Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Develop a a passion for hoeing. To cut down a weed is, therefore, to do a moral action. My hoe becomes an instrument of retributive justice. Hoeing becomes, not a pastime, but a duty. Nevertheless, what a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back with a hinge in it." – Charles Dudley Warner, My Summer in a Garden. 1872

Note From JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction (for the RWVA Super Shooter’s package is still at $150. The auction ends on Monday. Our special thanks to the RWVA and Fred’s M14 Stocks for sponsoring this fund raiser! (The prize is worth $250+.) Please submit your bids via e-mail. This auction ends on the last day of July. OBTW, speaking of the RWVA, they have a Rifle Instructor’s Camp coming up at the end of August in Ramseur, North Carolina–a great opportunity for you to learn how to teach others how to shoot like a pro, including your own family members.

Letter Re: Transportation for the Disabled in the Event of TEOTWAWKI

James:

Thanks for such good reading. I had a copy of “Patriots”but lost it in a house fire last year. I was able to find TEOTWAWKI [the draft edition] through eBay and was happy (it was a signed copy-YEAH!) but am thrilled that you will be releasing the updated version along with the ‘Retreats and Relocation’ book.

What I am interested in is finding the best way to transport my wheelchair bound, handicapped son and my elderly (near wheelchair bound) mother in the event of TEOTWAWKI. I am in the process of getting completely out of debt, which will help tremendously in any plans (provided WTSHTF holds off a little while) and my son and his soon-to-be bride have purchased property that is deeper in the boonies that I am now. Can you recommend any specific books or sources of info for this situation? I was very well prepared before the fire but that just drilled home the wisdom of NOT putting all your eggs in one basket! Thanks again for a wealth of information and God Bless you and yours! – R.B.

JWR Replies: Your situation is unusual but hardly unique. I have an acquaintance in northern Idaho who is wheelchair bound. He is a fine shot with both rifle and pistol, and he can do some simply amazing shooting with a submachinegun. (He is a Class 3 licensed dealer.) When the Schumer hits the fan, I would much rather have someone like him at my retreat than most other “able bodied” men. BTW, he was the basis for one of the minor characters in my novel.

I strongly suggest that if it is at all practicable, that you make arrangements to have your family live at your retreat year-round. And needless to say, that habitation should be a one story structure, on level or nearly level ground, with an easy retrofit for a wheelchair ramp to the main door. Also, if either (or both) your son and mother currently use electric wheelchairs, get old-fashioned wheelchairs for backups in the event of a long term power failures.
As for transportation over longer distances, plan ahead for providing for your disabled family members. One great option, in my opinion, is a 4WD drive full size van conversion. See:
http://www.glinx.com/~sbest/
http://www.glinx.com/~sbest/4vanfaq.htm

Note: Be sure to read this FAQ in detail. Beware of buying an older 4WD conversion. Some of the 4WD van conversions that were done back in the 1970s and 1980s were plagued by reliability problems–mainly involving front differential linkage and other power-train problems. But in more recent years the conversion companies seem to have “gotten it down to a science”–at least for some models. Just be sure to get a written warranty! OBTW, With the current high cost of gasoline, many of these companies have cut their prices to stay competitive. So this is a great time to have a conversion done.

These can be “dual converted” with a wheelchair lift apparatus. See:

http://www.vantagemobility.com/

Also see:
http://quadvan.com/
http://www.sportsmobile.com/4_4x4sports.html
And in Canada: http://www.clydesdale.bc.ca/

OBTW, in the event of a worst case scenario, don’t underrate the value of disabled people at a retreat. Most can “stand” watches of guard duty at an LP/OP, providing extra eyes and ears. So stock up on cold weather clothing for those folks, too!

Three Letters Re: Push or Pull Carts For All-Terrain Hauling

James,
In discussing all-terrain hauling and bug-out travel I’ve not seen comments regarding flattened tires. We may have a tire repair kit and air pump handy, but there is a better way to ensure that our ATV, cart or bicycle is not plagued with tire failure. Replace those air-filled tires with closed-cell polyurethane foam tires. Leave the spares, the tire repair kit and the tire pump at home. – Redmist

 

Hey Jim,
Thought I would send you a couple of links to carts that many country people find to be useful: Vermont Garden Carts I have used this cart (the large one) at a relative’s house and find it useful. But I think that the cart I am going to get is the Smart Cart which I believe will be more useful to me. – S.C.

 

Hi Jim,
The letters on the Carts are good. Who in U.S. history had lots of use with hand carts? Might look at L.D.S. church history, This might be looked at because it could happen to ALL of us in one way or another soon. Well, give a think, I will be looking back with all that has been talked about carts. It just might pay off. Best wishes, – Paul in Seattle

Odds ‘n Sods:

I just finished reading Michael Z. Williamson’s well-crafted trilogy of counter-terrorist sniping novels, set in the present day. (The Scope of Justice, Targets of Opportunity, and Confirmed Kill.) All three were very well written, believable and downright riveting. The first is set in Pakistan, the second in Romania, and the third in Indonesia, but all three feature the same duo of U.S. Army snipers. Unlike most of the schlock military fiction that pervades the mass market, Williamson’s books are technically and tactically correct. By describing both urban and wilderness engagements, tailored equipment to suit specific missions, and using widely divergent locales, the author avoided the all too common traps of repetitiveness and cliches. I highly recommend these novels.

   o o o

SurvivalBlog reader “AK ” in Costa Rica mentioned this site that shares intelligence on global terrorist groups. AK says: “Scroll about half way down the page and take a look at the amount of military instructional pieces these jihadists are putting up on their sites. Pretty scary stuff!”

   o o o

British PM Blair declares: Situation in Lebanon is a Catastrophe 

Note From JWR:

As I was at the keyboard late this afternoon, listening to Edith Piaf via iTunes, our #3 Son strolled in and calmly announced that there was a rattlesnake in the yard, just 20 feet from the front porch. So I snatched the closest weapon at hand: The Memsahib’s stainless steel .45 Colt Commander. Coincidentally, I been doing some work on that pistol earlier in the day, upgrading it with a bunch of Wilson Combat parts that arrived yesterday from Heartland Sportsman’s Supply. These were: an adjustable target trigger, a checkered stainless steel mainspring housing (I hate the plastic factory original parts that Colt has used ever since they “went cheap” back in the early 1990s), and an extended slide release, which I consider a “standard” modification for all of our 1911s. But I digress… Back to the rattlesnake: It was nearly 3 feet long, obviously well-fed, it had 13 rattle sections, and it did not give a warning rattle when I approached it. (Surprising, since it was a hot afternoon and the snake was coiled. I took a moment to put on my ear muffs. I wanted to see how the Commander functioned in rapid fire after the recent ‘smithing, and most importantly whether or not the slide would lock open properly upon fully expending a magazine, so is positively blazed away, rapid fire. The result, from just six feet, was a pitiful three hits out of nine shots, but Mr. Snake was very dead. For our overseas readers: A rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper with a potentially deadly bite.

OBTW, I generally apply a “half mile” rule for dispatching rattlers. If they are more than a half mile from the house (and not in one of our pastures), then we leave them be. They are great rodent controllers. But with children and small livestock here at the ranch, I can’t be so kindly near the house. And to have one not rattle at me… well that is enough to make me re-evaluate the half mile rule!

On another note: My family recently traveled to visit the home of Jake Stafford, to autograph and help package the first big batch of copies of the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course. (A 210 page course ina binder with a supplemental 67 minute audio CD.) Shipments are starting today. All of the copies that are going to U.S. addresses are being mailed via Priority Mail, so you should have them within a week. If you order now, your copy of the course will be mailed almost immediately. For those of you that placed an order during the pre-publication special offer, thanks for your patience!

