Odds ‘n Sods:

Is “Sea-burn” a topic of interest to you? Richard H. mentioned that Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Information Analysis Center (CBRNIAC) has a newsletter that is available for free distribution.    o o o Reader Sandra E. suggested: ” You can buy 500+ coffee filters for as little as $1, and a box of 500 takes up little space and is lightweight. They can be used for toilet paper, paper towels, filtering things other than coffee. Also, if you’re growing in flower pots or buckets with drain holes, put 1 or 2 filters in bottom of pot,and this allows …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"History is not merely what happened; it is what happened in the context of what might have happened. Therefore it must incorporate, as a necessary element, the alternatives, the might-have-beens." – Professor Hugh Trevor-Roper, Regis Professor of Modern History; Oxford University, valedictory address 20 May 1980; quoted in History Today, Vol. 2, Issue 7, July 1982, p. 88


Note from JWR:

Please refrain from trying to have me join you Twitter, Facebook, or any of the other social networks. Getting more than 150 e-mails per day is overwhelming, but an extra 20 to 30 e-mails proclaiming that “John Smith is following you on Twitter” is distracting to to point of annoyance. I don’t respond to any of these requests. I simply don’t have twime to tweet. Thwanks!


Survey Results: Your Favorite Books on Preparedness, Self-Sufficiency, and Practical Skills

In descending order of frequency, the 78 readers that responded to my latest survey recommended the following non-fiction books on preparedness, self-sufficiency, and practical skills: The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery (Far and away the most often-mentioned book. This book is an absolute “must” for every well-prepared family!) The Foxfire Book series (in 11 volumes, but IMHO, the first five are the best) Holy Bible Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation” Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook by James Talmage Stevens The “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course Crisis …


The Case for Accumulating and (Eventually) Using Silver Coins

I recently did a study of prices (food and gasoline) comparing the costs in the early 1960s with 2009 prices for the same items.  I chose the early 1960s because that was the last time 90% silver coins were in circulation.  It was common back then for people to go into a grocery store or gas station and pay for purchases with a few quarters or dimes.  The prices were that cheap back then. For my 2009 food prices I looked at the prices in my local Safeway store in Portland, Oregon.  I was careful to only look at the …



Economics and Investing:

New climate strategy: track the world’s wealthiest. This is the sort of fallacious logic that foments envy, and inevitably class warfare. Yes, Americans do use a disproportionately large portion of the world’s natural resources. But we also create correspondingly more with those resources. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the US is tremendous. Here is an illustration. (California, just by itself is the sixth largest economy in the world.) Consider this: Why does Kenya Airlines have Boeing 747s in their fleet? Because someone in America builds them. Could those planes be made in Kenya? No, because they have neither the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.H. and Hawaiian K. both mentioned this piece over at the Backwoods Home site, by Claire Wolfe: Preparing for Civil Unrest    o o o Randy K. sent us this history lesson: How the potato got hot; The foodstuff was once viewed as unnatural and dangerous. Its rise to a global staple may tell us something about today’s genetically modified crops.    o o o Richard S sent us a link to an amazing story: Do or die; A fellow soldier was impaled by a live RPG. For medics and a helicopter crew, there was only one choice    o …



Note from JWR:

Several readers have asked why I chose the Battle of Bennington Flag as the low key “OPSEC” identifier for SurvivalBlog readers. This was merely because that flag pattern is uncommon enough to stand out, yet it is nothing too controversial. (Versus, for example, a “Don’t Tread On Me” rattlesnake flag!) The Bennington flag does not have any particular historic significance vis-a-vis preparedness. But the flag looks cool, and after all, at Bennington, part of Burgoyne’s army got trounced. By popular demand, I’ve just added Bennington Flag window/bumper stickers to my CafePress Stores. (They are also available by the 10 pack …


Net Producer-Net Consumer Equations for Self-Sufficiency: Getting Out of the Pit

In a recent phone conversation with one of my consulting clients, I was asked why I placed such a large emphasis on living in the country, at a relatively self-sufficient retreat. I’ve already discussed at length the security advantages of isolation from major population centers in the blog, but I realized that I’ve never fully articulated the importance of self-sufficiency, at a fundamental level. In a societal collapse, where you are in “You’re on Your Own” (YOYO) mode, it will be very important to be a net producer of water, food, and energy. This will mean the difference between being …


Letter Re: How Do I Transfer Propane Between Tanks?

Sir, You mentioned the liquid propane dual-fuel vehicle, and said “…if you have a large home LP tank”. So, how do I get the gas from the large tank, to the vehicle.” Is there a pump or some sort of device? Thanks, – Brad S. JWR Replies: There is no need for a pump. Draining liquid propane from a tank, is a self-siphoning process. Talk to your propane delivery man. Tell him that you want to be able to refill your barbeque’s 20-pound tank from you main tank’s liquid withdrawal valve. The adapter fittings are made of brass, and fairly …


Influenza Pandemic Update:

Four Britons Die From Swine Flu; Tips to Help You Fight the Flu “Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I’ve previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of all kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the true culprit behind the seasonality of the flu — not the flu virus itself.” Argentines question government as flu spreads Swine Flu Worries Spark Cambridge Jail Riots Northern Hemisphere Bracing for Fall Flu Carnage Explosion of Swine Flu Deaths in Argentina Homeless People Die After Trial Bird Vaccination In Poland


Economics and Investing:

Reader Paul W. forwarded this piece over at Real Clear Markets: Get Ready for 14 Percent Unemployment GG sent this Wall Street Journal article: Big Banks Don’t Want California’s IOUs DD sent us four articles on unemployment: Unemployed fighting for their benefits A map of weekly unemployment benefits by state and current unemployment rate by state Low income families turning to outside sources to help with necessities Retailers to lay off more workers Karen H. also sent us another raft of articles: Migrants are going to Britain, come hell or high water. “Gazing across the Channel in the direction of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ed L. suggested this Wall Street Journal article: Guns N’ Grosses: Arms Makers Fall Back From Obama Surge. Methinks the next year represents a window of opportunity to stock up on guns, full capacity magazines, and ammunition at a discount prices–before MOAB-induced currency inflation kicks in, or worse yet, new civilian disarmament legislation is enacted. I recommend that you systematically round out your firearms battery , preferably with cash purchases from private parties at gun shows.    o o o Be sure to visit Bill Buppert’s new blog, titled Hezekiah Wyman    o o o Steve from Philly spotted this …