SurvivalBlog Staff Biographies

Senior Editor: James Wesley, Rawles (JWR)

I’m a survivalist author and lecturer. I’m the founder and editor of era, and that mind set just never wore off.

I have authored several best selling nonfiction and fiction survivalists books. My expertise is primarily in retreat security, food storage, firearms, communications, first aid, and off-grid power systems. I have a B.A. degree from San Jose State University with minor degrees in military science, history, and military history. I served as  a U.S. Army Intelligence Corps officer and held a Top Secret security clearance with at Fort Greeley, Alaska. Before resigning my commission as a Captain, I worked numerous live intelligence gathering and analysis missions overseas at the tactical and strategic levels.

SurvivalBlog has more than 320,000 unique visitors per week, and it is considered the Internet’s premier source of information on family preparedness and survival topics.

I am of primarily English ancestry, a Christian, and hold to . I am saved by God’s Grace and Christ’s blood, and not ashamed to say so!

My view of history is of the . My view of economics is of the . Politically, I am a . These outlooks have shaped my views on preparedness.

I’ve spent the past 20 years primarily as a journalist and technical writer. During that time I wrote a full length survivalist novel, titled “.” I later authored several sequels to that novel, one of which reached #3 on the New York Times bestsellers list. I also wrote the very popular non-fiction book . I’m presently working under contract on a pair of sequels in the “Patriots” series, under contract to E.P. Dutton. I’m concurrently writing a non-fiction book on guns and other tools for survival for E.P. Dutton’s Penguin Books division.

I started using the Internet in the late 1980s, before most Americans had even heard of it. I began posting about survival topics to Usenet newsgroups (such as misc.investing, rec.guns, and alt.survivalism) in the early 1990s.

In 1987, I married The Memsahib. She passed away in 2009 and is greatly missed.

Through God’s tremendous providence, I remarried in late 2010. My new wife is “Avalanche Lily”.

We our children. We live at the church.

As part of our charitable works, we support the in rural Zambia. We also send “care packages” to troops deployed overseas through , and we support . I highly recommend all of these charities.

I was on the staff of Defense Electronics magazine for four years. I researched, wrote, and edited more than 60 feature-length technical magazine articles on a wide range of high technology subjects including component technologies, computer hardware and software, foreign military organizations and equipment, high technology terrorism, aircraft, air defense, missile guidance, digital flight controls, intelligence gathering and analysis, antisubmarine warfare, satellites, and communications equipment. I concurrently held the position of Managing Editor of The International Countermeasures Handbook and The Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C³I) Handbook. I’ve also written for Defense Computing magazine. I’ve also worked for several high technology companies.

I was commissioned as an Army Intelligence Officer–35A(5M)–in 1984. I specialized in signals intelligence and electronic warfare. Other than my and a couple of stints of temporary active duty (TDY), I spent my commissioned time as a reserve officer, with the 519th 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势. (It was later re-designated Co. D of the 373rd signals intelligence gathering and analysis missions in West Germany.

I resigned my commission when Bill Clinton was first sworn into office as President. I resigned because I didn’t want to serve under him as Commander in Chief. At the time I was a Captain, and my six year obligation to the Army had already lapsed.

Memberships (Past and Present):
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)
(Gentiles can join, too!)
(I’m Member #133)

In SurvivalBlog, my posts are often identified by my initials, “JWR“.

Hugh J. Latimer (HJL)

For those who are curious, his pen name was chosen to honor Hugh Latimer (1487-1555), a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555 under Queen Mary he was burned at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.

