« Letter Re: As It Was in the Days of Noah |Main| Note from JWR: »
Book Review: "Surviving A Disaster", by Tony Nester
We were sent a review copy of "Surviving
A Disaster -
Evacuation Strategies And Emergency Kits for Staying
Alive". This
slim paperback (just 57 pages) is a basic overview and
introduction to Getting Out Of Dodge (G.O.O.D.)
It was written by Tony
Nester, a wilderness survival teacher in Arizona. Nester has also written
the books "Practical
Survival" and "Desert
Survival".
The book covers Bug Out Bags (BOBs),
basic first aid kits, home evacuation gear, water, food, and so forth. It is
mainly written about preparedness for
evacuation
in
the case of a short-term
natural or man-made disaster, not TEOTWAWKI.
However, it does cover 'minor' disasters fairly well.
Positives:
- It is a basic look at preparedness, that your sheeple brother-in-law
and co-workers could understand.
- Also, the author speaks about preparedness very rationally, not sounding
like a paranoid whacko.
- He includes extensive lists of everything you might need to pack
in your BOB.
- He presents ideas on how to organize your gear. (Particularly, having
a layered system. For example, if the road is impassable, you
will be ready to leave the car and go on foot.)
Negatives:
- The book is aimed at new and non-survivalists. It doesn't go into extreme
detail.
- There isn't much here that is really new ideas.
- If you are already well prepared, you probably won't need it.
If you've been prepared for a decade or more,
then you probably don't need this book. However, if you are new to preparedness,
or have friends and relatives that are unprepared, this might be a good
starter. It does not have that intimidating 'survivalist'
look, and starts with the basics.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Advanced Medical Training and Facilities for Retreat Groups »
Poll Results: The SurvivalBlog Party Mix
We've tallied the 75+ reader responses to our recent poll on your favorite
music with a survival or preparedness theme. Based on the responses, I can
see that
a large number of our readers are rock-'n-roll fans. The Top 10 tunes
mentioned were
(in
descending
order of popularity):
1.) "Silent Running",
by Mike and The Mechanics
2.) "Its
The End Of The World As We Know It", by R.E.M.
3.) "A
Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams, Jr.
4.) "Eve
of Destruction" by Barry McGuire (Buffalo
Springfield 's rendition of the same song was also mentioned.)
5.) "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult
6.) "Riding the Storm Out" by REO Speedwagon
7.) "Bad
Moon Rising" by Credence Clearwater Revival
8.) "Lawyers, Guns and
Money" by Warren Zevon
9.) "The
Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash
10.) "We
Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who
Other songs not in the top 10, but still mentioned by more than one reader
included:
"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, "Thank God for the Renegades" by
Steve Vaus, "Everybody Knows" by Leonard
Cohen
(a
cover by The Duhks was also mentioned), "Going by the Book", by
Johnny Cash, "Political Science" by Randy Newman, "Copperhead
Road"
by Steve Earl, "March
of Cambreadth" by Heather McDonald, and "You Do Your Thing" by
Montgomery
Gentry.
Just to cheer you
up
after
all this Gloom und Doom, listen to this song that was mentioned by three SurvivalBlog
readers: "Are
the Good Times Really Over for Good?", by
Merle Haggard.
« Letter Re: An Overlooked Aspect of Preparedness--Crutches and Canes |Main| Jim's Quote of the Day: »
Reader Poll: The SurvivalBlog Party Mix
On a recent looong drive into town to top off our supplies, the Memsahib
suggested this: The SurvivalBlog Party Mix.
Our favorite "preparedness" music. What
are your favorite survival-theme songs? (Just e-mail us
your list.) Here are the top three
songs on the Rawles family's play list.
"The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash
"A Country
Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams, Jr.
"Bad
Moon Rising" by Credence Clearwater Revival
How about you? Please e-mail us your two
or three favorites. Thanks.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: The Food Shortages Are Real--Will There Be Panic Buying Soon? »
Letter Re: Free Downloadable Military Manuals and Uncopyrighted Books
Greetings Rawles family!
I am a member of a forum online that I think has a real gem for your readers.
Gary, the administrator over at Post
Apocalyptic Media (which focuses on
post-apocalyptic science fiction, but has some preppers as well) has put
together a great project.
He edited [US military field manuals] (FMs),
and other non-copyrighted books taking out information that would
not be useful to non-Army personnel (nothing
tactical or important, strictly Army procedural things). He then put them together
in books with titles like "Survival", "Survival:
Health" which includes FM 4-25.11 First Aid, Emergency War Surgery, FM
8-284 Treatment of Biological Warfare Agent Casualties, "Survival: Arms", "Survival:
Rebuilding", as well as titles like [the 19th Century formulary] "The
Household Cyclopedia" (also
titled "MacKenzie's 10,000 Recipes") and others to come. All
are available to download for free, and are also available [in hard
copy] at no cost beyond [the actual cost of] supplies. [They are being sold
at zero
profit.]
The printed ones come with useful and sharp looking camouflage covers that
Gary
designed. Here
are the links [to the forum threads which in turn have links to the PDFs and
the Lulu.com ordering pages]:
Military
Manuals
19th
Century Texts
Regards, - Rightcoast
JWR Replies: Thanks for mentioning that. Be advised that
registration is required to access the Post
Apocalyptic Media forum, but to register, all that they ask for is a name
and e-mail address.
« Letter Re: Advice on Long Term Ammunition Storage Techniques |Main| News from Wall Street and Capitol Hill--The Mother Of All Bailouts Begins to Grow »
Lessons From Fiction--A Critique of "I Am Legend", by Michael Z. Williamson
I finally had a chance to see [the 2007 movie] "I Am Legend",
and analyzed it as a writer, and from a technical perspective.
I've seen a lot of discussion over his [use of a] M4 [Carbine
as his primary weapon]. I have to say for that type of fighting, I'd prefer
a shotgun. However,
a shotgun
doesn't
reload
fast
enough.
He might
be better off with a good .308 self-loading carbine, if he can find adequate
soft-point ammo. In New York City, that's unlikely. National Guard armories
would only have ball ammo, and likely wouldn't have anything other than standard
duty weapons. Add in that he was likely at least familiarized with the M4 as
a military surgeon and officer, I think the M4 was about the best practical
choice under the circumstances, though inadequate. Lesson: Obviously,
for those preparing for any of various disasters, this is a reminder to plan
ahead.
Much is made of his OPSEC, including bleaching his footsteps to kill scents.
What isn't discussed is how he hides the scent of fuel for his generators,
or the exhaust smell. Also, this is supposed to be three years after the disaster
struck. How does he hide his tracks in winter, with snow? This would likely
necessitate long stays inside. Lesson: Obviously, that would
mean more preparations. You may have to bunker down due to weather or other
events.
The steel shutters and reinforcements on the building don't extend above the
ground floor. This is an obvious failure point. His armory also should not
have been in one closet, but in multiple locations, possibly the central stairwell,
on each floor. Lesson: A point source failure of any resource--food, weapons,
water, medicine, fuel--can kill you. Diversify your preparations.
One of the character's critical intel flaws is failing to note that: he and
the "Dark seekers" have overlapping territories, and their search
methods are as precise and professional as his. We see him searching a building
that has already been stripped of food, but there is no extraneous damage or
vandalism. This was a key item that his enemy were not mindless and irrational,
but rather very organized and intelligent. There are other events that indicate
this, and he missed them, too. Obviously, he was emotionally reluctant to consider
human attributes remaining in people so sick and damaged. Never underestimate
your opponent, and always remember that from his point of view, he is correct
and you are in the wrong. It may not be possible to understand his point of
view, but the attempt must be made.
There are several signs that his own rationality is slipping. Obviously, talking
to mannequins and creating scenes with them is a coping mechanism. However,
herding deer with a sports car and attempting to take potshots might be a thrill,
but a dangerous one. Likewise, when he loses Sam, his dog, his vengeful actions
almost get him killed for no gain. His character did a great many things to
maintain himself--a regular schedule, replaying old news and movies, interaction
with his dog, but ultimately, we are a social creature and cannot operate alone.
This is also driven home when he is trapped. Consider that other disasters
or accidents are possible, too--broken limbs, car failures. Lesson:Plan to
be part of a team, with organization and training. Do this before disaster
strikes.
Besides the deer, we see lions, presumably escaped from a zoo. We don't see
any transformed wildlife, but knowing dogs and rats did, it's reasonable to
assume others did. This is a massive potential threat. The metabolic issues
in this scenario might have meant transformed predators are not viable long
term, due to massive food demands, but in the short term, one could create
a tremendous amount of damage, or infect an entire herd of deer. In addition,
while there are lots of supplies he can loot in the short term, apart from
a small garden patch, there is little space for food or material production.
Lesson: A city is a consumer, not a producer, of base resources. It is not
the place for a long-term base in such a scenario.
Conversely, the character did well by operating from a central location, keeping
records and charts, performing regular patrols and intel sweeps, operating
in a scientific fashion, attempting to contact others, holding to a regular
schedule, acquiring resources, keeping fit, and demonstrating generally good
fire discipline and caution. Lesson: Even the best, most prepared individual
can make mistakes. Constantly review your scenarios and preparations, and have
someone else do so, too. - Michael
Z. Williamson
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Wait and Buy Farm Ground Near the Bottom of the Market »
Letter Re: Recommendation for the Novel "Full Faith and Credit"
Mr. Rawles,
As I watch the meltdown of the Carlyle Fund, of Bear Stearns, and of the credit
and derivative markets in general, I am constantly surprised at the the parallels
of what I watch happening (via CNBC) with what happens in the novel, "Full
Faith and Credit: A Novel About Financial Collapse", by James R. Cook.
[In his novel] huge hedge funds fail, and because they have huge counter-party
exposure, the government has no choice but to bail them out. The government
pumps money
into the markets, causing commensurate inflation. And, as we are seeing in
reality, the public gradually recognizes that precious metals are the only
safe store of value and purchasing power.
In Cook's novel, the calamity is initiated by rapid slide in the stock market.
In our reality, it is the credit and derivative markets are failing, catalyzed
by the failing real estate markets that are causing the recent problems. The
book does not take the scenario into such a complete grid-down environment
as in your book, and foreign currencies and precious metals are the antidote
in "Full Faith and Credit" where bullets and beans are the means
of survival in your novel "Patriots:
Surviving the Coming Collapse" I've
read both books, and taken from each in preparing myself and my family for
the future.
In this mess we are in, may the innocents (John Q. Public) be blessed and
protected, and may the greedy, amoral thieves of Wall Street that have profited
so handsomely
from these financial shenanigans pay for their moral hubris -- very publicly.
- Tango in Utah
« Selecting a Rifle for a Budget-Constrained Prepper |Main| Note from JWR: »
Letter Re: Recommendation for the Movie "Right at Your Door"
Jim,
If you haven’t had the chance, I highly recommend the Lionsgate movie
titled ‘Right
at Your Door’. Without giving anything away, it is about a large scale
terrorist attack on Los Angeles . It’s not a traditional disaster movie
that tries to cover all the angles, dazzle with special effects and thrill
with drama; instead it tells the story of one couple from the suburbs that
most should easily relate to.
In no time at all, you see the vulnerability of the average person, and the
break down of systems we take for granted, how it all leaves us practically
helpless and lost. Chris Gorak, the director, does a good job of pulling you
emotionally into the situation and demonstrating our susceptibility. Even the
least prepared of us should take heed and learn. For the more practical and
prepared, it will confirm our choice to be so.
Jim, from a 10
Cent Challenge subscriber I must give thanks for what I regard as the
single best site on the web, bar none. Keep it up and spread the word. - Dfz
from Louisiana.
« Letter Re SurvivalBlog Logo Hats as Networking Tools |Main| Shortages Can Induce Deep Drama, and Making Do-It-Yourself Fire Logs, by Heghduq »
Letter Re: Survival Lessons from the Book "The Long Walk"
Dear Jim,
The book "The
Long Walk" by Slavomir Rawicz is the best book on the
human spirit over the elements (both natural and man made) that I've ever read.
The author and his group escaped from a Siberian Gulag in 1942, crossed the
Gobi Desert and the Himalayas, and walked all the way to India. Over 4,000-miles!
This was all without the aid of $10,000 worth of gear from the REI catalog,
or for that matter,
shoes.
It's a perfect combination of some of our standard topics! Government tyranny,
survival, hope, ingenuity, teamwork. It was absolutely inspiring! - Frank S.
« Letter Re: "Forever" US Postage Stamps as an Inflation Hedge |Main| Letter Re: Bivouac Bags »
Letter Re: Lessons Learned from Finland's Winter War
Dear Jim and Family,
I got notice through Amazon about an interesting novel: "The Winter
War", by William Durbin
This sounds like it would be a good choice for historical fiction, though its
listed under the Children's section. The Winter War (Taalvisota) in 1938-39
details the invasion of Finland by communist Russia. I've studied it extensively
and its a depressing tale, though heroic, because the Finns eventually lost
and the Russian incompetence spurred Hitler to invade Russia, thinking it would
be an easy victory and give him access to oil. Hitler might have held on longer
if he hadn't tried to take the Russian oil by force. America and most of Europe
supported the Finns in their battle to protect themselves from the overwhelming
masses of the communist invaders.
The Winter War is a good example of guerilla fighting with bolt action sniper
rifles, mostly captured weapons reworked into proper condition and accurized,
fighting against thousands of tanks, aircraft and 4:1 odds. Skiing cross country
through the forest, the Finns destroyed a million Russian troops with the help
of their cold winter and isolating the troops from their supply lines. It was
a nasty war and the Finns were eventually defeated but its still quite educational
for mental preparation, tactics, use of available resources, and applying your
advantages to the situation. Its amazing what people can do when they have
to. Especially when the enemy is as incompetent as the Soviets were, sending
their troops in with Summer weight uniforms and allowing their supply lines
to be cut, having massacred their battle hardened generals for not being good
party members. The communists did everything wrong in that war, and they paid
a high price for it. That's where the old joke about Soviet Minesweepers comes
from, only its not a joke. They really did walk arm in arm
singing great patriotic songs till their legs were blown off. Gruesome. Somehow
I doubt that's in this
book. The real Taalvisota is a dark chapter of history and one every survivalist
should know. Best, - InyoKern
JWR Replies: See the "Tolvajarvi" chapter of my novel "Patriots:
Surviving the Coming Collapse".. It is an homage to the tenacity
of those that fought in the Winter
War.
« Two Letters Re: Home Defense Tactics for the Disabled and the Infirmed |Main| Note from JWR: »
Book Review: Michael Z. Williamson's "Better to Beg Forgiveness"
I just finished reading my review copy of Michael
Z. Williamson's latest science fiction novel "Better to Beg
Forgiveness". This fast-paced novel is set a couple of centuries
in the future and follows the adventures of a band of mercenaries sent to
guard a national president on a war-torn backwater colony planet. The story
has some obvious analogies to the current use of "contractors" in
Iraq. And it is obvious that in creating the fictional "Ripple Creek" off-world
mercenary company, Williamson drew heavily on the real-life experiences of
a few Blackwater types in researching this story. This adds an unmistakable
air of realism to a fictional tale, making it quite fun to read.
I must admit that my reading of the book was sporadic--not because of any
fault of the novel but rather because of the interruptions of elk and deer
hunting season, and then holiday travel. But the recent heavy snowfall here
at the ranch curtailed most of my outdoor chores and got me into into one of
those cozy-by-the-woodstove book reading moods, so I was finally able to finish
it.
"Better to Beg Forgiveness" is a well-told tale. It has
plenty of the elements that Williamson fans love: action, great technical detail,
believable characters, accurate tactics, vivid imagery of distant worlds, and
some compellingly deep drama. Mike Williamson is prior military service, and
his experience definitely shows. Unlike most of the schlock military science
fiction genre novels that crowd the market, Mike's books are technically and
tactically correct. That is a real rarity!
Without spoiling the plot, I can safely say that the story has plenty of interesting
turns. Williamson is well-versed at weaving technical details into a story
without bogging it down. (As a fellow novelist, I can assure you this is very
difficult.) He is also a master at blending, action, drama, and character conflicts.
In this particular story, he describes inter-agency, and inter-governmental
conflicts exceptionally well, without making the story drag. Again, this adds
texture and realism to the tale. In all, I thought that the storyline was plausible,
the characters were believable, and the action was compelling. This is a book
that is well worth reading. Just one proviso: because of some adult situations
and copious battlefield violence this book is definitely not for children!
I got my review copy early, but I've noticed that "Better to Beg
Forgiveness" is now
available from Amazon.com.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Preparedness While on Business Travel--What to Pack »
Letter Re: Reactions to Preparedness Course
Hello Jim,
I have been reading SurvivalBlog for a year or more, and have thought about
buying the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course. When I
saw it go on sale for 33% off, I thought more seriously about it, but still
procrastinated. This morning I saw that the sale had been extended until December
3, that really got me thinking, but I still hesitated. I sat down to lunch
a little while ago and was interrupted by a Jehovah’s Witness that handed
me a pamphlet telling me to prepare for the End Of The World As We Know It.
That did it. I just sent in my order for the course. I can
take a hint! Thanks, - M.A.B., Burlington, Texas
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Security for Unattended Retreats »
Letter Re: Reactions to Preparedness Course
Jim:
What a coincidence. I'm quite certain, that the amazing e-mail
that you received from HH happens to be from my very good friend and
colleague. HH is a good man that care's for his family and friends. He cares
so much,
that
he often risks the ridicule and accusations as he mentioned, to try and help
inform and consequently protect his loved ones with the gift of information.
People are waking up, and I am one of those people. I was the guy that listened
to the wisdom HH was resonating, much of that information came from the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course.
I remember talking with him one night in the parking lot as we were leaving
work. We were having a good conversation about preparing for potential hardships
that our country may soon be facing. I noticed a backpack in his vehicle's
trunk, as well as some shoes and what looked like a change in clothing. It
made me chuckle at first as I didn't understand what it was for, but I had
noticed it there on several occasions before. I thought perhaps it was his "emergency" pack
in the event of a melt down with his wife... hehehe.
He explained to me that it was part of preparedness plan. I was curious but,
admittedly, I thought he might be just a little paranoid or crazy.
A transformation has happened as my eyes have opened to what's occurring around
us. I became curious about the pack and the reason for it.
HH led me to SurvivalBlog.com and to the "Rawles Gets You Ready" course.
I borrowed it over the Thanksgiving holiday. After perusing the materials,
I certainly felt like I had another thing the be thankful for this year.
I purchased the course for myself last night and took advantage of the great
offer. I really owe this enlightenment to my great friend HH, I'm truly grateful
to have such a selfless friend with so much knowledge.
I pray that I will never need to utilize this information, but that won't stop
me from absorbing it and getting prepared. Considering the increasingly complex
world we live in, with all of the unrest over wars, economic failure, volatile
weather patterns, and increasing pressure on our natural resources, one cannot
afford to ignore the signs. I felt that at the very least, I needed to start
preparing for the possible troubles we've brought upon ourselves.
Thanks for providing this great wisdom for those of us that want to be ready
for the challenges of our current times. - Todd H.
« Weekly Survival Real Estate Market Update |Main| Letter Re: Security for Unattended Retreats »
Letter Re: Reactions to Preparedness Course
Jim:
Your "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course is an amazing tome of information
and I refer to it quite often. I'm thankful to have found it and I'm
grateful that there are folks out there, like you and Jim, who are willing to devote serious amounts of
time and effort sharing (well, okay, selling for a reasonable price)
their knowledge. Hats off to you!
Its weird, I've shown the course to several people and several ridiculed me
for having spent such a sum of money on 220 pages of information relating to
some guy's shopping spree at a big box store. They simply failed to understand
the importance of the information contained. Their reactions
were what I'd expected but, surprisingly, three of the seven or eight folks
I showed the course to found it to be as interesting and important as I did,
and one of them is planning on buying the course this week. People are waking
up.
I don't want to ramble on for too long, but suffice it to say that an incredibly
tiny amount of people truly understand the predicament our country is in and
the precarious nature of how food and goods are made available to them.
I've tried to explain the situation in simple, straightforward terms and backed
my word by countless sources of reliable information, only to be met with either
apathy or accusations of fear-mongering. I pray I never have to rely on my
preparations, but even a Boy Scout knows better than to rely on hope alone.
And I certainly didn't hear my family complaining as they gobbled up my fresh
whole-wheat dinner rolls at Thanksgiving, made from grain that I had milled
the night before.
A hundred bucks for this course? You could double that price and I'd have still
made the purchase. I'm going to buy another copy on Friday, as a Christmas
gift to a friend. I hope I can slip my order in before the deadline ends. Thanks.
Keep fighting the good fight. - H.H.H.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Advice on Buying AR-10 Rifles »
Letter Re: Preparedness Course Applicability for Australia?
Hello Mr. Rawles,
I was looking to take advantage of your "1/3-off" offer on your "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course, but before
I spend that kind of money, I was wondering if you could tell me how suitable
you course is for non-US conditions, specifically,
Australian conditions? How "Americanized" is it, and how difficult
would it be to "translate" it into Australian?
I really enjoy your blog, and have found your tips and those of your contributors
very helpful. Kind Regards, - Richard C.
JWR Replies: The course and accompanying audio CD are largely
geared toward American and Canadian readers, but if you have comparable "warehouse" type
stores with large container/case lots of packaged foods available, then it should
be 95% useful
to you. Oh BTW, one oversight: I don't list the shelf life of Vegemite.
The 33% off sale for the course ends tomorrow, so be
sure to place your order soon. Best Regards from us
here the snowy north to you in the sunny south
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Two Letters Re: Storage Foods for Vegetarians? »
Letter Re: Garage and Yard Sales as a Retreat Logistics Source
Hi Mr. Rawles,
I've been able to pick up a lot of gear at garage and yard sales. Most importantly,
I've found many practical books at yard sales and junk stores that sell books
for $1 or even just 25 cents each. I was able
to pick up a home medical adviser from the 1920s for 25 cents. I
have also bought numerous books on small scale farming, canning, food storage,
and living off the grid from the 1920s for a dollar each. Much of the information
would be relevant to a post-TEOTWAWKI,
as it was written for farmers or rural residents that didn't have access
to electricity and largely lived
off the land.
I have a few books about working on houses from the post-WWII years since it
is before plastics, which has inherent benefits in a survival situation since
they will
be hard to find at Home Depot. They also have information on how to make repairs
that today the answer would be buy a new one, or use a hard to find/expensive
par. (Impossible in a survival situation.)
These are the books that I have found most helpful:
The Home Handyman's Guide edited by Hubbard Cobb copyright 1949
Readers Digest Back to Basics Copyright 1981 (most important by far with general
info on everything)
2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (there is a new version every year, its given
free to public safety organizations)
The Weather Wise Gardner by Calvin Simmons Copyright 1983 ISBN 0-87857-428-X
The New American Garden Book Copyright 1954 edited by Dorothy Sara
The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser by RV Pierce copyright 1895 [JWR
Adds: Keep in mind that some of the home medical remedies described
in books of this vintage (such as "take a spoonful of kerosene...") are not safe
or recommended! OBTW, a similar encyclopedia titled "The Household
Cyclopedia", circa 1881, is now
available online for free download.
Thanks to reader "TinCan" for sending SurvivalBlog that link.]
Various USDA agricultural yearbooks from pre-1935, these are also great because
a fair deal of them is geared towards the farms that existed as family farms
and were quite self sufficient.
Also, on another note, for people that live
in suburbia it is important to block visibility from neighbors or the street
when storing cached gear. For example, I was driving through
my neighborhood today and there was a small horse trailer (in neighborhood
where livestock is prohibited by the homeowners association) inside a garage.
That sort of thing draws attention and others will start rumors "Why does
he have a horse trailer inside his garage? What are they trying to
hide?" When TSHTF neighbors
will start talking more and maybe something may come up. I hope these books
and the
advice helps someone. Regards, -Sam
« Letter Re: A Source for Free Coffee Grounds for Composting |Main| Three Letters Re: Storage Foods for Vegetarians? »
Letter Re: Will "Jericho" be Affected by the Current Screenwriter's Strike?
Hi Mr. Rawles,
Do you know if the Hollywood writers strike will effect the filming of
the CBS television series Jericho?
If the [spilt season] filming has been completed, I guess that maybe the strike
could be the
best thing for Jericho since it would be an all-new show in a lineup
of [other shows that are] repeats. Regards, - Sam
JWR Replies: I haven't heard per se, but it is probably
safe to assume that most of the Jericho scripts are written by Writer's
Guild of America (WGA)
members. I heard from Rourke--the moderator of the Jericho
Discussion Group--that the seven episodes for 2008 are completed, so the writers
strike should have no effect, at least for this season.
I agree that their mid-season starting date
for the new episodes
could give
it
a competitive
edge.
Coincidentally, another show that is slated to start at mid-season is "Terminator:
The Sarah Connor
Chronicles".
So perhaps both of these quasi-survivalist shows will benefit from the disruption
in
the
regular television season.
According to published reports, "Terminator:
The Sarah Connor
Chronicles" will premiere at 8 p.m. on January 14, 2008. It will be
run
on
Monday nights.
"Jericho" will return to CBS in January, on a yet to be-announced
premiere date. It is as yet uncertain if it will retain its 9 p.m. Friday slot
in the new split season.
It bears mentioning that the previous writer's strike had a significant effect
on the television
industry. It was because of that strike that "reality" shows got their
real start. (Since they are are only loosely scripted.) If the current strike
goes
on for
more than just a few months I can foresee further changes in the industry.
One such change might be the advent of direct viewer participation discussion
and
"adventure"
television shows,
via cell phone text messaging and the Internet. These would be analogous to
on-line chat rooms and on-line role-playing games. Both
would give viewers that are not yet web savvy a glimpse of what is going on in
cyberspace.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Comments on FAL Rifle Gas Regulation »
Letter Re: Two Book Recommendations
Mr. Rawles,
I have just finished "Hard Times" by Studs Terkel, an oral
history of the Great Depression, and recommend it to SurvivalBlog readers.
It is a
fascinating chronicle, a series of narratives from people who lived through
it from all walks of life, and it really communicates a sense of what desperate
times can be like. Most Americans have forgotten this and little is taught
in schools. For example, there are several narratives that dealt with a farmers
uprising in Northwestern Iowa. Apparently a local judge was too quick to bang
the foreclosure gavel and a mob had his head in a noose before being talked
down. The book also gives some rather harrowing accounts of what a financial
collapse is really like and how it affects folks.
I am also in the
process of reading "My
Side of the Mountain" [by
Jean Craighead George] to my seven year old son. I'd forgotten how wonderful this
book is, chronicling the efforts
of a 12 year
old boy to
live off the land in upstate New York. It provides a lot of information about
edible plants and ways to get by in the wild, and has really captured my son's
imagination. One interesting thing I had not recalled: the protagonist is able
to derive salt by boiling hickory chips. Are you familiar with this method?
I might give it a try, living in a region with few natural sources. Thanks,
and keep up the good work. - Charlottesvillain
.
JWR Replies: That lore on hickory chips may or may not be
well-founded. At first glance, I would think that the natural concentration
of salt in hickory wood or bark would be so low that it would take a huge volume
of
hickory
to
boil down just a small quantity of salt--hence highly labor intensive. I have
read that hickory is used in preserving some hams. Perhaps what
the book's author
referred to
was lore about a method that had been used to recover salt, after
salt-curing hams. That seems quite plausible. If any readers can either
amplify or refute the foregoing, please let me know via e-mail,
and I will gladly post it. (I highly value the vast breadth and depth of knowledge
that
is collectively held by SurvivalBlog's readers!)
« Letter Re: Honey Prices Escalating, Just as Predicted |Main| Letter Re: Alcohol Stoves »
Letter Re: Useful LifeHacker Articles
Mr. Rawles:
There are so many great and not-so-great ideas on the LifeHacker site including
this one I found showing you how
to use C cell batteries in place of a D cell compartment
in an emergency situation:
There are some other interesting things on this site like creating make-shift
air conditioning systems using cold well water (others have made emergency
air conditioners using beverage coolers, fans and copper coils): DIY
Heat Exchanger and Make
Your Own Air Conditioner.
There is this one showing you how
someone made hand washing more efficient while filling the tank of his toilet.
[JWR
Adds: I would recommend skipping this one. The implementation shown
uses plywood which cannot be kept sanitary. It also might result in a smelly
toilet tank if you use an non-chlorinated water source such as well water or
spring water.]
And here's one with a video demonstrating how
one can cheaply acquire 8 - 1.5v button cell batteries from 1 - A23 12v battery:
Well, there's enough on this LifeHacker site to keep you busy for some time.
Enjoy!, - Tanker
« Letter Re: Honey Prices Escalating, Just as Predicted |Main| Two Letters Re: Advice on Construction a Hiding Place for Precious Metals in a Home »
Letter Re: The "Sneaky Uses" Books
Sir:
Let me start with a thank you for such an awesome resource! I've finally
sent my 10
Cent Challenge [voluntary subscription payment.] I didn't feel right
e-mailing you with this until I got
it out. Since finding your site (from the link at] Captain
Dave's Survival Center), I've been devouring
the info here, as well as "Patriots" (read
twice, and I'm starting it for the third time) and the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course. I've
also just finished reading "The
Alpha Strategy"--that you
recommended in both the blog and in the preparedness course. Tremendously eye
opening stuff. You've radically changed my view on things like firearms
ownership, preparedness, and charity. I can't express with words how much my world view
has changed since finding this. Again, thank you.
Anyway, down to business: I'm a computer guy by trade, and while perusing ThinkGeek.com I
found two books titled:"Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things" (ISBN:
0740738593) and "Sneakier
Uses for Everyday Things" (ISBN: 0740754963). While most of the
info contained within is of marginal use, I found "making plastic (and
glue) from milk (using vinegar)", and "making a metal detector from
a calculator (using a radio)". There are other things like adjusting a
FM radio
to get airline [aviation band] frequencies, and powering a LED with
coins, cotton, and salt
water. They are fun for the tinkering types, but also give glimpses into how
some
other
things
work. There are also sections on emergency survival. Not much new [in those
sections], but good info nonetheless.
Thanks for coordinating all this, and keep up the good work! - Nick in Wisconsin
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Running a Laptop from a Jump Pack in a Short Term Emergency »
Letter Re: Positive Feedback on the "Rawles Gets You Ready" Preparedness Course
Mr. Rawles:
I just wanted tell let you know how much I have enjoyed your "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course. It was
very informative and is going to really help my family get prepared for whatever
may be in our future. I recently purchased the "SurvivalBlog:
The Best of the Blog - Volume 1" and the Rawles
on Retreats and Relocation book also and those were equally
wonderful. The amount of information in your course was outstanding
and has really jump started our family's preparedness program. The covering
of "A
years supply of everything" angle was a unique approach and personally
something I've wanted to accomplish for several years now. With this course
I see that
it
is very attainable and also not as difficult as one might expect. My wife
has been supportive of my new found hobby and her interest only grew as a result
of reading your excellent publications with
me. Thanks
and God Bless, - J.D. in PRK
« Letter Re: Expedient Footware |Main| Letter Re: Question on LEDs and EMP »
Letter Re: Keeping Firearms Functioning in Extreme Cold Temperatures
Hi Jim,
I'm in the middle of reading Roy
E. Appleman's book "East
of Chosin".
It is an account of the tragic fate of the 31st Regimental Combat team
during the Korean conflict.
Several references talk about the soldiers weapons (especially M1
Carbines) locking up due to the extreme (-20 Fahrenheit or greater)
cold. It mentioned how the Chinese weapons worked because they had
little or no oil in them. I imagined those weapons had a short operational
life without lubrication, but they worked when needed.
What would you recommend to keep firearms functional in extreme cold?
A dry/powdered lubricant? Sincerely, - Ron S. in Upstate New York
JWR Replies: Thanks for mentioning this topic! It
is particularly important fro SurvivalBlog readers, since firearms
will surely be carried and used outdoors more frequently, post-TEOTWAWKI.
The only sure method to keep firearms actions from binding in sub-zero
weather
is to
completely
de-lubricate
the moving parts,
using a spray can of carburetor cleaner solvent such as Gummout or Berryman's
B12 Chem Tool. (Wear rubber gloves!)
and then re-lubricate, using a dry film lubricant such
as Dri-Slide or similar molybdenum disulfide powder. Even when using
these dry
lubes, there is the chance that moisture from rain or condensation
can get in a gun's action and freeze it to the point of binding. Therefore,
it is important to frequently test your guns' actions by cycling them,
whenever
the
temperature drops below freezing
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Top Ten Suggestions for Stocking Up, by Mr. Yankee »
Letter Re: A Source for Unusual Technical Books
Mr. Rawles,
Charles R. mentioned the book "Caveman Chemistry" by Kevin M Dunn.
It is available from the Lindsay Publications "Technical Book" catalog.
The catalog is filled with how-to books of every kind - many reprints of long
out of print books. I can recommend the fine folks at Lindsay Publications as
I have several of their books and have several more on my "to order" list.
I've been satisfied with every one. Check them out on line at www.lindsaybks.com
and order a catalog. Other than being a happy customer I am not affiliated with
Lindsay Publications.
While on the subject of books, Joel Skousen has
several outstanding books on relocation, survival, building a secure home, etc.
They are expensive but well
worth the price.
I greatly enjoyed "Patriots" and
have loaned out my copy to over a dozen others, many of whom have purchased their
own copy. I am in the process
of saving up for a copy of the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course as well as the "Best
of the Blog". Thanks for a great Blog. - T.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Pros and Cons of Springfield Armory XD Pistols »
Letter Re: The Psychology of Denial in the Information Age
Jim:
Good morning. I don't know that I have seen any discussion on your
blog on the psychology of denial--why folks aren't more prepared.
I acknowledge that it may not be the most vital topic, and that you
are doing your part to get the word out, but I correspond to you on
this topic in sheer frustration.
Let me be more specific. I have friends and family members who make
serious money in their chosen professions, many of whom are in the
finance sector. Yet, when I raise the barest reference to preparation
and our fragile infrastructure, it's like I just started speaking in
five-thousand year old Greek. They have ample resources to buy peace
of mind with supplies and equipment that's a fraction of their annual
income, but they don't. The world will go on merrily. They'll never
be a TEOTWAWKI. Somehow, in their mind it's good financial sense to
spend thousands on all manner of insurance (life, car, health, business),
but dare suggest that they put away even two weeks worth of food and
water, and I'm labeled as "out there." Amazingly, this culture
of denial persists even after Hurricane Katrina. They watched
on their televisions as the Golden Horde preyed upon itself and just
died as government
failed to come charging to the rescue. During that sad event, I commented
to my youngest brother on the horrible tragedy. I said: "see
little brother, not months, but only a few days and you've got Planet
of the Apes, baby." BTW - this not a slur
on my part to the good folks of New Orleans. This quote was taken from
Powers
Booth
playing
a bomber
captain in a 1990 made-for-television
TEOTWAWKI movie titled "By Dawn's Early Light." (I recommend
it), and he was referring to life on the ground when their plane ditched
after
the collapse. Perhaps seeing
the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on TV made it illusory, the cold
reality unfolding "live and in color" simply blended into
the numbing TV mythos of movie magic. Either way, to this day, I am
still trying to roll the Rock of Gibraltar uphill when it comes to
convincing those I care about to cover their assets. I would be grateful
for any advice on other methods to penetrate this shield of denial
or even references to articles discussing the phenomenon so that I
can send it to these guys.
Thank you, and stay well. - Bill H.
JWR Replies: In my experience, the best way to penetrate
the shell of denial is to hand someone a useful pro-preparedness third
party reference. For some reason, anything that is published in hard
copy
seems to carry
intrinsic
authority, or at least hold the cachet of "a published reference."
As general survival and preparedness references, I recommend Life
after Doomsday by Bruce Clayton, and Tappan on Survival by
Mel Tappan. My own books Rawles
on Retreats and Relocation and
SurvivalBlog:
The Best of the Blog might also be useful. On
food storage and survival cookery, I highly recommend Making the
Best of Basics by
James Talmage Stevens (available from www.mountainbrookfoods.com),
and The
Encyclopedia of Country Living by the late Carla Emery.
My Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course is another useful
reference that primarily deals with food storage. On firearms and self
defense, I recommend Boston's
Gun Bible by
Boston T. Party and Survival
Guns by Mel Tappan.
Don't overlook the usefulness
of survivalist fiction. Quite often,
people
won't take the time to read a non-fiction book,
but they
will sit down and read a novel. For this, I recommend novels
like Lucifer's
Hammer
by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, Wolf and Iron by Gordon
Dickson, No Blade of Grass by John Christopher, and Some
Will Not Die by
Algis Budrys. And again at the risk of sounding like shameless self-promotion,
I also recommend my own novel, Patriots:
Surviving the Coming Collapse. For those that don't have
the patience to read a book, you can at least send
them a link or the URL for SurvivalBlog. Be patient and persistent.
Your friends and relatives that presently seem have their heads thrust
firmly
in
the
sand may come up to see some daylight if you expose them to enough
pro-preparedness
references.
« Letter Re: The Next Pandemic: Starvation in a Land of Plenty |Main| Note from JWR: »
Book Excerpt: "Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse"
In response to a request to Matthew from Indiana, who wanted to know
what my novel was like before ordering it, the following is an excerpt
from the first chapter of the expanded (33 chapter) edition of my novel
"Patriots":
On the last day of October, the Grays found that their phone was still
working, but only for local calls. When they tried making long-distance
calls, they got an “All circuits are busy now” recording,
at all hours of the day or night. The next day, there was message advising
that “All circuits will be restored
shortly.” Two days later, there was no dial tone.
By early November, there was almost continuous rioting and looting
in every major city in the U.S. Due to the financial panic and rioting,
the November election was “postponed” to January, but it
never took place. Rioting grew so commonplace that riot locations were
read off in a list—much
like traffic reports—by news broadcasters. The police could not
even begin to handle the
situation. The National Guard was called out in most States, but less
than half of the Guardsmen reported for duty. With law and order breaking
down, most of them were too busy protecting their own families to respond
to the call-up. An emergency call up of the Army Reserve three days
later had an even smaller response. All over America, entire inner-city
areas burned to the ground, block
after block. No one and nothing could stop it. On the few occasions
that the National Guard was able to respond to the riots, there were
some massacres that made Kent State seem insignificant.
Many factories in proximity to the riots closed “temporarily” in
concern for the safety of their workers, but never reopened. Most others
carried on with their normal operation for several more days, only
to be idled due to lack of transport. Shipping goods in the United
States in most cases meant one thing: 18 wheel
diesel trucks traveling on the interstate highway system. The trucks
stopped rolling for several reasons. First was a fuel shortage. Then
came the flood of refugees from the cities that jammed the highways.
Then people that ran out of gas disrupted traffic. As cars ran out
of gas, they blocked many critical junctions, bridges and overpasses.
Some highway corridors in urban areas turned into gridlocked
parking lots. Traffic came to a stop, motionless cars began to run
out of
gas, and the forward movement of traffic was never resumed. In some
places, cars were able to back up and turn around. In most others,
people were not so lucky. There, the traffic was so densely packed
that drivers were forced to just get out of their cars and walk away.
Every major city in the United States was soon gripped in a continual
orgy of robbery, murder, looting, rape, and arson. Older inner city
areas were among the hardest hit. Unfortunately, the design of the
interstate freeway system put most freeways in close proximity to inner
city areas.
The men who
had planned the interstate highway system in the 1940s and 1950s could
not be blamed. At that time,
downtown areas were still flourishing. They were the heart of industry,
population, commerce, and wealth. Thus, it was only logical that the
highways should be routed as close to them as possible, and preferably
through them. These planners could not then have predicted that in
50 years the term “inner city” would
become synonymous with poverty, squalor, welfare, drugs, disease, and
rampant crime.
