Making Our Bug Out Bags Work: Shaving Weight, by Big Bob

We could endlessly debate which threats are of immediate risk during a wilderness bug out. However, one of the most important is rarely discussed, avoiding injury. A quick sampling of Youtube videos or forum “bug out lists” quickly gives the impression that in the survivalist community, we carry too much weight. Many people plan to carry 60-70 pound packs for days at a time, while covering 15 miles per day. For some readers, this is feasible, but for most people, myself included, it is not. When talking about the dangers of bugging out, I often read about mudslides, wild animal …


Letter Re: Welding, Post-TEOTWAWKI

JWR: My favorite planned substitute for welding in TEOTWAWKI is brazing. It can be done with a carbon arc torch, an oxyacetylene torch or on a old fashioned forge. The latter is particularly attractive to me as it requires no gas or electricity to accomplish. I have a charcoal fired forge and find that by sandwiching two pieces of metal together around some flattened brass rod and flux then using tie wire to hold all in position. I can place the pieces in my fire and increase the air (turn the crank) until the brass melts and flows to the …


Economics and Investing:

M.E.W. mentioned this New York Sun editorial: After The Dollar. 15 countries with no personal income tax. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) David W. spotted this: Post-US world born in Phnom Penh. (15 Asian nations forman economic partnership that excludes the USA) Items from The Economatrix: Our Collapsing Economy And Currency Next Up For A “Recovering” Europe:  A 30% to 50% Collapse In Wages In Spain, Italy And France The Past 30 Days Have Seen The Largest Physical Gold Sales On Record S&P 500 Will Drop 1.8% to 1,390 in 2013, Wells Fargo Says


Odds ‘n Sods:

Dogs That Are Not Trendy    o o o New York’s supernanny mayor Bloomberg spends millions to create a nationwide influence. (Thanks to Sean B. for the link.)    o o o So much for due process: Actually, the Newest Version of NDAA Makes it Easier to Detain Citizens Indefinitely    o o o A handy chart shows which foods to grow or store for vitamin nutrition value. (Thanks to H.A. for the link.)    o o o Oakland Crime Rate Soaring As City Loses Officers



Notes from JWR:

The U.S. Mint’s report to the U.S. Congress with solidly-researched and tested recommendations for new coin compositions is due to be released in just 10 days–on December 14, 2012. Once Congress acts and debases the nickel (most likely switching to almost worthless stainless steel coin planchets), the window of opportunity will close. This may be our last chance to stock up on real nickels in quantity without any sorting. If you haven’t yet assembled your stack of nickel boxes, then do so NOW! — December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, an AVG (“Flying Tiger”) pilot for the …


In-Extremis Travel; Red Light, Green Light, Yellow Light, by Will Prep

There has been a lot of debate over whether or not to remain in place or to leave your home and retreat to another location within the prepper community. Both have their advantages and disadvantages but that is not the scope of this article. I simply want to address the moment that all of us may come to, both the bug-in crowd, when they realize their initial plan is untenable, or the bug-out crowd, when they have made their decision to move to “higher ground.” We all remember the game “Red Light, Green Light”, we played as kids and tried …


Letter Re: The Importance of Chainsaw Spare Parts

James, I just wanted to throw this out there for general information. This past Saturday my neighbor was cutting some trees with his chainsaw. Not long after he started he was over to my house asking to borrow one of my chainsaws because he got his hung up in the tree. I grabbed one of my three saw and went over to help him out. I figured he got his hung up I did not wish him to hang up mine also. After we got his cut out, I mentioned to him if he had a spare bar and chain …


News From The American Redoubt:

Spokane man invents safe hidden in couch. (There are more details, here.)    o o o From The Idaho Statesman: Seed library preserves the Valley’s botanical heritage    o o o And speaking of Idaho, This company is noteworthy: Freedom Munitions. They have great prices and are willing to sell by mail order, so it is worthwhile to put together a “group buy” of ammo with your local friends, anywhere in the United States.    o o o Thusfar, much of the American Redoubt is enjoying a mild winter. Here at the ranch the weather has been easy on our …


Economics and Investing:

Mark Levin interview: Inflation is coming and it will devastate the economic environment for every American family Next Up For A “Recovering” Europe: A 30-50% Collapse In Wages In Spain, Italy And… France Dr. Gary North: $1 Trillion Bailout: Student Loans Items from The Economatrix: B.B. sent: $80 Trillion In Unfunded Liabilities The True Noose Around Our Necks Fitch Downgrades Argentina Ugly Q3 GDP Confirms Personal Consumption Collapsing


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jamie W. was the first of several readers to mention this, from Nanny State Massachusetts: City: Give Us Your Guns, Get A Free Flu Shot – And A Wegman’s Gift Card. You have to love this logic: Sara Schastok, president and CEO of the Evanston Community Foundation says, “Of course, no one is under the illusion that people who intend harm as a way of life are necessarily going to turn in their guns.” JWR’s Comment: Perhaps the gun grabbers’ real intent would be more obvious if they also included the phrase: “Also get a free bowl of pottage!”.    …



Note from JWR:

Sales have been brisk for the First Revised Edition of Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse which was released in hardback on November 26th. This is the first time that the book has ever been printed with a cloth binding. I’ve updated the book slightly to remove some temporal incongruities that had built up in the course of previous editions. I’ve also added a new introduction. As with the later paperback editions, it includes a glossary and index.


Pat’s Product Review: PakLite 9V LED Flashlight

Living out in the boonies, we often have the power go out, especially in the winter months, when trees fall over power lines. More often than not, when the power goes out, it is usually at night, and on a weekend, and it takes repair crews hours, and at times, even days, to get the power restored. When the lights go out in the country, its dark – real dark! I have flashlights in every room of our home, and I can usually just reach for a light when the power goes off, so I’m good to go, in order …


T.M.’s Book Review: No Easy Day

No Easy Day: The Autobiography of a Navy SEAL by Mark Owen ©2012 by Mark Owen, Published by Penguin Group, New York, New York ISBN: 9789-0-525-95372-2 Available at your favorite bookseller Note: “Mark Owen” is a pen name used to protect the real identity of the author. [He was recently “outed” in a widely publicized incident by Fox News.] This well-publicized book is the story of one man’s wish to be a US Navy SEAL since childhood, how he realized his dream, and the reasons he left the service to return to civilian life in Alaska. Wrapped up in this …