Lessons From Storms At Sea, by Richard S.

I spent nearly ten years in the Coast Guard and the US Navy before injuries suffered in the line of duty forced my retirement, this is but one experience in my life that forced me to be a better man and come to grips with the fragile mortality of man and just how precious the gift of life really is. These are the teachings that have prepared me for what is coming. The horizon darkens more every day and the storm approaches. Are we prepared for the coming storm, can we weather it out. I live on 80 acres in south …


Four Letters Re: Why I Hate Preppers

James, Allen is right on about “arm chair” preppers. Many folks out there only talk the talk, without taking the walk.   Like Allen, I did not marry until my mid-40s also agreeing to live near a small community. The drive to my retreat is 42 miles to a fairly rural farm area when I grew up. My wife supports me wholeheartedly in this effort including participating where she can in learning new skills.   Over the last 8 years, I have been re-learning many of my boyhood skills critical to a rural lifestyle. It is amazing how much a …


Economics and Investing:

Reader and loyal content contributor F.J. recommended this: When, Not If, Inflation Returns K.P. liked this article: Real Wealth, Gold, and Why Government May Want You on Food Stamps Peter Schiff: The Only Way To Fix The Economy Is To Let It Fail Items from The Economatrix: The Canadian Housing Bubble Nears Implosion Jobs Data Show US Factories Bearing Brunt of Slowdown S&P 500 Rallies to Highest Since 2008 on Stimulus Bets Miss In U.S. Payrolls Spurs Talk of New Fed Stimulus


Odds ‘n Sods:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) mentioned: Slingshots in the Roman Empire? (Joerg is still experimenting.)    o o o Reader F.J. sent this grim prediction: Complex Systems Theorists Predict We’re About One Year From Global Food Riots    o o o K.A.F. suggested this British television series: The Wartime Kitchen & Garden    o o o H.L. liked the 52 weeks of preparedness lessons provided by ReadyNutrition.com



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 42 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 …


Why I Hate Preppers, by Allen C.

I may as well go ahead and apologize to anyone who is already offended by my title without apologizing for offending you.  I do not actually hate preppers.  I’m just fed up with them.  While I’m at it I may as well apologize for generalizing.  I don’t like putting labels on anyone any more than I like being labeled, but it is necessary to generalize in this case so if you consider yourself in one group, but the other better describes you then I accept that in advance.  If it sounds like I apologize a lot it is because I …


Remember the Little Things, by Bear

This is not your typical “How To… for Survival” or “Best Gear for Survival” blog article. Instead, I am asking you the reader, to read this with an open mind. This is much more than that and I believe it will be the difference between you surviving… and not. Nothing can take away from the importance of being prepared. Nor can the necessity of training and practicing certain survival skills be trivialized. Preparedness and practice are a couple of necessities of survival. But there is more to life than just surviving. the famous psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, summed it up best …


Letter Re: Training Combatives: The How, What and Why of Acquiring Hand-to-Hand Skills

Hi Mr. Rawles, I’m a seasoned martial artist and self-defense instructor.  I teach Western Boxing, Jeet Kune Do (Concepts), Kali, Submission Grappling (mainly Sambo and Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), and mixed martial arts (MMA. ) I regularly instruct law enforcement officers and military personnel who go into harm’s way.  I agree with much of what Legionnaire wrote, but must take exception to his statement that most fights go to the ground.  This is a myth that has been bandied about since the early days of the UFC, and the only notable support for this assertion is a “use-of-force” study conducted by …


Economics and Investing:

The Secret Panic of European Banks G.G. flagged this: Government officially tops $1 trillion in deficits Reader H.L. sent: As the Euro Tumbles, Spaniards Look to Gold Pierre M. was the first of several readers to mention this: Pig farmers quit as feed prices soar Items from The Economatrix: Job Growth Cools, Posing Challenge for Obama, Fed Why a Drop in the Unemployment Rate is Tragic Homebuilders’ New Problem:  Too Few Workers


Odds ‘n Sods:

Karl G. recommended a great video with yet another use for IBC totes: Building an IBC aquaponic system, along with this instructive PDF. Karl notes: “You just have to make sure that the tank wasn’t used for some nasty chemicals before making this.”    o o o Rewarding Idiots with Democratic Totalitarianism    o o o I heard about an interesting new blog from a libertarian Christian philosopher who has emigrated to Chile: The Fifth Stage Blog    o o o Havana’s blackout.    o o o Tom of CampingSurvival.com co-produced this instructional video: How-To Roast Green Organic Coffee Beans …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Between the far away past history of the world, and that which lies near to us; in the time when the wisdom of the ancient times was dead and had passed away, and our own days of light had not yet come, there lay a great black gulf in human history, a gulf of ignorance, of superstition, of cruelty, and of wickedness. That time we call the dark or Middle Ages. Few records remain to us of that dreadful period in our world’s history, and we only know of it through broken and disjointed fragments that have been handed down …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 42 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 …


Prepping for a Different Herd, by Xaidin

I’m a prepper, however my situation is a little different than most.  I wanted to write an article explaining my unique challenges. My family has a small ranch in New Mexico.  In the old days when it rained more often we ran about 100 head of cattle.  With the drought that has hit the southwest so hard, we’re down to about 50. I know most of you are thinking, oh my goodness this guy is so lucky.  He can eat all the beef he wants when TSHTF.  The answer is yes, and no.  I had about the same initial reaction …


Secure Signals for a Survivalist, by Fred J.

This subject is a much overlooked area in the survival community and sorely neglected. I hope that the following synopses of this crucial topic will inspire an invigorating awakening in this area that I feel is vital to our collective success, without which our endeavor could well be doomed. Every country and every military around the world through the ages has employed codes, ciphers and signals as well as signets et cetera for security and authentication of messages. Sending messages via couriers, as well as during times of war and peacetime to prevent their opposition from learning their secrets and …