Letter Re: Vehicle Recommendations?

James, I have been reading a lot of the archive items and I have noticed a few times where you went on a trip etc, we have had a few nieces and nephews born this year and when I travel 3 to 4 hours from home I don’t feel as secure as when I am close to my home and supplies so when you venture out for a few days the questions that pop into my mind are: What kind of vehicle do you travel long distances in? What supplies do you stock in it? What are some things we …


Letter Re: Prepping as an Active Duty Servicemember Overseas

Mr. Rawles, I wanted to pass this along to you and the readers of your site. I’ve been looking to increase my medical skills and training and, I found these schools and programs. I intend on going to a few of them when I return to CONUS. Anyone considering taking any of these classes should account for all associated costs and time to attend. This kind of training isn’t cheap but it is well worth it. The first is Deployment Medicine International (DMI). It’s been set up to augment military and contract personnel that are deploying overseas. As far as …


Five Letters Re: Covert Home Power for When The Grid Goes Down

JWR – The article written by Tom H. contains some dangerous advice and overlooks some important issues. He wrote: “Next, cut the receptacle end (female) off the 120 VAC extension cord and install the replacement 120 VAC plug (male) to the cord. Make sure it’s wired correctly. (Black to black, white to white and green to green). You will now have a cord with a [male] plug on both ends.” Such a modified power cord [commonly called a “disaster cord” or more aptly a “suicide cord’] is extremely dangerous, and should never be made. If one end is plugged into …


Economics and Investing:

Eric C. sent us a link to a recent Peter Schiff interview over at The Motley Fool: A Tough Year Ahead for the U.S. Economy? From Hal N.: Greenspan backs deficit-reduction commission Items from The Economatrix: A World Crisis No Bailout Can Stop Are Your US Treasury Bonds Safe? Fastest Food Inflation–Milk Up 39% Stock Futures Signal Weaker Open as Dollar Rises Treasury Backs Out Of Plans to Sell Citi Stake Citi Suspends Foreclosures for 30 Days US Lawmakers Approve Jobs Package Moody’s Warns of “Social Unrest” as Sovereign Debt Spirals Gulf Petro-Powers to Launch Currency Mexico Whacked with Second …


Odds ‘n Sods:

A Year End Reminder, from Bill in Missouri: “Let the IRS help you restock your pantry every year. Take your food that is nearing its expiration to a local food pantry and donate it to them. It will be used before it expires, and you will walk away with a donation receipt which is tax deductible. Food banks are always in need of donations, especially now that the unemployment level is so high. This is a win/win for you and the food bank, and a loss for the IRS.”    o o o Michael Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor-at-Large forwarded this story. …



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, …


Covert Home Power for When The Grids Go Down, by Tom H.

There is much written about the Power Grids going down (for whatever reason) and how to prepare for that event. Recommendations have been made for the installation of a generator, solar panels, battery banks, inverters, automatic system switches, on and on and on. These systems range from a simple inexpensive plug in inverter for your car 12 VDC socket (which may power a lap top or a cell phone battery charger) to an extremely complicated self-sufficient system that will operate your whole house. The simple fact is that most people will not install such systems for a variety of reasons …


Two Letters Re: Survival Tools

Good day, Sir! What a pleasure it was to see that a like minded individual spoke out about this often neglected aspect of preparedness. It was gratifying to find that your “survival tool set” matches my own core tool collection almost exactly. However… I’m not certain how you get all of that into one toolbox! I have a two-tray box exactly as you describe with virtually identical dimensions…and there is no way you’re going to get all those tools in that one box. I presume you are referring to your “road box” with that description. In my own collection, the …


Economics and Investing:

Jim B. recommended this video on the Federal Reserve: The Dollar Bubble. Randy K. suggested this item: by the ever-cheery Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Gulf petro-powers to launch currency in latest threat to dollar hegemony From J.S.: More countries at risk of default. Items from The Economatrix: World Losing Faith in Debt-Laden UK The True Danger Lurking Behind 0.00% Treasury Yields and the 1-3-6 Rule Part I The Return of Gold and Silver Eagle Rationing Airlines in Deeper Trouble than Forecast EU/IMF Revolt: Greece, Iceland, Latvia May Lead Way Bond Price Crash is Surest Bet in Town Poll Reveals Trauma of US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Cheryl sent a link to a piece by Claire Wolfe, in Backwoods Home magazine: Circle of Friends: The Importance of Other People In Our Preparedness Plans    o o o Dan in Colorado mentioned this supplier of some hard-to-find food items, such as honey locust beans: Wild Pantry.    o o o Tord mentioned that there is yet another Robin Hood film is in the works. This one is directed by Ridley Scott (who created Blade Runner, Blackhawk Down, and Gladiator.) It stars Russell Crowe, and it has a big budget, so it will mst likely be worth watching.



Notes from JWR:

My sincere thanks to the dozens of SurvivalBlog readers that have made contributions to the Linda Rawles Memorial Fund. The folks who operate the orphanage and school in Zambia have expressed their thanks. Your contributions are doing a lot of good for a very worthy charity! I urge anyone that has not yet donated to go ahead and do so. For readers in the US: If you make a donation before December 31st, it will be deductible for the current tax year. — Today we present another entry for Round 26 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize: A.) …


Prepping as an Active Duty Servicemember Overseas, by M.B.

As a member of the Armed Forces stationed overseas, and for those civilian government employees likewise stationed, we face unique situations as we attempt to get ready for TEOTWAWKI scenarios. First, when you are stationed overseas, usually for a 12 to 36 month tour, whatever happens back home seems magnified in your mind because you are so far away and feel helpless to do anything about it. Mental preparation is of utmost importance if you get a sense of panic after reading about all the horrible things going on back home.  It is important not to panic when you see …