Here are a few details about Hugh:

• Has three college degrees (Electrical Engineering, Metallurgy, and Education), including one Master’s Degree.
• Worked as a Technical Editor for five international technical journals, where he edited contributed articles as well as wrote more than 100 feature articles.
• Holds a gunsmithing certificate from the Colorado School of Trades.
• Certified as a firefighter.
• Certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT.)
• An Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster.
• A Libertarian, conservative Christian who attends regularly with two congregations.
• Worked for a major astronautics company where he did engineering work on the Titan IV missile program and several NASA programs. (Yes, he really is a Rocket Scientist.)
• Has several years of experience in RF, digital, and analog circuit design for both rocket flight hardware and ground support hardware. He has also designed custom magnetics for the space program.
• Worked as a Technical Editor at a national laboratory.
• Ran his own photography and graphics design business.
• Created and managed his own rural high speed Internet access company, where he also developed solar-powered remote relay communications sites.
• Has done web site design using native HTML and has used a variety CMS software.
• Formerly worked at a high school teaching Honors Physics. He also wrote the curriculum for several science courses.
• A former Unix Administrator and both a TCP/IP and Unix Instructor.
• Many years of experience as a system manager for 14 different operating systems.
• Computer system security expert.
• Lives in a small town.
• He was the owner-builder of four 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势s, including a large log 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势, and one that is geothermally heated.
• His family gardens, cans their own food, raise chickens, make candles, and bind their own books.
• He and his wife have 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势schooled their children.

Pat Cascio – Senior Field Gear Editor:

Pat Cascio has been a gun and knife writer for more than 18 years. He has written for monthly issues of American Survival Guide, Handguns, Gun World, American Handgunner, as well as annual publications for Guns, American Handgunner, Guns & Ammo, and Knives Illustrated. He has also that are currently being produced. Pat spent many years a private investigator and police officer. He is a former chief of police in a small American town. He also did a stint in Rhodesia with British South African Police (BSAP), at the height of Rhodesia’s Bush War. He has spent more than 35 years actively in the martial arts, and holds Black Belt rank in five different styles of martial arts, with a 6th Degree Black Belt in one art. He also also spent three years working for the late, and legendary, Col. Rex Applegate, who taught him a lot about knife fighting and knife design.

Pat summarizes his product review philosophy: “I don’t pull any punches in my Test and Evaluation, and if a gun or knife isn’t up to my expectations – you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 simply won’t be reading about it. I don’t waste my time writing about junk guns or knives or any tools, for that matter. I plan to write gun and knife articles for Survivalblog on a fairly regular basis. If you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 have any questions, please e-mail SurvivalBlog, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势, if I have an answer. Please don’t send questions about what is the best gun, or best caliber to use for self-defense, since there is no “best”. It all comes down to shot placement. People have been stopped dead in their tracks with a lowly .22 LR, and others have stood after taking several hits for a .44 Magnum. So, there is no magic bullet or perfect gun. Any gun or caliber is a compromise.”

E-mail: fieldgeareditor “at” survivalblog “dot” com

Avalanche Lily (Mrs. Rawles):

By God’s providence, there was a strong response to my late wife Linda’s July 2009 Bucket List post. One of the responses came from a lovely you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势ng widow. She is a committed Christian, a 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势schooling mom, and very outdoorsy. (She is a gardener, a target shooter, and enjoys hiking and kayaking.) In SurvivalBlog posts, my new bride is known as Avalanche Lily. She chimes in on various blog topics, and she edits articles. It was abundantly clear that it was God’s hand that put us together. We both stand amazed at the foresight and selflessness of my late wife (“The Memsahib”) in writing the post that was instrumental in bringing us together. Avalanche Lily is an amazingly energetic lady, and I’m thrilled to have her as my wife and as co-editor of SurvivalBlog.  God is so wonderfully provident, and we feel tremendously blessed. You can e-mail Avalanche Lily with questions or comments.

Sarah Latimer (Mrs. Latimer):

Sarah Latimer (a pen name) is the wife of Hugh Latimer, Survival Blog’s Managing Editor. Since he assumed this position at the beginning of 2014, she has assisted him in final edits, as she is his help-meet in life and the two are rarely found far apart. She and Hugh have 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势schooled their own children as well as helped others educate theirs. They have several grandchildren and five adult children, with several choosing to live and work based at their 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势stead with them.

Sarah is active in growing and managing their family’s food sources and stores as well as in many 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势steading functions, including raising chickens and making cheese, candles, hygiene, and healthcare products, which she makes at least partially from 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势grown or locally-sourced material. Sarah’s father was part Indian and worked as a cowboy in his you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势th, though he grew to work in medicine. Though she loved her mother, who has passed on, she was a “Daddy’s girl” and hunted, fished, camped, rode horses, and processed deer, even making moccasins from the time she was in early grade school. She also learned basic archery and knife-throwing as well as water skiing and other sports in those same early years. She has been involved in fashion and cosmetics, as well as the arts, but she is happiest outside in nature. She is involved in her community, speaks to women’s groups, and cares for her 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 and family.

Sarah’s professional background is in technology and services marketing and communications, where she held senior management positions, producing large-scale events, media and investor/analyst tours, and marketing material as well as writing speeches and articles and serving as a spokesperson to the media and investment community on behalf of publicly-held corporations until taking early retirement more than fifteen years ago to focus on “500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势”. She is passionate about her faith, family, and friends. She says, “I am honored to be a part of SurvivalBlog and the work this community of editors and contributors do to prepare families of one or many for what the future may hold.” She regularly contributes articles targeted particularly for the women among SurvivalBlog readers.

#1 Son:

JWR’s eldest son is a 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势schooled you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势ng man who loves to hike, hunt, and target shoot. He manages , our first spin-off web site.

#2 Son:

JWR’s second son is a 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势schooled you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势ng man who enjoys the outdoors, but is also fascinated by technology. He creates and markets the SurvivalBlog archives.

Our Domestic Correspondents and Editors:

Michael Z. Williamson – Editor at Large:

Mike Williamson is a well-known , a , and occasional historical re-enactor. Since his interests often cross-over into SurvivalBlog territory, he has been a frequent contributor to SurvivalBlog, since 2006. His extensive practical and tactical experience–including visits to “The Big Sandbox”–give him a unique insight into preparedness topics. .

Cynthia J. Koelker, MD – Medical Editor:

Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker is the author of the book , which explains how to treat over 30 common medical conditions economically, and includes dozens of sections on treating you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势rself.  She also hosts the popular medical prepping blog at . She recently authored the book , for laymen.

L.K.O. – Central Rockies Regional Editor:

L.K.O. lives in the high Rockies of Colorado. He has a solid background in electronics and software as a vocation, and back country backpacking as his avocation. He has keen interest in photovoltaic power systems, ham radio, and many other technologies.

The Economatrix:

SurvivalBlog’s volunteer Economic Editor, the trustworthy Cheryl N. lives in an un-named Southeastern state.

Mr. Econocobas

He is a sales engineer for a rep firm in the Midwest in the semiconductor industry and has a B.S. in Business from a major Big Ten University, but most of what he learned in economics has come from the school of hard knocks. Having essentially lived on his own since the age of 16, he grew up pretty fast. He took an early interest in politics, but that interest only soon lead to an internal questioning of what the real motives were behind the “Right” and “Left” political parties in America and the world. That awakening to the false “right and left” paradigm drove him to question everything conventional he had been told. Eventually that lead him into one of his real passions– economics. He started a website in 2011, with the main goal to help educate as many of his friends and family as he could about the real economy and how it works.

Professor Preponomics

Professor Preponomics has been an avid and enthusiastic follower of the Survival Blog for several years. She is delighted to join the SB team as a contributor, lives to learn, and to share her love of learning with others. She owns a company based in a major southeastern metropolitan city, commuting from her residence in a rural area. Professor “Prep” earned her degrees in economics and later in sociology. In addition to her interest in these disciplines, Professor “Prep” is as well a technical writer with experience in peer-reviewed publication. She and her beloved husband of 30 years are the parents of two fine sons, believe in quality 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势school education, are libertarian-leaning followers of Christ and live a “preparedness lifetstyle” in a charming mountain community located in an undisclosed southern state where they maintain a robust garden and attend their livestock. Her hobbies include quilting, historic alternative photo processes and astronomy.

Inyokern:

SurvivalBlog’s volunteer western editor. He has a broad background in engineering, technical editing, off-grid power, cellular telephony, intentional communities, local agriculture, and biotechnology.

George Gordon (“GG”)

George Gordon is the nom de plume of an American businessman who closely follows economic developments and hence “is getting more and more worried.” His pen name is is an homage to George Gordon Lord Byron, the British poet who was famously described as “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”

PPPP:

The Pioche Professional Polymer Pistolero (PPPP). The pseudonym for a SurvivalBlog correspondent who was an instructor at a well-known firearms training academy.

Our Book Review Editors:

For the privacy of the editors, we disclose neither the names nor the street addresses of our 19 volunteer book review editors. Be advised that our book review editors are all volunteers and that most of them have full time employment in other fields, so their reviews are written only when they have time available. They have been given the option of refraining from writing reviews of the books that they dislike, with the proviso: “Sometime the kindest thing that you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 can say about a book is nothing at all.”

Publishers and self-published authors should send review copies directly to the following addresses:

Farming, Ranching and Apiary Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 280
Briggs, TX 78608

Gardening, Aquaponics and Permaculture Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 408
Pomeroy, WA 99347

Food Storage Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 781612
San Antonio, TX 78278

Cooking and Recipe Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 140602
Garden City, ID 83714-0602

Economics and Investing Book Review Editor
Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 44
Hollidaysburg, PA  16648

Libertarian Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 177
Newcastle, Wyoming 82701

Firearms, Optics, and Retreat Security Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 264
Marengo IA 52301

Medical, Health and Wellness Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 101
Germantown, Ohio 45327

Outdoor Survival Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 378
McLouth, KS 66054

History Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
Boxholder 431 Kera Drive
Mountain View AR 72560-8761

Biography Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 10
Ponce de Leon, MO 65728

Miltary Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
223 West Bulldog Blvd.
Box 556
Provo, UT  84604

Amateur Radio Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 118223
Carrollton, TX  75011

Computing Technology and Encryption Book Review Editor

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 970
Fortuna CA 95540

We have two Fiction Book Review Editors. Publishers should select any of the following addresses at random:

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 872
Bethel, Alaska 99559

Book Review Editor
P.O. Box 659
Warner, NH 03278

Note: For e-book reviews, you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 can e-mail me a PDF of the book, or a link to the book’s web address. I will then forward it to the appropriate book review editor.

Our Foreign Correspondents:

“The Werewolf” in Brazil:

“The Werewolf”  lives outside a small town in rural Brazil. He has a full-time “day” job, five children, and a lovely wife. His 500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势 is his ranch, where he raises pigs, chickens, geese, tilapia (via fish farming), and a variety of crops geared toward self-sufficiency including beans, rice, and corn.

Giorgio in Italy:

Giorgio in Italy. He describes himself: “I am 40 years old and lucky enough to be married to a beautiful and intelligent soul mate who is an Italian professoressa, fluent in five languages. We have been married eight years, with, alas, no children. We live 8-to-9 months a year in northern Italy, an hour from Milan, with the rest of our time spent in the States or traveling. Having traveled and, periodically, worked in much of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, we have had some experience in dealing with diverse cultures and getting the “other guy’s” perspective. My degree is in Aviation, but I no longer work as a pilot. My skill set is varied and, though by no means what I would consider expert, competent in survival-relevant subjects including hunting, shooting, security, self-defense, mechanics, fitness and wilderness survival.”

“SurvivalistSam” in New Zealand:

“SurvivalistSam” is a 19 year-old survivalist living on New Zealand’s South Island.

Note: Our foreign correspondents kindly send us their e-mails without any compensation other than the occasional free book, and our doing some shopping for them in the States. I’d appreciate reading the insights of folks who have survived the hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, secessionist turmoil in Kashmir, convoy IED attacks in Iraq, the civil war in Libya, or kidnappings in Colombia. Please e-mail you500彩票幸运快三怎么看走势r letters here.

We are currently seeking other foreign correspondents.  Letters from residents unstable countries would be great, but we will settle for mundane.  (We can learn just as much from the insights of a sheep rancher in Australia’s Outback as we can from someone living in war-torn Ethiopia.)

Some Other Friends — See The Profiles:

Biographies of several of my friends and acquaintances are included in the Retreat Owner Profiles.

Contact:

You can e-mail Jim and Avalanche Lily here. Note that because of the high volume of e-mail (200+ daily!), we cannot always respond personally.