Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader R.V. mentioned that Hollywood’s anxiety piece on the Asian Avian Flu will air on May 9th. Any guesses on its impact on food storage vendors? Hmmmm… If you’ve been procrastinating, then you’d better get your orders in soon.    o o o I just noticed that a gent with whom I’ve corresponded for several years (and also a SurvivalBlog reader) currently has a few nifty items for sale on eBay.    o o o There is an interesting thread on the FAL Files about heavy duty 20 liter gas cans made by Briggs and Stratton, and stabilizing gas …



Note From JWR:

We just returned from a weekend trip down to Salt Lake City, where I had a couple or tables at the Crossroads of the West gun show. Meanwhile, the Memsahib and our kids availed themselves of the outstanding LDS Family History Library, just west of Temple Square. It was great pleasure meeting so many SurvivalBlog readers face to face at the gun show. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement for the blog’s success. One thing that struck me was that 2/3s of the people who said that they had read my novel “Patriots”also said that they hadn’t yet heard …


Letter Re: Advice of Shotgun Shells and Shot Sizes

Dear Mr. Rawles, I look forward to reading your blog every day. One of the nice things about a shotgun is the wide variety of ammo available for them, but that does bring up a question: what type of shells should one stock up on? I currently keep about an even mix of 00 buckshot (primarily for defense) and #8-bird-shot (for practice, pest control & small-game hunting). I also have a small quantity of slugs, but not many; I figure that a situation that would best be served with a slug would be even better served with a rifle. Do …


Letter from “RBS” Re: Supporting SurvivalBlog and Developing a Second Stream of Income

For those of you that have come to find SurvivalBlog.Com a daily read and would also find the Internet just not as fun a place without it, might I suggest an easy way to generate the requested donation of $36 per year (or just 10 cents a day) to keep it going strong. Sell something on eBay or other commerce site (there are plenty!) [and take $36.50 of the proceeds] and send it to JWR. It’s an easy and effective way of killing several “birds” with one stone. First, you will be supporting your favorite web site. Second, the money …



Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 4 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best contest entry will win a four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. The deadline for entries for Round 4 is May 31, 2006.


Thoughts On Disaster Survival, by Mel in Texas

I live in Texas so this is on my mind. But could be relative to anything… Thoughts On Disaster Survival 1. Have a bug-out kit ready at all times. 2. Renew supplies in your bug-out kit on a regular basis. 3. Plan on needing a LOT more supplies than you think. 4. In a real emergency, forget about last-minute purchases. 5. Make sure your vehicle will carry your essential supplies. 6. A big bug-out vehicle can be a handicap. 7. Make sure you have a bug-out place handy. 8. Provide entertainment for younger children. 9. Pack essentials first, then luxuries. …


Letter Re: Angst and Stocking Up

Hello Jim, There has been a lot of chatter recently about a gut feeling that “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” I share that uneasy feeling and note that many of my business associates and I have begun to prepare for hard times. For myself, I’ve accelerated a bit on topping off my retreat supplies. Some recent additions include 500 pounds of Buffalo meat (at a cost of $2.09 a pound for yearling grain fed Buffalo heifer, cut, double wrapped and frozen.) I’ve had one of my M1A type rifles rebuilt to competition standards, added a case of 12 gauge 00 …


Two Letters Re: Ponds, Aquiculture, and Pond Predators

Hey James,   I have been pondering (pun intended) bioponics (AKA aquaponics) for a couple of years now.  A seminal site, http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/index.html, describes bioponics as “A simple and innovative system of food production combining aquaculture and hydroponic growing techniques without expensive equipment” or the use of mineral nutrient salts.   Here’s how it works.  Water from the fish tank is pumped to grow beds.  In addition to crops, the grow beds contain naturally produced bacteria.  The bacteria breaks down the fish waste thus cleaning the water.  The plants feed on the nitrogen produced by the bacteria.  Finally, the water is …



From David In Israel: On Passive Solar Water Heating

James After Passover the weather in Israel always turns hot and clear. Perfect weather to save money. American hot water heating is always on and is always wasting electricity or gas. Passive solar is cheap and simple plus it can be supplemented with electrical on cold days. It is law that every home have a passive solar water heater so I get to see the design on every house, being in the West Bank I also see that the Arab homes and mansions will always have at least one dud shemesh (sun water heater) If a commercial model is too …


Letter From Michael Z. Williamson Re: Countdown to Collapse

Jim: In response to Rosy the Bull, I have to say I’m not so pessimistic. I heard similar dire warnings about how the US economy would collapse at $3 a gallon gas, and it didn’t happen. A great many countries in Europe and Asia, with smaller economies than ours, are paying over $6 a gallon now, which as a percentage of per capita income is five to ten times what we’re paying. As to the comments on nuclear attacks, those are inaccurate. Depleted Uranium is barely radioactive, and its danger is as a colloidal heavy metal toxin. The dangerous radionuclides …


Three Letters Re: Folding Fighting/Utility Knife Recommendations?

Jim, Good to see your using the CRKT knives. They are very affordable. I also like the 12 series tantos. Thery have a good portable size. I followed the link that you provided. I hope you didn’t pay the $48.00 price though, I sell that same knife on eBay for $34.99. Go to ‘Knife Brigade’ if you are interested. I can normally beat the prices of most of the other vendors. I’m just happy to get $10-to$15 dollars over what I pay per knife (guess I wont be getting rich). Best Regards – Jason P.S. Remember–Monday May 1st is ‘American …


Letter Re: Brushy Hillsides: Better to Leave As-Is for Erosion/Landslide Control

Hello, I’ve been reading your superb site for some time and have learned a lot. There’s lots of interesting and helpful stuff. As a family, we are about to leave the shores of ‘Airstrip One’ [England] and have purchased a few acres of Greek island to return to our smallholding roots. Our patch, in common with most places in the Med, is in an earthquake zone and we own a hilltop and steep slope. The area is also prone to brush fires in the summer. My query is, should we cut back the vegetation on the slope for fire suppression …