Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 22 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: Two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 22 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for …




Cooper’s Color Codes and Bugging Out Before the SHTF, by H.I.C.

Colonel Jeff Cooper once wrote that he was born in another country. Born and raised in the US before the Great Depression, the country of his youth was no longer. It had been hijacked by pointy headed socialists with academic degrees and not a trace of common sense. At 50 years of age I not only agree, but maintain that the “New America” based upon a globalized economy, Federalized powers, and an Urban-centered society is dying. Our great country is dying and our great cities will burn in the funeral pyre. Most Americans know that survival in our great cities, …




Letter Re: Highly Productive Home Gardens

JWR: My name is Tom Johns. I just read a letter in your blog that mentioned my company; Territorial Seed Company (TSC). With regards to your reader’s comment about “with the change in management” concerning Territorial Seed Company, he implied that there has been a recent change. The facts are that my wife Julie and I purchased Territorial from Steve in 1985. Steve founded Territorial in 1979, and operated TSC for five years, and Julie and I have had the company for 25 years now. Also, the reader mentioned that we are decreasing the amount of Open Pollinated or Heirloom …




Letter Re: Free GPS Topographical Map Software and Adjuncts

JWR, I read the letter from Grant regarding free topographic maps and I have an even easier method [if you don’t need to download data into a GPS receiver.] You can go to the USGS web site and use the GoogleMap API to find the area that you want a map of. Once you find the area, just click the “MARK POINTS” Radio button and click on the map. The marker that shows up will have the option of ordering paper copies of the map for $6 or free download. You can download your standard 7.5 minute topographic map in …




Economics and Investing:

From G.G.: Brace For Hyper-Inflation Spotted in the Drudge Report news links: Magazine Ad Pages Decline Almost 26% in First Quarter G.G. also sent a link to yesterday’s Dilbert cartoon strip. G.G.’s comment: Dilbert is channeling [economist Gerald] Celente. Items from The Economatrix: How Consumers Can Take Smart Advantage of Falling Prices Fed Finds Faint Signs Economy Starting to Level Off Ron Paul: Audit the Fed Art Market Crashes 401(k) Losses Devastate Retirees Glamour Dims as Hecklers Hit Auto Shows Gasoline Expected to Remain Cheap this Summer Food Auctions Thrive During Recession General Growth, 2nd Largest Mall Owner, Fails Historic …




Odds ‘n Sods:

Cheryl sent this: It’s Possible: Imagine No Phone, Food, Fuel    o o o Larry W. notes: Montana’s Governor has now signed HB 246 the “Made in Montana” exemption law. It is pretty cool how this law classifies “sound suppressors” as mere “accessories.” Presumably, after October 1, 2009, this mean there will be no Federal $200 transfer tax applicable on a Montana-made sound suppressor “accessory” unless or until it is transferred out of Montana!    o o o Florida Guy sent this from The Wall Street Journal: Gun and Ammo Sales are Shooting Up




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The wavelike movement affecting the economic system, the recurrence of periods of boom which are followed by periods of depression, is the unavoidable outcome of the attempts, repeated again and again, to lower the gross market rate of interest by means of credit expansion. There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved." – Ludwig von Mises, Human …