Letter: Washable Cloth Toilet Wipes

Dear Editor: I have a suggestion, prompted by my reading of the recent two-part SurvivalBlog article titled: “Sew and Grow, Save and Recycle Your Way Into Preparedness“: Why go to all the trouble to cut and sew toilet wipes when you can simply use mass-produced bathroom washcloths? They are already the right size and will clean you up better than smooth cloth will. I already have a large stash of thick washcloths that I bought at a thrift store, along with a case of rubber dishwashing gloves in various sizes. When all the toilet paper is gone, each family member gets …


Letter Re: Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins are the Best Defense Against Counterfeits

James, That was an excellent letter sent recently by “The Silver Bull” (Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins are the Best Defense Against Counterfeits).  Regarding his suggestion of  pre-1965 “junk” 90% silver coins,  I’d like to ask  a question: Are the 1 Troy ounce U.S. Mint American Eagles purchased from dealers considered suspect for counterfeiting? I know that are when purchased through eBay. There is some good counterfeit-spotting tutorials available on YouTube. I appreciate what he is saying. By the way,, my favorite precious metals remain quality brass, lead, and copper in 5.56 and 7.62. Thanks for all you do. – RetiredPara …


Economics and Investing:

Will Gold Crash With The Dow…Or Soar? o o o Faber Says Own Gold, Prepare for QE4 as Easing Follows Brexit o o o BBC: Pound falls as Bank of England hints at fresh stimulus measures o o o Gary Tanashian: A Path Toward Inflation o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Paul Ryan shows his true colors: House Plans Vote on Guns Next Week.  JWR”s Comments:  It is obvious that the Republican Party leadership is preparing to cave in on this issue. Please contact your congressman immediately and insist: NO COMPROMISE on background checks! Remind them that the “No Fly” and “Selectee” lists are both horribly flawed and are based on rumors and innuendo–NOT any proper sort of due process! And please remind them that so-called “universal background checks” would destroy a key part of the Second Amendment: The anonymity of American gun owners!  Register brides, not gun owners! o o …



Notes for Thursday – June 30, 2016

Hooray! Tomorrow (Friday, July 1st, 2016) permitless concealed carry of guns (also called “Vermont Style Carry” or “Constitutional Carry”) becomes legal throughout Idaho. (Previously, it was only legal outside of city limits.) Sadly, this new law is just for residents–not visitors.) But, as as we can plainly see, freedom is on the march!  OBTW, there will be a celebratory rally on the lawn opposite the State Capitol building on Friday at 5 p.m., organized by the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance (ISAA.) On this day in 1908, the mysterious Tunguska event occurred in a remote part of Siberia. June 30th is the …


A Call for Legislative Change – Part 1, by J.D.

Why not now? Why not us? A call for legislative change. The mystic Chinese philosopher, Lau Tzu, once said, “The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.” I can’t help but think of an image regarding 6,899,000 people under the supervision of adult correctional systems in local, county, state, and federal custody (Glaze, Kaeble 1). The Unite States has more jails, approximately 5,000 (Stephan 1), than degree granting institutions, approximately 4,700 (“Fast Facts”). Our Judicial system is a blood sucking beast of a hundred thousand heads draining our country of its dwindling …


Letter Re: Vacuum Sealing Mason Type Jars

Dear HJL, I own my own freeze dryer and with this I seal a lot of food in glass jars. The best way I have found to seal in bulk is something I built. I took an old pressure cooker with a good seal on the lid. I removed all the pressure cooking fittings on top of the lid. I then installed a vacuum gauge with a tee fitting and a ball valve to relieve the vacuum later in the process. I also installed a fitting with a 1/4 flare end. I then attach the flare connection to a vacuum …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“’We love death more than you love life.’ This is civilization’s ultimate challenge. Will the lovers of death and destruction overwhelm and defeat those who love life and have created great civilizations that celebrate human creativity and achievement? Will all that is left of three thousand years of human civilization be reduced to rubble and a mindless religio-ideological lockstep? The Islamic State is not just a challenge to Judeo-Christian Western civilization. It is a challenge to civilization itself–to the very idea of civilization. And that is why it is doomed to fail. Life will always conquer death in the end. …


Notes for Wednesday – June 29, 2016

Another day, another Islamic terror attack… This time it was the international terminal of the airport in Istanbul, Turkey. The latest report is that there are 41 dead and 239 injured. Prayers, please for the wounded and for the families of the dead. o o o Today is the birthday of historian John Toland (author of The Rising Sun.) This is also the birthday of rodeo cowboy turned actor Slim Pickens (born: Louis Burton Lindley, Jr.) — he memorably played Major Kong in Dr. Strangelove), and of actor Gary Busey. o o o A reminder: Safecastle’s Mountain House Sale with …


Letter Re: Canning Jars

Hugh, As I was reading a recent SurvivalBlog post on the many uses of canning jars, I remembered that in my childhood days the ladies doing the canning would sometimes use melted paraffin poured over the top of the food instead of using metal lids. (They also used metal lids.) So maybe the wax only on the sweet stuff like jellies, etc.? Maybe only on smaller size, smaller mouthed, recycled, jars? As I remember it they would keep the paraffin, wash it, and reuse it the next year. Has anybody used this style of sealing lately? – K.S. HJL’s Comment: …


Letter Re: Sanitation Issues: Understanding Home Septic Systems

Jim: Regarding this letter: Sanitation Issues: Understanding Home Septic Systems, I have  a  few observations: When our family recently took a vacation to South America, we were instructed to throw all toilet paper, wet and dirty, into a waste can – even at the best hotels. By American standards, we found that pretty gross. I read that this is standard in many countries and greatly reduces the need for septic tank pumping – to once every 10 years instead of the recommended four  years. Although pumping is expensive, about $400 when we last had it done, that is a fraction …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: The Soapmakers Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies by Hugh Coffee Movies: Meru (A  fascinating documentary about modern alpine climbers and skiers. Available free for those with Amazon Prime.) Cast a Giant Shadow.  (A docu-drama starring Kirk Douglas about David “Mickey” Marcus, an American general officer who volunteered to help Israel form its army shortly after independence.) Music: