Notes from JWR:

Warning! Today’s economic news (see below) will exceed your recommended daily allowance of Doom und Gloom. — Today we present another entry for Round 30 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 #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) …




The Case for the Baker’s Dozen Infantry Squad, by Imperial Grunt

“The Infantry’s primary role is close combat, which may occur in any type of mission, in any theater, or environment. Characterized by extreme violence and physiological shock, close combat is callous and unforgiving. Its dimensions are measured in minutes and meters, and its consequences are final. Close combat stresses every aspect of the physical, mental, and spiritual features of the human dimension. To this end, Infantrymen are specially selected, trained and led.” – US Army FM 3-21.8 (7-8) The foregoing excerpt provides the best initial explanation involving realistic concerns and expectations during active ground combat. God’s providence, good training and personal …




Six Letters Re: Community Crisis Planning for Societal Collapse

Jim, As the author of the article being discussed, I would like to address the concerns expressed by “Rocky in the Midwest” This is a good example of the kind of reactions you will undoubtedly run into if you attempt to confiscate someone’s property. He is exactly right and justified in being indignant. He has worked hard and accumulated his property lawfully and has every right to use it as he wishes. Morals aside, confiscating privately owned property not only causes anger and resentment, it’s just a bad idea on many levels. Doing so will destroy your local economy. I …




Economics and Investing:

Economy Caught in Depression, Not Recession: Rosenberg. (Sent by several SurvivalBlog readers.) Morgan Stanley Says Government Defaults Inevitable B.B. sent this: Foreclosure Study Shows Dramatic Value Drop Trent H. forwarded this must-read article: “Enron accounting” Has Bankrupted America; U.S. Deficit Really $202 Trillion Kotlikoff Says SIG flagged this: Hussman Funds – Weekly Market Comment: Why Quantitative Easing is Likely to Trigger a Collapse of the U.S. Dollar Items from The Economatrix: Low Pension Return May Soak New York Taxpayers Two People Sign Up for Obamacare in New Jersey Investors Have Withdrawn a Staggering $33.12 Billion from Mutual Funds in 2010 …




Inflation Watch:

Several readers sent this:news item: What’s the Beef? Food-Inflation Fears G.G. sent this: How Hyperinflation Will Happen. Flavio sent this linkio: Mortgage Interest Rates May Hit 14 Percent Within Two Years. Flavio’s comment: Anybody who has a mortgage with a variable rate or which must be refinanced at a later point before it is paid off needs to get out of that type of loan and into a fixed rate loan if at all possible. Or you had better dig through your loan paperwork and find out what the cap on the interest rate is, because there is a good …




Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this news item: American abducted into Mexico. Here is a key quote: “U.S. authorities did not contact their Mexican counterparts because they did not know whether they were corrupted or connected to the girl’s captors, Gonzalez said.”    o o o Several readers sent this EPA Considering Ban on Traditional (Lead Core) Ammunition. Please leave a comment during the public comment period. (If this ban goes through, price of ammunition will skyrocket!)    o o o H.L. wrote to alert us of the following posted by the CMP Office: “M14 KITS NOW …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We won’t take a dime if we ain’t earned it When it comes to weight brother we pull our own If it’s our backwoods way of livin’ you’re concerned with You can leave us alone We’re about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere Way out here, way out here Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun And you might meet ’em both if you show up here not welcome son ” – Josh Thompson, from the lyrics to his song: Way Out Here