Year: 2009

Odds ‘n Sods:

Hawaiian K. sent us the link to a video clip showing the Mexican Back-Country Improvised Method of Tire Bead Sealing. Don’t try this at home! (This method can leave un-burned explosive gasses inside your tire, not to mention remove your eyebrows in a flash, even if you try to be careful!)   o o o From Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) Guns: A Better Buy Than Stock    o o o Writing in The Washington Times, Ollie North asks: Who are dangerous ‘extremists’? (Thanks to KAF for the link.)    o o o Our Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent …



Notes from JWR:

If you have any favorite quotes that relate to survival, preparedness, faith, patriotism, Constitutional rights, or perhaps something on economics, then please e-mail it to me, and I’ll likely post them as Quotes of the Day. Thanks! — The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. is now at $650. This auction is for a large mixed lot, which includes: 1.) A Three-Color Desert Camo Interceptor OTV (Outer Tactical Vest) size XL only, and a spare Woodland camouflage outer shell, kindly donated by BulletProofME.com. These items have a combined retail value of $960! 2.) A vehicle detection system, which includes: …


Letter Re: Tidal Waves of Urban Refugees

Jim, I was stationed on the DMZ in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. One of the big concerns the US army has is all of the millions of refugees that will be on the roads going south, if the North Koreans were to invade. We would be moving heavy equipment, and needing to move it fast, and the roads would be very congested. The US and the ROK army now have an agreement, that the ROK army would be responsible for clearing the roads, and believe me, they will. The US does not want to be responsible because, without …


Letter Re: Why Survivalists Should Buy Local Organic Food

Mr. Rawles–please accept my apologies for replying so delinquently. I just found your “blog” and have to say it is quite good. Thanks for all your work. Though I will admit to being an organic gardener for 20 odd years now I would like to reply to a few things L.D.M. said against organic gardening and in “praise” of commercial/chemical agriculture. My reply is from a “survivalist” perspective. First..yes, American[-origin] natural gas is the basis for fertilizer not Middle Eastern oil. However…in a catastrophe of any type when you can’t get food how exactly are you planning on getting Inorganic …


Economics and Investing:

D.S. flagged this:Why There will be no other Bubble to Save us from this 40 Year Financial Bubble: From Manufacturing, Technology, and Financial Services. Real Estate Bubble. Drop in Corporate Tax Receipts D.S. also recommended an Op-Ed piece by Paul Krugman in The New York Times: Green Shoots and Glimmers Kern County, California unemployment jumps to 15.9 percent. (Thanks to JWP for the link.) Krys in Idaho sent us this article. US regulators close American Sterling Bank. Krys’s comment: “In case anyone’s counting, that’s an average of almost 1.5 banks closed every week so far this year. It is only …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Warning: Don’t exhale, folks! The new and improved Obama-era EPA has declared carbon dioxide a “greenhouse gas”. Next, I suppose they’ll declare dihydrogen monoxide “a powerful unregulated universal chemical solvent.”    o o o Reader KAF flagged this: A cure for [honeybee] colony collapse–New research has proposed both a concrete cause for bee colony collapse disorder, as well as a cure    o o o KAF also sent a link to the latest commentary by political pundit Victor Davis Hanson: President of the World–The globe is hearing a deeply pessimistic view of what America was and is.



Notes from JWR:

Wow! We are approaching eight million unique visits. Not bad for “an obscure niche blog.” Please keep spreading the word. Thanks! — 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 …


Preparing Your Family for “Interesting” Times: A Covenantal Christian Perspective, by Jim B.

Discerning believers have sensed a decisive change coming for several years. If history truly repeats itself, we are heading into a season of judgment and serious difficulty which may last beyond our current generation. Whether judgment and difficulties are reflected in the current economic crisis, ongoing terrorist attacks, unrighteous leaders or a host of other combined circumstances, many believe we are on the threshold of very perilous times (II Timothy 3). Our family ministry has done significant travel throughout the country over the past ten years, and we never fail to be in awe of the Great Shepherd’s faithfulness toward …


Letter Re: Canadian Gun Shows–Behind The Power Curve

James, Just sending this letter as a quick update to the situation with ammunition and “black guns” or defensive weapons in Canada. Contrary to what many people think, Canada does allow citizens to get licensed and own firearms of most types. Basically anything except full auto weapons unless you previously owned one years ago and were grandfathered after that particular portion of Nazi legislation was implemented. This last weekend I was fortunate to attend Canada’s largest gun show in western Canada located in Cow Town, Calgary, Alberta. This gun show is nothing compared to the big shows across many of …


Economics and Investing:

Craig W. recommended this Don McAlvany address, in MP3 format: The Global State of Emergency Made Local Reader G.G. sent this: Capital One sounds alert over surge in credit card loss rates D.S. flagged this: A Thought for Tax Day: The Real Fiscal Crisis Is Yet to Come. The numbers cited are staggering! Items from The Economatrix: A “Copper Standard” For The World’s Currency? “China has woken up. The West is a black hole with all this money being printed. The Chinese are buying raw materials because it is a much better way to use their $1.9 trillion of reserves.” …


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 …