Notes from JWR:

I’ve added several new bookmarks to my Links page. — Today is the last day in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are now offering free shipping on mixed case lots, as long as you order in increments of full cases! Get your order in by midnight, eastern time! — Today we present another entry for Round 27 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice …




The Palm Stick for Self-Defense, by Kent

The palm stick, sometimes called a Yawara stick, or Kubotan, is an excellent and highly effective tool for self-defense. The tactical folding knife and the concealed pistol typically dominate the self-defense culture, especially when weapons are discussed. However, the palm stick has several advantages and applications that firearms and knives cannot match. Typically a palm stick measure around six inches in length, and about a half inch in diameter. Six inches is a good length, in my opinion. This combines concealment with a length that is still practical for offensive moves. A half inch may be a tad skinny, but …




Letter Re: More About CO2 for Extending Food Storage Life

Hello, Thank you so much for your books and Internet work. I have been storing food using the method of dry ice fumigation with five gallon buckets and mylar bags [as described in “How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It”. and in the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course]. My family and I enjoy using brown rice quite a bit and I have read many articles explaining the oxidation of the fatty acids which is what causes the brown rice to have a short shelf life. What I can’t seem to find is an answer …




Letter Re: A Total Collapse of the Dollar?

James, Chris Wood, of CLSA and author of the Greed & Fear newsletter, was recently interviewed on CNBC and stated that the collapse of the Dollar would likely take place within five years. CNBC’s Dennis Kneale, however, asserts that the Dollar is “self-healing”, so that when the panic begins, “…suddenly people want to go into the Dollar, because the US Government is the most stable government on the planet”. I had to rewind, because I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. This is precisely why looking to mainstream news sources as reliable conduits of factual information is so dangerous. …




Economics and Investing:

J.D.D. sent this British newspaper article: Detroit family homes sell for just $10 CNN Money offers a baker’s dozen of articles about America’s fiscal disaster. (Thanks to S.M. for the link.) Straycat sent us this item: States Facing Financial Doomsday as Debts Mount SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate, George Gordon (“GG”), spotted this: New round of foreclosures threatens housing market My old friend Sandy mentioned this: Iceland, the Mouse that Roared. Odds ‘n Sods:




Odds ‘n Sods:

Richard S. liked this article on aquaculture: Dan Barber: How I fell in love with a fish.    o o o My brother Bruce (the well-known Sacred Geometry author) sent me a link to a YouTube video that has absolutely nothing to do with preparedness, but that is a lot of fun: The Ultimate Rube Goldberg Contraption. (Don’t forget that despite my rural locale, I’m still one of those semi-geeky Makezine guys that likes watching those Eepy Bird Experiments.)    o o o U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade. (Watch out folks: Hillary is at the helm …