Prep for Free, by George H.

Obtaining everything on your prep lists can be a very daunting and expensive task no matter what your background is. What I have found is that you can gradually squirrel away a large amount of equipment and food for free. Furthermore, the money saved can be used to secure more quality gear with your savings. Disclaimer: Everything listed below was indeed voluntarily given and verified as available free for the taking. At Work: 1. Food service: First off free food is readily available in meals provided by your employer. Most employers will also have a large surplus of some type …


Letter Re: Finding Virtue in Potatoes

Dear Editor: When I was younger we were poor, as in no running water poor. We had many meals consisting of potatoes. What my dad did to keep them was dig holes about 3-4 foot deep and about 2 foot around. We put straw in the bottom then potatoes and another layer of straw. This ended up with around fours layers. Our yard typically had about six of these. Now we didn’t have whole potatoes in every one of these. About four or so had the eyes in the hole. (eyes are the seeds of the potato.) When you buy …


Letter Re: Weapons Maintenance — A Missing Element

Dear Mr. Rawles, I heartily agree with the “Weapons Maintenance — A Missing Element, by Odd Questioner”.  I would add that having lots of good bore cleaner handy makes maintenance a lot easier.  There are MUCH better and cheaper bore cleaners around than the classic Hoppes No. 9. Ed’s Red bore cleaner has been around for over 20 years now and has been mentioned before in your blog.  Even so its a good thing to repeat once in a while. “Ed’s Red” bore cleaner is credited to C.E. Harris.  Its an excellent, easy-to-make and inexpensive bore cleaner and lube.  It …


Economics and Investing:

Bill Whittle discusses entitlements, the debt, and the inevitability of credit downgrades, higher interest rates, and hyperinflation: I’m Talking To You James K. highlighted this news item in McNewspaper: Worst-case scenario is ugly if Greece leaves the Euro Reader Sue C. sent us this: Countries across world gird for Greece turmoil G.G. recommended this article in Der Spiegel: Desperate Greeks Withdraw Money from Accounts Strong ties between JPMorgan, Senate Banking Committee. JWR’s Comment: The Senate committee members must be “…shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on…” at JPMorgan. Diana V. flagged this: Hong Kong Exchange to Buy London …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader J.W.G. suggested this: Panetta Warns of Cyber Pearl Harbor: ‘The Capability to Paralyze This Country Is There Now’    o o o A Primer On The Shotgun    o o o F.J. sent this: Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain    o o o David R. flagged this news headline from Oregon: Man Likely Sickened By Plague.    o o o Google, Amazon lead rush for new Web domain suffixes in bids to ICANN. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry 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 any …


Countering The Retreat Freeloader Meme, by Caroline B.

When discussing prepping preparedness and emergency supplies with family and friends, many of you have probably heard the flippant remark: “”I’ll just go to your house.” I have been somewhat taken aback at this statement. I initially didn’t know how to respond. I knew it was a flippant response from some, made out of mockery and intended to elicit laughter.  Their mindset is that they don’t want to prepare, and don’t see the point.  Most off them think that our concerns for the future are humorous and unlikely to ever come to fruition. And I knew a few who felt overwhelmed and …


Letter Re: The Wild Boy of Germany–Fact or Fiction?

Jim: There has been a lot of news about an English-speaking boy who claims to have been living for five years along with his father, camping out undetected in the forests of Germany, south of Berlin. Is this fact, fiction, fantasy? – Calvin D. JWR Replies: I was also contacted by ABC News about this, seeking an interview. I reminded them that this was actually a nine month -old news story, dredged up by Huffington Post. I did provide ABC with some background, which I will repeat here, to explain why I’m quite dubious of this boy’s story: 1.) A …


Letter Re: A Definitive Corrosive Ammo Test

Dear Mr. Rawles, Here is the definitive test to determine whether ammunition is corrosive or not.  The procedure is credited to Small Arms Review publisher Dan Shea. This test is simple, quick, cheap and conclusive. THE BRITE NAIL TEST 1. Take a suspect round, pull the bullet and dump out the powder. I like to also take a known corrosive round as well for a benchmark. 2. Take a few brand new “brite” (i.e. non-galvanized) steel nails with a head size just large enough to fit into the case mouth. Degrease the nails in acetone or other and roughen them …


Economics and Investing:

Now we can see who benefited from all that “stimulus”: Private Jobs Down 4.6 Million From January 2008; Federal Jobs Up 11.4%. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) Joe G. sent this: U.S. Home Sales to Foreigners Rise as Low Prices Draw Investors: These numbers are mind boggling: US Federal Deficit Totals $844.5B Through 8 Months. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Mary F. sent this: Dread and Uncertainty Pervade Life in a Diminished Greece Items from The Economatrix: The Euro Is Doomed Gary North:  George Soros Warns EU Going Down In Three Months Data Points to Soft US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Troy J. suggested this article: Dr. Peter Vincent Pry: America May Never Recover From EMP Attack    o o o Greek health system crumbles under weight of crisis. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o Mark T. sent this tongue in cheek: The 10 Best Vehicles To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse    o o o I see that the new Emily Bestler Books web site is has been launched. Emily Bestler Books is the imprint of Simon and Schuster that published my second novel, “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse”. In September, they will be …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry 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 any …


Submarine Knowledge and Survival by U.C.

First, a little about me. I am a Sailor and Submariner. I have spent 20+ years of my life riding submarines in various roles from deck waxer/hull painter to Communications Division and Operations Department enlisted leader. I have taught Communications, Electronic Signals Intercept (ES), OPSEC/Security, leadership and a myriad of other courses. I really started reading SurvivalBlog and other sites after experiencing a deep dissatisfaction with the course our country is heading. I have experienced first-hand the gross inefficiency of the government and the lack of will/strength/backbone to stand up and change things. “Staying the Course” seems to be the …