SurvivalBlog Reader Survey Results: Conveniently Bypassed Areas

The following are the first batch of responses to our survey about areas that might be bypassed by looters and refugees, WTSHTF: There are many islands off the east coast that in my opinion would be avoided by most and are rich in natural resources. Particularly Virginia and believe it or not New Jersey–one that comes to mind that I’ve visited in NJ is Island Beach State Park. And don’t forget Acadia in Maine. — In Arizona: The Santa Rita Mountains are south of Tucson, just east of I-17, and are used as a landmark for everyone coming across the …


Letter Re: Life Under South Africa’s Gun Laws, by Joe Ordinary Voortrekker

This article is a response to a large and glaring preparedness dilemma for myself. Being a law abiding citizen I cannot willfully put myself or my family into a situation where we can be held legally liable for the commission of a crime. If I had a ‘run-in’ with the law because of my beliefs on firearms and freedom, it can and will put my family at risk. Unfortunately we live in a country where the liberty of its citizens is at the mercy of the State. South Africa is for all intents and purposes a ‘Free and democratic’ country. …


Economics and Investing:

Barron’s mentioned a “Buy” indicator on Smith and Wesson. I second the motion, but to be more specific: Make it one of the early stainless steel S&Ws with the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. (“Pinned and recessed.”) For revolvers, you can’t go wrong with an early production Model 629. I like the 6″ barrel length, (except for concealed carry), but the Barron’s didn’t give any details. What? You say he only owns S&W stock? You can’t stop a charging grizzly with a stock certificate. Invest in tangibles! Fed is Said to Seek Capital for at Least Six Banks Swine Flu …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Beth flagged this: Argentina’s wheat planting lowest in almost 100 years    o o o “John Smith” sent this informative video link: Obama Budget Cuts Visualization    o o o The mainstream media catches on to the consequences on the new “Made in Montana” gun law: Montana fires a warning shot over states’ rights (Thanks to Paula for the link.) OBTW, one tip for any SurvivalBlog readers that live up in Montana: Check out Sonju International in Kalispell. Get your order in early. You’ll of course need to be a Montana citizen and be able to show a Montana driver’s …



Mexican Flu Update

Cheryl wrote to mention an article that described using Vitamin D to prevent a cytokine storm The dose is 2,000 units of Vitamin D per kilogram (1 kg = 2.2046 pounds), once per day. Thus, for an average 150 lb. adult, the dose would be would be 136,060 units of Vitamin D. This is to be taken for three days. (I.U. Equivalence: 50,000 units = 1.25 mg) My Strong Proviso: The usual fat soluble vitamin (KADE) warnings apply. Don’t over-do a good thing. You should discuss vitamin D testing and replacement with your physician before acting on that doctor’s recommendations! …


Letter Re: Adapting Family Food Storage for Gluten Intolerance

Hi Jim, I wonder how many other preppers out there have the same issue we just discovered. My wife has always had trouble with her digestive tract. Recently we discovered that she is has Coeliac’s disease which means she is gluten intolerant. She can no longer eat gluten which it seems is in just about every type of prepared food. It comes from Wheat and is obviously in anything that has wheat in it, but it is also in lots of other things including vitamins, tomato paste, some candies, etc. It has been quite an adjustment for us! This makes …


Letter Re: Home and Ranch Methane Gas Generators

Jim: I saw the following post concerning Gober (“dung”) gas, dated 27 April, 2009, over at Michael Yon’s web site:. “During breaks from tracking training – I was sweating like crazy in the jungle heat – I asked many questions about Afghanistan and Nepal, and he talked about a simple way to make many of the Afghans lives easier. Most Afghans don’t even have electricity. When he was about fifteen years-old, his dad installed a “Gobar Gas” (methane) generator next to the house in Nepal. The generator is simple: the owner just collects human and animal waste, and through a …


Two Letters Re: My Experiment with a Field Gear Invention

Hello, Mr Rawles, I´m writing to you in response to Mike B´s letter “My Experiment with a Field Gear Invention.” Halfway´ through the second paragraph I began to smile since I instantly recognized the item he was writing about. How different outdoor culture can be from country to country. In Sweden this is called “sittunderlägg” and is somewhat of an household item among outdoors people. However, I would like to add some tips about the manufacture of the same. In Sweden they are made of closed foam, the same material as in the cheap camping mattresses. This has several advantages. …


Economics and Investing:

From reader GC: Economy Shrinks at 6.1 Percent Pace in First Quarter Unemployment Up Again in Chicago In March, But Many Cities Fare Much Worse (thanks to Ray L. for the link) Linked at The Drudge Report: Phoenix leads nation in home price declines in February (Down 51%!) Commentary from Michael Pento: It’s Stagflation, Not Hyperinflation-For Now Items from The Economatrix: Government, Chrysler Lenders Reportedly Reach Deal to Avert Bankruptcy Shares of BofA, Citi Drop on Stress Test Concerns GM to Force Over 1,000 Dealers to Close China Admits to Building Up Gold Stockpile Small Caps Rally, Lifting Stocks


Odds ‘n Sods:

America’s Most Dangerous Cities    o o o The Scientific American asks: Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization? (Hat tip to KAF for the link.)    o o o Frank S. sent us: When Did Your County’s Jobs Disappear? An interactive map of vanishing employment across the country.    o o o I just noticed that Wiggy’s is continuing their 25% Off Sale for their sleeping bags. Their FTRSS sleeping bags are fabulous. When I was having back problems, I gave my FTRSS the equivalent of three lifetimes worth of use, and it performed flawlessly. Wiggy’s bags are warm, tremendously …



Notes from JWR:

The Tennessean newspaper (published in Nashville), recently featured an article about my novel: Survivalist author has end in sight — Amazon.com is now so backed up on orders for “Patriots” , that they have sent e-mails to customers, asking if they want to cancel their orders or hang on until perhaps mid-June for shipment. (If you do cancel, and then re-order at the new lower cover price ($8.97), be advised that you probably won’t get your copies until late June.) My publisher tells me that there are now 40,000 copies in print, but it may take a couple of weeks …


Mexican Flu Update

It has been reported that the incubation period for the Mexican Swine Flu is 4-to-5 days, and perhaps as long as 10 days in children. That’s the “hot” period when someone infected is shedding the virus. This is bad news for epidemiologists. With modern air travel, this means that there is probably no stopping the flu from making it to the far reaches of the globe. So now, all that we can do is wait, watch, and pray that it doesn’t mutate into a more lethal strain. Barring that, my guesstimate is that it will be every country with a …


My Experience with a Field Gear Invention, by Mike B.

I would like to share with everyone something I have in my Bug out Bag (BOB) that I have yet to see mentioned in any post or forum on the subject. I stole the idea fair and square from survival expert Les Stroud (of Survivorman television series fame) and modified it to suit my needs and budget. This simple addition weighs very little, costs very little, and makes so much sense I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it for so many years. In Les’s treks through the Canadian wilderness, he would often be seen wearing what looked like a …