Letter Re: Retreat Construction, Afghan Style

Mr. Rawles, Regarding your discussion of adobe construction – Adobe can be used for structural and exterior construction in a range of climates based on how you make it. I used to work for a company in Fresno, California that made stabilized adobe – it included a bituminous emulsion (tar-like stuff that’s water proof) to make the bricks water proof. They have been sold across California in residential and commercial construction. Their products included several that were considered structurally sound enough to meet California’s earthquake codes and generally made walls from 12 inches solid to 18 inches (two row with …


Letter Re: Clarification on the Distribution of SurvivalBlog

James, Would you be kind enough to add me to your e-mailing list for your blog? I would appreciate it. Thanks, C.R. – Lebanon, Oklahoma JWR Replies: For the privacy of my readers, I don’t keep any e-mail lists. My blog is accessed by readers with a web browser either by clicking a bookmark, or by using our RSS feed. Just be sure to book mark our URL, or better yet, make it your browser’s home page. SurvivalBlog has been updated daily, without fail, since its inception in 2005. All of the blog’s content, including nearly 8,000 archived articles, letters, …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Amid shortage, big NYC firms get swine vaccine. Reader Garth S. (who sent us the article link) asks: “So is this how it works? I get six zeros behind my salary and I can get to the front of the line?” World First As Swine Flu Found in US Cat Critically Ill Swine Flu Patients Spend Weeks in ICU Scandal: NHL Team Gets Priority Flu Shots WHO Targets Hemorrhagic H1N1 Cases in Lviv, Ukraine. So, assuming that his is a new, more lethal strain, I’m led to ask: Will contracting the current mild strain circulating in the US protect someone …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Chad S. sent this: No risk of hyperinflation, says Bernanke. (I feel so much safer now, knowing that he’s grounding the helicopters.) Also from Chad: The Truth about Hyperinflation and Price Controls. Items from The Economatrix: Ahead of the Bell: Consumer Credit Mortgage Rate Falls Below 5% GM to Axe 10,000 in Germany Analysis: 10% Jobless is Obama’s New World. Sadly, 18-22% is more realistic. See the data at ShadowStats.com. Unemployment Rate Rises Above 10%. “The 10.2 percent unemployment rate does not include people without jobs who have stopped looking for work or those who have settled for part-time …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several how-to videos have been posted that were filmed by Outside Magazine editor Joe Spring who accompanied Tony Nester of the Ancient Pathways school on a “Knife-Only” outdoor survival course.    o o o File this is the “Why Am I Not Surprised?” Department: U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade. This, BTW, is the same Presidential Administration headed by the guy that promised voters: “I’m not going to take away your guns.”    o o o Jeff B. forwarded this link: Seven (more) ) Abandoned Wonders of America: From Deserted Breweries to Famous Auto Factories.    o …



Letter Re: An Overwhelmed Newbie, Catching Up at Prepping

Mr. Rawles, I’m fairly new to your blog (three months), and still feeling a tad bit overwhelmed. I’m a 5th grade school teacher, and my husband is a former truck driver, now a truck dispatcher/supervisor. Not just am I realizing that I have a lot of catching up to do to get my family prepared for the rough times ahead, but I’m realizing how much my husband and I have to learn, to be truly ready! I’ve taken your advice and have asked my mother to teach me how to do pressure cooker canning. That was something that I had …


Three Letters Re: How Much Food Storage is Biblically Justified?

Sir, Knowing your Christian beliefs are similar to mine — Calvinist, reformed — I thought you’d want to know that the article you linked to is from a cult organization. It follows doctrines generally referred to as “Armstrongism” — denying the Trinity and salvation by grace alone, and more false prophecies than can be counted. Here’s a write up from a cult watch group describing the doctrines: Armstrongism: The doctrines and religious movement originating with Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986), who founded the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Armstrong rejected such essential doctrines of evangelical Christianity as the Trinity, the full …


Letter Re: When Does the Other Shoe Drop?

James: I was having a conversation with my survival think tank buddy tonight and he asked me when I thought the dollar would collapse. I answered that it was like asking when the next ice age would come. It’s due in another 1,000 years but we could be off by century or a millennia. It’s the same thing with the dollar. It is impossible, mathematically speaking, for it to continue in it’s current valuation indefinitely as it is in a non-sustainable negative spiral for reasons people reading this blog are well versed. A collapse could happen tomorrow but is could …


Economics and Investing:

KT sent the link to an absolutely hilarious British music video parody on YouTube: Bohemian Bankruptcy (Warning: There are a couple of crude moments, so this is not for the kids!) Reader Tom. L. sent this: London Officially Dethrones New York as World’s Financial Capital Pat G. flagged this: Big California Bank Fails, Has Two Chinese Branches (Five more US bank failures were announced Friday) British Airways Makes Record Loss, Cutting 3,000 Jobs. (Thanks to Tom in Essex for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Commentary from Doug Casey: Why Gold Has a Long Way to Go Clunker Data Shows …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Brits put Cold War bunker on preservation list: U.S.-built fortress left obsolete by fall of Berlin Wall becomes landmark. (Thanks to Mike H. for the link.)    o o o Do you have one of those great folding bicycles? Now you can get a collapsible cargo trailer, to go with.    o o o Josh in Chicagoland flagged this: Computer meltdown creates traffic-light chaos in Montgomery. Josh’s comment: ” This shows just how fragile our way of life is – one computer goes down causing gridlock! This should be an eye-opener and stress the importance of having alternate routes for …



Notes from JWR:

I just heard that Brent S. (the author of the recently-posted letter “Preps and Minimizing My Debts Paid Off When Unemployed”), has been awarded a free “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course binder and audio CD. The special “Inspiration Award” was made by Jake Stafford, of Arbogast Publishing. Speaking of the course, a special 33% off sale began Friday evening. The first few hundred people that order will also receive a complimentary copy of my new bestseller nonfiction book, “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”, so order soon. Because of the heavy demand, …


Survival Preparation on Low or Fixed Incomes, by Shawna M.

So you’re convinced that the free ride is over, that things are getting worse, and when the worst happens, you want to be prepared. But you have a problem—you don’t have a lot of money for prepping and day to day living. Maybe you only make minimum wage. Maybe you make a little more than that, but you’ve got a lot of bills. Maybe you live on a fixed income, or have irregular self-employment. Regardless, don’t assume because you can’t afford expensive classes or pricey gear that WTSHTF, you’ll be unable to fend for yourself and your family. My husband …


Letter Re: Once a Prepper, Always a Prepper

Mr. Rawles, The following describes my background and how it shaped me. My Parents’ Influences My parents were from the south (Eastern Tennessee) They were also children of the Great Depression, their families were farmers and it was normal to prepare for winter or hard times. Both my parents could can food, especially vegetables and fruit. My father was an avid hunter and trapper. I learned from a young age from my parents, never take anything for granted, prepare for good and bad times. My Childhood My parents moved to Ohio for work, where I was born. I spent my …