a smaller court system, and the division of labor was less cumbersome. Individuals were able to gravitate to where there was a demand that wasn’t currently being met, and were able to meet it without Big Brother wanting to not just regulate the behavior, but also steal a piece of the action if it was successful. If TSHTF, …


Letter Re: Photovoltaic Pathway Lights for Emergency Lighting

Dear Jim: First, thank you for your informative site. I know you`ve helped me, and many others fill in the gaps in knowledge for preparation for times to come. I live just three miles from the San Andreas Fault , so even if the Schumer doesn`t hit the fan, “the big one” could come at any time. Thus I`ve been prepping for many years, but it was a wind storm that helped me think of this trick. The local utility power recently went down and the girls broke out some candles,while I grabbed a couple of battery powered lanterns. Candles …


Letter Re: A $20,000 Matching Donation to the Linda Rawles Memorial Fund

Jim, I am offering a challenge for your readers. I will match dollar for dollar all donations made by your readers to Anchor of Hope up to a total of $20,000. If they will respond, we can raise $40,000 for Anchor of Hope Charities. So that you know that I am serious about this, I am sending my donation of $20,000 to them today. – An Anonymous Donor JWR Replies: Thank you, Sir, very much for your tremendous generosity! The Anchor of Hope orphanage and school is a very worthy charity with hardly any overhead. I am hopeful that more …


Economics and Investing:

Even More MOAB Money: Bankers Get $4 Trillion Gift From Barney Frank The Economist: A turbulent year in the currency markets is coming. (A hat tip to frequent content contributor G.G.) Bill R. sent us this from The Wall Street Journal: Banks Risk Storms in Safe Havens From Reader F.G.: California gears up to charge “Use Tax” on items purchased out of state Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Edge Higher as Jobless Claims Fall Fannie, Freddie Proving Too Big to Shrink North Korea Bans Foreign Currencies in Market Clampdown $36 Charge for Not Using Your Credit Card Goldman Sachs Denies …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The mainstreaming of survivalism continues: Newsweek now seems to be saying that individual preparedness is a good idea. (Thanks to Mike F. and several other readers for sending the link.)    o o o Wendell in Tx. wrote mention a source for fish traps, Heinsohn.com. They run a country store in Texas.    o o o Ohio Jim mentioned that starting Friday, January 1st, you can’t drive an APV on your own property in Ohio unless it’s registered and licensed.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The clocks stopped at one seventeen one morning. There was a long shear of bright light, then a series of low concussions. Within a year there were fires on the ridges and deranged chanting. By day the dead impaled on spikes along the road. I think it’s October but I can’t be sure. I haven’t kept a calendar for five years. Each day is more gray than the one before. Each night is darker – beyond darkness. The world gets colder week by week as the world slowly dies. No animals have survived. All the crops are long gone. Someday …


Notes from JWR:

The unabridged audiobook of “Patriots” is scheduled to be released today (December 31st). Thanks for your patience! — Today is the last day for Californian’s to be able to order British Berkefeld water filters, before an absurd new law goes into effect. for details, see the Directive 21 web site.


Letter Re: A Holiday Trash OPSEC Warning

James Wesley, I just wanted to mention something that has been on my mind for some time but recently re-emphasized as I drove to work the other morning. Along my route (20 blocks or so before I hit a main thoroughfare) the other day the concept of trash OPSEC really hit me. It was trash day for that part of town and I saw signs everywhere that said “come burglarize this house”. I saw flat screen television boxes, video game boxes, stereo boxes, DVD player boxes, computer boxes, small appliance boxes, toy boxes, you-name-it boxes in all sorts of shapes …


Letter Re: Roll-up Hurricane Shutters

Mr. Rawles, I just wanted to mention the possible use of [European-style roll-up steel] hurricane shutters when constructing your retreat. Here is eastern North Carolina hurricane shutters are very popular and are built right into the existing house. Roll down shutters provide many conveniences as they are built in and have very little visual impact. They can also be controlled from inside the home and provide excellent security. In addition some designs will completely seal out light from inside or outside the house. Thanks, – Jared C.


Letter Re: New British Camouflage Pattern Uniforms

James, It appears the Brits are upgrading to a new camouflage uniform to replace the venerable Disruptive Pattern, Marine (DPM) and in some instances, the #5 Desert Combat. Dubbed the Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP), it was developed by Crye Precision and bears a striking resemblance to their “MultiCam” camo. It looks like their will be a flood of the old DPMs on the surplus market in the near future. [JWR Adds: This release of surplus uniforms will undoubtedly be a boon to preppers. Be prepared to stock up when the prices drop at vendors like CheaperThanDirt.com.] Take care and God bless, …


Letter Re: How Hygiene and Sanitation Have Increased Human Life Spans

Sir; While obtaining law doctorate, one of my classes was Health Law, which is two parts navigating your way through the morass of Federal intrusion. One part was actual policy. But, I digress. Only one thing of significance stuck in my mind from that whole class: “Of the forty years increased life expectancy enjoyed in the past one-hundred years, 35 of those years are the result of improvements in hygiene and sanitation. Five years are due to clinical medicine.” I translate that to: “you owe more for your health to the trash man and plumber than you do your doctor.” …