Letter Re: Advice for Newbie on Food Dehydrating, Canning, and Storage

Sir: I started reading SurvivalBlog just two months ago,following a recommendation by an elder at my Baptist church. Your blog has become a daily habit. I just recently signed up for $3 a month for the 10 Cent Challenge. Right now, I’m “peeling back the onion layers”–going through the [SurvivalBlog] archives. I am blown away by how much knowledge you have amassed there, all free. Thank you! I’m feeling more than a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of what I now realize that I need to do, to prepare for my family [for] disasters. I wasn’t raised on a farm, …


Letter Re: Advice on Survival Retreats and Bug Out Vehicles

Hi Mr Rawles, I saw the letter from someone that was considering an Isuzu Rodeo as a BOV. That is an awful decision. They do not get “30-35 MPG”. (Look up the EPA ratings). They are not reliable, they are cheap because of their poor quality, and parts are rare. If I were buying a BOV (which I’m not, because I’m in college at the moment.) I would aim for a 1997 Ford Explorer with the V-8, which is compatible with the Mustang’s 302 for after-market parts (however, transmissions on the V-8 were upgraded in 1998 because of an issue …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Via SHTF Daily comes this commentary from Robert P. Murphy: The Worst Recession in 25 years?    o o o Typhoon Season: China Evacuates 1 Million As Storm Hits    o o o Blair recommended this article by Dr. Gary North (my hero): A 10-Step Personal Self-Defense Strategy Against a Coordinated Bioterrorist Attack    o o o RBS flagged this piece from The Age (in Australia): Food shock as ‘agflation’ sees prices rise



Note from JWR:

To anyone looking for the Claire Wolfe’s Blog discussion forums (“The Claire Files”), be advised that the forums were recently sold, simply because they were too time consuming for Claire to maintain. They are, however, still quite active, under their new name The Mental Militia Forums. (A poor name choice, in my opinion.) The same folks still post there.


Letter Re: Advice on Survival Retreats and Bug Out Vehicles

Hello, I have been reading your blog and I find it very useful in many ways. I have a couple of questions for you: 1) For a secure compound or retreat would a multi family area (with like-minded people of course) be something useful? And if so, how would you bring it to the attention of members that would be willing to invest in something like this? [JWR’s replies are in-line, in bold.] Yes, a multi-family retreat can be viable, but only if there are clearly delineated rights and responsibilities. These should spelled out formally–either contractually or covenantally–lest there be …


Letter Re: A Reader’s Perspective on Assembling a Survival Firearms Battery

James: As far as a perfect survival firearm you are right there is no one fire arm, I have seen many people give there opinion on this and in calibers also. As far as I am concerned there is only one all round weapon of perfection, that would be the 12 gauge shotgun with the many different types of ammo offered for slugs to bird shot it is an all around must have in the pending days. As for a protection in a high capacity fire arm I would be trust anything less then a 7.62×39 it has enough stopping …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Alphie sent us this: “Adding Insult to Injury Department ” news story: Lost your home? You may owe IRS    o o o Homebuilders: Lennar’s Loss Deepens the Pain    o o o DV sent us this item: Bird flu virus mutating into human-unfriendly form. The article begins: “The H5N1 bird flu virus has mutated to infect people more easily, although it still has not transformed into a pandemic strain, researchers said…”    o o o Found at the Drudge Report: Adventurer ends 13-year human-powered world trip



Note from JWR:

Today we are pleased to feature an excerpt from the published science fiction novel “The Weapon” by Michael Z. Williamson. You will recognize Michael’s name as a frequent content contributor to SurvivalBlog. The following biography is courtesy of Wikipedia: Williamson “was born in England, but his family emigrated to Canada, then the United States in 1978. He has served over 20 years in the United States military, in one form or another. Williamson’s first book, Freehold, was released in January 2004. The novel is set in a future wherein the UN is a Socialist empire. Williamson’s next novel, The Hero, …


Book Excerpt from “The Weapon” by Michael Z. Williamson

That night I left. I had to abandon most of what I had acquired. I took all the baby clothes and formula I could manage. I grabbed the Dr. Seuss book. One bottle of whiskey would work as trade goods. I had the clothes on my back, extra underwear and shirt. The little remaining ID and a few cash cards would have to do me. I was in quandary over the food. If I left it, it might be taken as a bribe, or used as evidence against me. If I burned it, it would be obvious. I couldn’t think …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sam M. sent us this: CIBC Economist: $100 Oil by End of ’08–Expert: Oil Prices Set to Hit $100 by End of ’08, and Will Likely Stay at Triple-Digit Level. Perhaps the “alarmist” Peak Oil crowd was not far from the mark.    o o o A hat tip to Ben L. for forwarding us this article link: Tamiflu may create resistant bird flu    o o o The folks at SHTF Daily linked to a great primer on sound, specie-backed money being replaced by fiat currency: The Rule of Planned Money    o o o Chuck suggested ED-Day–Dead Sydney, …




Letter Re: Underground Storm/Fallout/Vault Shelters

Jim, You know we respect you. You’re at the top of the survivalist food chain because of your relevant knowledge and for your impeccable integrity. Those qualities draw respectful, serious readers to SurvivalBlog, and their contributions, in turn, to the cause of preparedness and your blog’s content are first rate as well. Needless to say, we’re very pleased that Safecastle is associated with you and can help sponsor the work you’re doing for the folks of this nation. You know that Safecastle is all about crisis preparedness. For most folks, they know us by our Buyers Club (that club ad …