Letter Re: Communications in Times of Crisis

James, Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer! Nor am I a communications specialist. Nor am I an electrical engineer. All of the values cited in the following letter are estimates, and anyone is invited to refute or embellish, or add corrected information to these meanderings. I am by no means an expert on the subject, but, I do have some background in amateur radio and have been involved in communications since I built my first “comm” system at the age of 14 for myself and my buddies, and throughout the years, including time spent in the US Army Signal Corps …


Weekly Survival Real Estate Market Update

This week, after a personal experience with a house fire in a rental property I own, I want to cover how to secure your retreat from fire when your not living on site. Although the fire department was on scene and had the fire out within 10 minutes of the 911 call (the property was inside city limits) you can expect a 15 to 30 minute response time to your unoccupied retreat (in good weather), and that is if you have an automatic notification system or if a passerby sees the smoke and flames, and pray the fire is not …


Odds ‘n Sods:

From Richard Daughty–aka The Mogambo Guru–posted by The Asia Times: Weak dollar induces a dream world    o o o Several months ago, when discussing the residential real estate market bubble, I wrote about “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Here is an article (suggested by reader D.V.), that echoes my sentiments: Will the Commercial Real Estate Market Fall? Of course it will    o o o Rob at Affordable Shortwaves sent us this reminder: If any SurvivalBlog readers are looking for delivery of a Kaito KA1102 AM/FM/Shortwave radio by Christmas, then they should place their orders by Saturday, …



Note from JWR:

Tomorrow is the much anticipated US release date for the quasi-survivalist movie “I Am Legend“, based on the novel of the same name by Richard Matheson. I am curious to see how loyal the movie is to the novel. After having read an early draft of the screenplay (by Mark Protosevich) and having seen the extended version of the promotional trailer, I suspect that it will be a blend of the novel and elements from “The Omega Man” (the 1971 film adaptation starring Charlton Heston.)


Letter Re: Preparedness on a Very Tight Budget

Mr. Rawles, I have recently begun reading your blog and I am intrigued by the ideas behind survivalism. As a Mormon who grew up in an area with frequent inclement weather, I have maintained an interest over the years and made, at least, some preparations. I presently have a well-equipped Bug-Out-Bag (FYI – Mormons generally refer to these as “72-hour kits”) for both my wife and I, an easily portable lock box containing all vital documents and an external hard drive with all digital documents, plenty of bottled water on hand, and sufficient food in our home for one month. …


Letter Re: Preparedness for Less Than a Worst Case, From an Eastern Urbanite’s Perspective

Jim: In response to “Preparedness for Less Than a Worst Case, From an Eastern Urbanite’s Perspective” your response D.C. for improving his family’s preps is reasonable but I think that your advice can be expanded. So I offer the following to my fellow New Yorkers and to other urbanites. D.C. is right that 99% of the inconveniences we encounter will be of short duration. Preparing for these will put us far ahead of the unprepared. Preparing for a week long event will benefit you no matter how long the event lasts–be that an hour or a month! In the same …


Letter Re: The Importance of “Weak Side” Firearms Practice

Jim and SurvivalBlog Readers, If you are already reasonably accomplished with your defensive firearms and you have the time and money, then it can be most educational to take a firearm course (e.g. Front Sight) and shoot the entire course with your weak hand. Two or Four days of solid enforced practice with the off hand will do wonders for your ability to wrap your brain around the other side of your body. Plus, when it comes time to do the ‘weak hand’ drills, you really surprise the instructors 😉 – SCD


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader RBS mentioned the Plants For A Future Database    o o o Derivative Trades Jump 27% to Record $681 Trillion. I’ve warned you about the derivatives bubble. Someday in the near future it is likely to implode and cause an unprecedented economic catastrophe.    o o o Still more sub-prime fallout: Bank of America Closing Beleaguered Institutional Cash Fund That Has Withered From $34 Billion to $12 Billion    o o o Tim and RBS both sent us this: Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

[Two men are fencing in a duel to the death] Inigo Montoya: You are wonderful! Man in Black: Thank you; I’ve worked hard to become so. Inigo Montoya: I admit it, you are better than I am. Man in Black: Then why are you smiling? Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don’t know. Man in Black: And what is that? Inigo Montoya: I… am not left-handed! [Moves his sword to his right hand and gains an advantage] Man in Black: You are amazing! Inigo Montoya: I ought to be, after 20 years. Man in Black: Oh, there’s something I …


Note from JWR:

I’d appreciate getting a few more Quotes of the Day. (After more than two years of daily SurvivalBlog posts, my personal quote collection is running dry, although I suppose that I’ll never run out of useful Bible verses.) If any of you have some favorite quotes, please send them to me via e-mail. Thanks!


Four Letters Re: Extended Care of the Chronically Ill in TEOTWAWKI

Mr. Rawles: Every once in a while, at topic comes up that I feel somewhat qualified to comment on. I’ll offer some miscellaneous comments on Dave T’s letter and your thoughts on medicine WTSHTF, as posted on SurvivalBlog. This is not meant to be exhaustive, and of course may not apply to your particular situation. Since I can’t see you, its hard for me to diagnose you or give you specific advice. Disclaimers all ’round. Chronic renal failure: It may be worth learning to do peritoneal dialysis if you may have to help someone deal with this condition in a …


Odds ‘n Sods:

David B. suggested a “must read” article by Charles Hugh Smith: The Unintended Consequences of the Housing Bubble Bursting    o o o Student-Loan Problems Add to Debt Worry    o o o s SF suggested this TED talk: Thomas Barnett: The Pentagon’s new map for war and peace    o o o There is some insightful commentary from Alex Wallenwein posted over at Gold-Eagle.com: Credit ‘Crunch’ – or Credit Collapse?



Note from JWR:

The high bid is still at $250 in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction, for six items: 1.) a Katadyn Pocket water filter, (with a $200 retail value) 2.) a Watersafe field water test kit ( a $27 retail value), both donated by Ready Made Resources, 3.) A copy of the latest edition of “The Encyclopedia of Country Living” by the late Carla Emery (a $32 retail value) 4.) an autographed copy of my novel“Patriots” (a $23 retail value), 5.) an autographed copy of my nonfiction book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation” (a $25 retail value), and 6.) a SurvivalBlog Logo Contractor/Operator …