Letter Re: Some Off-Grid Living Techniques

Mr. Rawles, Thank you for a great blog site.  I’d like to share some techniques we use every day at our off-grid homestead that would be applicable for grid-down living With 280 watts of solar panels in the southern plains, a good Xantrex controller, three marine deep-cycle batteries and an inverter we power a 9 cubic foot freezer-turned-refrigerator fitted with an analog temperature controller, a portable dvd player used nightly for movies and documentaries, 1 to 3 small fans in summer, a netbook computer, and a couple of compact fluorescent lights along with charging cell phones and cordless tools and …


News From The American Redoubt:

A great new Ttabs ultralight flying video has been posted, showing some touch-and-gos: Elk River, Idaho.The last gorgeous minute of the video relates the enormity of the forested expanse that lies east of the more agricultural Palouse Hills region.    o o o The Couch Bunker (made in Spokane, Washington) attracted some attention down at the Fort Worth, Texas Hunting show. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o Buck Knives–a company that wisely relocated from California to Post Falls, Idaho, several years ago–is continuing to prosper. They have released many new American-made products in 2013, most of …


Economics and Investing:

Jim Rogers – US & Syria War, Printing Money = Market Collapse. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) G.G. sent: Labor Participation Rate Hits 34 Year Low I noticed that spot silver was solidly over $24 per Troy ounce in London trading on Monday, and gold was bouncing around $1,390 per Troy ounce. If there is war in the Middle East, we can expect to see substantially higher metals prices. This might be a good time to further diversify out of Dollars and into physical silver. Items from The Economatrix: Syria Crisis Could Send Oil Toward ’08 Highs: Schoenberger The …


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.J. suggested: Make a Reaping Hook    o o o Reader Joe S. found a great resource for anyone with an interested in First Generation Cummins 5.9 Liter Six-Cylinder Diesels: 1989 – 1991 Ram Diesel Engine Specs    o o o Attention southpaws: I heard that Autrey’s Armory has announced a special for SurvivalBlog readers on Rock River Operator carbines in left hand configuration. They have 8 of these available. Full retail on these is $1,360, but Autrey’s sells these for $1,175.99. But if you send an e-mail and mention that you saw them mentioned in SurvivalBlog, they will knock …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders …


Note from JWR:

This is the last day of the sale on New Gen 3+ Pinnacle autogated ITT/Exelis PVS-14 night vision monocular/scopes with five year warranty, at JRH Enterprises. In addition to all the standard accessories, JRH is also including for a free weapons mount and and free shuttered eye guard with this unit, all for just $2,595.


Sample Chapter From My Novel Expatriates

  The following is another sample chapter from my upcoming novel Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse. Please wait until the release day (October 1st, 2013) to place your order. Introductory Notes: My upcoming novel opens with a prominent disclaimer that includes: “This is a work of fiction.  All of the events described are imaginary, taking place in the future, and do not represent the world as we know it in the present day. It does not reflect the current geopolitical situation, governmental policies, or the strategic posture of any nation. It is not intended to be commentary …


Pat’s Product Review: Springfield Armory EMP 40

It’s been a few years since Springfield Armory came out with their Enhanced Micro Pistol (EMP) and I decided to take a wait and see attitude – I waited until they actually hit the market. What is unique with the EMP is that, it appears to be a 1911 handgun, with a big change. Springfield Armory redesigned most of the parts, to reduce the overall size of the EMP. It’s not a chopped or cut down full-sized 1911 – far from it. Almost every part was redesigned by Springfield Armory, including the frame, slide, trigger, hammer, backstrap, etc. None of …


Letter Re: Stuff Hitting the Fan – Part 3: Communications

Dear James, I need to respond the the letter “Stuff Hitting the Fan – Part 3”, with regards to communications. I am a ham radio operator holding a Amateur Extra Class license, and have a little CB and shortwave experience.  As such, I want to make some corrections R.L.’s letter and offer some advice. 1. An adequate ham transceiver for the HF bands (160m to 10m), will also cover the non-ham bands as receiver. This includes all of the broadcast shortwave bands, and the AM broadcast bands in the United States. This will not include US broadcast FM, or the …


Recipe of the Week:

Amber’s Granola Bars   Here is a great recipe for using your stored oats, honey, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, etc. Ingredients: • 6 cups Rolled Oats (not Quick Oats) • 4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted, Plus More For Greasing • 1/4 cup Vegetable Or Olive Oil • 1 teaspoon Salt • 1 cup Brown Sugar • 1/2 cup Honey • 1/4 cup Apple Juice (I make mine fresh from our juicer) • 1/4 cup Molasses • 3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract • 1-1/2 cup Rice Krispies (can be substituted for Optional Ingredients) • 1 cup Wheat Germ • 1/2 cup Finely Chopped …


Economics and Investing:

Brandon Smith: What To Expect During The Next Stage Of Collapse Well-Known Stocks to Avoid as Mortgage Rates Rise James W. sent: Indian rupee resumes slide as fears grow for slowing economy Items from The Economatrix: First Signs of Hyperinflation Have Arrived: US National Debt Can Travel From the Earth to the Sun and Back a Stunning 83 Times! U.S. Government Prepares Mass Pension-Rape 33 Shocking Facts Which Show How Badly The Economy Has Tanked Under Obama


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader F.G. suggested this good article: Garage OPSEC    o o o How Cops Can Block Remote Wiping of Seized Cellphones with Aluminum Foil. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o B.B. recommended listening to this podcast interview: Larry Pratt: 2nd Amendment Legislative Update    o o o 250,000 Alpaca-sicles? Chalk it up to Global Warming: Peru Declares State of Emergency in Puno as Temperatures Drop


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“[General Francis] Marion’s Men were also discouraged. The forces mounting against them seemed overwhelming. As they sat around their campfires, they began to talk as if certain ruin would overtake them. Finally Col. Peter Horry [a compatriot of Marion’s] said to his troops: “I am ashamed to hear you talk like this. We have often, before now, seen as heavy clouds hanging over us; and yet, with heaven’s blessing on our arms, those clouds have been dispersed, and golden days restored. And who knows we may shortly see it so again?” – Robert D. Bass, Swamp Fox: The Life and …


Notes from JWR:

Today is the sad 30th anniversary of the willful air-to-air missile shoot-down of KAL Flight 007, which took the lives of 269 people, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald and Tae Kwon Do Master Hyong Ung “Billy” Hong. There were 105 Koreans, 62 Americans, 28 Japanese, and 23 Taiwanese on board. The airliner was a Boeing 747. The Soviet fighter was a SU-15, piloted by Major Genadi Osipovich. He had direct orders to shoot down the plane. — Today we present Part 3 of a four-part entry for Round 48 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round …


National Preparedness Month — Three Concurrent Mountain House Sales!

During National Preparedness Month, Mountain House has removed their Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) restrictions on their authorized dealers for long term storage foods packed in #10 cans. This is the first time the company has ever done so, and it has created the opportunity for low prices that haven’t been seen in decades. Three SurvivalBlog advertisers are Mountain House dealers, and I strongly recommend that you stock up to take advantage of these sales prices in September. Here is a summary of the three September sales: A month-long sale on Mountain House long term storage foods began today at Safecastle. …