Year: 2010

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Low Pension Return May Soak New York Taxpayers Two People Sign Up for Obamacare in New Jersey Investors Have Withdrawn a Staggering $33.12 Billion from Mutual Funds in 2010 …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


Note from JWR:

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.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Running a TEOTWAWKI Training Weekend, by Skynome

First, a little bit of background. In August of 2009 a co-worker gave my husband the novel “Patriots“, he started to read it and told me that I would enjoy it, my response? “Pssh! It looks like more conspiracy theorist paranoia, no thank you” Then in November of 2009 my husband received “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” from a friend. I was bored, felt like reading, and saw it sitting on our coffee table so I started reading. A few hours later I put the finished book down and then immediately picked up …


Letter Re: Even Tony Robbins is Warning that an Economic Collapse is Coming

Dear James Wesley: The following was recently posted in The Economic Collapse Blog: “It seems like almost everyone is warning of a coming economic collapse these days. Do you remember Tony Robbins? He is probably the world’s best known “motivational speaker” and his infomercials dominated late night television during the 1980s and 1990s. He was always urging all of us to “unleash the power within” and to take charge of our lives. Well guess what? Now Tony Robbins is warning that an economic collapse is coming. In fact, he has issued a special video warning about what he believes is …


Four Letters Re: Community Crisis Planning for Societal Collapse

I read the article on Community Crisis Planning for Societal Collapse, by J.I.R. and was reminded by an incident that was related to me by several individuals involved, discussed in the local papers, and is well known . In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina, the State of Illinois sent a convoy of trucks and equipment down to help the citizens in New Orleans. This convoy consisted of dump trucks and low-boys carrying backhoes, bulldozers, boats, generators, etc. The convoy also had a half dozen or so tanker trucks full of fuel. The boats were to be used for search and …


Economics and Investing:

J. in The East suggested: Rethinking Gold: What if It Isn’t a Commodity After All? EMB sent us this from the Calculated Risk blog: Unofficial Problem Bank List increases to 817 institutions. G.G. sent this: 15 Signs the U.S. Housing Market is Headed for Complete and Total Collapse. Items from The Economatrix: Jobless Rate Drops in 18 States, Rises in 14 Gasoline Prices Should Fall After Labor Day Stocks Slide as Investors Continue Sell-off Fidelity: 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals, Loans Up Investors Defensive With Data in Focus Return of the Great Bond Conspiracy World Stocks Slide on Economic Worries This Economy …


Inflation Watch:

News from England: Interest rates ‘may reach 8% by 2012’ adding £900 to the average mortgage as economists warn of need to curb ‘runaway inflation’. (Our thanks to Jean S. for the link.) Doug D. wrote to report: “I found a Costco receipt from three months ago, so decided to compare prices on similar items. What I found was shocking: + 5.7% – Bounty Paper Towel. Reduced from 968 sq ft to 915. + 8.2% – Charmin Toilet Paper. Reduced from 937 sq ft to 866. + 6.6% – Frozen Blueberries + 6.9% – Batteries, AA – 2.5% – Batteries, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Matt R. sent us this: Peak oil alarm revealed by secret official talks.    o o o C.P. forwarded this report from China about a traffic snarl that has lasted nine days: Worst traffic jam ever? Gridlock spans 60 miles.    o o o Free Land: Build Your Homestead Without the Debt. (Thanks to Damon for the link.)