Two Letters Re: Extending Your Vehicle’s Driving Range, Without Cost

Hello Mr. Rawles, Some thoughts on the recent post on Pulse and Glide driving (PGD), taking for granted that safety is always more important than fuel economy, and not considering any survivalist aspects: I don’t doubt the core claim made by Steven B. – that his use of PGD has reduced his fuel consumption. I am, however, skeptical about some of the other statements made in support. I note that while my comments are based on my experience as an engineer and physicist, I have not done any tests of PGD versus other driving styles. If an actual automotive engineer …


News From The American Redoubt:

If population density is proportional to relative safety in a societal collapse, then the American Redoubt would fare very well. Note that around 90% of Oregon ‘s population and 80% of Washington‘s population is west of the Cascades, which means outside of the Redoubt. If they were considered separate states (as they really should be), Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon would probably be ranked just above and just below Idaho. Here is the big picture. (That map also makes it clear why I picked the Four Corners Region as one of the locales for “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming …


Economics and Investing:

Reader H.L. sent: China Gobbling Up Wheat, as US Exports to Nation Soar Where the Housing Recovery Is Strongest and Weakest Buy Gold Now That Soros & Paulson Are Done Liquidating, Says Analyst Bill O’Neill Items from The Economatrix: How Bad Can Things Get? Obamacare Rate Calculator The Most Important Number For The Market: 2.75%


Odds ‘n Sods:

Yesterday I mentioned needing Anderson Power Pole adapters for cigarette lighter plugs and jacks. Several readers promptly wrote to tell me about two companies that already make them: Quicksilver Radio and Powerwerx. (The latter has a huge variety of DC power products.)    o o o Here is a small company in Huntersville, North Carolina that was started by a retired Navy man who is now a Christian missionary, to help with his retirement: ThriftyPrepperMall.com    o o o While doing some research for my now nearly complete “Rawles on Tools” book (for Penguin Books, scheduled for release in May …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"A system of capitalism presumes sound money, not fiat money manipulated by a central bank. Capitalism cherishes voluntary contracts and interest rates that are determined by savings, not credit creation by a central bank. It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking." – Former Congressman Dr. Ron Paul



Seeking Input for My Next Novel: Liberators

The third sequel to Patriots, titled Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse, will be released on October 1st. Meanwhile, I’m already writing the fourth sequel to my novel Patriots, which will be titled Liberators. This novel will be set primarily set near Bella Coola, British Columbia, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord(JBLM) , Washington, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Anyone who has recently lived in those regions is invited to chime in. I’d really like to add some local color–including local history, flora and fauna, and geographical quirks. Liberators will also have a strong emphasis on guerilla and …


Wouldn’t it be Great if Someone Made… (A List of Needful Gear)

I love dropping hints. Wouldn’t it be great if someone made any of the following products? (Some of these might already exist.) A set of stencils designed for camouflage spray-painting rifles and other field gear to replicate popular camouflage patterns, such as Woodland pattern. Custom checkered wooden grips or molded checkered plastic grips at a comfortable Glock/1911 grip angle, to solve a problem that has existed since 1896. A Kydex holster that would fit a HK 26.5mm flare pistol. Kydex belt pouches shaped to fit all of the most popular Leatherman tool models. Kydex belt pouches for FN FiveSeven pistol …


Pat’s Product Review: Solarbag Water Purifier

Sometimes, I’m just beating my head against the wall, when it comes to trying to explain to some folks, how important it is to have a source of clean, pure drinking water. I have an old friend back in Chicago – we’ve known each other since 1975, and it is just impossible to make her understand that, in due time, the water from her faucets will stop running, and what will she do when that happens? I’ve tried to get her to store a couple of the large blue water containers, that the big box stores carry, all to no …


Letter Re: Rabbits for a Stable (and Staple) Protein Source

Hello, I enjoyed the recent blog article Rabbits for a Stable (and Staple) Protein Source, by S.F.D. in West Virginia.  With all the rabbits running around this year I have been thinking about giving this a try.  I had a couple of questions after reading though and hope you or S.F.D. can answer them.   1. Food pellets won’t be readily available after the stores shut down.  What would you recommend for easily replenishable year-round rabbit food? 2. The temperature swings here in the South between seasons can be drastic.  Is there special care needed in extreme cold or heat? 3. Is there …


Recipe of the Week:

Sunshine Buttercup’s Oriental Green Beans I make this dish whenever I have a surplus of green beans. Everyone who has tried it says it’s tasty and a great way to liven up green beans. Ingredients     1 lb green beans, trimmed     1 teaspoon sesame oil     1 teaspoon vegetable oil     3 cloves garlic, minced     1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated     Crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)     1-1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce     2 tablespoons water     1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted, garnish Directions     1.    Steam beans for only a few minutes, you want them crisp. …


Economics and Investing:

Foreign Holders Dump A Whopping $40.8 Billion In Long-Term Treasuries Gold Trader: “Big Money Is Now Trying To Get In—On A Violent Regression To The Mean” Items from The Economatrix: Fitch Rings Warnings On Canadian Banks Uninsured next year? Here’s your Obamacare penalty. The Smart Money Is Leaving the Building


Odds ‘n Sods:

For folks with a large stream on their property, a Pelton Wheel system like this is fantastic: Algonquin Eco-Lodge – 12 kW Micro-Hydro Turbines    o o o Why we face grave danger from space: The discovery that a colossal solar flare hit Earth in the Dark Ages reminds us that catastrophe could strike at any time, says Michael Hanlon.    o o o .50 BMG shooters might find this reference page on specialty military rounds of interest.    o o o Mike Brown is planning to build a new generation of reliable 8 horsepower steam engines that will be …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life and they lost it all – security, comfort and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society, but for society to give to them; when the freedom they wished for most was the freedom from responsibility, then the Athenians ceased to be free." – Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire