Odds ‘n Sods:

From The New York Times: Mortgage Crisis Spirals, and Casualties Mount. I don’t hesitate to call the sub-prime lenders what they really are: contrapreneurs.   o o o S.F. in Hawaii sent this: N.Y. Amish Man Robbed At Gunpoint. Oddly, the goblins used a muzzleloader. That is most unusual. Hmmm… An anachronistic weapon chosen to prey on an anachronistic victim, I suppose. Good thing that they didn’t try this out West, where I’ve met a few men who wear Amish style beards (sans mustaches), but that regularly pack pistols.    o o o 1-800 GET LENS (one of our Affiliate …




Retreat Owner Profile: Mr & Mrs. “FerFAL” in Buenos Aires, Argentina

AGE: 28 SOs: Wife 30, 4 year old son Currently living in the southern Buenos Aires suburbs in a 2 story masonry house with independent reinforced concrete structure. The houses share walls to the left and right, all around the block, completely enclosing the back yards which are divided by walls or fences covered with libustrina plants. You lose some privacy (noises, loud parties) but you ensure a rather safe garden and back yard for the children to play in since the streets haven’t been safe for a while now, and no responsible adult lets his children play on the …


Letter Re: Vasovagal Response

Jim, I had an interesting experience yesterday. I assisted a friend who is a Physician’s Assistant (PA) in removing a Lymphoma (fatty tumor) from my wife’s back. An approximately 4″ long incision was required to excise the tumor. We also went almost an inch deep. Now I have seen the worst you can see as relates to the destruction of the human body in seven years as a volunteer fireman including a very nasty plane crash without feeling ill at all. I had never heard of a Vasovagal [syncope] response before but experienced it first hand during the surgery. About …


Odds ‘n Sods:

RBS sent use these three bits of economic Sturm und Drang: One Wall Street analyst predicts a 20% DJIA drop this quarter. Meanwhile, Goldman, Merrill Almost `Junk,’ Their Own Traders Say and Chinese Market Gold Rush Goes On   o o o A Federal Reserve economist recommends “rebasing” the face value of the U.S. penny to five cents, to reflect its increased intrinsic value, As I already pointed out in SurvivalBlog, a more logical solution is to knock a zero off the dollar.    o o o Reader AVS mentioned this “important safety tip ” video: Never smash a spray …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

The following quote is often truncated in modern, politically correct school textbooks and hence cited out of context. Here is the longer version, to provide Patrick Henry’s full intent, including his recognition of God’s sovereignty: ” An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed …


Notes from JWR:

The high bid is now at $330 in the current SurvivalBlog benefit auction for a brand new Schecter “Warthog” Electric Guitar. This is an awesome guitar decorated in a military aviation theme, from Schecter’s Tempest series. It has a $729 retail value. The auction ends March 15th. Just e-mail me your bid. Thanks! Today we present another article submitted for Round 9 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $1,600.) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets …


Fish Farming for Survival Protein, by J.D.

One of the requirements for long term survival is high quality protein. High on the list for many survivalists would be chicken eggs and rabbit meat. Of course one problem is having something available to feed the chickens or rabbits. I have been experimenting with another source that basically raises itself and is easily obtained. I am talking about fish. Here is a summary of my results after experimenting with my small pond: In order to provide enough fish [with a “natural’ (not food supplemented) pond], count on 1 acre of pond per adult and perhaps 1/2 acre per child. …


Letter Re: Notes on Gardening for Self-Sufficiency

James: I’ve been enjoying reading your book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation.” Growing and saving food is important: while I appreciate the necessity of stored food, and have a lot, as an ol’ West Tennessee farm boy with a lot of veggie gardening experience I’ve some comments on growing and saving food: 1. “Gardening When It Counts” is a must have book, great info on saving seeds!!! 2. Store all the 10-10-10 fertilizer one can. 3. Pole beans grown on tall corn is a very efficient way of getting a lot of food value for little effort. Last year I …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I mentioned this about a year ago, but it bears repeating: By SOP, any firearm that comes out of our vault here at the Rawles Ranch is immediately loaded. Everyone in the family assumes that any gun seen anywhere here at the ranch is loaded at all times, and it is always treated as such. Avoiding any ambiguity helps reduce the chance of accidents.   o o o Michael Z. Williamson noted: a piece at Bloomberg.com that includes some useful background on silver supply/demand fundamentals: Artemis Hedge Fund Seeks $300 Million for Silver Boom    o o o Vic at …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the …



Letter Re: Crystal Radio Sets for TEOTWAWKI

Hi Jim, Thinking about the need to catch local/regional info during a crisis and thought of the old time crystal radio sets to pick up AM radio. Many years ago kids used to build them at home or in Boy Scouts with locally available parts. Crystal radio sets are small, easy to build, easy to use, easy to repair, [JWR Adds: and just about EMP proof, if using a chunk of Galena (or piece of graphite pencil) as the detector, versus a modern germanium diode,] and require no power to operate them! While it seems that there are a lot …


Letter Re: The “Third Way” Approach–A Forward Base En Route to a Remote Survival Retreat

JWR, I have been reading a longtime reader of your blog since it started, and wish to thank you for writing your novel “Patriots”, which I have read cover to cover many times and has helped me on my way to becoming a prepper. In response to Paul’s letter for a forward location between your retreat and current home I have some ideas as well as some other good info I feel your readers could benefit from. Now the plan of having a forward location by Paul is a somewhat good idea but like you pointed out a bit flawed.My …