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Letter Re: The SurvivalBlog 10 Cent Challenge
Mr. Rawles,
Over the past few months some relatives and I have been reading SurvivalBlog.com.
However, we have been "SurvivalBlog Voyeurs", lurking in the cyber-shadows,
benefiting from usable information while failing to contribute to the 10
Cent Challenge [voluntary subscription program]. Well,
we shall lurk no more! The next time I am in town, I pledge to mail you my
contribution, and my son-in-law says that he will do the same.
Thank
you for your generous site, and I would encourage others who benefit from the information here to
do the same: Support SurvivalBlog. It is the site that brings the world a uniquely
critical link to helpful information. - KMA
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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.
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The Precepts of My Survivalist Philosophy
In the past week I've had three newcomers to SurvivalBlog.com write and ask
me to summarize my world view. One of them asked: "I could spend days
looking through [the] archives of your [many months of] blog posts. But there
are hundreds
of them. Can you tell me where you stand, in just a page? What distinguishes
the "Rawlesian" philosophy from other [schools of] survivalist thought?"
I'll likely add a few items to this list as time goes on, but here is a general
summary of my precepts:
Modern Society is Increasingly Complex, Interdependent, and Fragile. With
each passing year, technology progresses and chains of interdependency lengthen.
In the past 30 years, chains of retail supply have grown longer and longer.
The food on your supermarket shelf does not come from local farmers. It often
comes from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. This has created an alarming
vulnerability to disruption. Simultaneously, global population is still increasing
in a near geometrical progression. At some point that must end, most likely
with a sudden and sharp drop in population. The lynchpin is the grid. Without
functioning power grids, modern industrial societies will collapse within weeks.
Civilization is Just a Thin Veneer. In the absence of law
an order, men quickly revert to savagery. As was illustrated by the rioting
and looting that accompanied disasters in the past three decades, the transition
from tranquility to absolute barbarism can occur overnight. People expect tomorrow
to be just like today, and they act accordingly. But then comes a unpredictable
disaster that catches the vast majority unprepared. The average American family
has four days worth of food on hand. When that food is gone, we'll soon see
the thin veneer stripped away.
People Run in Herds and Packs, but Both Follow Natural Lines of
Drift. Most
people are sheep ("sheeple").
A few are wolves that prey on others. But just a few of us are more like sheepdogs--we
think independently, and instead of
predation,
we are
geared toward protecting and helping others. People naturally follow natural lines
of drift--the path of least resistance. When the Schumer hits
the fan, 99% of urbanites will try to leave the cities on freeways. The highways
and freeways will soon resemble parking lots. This means that you need to be
prepared to both get
out of town ahead of the rush and to use lightly-traveled back roads.
Plan,
study and practice.
Lightly Populated Areas are Safer than High Density Areas. With
a few exceptions, less population means fewer problems. WTSHTF, there will
be a mass exodus from the cities. Think of it as an army that is spreading
out across a battlefield: The wider that
they
are
spread,
the less effective that they are. The inverse
square law hasn't been repealed.
Show Restraint, But Always Have Recourse to Lethal Force. My
father often told me, "It
is better to have a gun and not need it, than need a gun, and not have it." I
urge readers to use less than lethal means when safe and practicable, but at
times there is not a satisfactory substitute for well-aimed lead going down
range at high velocity.
There is Strength in Numbers. Rugged individualism is all
well and good, but it takes ore than one man to defend a retreat. Effective
retreat defense necessitates having at least two families to provide 24/7 perimeter
security. But of course every individual added means having another mouth to
feed. Absent having an unlimited budget and an infinite larder, this necessitates
striking a balance when deciding the size of a retreat group.
There are Moral Absolutes. The foundational morality
of the civilized world is best summarized in the Ten
Commandments. Moral relativism and secular humanism are slippery slopes.
The terminal moraine at the base of these slopes is a rubble pile consisting
of either despotism and pillage, or anarchy and the depths of depravity. I
believe
that
it takes both faith and friends to survive perilous times. For more background
on that, see my Prayer
page.
Racism Ignores Reason. People should be judged as individuals.
Anyone that make blanket statements about other races is ignorant that there
are both good and bad individuals in all groups. I have accepted The
Great Commission with sincerity."Go forth into all nations" means
exactly that:
all nations. OBTW, I feel grateful that SurvivalBlog is now read
in more than 100 countries. I have been given a bully pulpit,
and I intend to use it for good and edifying purposes.
Skills Beat Gadgets and Practicality Beats Style. The modern
world is full of pundits, poseurs, and Mall
Ninjas. Preparedness is not just about
accumulating a pile of stuff. You need practical skills, and those
only come with study, training, and practice.
Any
armchair
survivalist
can
buy a set
of stylish camouflage fatigues and an M4gery Carbine
encrusted with umpteen accessories. Style points should not be mistaken
for genuine skills and
practicality.
Plentiful Water and Good Soil are Crucial. Modern mechanized
farming, electrically pumped irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
can make deserts bloom. But when the grid goes down, deserts and marginal farmland
will revert to their natural states. In my estimation, the most viable places
to survive in the midst of a long term societal collapse will be those with
reliable summer rains
and rich
topsoil.
Tangibles Trump Conceptuals. Modern fiat currencies are generally
accepted, but have essentially no backing. Because they are largely a byproduct
of interest bearing debt, modern currencies are destined to inflation. In
the long run, inflation dooms fiat
currencies to collapse. The majority of
your assets should be invested in
productive farm land and other tangibles such as useful hand tools. Only after
you have your key logistics squared away, anything extra should
be invested in silver and gold.
Governments Tend to Expand their Power to the Point that They Do Harm. In
SurvivalBlog, I often warn of the insidious tyranny of the Nanny
State. If
the state where you live becomes oppressive, then don't hesitate to relocate.
Vote with your feet!
There is Value in Redundancy. A common saying of my
readers is: "Two
is one, and one is none." You must be prepared
to provide for your family in a protracted period of societal disruption. That
means storing up all of the essential "beans, bullets, and Band-Aids" in quantity.
If commerce is disrupted by a disaster, at least in the short term you will
only have your own logistics to fall back on. The more that you have stored,
the
more
that
you
will have
available for barter and charity.
A Deep Larder is Essential. Food storage is one of the key
preparations that I recommend. Even if you have a fantastic self-sufficient
garden and pasture ground, you must always have food storage that you can fall
back on in the event that your crops fail due to drought, disease, or infestation.
Tools Without Training Are Almost Useless. Owning a gun doesn't
make someone a "shooter" any more than owning a surfboard makes someone a surfer.
With proper training and practice, you will be miles ahead of the average citizen.
Get advanced medical
training. Get the best firearms
training that you can afford. Learn about amateur radio from your local
affiliated ARRL club.
Practice raising a vegetable garden each summer. Some skills are only perfected
over
a period
of years.
Old Technologies are Appropriate Technologies. In
the event of a societal collapse, 19th Century (or earlier) technologies such
as a the blacksmith's forge, the treadle sewing machine, and the horse-drawn
plow
will be
far easier
to re-construct than modern technologies.
Charity is a Moral Imperative. As a Christian, I feel morally
obligated to assist others that are less fortunate. Following the Old Testament
laws of Tzedakah (charity
and tithing), I believe that my responsibility begins with my immediate family
and expands in successive rings to supporting
my immediate
neighborhood
and
church, to my
community, and beyond, as resources allow. In short, my philosophy is to "give
until it hurts" in times of disaster.
Buy Life Assurance, not Life Insurance. Self-sufficiency
and self-reliance are many-faceted. You need to systematically provide for
Water, Food, Shelter, Fuel, First Aid,
Commo,
and, if need be, the tools to enforce Rule
308.
Live at Your Retreat Year-Round. If your financial and family
circumstances allow it, I strongly recommend that you relocate
to a safe area and live there year-round. This has several advantages,
most notably that will prevent burglary of your retreat logistics and
allow you to regularly
tend to gardens, orchards, and livestock. It will also remove the stress of
timing a "Get Out of Dodge" trip at the11th hour.
If circumstances dictate that you can't live at your retreat year round, then
at least have
a caretaker and stock the vast majority of your logistics in advance, since
you may only have one trip there before roads are impassable.
Exploit Force Multipliers. Night vision gear, intrusion
detection sensors, and radio communications equipment are key force
multipliers. Because
these use high technology they cannot be depended upon in a long term collapse,
but in the short term, they can provide a big advantage. Some low technologies
like barbed wire and defensive road cables also provide advantages and can
last for several decades.
Invest Your Sweat Equity. Even if some of
you have a millionaire's budget, you need to learn how to do things for yourself,
and
be willing to get your hands dirty. In a societal collapse, the division of
labor will be reduced tremendously. Odds are that the only "skilled craftsmen" available
to build a shed, mend a fence, shuck corn, repair an engine, or pitch manure
will be you.and
your family. A byproduct of sweat equity is muscle tone and proper body weight.
Hiring someone to deliver three cords of firewood is a far cry from
felling, cutting, hauling, splitting, and stacking it yourself.
Choose Your Friends Wisely. Associate yourself with skilled
doers, not "talkers." Seek out people that share your
outlook and morality. Living in close confines with other families is sure
to cause friction but that will be minimized if you share a common religion
and norms of behavior.You can't learn every skill yourself. Assemble a team
that
includes members with medical knowledge, tactical skills, electronics experience,
and traditional practical skills.
There is No Substitute for Mass. Mass stops bullets. Mass
stops gamma radiation. Mass stops (or at least slows down ) bad guys from entering
a home and depriving its residents of life and property. Sandbags are cheap,
so buy plenty of them. When planning your retreat house, think: medieval
castle.
(See the SurvivalBlog Archives for the many articles and letters on Retreat
Architecture.)
Always Have a Plan B and a Plan C. Regardless of your pet
scenario and your personal grand plan of survival, you need to be flexible
and adaptable. Situations and circumstances change. Always keep a G.O.O.D. kit
handy, even if you are fortunate enough to live at your retreat year-round.
Be Frugal. I grew up in a family that still remembered both
our pioneer history and the more recent lessons of the Great Depression. One
of our family mottos is: "Use
it up, wear it out, make do, or do without."
Some Things are Worth Fighting For. I encourage my readers
to avoid trouble, most importantly via relocation to safe areas where trouble
is unlikely to come to visit. But there may come an unavoidable day that you
have
to
make a stand to defend your own family or your neighbors. Further, if you value
your liberty, then be prepared to fight for it, both for yourself and for
the sake
of
your progeny.
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Letter Re SurvivalBlog Logo Hats as Networking Tools
Hello Jim,
I’ve been lurking since last November after I re-read [your novel] "Patriots".
On a whim I tried a web search looking for any newer books you may have published
and found your blog. What a tremendous surprise. I had several questions when
I first started reading your blog and decided to go back through the archives.
Glad I did. Thus far all of my questions have been answered (I just finished
[reading the archives of] December 2006). I feel being a recent contributor
to the 10
Cent Challenge is dirt cheap for the knowledge I’ve gained, and
I’ve been preparedness
conscious and actively preparing for most any scenario ever since I was in
the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the P.R.K..
Okay, the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course has been pretty helpful too and back in December
when it was 33% off it was a sweet deal I couldn’t pass up. It really
helped me “fill in the blanks”.
I've noticed from time to time that readers ask about preparedness groups or
how to meet others that are like-minded. I find that wearing my SurvivalBlog
[logo]
baseball
cap to gun shows and similar social and sporting events has prompted some
interesting conversations. Well it’s worked for me and others, but YMMV.
Did I remember to tell you what a great blog you have? Thanks for all you do
and
may God bless you and yours. - East of ABQ
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Letter Re: SurvivalBlog Has the Edge in Reporting Some News Stories
Dear Jim,
I've been following your web-site for a while now and am amazed how you and
your members chime in with very news worthy items sometimes weeks before the
mainstream media starts covering them. One latest point would be the CountryWide
Equity Line suspension finally made our local evening news last night.[It was
mentioned
in SurvivalBlog on February 5th.]
I was stunned to read today in The Wall Street Journal that coal prices, which
once were steadily priced in the $20 per metric ton range began trading in
the $40 to $60 range from mid-2003 to mid- 2007, then with the sudden shift
of China becoming a net importer of coal, the price has shot up to over $120.
per metric
ton this week (source: WSJ cites: globalCOAL; 'The price per metric ton for
coal out of Newcastle, Australia, is a key benchmark for the Asian market').
When a country the size of China suddenly becomes a consumer in a
global market where they once were a provider - this will have huge far reaching
consequences.
Our already taxed energy system, which relies heavily on coal for electricity,
will only go up in price because they have to compete in this global market.
We have a country that has not added infrastructure to our oil refineries,
natural gas extraction, or nuclear power in decades. Our country is not in
a position to simply shift our consumption to a different resource.
How do you see these realities of the international coal markets affecting
the United States? The price for electricity must follow in tandem with these
resource price increases.
Thanks for the great web-site! - Dennis
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Letter Re: SurvivalBlog Taught an Old Dog Some New Tricks
James,
Thanks for SurvivalBlog. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but
this old dog learned the following new tricks from the SurvivalBlog articles
and letters.
1. I got fired up after reading the "commo comments" and
finally got my Ham radio license.
2. I bought a number of galvanized trash cans and that's where I now store
shelled corn, etc. (Hint! Don't buy the made-in-China-from-tinfoil cans.
[Instead,] get the good ones which are made right here at home.)
3. As a coffee drinker, I now stockpile green coffee beans, which I vacuum
pack and store in those galvanized trash cans.)
I could go on, but just those three items more than justify my dime-a-day
contribution.
I still live a stone's throw from the Yellowstone caldera, but I've
also learned that we can't eliminate all risks. Some we just have to live
with. Stay warm, - Dutch in Wyoming
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Letter Re: A "Christmas Challenge" from a SurvivalBlog Reader
Hello SurvivalBlog Readers,
In reflecting on the past year I can honestly say that I have enjoyed reading
the SurvivalBlog every day. While I do not always agree with everything said,
this blog will make one seriously think about all
their survival preparations. It is my opinion that if the readers of this blog
prepare to the best of our individual ability we will be among those who, after
the SHTF event,
and those events that follow the initial event, we will be among those who
will return our nation to its Constitutional greatness in the society of nations.
I have enjoyed this blog immensely. My wife of 42 years is reading daily posts
over my shoulder. My sons read it, though not as frequently as their dad. But
they are coming around. There is something here for everyone regardless of
how you see events shaping up. The blog is well assembled. I have managed an
Internet business since 1993 and I can tell you from first hand experience
there is a fantastic amount of time, energy and thought put into maintaining
this service.
It is the Christmas season. A time for remembering and a time for giving. I
challenge all SurvivalBlog readers to say "Thank You Jim", by remembering
Jim and his family this Christmas. I challenge all blog readers to match
my small Christmas gift of $25.00. Do it now before you forget it. BTW,
I have never met Jim and his family but we have corresponded, from time to
time, for more than ten years. I know him by the Spirit. - Martin in Montana
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Letter Re: Thanks for SurvivalBlog!
Dear Mr. Rawles:
I am a newly-minted reader and fan of SurvivalBlog. I stumbled
upon [SurvivalBlog] by doing a web search on what turned out to be one of
your "Quote of the Days" from [the late] Jeff Cooper. All that
I can say is that I am mega-overwhelmed at
what you and the readers have put on-line. I started out by going back through
your
current
threads, and that seemed like a lot. But then I started
clicking
on the monthly archive links [in the right hand column] and then I started
doing searched on particular topics. Wow! I am blown away.
There is so much there. It is like a comprehensive encyclopedia on
preparations for
survival.
Along
with my research at other web sites about the present-day political and economic
slide, now everything is starting to click. It all makes sense. We
are living in a very fragile world and it would be insane not to prepare. I
am starting to build my "list of lists." (Water is at the very top
of my list. I'll be soon ordering a Big Berkey filter--no doubt it'll be from
one of your advertisers.)
I have visited a lot of preparedness and survival sites. They all seem to either
be amateurish or have big axes to grind. But yours is a breath of fresh air:
No whacko rants, no diatribes, no flame wars, no "I think it
could work this way"
conjecture (that clown Dakin at the Bison Blog drives me crazy with his un-tested
"this might work" ideas), no foul-mouth childishness, no political bickering,
no
racism, no
anti-Semitism, none of
that!
I also just read your "Pulling Through" movie script. They have got to
make that into a movie! I just wish I knew where the Rawles
Ranch was. I'd like
to be
your next door neighbor! I'm sure lots of other people would too,
so I guess
its
a
good thing
that you keep your "Bat Cave" [location] a secret.
I heard about your site just before I started a week of vacation for Thanksgiving.
Good timing! Otherwise I would have had to call in sick! I spent 10+
hours a day digging through the archives and taking notes.
I have so much to do to get ready!
So again, thank you for putting this huge resource on the
net for free! I'm heading out to the post office tomorrow
to get a money order for a two year 10
Cent Challenge [subscription]. That's the least that I can do. (I'm doubtful
that anyone that reads SurvivalBlog more than once a week could live with their
guilty conscience for not doing the same.) I'm also going to order a copy of
your
prepper's
course and your books.
God Bless You! - Aaron, "Somewhere East of the Rockies"
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Letter Re: Peace of Mind Through Systematic Preparedness
Dear James and SurvivalBlog Family:
Thank you for this tremendously vital preparedness forum. It has been the direct
impetus for me to seriously prepare to survive various natural disasters
that could assail the New England area, but more importantly, to be prepared
for the inevitable TEOTWAWKI situation,
which I expect, we will face within a decade, as soon as the oft-predicted
Winter Solstice of 2012--Which
still leaves us plenty of time to prepare, if we only make that crucial decision
to begin (or to enhance) our preparations and remain steadfast in our intentions
to survive whatever may come our way.
For the newer SurvivalBlog readers, and those just becoming interested in survival
and preparedness activities, I say, do not be overwhelmed
by the enormity of that which you feel you need to do to be get yourself reasonably “prepared” or
anywhere near as prepared as others that have been preparing for a long time.
Make the decision to prepare for survival and methodically acquire the basic
food, water and equipment you will need to handle any emergency situation,
short or long-term.
I am a charter 10
Cent Challenge SurvivalBlog subscriber and I enclose two
$5 rolls of silver dimes to cover years two and three of my subscriptions (2007
and 2008). In addition, I have enclosed a boxed silver round medallion that
commemorates the 1975 Bicentennial of the Battles of Lexington and Concord
. Paul Revere
is featured on the medal’s obverse with the words “American Revolution
Bicentennial” and “The Shot Heard Round the World”. Please
accept this coin as a token of my appreciation for all you have done for me
and your other readers, in the name of survival and preparedness—for
your tireless, Christian efforts as a true American Patriot--an
honorific you have so justly earned. Keep up the good work and may God bless
you and your family!
I have been an avid reader of SurvivalBlog for over a year and a half and
have learned a tremendous amount of valuable insight from [Mr. Rawles] and
the many outstanding contributors to SurvivalBlog. Not a week goes by that
I do not receive valuable preparedness advice and tips to add to my store of
knowledge.
I am proud to say that I have made a deep, personal commitment to change my
life’s focus from a wasteful, spendthrift mode, bent on acquiring so
many useless things and squandering cash on drinks, gambling and other frivolous
entertainment, to a conservative mode, investing the bulk of my discretionary
income in durable goods, firearms, ammo, long-term bulk food, silver and gold
coins, a generator, and the like.
At the beginning of 2007, I resolved to eliminate all discretionary purchases
that were patently unnecessary. Socks and underwear are okay, no CDs or movie
rentals. Less fast food and daily coffee’s, and no impulse eBay buys,
etc… Rather, I have been earmarking (budgeting) a substantial portion
of my discretionary income for stocking my “pantry” and procuring
key survival supplies and equipment. Having recently finalized my child support
and alimony commitments (ensuring that my ex-wife could keep the house), I
have had been fortunate to have a significantly larger amount of money to “invest” the
past six months and now going forward.
Each month, I buy at least $200 worth of silver or gold coins (mostly silver).
I have amassed nearly $750 in face value junk silver coins (although I do not
consider them “junk” by any means) and nearly 5 ounces of [fractional]
gold coins (mostly American Eagles, Maples Leafs and Krugerrands).
Each pay period I add another $100 in reserve food stores and other basic survival
gear. I have a half dozen cases of #10 Mountain House cans and will continuously
add to that store a few cases a month with a goal of two dozen cases by the
end of 2008.
I am pleased to have finally exercised my 2nd Amendment constitutional right
to purchase and own firearms. I had never been a gun owner before 2006 as my
father was never a sportsman and would not (still does not) allow guns in his
house. Since I do not hunt, there was never a need for a gun or guns. That
20th century mindset has changed and I now know just how crucial firearms are
in this present age of uncertainly and fear. I keep the knowledge of my guns
to myself (and to my two adult sons) and am now fully comfortable to own several
guns and will be buying more on a regular basis.
I have respect for my firearms and keep them safely stored (but strategically
loaded). If fact, I keep a loaded .40 caliber Glock in my laptop computer bag
in a secure, zippered pocket. No laptop, just files and the Glock. My bag is
always with me, either in my car, office or at home ensuring that I will always
be close to a weapon in the event of an emergency. While I have no concealed
carry permit (and am leery to obtain one), I think I will continue to look
askance at my state’s laws that prohibit one from having a loaded handgun
in their immediate possession without a concealed carry permit. I’ll
just risk the consequences. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I have been averaging a firearm purchase every two months or so to include
two (2) Glock 23 .40 pistols, four (4) .22 pistols, six shotguns (a Remington
870) for home defense and five Mossberg 500s for home defense/target/game,
and two new Ruger .22 rifles (since I must have accumulated some 20,000 rounds
of that ammo so far). I will continue to buy shotguns on a regular basis so
that I am able to arm as many able bodied sons, daughters and other family
members as possible (with two guns each).
Here are a few of my SurvivalBlog“Pearls”:
1. Stock up on: beans, bullets, and band-aids!
2. Live by the Golden Rule, Treat others as you would like to be treated…
3. Buy two or more of everything!
4. Pray for peace and thanksgiving
5. Buy silver (pre-1965 [US 90%]) and gold coins; an excellent way to preserve
wealth for the recovery period); Take physical possession of all precious metals
6. Stock that pantry! You can never have enough food! Check those expirations
dates! Rotate your stock! Donate almost expired food items to the local food
pantry.
7. Buy guns, ammo and multiple magazines for every firearm! You can never have
too many guns, ammo, or magazines. Try to standardize weapons and ammo.
8. Pack several bug out bags (one for each person)
9. Buy “survival” presents for your family and friends (flashlights,
batteries, first-aid kits, camping equipment, sporting goods (guns) bugout
bags, etc…)
10. Buy a (bio) diesel pickup truck and a small SUV for a G.O.O.D. vehicle
(and consider a used U-Haul (or the like) too; also buy a bicycle for everyone)
11. Exercise, get fit, go for long walks (also food for the soul)
12. As the Boy Scouts say, “Do a Good Turn Daily” and it goes without
saying, “BE PREPARED”.
13. Life is unforgivingly short! Live for each moment; get the most out of
life,
14. Don’t hold grudges. Forgive everybody and give thanks to God!
15. Oh yeah, please give blood!
I plan on buying several more firearms and the next several purchases will
be a mix of shotguns and a series of 9mm weapons: four 9mm pistols (Glocks)
and two (or three) KelTec 2000 folding rifles (super-sweet) that use the 33
round Glock magazines (which are available for a bargain at $25.99 each at
Natchez Shooters Supply). I figure a dozen 33-round mags will be a good start
to outfit this part of my arsenal. Those high capacity mags work in the Glock
9mm pistols too.
[Since originally writing this letter in July, I’ve bought one KelTec
2000, one Glock 19 (9mm) and one 20 gauge shotgun]
Finally, I will look to acquire two AK-47s and two then two long-range rifles.
I figure this part of my plan should take another two years to accomplish,
one gun per month or two.
I consider my cache of firearms as an extremely valuable store of wealth in
the face of the inevitable economic collapse. These guns and ammo will be worth
as much as I paid for them, or likely even more in the future. Guns and ammo
are like money in the bank (except better) and will make tremendous items for
barter in a post TEOTWAWKI society.
I have stocked several "But Out” bags (for my two sons, dad and
I), thousands of rounds of ammunition ($100/per month at WalMart) and many
other
suggested
items. I have been chipping away at my extensive list and ply eBay and yard
sales for many of the items that I deem essential. At present, I am prepared
to withstand a month or so without power, and am primed to protect my investments,
but I am not so confident about surviving a really long-term societal collapse
as predicted by so many learned prognosticators. My next level of preparedness
will be to survive fully three months off grid, with an eye towards a more
complete ability to survive any SHTF circumstance by 2012.
I live (rent-free) with my elderly dad and am committed to staying with him
in a quite pleasant coastal New England town. I work for the state in a good-paying
civil service position. I have no monetary resources to relocate to a tsunami
resistant, easily defensible retreat in the mid west (or abroad) and am committed
to my dad who was born in this community, owns his home outright, and has absolutely
no inclination of moving. Further, I run into an elderly parental mindset when
I suggest basic survival activities such as drilling a simple well or installing
a wood stove (forget about voice mail or a dishwasher).
I have gotten away with my ostensible preparations for a hurricane (high New
England possibility) but when I expound on the potential collapse of the US
economy (due to any of several likely scenarios), dad disregards my exhortations.
Since I am the “baby” of the family (even though I’m
50) and am the only family within 400 miles, he accepts my advice as if I were
a teenager. Therein lies the actual predicament for me.
Retreat Considerations
I need to prepare for a short, medium, and long-term
siege in my existing locale. I expect that most SurvivalBlog readers find themselves
in a similar, structurally restricted situation. All of my family, and my fiancé’s
family reside along the East coast from New Hampshire down to South Carolina
. As a result, I hope to secure a farmland retreat that will be strategically
located such that immediate family members could get to the retreat by bicycle
or on foot in a worst case scenario. I’ve been thinking about northern
New Hampshire or the northwestern quadrant of Pennsylvania .
A topic that I have yet to see discussed in SurvivalBlog is the bugout in the
Atlantic region of the country. I understand that there is nowhere along the
East Coast that one can escape the fallout from a nuclear detonation in the
New England or middle Atlantic region but there will many people stuck along
the Atlantic coast in the event of some type of cataclysmic event. I would
greatly appreciate hearing from other readers about places in rural New York/New
England or anywhere along the Atlantic coast that would be suitable in the
occurrence of TEOTWAWKI.
I know that the world is headed for a day of reckoning and that the United
States is teetering on collapse due to decades of financial and administrative
malfeasance. As a student of history and social sciences, I have always been
an ardent patriot but as of late, I have come to the tragic understanding why
most people in the rest of the world distrust us, and in many instances, hate
us. The current administration’s brainless deficit (and mostly pork-barrel)
spending, the spiraling national debt, our sole world super-power mindset,
insatiable consumer demand and burgeoning trade deficit will surely land this
once great nation in the scrap heap of history’s supercilious, bankrupt
empires. I’ll be ready, however. Thanks, JWR and loyal SurvivalBlog contributors!
At least our forefathers were insightful when they insisted that our (appropriately
silver and gold-backed) monetary instruments be inscribed with the dictum, “In
God We Trust”. My one suggestion would be to go back to silver and gold
coins and add the alliterative phrase “…Glocks and Gold” after
the word “God” to aptly symbolize our current plight.
As it was in the story of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the
(preparedness) race.May peace be with you all. - David J. (in a blue New England
state)
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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
« Weekly Survival Real Estate Market Summary |Main| Notes from JWR: »
Book Excerpt--Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse
Geographically distinct units were formed from the Northwest Militia, as planned,
late in the April of the fifth year. To avoid confusion amongst the local citizenry
that they protected, they designated those at the original retreat as “Todd
Gray’s Company” and those at Kevin Lendel’s house as “Michael
Nelson’s Company.” The responsibility for patrolling was divided
along a line east-west between the retreats.
Todd Gray’s Company was to patrol the northern half of the sector, while
Michael Nelson’s Company patrolled the southern half. Separate CB channels
were assigned to each Company for locals to use to contact either Company.
On the 5th of May, Mary was in the garden plot transplanting some young tomato
plants that had been started in the greenhouse a few weeks earlier. As she
was methodically digging holes for each of the plants, she heard a strange
engine noise in the distance. Just moments after she first heard the noise,
she was astonished to look up and see two light aircraft approaching from the
south. She dropped her trowel, snatched up her AR-15, and ran to the house.
By the time she was in the house, the Mallory Sonalerts were wailing, and everyone
at the house was at their “stand-to” positions, scanning their
assigned sectors of fire.
“Does anybody have any idea where those planes came from?” Mary asked.
Sitting at the C.Q. desk, Jeff shrugged his shoulders, and reached over to turn
off the “panic button”, silencing the piercing alarm.
The engine noise was clearly louder now. From the LP/OP, Terry called in on
the TA-1: “They’re pusher prop jobs, twin seat, tandem style. It’s
hard to tell, but it looks like there’s just one pilot in each. They’re
definitely circling us. Everybody stay put.” The planes circled the house
a second time, just a hundred yards above the ground.
From the front of the house, Todd declared: “Hey, wait a minute, it looks
like they’re getting ready to land. Yep, they are landing down on the
county road.” The two planes landed in rapid succession on the straight
stretch of county road below the house. Todd was surprised by how short a distance
it took for the planes to land and come to a full stop. The planes looked identical,
except for their color. One was painted dark green. The other was tan. He heard
their engines roar up in tempo as the planes turned and taxied back to the
front gate. The planes came to a stop at the front gate, and their engines
shut down.
Both pilots lifted their canopies and took off their headphones, almost in
unison. Two figures, one tall and one short, hopped out of the planes, wearing
BDUs and tan boots.
Todd shouted loud enough for everyone at the house to hear: “They are
painted drab, but those sure don’t look military. Have any of you heard
of anyone in the area that owns an ultralight?” There was no reply. Todd
pondered for a moment. “Hey, you know, Dan told me that Ian Doyle was
in an ultralight club.
I sure wish Fong was still here. He’s probably seen pictures of Ian’s
plane. He said that it was a zippy little thing, and I think he said that it
was a two-seater.”
“Who is this Ian fellow?,” Rose asked.
Mary answered, “An old college buddy of Todd and Dan’s. He has
a wife and daughter. That might be him in one of those planes down on the road.”
Ten minutes later, after a cautious squad-sized approach by the bounding overwatch
method, Todd and Ian Doyle were sharing hugs. “Wow! Long time no see.
What brings you here?”
“It’s a long story, Todd. Suffice it to say that we left town in
a hurry when a very large number of muy malo hombres took over. It was muy
peligroso there. So we did some Van-dammage--just to whittle them down,
you understand--and then we took off. It took a few inquiries in Bovill, but
we found your place here easily enough.”
Todd took a long look at the plane behind Doyle, staring at just below the
wing root, where it was stenciled EXPERIMENTAL. He said insistently, “You
can tell me the whole story later. First tell me about these ultralights. They
are really a sight to behold.”
Ian turned to caress the fuselage of the flat forest green-painted plane behind
him. “To begin with, technically, they aren’t ultralights, although
they use a lot of the same design features. Legally, these birds are classed
as light experimentals. These birds are both Laron Star Streaks. I paid just
under $30K for mine, when I picked it up new from the factory in Borger, Texas,
back in ‘98. We towed it home in it’s trailer behind our Suburban.
The Star Streak comes with a lot of standard goodies like dual controls, an
ICOM radio, electric start, electric brakes, three position half span flaps,
electric trim, and a pretty complete set of VFR instruments. I added a GPS
navigation box and active noise reduction headphones to this one. It’s
essentially a poor man’s general aviation plane, but legally it’s
a light ‘experimental’. But it’s too heavy to be classed
as an “ultralight” under the FAA regs.”
“With its enclosed canopy, it’s one of the best light experimentals
for long range flying. In fact, one guy flew a similar model Laron from London
to Beijing and wrote a book about it. As I’m sure you know, the main advantages
of ultralights and light experimentals is that they are so thrifty on gas, and
have a super short take-off roll--usually under 200 feet--and very low stall
speeds. The Star Streak only weighs about 400 pounds, empty. The other neat thing
about our Larons and most similar light experimentals and ultralights is that
they are not restricted to av-gas. In ours here, for example, you can burn any
grade of gas down to about 85 octane. If I adjusted the carb jets, I suppose
they would even burn ethanol or methanol. Luckily, I haven’t had to try
that yet.”
Doyle turned to the trim woman with an olive complexion standing beside him.
She appeared to be around 35 years old. “I’m sorry, I’m getting
ahead of myself. This is my wife Blanca. I’ve written to you about her,
but we haven’t seen each other face to face since college, so you’ve
never had a chance to meet.”
The attractive woman in BDUs extended her hand, and Todd shook it firmly. Gray
said quietly, “Encantado.” She replied in a soft accent, “A
pleasure finally meeting you, Meester Gray.”
“As you probably recall from my e-mail, I met Blanca when I was stationed
down in Hondo,” Doyle continued. “That was back in my ‘Terry
and the Pirates’ days, when I was a lieutenant--not too long out of transition
training. She was a civilian working in flight ops at Tegucigalpa. Blanca was
already a qualified single engine pilot when I met her. Talk about love at first
sight, eh conchita?” Blanca smiled and blushed, nodding her chin
to her shoulder.
Gesturing to the other plane, Ian said, “We swapped for Blanca’s
Laron just after the stock market tanked. I got it from an old fart civilian
who was in the Phoenix Metro ultralight club. He bought this one as a kit.
He said that it took him almost two years to build it in his spare time. He
finished building it in ‘99. It had very low hours clocked on the engine.
His was stored in the same style enclosed trailer that we had for mine. I traded
him my Sten gun, a suppressor with nomex cover, a whole bunch of magazines,
and 1,000 rounds of nine millimeter ball for it. Fair enough swap, I suppose,
since unregistered and suppressed submachineguns don’t grow on trees.
We could both see the handwriting on the wall by then. He knew what I needed,
and I knew what he needed: I needed some more transportation, and he needed
some more firepower. I asked him why he wasn’t planning to bail out of
Phoenix. He said that his wife refused to budge an inch. They had their whole
life wrapped up in their house. Since he was stuck there, he didn’t need
the plane, but he certainly needed a serious self-defense gun.”
Doyle stepped toward the back of the fuselage, deftly ducking under the wing,
and went on: “The Star Streaks cruise at just over 120 miles an hour
at 80 percent power, which is pretty fast for a light experimental. Of course,
that seems like crawling when you are used to wearing an F-16, but I like ‘em.
The cockpit layout is even similar to a Falcon. Not exactly fly-by-wire controls,
though. This model uses a 85 horse Hirth F-30 engine. It’s a great little
plant. It just hums along and sips gas--only about five gallons an hour at
80% power. Both of these planes are identical except for the propellers. Mine
uses a four blade composite, but the prop on Blanca’s is the older composite
three blade. The Hirth is a powerful little engine. It will make the Larons
climb at 2,500 feet per minute when it is in normal configuration with just
one man on board, but of course a lot slower the way we have them loaded down
right now. The planes have a rated useful load of 500 pounds. I’m afraid
that we exceeded that limit when we took off from Prescott. Between the heavy
load and the high elevation of the airport, our takeoff distances were outrageously
long--at least, that is, for a light experimental. But luckily, we had a long
straight stretch of road to take off from.”
Blanca looked around anxiously. “Ees there anywhere where we can put
theeese birds where they whon’t get stolen?”
Mary answered, “We’ll put them both in the Andersen’s big
hay barn, just down the road. It’s a nice dry barn. The wings should
hopefully fit through the front. It was left open on that side to let the big
New Holland harvester in. It’s a three-sided affair. The farm is deserted,
and the barn is almost empty now. They gave us permission to use the place.
Don’t worry--when the planes are pushed to the back of the barn, no one
will see them there. And, as further insurance, it’s just within line
of sight of our LP/OP, up on the hill.”
“Ell-Pee-Oh-Pee?”, Blanca asked, quizzically.
“Sorry, Blanca. I’m afraid that we are used to talking in ‘acronese’ around
here, and not the Air Force acronym dialect you’re probably used to. LP/OP
is a ground pounder acronym for listening post/observation post.” Pointing
to the nearby hill, Mary explained, “Basically it’s a glorified hole
in the ground. If you look very closely, you can see it up on the hill there.
It has a good view of the area. It’s for observation in daylight, and for
listening at night.”
Moving the planes into the barn took only a few minutes. They were able to
taxi the planes under power to within 20 feet of the barn. From there, they
were pushed in by hand. Going in, the planes’ 30 foot long wingspans
cleared the entrance with just a foot to spare on each side. As they were pushing
the first plane in, Mary asked, “How many gas cans have you got in there,
and how far can you fly without refueling?”
Doyle pointed through the canopy at the rear seat area, and cited, “Originally,
the Star Streaks only had a range of around 320 miles at 80% power. The main
tank is 14 and-a-half gallons. But I added some big bladder tanks to both planes.
They aren’t connected directly to the primary fuel system. I cheated
and installed a couple of little Black and Decker Jackrabbit hand pumps along
side the front seats, with extra long hoses. To transfer fuel from the bladder
to the main tank, you just put the Jackrabbit in your lap and crank away. The
bladder tanks extend our range to about 480 miles without landing to refuel,
when we are at max takeoff weight. If we were in a light configuration, they
could maybe even go 550 miles.”
Ian’s plane came to a rest with the tip of its nose less than a foot
from the rear wall of the barn. He inched past the nose and walked around to
the other side of the plane, talking as he walked. “They are both quite
a bit lighter right now, since we have less gas and we had to barter some of
our stuff for fuel.” He tapped on the Plexiglas with his index finger
and said, “I have these five gallon gas cans strapped into the back seats
of both birds, but they are nearly empty, too. Aside from some clothes, sleeping
bags, tools, and aeronautical charts; most of the weight on board is fuel,
oil, guns, ammo, water, and MREs. You know, just the essentials in life. At
present we’re down to less than 8 gallons of fuel between the two planes...”
Mary interjected, “Don’t worry about that. We still have over four
hundred gallons of stabilized unleaded premium in the tank here. It will only
be good for another year or two, so we might as well use it up. I think that
it’s 92 octane, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Terry--she’s
our logistics honcho. But she’s up at the LP/OP right now.”
After they had pushed the second plane in, Todd declared, “Don’t
worry about all your gear, we’ll come down with the pickup truck later
this afternoon and take it up to the house.”
Before they left the planes, Doyle used a socket wrench to remove the nose
wheels from both planes, and buried them under some loose hay near the front
of the big barn. “They won’t be going far without these,” he
said. As they walked out of the barn, Ian slung his suppressed MAC-10 over
his shoulder. Blanca did likewise with a stainless steel folding-stock Mini-14
GB. Todd was disappointed to see that they didn’t carry any extra magazines.
He made a mental note to correct that glaring deficiency.
As they walked, Blanca was bemused at the way the militia members walked at
5 yard intervals. “Why are you walking so far apart?,” she asked
with a laugh.
“Force of habit,” Mary explained. “In case of an ambush, you
are at much greater risk if you are bunched together.”
They chatted amiably as they hiked back to the Gray’s house. Once they
were inside, Rose served up an early lunch of raw carrots, apple slices spread
with reconstituted peanut butter, and freshly baked bread. It was over lunch
that Ian and Blanca started to recount their story. Mary set a TRC-500 to the “VOX” setting,
so that Terry Layton, who was still up at the LP/OP, didn’t feel left
out.
Munching on some bread, Ian began, “The 56th Fighter Wing had just started
a rotation to Saudi. It was just two years before the Crash that we switched
back from a tactical training wing to a tactical fighter wing. I came on board
just a few months into the transition. Anyway, when all the trouble started,
since I was the wing maintenance officer, I was stuck back at Luke, catching
up on paperwork. I was also taking a idiotic mandatory ‘Diversity, Sensitivity,
and Sexual Harassment’ class. The frickin’ class lasted a whole
week. I had orders to catch up with the wing in late November. But then, when
the riots got going in earnest, they planned an emergency redeployment of virtually
all of the close air support aircraft in the Air Force inventory back to the
States. Some weenie at the White House must have dreamed that one up. Our wing
was going to deploy to Hurlburt Field, down in Florida. Criminy! Could you
imagine F-16s and A-10s versus rioters? Talk about over-kill! I never heard
what happened to our squadrons after that. I was too busy with problems of
my own--like finding drinking water for Blanca and myself.”
“And your daughter?,” Mary asked.
Doyle’s face clouded with emotion. Stiffening, he replied, “Linda
didn’t make it, ma’am. She died five years ago. She was in Detroit,
doing her annual six week long ‘Grandmom and Grandpop’ visit with
my folks. It was the first time that she was old enough to go on a commercial
plane by herself. Blanca wanted to stay home to relax, do some pastels, and
a bit of surfing the Internet. We were home-schooling her, so Linda wasn’t
on a normal school year schedule. Blanca and Linda liked to go up to Michigan
in the Fall. They get some nice Fall colors up there.”
Ian paused and looked at the ground. “By the time we realized the magnitude
of the situation, most of the flights had been canceled, and the few that were
still flying were booked solid. In retrospect, what I should have done was
played “you bet your bars” and commandeered a D-model Falcon to
zip up there to get her. Instead, I took the conservative route and just hoped
that the riots wouldn’t last long or spread outside the downtown area
of Detroit. I also figured that if worse came to worse, my dad’s gun
collection could handle any rioters that came down their block. I was wrong.
I got a call from one of their close neighbors who managed to make it out of
Detroit alive. She said that looters got really pissed when my dad shot some
of them. They torched my dad’s house. Killed them all. I still feel like
such a fool. I could have saved my folks and my daughter’s life.”
Blanca squeezed Ian’s hand and said softly, “Don’t do thees,
E-an. We can-no change history.”
Mary’s eyes were wet with tears. “I’m so sorry, Ian. I’m
so sorry, Blanca. ”
Doyle shook his head from side to side and muttered, “Dwelling on it
won’t do any good. In times like these, you just have to suck it up and
drive on.”
Todd said a silent prayer. Then he looked up and asked, “So what happened
to everybody at Luke?”
Doyle snapped out of his reverie and recounted, “To call it mass desertion
would be to put it mildly. The mess halls only had limited food supplies, and
we only had enough MREs on hand for short-term contingencies. I’m sure
some of the overseas air bases had better stocks, but nobody ever expected
a disruption of re-supply of food in CONUS! When it became clear that the food
wasn’t going to last long, virtually everybody started to disappear.
And when they went, they took a lot of equipment, fuel, and nearly every scrap
of food on base with them. The Base Exchange, the commissary, and the mess
halls were stripped clean. When I say everybody, I mean everybody. There wasn’t
a soul from 56th Log or 56th Medical left on base. Even the whole Support Group
basically vanished in about three days time. By the time I decided to pack
it in, Luke was a ghost town. There were only seven pilots and about 20 ground
crew guys left on the post. Most of them were young bachelors. By that point,
I was the senior ranking officer on the base, so I could do pretty much anything
I wanted. I was the de facto base commander. I just called a formation and
released the remaining personnel on base on ‘indefinite leave.’
Unfortunately, my options were pretty limited. You see, there wasn’t
a single aircraft left on the ramp, or a single military vehicle left on post.
By then, there were just a few POVs. Even the fuel trucks had disappeared.
Now you’ve got to understand that they had 217 birds on the property
books, mainly F-16 Cs and D models. Of those, they were all either out on the
Saudi Arabia rotation, or off on “emergency” flights that all mysteriously
ended up being one-way missions. At least three F-16s, and the general staff
Lear were out-and-out stolen. No flight plans were filed. The guys who took
them just figured that they could get away with it. They just taxied out at
O-dark-early and took off. And there was nobody left in the tower to say ‘boo’ about
it. Those four had been the last airworthy planes on the base. The few planes
that were left were just some stripped hangar queens.”
“After that ‘gentlemen, you are released’ speech, I spent the
rest of that day looking for fuel containers. Every gas can available had already
walked off base. The only good sized containers I could find were some hydraulic
fluid drums. But I was afraid that the fluid left in them would contaminate the
gas. So I ended up scrounging a bunch of empty 2 liter pop bottles from dumpsters
around the BX. I drove home that evening with almost 140 gallons of av gas in
the back of the Suburban. I never went back to Luke after that.
We were living off base in a rental flat-top in Buckeye. It’s basically
a retirement community. When I got home, I talked things over with Blanca.
We decided to hang tight for a few days. We packed up, but packed light. It
was like one of those life boat games--’Now if you could only take five
items, which five would they be?’ The end result was that Blanca and
I had to leave a lot behind. We spent a lot of that time listening to the radio
for reports on the rioting. Only a couple of AM stations were on the air by
then, and the news they were handing out was pretty sketchy. None of it sounded
good. They spent half the time repeating the same FEMA ‘Stay calm, remain
in your homes, order will be restored shortly’ tape. What a pile of bull.
The tape even recommend calling 911 if we saw any looting in progress. I laughed
and said, ‘Oh yes sir, will do.’ The phones had all been dead for
several days.”
“Our next-door neighbors had a police scanner. That was the best thing
for monitoring where there was trouble happening. This was at the time when Phoenix
and Tucson were burning down. Major chaos, let me tell ya. Once the looting started
spreading out into the suburbs, we agreed that it would be bad news to stay in
the Phoenix area much longer. Bright and early on a Tuesday morning, we wheeled
the Larons out of their trailers, and bolted on the wings and tails, right there
on our front lawn. It only took about fifteen minutes each to assemble and pre-flight
them, since we’d had plenty of practice before, putting my bird together
for weekend jaunts.”
“While we were loading our gear, most of the neighbors just stood there
and gawked. A few helped out with the fueling process. We handed our next-door
neighbors the keys and title to our Suburban, and the keys to the house. I told
them that anything inside was free for the taking. By then, we knew that we weren’t
ever coming back. Then we taxied off the lawn, down the driveway, and out the
court. We hung a left, throttled up, and took off from Hastings Avenue. Some
of the neighbors stood at the ends to block car traffic for us. Must have been
quite a sight for the retirees. We flew from there straight to Prescott--that’s
in northern Arizona. We planned to stay at my cousin’s place.”
“My cousin Alex was a senior salesman with J&G Sales, a big gun distributor
up in Prescott. With that job, I figured that he would be pretty well squared
away, at least in terms of guns and ammo to barter for anything he could possibly
want. Prescott is partly a resort community, and kind of a haven for gun nuts.
J&G was there, Ruger had a factory there, and there were lots of custom gun
makers, barrel makers, and stock makers. One little outfit there made elephant
guns on custom magnum Mauser actions before the Crash. Big .416 Rigbys and that
sort of thing. The last I saw of them, they were still producing some smaller
caliber long range guns in H-S Precision Kevlar-Graphite stocks. They sold them
on a barter basis. Real tack drivers.”
“Prescott is not a big town, but it took us a while to locate Alex, since
the phones were out there by that time, too. I hitched a ride from the airport,
while Blanca stayed behind to guard the planes. From talking with Alex’s
neighbors, we discovered that he had hired out as a security man for some Tucson
banking fat-cats. They had a pretty elaborate hidey hole set up just north of
Prescott. There were four families living at the compound. At first they didn’t
want to take us in. Then they saw the firepower that we had with us, and they
changed their minds. Officially, we were “security”, just like my
cousin. We had it pretty soft there, compared to most folks. We had plenty of
water, and enough food to get by. We were in no hurry to leave.”
“Things were pretty quiet there for four full years. A little local trouble,
but nothing worth mentioning. Then we started hearing about this gang of escaped
convicts and assorted riff-raff that was slowly working its way up from New Mexico.
Refugees told us that it was originally two gangs that combined into one big
super gang. They would hit a town, linger a week or two, strip it clean, and
then move on to the next one. They were like a swarm of locusts. There were over
300 of them by the time they made it up to the Prescott area. Rumor had it that
at least one of the two gangs had been doing this town-to-town hopping all the
way from south Texas. By then they were getting pretty good at it.”
“I took a recon flight in my Star Streak down to Wickenburg when they hit
there, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. They just swept through the town in
one big mass of vehicles. Many of the houses were abandoned, ‘cause folks
had heard they were coming and didn’t want to be around when they did.
Basically, they burned down any house that anyone was shooting from. Then they
went from house to house, taking anything of value. Even from the air, I could
see them dragging some women out of houses and raping them on the sidewalks.
We’re talking total scum of the Earth. It made me wish I was flying a fully
armed Fighting Falcon instead of my little Laron. I could have really kicked
some tail. These guys were absolute savages, Todd.” Doyle stopped for a
few moments, and then added, “I got shot at some when I was on that flight,
but I didn’t find any bullet holes in my bird when I got back.”
“Just three weeks ago, the gang was making their way up the Agua Fria,
and hit the little town of Mayer. About 80 of us from town, mainly men, went
on a little preemptive strike when we heard that the gang had moved into the
town of Humboldt. Blanca, Alex, and I were all on the raiding party. We knew
that Prescott would be next, because we were just 12 miles up the road. A Navajo
kid about 13 years old, who escaped from Humboldt just after they arrived, gave
us the layout. He even volunteered to go back in to town to scout which buildings
the looters were in. That was a real help in planning the operation.”
“Our little raid didn’t have much in the way of military precision,
but we sure did some damage. We knew that we couldn’t kill them all, so
we decided that the thing to do was to concentrate on their vehicles, especially
their armored cars and APCs. We hit them at just after three in the morning.
Since we were all on foot or horseback the last two miles in, they didn’t
know we were coming until we were already in their midst. They had the buildings
that they were occupying lit up like Christmas trees. Our little Navajo scout
had told us in advance which buildings they’d be in. We were only fully
engaged for about five minutes. It was fast and furious, but like I said before,
we did some serious Van-dammage.”
“In the first couple of minutes, we had the advantage, because most of
the looters were asleep. They made me the point man, since I had the only suppressed
weapon in the raiding party. When I shoot Winchester Q-Loads--those are special
low velocity subsonic rounds--this thing doesn’t make much more noise than
a loud hand clap.” Doyle held up the stubby Ingram M10 for a brief display,
unscrewing the nomex-covered suppressor. “The term ‘silencer’ is
really a misnomer. A ‘can’ like this is really just an elaborate
sound muffler. Again, you can still hear the shot--sounds like a loud hand-clap.
The normal sound is reduced so much that you can even hear the clack of the bolt
going forward with each shot.”
Doyle screwed the suppressor back on the M10 and set it down on the window
seat. “Sorry, I digress. Getting back to what happened in Humboldt...
I got the chance to personally drop three of their sentries, shooting my MAC
in the semi-auto mode. I don’t mind saying that it felt real good, after
what I’d seen them do in Wickenburg. At first, we were the only ones
shooting. Once the looters rolled out of bed and started shooting back, it
was another story They had a lot of fully automatic weapons, grenades, and
rocket launchers of some sort. They really started hosing us down. Before they
did though, we had torched more than 40 vehicles with Molotov cocktails. Apparently,
we got every one of their APCs and armored cars.”
“Our retreat out of Humboldt was let’s say ‘less than organized.’ Only
29 of us made it back to Prescott alive by noon. Two more guys straggled in the
next evening. Of the 31 that made it back, only three had been wounded, and those
were all minor grazing wounds. Oddly enough, all five of the men and women who
were on horseback were among those to make it back without a scratch. Not even
any of the horses were hit. Either they were real lucky, or cavalry is making
a comeback. My cousin Alex never made it back from the Humboldt raid.” Ian
skipped a beat, and then went on: “The looters didn’t show up the
next day or even the day after. Blanca and I waited at the compound, with the
Larons loaded, fueled, and ready to go.”
“Three days after our raid, they came into Prescott, and they must have
been plenty pissed. The gang rolled in just after dawn. They didn’t seem
to care how many losses they were taking, and they immediately started to torch
every building they got to. Blanca and I didn’t wait until they made it
to the north side of town. Everyone at the compound was by then either in town
manning the barricades, or had headed for the hills. Most of the remaining stuff
at the retreat went with two families that had a pair of GMC motor homes. They
were headed for Flagstaff.”
“At that point, we realized that discretion was the better part of valor,
so we took off, too. We used a nice long straight stretch of road that started
a quarter mile north of the compound. I had taken off and landed there many times
before during the five years we were there. When we wheeled around after take-off,
we could see that almost half the buildings in the downtown area were on fire.
We didn’t stick around to see how things ended, but I’m afraid that
the looters must have taken the town. Even though they didn’t have any
armored vehicles left, they had superior numbers and superior firepower.”
« Jim's Quote of the Day: |Main| Letter Re: Charity Begins at Home--At Least in the U.S. »
Letter Re: Late Blog Posts and Supporting SurvivalBlog
Mr. Rawles:
About noon on Friday, I was starting to write a mean e-mail, because
y'all were late in the putting up the blog posts for the day. You see, I've
been a
daily reader of SurvivalBlog since about April of 2006, and I'd gotten used
to you putting the posts up like clockwork, right around (or before) midnight
for the next day. It has become my habit to read the blog while having my
morning coffee and waiting for my employees to arrive. (I run a lawnmower
and power tool shop in a fair-sized city in Georgia, and I'm an early riser.)
Then
a thought struck me: What cotton-pickin' right do
I have to complain about
late
blog posts,
when
I haven't
done
hardly anything to support the blog, other than just buy a copy of your novel?
It wasn't until your new daily posts weren't there for
a few hours later than usual that I started to think just what my day would
be like
without reading those posts. Now I'm now sorta glad y'all were
late [in posting] on Friday. It made me appreciate what what I've been getting free every
day for more than a year. And up until that glitch on Friday, you were
very consistent. Please accept my apology, and my two-year 10
Cent Challenge subscription
payment. (I'm mailing a check before the P.O. closes today.) Sincerely, - Parker
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Observations on the Flooding in Central England »
EBay Expands its Firearms Parts/Magazine Sales Ban--and SurvivalBlog Takes Action
The liberal do-gooders at eBay have turned the screws even tighter
on gun owners. First they banned the sale of guns, receivers, and ammunition.
Then they banned the sale of 11+ round magazines, barrels, and gun parts
kits. They've also banned any auction for knives with "fighting" or "throwing"
in the title or description. (But they still allow box cutter knives. Hmmmm...)
Now they've announced that they
are banning auction listings for all gun clips/magazines
and most gun parts. They are now using the standard of "any part
required for firing of a gun" for their new restriction. So I presume
that all they will now allow is merely gun slings, holsters, grips, and
stocks. I'm not sure how they'll treat bayonets. They'll probably ban those
too. (That might help reduce the recent wave of drive-by bayonetings.)
This
sort of pansy liberal feel-goodism typifies both politics and the way they
do business in the Nanny States. It is no wonder that eBay is headquartered
in California. (where the majority elected Senators Barbara
Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.) EBay of course is a private firm and has
the right
to run
their business
as
they
see fit.
But SurvivalBlog
is a
private
business,
too. So I've decided drop eBay (including eBay France, eBay Australia,
and eBay.co.uk) as SurvivalBlog affiliate advertisers.
I'm also encouraging SurvivalBlog readers to boycott them.
My recommendations: When you want to buy a book
or DVD, buy it from Amazon. When you want sporting
goods, buy them at fixed price from US
Cavalry Store or at auction from GunBroker.com or
AuctionArms.com. I hardly expect these actions to bankrupt eBay. Its
the principle of the matter.
Since eBay owns PayPal, you can expect to soon see PayPal
adopt an almost identical restrictive policy. When you transfer funds, try
to avoid using PayPal. Instead, please use AlertPay or GearPay --
because they don't share PayPal's anti-gun political agenda.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: The Pension Gamble: Cash In or Stand Pat? »
Letter Re: Special $99.95 Sale for the "Rawles Gets You Ready" Preparedness Course
Jim,
We just got a batch of 50 of your preparedness courses from the printer, and
they screwed up the shrink-wrapping on many of them. Instead of fighting it
out with the printer, we will knock 1/3rd off the regular price for your SurvivalBlog readers. But we're gonna offer that discount
for only a week, because we don't want to fuss with double inventory. Please
note that our main web site will still stay the same, showing the normal
price,
even on the order page. But when your readers check out, the discounted
price [of $99.95 plus normal shipping and handling] will show up. And if anyone wants guaranteed perfect
shrink wrap they should wait until after the sale ends, when the price will
return
to normal. But you can tell folks to not worry, because every other aspect
of the course is in perfect condition. But when they sell out --around August
8th--we will
raise
the prices back to normal without notice, so anyone who has been sitting on
the fence should act fast if they want to save some bucks.
Hope you're having a great summer in the hinterboonies! Cheers, - Jake
JWR Adds: This is the first time that the "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course. course with accompanying audio
CD has ever been sold for 1/3 off the regular price. The sale ends
on Wednesday, August 8th, so place your order
soon!
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: My Adventure in Growing Wheat, by Carl in Wisconsin »
Letter Re: The SurvivalBlog Glossary
James:
I have been reading SurvivalBlog most every day for nearly a year now. I'm
a 10
Cent Challenge subscriber. I had long ago read most of those "button" web
pages up at the top [of the SurvivalBlog main page], but it wasn't until
yesterday
that
I
read
your
new page on Peak
Oil, and I took the time to read all the way through the Glossary
page. That thing has gotten huge. Not only was it interesting and educating
to read, but it was also a laugh riot. You snuck some very funny stuff in
there, like your definitions for "BS", "Contrapreneur", "JASBORR", "RV", "Schumer" and "UA
571-C". (That [last item] was from the movie Aliens, right?) ROTFLMAO!,
- Phil in Arkansas
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| CDO PIK: Satisfaction Guaranteed or Double Your Trash Back »
Letter Re: Supporting SurvivalBlog
Mr Rawles:
I was shocked to see that only 1% of readers have gotten a [voluntary] 10
Cent Challenge subscription.
I signed up after the second week that I began reading.your blog. There
is no other site on the Internet that has the same amount
of in-depth info on preparedness. Nothing even comes close. I
am blown away by how much knowledge is piled up in your archives. I
could spend two or three hours a day searching through news sites, financial
advisory websites,
backpacking websites, EMT websites,
gun websites, food storage websites, and so forth, and still not glean
what is contained in SurvivalBlog. Ten
cents a day is tiny pittance compared to what I get out of it.
Because of you and SurvivalBlog,
my family is now much, much, much better prepared than it was a
year ago. SurvivalBlog has tons of useful info. Anyone that can't see that
is either a fool or an idiot. I figure that SurvivalBlog
has saved me hundreds [of dollars] by giving wise advice that has kept me
from making some expensive mistakes in prepping. What I learned from your
blog
allowed my to package my own storage food (in [food grade plastic] pails)
instead of
buying over-priced [commercially] canned food for storage. SurvivalBlog
also steered me away from radio gear that had short range and pitiful security.
([Instead,] I bought MURS band
[transceivers].) The blog also directed me to some outstanding firearms training
that cost very little. (The [RWVA]
Appleseed range
days and "clinics".) The
blog
convinced me to re-prioritize my life and cut out fast food. (Which did good
things for both my budget and my waistline. I'm now down
two full belt notches and about ready for my third notch.) The blog also
motivated me to sell off some of my guns in odd calibers (like
I had
a 280 Remington, a .35 Remington, and a .41 AE [Action Express]) and get
standard calibers. Now that ammunition has zoomed way up
in price,
I have
a lot more options on where to buy and what to buy. Now I have all.308 [Winchester],
.30-06, .30-30, 7.62mm (AK), .223 Rem., 12 ga., .45 Auto, .357 Mag.,
9mm, .22LR and .22 Mag. guns. Like another guy that wrote a few months
back,
SurvivalBlog
also set
me straight
on generators.
(Now I plan to get a low RPM diesel, not gas!)
So I figure that in the long run SurvivalBlog will save me thousands.
Ten cents a day, by comparison, is a real bargain. So here's my personal
challenge to anyone that reads this: What is SurvivalBlog really worth to
you? If SurvivalBlog
were to disappear, would you miss it? If you value it, then support
it! -
Phillip G.
« Letter Re: Eye Protection, Flushing, and Infection Treatment |Main| Note from JWR: »
SurvivalBlog Reader Poll Responses: What is Your Profession?
- Actor
- Machinist / Gunsmith / Aerospace engineer
- Petroleum engineer / Alternative energy designer
- Police sergeant / Small Arms and Tactics Instructor
- Academic anesthesiologist / Engineer
- Air Force Contractor
- Airport manager
- Alternative Energy R&D / Intelligence analyst
- Army Officer (PSYOP)
- Army Officer Instructor / Firearms Instructor
- Physician assistant
- Associate Dean
- Attorney, Personal injury
- Audio engineer / Compact disc mastering
- Auto mechanic
- Beekeeper
- Business & PoliSci student
- Business consultant
- Elderly caretaker
- Cell phone technician
- 2 CEOs
- CFO
- CIO
- COO
- Building contractor / Mine / Butcher / Lumberjack
- Chairman / Economist
- Chef
- Chief systems engineer
- Chimney sweep (retired)
- Christian CPA / Reserve deputy / Sunday school teacher
- Civil Engineer / Gunsmith
- Civil and structural engineer
- PR practitioner / Writer-editor
- Clinical engineer
- Clinical nurse / college professor / herbalist
- College student
- Commercial construction manager / Residential builder
- Computer hardware engineer
- Computer systems technologist / Police officer / Machinist / Cabinetmaker
/ MP Investigator / Yardman / Truck Driver / Roofer / EMT
- Corporate jet pilot
- First aid instructor / Sound engineer
- Criminal defense lawyer / Special ops reserve officer
- Critical infrastructure protection specialist
- Currency trader
- Database administrator
- Dental technician
- Dentist / anthropologist
- Deputy Sheriff-Detective / Gunsmith
- Design engineer / electric car manufacturer
- Desk-clerk / assistant-bookkeeper / college student
- Diesel mechanic / fleet manager
- Educational book designer
- 8 Electrical/electronic engineers
- Musician
- Sign contractor / Military history author.
- 3 Electricians
- Emergency Physician / Communications
- 4 EMTs
- Engineer
- Environmental, Safety, and Health Manager
- Ex-British Special Forces / consultant
- Family law / estate planning attorney
- 4 Farmers (including 1 organic, 1 mushroom), many secondary farmers
- Federal agent / investigator
- 5 Firefighters
- Fire captain / EMT / Fire service instructor
- Fire Marshal
- Fish Farmer
- Forensic anthropologist.
- Insurance customer service rep (retired)
- Marine Corps sergeant (retired) / CFO
- Forward observer / NCO.
- Furniture maker
- Gemologist / Jewelry appraiser
- Government bureaucrat
- Graduate student
- Green housing / Construction manager
- Hacker
- Hedge fund manager
- Horse farm owner
- Hospital pharmacist
- Hunting Guide (Alaska)
- HVACR business
owner
- ICU RN /
Die maker / Mechanic
- Insurance agent.
- Investment manager
- 5 Intelligence Analysts
- IT consultant
- IT Telecommuter
- Pastor
- Jack of all trades
- Power plant operator
- Laboratory technician
- Landscape architect
- Law enforcement
- Lean manufacturing / Automotive.
- LEO / Tactical instructor
- Liquor salesman
- Logistics manager
- Lutheran pastor
- Machinist
- Maintenance engineer
- Maintenance supervisor forest service / National guard utility man
- Sign language interpreting agency manager
- Manager / Manufacturer / Firearms teacher / Machinist / Intelligence analyst
- Manager of Contracts and Pricing
- Manufacturing jeweler / watchmaker
- Massage therapist
- Master plumber
- Master plumber / Carpenter / AC tech / Electrician / Mechanic
- 5 MDs (Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, ER, and GP)
- Mechanic
- Airline mechanic / ER Nurse
- Mechanic / Rocket engine builder / Heat treater / Tax Accountant
- Mechanical engineer
- Medical transport / Deputy sheriff / Fireman
- Microbiology student
- Motion designer / Cinematographer
- Museum director
- 2 Navy SEALs
- Notary public
- 3 Novelists
- NRA field rep
- Nuclear work and safety planning
- Nuclear security officer
- Psychiatric and Primary Nurse
- Commercial truck sales operation owner
- Painting contractor
- Paper engineer / graphic designer
- Petroleum geologist
- Petroleum landman / farm owner
- 5 Pharmacists
- Pharmacist / Intelligence Analyst / Health and Safety Specialist
- Pharmacy Recruiter
- 3 Physicists
- 4 Pilots (including 1 Canadian military)
- Pipefitter / Welder
- 4 Police officers
- College student
- Private investigator
- Private mailbox / Packing & shipping store / Musician
- Production control analyst
- Professor of ancient Near Eastern archaeology
- Property manager / Business continuity planner
- Property tax consultant.
