Odds ‘n Sods:

From The Guardian in England: From the sub-prime to the ridiculous: how $100 billion vanished    o o o This one has been at my Links page for many moons, but is worth mentioning again: The Seismic Monitor    o o o Reader Bill N. mentioned that there is an instructional ice rescue video on the Discovery Channel-Canada’s web site. Bill N. notes: “To anyone who might be around lakes or rivers that are frozen over, you should check out this video on how to save yourself if you fall through the ice.”    o o o Eric S. flagged …



Note from JWR:

Happy New Year! (And to the many new SurvivalBlog readers in Finland: Onnellista uutta vuotta!) I pray that in Aught Eight you and yours are safe, healthy, right with God, and prepared for all eventualities. Because SurvivalBlog 10 Cent Challenge subscriptions are entirely voluntary, I do not send out reminder e-mails when they lapse. I just post an annual reminder in the blog each January. This is it, your one and only reminder. (I hate to pester anyone, especially for something that is voluntary.) When you make a subscription donation, please mark your calendar, so that you will know when …


Two Letters Re: Sources for Gasoline and Diesel Fuel in a Grid-Down Collapse

Hi Jim, I work for a general, solving problems in the Middle East. Fixing vehicles is easy, its fixing the people that’s hard… I love your stuff on SurvivalBlog and thought I’d add: There are plenty of submersible type improvised fuel pumps will fit down into a 3″ pipe. Background is that GM and most other manufacturers’ in-tank fuel pumps are part of a tank ‘module’ which includes the fuel gauge sending unit, pressure feed, return feed, and evaporative emissions sensor. The pump is designed to run when submersed in fuel. I’ll get some part numbers if you would like …


Letter Re: Advice on Blade Sharpening

Shalom Jim, I purchased some utility knives and a bayonet recently and it got me to thinking about what and how are the best ways to sharpen a dull edge. Do you have any suggestions or techniques that you are using? Seems like the best method would be without the use of power tools. I appreciate your help, once again. Todah Rabbah (Thank you), B’Shem Yahshua HaMoshiach (In the Name of Messiah Yahshua) – Dr. Sidney Zweibel JWR Replies: I may be a dinosaur, but I use traditional Arkansas stones for most of my knives. I do have a few …


Letter Re: Sprouting Techniques

Dear James I saw the posts about sprouting and would like to suggest Sprout People: The have loads of information on sprouting and have good prices for many types of sprouting seed and sprouters. I have the Sproutmaster, the Bioset and the Hemp Bag. I find the Bioset to be the easiest (water twice a day) and larger than the Sproutmaster, which also works quite well. I also find that if you want to have sprouts every day, you really need to have two sprouters. Sprouts are nutritious, tasty and easy to grow. They are the perfect survival food. All …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Gold edges up towards record highs on Pakistan unrest, low dollar      o o o SJC sent this piece from Jim Jubak: Don’t count on a ‘normal’ recession    o o o The humorous and informative Dr. Housing Bubble blog outgrew its Blogspot hosting site, so the editors got serious and bought their own domain and hosting: www.DoctorHousingBubble.com. Be sure to update your bookmarks.    o o o Speaking of Dr. Housing Bubble, don’t miss their recent article on California house prices: 10 Homes throughout the Golden Bubble State.



Note from JWR:

The high bid in the current SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $320. The auction is for a scarce original 1980s-vintage Heckler und Koch 19mm Emergency Flare Launcher (EFL) aka “Notsignalgerät“ from my personal collection. It comes with three magazines and 28 scarce original German 19mm flares–10 red, 10 white, and 8 green. Together, this package is worth approximately $400. It is not classified as a “firearm” under Federal law. (Consult your state and local laws before bidding.) Sorry, no overseas bids will be accepted for this auction. This auction ends on January 15th. Please e-mail us your bids, in …


Four Letters Re: Sprouting Techniques

Mr. Rawles, I saw the post about Nick B. looking for help on the subject of sprouts. Maybe I can help. Earlier this year I was checking things out on a couple of preparedness sites. Some of the readers may know about these,but I’ll pass the links along for those who may not have seen them. This one Survival And Self-Sufficiency Links has a lot of useful resources, and I found this one for sprouts: Sprouting: a brief overview. It has a few links above the section on beekeeping. There may be others that I have forgotten, or just may …


Letter Re: A Useful Rifle Zeroing Technique, and Effective Spotter Sighting Offsets

Dear Jim, You brought up an excellent point when you mentioned zeroing weapons. Everyone should know how to battle sight zero their primary defensive weapon (assuming adjustable sights). The procedure is as follows: Move the sights all the way left (rear) and down (front). Count the number of clicks or turns necessary to reach the opposite extreme. Move the sights back to the halfway position and remember this number (it can be written on a laminated card in the butt/grip or even on the side of the stock). This is mechanical zero. It should be fairly close to actual zero …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Ben. L. tells us that the US Transportation Security Agency (TSA, a.k.a.”Thousands Standing Around”) has banned most lithium batteries from passenger plane checked luggage. This includes certain laptop and pro camera batteries, and those ubiquitous “123” batteries used in Surefire flashlights. The new rule reads in part: “Effective January 1, 2008, spare lithium batteries – extra batteries not installed on devices – will no longer be allowed in checked baggage. Spare lithium batteries may be packed in carry-on baggage and lithium batteries installed in a device may be packed in either checked or carry-on, as long as the battery …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering always the estimation of the widow’s mite, but, that it is not every one who asketh that deserveth charity; all, however, are worthy of the inquiry, or the deserving may suffer.” – President George Washington, letter to Bushrod Washington, Jan. 15, 1783


Note from JWR:

Today we present another article for Round 14 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $2,000!) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. Round 14 ends on January 31st. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.


Time and Energy Efficient Cooking, by KBF

I wish to share some valuable information on my personal experiences with the use of two cooking devices which I incorporate into daily homemaking practice when I am attempting to conserve on water and on fuel usage. Both of them are extremely time and energy efficient. The two kitchen products which have earned their weight in silver in my home are my pressure cookers, and my newest kitchen toys, which come from an old Asian origin and cooking concept, the thermo cooker pot. I have and use several sizes of pressure cookers. I chose the pot size for use for …