Letter Re: Insulin for Diabetics in Event of TEOTWAWKI

James: I was wondering what your thoughts on perishable things like insulin might be in a worse case scenario…. as it needs to be refrigerated at all times, and even if you were to get a large supply. How long could it last as it deteriorates quicker than pills…and pills might be easier to manufacture after a bad scenario whereas insulin would be very difficult to make. Diabetics would probably have a limited life in a TEOTWAWKI., right? – CWW JWR Replies: Insulin is indeed a problem for those that envision a long term socioeconomic disruption. However, I challenge the …


Letter Re: A New Global Survival Gear Test Web Site

G’day Jim, Just a quick note to make you and SurvivalBlog readers aware that the newly-established Survival Gear Test web site is currently looking for volunteer gear testers from all over the world. The URL is http://survivalgeartest.phpnet.us/. We aim to become the first port of call for survivalists before making equipment purchases. We are non-profit, no BS and receive no money from manufacturers or retailers. We will provide an unbiased, accurate evaluation of equipment that survivalists from all over the world may wish to acquire, without having to wade through advertising spin. Survival Blog readers interested in submitting reviews of …


Letter Re: An Interesting Extra High Power 12 Gauge Single Shot Shotgun

Dear Jim, I found an article about this custom 3-3/4-inch 12 gauge, with energy exceeding that of a .50 BMG. It has extreme power, for very large game or certain anti-armor applications. It’s legally a shotgun, and easier to reload than rifle cartridges. Also, custom projectiles are easier to make. Some of the conversions are on readily available single shot receivers.One advantage is that the converted shotgun will still shoot all standard 12 gauge shells [of shorter lengths.] – Michael Z. Williamson


Odd ‘n Sods

The World Bank estimates that an Asian Avian Flu pandemic could cost up to $2 Trillion Dollars. That is assuming 70 million deaths worldwide. My personal estimation is that their figure is low, since the pandemic itself won’t be the biggest killer–rather, that will be the economic displacement (if not a full scale economic collapse) that will be induced by the pandemic.    o o o The U.S. personal savings rate goes negative.    o o o Asian Avian Flu most deadly in teens and young adults — an eerie echo of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic      o o …




Letter Re: Recommendations on Hardening a Garage Door?

Mr. Rawles: Hello again from England. The blog is going from strength to strength, keep it up! With regard to the door hardening, I’d suggest a thick layer of ballistic nylon contained in a quilt as defence against chainsaw or reciprocating saw attack. Ballistic nylon is a lot cheaper than Kevlar and works in a similar manner to the laths mentioned in the article, i.e it clogs up chain and reciprocating blades. It would quite possibly foul up a drill attack also, but I have yet to verify this… It would not, of course, stop a projectile attack. Ballistic nylon …


Letter Re: Preparedness Lessons Learned from The K.T. Ordnance BATFE Raid

Jim, I thought I would give you an up-date on my raid. First, I’m not in jail, nor have I been charged with any crime. Everything that can be written has been written at this time.[JWR Adds: For example, see the discussions at the AR15.com Forums, at LibertyPost.org, 1911Forum.com, et cetera. ] In retrospect, there are some things I should have done, but that I didn’t. (I pooh-poohed some of your preparedness ideas, shame on me. Learn from my mistakes.) 1) Did not stash my extra arms and ammo, and now I don’t have them. 2) Should not have been …


Letter From Michael Z. Williamson Re: An EMT’s Advice on BOBs

Dear Jim, I found a link from a fellow writer, who’s a former Naval officer, Ph.D. and EMT as well. It has good advice on bail out bags and some one-liners on survival. While not specifically survival oriented, I also enjoyed some of his astute observations of reality versus entertainment. – Michael Z. Williamson


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader Dr. Sidney Zweibel flagged this article:This war on germs has a silver lining    o o o Jim Jubak of MSN Money Central: The Worst Case Scenario is Not About Us: Think About Inflation, India and China    o o o I have once again expanded the SurvivalBlog Glossary. Let me know via e-mail if you notice anything else that I should have add.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." – Patrick Henry, 1778, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention Reference: The Debates of the Several States, Elliot, vol. 3 (45)


Note From JWR:

Today we present another article for Round 5 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. Second prize is a copy of my “big box” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. If you want a chance to win, start writing and e-mail us your article soon. Round 5 ends on July 31st. Tomorrow will be the last day to order my preparedness course at the special introductory price. If you wait until the 5th, the price will jump to …


Survival Dollars, by Wolverine

Over the years I have spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out various ways to earn extra money to purchase the needed survival items I wanted without causing a fight with my spouse. I feel fortunate to have found several that work well for me, and may work for you as well. Ground rules for myself were that working a part time job was out. I hated working my normal 40 hour week and being committed to having to be at a certain spot at a certain time five or six days a week. Over the years …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Some worrisome commentary about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the debt bubble at one of the Yahoo message boards.    o o o New York Mayor Bloomberg unveils a city hurricane preparedness plan.    o o o SurvivalBlog reader SF in Hawaii mentioned that a self-winding watch is a nice idea, but “they are not viable long term due to the complexity of the internal workings (read: easy to break) and daily winding requirements. A solar powered watch (see Eco-drive) solves both of these problems.” My only point of disagreement is fragility. My 1978 Caravelle (Bulova) hairspring watch is …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Congress has no power to appropriate money as an act of charity. As individuals, Americans have the right to give away as much money as they please, but Congress has no right to take our money from us and give it away, however worthy the recipient.” – Tennessee Congressman David "Davy" Crockett, from The Life of Colonel David Crockett, by Edward Sylvester Ellis (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1884)