Pat’s Product Review – Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM II

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I cut my teeth on the military M14, way back in 1969, during my basic training at (now closed) Fort Ord, California. I learned to love it, and I qualified “Expert” with it – loved shooting that rifle. Later on, while working full-time for the Illinois National Guard, I joined the Illinois State Rifle & Pistol Team, and was issued a match-grade M14 (and 1911A1) along with all the ammo I wanted – those were the days. I shot in many competitions, and always winning in my classification with that M14. I always wanted an M14 of my own, however, …


Letter Re: My Experience in Expatriating to Panama

Dear JWR, Regarding “My Experience in Expatriating to Panama”, by Chuck Holton: I too lived in Panama from 2008 to 2012 and while I agree with almost everything the author says, there are some exceptions I’d like to discuss.  First covers the medical system.  I was in the local hospital four times from 2010 to 2012 and the doctors were never able to discover what my problem was.  Nothing earth shattering or unusual, I have cancer and not a rare type either.  I used a private hospital the first two times and after running up bills in excess of $15,000 …


Letter Re: Our Journey to the American Redoubt and My Experience with Todd Savage

Jim, I have been a long time reader of your blog (several years) but have never posted. It is my recent experience with Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting that has prompted me to write. My wife and I have been married almost 27 years and have one child who is married to a like-minded young man. My journey to prepping started as a boy when I watched my parents garden, can, sew quilts, raise ducks and chickens and many other endeavors that were not considered prepping as such but just normal activities in the 1960s. We had a one …


Letter Re: Knob Creek After Action Report, Fall 2013

The weather at Knob Creek was great, the dust was minimal and the travel was above average.  The car ran fine, I didn’t die a fiery death and the CV joints only started making noise and going bad after I got home. Yeah! Best price I saw on .308 ammo was Military Shooters Supply, Inc. with PMC and Lake City (the 2 loose packed boxes I examined all had 2005 head stamps, (de-linked I imagine) for $340 per 500rd. They had PMC 55gr .223 $389/1000 and 68gr 5.56 $429/1000. Brown Bear 7.62×39  $119/500. Pat’s Reloading prices were not as good …


Wanted for a Project: Your Dead IR Web Cams

I’m working on a security project here at the ranch. For it, I’m in need of a few web security cameras to cannibalize. I need the type that have a cluster or ring of infrared (IR) illumination LEDs. So if you have any spare cameras that no longer work (typically this happens because of rainwater intrusion) I would greatly appreciate it you would mail them to: Jim Rawles c/o P.O. Box 303 Moyie Springs, Idaho, 83845 I will be happy to reciprocate by sending you a like number of SurvivalBlog Archive DVDs. Thanks! – J.W.R.


Recipe of the Week:

Old Kimber Girl’s Freezer Slaw DRESSING: 1 cup vinegar 1 tsp. mustard seed 1 tsp. celery seed 2 cups sugar ¼ cup water Combine the above dressing ingredients and boil 1 minute.  Cool SLAW: 1 medium head cabbage, shredded 1 tsp. salt 1 carrot, grated Mix cabbage with salt; let stand 1 hour Squeeze out excess liquid and then add grated carrot COMBINE: Dressing and Slaw.  Place into freezer containers, canning jars or freezer bags.  Freeze. This slaw remains crisp. Useful Recipe and Cooking Links: Coleslaw Recipes Cabbage Recipes Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest …


Economics and Investing:

Inside Coin’s techie vision for the all-in-one credit card. Sovereign Man: No inflation to see here…. C.I.A. Collects Global Data on Transfers of Money Items from The Economatrix: As Goes Wal-Mart, So Goes Global GDP? The Two-Income Trap For Americans: How Dual Income Households Are A Financial Necessity In A Time When The Median Per Capita Wage Is $27,000. How China Can Cause The Death Of The Dollar And The Entire U.S. Financial System


Odds ‘n Sods:

Readers in the Washington, DC region take note: a Survival Medicine 101 Workshop taught by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD (SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor) has been scheduled for December 6-8, 2013, in Leesburg, Virginia. This three-day class includes suturing, minor surgery, splinting, casting, bioterrorism defense, clinical labs, emergency preparedness, and much more. Don’t miss this rare opportunity, as Dr. Koelker only rarely teaches classes on the East Coast.    o o o Seattle police deactivate surveillance system after public outrage. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o Just two days left! Safecastle is wrapping up their last Mountain House …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The fact is clear and obvious, all national and most state elections are bogus. The corruption has congealed and hardened in place, there is no viable way to significantly influence governance at those levels much less change it. Their elections are their elections, not ours. Nothing of consequence can be changed this way. Elections are a roadblock, not a road. Congressional districting and other election rigging ensures fewer seats are actually contested than were in the Politburo of their late and lamented USSR. Their federal judges routinely set aside state referendums that offend their personal sensibilities, one more avenue of …


Notes from JWR:

100 years ago today, the first ship transited the nearly-completed Panama Canal. The original canal construction debts are long gone, but the recent multi-billion dollar canal expansion contracts have had a checkered history. — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,500+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted …


Tips on Selecting and Operating a Generator, by Gary D.

Those of us who plan on “bugging in” during  upcoming times of uncertainty realize the need to plan for possible extended power shortages or blackouts. These preparations can range from a total separation from anything electrical or electronic to a series of sophisticated alternate power sources designed to completely power a survival location up to pre-blackout levels.  Based on the questions frequently asked by members of the survivalist community in numerous forums, the most common item of interest for the temporary generation of power for daily living seems to be the portable generator. Some of the most frequently asked questions …


Two Letter Re: Why Is Utah Not in the American Redoubt?

Jim, To be fair, when you referenced the history of changes to LDS doctrine over the years that appears on the anti-Mormon “ldsvideo.org” web site you should have included the LDS’ perspective, which can be found here. – Kelly G. James:  I have been following your blog for a couple of weeks now. I first heard about SurvivalBlog from my father, who attended a preparedness workshop you spoke at in Lakeland, Florida a few weeks back. Your blog has been very informative, and I agree with you on many of the issues you discuss.   I am writing to respond to a letter from Jordan in Utah …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent us this: ECB’s Praet: All Options on Table Central Bank Could Adopt Negative Deposit Rate, Asset Purchases If Needed Reader Jeff H. mentioned this satire: The Affordable Horse Act (AHA) R.B.G. liked this piece by Karl Denninger: Obamacare: 106,185 Citi Warns “Fed Is Kicking The Can Over The Edge Of A Cliff” Items from The Economatrix: I will lose my jobless benefits by year end Gas under $3 – coming to a station near you Economy Not As Strong As It Appears


Odds ‘n Sods:

Typhoon Haiyan: Doctors running out of supplies to turn patients away    o o o Fortune magazine: What I saw at the doomsday prepper convention    o o o I heard that Augason Farms is running a 40% off sale on 100 varieties of their #10 cans, if you order $50 or more. The sale is limited to stock on hand. Reader John N. explains: “Go to your Shopping Cart (with items in it), scroll to bottom of the page, look for the “What would you like to do next?” question, then select the checkbox that says “Use Coupon Code”, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth.  I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount.  Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupted." – Martin Luther