Month: April 2009

Odds ‘n Sods:

Layoffs begin at ammo plant. This article illustrates the inherent boneheaded stupidity of central planning. This decision was made four years ago.But now, with both civilian and military demand for ammunition soaring, they are closing a plant. (A tip of the hat to Florida Guy, for the link.)    o o o California: High-Capacity Magazines in the Crosshairs! Senate Bill 776, sponsored by Democrat State Senator Loni Hancock, has been introduced in Sacramento. “The bill has been assigned to the Senate Public Safety Committee and could be heard on Tuesday, April 21 or Tuesday, April 28. Simply put, SB776 would …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Icelanders discovered that trading bits of paper isn’t a productive enterprise. A handful of guys, who fancied themselves as financial experts, were taking out tens of billions of dollars in short term loans from abroad. They were then re-lending this money to themselves and their friends to buy assets, such as soccer teams, cars, homes, etc. Since the entire world’s assets were rising; thanks to people of like mentality paying crazy prices for everything, the Icelanders appeared to be making money. One non-Icelandic fund manager said that its like, “You have a dog and I have a cat. We agree …


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 …


Notes from JWR:

This article about my book is causing a bit of a stir: “The Most Dangerous Novel In America”. Dangerous? Obviously, my politics and religious background didn’t match those of the journalist. OBTW, some of the follow-up comments at Michelle Malkin’s Hot Air blog were quite entertaining. I loved the one about casting gold bullets. — My #1 Son (Jonathan) was quoted briefly in a recent USAToday newspaper article on the growth of mainstream survivalism: Economic survivalists take root. Speaking of #1 Son, the SurvivalRealty spin-off site is growing rapidly, and becoming known as the best place to buy and sell …


Letter Re: Free GPS Topographical Map Software and Adjuncts

Jim, Maps are something I have a lot of fun with. I wrote up a blog post on free online mapping centered around topographical maps that if you haven’t already encountered these tools you might find it interesting. In a post at Gear Addicts, I cover how to acquire free topographical maps, as well as using the topo maps in conjuncture with programs like Google Earth, and NASA World Wind. Making a free and in some ways superior replacemnt for expensive software by National Geographic and Garmin. Regards, – Grant


Economics and Investing:

Laura H. sent this: In uncertain times, all that glisters is a gold standard Chauncey sent this Five Bailout Absurdities Items from The Economatrix: “Green Shoots” a Mirage in Economic Desert US Taxpayers’ Costs Likely to Rise After AIG-FP Staff Quit Wall Street Holds its Breath as 1st Quarter Results Come In GM Told to Prep for “Surgical Bankruptcy” HSBC Faces Crisis Over US Credit Cards Consumer Prices Drop Unexpectedly in March Swiss Bank UBS Cutting 7,500 More Jobs Singapore Devalues Its Fading Dollar Obama’s Economic Optimism Falls on Deaf Ears US to Reveal Results of Stress Tests on 19 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Cheryl sent us two items on the continuing big sales runs on guns, ammunition, reloading components,and magazines: The New US Arms Race: Americans stick to their guns as firearms sales soar and Guns And Ammo Availability Overview. JWR Adds: OBTW, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mr. Herman included a mention of my novel “Patriots” in his article.    o o o Reader Rob A. sent some more insanity from Nanny State Britannia: Family of father stabbed to death by three thugs is denied compensation… because he tried to fight back    o o o “Snow Hater” sent this: …



Note from JWR:

This is the last day to bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction.The high bid is now at $2,510. This auction ends at midnight (eastern time) tonight, April 15th. It is for a large mixed lot, which includes:: 1.) A Warrior Aid and Litter Kit, donated by Ready Made Resources. This is an advanced medic kit package that includes a Talon II 90C folding-handle collapsible litter, which normally retails for $560, just by itself. This truly a “full up” tactical trauma kit! This sophisticated medic kit normally retails for $1,500. 2.) A “be ready to barter” box of 26 full-capacity firearms …