Letter Re: Advice on Dakota Alerts

Dear Mr. Rawles,  Greetings! I have enjoyed your blog site.  I noticed you have mentioned several times your use of Dakota Alert systems for your ranch.   This is why I am writing. I would like you input and thoughts.   I was viewing some customer comments on Amazon from those who had purchased the units.  Some complained about rust-out due to moisture (rain) after a few months.    I then followed this up with an e-mail to Dakota Alert manufacturer.    Bryon Pedersen of Dakota Alert responded by stating that most of the moisture issues have been resolved-except for moisture …


Three Letters Re: Dealing With Biting and Stinging Insects

Jim: I’d like to recommend the best chigger bite treatment: Put some rubbing alcohol on tissue paper and lightly rub this on the chigger bite as soon as possible. Hold in place for at least half a minute to kill germs. Then immediately rub a piece of ice on the bite for a few minutes to reduce swelling. This will eliminate pain and swelling by 99%.  After getting hundreds of chigger bites over the years, this is the best method I’ve found. – Paul O. James, One thing to add about chiggers, or red bugs. I got these on my …


Economics and Investing:

A penniless Canada: Mint begins years-long process of collecting and melting down 82-million kg in coins Gasoline costs take biggest share of household income in three decades. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Is a global LIBOR settlement coming? Central Bank Snuffs Out Vietnam’s Thriving Gold Market Items from The Economatrix: January Auto Sales Indicate Strong Start to 2013. Own Physical Gold & Silver As Currency Wars Will Destroy Our Money Housing Packs Punch For US Growth In 2013 And Beyond


Odds ‘n Sods:

Peter S. recommended this: Tiny Off-Grid Cabin in Maine is Completely Self-Sustaining    o o o I had a shock when I recently bought a replacement set of studded snow tires for our full-size SUV. Complete with studding, mounting and balancing, four identical tires from the same maker and installed by the same Les Schwab tire store cost $753 in January 2011 and $952 in January, 2013. And they tell us that “consumer price inflation is low.” Yeah, right. The effects of the BHO Administrations’s massive Quantitative Easing are now starting to pervade the economy. Get out of U.S. Dollar-denominated …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“…every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper No. 78 (Paragraph 10)


Notes from JWR:

My Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course was out of print for nearly three years, but I’m pleased to report that it is available again, via digital download. Because of the efficiency of digital delivery, it now available at just a fraction of the price that had been charged for the original hard copy binder edition. The course was designed for beginning and intermediate preppers, with this premise: Could you prepare your family for a major disaster, with just one or two trips to your local COSTCO or Sam’s Club store? In the course I describe exactly how to do …


Dealing With Biting and Stinging Insects by K.F.

Being “bugged” by insects is a problem we will likely face in TEOTWAWKI. Americans will spend more time outdoors in an effort to gather food and fuel as well as hunt and guard their retreat and resources. Exposure to insects will increase exponentially. Our defenses against pests will diminish significantly as our homes and retreats have their windows and doors left open more often. Also, the commonly available pesticides will probably not be available as supplies (of all kinds) decrease when TSHTF. We all know that insects have the potential to spread disease as well as lower our quality of …


Letter From #1 Son on SurvivalBlog Publishing Structure Suggestions

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers: We are in the early stages of transitioning to new content management software for SurvivalBlog. I’d appreciate input from any of our readers who have experience in content design, on making the site even more useful. For our general readers, don’t worry, there won’t be any major changes in the blog. You will still have the same daily posts. In the seven years that SurvivalBlog has been running, we have built a massive archive of nearly 17,300 posts. This includes many daily items, such as notes, odds ‘n sods posts, and quotes of the day. Then we …


Letter Re: Thoughts Trailers and Towing Capacity for Times of Fuel Scarcity

Jim: InyoKern’s comments [about living in trailers] are right on. My brother is [living] in a 21.5 foot long toy hauler and it is built stronger than a conventional trailer and you can haul a lot in it. It is very comfortable and has extra large storage capacity for fuel, water etc. He has 200 watts of photovoltaic panels on the roof and four 6 -volt golf cart batteries cabled together to provide most of his electrical needs. I have a 9 foot truck camper and though its good the trailer is much more versatile for moving about from city …


News From The American Redoubt:

A “2nd Right” rally is scheduled in Helena, Montana on February 8th. Montanans are urged to meet at their state capitol at 10 a.m. on February 8th. The meeting will be north of the Capitol Stairs, beside the statue. (Similar events will be held at the same local time, at state capitols nationwide.) Note that no weapons are allowed on Capitol Grounds in many states, but participants are encouraged to wear an empty holster, as a subtle message.    o o o Wyoming House Approves Bills Exempting State From Federal Gun Control Measures and Allowing Concealed Carry on Campus    …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent: Argentina freezes prices to break inflation spiral. JWR’s Comment: Wage and price controls never work. I explained why, back in 2007. Greek Isles Cut Off From Mainland For Sixth Day As Strikes Return With A Vengeance Why has US Oil Consumption Steadily Fallen since 2004? “Slay the messenger!” S&P says U.S. to file civil lawsuit over ratings Items from The Economatrix: Gold Run?  43 Tonnes of Gold Stand Ready for February Delivery on 1st Notice Day Economy Adds 157,000 Jobs; Rate Up to 7.9% January Jobs Report Offers Something for Everyone


Odds ‘n Sods:

Freeze Dry Guy has begun their 2013 Warehouse Blowout Sale, with a couple of great specials on LRP rations and freeze dried ice cream.    o o o Some wisdom from T. Mark Graham: Combat Load: How do I carry this stuff?    o o o Report shows UN admitting solar activity may play significant role in global warming. (Thanks to Lee M. for the link.)    o o o The Kindle edition of Alex Smith’s new book on get home bags, everyday carry kits, and related topics titled Getting Home is on sale for just 99 cents at Amazon.com, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Corruption, like a cancer … eats faster and faster every hour. The revenue creates pensioners, and the pensioners urge for more revenue. The people grow less steady, spirited, and virtuous, the seekers more numerous and more corrupt, and every day increases the circles of their dependents and expectants, until virtue, integrity, public spirit, simplicity, and frugality become the objects of ridicule and scorn, and vanity, luxury, floppery, selfishness, meanness, and downright venality swallow up the whole of society." – President John Adams


Note from JWR:

Ready Made Resources begins their bi-annual on sale on Mountain House freeze dried #10 cans, today, Monday February 4th. This is a sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans, discounted the maximum-allowed 25%. Mountain House is allowing an additional 10% discount for select varieties including Diced Chicken, Diced Beef, Ground Beef, Cottage Cheese, Raw Egg Mix-Uncooked, and Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Peppers, for a total of 35% off those items. In addition, since they warehouse most of their inventory, Ready Made Resources is willing to mix and match entrees, so that customers do not have to …


Mahaffey’s Book Review: The Disaster Diaries

The Disaster Diaries: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Apocalypse Reading level: Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The (January 24, 2013)ISBN-10: 1594205272, ISBN-13: 978-1594205279 This book goes way beyond the beans, bullets and Band-Aid counsel. In fact, he’s kind of ‘out there’- in one of the finest ‘structured’ swashbuckling adventure sprees that I have read in a long while.  The Disaster Diaries is fun, rousing, thoughtful, and provocative.  Zany (can that word be used today?) might describe more of the unconventional catastrophes depicted in the storyline. The dark humor orientation is evident by the Dr. …