Day: June 19, 2010

Note from JWR:

Just two days left! The special sale price for the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course will be discontinued on June 21st. So order yours, soon! — Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in …


Forming a Local Preparedness Mutual Assistance Group, by Mark in Oklahoma

So you are interested in forming a group of like minded preppers. Good ! Now what? First and foremost you have to understand forming a group is damned hard work and not a little frustrating at times. Probably not what you wanted to hear but I have helped formed a large mutual assistance group (MAG) and two formal Teams. What is the difference between the two? A MAG is a less formal organization and your starting point. I should point out that not all groups reach the level of a team which is fine. A team tends to be a …


Two Letters Re: Motorcycles and Motorcycling Skills

Jim, If anyone wants to learn the right way to ride a motorcycle, the best way, in my opinion, is to refer to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. I know in my state, if you get your learners permit, take the course and complete it successfully, you get a waiver and do not have to take the state road test to receive your motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license. Also, depending on your insurance company, you get up to 10% off your insurance premiums. – Sid, Near Niagara Falls Hi Jim, When it comes to Survivalists writing about motorcycles, either online …


Economics and Investing:

Eric Sprott: Gold Running in Short Supply. (Thanks to Todd for the link.) Sharp Shepherd sent us this: More Than 90 Banks Miss TARP Payments Items from The Economatrix: Gold is an Armageddon Hedge Uncertainty Restores Glitter to an Old Refuge, Gold How All Of Us Pay for The Derivatives Market (Caution: There is a bad word in the title…..) It’s The Ratios, Stupid (Why the US Will Default on its Debt) Wholesale Prices Fall 0.3 Percent in May Home Construction Sinks, Building Permits Down The Snowball Scenario Sinks Sovereigns World Bank Says China’s Economy Slowing


Odds ‘n Sods:

EMB suggested this discussion forum thread: My Emergency Communication Box (Ham radio)    o o o Trent H. flagged this article in an Australian newspaper: Our own extinction is forecast, but he’s going by dead reckoning    o o o The folks at Directive 21 (one of our advertisers) wrote to tell me that the recently unavailable Stainless Steel Berkey Water Filter systems are now back in stock, and back orders are being processed and shipped.    o o o The National Geographic Explorer special ‘Electronic Armageddon’ is going to be replayed this Saturday, 6/19 at 7:00 PM and on …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“America faces a new culture war. This is not the culture war of the 1990s. It is not a fight over guns, gays or abortion. Those old battles have been eclipsed by a new struggle between two competing visions of the country’s future. In one, America will continue to be an exceptional nation organized around the principles of free enterprise–limited government, a reliance on entrepreneurship and rewards determined by market forces. In the other, America will move toward European-style statism grounded in expanding bureaucracies, a managed economy and large-scale income redistribution. These visions are not reconcilable. We must choose.” – …