America’s once proud and efficient railroad system, long the
victim of government ineptitude, was unable to make any appreciable
difference in the transportation crisis. Most of the factories that
had been built in the past 30 years had been positioned near highways,
not railroad tracks. Also, like the highways, most rail lines passed
through urbanized areas, placing trains at the same risk as trucks.
Gangs of looters found that it did not take large obstructions to cause
train derailments. Within a few hours of each derailment they stripped
the
trains of anything of value.
A few factories managed to stay in operation until early November.
Most had already closed, however, due to failing markets, failing transportation,
failing communications, or the failing dollar. In some instances, workers
were paid through barter, rather than cash. They were paid with the
company’s product.
Chevron Oil paid its workers in gasoline. Winchester-Olin paid its
workers in ammunition.
The last straw was the power grid. When the current stopped flowing,
the few factories and businesses still in operation closed their doors.
Virtually every industry in America was dependent on electric power.
The power outages forced even the oil refineries to shut down. Up
until then, the refineries had been operating around the clock trying
to meet the increased demand for liquid fuels.
Ironically, even though refineries processed fuel containing billions
of BTUs of energy, most of them did not have the ability to produce
enough electric power to supply all of their own needs. Like so many
other industries, oil refiners had made the mistaken assumption that
they
could always depend on the grid. They needed a stable supply of electricity
from the power for their computers and operate the solenoids for their
valves.
The power outages caused a few dramatic
effects. At a Kaiser Aluminum plant near Spokane, Washington, the power
went out during the middle of a production shift. With the plant’s
electric heating elements inactive, the molten aluminum running through
the hot process end of the plant began to cool. Workers scrambled to
clear as much of the system as possible, but the metal hardened in
many places, effectively ruining the factory. If the plant were ever
to be re-opened, the hardened aluminum would have to be removed with
cutting torches or jackhammers. Electricity also proved to be the undoing
of prisons all over America. For a while, officials maintained order
in the prisons. Then the fuel for the backup generators ran out. Prison
officials had never anticipated a power outage
that would last more than two weeks. Without power, security cameras
did not function, lights did not operate, and electrically operated
doors jammed. As the power went out, prison riots soon followed.
Prison officials hastened to secure their institutions. Under “lock
down” conditions, most inmates were confined to their cells,
with only a few let out to cook and deliver meals in the cell blocks.
At many prisons the guard forces could not gain control of the prison
population, and there were mass escapes. At several others, guards
realized that the overall situation was not going to improve, and
they took the initiative to do something about it. They walked from
cell to cell, shooting convicts. Scores of other prisoners died at
the hands of fellow convicts. Many more died in their cells due to
other causes; mainly dehydration, starvation, and smoke inhalation.
Despite the best efforts of prison officials, 80 percent of the country’s
more than 1,500,000 state and federal prisoners escaped. A small fraction
of the escaped prisoners were shot on sight by civilians. Those that
survived quickly shed their prison garb and found their way into the
vicious wolf packs that soon roamed the countryside...
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Survival Retreat Potential of Northwest Florida »
Two Letters Re: The Novel "Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse"
Jim,
I recently received the updated version of "Patriots" a
couple days ago. At first I was just going to read the new chapters, but after
seeing that you gave it
an overall update, I decided to just read the whole thing. So far I have been
very impressed. (The two new chapters alone were worth the price of the book.)
Not to mention the way everything else was updated. Way to go! You have done
a very good
job with this new edition, and I have already ordered a few more copies to have
on hand as gifts.
I have also just received the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course, and Rawles
on Retreats and Relocation. Both look very good at
first
glance, and I’m
looking
forward to delving into them soon. BTW, I’m also looking forward to the
release
of the "Best
of the Blog" book. - Gung Ho
Mr. Rawles:
I read your book in two breathtaking and exciting days,
it was impossible to put down. It was as if you took my worst nightmares,
and word for
word put them into a novel. I had been talking politics with a friend,
as is normal for me, when he asked me just what I thought was going
to happen in the future of our country. My friend had heard of your
book, and when he realized that the vision of my future and your book
were one in the same, he told me to go out and pick it up. I couldn't
find it at any of my local book stores, so I ordered it on Amazon.
Like I said, two days later... I'm sitting here in awe. Being from
New Jersey, most people I talk with are totally clueless to the situation,
and just refer to me as a "paranoid nut", an "extremist" or
an "idiot". Especially if they ever catch wind of the cache
I have in my trunk for a "rainy day" as you put it. I just
want to say "Thank you!" for such an incredible job
of being able to see into the future, and doing your best to help warn
people of it in the best way you can. May G-D bless you, - BDB
« Letter Re: Total Tax Burdens of States as a Determining Factor in Relocation |Main| Note From JWR: »
Letter Re: Robert A. Heinlein Didn't Just Talk and Write About Preparedness
Dear Jim,
I'm not sure if you have covered Robert A. Heinlein's shelter that featured
in his novel, "Farnham's Freehold." This
site describes the house that Heinlein built in Colorado Springs before NORAD moved
into the area
And here's an
archived link of the shelter underneath, which included both air bottles
and ventilation, escape routes, and antenna mounts.- Michael
Z. Williamson
« Letter Re: Communications for Disasters--Are Scanners Useful? |Main| Note From JWR: »
Book Reviews: Last Light and Night Light, by Terri Blackstock
James:
I am writing to recommend two novels that may be interest to your readers. Written
by Terri Blackstock, I would like to recommend a series of two novels: Last
Light and Night Light. These are novels that are written in a series,
and while they can be read one at a time, are better read in sequence. As survival
junkies,
we are always in search of decent fiction centered around survival motifs - a
rare genre of writing. Terri does a pretty good job of producing some entertaining
and page-turning yarns. I will admit for those of us that are truly hard core,
you may find yourself reverting to thoughts of primordial survival logistics
as you read these novels (e.g., " well, why didn't they do this, or why
didn't they do that....), but written for the lay person, they have a high entertainment
quotient., Also, they are really written as religious novels, more so than as
a study in the art of survival pre se. As many of us are faith-based, this style
of writing should not detract, but instead actually add to the enjoyment of the
experience. From an editorial perspective, Terri's writing style is fairly basic
( no long. protracted descriptions of the scene, or massive amounts of internal
dialogue of the characters), which at first was a little difficult to get used
to, but ultimately provided for a brisk read. As with any survival-related work,
there are lessons to be learned here. As a born again Christian, I appreciated
the underlying message in each work. Terri's imagination is well preserved as
she describes the trials and tribulations of the average upper middle-class family
that is caught up in the unexpected circumstances of TEOTWAWKI caused
by a mysterious
EMP that
renders all transistor and chip based mechanical devices inoperable. And, I must
admit, that the origin of this EMP is a source that most of your
Blog readers have not considered - and is absolutely insidious in its destructive
capability. I would rate her at a solid "B" in entertainment value,
and a must read for those of us that enjoy the celebration of our Savior in apocalyptic-based
fiction. Zondervan Press, ISBN - 10:
0-310-25768-9 (book 1).and ISBN - 13: 978-0-310-25768-4 (book 2). Regards, -
REM
« Letter Re: Clothes Washing Without Grid Power |Main| Notes From JWR: »
Letter Re: Positive Feedback on "Patriots"
Mr. Rawles,
Last night I finished reading your novel "Patriots."