Letter Re: The Importance of Storing Salt for Preparedness

Hello,
I noticed folks talking a bit about salt lately…what I didn’t notice is whether or not anyone has talked about mineral needs? If folks are going to buy a bunch of salt, they might want to remember that iodized salt would be a good idea. Iodine is one of those necessary minerals, that has become deficient in our soils across the nation. Normally, we could get it through the plants we eat. However, if it’s deficient in the soil were you live, you won’t get enough. Yes, you can also get it from seafood. However, if your retreat is inland, you don’t really have that option. A University of Michigan web page discusses some issues related to iodine deficiency. But there are other mineral needs, aside from iodine, that people should research as well. Folks need to be aware of what their bodies need, what is deficient in their area, and what they might need to supplement. On the flip side, folks should also be aware that some minerals can become toxic in ones body if you overdo it.

Here’s a couple of links for anyone who might be interested in mineral deficiency. Of course, there’s a ton of more information out there…but this might get anyone interested, off and running:
From Health Line
From “Wrong Diagnosis”

God bless! – T. in North Idaho

Letter Re: 8 Ply SUV and Light Truck Tires?

Jim:

Reading up on the article/manual “Aids to Survival“, (Western Australia Police Academy, 1998, 86 Page Word Doc once unzipped.) from the site referenced on your blog. Regarding tires .. or tyres….. they recommended 8 ply. Gosharooty, my HMMWV tires are only 6 ply. (No, they aren’t on a HMMWV, military Hummers leak, are cold in the winter and hot in the summer and they make my butt hurt.)
Anyway, how about some info on the 8 ply tire?. That just doesn’t ring a bell with me as being common in CONUS. What’s the story here? My requirement are: 32×11.50-15, and the HMMWV tires are 36×12.50×16.5
Best Regards, – The Army Aviator

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Jake: What’s this?
Elwood: What?
Jake: This car. This stupid car. Where’s the Cadillac? The Caddy? Where’s the Caddy?
Elwood: The what?
Jake: The Cadillac we used to have. The Blues Mobile!
Elwood: I traded it.
Jake: You traded the Blues Mobile for this?
Elwood: No. For a microphone.
Jake: A microphone? Okay I can see that. Well, what the h**l is this?
Elwood: This was a bargain. I picked it up at the Mount Prospect City Police auction last spring. It’s an old Mount Prospect Police Car. They were practically giving them away.
Jake: Well, thank you pal. The day I get out of prison, my own brother picks me up in a police car.
Elwood: You don’t like it?
Jake: No, I don’t like it.
[Elwood floors the gas pedal and jumps over an opening drawbridge]
Jake: Car’s got a lot of pickup.
Elwood: It’s got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it’s got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It’s a model made before catalytic converters so it’ll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter.
– Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in The Blues Brothers

