Odds ‘n Sods:

One of my long-time friends mentioned that he has recently been experimentally hiking with a LED Mini Maglite carried in a Nite Ize headband, and equipped with a relatively waterproof TacStar brand pressure tape switch that he can clench between his teeth.  For regular trail hiking, the light’s head can be cranked down for “continuous on” operation when the standard tail cap is installed. But when operating tactically with the tape switch tail cap installed, the light can be activated just “on demand” by clamping his teeth down on the tape switch.  He has even experimented with a wire stiffeners, …



Notes from JWR:

Camping Survival 23% off sale on all Backpackers Pantry Freeze Dried Foods ends today (July 28th, 2013), so place your order before midnight. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The 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 onPoint courses normally cost $795, and …


Dealing with the Dying, by A Healthcare Couple

This essay is a joint effort from a healthcare couple.  My wife is a hospice nurse and I work at a long-term care facility.  Together, we have witnessed numerous patients die.  The purpose of this essay is to educate you in helping to take care of a dying group member (will use the term patient for this writing).  The first time that I experienced death up-close and personal was when my best friend B. died a few years ago.  We were both in our 20s and he had cancer.  Over the course of more than a year I was with …


Letter Re: The Most Important Preparedness

Dear James, Recently, a friend of mine just took his own life, leaving behind a wife and three young children.  He loved to talk about being prepared and would spend hours reading survival blog.  As far as “preparedness” goes, he seemed to be very prepared for TEOTWAWKI, having spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on guns, ammo, a bug out vehicle, all the medical and survival supplies you could think of, etc.  He also had military training, martial arts training, and was an excellent marksman, if anyone was prepared, he seemed to be ready.  However, in the end, he would …


Notes of Clarification for SurvivalBlog Readers, by Pat Cascio

First of all, I want to clear-up a misconception: Jim Rawles and I are not one in the same person – we are two different people. I hear from SurvivalBlog readers all the time, asking me if I’m really Jim Rawles – I am NOT! Jim had his blog site up and running for several years before I came on board, as the Field Gear Editor. I know this won’t satisfy some of you, but you can believe what you want – Jim and I are not the same person. I live in Western Oregon, and Jim lives – well, …


Letter Re: Some Overlooked Risks

Jim; In a recent post, Harry T. mentioned that “Fido” will be competing with humans for food should we return to a hunter-gatherer schema. He is absolutely correct in addressing the newly-wild domestic dog as a threat. I have been treed twice in my life by life-threatening critters. Once was by a huge wild hog while I was fly-fishing on the North Carolina-Tennessee line. Apparently I entered his domain and he felt I was a threat to be dealt with. I’ve encountered bears and rattlesnakes who were far less aggressive than that tusker. The other time I had to climb …


Economics and Investing:

From G.G.: Family goes bankrupt after blowing their $100,000 savings on Beanie Babies they thought would become valuable. JWR Adds: I recommend investing in tangibles, but not those sorts of tangibles! Also from G.G.: Government Wastes More Money than You Think Items from The Economatrix: The Uneasiness Of Quantitative Easing: How QE Is Ineffective With Helping The Broader Economy In Favor Of Boosting Support For The Too-Big-To-Fail Banks Borrowers Redefaulting In Obama’s Housing Program Part-Time Nation: What Does It Say When A Vast Portion Of Our Society Is Now Working At Part-Time Jobs? 2013 scorecard: Minimum wage restaurant jobs added: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Yes, America, sometime we do need more than just reduced-capacity (10-round) magazines: Houston woman in critical condition after pack of 15 dogs attack    o o o Of interest to archers: How to Tune Your Bow: 15 Steps to Perfect Arrow Flight. (Thanks to James W. for the link.)    o o o Yet another one of Bloomberg’s gun-grabbing mayors is thoroughly disgraced: Mayor Bob Filner taking time off for ‘intensive therapy’. (Apparently this one grabbed more than guns.) And, quite predictably, he refuses to resign from office. Bloomberg’s gang of petty tyrants is absolutely shameless, even when under felony …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any [man] deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall] not [be] yet. …


Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of Samuel Whittemore (born, July 27, 1694 – died February 3, 1793.) He was an English-born colonial American farmer and soldier. He was eighty years old when he became the oldest known colonial combatant in the American War of Independence. Take a few minutes to read his biographical sketch. It sounds almost too astounding even for Hollywood to invent. By the way, I recommend that in a few years Clint Eastwood ought to portray Whittemore. I believe that would be a fitting way for Clint to cap his acting career, and a great way for Americans …


The Bug Out Boat, by Lean Jimmy

Every Prepper needs at least one serious bug out plan in his repertoire. Most of us will need a plan to get to our retreat when the SHTF. Even those of us fortunate enough to live in their retreat right now will have to be ready to bug out if circumstances demand. Things like a fallout cloud or a pandemic, or an invading army of zombies can’t be ignored. You may be forced to leave and you’d better know where you are going and how you are going to get there. Your bug out plan starts with an assessment of …


Letter Re: How to Survive a Serious Burn

Hello, Dr. Koelker presented some great information on surviving a serious burn. One significant issue that wasn’t fully discussed that is potentially more serious in the short term than fluid replacement. If you were to happen upon someone who suffered a serious burn and you determined it was safe for you to proceed and get your hands on the patient, you must verify that the patient has a good airway, i.e.: Can they or are they breathing? If they are making painful noises or yelling you know they do because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to use their voice. However, with …


Letter Re: Faraday Caging a Bed?

Mr. Rawles, My child is sick. I need to build a Faraday cage to surround my child’s bed. We are in a second floor apartment. Can I use wood and chicken wire? To create a ground [for the cage], can I: Take an extension cord, tear out the double prong but leave the ground post, cut off the opposite end attach the wires to the wire cage. Would that work? Thank You, – M.R. JWR Replies: I will pray for you and your child. Faraday cages have no positive health effects for humans unless for some very unlikely reason that …


Economics and Investing:

WWII shipwreck off Ireland yields $38 million of silver for deep sea firm Oil falls back to near $104 a barrel IMF urges effective Fed communication on exit strategy. JWR’s Comment: It is all just talk until they actually taper, and I don’t think they can. Items from The Economatrix: Are Big Banks Driving Up Commodity Prices? Trying To Stay Sane In An Insane World, Part I A Tour Of The Post-Crisis World Economy In 10 Easy Charts Cyprus Real Estate Prices Post Record Plunge