Water Collection and Storage Issues, by Brian J.

Mr. Rawles, My wife and I began prepping approximately two years, prepping for what exactly is still unknown. We first were concerned with the economy going South (and still are) and begun to stock up for this type of event, as well as work on our debt’s. We quickly begun to realize that our path was not a straight one with no intersections, the deeper we got the more work we found was needed to compensate for a host of problems that could arise, and before we knew it, we were preparing for a multitude of scenarios. Each time you …


Letter Re: Cinder Block Safety Concerns

JWR: I have read plenty of entries on your site about people using concrete block (“cinder block”) for square foot gardening and raised bed gardening.  I didn’t know how to post this so, I thought I would just email you this information.   I have been in the Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) (Concrete Block) industry for almost 11 years.  I started as a yard hand and have recently worked my way up to Plant Manager and Site Safety Manager (two hats due to downsizing and the economy).  I see many people write about using these CMUs or cinder blocks to …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. suggested: Don’t fear the fiscal cliff — fear the welfare cliff Sue C. spotted this item: Political feuds, denial drove San Bernardino to bankruptcy SurvivalBlog’s G.G. suggested this by humorous economic commentator Richard Daughty (“The Mogambo Guru”): So Freaking Obvious (SFO) Items from The Economatrix: When Bankers Get Nervous, Watch Out Retail Purchases In U.S. Unexpectedly Decrease 0.5% Oil Declines From Seven-Week High Amid Global Economic Concern Fewer US Companies are Planning to Hire


Odds ‘n Sods:

Game Over. The Score: Bad Guys With Masks and Guns: 0 Old Guy with Pocket Pistol and Guts: 2 Read a description and see video clips: Charges unlikely against man who shot robbers    o o o OSOM recommended a great primer on tri-fuel conversion of small generators: Don’t Depend on Just Gas…    o o o An emigrant who grew up in East Berlin asks: America, Where Art Thou? (Thanks to J. McC. for the link.)    o o o F.J. liked this Do-It-Yourself project: Replace a Kitchen Cabinet Drawer with a Produce Storage Drawer    o o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When the chips are down, however, survival involves something more than run-of-the-mill ingenuity. Something extra is called for, an extra degree of imagination and a concern that seems groundless at the time, the ability in the midst of abundance to prepare for famine.” – by John E. Pfeiffer, The Creative Explosion: An Inquiry into the Origins of Art and Religion


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for …


Dying and Death in a Collapse Situation, by Irish Eyes

Many Americans have never experienced the death of someone close to them, and our current system of dealing with death makes sure that family and loved ones have as little contact as possible with the dead, and often very little with the dying.  Our culture reacts to the topic of death much like the Victorians reacted to the topic of sex.  We avoid even using the word “died” or “dead”, preferring euphemisms such as “passed”.   With the more widely spread use of hospice and palliative care teams, families are learning that helping their loved ones through the dying process can …


Some Experiences with Handling Trash, by Belle

An introduction of personal circumstances always seems necessary, so I’ll get that out of the way first.  My husband and I, along with our three children, moved from a moderate sized Texas town of 200,000 to a small spread out community of about 1.500.  That population of 1,500 lives in an area of about 40 square miles.  Our location, of which Mr. Rawles would not approve, is hot and dry. We are learning new ways in all areas of our lives to make this living situation work.  We and our 3 teen-aged children love our community and the new freedom …


Letter Re: Coronal Mass Ejections and Their Consequences

Good Morning James, The recent coronal mass ejection (CME) began interacting with the terrestrial magnetosphere earlier today. Though initially that interaction was rather subdued a rapid fall-off in the proton particle counters is actually leading to some rather elevated readings over at the Rice.edu monitor site. Polar convection, density and velocity are all registering in the yellow band, while the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) magnitude, angle and the dynamic pressure are all passed up into the red zones. It is worth remembering that a CME consists of hot, charged particles (ionized hydrogen primarily) and as such the situation is similar …


Letter Re: Retreat Ideas for the Disabled and Elderly

As a formerly disabled person I would like to share some ideas to help make survival more likely or at least less treacherous:  * Keep a heavy duty luggage cart for bug out bags. They are versatile and can be used for many other things like hauling water. Wheeled backpacks with roller blade wheels will not be as durable and versatile. *  Adult tricycle bikes are quite stable can help many get around easier and quicker while carrying some supplies too. These can be used by others as well to carry water and heavier supplies.     *  Foot-care should be …


Letter Re: Effective Small Team Tactics for the Coming Collapse

Mr Rawles, I have a few comments after reading the guest article by Max Velocity on small team tactics. I realize the author’s perspective is colored by his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there are some issues I have with his article. The first is the Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) is not the same IED he described in the Off-route section. The EFP is formed by the Miznay-Chardin effect, not the Munroe effect. The EFP (Miznay-Chardin) is a solid slug or can be fragmented by various means, but is not a molten jet of metal (Munroe). The Munroe effect, …


News From The American Redoubt:

I am gauging interest in what might become a new weekly column with news from the American Redoubt region. It will feature news about events, business opportunities, Radio Free Redoubt, local bloggers, local vendors, demographics, and more. o o o Musicians will find this of interest: PrairiePsaltery.com o o o Another Sustainable Preparedness Expo will be held on September 30, 2012 in Spokane, Washington. o o o One of the largest and best gun shows in the Redoubt region is scheduled for August 3-4-5, 2012, in Missoula, Montana. (This is Montana’ oldest and biggest show, organized by Hayes Otoupalik–an expert …


Economics and Investing:

Those pesky derivatives: How Jamie Dimon hid the $6 billion loss The latest from Yohay at FOREX Crunch: US Gained Only 12,000 Jobs in May According to Bernanke’s Highlighted Indicator Steven M. sent this: It’s Not Just Free Cell Phones… The Government Is Handing Out Free Air Conditioners Too. JWR Adds: Oh, and to make it even worse, the LG Global Electronics brand air conditioning units they are giving away are made in China. (“Your tax dollars at work.”) Items from The Economatrix: Jim Willie:  Extreme Danger Signposts Gold 22% Rally to Record Seen by Eric Sprott:  Commodities Buffet Says …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Following up on the recent derailment and evacuation in Ohio, SurvivalBlog reader Lee M. found a handy railroad map of the U.S. [JWR Adds: More detailed maps can be found if you do a search for each particular railroad, such as Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe.]    o o o Ian R. sent this: Emergency responders turn to expired drugs as key lifesaving medicine supplies run low    o o o Getting in on the act: Reader Tracey A. noticed that Costco’s mailorder arm is now offering a special package price on 12-pack Gamma Seal Lids and 6-gallon Buckets with 12 Mylar Liners …