Letter Re: Gerald Celente Predicts Survivalism Will Go Mainstream in 2010

James Wesley: The often-quoted prognosticator Gerald Celente (of The Trends Research Institute) is predicting that the Survivalist movement will go mainstream next year. In a recent issue of The Trends Journal, he wrote: “Back in the Cold War days, survivalism meant building a bomb shelter and stocking it with enough food to outlast nuclear fallout. In the late 1970’s, with inflation soaring, Iran raging, and gold and oil prices skyrocketing, survival meant cashing out of paper money and heading for the hills with enough ammunition and pork & beans to wait out the economic and political storms. In 2000, the …


Letter Re: Making Low Profile Firearms Purchases

James, Thanks so much for your books, which have really opened my eyes. I began with “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” and have just finished reading “Patriots” for the second time. The first time on Kindle, then I decided I really needed a hard copy as well. After much prayer, my husband has acknowledged the need to prepare as well. We have just joined the NRA and we will be joining a local gun club next month, as well as looking for proper firearms training. We own a new .22 LR and a …


Two Letters Re: Prepping as an Active Duty Servicemember Overseas

Mr Rawles, Having seen the info on EMT training that has been on your blog recently, I decided to throw in my 2 cents. The National Dept of Transportation (DOT) sets all standards for Emergency Medical Services (First Responder through EMT-Paramedic) for the entire country. These standards include training and standardized interventions for certain trauma and illnesses by EMTs. These can all be found at NREMT.org. All questions on certifications, training requirements, etc can be answered there. Some courses claim that they can accelerate you and get you certified. DOT has requirements that must be met to be nationally certified. …


Economics and Investing:

Mark Lundeen at Gold Eagle asks: How could GDP have increased 2.8% and yet electrical power consumption in the US declined by 5.04%? The latest from the Dr. Housing Bubble blog: Southern California and the MLS Myth: Why the MLS does not Provide an Accurate Picture of Housing Inventory. Shadow Inventory, Foreclosures, and Fantasy Housing Numbers. Red State Ranger sent us this: You Can Negotiate Anything. BTW, I recommend that you read my archived article on savvy bartering, for some more negotiating tactics. (The Economatrix is snowed in today, with no Internet service available.)


Odds ‘n Sods:

From John S.: Happiest U.S. States Pinned Down. Note the correlation with my Recommended Retreat Areas ranking.    o o o Chuck M. flagged this from The Guardian: Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages    o o o Reader M.S. mentioned some analysis from Washington’s Blog: Officials and Experts Warn of Crash-Induced Unrest



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 …