- Prototype automobile modeler
- Internet Purchasing Specialist
- Psychotherapist
- Radiologic technologist
- Real estate appraiser
- 5 Realtors
- Region loss prevention manager
- Registered investment adviser owner / CPA
- 3 Registered nurses
- Respiratory therapist
- Retail manager / Salesperson
- Retail operations / Small business consultant
- Retail store manager, retired
- Retired electrical contractor
- Retired policeman / Park ranger
- Safety manager for construction company / landlord
- 2 Sales representatives/agents
- Sales agent
- Security dispatcher
- Security officer / Writer / Actor / Designer
- Security representative
- Electronics technician.
- Network security engineer
- Small business owner / barber
- Machine operator
- 2 Software developers
- Software engineer
- Special Forces Vietnam Vet / Firefighter(Retired) / Rancher
- 2 Submariners
- Systems engineer
- 2 Teachers
- Telecommunications design engineer
- Television producer / writer
- Power company lineman
- Truck mechanic
- 4 Truckers
- U.S. Treasury bond broker
- USDOE Security
Police Officer
- Veterinarian / Dog Breeder / Farmer
- Veterinarian / Attorney
- Vice President of Finance
- Wastewater treatment plant manager / Computer consultant
- Welder
- Welder / Chef / Blacksmith / Martial arts instructor / Gunsmith
- Welder, Underwater
- Writer / Secretary
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Oregon's Willamette Valley as a Retreat Locale? »
Two Letters Re: SurvivalBlog Hats and T-Shirts
Mr. Rawles,
I've talked to you a few times via e-mail and once in person. Recently
you said you would like a photo of one of your hats being worn in Afghanistan
or Iraq. I am headed back over again in a few weeks and would be glad
to do that. I didn't see a link to your hats etc. on the web so I thought
I'd drop you a line and see how to buy one. Take care. - W.
JWR Replies: May God grant you safety on you next
trip to The
Big Sandbox. In answer to your question, SurvivalBlog hats,
T-shirts, bumper stickers, tote bags, mouse pads, mugs, and
so forth are available from Cafe
Press, which is also the print-on-demand publisher of several of
my non-fiction books sw well as my "Pulling Through" screenplay.
Hello Jim,
I have purchased four SurvivalBlog shirts from Cafe
Press and have
had the same results in public. Once in awhile someone will ask what
the [quote
on the]
back of the shirt means, or makes a positive comment,... however,
no one
has
commented
about your blog as the blog name is only printed on the front.
Since 50% of the shirt [surface area] is on the back side, I think
it would be a huge value
to
your
readership if you would put "survivalblog.com" on the rear.
We wore ours out to Front
Sight over the weekend and struck up some
great conversations after going prone. Since we can't always
engage conversation with everyone, I think the change would be monumental
on expanded readership and hopefully sponsorship/donations.
One of the range masters commented on how it took him several times
to "get" everything on the rear of the shirt, it may be important
to use a different font, size of letters, color, (which obviously adds
cost therefore not as productive), or location on the shirt. Since
shirts get tucked in many times, I feel readership would be best just
below the neck, (i.e.- above the current text). This may still be visible
if one was to wear to a college class just above their backpack as
well. Of course, longer hair may impair some readability, but FFTAGFFR.
We had a great time in some crazy "combat conditions", but
an excellent result nonetheless.
Please do not consider this as chastising, rather desire to expand
your success! Thanks Jim, - The Wanderer
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: Bad News on Peak Oil: Five Year Slide to a 50% Production Crash »
Letter Re: Resources on SurvivalBlog
Mr. Rawles:
I discovered SurvivalBlog just by accident about two months ago, when I was
doing a Google search on "FN-FAL" [rifles].
I pretty soon discovered your blog was a treasure trove.
Not only am I totally addicted to reading the new postings every day (I read
it on my lunch hour at work), but I've also started working my way back through
the archives. (It was just two weeks ago that I discovered the little "Search
Posts on SurvivalBlog" window down under your rotating ads. Maybe you
should put that up at the top, so people can spot it easier.) Wow! I just
can't believe how much practical no-BS info
that you have put together in your blog postings, and in the permanent [button
bar] pages at the top (like your Retreat
[Areas] page and your Survival
Guns page), plus all your FAQs.
Also, thanks for your big glossary,
which is great for a newbie like me. (I'm a served as a Air Force mechanic
and I know a lot about vehicles and guns, but the rest of preparedness is
pretty new to me.) I had always felt the need to be ready for more
than just high water and hurricanes, but couldn't put my finger on why.
But now, after reading your blog and your books, I'm connecting all the
dots. Everything you write rings true with me. We do live
in a very fragile world. I saw that up close and personal, right after Hurricane
Katrina. And that was just a regional disaster. Something nationwide
will be horrendous. An you were right when you said: "The power grid
is the lynchpin." Once that grid goes down past a few days, people are
going to come unglued.
So now, I'm selling off some of my "Big Boy Toys" (like our ski boat,
our his-and-hers matched set of jet skis, my Army Air Corps and early Air
Force flight instrument collection, and my commemorative guns.) I'm spending
all that cash on getting prepared, big time. Example: Right
now, the Mrs. and I are getting our long term food stocks and heirloom garden
seeds squared away. I just recently got your Rawles
on Retreats and Relocation book, plus your Best
of the Blog book. They are both some Hotel
Sierra reference books. I tore through those books! Now the Mrs.
is reading them. And I just ordered your novel ["Patriots"],
too, and we can't wait to read it.
But the main reason I'm writing this is to say that just last week I decided
that I was being a freeloader, so I signed up for The Ten
Cent Challenge. I challenge everyone else out there reading this to do
it, too. Come on you clowns, if you think that SurvivalBlog ain't worth 10
cents a day, y'all are kidding yourself. Fact is, I'd be happy to pay ten times
that--a dollar a day--for what I learn on SurvivalBlog. Example: Just what
I learned about generators by itself saved me about $500, last month. (On Mr.
Rawles's advice, I bought a diesel engine low-RPM genset instead
of the "bargain" gasoline-powered high-RPM genset that I had originally
wanted to buy. It [the diesel generator] will last 2X or 3X longer [than the
gasoline-powered model.] Plus, until I had read through SurvivalBlog, I hadn't
even thought about common fuel for [the generator and] my [diesel] tractor
and my Dodge pickup, which is also a diesel. That's just one small example
of what I'm talking about. Knowledge is power, and knowledge prevents
us making expensive mistakes. Like I said, SurvivalBlog is
a treasure trove of knowledge and worth every freakin'
penny to me, and it should be to you, too. It is a disgrace that only 1% of
the SurvivalBlog readers have bought a subscription. For you that are freeloading,
shame on you. Quit freeloading, and pony up! - Gus in Alabama.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Letter Re: The Eastern Canada Gasoline Crisis »
Letter Re: From a USFS In-Holding in Colorado's High Country--Snowed-In!
Mr. Rawles:
I just wanted to send you a thank you note for your novel "Patriots",
your "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course and for SurvivalBlog.com.
We've been having a winter weather adventure, which I've chronicled in this
thread at The Claire Files. If I hadn't found SurvivalBlog.com some time
back in late 2005, it might have been
a very different story than the mainly humorous tale I was able to relate.
Catching up on some of your entries that I missed over time, I found one that
was particularly pertinent to our situation. On February 14, you did a post
titled "State and Federal Lands - Poor Choices for short term retreat
locales". The first item of concern that you stated was access, with the
following specific quote: "There is also no guarantee that once you get in
to public lands that you can get out. Many roads inside forest lands are not
maintained
in winter. Depending
on the latitude and elevation, this could mean getting truly "snowed in" for
the winter."
Our retreat is on private land at 8500' elevation, but is totally surrounded
by National Forest. Our only access is via non-maintained forest service roads.
These roads are never maintained, not just a case of no winter maintenance.
And snowed in we did get. Fortunately our larder was deep.
So I just wanted to let you know that I've gratefully renewed my annual subscription
to the Ten Cent Challenge. As I said, without SurvivalBlog.com, the
story might have had a very different outcome. Thanks, - Karen, aka
Coloradohermit
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Two Letters Re: Pondering Some Personal Consequences of Global Climate Change »
Letter Re: Supporting SurvivalBlog
On the Yahoo discussion
group survivalretreat, the other two moderators
and I recently posted a very boiled down and simple philosophy: “The
more who prepare, and the better they each prepare, the better off
we all are. We welcome people to join us as survivalists.” I
hope this is your attitude as a survivalist, and if you think about
it, wouldn’t this be an incredibly wise policy for any government
to take. It would make its citizenship stronger, less needy, and more
resilient to against any catastrophe or hard times. The best part is,
it’s free. This is merely information, advice, and encouragement
for people to ready themselves with some realistic advice as to how
to do so. Survivalblog.com, to a significant extent does this for all
of us through
the continued posting of and debate of ideas, for free. Advertisers
here make this financially possible, and offer the products and services
that allow you to expand and improve upon your preparations. I hope
you consider patronizing them first for this reason. I have.
Special thanks to James Rawles for the continuing level of quality
and fresh material on the site. Is there financial self-interest for
the advertisers? Of course there is. But don’t kid yourself about
them becoming rich off this. Survivalism is unfortunately a very small
market,
and thus we should all take special appreciation as to how this blog
site brings so many of us together internationally. I see that it is
now
been a year since I took the Ten
Cent Challenge , and is time for me
to renew. I encourage you to as well, as you are able.- Rourke
« Odds 'n Sods:<
