Notes from JWR:

I see that we’re close to logging our 60 millionth unique visit. SurvivalBlog is now averaging more than 320,000 unique visits per week. It is remarkable that we are still holding such a strong market share, even though there are now more than 50 competing blogs. Our archives are continuing to grow, and now approaching 10,000 pages if you were to print it all out. All in all, I’d say that we are doing just fine for a little niche blog. — November 10th in the United States is remembered in the United States as the “birthday” of the U.S. …


Remembering Dear Aunt Flow, by Kali

It is a reasonable assumption that most SurvivalBlog readers are already going to be in the preparedness mindset. Whether you’re preparing for a natural disaster, economic collapse, zombie apocalypse, or something in between you must always have each and every family member’s needs in mind. Most of us start with the ‘generic’ items that everyone needs such as water, food and standard medical supplies. While that is the absolute best starting place for all families, after the basics are accounted for you should then consider any unique or special needs that you may have to provide for. Many of us …


Economics and Investing:

Government to Run Budget Deficits Until 2038; How Can Money Printing Stop? Treasury Will Issue Its First Floaters On January 29, 2014 Shades of 1929: Dow Jones Industrial Average Warning: Margin Debt Hits Record-High $401 Billion Items from The Economatrix: The Top 6 Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Second Passport We Are Close to The End: “The Con Job Is Up” AP Estimate: At Least 3.5 Million People Have Had Their Health Insurance Canceled


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Troy H. mentioned a map, updated hourly, of infectious disease outbreaks and diagnoses from around the world.    o o Billy Graham’s final evangelism campaign has been via a great Internet video. Please watch and share it.    o o o Ray Jason: The Sea Gypsy Tribe    o o o Andre D. suggested: How to Erase Yourself From the Internet    o o o I was recently interviewed by Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast.



Notes from JWR:

Please continue to pray for the folks in the central Philippines. They got slammed by what might be the highest winds ever recorded for a typhoon at landfall. — 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 for military or government teams.) …


Preparing Your Body and Mind, by Michael P.

The Body There are two primary tools used to in every situation ever encountered; the mind and the body. Despite the body being such a crucial aspect of survivability, preparing the body for the unknown remains one of the least addressed topics in survival books and on-line forums. It is also one of the areas of survival that necessitates the most maintenance, and requires the most amount of dedication and consistency. Though most survival manuals fail to address the importance of preparing the body, the fact remains that there are no military units in the world that do not have …


Letter Re: Advice on Buying Legislatively Resilient Guns

Hello Mr. Rawles: I appreciate your suggestion on purchasing/acquiring some Pre-1899 or otherwise standard language weapons ban legislation immune firearms that could prove effective and “legal.” (I use the term facetiously) in the event of a successful statist gun grab. (God forbid.) Other than the M1 Garand, could you perhaps provide a list of other firearms that may prove a prudent investment? God Bless, – Jason in Kansas JWR Replies: The following is is an excerpt from my Pre-1899 Antique Guns FAQ: Q: What would you consider a basic battery of pre-1899 guns for a typical shooter that wants to …


Economics and Investing:

Don McAlvany mentioned this video clip: The Essence Of The Banking Industry… Arrested economic development: 36 percent of Millennials living at home delaying financial adulthood. Less than one-third of Millennials employed. Items from The Economatrix: All-Time High Unemployment: The Economic Depression In Europe Just Keeps Getting Deeper Financial Destruction Will Be Unleashed On Global Economies Richard Russell – The Financial System Has Been Destroyed


Odds ‘n Sods:

An Incredible 26 Piece Altoids Survival Kit    o o o This may be a landmark Supreme Court decision: Bond v. United States. [JWR Adds: Don’t miss reading the amicus brief from the American Center for Law and Justice. An aside: Just when, exactly, did the Supreme Court become the Supreme Courtesans, and when was there first any doubt of a slam dunk decision, in a case like this? Before or after Mrs. Sonia Sotomayor came on board?)    o o o Jay B. sent: Exploding windmill — What happens when there’s too much wind even for a windmill    o …



Notes from JWR:

Typhoon Haiyan (aka “Yolanda”, a very large Category 5 cyclonic tropical storm) is bearing down on Samar, in the central Philippines. Please pray for the islanders. — 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 for military or government teams.) Three day …


Year One at the New Retreat, by Mrs. R.L.B.

Have you been thinking about leaving the crowded city and moving to a retreat? Perhaps you are weighing many factors, finances, age, leaving friends and family, and work.  But the most important factor you should weigh, is the answer to the question, “If the SHTF, can we survive here?”  If the answer is no, then take the leap and move!  We did!  We sold our San Diego house and finally landed in Washington state, on the west side of the Cascades.  We aimed for the Redoubt, but due to work constraints we could not make that work for us.  So, …


Letter Re: Is the M1A the Ideal Rifle Choice?

Jim, Is the M1A the best rifle to have sitting in your gun safe?  Ever since there have been rifles and humans, there has been discussions about what is the best rifle to have when you are thrust into a survival situation.  That situation might just be a government fallout, natural disaster, or the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI).  Either way, you need a rifle that will take you thru that situation and give you a fighting chance to survive.  So what attributes make a good rifle to rely on?  For starters there are many of …


Economics and Investing:

Federal Debt Jumped $409 Billion in October; $3,567 Per Household Greek Companies Unable To Pay Taxes Explode From 182,000 To Over Half A Million In One Month (thanks to H.L. for the link.) Reader Frank B. suggested a Time Monk Radio show where “Plane” leads the interview: The Plane Truth ~ Gas and Gold: Goodbye to the Petrodollar with Jim Willie. The latter half of the interview veers off into some conspiratorial speculation, but their conclusions on the death of the Dollar are quite sound. Items from The Economatrix: US Households Cannot Avoid Soft Default Consequences Of Deleveraging: While US …