Note from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $350. The auction for a mixed lot that includes: Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans, (donated by Ready Made Resources–a $320 value), a NukAlert radiation detector, (donated by KI4U–a $160 value), a Wilson Tactical COP tool, (donated by Choate Machine and Tool Company, a $140 value), a DVD of 480 E-books on Alternative Energy (donated by WK Books–a $25 value). The auction ends on September 15, 2008. Please e-mail us your bid.


The Grand Illusion: G8 – 1 = Cold War II?

Perhaps Anatoliy Golitsyn was right. He was a high level Soviet defector that predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, claiming that perestroika and glasnost were charades that had been planned for decades by the Soviet-era KGB leadership to strategically deceive the West into thinking that we had “won” the Cold War. Some evidence: the recent Russian invasion of Georgia, Russia’s nuclear threats against Poland, and Putin’s hints of positioning ICBMs in Cuba. (As I’ve written before, history doesn’t exactly repeat itself, but it often rhymes.) Was Golitsyn right? The West may have been the victim of the greatest dezinformatisaya …


Letter Re: Advice on Preparedness for Travelers?

Mr. Rawles, I just picked up two rugged 4GB USB memory sticks at a rather good price of $15 each. ($19.99 less a mail-in rebate of $5.) Your readers might consider them for their emergency kits to store scanned in copies of their legal documents, insurance, investments and personal records and photos. This isn’t bullets and butter but might just prove more valuable than both when trying to get a replacement social security card or passport. The 10 year warranty is awfully nice so keep your receipt. Maybe you should scan that and save it on the memory stick too! …


Odds ‘n Sods:

“Bee Prepared” sent us this article from The Guardian: Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point. One in three of UK’s honeybees did not survive winter and spring. Pollination of fruit and vegetables is at risk.    o o o From a farm bulletin, courtesy of reader MK: ShadeTreeConversions.net.    o o o Cheryl N. found this: Merrill Lynch: Credit Crisis is Broad, Deep and Global    o o o Cheryl N. also sent this, from Trident Military: World Camouflage Catalog. It makes handy reference.    o o o Also from Cheryl N.: US Home Foreclosures Increase 55% and Estimated 1,300 Houses …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Almighty God…I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated to thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me. Give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be …


Notes from JWR:

Congrats to Tom H., the high bidder in the recent SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. Today we start a new auction for another mixed lot that includes: Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans, (donated by Ready Made Resources–a $320 value), a NukAlert radiation detector, (donated by KI4U–a $160 value), a Wilson Tactical COP tool, (donated by Choate Machine and Tool Company, a $140 value), a DVD of 480 E-books on Alternative Energy (donated by WK Books–a $25 value). The auction ends on September 15, 2008. The opening bid is just $50. Please e-mail us your bid. Today …


Connecting the Dots on Our Fragile Economy, by Craig R. Smith

Recent events in the financial markets have renewed concerns that should be considered by any American who has worked, paid taxes, invested and saved for the future. It is no secret that America is swimming in debt. Currently the U.S national debt is $9.6 trillion. That is $47,000 for every adult or $94,000 for couples. One can only imagine the future burden that will put on taxpayers as the politicians continue to print money to pay off everything from health care to foreclosed mortgages. No level of taxation will support this kind of unbridled spending. We are now spending money …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I was recently interviewed by Kayleen Schaefer of Details magazine. She is looking for other preppers that would be willing to be interviewed. In particular, she’d like to find someone living in tech Baltimore, Maryland or Washington DC area that would not mind having one of the magazine’s photographers photograph of their food storage shelves. They’ve promised not to publish anything that would reveal identities or locales. Please contact Kayleen via e-mail if you’d like to be interviewed.    o o o Thanks to Chris W. for spotting this: Ready for Disaster? ‘Preparedness Movement’ Members Say They Are    o …



Notes from JWR:

Today is the last day in the current SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. The high bid is now at $580. This auction is for a big mixed lot: a NukAlert radiation detector, donated by KI4U–a $160 value), a DVD of 480 E-books on Alternative Energy (donated by WK Books–a $25 value), and the following package of survival gear all kindly donated by CampingSurvival.com: One case of MREs, one pack of water purifications tablets, a bottle of colloidal silver, a fire starter, a bottle of potassium iodate tablets, an emergency dental kit, a pack of “Shower in a bag” bath wipes, and one …


Letter Re: Questions on Root Cellaring

Hi Jim, I don’t recall reading a specific article about root cellaring, specifically long term storage of vegetables. Is there a point and time when potatoes go to sprout that you can no longer safely eat them? What about the best overall temp to store in and yes or no to burlap bags? What about other veggies? Another tidbit was on Fox and Friends house call portion of the show they talked with an expert and outlined the extreme benefits of eating broccoli and broccoli sprouts with their extreme cancer killing properties and the vitamins in the vegetable. On a …


Letter Re: Advice on M1A Rifle Scopes and Scope Mounts

Mr. Rawles, Thanks for the great articles. I have been able to check out your web site for several months, and have recently been able to purchase thru private channels an M1A (Smith Enterprise receiver) battle rifle. It came with a McMillan fiberglass stock and two 20 round”W”-marked magazines. I have purchased four more of the same magazines through Cheaper Than Dirt, and wanted to know if you had any recommendations on scopes and scope mounts. There seem to be a lot of cheap import scope mounts, but many customer reviews are mixed. Also, with this type of weapon, a …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Pete in New Hampshire found this web site while preparing to test his Bug Out Bag equipment in the field. Pete mentioned “It allows you to build customized topographical maps of the area you pick and if you pay $20 they will mail it to you laminated, ready for field use.”    o o o This latest bit of Nanny State meddling doesn’t bode well for those of us that like to formulate our own soap or otherwise do any home chemistry: Home Science Under Attack In Massachusetts. (A hat tip to “Crusher” for sending the link.)    o o …