A left winger comments on Bush’s new National Continuity [of Government] Policy o o o Kansas professor warns of return to ‘Dirty Thirties’ Dust Bowl o o o Detroit shuts off water to scofflaws o o o More on CCD: Organic Beekeepers Report No Losses While Conventional Operations Report Massive Colony Losses
"The future belongs to people who see possibilities before they become obvious." – Ted Levitt (Professor Emeritus, Harvard Business School)
I’m interested in hearing from some more of our overseas readers. (There are lots of you, in more than 70 countries.) I’d really like to expand the Retreat Owners Profiles page, to reflect the wide range of approaches that are used in other regions to increase a family’s survivability. I’d particularly like to hear from anyone that lives in a country plagued by economic troubles and/or social upheaval. I’d also appreciate hearing from anyone living in a country with a severe climate–such as an arctic or desert regions. I’m sure that the readers of SurvivalBlog will benefit from reading about …
Jim, My wife and I are ready to make a purchase of a water purifier. I have taken your advise as a reader of SurvivalBlog and researched the Berkey products and I also looked at Aquarian. I have decided on the Berkey and am leaning toward the Travel Berkey Water Purifier that is listed on Get Ready Industries web site at $199. This unit appears to be usable on the go and as a purification unit in a retreat situation. I would like you thoughts on this unit when you have time. For your information we live in eastern Kansas …
Jim: In case anyone questions the source, the injection pump tip that I mentioned came from a large rebuilder who has seen the interval between rebuilds dropping to as low as six months on pumps with standard parts. Older pumps were designed to be lubed by high sulfur Diesel fuel. Since I was buying a rebuilt injection pump for my veggie oil non-turbo 6.2L Suburban, he strongly recommended the stainless version, which cost 50% more. Lubricity of veggie oil is far higher than any Diesel fuel, but in cold climates we start and stop the engine on straight Diesel. In …
SurvivalBlog reader Matt said that he found a great article on lessons learned from the recent New Jersey wildfire. o o o Just a minor bubonic plague breakout in Denver. o o o War Stretches Nation’s Ammo Supply o o o Jason sent us this one: A young man in Idaho turns 18 and decides to exercise his Constitutional rights inside city limits.
"Much like a muscle that atrophies with disuse, any right that goes unexercised for many years devolves into a privilege, and eventually can even be redefined as a crime." – James Wesley, Rawles
The high bid is now at $325 in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction for a selection of 17 survival and preparedness books.
Mr. Rawles: I was at a gun show last weekend, stocking up on ammo and magazines. A dealer had some original [Ruger] Mini-14 magazines (made at the factory, in white boxes) that were marked “restricted for law enforcement use..” or somesuch, stamped right into the body of the magazine. I also saw some Beretta M92 magazines with a whole bunch of the same kind of “thou shalt not…” small print. I thought that the [Federal] magazine ban had expired. I’m confused here. Could I get in trouble with my local police if I buy magazines with these marks? Thanks, – …
Jim, In a recent SurvivalBlog post, you mentioned buying pre-1965 silver coins of the dime, quarter and half dollar type. What about silver dollars? My family and I are buying junk silver and including the silver Peace and Morgan dollars in our purchases. Should we concentrate on the smaller denominations? – Bill in KS JWR Replies: Unfortunately, the premium on silver dollars is considerably higher than on the smaller denomination coins. When four quarters ($1) would cost you $11 (11 times face value) a 1921 Morgan (the most common date) silver dollar in well-worn condition will cost you at least …
Jim, I just thought I would send you a quick note and tell you about Conservative Match. [Their motto is:] “Sweethearts, not bleeding hearts.” My son found himself a wonderful wife there that fits our family like a glove. It was like she came custom made. Maybe he just got lucky, but he managed to find himself a wife, and myself a daughter in law, that I just did not think were being made anymore. She is conservative/libertarian and home schooled. Oh, and did I mention she has the “survivor gene” and likes to hunt, fish, camp, scout and shoot? …
RBS sent us this: Utilities brace for worker shortage.OBTW, folks looking for their “ticket” to the boonies might consider this sort of work. America has hundreds or rural utility companies, many of which are co-ops. Utility company employment is steady work, even during deep recessions. o o o Video clip: Just another day in Beirut, Lebanon o o o PJH and Hutch both sent us this article: Solar Flashlight Lets Africa’s Sun Deliver the Luxury of Light to the Poorest Villages. Their “buy one, give one” arrangement sounds like a great way to dispense charity. o o …
"No one can find a safe way out for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction. Therefore everyone, in his own interests, must thrust himself vigorously into the intellectual battle. None can stand aside with unconcern; the interests of everyone hang on the result." – Ludwig von Mises
Today we begin with the responses for S.F.’s suggested 100 Words and 100 Pounds “Resume” poll.
Some of these stretched the 100 word limit. (I skipped posting one that rambled on far beyond the limit.) The poll’s premise in a nutshell: “If someday you went to the gates of a survival community post-TEOTWAWKI and pleaded the case for why you should be let past the barricades and armed guards to become a valuable working member of the group, would you get voted in? Taken objectively, would you vote yourself in?” I am a shoe maker (not just a repairman) can repair saddles tan leather have done ranch work mechanics weld gardening skills set a broken …