Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The degree of equality in education that we can reasonably hope to attain, but that should be adequate, is that which excludes all dependence, either forced or voluntary. We shall show how this condition can be easily attained in the present state of human knowledge even by those who can study only for a small number of years in childhood, and then during the rest of their life in their few hours of leisure. We shall prove that, by a suitable choice of syllabus and methods of education, we can teach the citizen everything that he needs to know in …


Two Letters Re: Prepping for Fishing in TEOTWAWKI

James: This is in response to the articles on fishing. Depending on where you are, I would assume that everyone and his relations will be sitting on the bank and hoping for a fish to bite. Fishing is hit or miss, unless you have a boat and have spent a great deal of time on the water, you will starve to death waiting for a fish to bite. You will be sitting exposed and probably looking over your shoulder. I have a better solution and it is one that will work every time it is tried. Assuming you are operating …


Letter Re: Root Cellar Alternatives

Mr. Rawles: Just a quick note. For years my father-in-law used a refrigerator, stripped of motor and coils, buried in the backyard.on it’s back to ‘pit’ his potatoes He would add some straw and store his veggies. The rubber seal was removed as was the [door latch] closure mechanism. A simple handle allowed access with no worry about children getting into trouble. A few holes allowed any water to drain. The local water table is many yards under the surface so that was never a concern. Only about one inch of the refrigerator’s body was above ground. If use of …


Economics and Investing:

The Other Jim R. was the first of several readers to alert us to this article: We’re Screwed! ShadowStats.com founder John Williams explains the risk of hyperinflation. Worst-case scenario? Rioting in the streets and devolution to a bartering system. [Gee, what blog has Mr. Williams been reading?] YRC Has Until Yearend to Corral Bondholders, Avert Bankruptcy. Items from The Economatrix: Retailers Slash Prices After Christmas Shoppers Return to Malls, Looking for Deals Stores Hope Gift Cards Will Give Post-Christmas Lift Credit Crunch: Home Equity Lending Evaporates China Closer to Becoming World’s Second Largest Economy US Removes Caps on Fannie, Freddie …


Odds ‘n Sods:

EMB mentioned this creative housing uses for old water tanks and round grain bins: Annesley’s Art House    o o o Also from EMB: New Panasonic Lithium-Ion Battery to Power Up a House–New Li-Ion Battery Coming from Panasonic in 2011    o o o K.T. sent this humorous Steve Lee music video from Australia: I Like Guns. Visually, you will note that it is orchestrated into a lovely crescendo of shooty goodness.



Letter Re: “Range, Range in the Home”

Sir, I would expect that most readers of SurvivalBlog either are good marksmen already, or desire to be better marksmen. I consider myself to belong to the latter group with skills that place me, at best, in the very modest middle of that category. As the prices of ammunition and reloading components increased during this past year my visits to the range became fewer and fewer while my skills languished accordingly. This is not good for someone who hopes to be better prepared to put meat on the table, or to defend oneself. Not long ago my younger brother was …


Letter Re: Root Cellar Alternatives

Hi Jim, Thank you so much for the wealth of information on your blog. It is encouraging to see so many people working towards self-sufficiency. I was recently introduced to a gardening concept called Square Foot Gardening. There are several advantages to the concept not the least of which are: much less area needed to grow a bounty of fresh veggies, no longer needing to till a large area that only grows plants in a few inch-wide rows, less watering, no weeds, and also no need for numerous gardening tools to tend your crops. A friend used this method last …


Letter Re: Covert Home Power for When The Grids Go Down

Hello, I just wanted to pass along a link to a company that sells new made in USA alternators for common vehicles, 190 up to 270 amps, and brackets and belts to run duals. the base model 190 amp puts out a 130 amps at idle ( factory puts out maybe 60 amps, on a full size truck) these things look built to last, and would run an inverter a lot better than stock, never mind worrying about burning out your electrical system. I will be getting one of these soon! As usual just an interested consumer, not affiliated with …


Economics and Investing:

Bailout nation continues: Schwarzenegger to seek federal bailout of California on threat of deep cuts. (Thanks to GG for the link.) Also from GG: Austria nationalises Hypo in ECB-backed rescue deal because of “systemic importance in the former Yugoslavia”. Items from The Economatrix: Fitch: Britain and France Risk Losing AAA Rating Thrifty Families Accused of Prolonging the Recession UK: Families Hit By Worst Wages Crash in 50 Years By way of Steve Quayle‘s web site: National Irish Bank Stops Handling Cash Lack of Bank Liquidity Threatens Commercial Real Estate Market States’ Jobless Funds Going “Absolutely Broke” Economic Data Dump For …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Road hits the theaters. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog old timer Charley S. for the link.)    o o o Safety First: Frozen lake leads to tragedy for California family. People do love their pets, but human life must be preserved, above all!    o o o Reader F.G. mentioned this smokin’ deal: Complete MOLLE II pack, frame, straps, ruck, belt, and sleep bag carrier sets for under $50


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"A people may want a free government; but if, from insolence, or carelessness, or cowardice, or want of public spirit, they are unequal to the exertions necessary for preserving it; if they will not fight for it when it is directly attacked; if they can be deluded by the artifices used to cheat them out of it; if by momentary discouragement or temporary panic, or a fit of enthusiasm for an individual they can be induced to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or trust him with powers which enable him to subvert their institutions; …


Notes from JWR:

The upgrade job is turning out to take longer than expected. SurvivalBlog, now with over 8,100 posts, has gotten too big for the old publishing system to handle. The archives are still mostly down, until we can work things out. WE hope to have everything up and running again soon. Merry Christmas! — I was recently interviewed by Cope Reynolds on The Shooting Bench Internet radio show. (Be sure to scroll through the extensive archives of their podcasts.) — Today we present another entry for Round 26 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize: A.) A course certificate from …


Prepping for Fishing in TEOTWAWKI, by W. in Atlanta

Much has been written in these pages and elsewhere about prepping for food: maintaining protein and caloric intake. Fish are an excellent source of protein, and will continue to be so under most post-SHTF scenarios. How does a person go about preparing to catch them, and convert them to food? I write this as someone who has had the good luck to have fished over the last fifty plus years in every continent but Australia, and survived, and who has designed and built hundreds of rods in pursuit of every conceivable species of fish using a wide range of techniques. …


Letter Re: Preparedness with Very Limited Resources

Jim:I don’t think you’re a fool. It is important to put yourself in this type of situation and test yourself. I live in rural Northern Michigan, it gets cold up here. Last winter I did exactly what you’re talking about. I walked down to the river behind my house (about a ½ mile) and stayed two nights without any gear. The only thing I had other than my clothes was a lighter. You should always have a way to make fire on you. Ironically smokers are more likely to make it through survival situations, simply because they always carry a …