My Son bought the book last month and loaned it to me to read. I just wanted
to say, what a fantastic book and story. The last chapter
said it all! Best Regards, - M.E.D. in Ohio
« Letter Re: SurvivalBlog RSS Feed |Main| Letter Re: Jericho TV Series »
Letter Re: Pat Buchanan's Book State of Emergency
Jim,
I am about halfway thru the new book by Pat Buchanan --'State of
Emergency'-- and its scaring the hell out of me. I've followed the
Illegal Alien story for yrs, ever since I landed back in California
in 1989 after my hitch in the U.S. Air Force and I thought I had a
handle on it. The statistics and figures that Pat puts forth are daunting--and
quite depressing. This nation is facing the largest problem in its
history with this invasion--I'm not downplaying any of the threats
we face with the radical Islamists--that is yet one more frightening
scenario--but
I truly believe that the U.S. is under siege--I suggest all Americans
load up on all essentials as I do not trust the government to resolve
the Invasion problem. I would even predict that the government will
soon close the door on civilians purchasing many of the things we consider
necessary i.e. Guns, cheap surplus ammo from overseas and survival
type gear. It would appear the government will not want us to deal
with the invasion the old fashion way--and they are not going to either.
I have lost ALL faith in our leadership, regardless of party. We are
truly at a fork in the road and it appears we are following the road
taken by the long deceased Roman Empire. Its hard to contest the facts
that Pat has laid out, though some will try. Its is clear as well the
southwest is gone. Its just a matter of a few decades
(maybe sooner) before this part of the country is no longer under the
control of the
U.S. government. Again, load up on all gear..and relocate
out of the southwest, you don't want to be caught behind enemy lines.
Thanks, - Jason (in North Idaho)
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Everyday Savings Via SurvivalBlog »
Letter Re: "Jericho" TV Series Airing This Fall
James,
I was surprised to see that CBS will be airing a drama this
fall called Jericho. Here is what the show is about: "Things
are quiet and peaceful in small-town Jericho, Kansas, but when a
baffling explosion occurs in the distance, Jericho's residents
are
plunged into social, psychological and physical chaos. No one knows
what to think, and fear of the unknown takes over the town, especially
because its isolation cuts it off from outside help. When nearly
everything they know seems gone, will the residents of Jericho band
together to
face their unfamiliar and mysterious new world?"
Here
is the link to the site at CBS and there is a preview of the
show there as well. It will be interesting to see how a mainstream
media outlet is going to portray a SHTF situation.
- Desert T
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Guns for Unobtrusive Backpack Stowage »
Letter Re: Positive Feedback on Safecastle
Hello Jim!
I hope things are great for you and your family. I just thought
that I would take the time to provide you with another bit of positive support
regarding one of your sponsors. Vic at Safecastle, LLC is a great person. In
May, I made a large purchase from him. At the time of ordering, I received
an excellent discount for being a survivalblog reader. In addition, Vic also
took the time to answer each of my emails very quickly and provided me with
an expected date of delivery. Sure enough, it turned out that Vic was "dead
on!" The probable date of shipment turned out to be exactly right. I received
the cases delivered right into my garage. It is with much admiration that I
write this to notify others in the survivalblog community to order your Mountain
House cases from Vic. He's a great guy!
Also, thanks for making it possible for all of us to purchase your "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course.
I have gone ahead and purchased mine and hope that others will do so. All "Ten
Cent Challenge" supporters
like myself are encouraged to do this as another way of saying "thanks,
Jim" for
the helpful information that you provide to us all. While at it, hopefully
more people will continue to support the blog by at least putting up the money
asked for in your 10 Cent Challenge. Take care and thanks a lot for everything
that you have done for the masses through your blog. - David M.
« Letter Re: Tornado Damage and Retreat Construction |Main| Peace of Mind in Turbulent Times--I'm Getting a Good Night's Sleep »
Book Review: The Hunt for Confederate Gold by Thomas Moore
I recently read the novel "The
Hunt for Confederate Gold" by Thomas Moore. (Published by Fusilier
Books, ISBN 0976998203) It may sound cliched, but I couldn't put
it down! I am not surprised that it has a perfect five star rating on Amazon.com.
Without giving too much away, I can tell you that it is three intertwined
storylines wrapped
into one. (One of which takes place in the closing days of the Confederate
States of America.) This is Moore's first novel. It is a thoroughly captivating,
thought-provoking novel. I found it both entertaining and educational.
Much like in my novel
"Patriots:
Surviving the Coming Collapse", the author weaves a lot of
useful factual information into a fictional storyline. Moore includes lots
of Civil War history facts as well the historical context of Reconstruction
and the whole American experience, recent abuses by Federal government agencies,
the fiat paper
money fraud, and an analysis of current U.S. policies in the Middle East.
The story and characters
are believable. Many of the characters--both heroes and villains--are
obviously drawn on some real life individuals but subtly changed to avoid any
legal
unpleasantness. My only technical nit-pick is that one of the characters
refers to "five millions" worth of gold and silver (circa 1865)
fitting into two large wooden chests that could be carried by a few men.
Even if it
were all gold, and assuming that most of it were $20 gold pieces,
then $5 million would weigh nearly 18,000 pounds and occupy about 150 cubic
feet.
Since the hoard was described as a mixture of gold and silver, the weight
and bulk would of course be even greater. But that is just a minor quibble.
In fairness, perhaps the character was referring to "five millions" worth
of
inflated Confederate currency...
One refreshingly nice thing to mention about this novel is that that it was
obviously written by a true southern gentleman. It includes
a minimum of harsh language, profanity, or other offensive content. Unlike
the racy novel Unintended
Consequences by John Ross (a similar adventure/think piece),
I could in good conscience hand
this novel
to my
teenage
sons.
As a
novelist myself, I can attest that Moore's smooth writing style is difficult
to achieve. His gift for writing is a rarity, particularly among "first
novelists."
In fact, I wish I had some of Mr. Moore's finesse! I highly recommend
this novel. It
is from a small publisher, so odds are that you won't find a copy at your local
book store. Your best bet is finding a copy through Amazon.com.