Letter Re: Thinking the Unthinkable, By Norman Church

Jim,
I would like to add a little something to Mr. Church’s article. I have worked in the refining and petrochemical business for over 30 years. I am not a chemical engineer nor a mechanical engineer, however, I am a piping designer. I design the routing or path all the pipes in a refinery or petrochemical plant take to move product from one piece of equipment to another. Basically it’s like a giant chemistry set.
Now, I know what a lot of sheeple don’t understand about oil is that it is not only energy (gasoline) that we get from crude oil but also most of the other products we consume everyday. Less than half of a barrel of oil is used for gasoline. Mr. Church talks of this but it needs to be brought down another level.
People think solar, corn or whatever is going to save us. It’s not. Mr. Church is right. Where do people think plastics come from? Oil! Where does hair curlers and lipstick come from? Oil! Where do motorcycle helmets , nylon rope, ballpoint pens and guitar strings come from? Oil! Where do heart valves, crayons, trash bags and vitamin capsules come from? Oil! Many or most of our clothing/ textile, office supplies, sports/hobbies/games, infant/children products, medical/ health/beauty products, house hold products, building and home maintenance products and auto products come from oil! You can have all the corn you want but if you don’t have the insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers to grow them your going to have a poor yield. All that won’t mean a hill of beans without oil. Our high standard of living is directly related to oil. That’s probably why most of the world hates the US because we have roughly 10% of the world’s population and consume 80% of the energy. You can’t get any of this from corn or solar. We have lost the old ways. The infrastructure that supported life 100 years ago is gone. So whenever the collapse happens, society will slip way past that time to reach a level where we are left to live in mud huts. Not just America but the rest of the world as well.
China is now expanding it’s energy consumption tremendously. Price of metals is going up. Not precious metals, I’m talking about Iron, steel and alloys. The price of concrete is going up.
Folks, we are in a sinking row boat and no matter how fast we bail we’re going swimming.
Here are some links to check out for uses of oil. It’s analogous to the American Natives who relied so heavily on all the products/ uses they got from the Buffalo. The white man came and all but exterminated the buffalo and [by doing so] almost [exterminated] the natives.
www.nuenco.com/investors/products.htm
www.anwr.org/features/oiluses.htm
www.imoga.com/refoutput.htm
www.ioga.com/special/petroproducts.htm
I hope this is helpful in some way.- Larry in Kansas

Letter Re: My Journey of Realization–Getting Back on Track and Stocking Up

Dear Mr. Rawles,
I just finished reading your seminal work, “Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse” for the third time in as many weeks. In addition, after some internet searching I’ve found your blog, and am in the process of reading everything that I can, when I can. After reading so much of what’s on your mind, I thought I’d share a little of mine.

First, foremost, and most importantly, I want you to know that your book was instrumental in leading me back to God, the Father of our savior Jesus Christ. I won’t delve into the diverse ways in which I let myself be led away from the Lord, as it is far too private of a matter, but I can say with excitement that I have made, and continue to make a mighty effort to bring myself back into alignment and harmony (fellowship) with the Father. So a big thank you is in order. Thank you!

Next, I want to share that I am freaking out! I am 34 years old and have finally come to the realization that that things just ain’t all that great concerning the state of affairs of our country. In retrospect, I guess that I did in fact know all along, but did not want to admit it. It is a hard pill to swallow when you realize things like our paper money is, for all intents and purposes, worth nothing. My mind is racing after seeing the images from New Orleans after Katrina, the horrible crime rate in D.C., and now the escalated turmoil in the Middle East. Oh how frail the system is!

I liken our country to a big stinking compost pile. Yes, that sounds harsh, but it is what has become of this poor nation. Nevertheless, with a little time and some heat, even a pile of rotting garbage and poop can break down into healthy soil in which new seeds will sprout, grow and bear magnificent fruit.

Needless to say, I have this overwhelming sense of urgency! Where to begin? After overcoming my temporary paralysis of the mind (TPM) I took an inventory of where we stand and I feel just a wee bit better than before. I have also discussed, in earnest, with my wife the peril that awaits the unprepared, and let’s just say that she was less than receptive. I now understand that it was too much for her to handle (milk first, then meat). Luckily she was raised in a farming family and is already keen on the idea of having canned foods from the garden and a few beef cows around. It’s a good start.

After making a huge list of what we have and what we need (the later list is a little bit bigger) I have decided that I lack the resources with which to obtain all that we need. You see, I quit my $75,000 per year factory job and enrolled in school full time. My wife and I earned a grand total of $13,000 fed notes last year. That’s pretty minimal for a family of four. By the grace of God, my father and two brothers were much more receptive to the need to be prepared, so I now have a mini-network in place with which to build upon. Pooling resources is the way to go.

We are all in the process of building up our food storage, and have decided on one of our homes as a safe-house. Now we can focus on the infrastructure of just one property instead of being spread thin on four different ones.

Everything else is a matter of just doing what needs done, so I’ll cut it short here, as I could go on and on. Thank you for your time and keep up the great work! – Opus