Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 20 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 20 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. …


Dress for Survival Success by George Haystack

”Wherever you go, there you are.” And hopefully so are your clothes. Therefore it is vital to think of your wardrobe as part of your survival gear on a daily basis. It’s not good enough to have a closet full of BDUs and a piles of high-tech gear if they aren’t near you when you need them. Most of the crises that people face do not rise to the level of TEOTWAWKI and these emergencies don’t come at convenient times. Events like building fires, car wrecks, or muggings come at you when your just out living your life. A firearms …


Letter Re: Riots in Greece Illustrate How Quickly Things Can Get Schumeresque

Hi James, I have found so much value in your site, I have contributed to the 10 cent challenge multiple times. I have also spent several thousand dollars with your advertisers. I believe in supporting a site that provides so much value to me and family. I’m passing a couple items along you might find interesting. First, here’s a news item about riots in Greece. It just shows how a variety of things can trigger TSHTF and things can turn on a dime: Also, here’s an interesting personal story about always being prepared and testing your gear: The other night …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Thanks to “asderathos”, who created a YouTube video of my recent interview on the Armstrong & Getty radio show. It was pretty cute how he (or she?) used a photo of “Burt Gummer” (Michael Gross from the movie Tremors) for my portrait. My favorite quote from the interview: “This guy is disappointingly reasoanable.” I guess they were hoping to interview a real wild-eyed lunatic. Sorrry to disappoint.    o o o From Cheryl, our volunteer Economic Editor: Wall Street Extends Rally on Infrastructure Plans — Oil Prices Up on Talk of OPEC Cut — Interest Rates Heading for Zero — …



Letter Re: Can Firearms Magazine Springs “Take a Set”?

James, Although I’m retired from federal law enforcement, I am far from being a firearms expert or zealot. For me, a weapon was just a tool furnished by the agency to conduct business. Things (and my opinion) have changed a bit now – although I’m still not as aggressive as a lot of preppers. That said, I have a question regarding the reliability of magazine’s that one might keep loaded (i.e. in a nightstand) for months or years. Wouldn’t the magazine springs tend to (eventually) take-on a “set” that would reduce reliability? Should we replace certain springs with better(?), rotate …


Letter Re: Food Items in Non-Food Grade Buckets?

Jim, Just an FYI for those who think the food grade plastic buckets are expensive. I have been putting together a list of places to find food and buckets. Online resources seem way too expensive so I’ve been looking local. I found that my local junk store had used but still in fine condition 5 gallon food grade buckets for $1.50 each. I also called some bakeries and was able to get the 3.5 gallon buckets for free after they were done with them. And finally I live about a half hour north of a large Amish area. There are …


Two Letters Re: Getting Your Loved Ones on Board with Preparedness

Dear Mr. Rawles, I am new to your blog (a real treasure chest!) and happened to read your post concerning the Pollys in our lives. I have also spent many of my days what seems like shouting out of the bottom of a barrel to raise people’s awareness of the potential issues that surround us. I did note that you mentioned [the television series] Jericho as a means of raising people’s awareness concerning survival, etc. Our family has been able to share our DVDs almost like a lending library all summer and had many, many friends and even acquaintances not …


Odds ‘n Sods:

As my friend “Kevin Lendel” likes to say: “Such a deal!” More than 175 SurvivalBlog readers have bought Foodsaver vacuum packers at the special December sale price. Don’t miss out on this! You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last. BTW, I recommend getting the optional set of Mason Jar suction attachments, as they are particularly useful.    o o o “AZ-V” mentioned this CNBC clip where Hugh Hendry, a …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Most people lost in the wilds, they, they die of shame…’What did I do wrong? How could I have gotten myself into this?’ And so they sit there and they… die. Because they didn’t do the one thing that would save their lives…Thinking.” – Anthony Hopkins as Charles Morse in “The Edge” (2007); screenplay by David Mamet



Letter Re: Food Storage Versus Expecting Manna Falling from Heaven

Greetings! In response to Heather M., I think your Old Testament examples are excellent, but there are numerous New Testament examples as well, with the best being St. Paul’s admonition in II Thessalonians 3: 6-15 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the …


Letter Re: Montana Bound–Recommended Sidearm for Rural Living?

Jim: I concur with your recommendation for a .45 ACP, and the Glock in particular. The Glock 21/30 family is also well-equipped to handle either the .45 Super, or Triton’s .450 SMC, with just the simple addition of a heavier recoil spring and rod. (In the 21-23 lb range.) A Glock set up with this heavier spring is also still able to shoot standard .45ACPs all day long. While not sanctioned by Glock, myself and many, many others have shot a huge number of these rounds downrange in our G21s and G30s without so much as a hiccup. The [discussion …


Odds ‘n Sods:

John B. pointed us to an interesting article in Slate on the effects of inflation in Argentina: Coins more valuable than bills. This ties in with my advice starting in 2007 on buying up rolls of US nickels . This is just one of several tangibles strategies to get prepared for the incipient mass inflation in the United States.    o o o New ID Scanners at Borders Raise Privacy Alarm. These RFID scanners can be overcome by an expensive commercially-made wallet, or by something a simple as a few wraps of aluminum foil. Speaking of privacy, nearly a dozen …