Notes from JWR:

Today is the “Patriots” Book Bomb Day!!! If you have a blog, then please mention this one-day event, and if not, then please send a brief e-mail to friends and relatives on your e-mail list, today, to let folks know about “Patriots: A Novel Survival in the Coming Collapse”. The new edition features both an index and a glossary. This is the day to place an order. Please consider buying any copies for birthday and Christmas gifts early. This new edition of “Patriots”. is priced at just $10.17. UPDATE: When I last checked, it was ranked #7 on Amazon! Many, …




Backpackers of the Apocalypse: Selecting and Ultra-Lighting Your Bug-Out Bag, by John the Midwestern Hiker

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to get out of Dodge, a decent respect for the integrity of one’s spine demands that every item in your bug-out bag be submitted to a candid evaluation. Forgive me for cheekily paraphrasing the Declaration of Independence, but it does make a point that every preparedness minded individual needs to consider: if and when you need to get out fast with only the items you can carry on your back, what are you going to take, and what are you going to carry it in? The first major consideration that …




Letter Re: Knob Creek Report on Ammunition, Magazines, and Parts

Jim, I just got back from attending the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot near Fort Knox, Kentucky. I have never seen the ammo situation as bad there as it was on April 3rd to April 5th. I took four other people that have never been there and told them that they would be able to satisfy their needs at this show over any other. Boy, was I wrong! Supply on certain items was either non existent or had decreased dramatically. Several nationwide ammo dealers didn’t even show up and I have seen them there for 10 consecutive years. 9mm +P+ …




Economics and Investing:

Laura H. suggested this Wall Street Journal piece: From Bubble to Depression?, by Steven Gjerstad and Vernon L. Smith Kevin A. sent us this: Geithner’s Stress Test “A Complete Sham,” Former Federal Bank Regulator Says Items from The Economatrix: West Must Deal with $600 Trillion in Derivatives Bernanke’s Financial Rescue Plan: The Growing Prospect of a US Default. Here are two keyquotes: “It is impossible to know what the long-term effects of Bernanke’s excessive spending will be, but his plan has the potential to trigger hyperinflation or spark a run on the dollar.”, and: “The recent 22 percent uptick in …




Odds ‘n Sods:

Italy quake toll rises amid hunt for victims    o o o Michael H. suggested stockpiliing some candy, as a small supplement to a family food storage program–just as a bit of psychological first aid. (In my experience, hard candy such as lemon drops have the best storage life.)    o o o Cheryl (the Economatrix) recommended this article: Survivalists 2.0: Regular people get ready for the worst