Year: 2010

Note from JWR:

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 #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 …


The Off-Grid Dream, by J.S.L.

I have endeavored to set my own off-grid plan into place. This is easier said than done. A machinist by trade, unemployed by government design, it is becoming more difficult to find the capital to go off-grid. Since late 2007 the job market in my area has collapsed. The only way to find employment is through a “temp” agency and the two jobs I have been lucky enough to get only lasted a few months each. What is worse is the fact that many employers are now engaging in discrimination against those of us that are unemployed, i.e. “unemployed need …


Letter Re: Pseudo-Currency: Items You Can Trade Like Cash Or Use Yourself if the Balloon Goes Up

Dear Mr. Rawles, I was very surprised to that there was no mention of fish hooks and other fishing tackle in the recent posts regarding trade items post-TEOTWAWKI. As with ammunition and seeds these highly compact items belong to a top tier of survival items, food procurement. When looking for the essentials, think about what the native Americans were willing to give up their land rights for, knives, guns, blankets etc. Yes luxuries are nice, but the tobacco smoking population will quickly get their priorities straight when Schumer hits the fan. – Grant in Michigan


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate (“G.G.”) sent this: Jim Grant Is Confident QE 2.0 Is Just Around The Corner. Grant’s thoughts on new Fed additions: “I think the first order of business will be to try once more to print enough dollars to make something happen in the U.S. economy.” Democrats and AARP want to make IRA enrollment automatic Items from The Economatrix: Eurozone: Portugal Debts Spark Panics Goldman Sachs Lifts Gold Forecast to $1,355 Dollar Slides After Greek Debt Auction Bolsters Confidence in Europe Stocks Sink On Weak Consumer Sentiments, Bank Earns Consumer Prices Dip for Third Straight Month China Reduces …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Richard S. sent us links to three videos of battlefield robotics developments: Petman, BigDog, and RHex.    o o o Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) flagged this:Alex Jones: Road Warrior Level Collapse is Imminent    o o o Whooping Cough Kills Five in California. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.)    o o o G.G. sent this: Homes lost to foreclosure on track for one million in 2010    o o o Robert M. recomended this New York Observer article (with a foul language warning): The New Doom. In it, a billionaaire confided: “We have a retreat that’s right on the …



Notes from JWR:

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 #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 …


Preparing to Prepare: Amending Your Garden Soil, by Windwillow

If you are a newbie prepper or a veteran gardener this article may raise a number of different questions. Are you counting on growing a garden to supplement your food storage program?  Good! Okay, you have your Survival Seed Bank heirloom seeds in storage.  Now what? Are you thinking that you have a large back yard that when the time comes you will sacrifice to turn it into a garden? Good use of your backyard, but let’s get it ready before you are desperate for the food. Are you going to rent or buy a tiller when the time comes? …


Letter Re: The ABA’s Projections for the U.S. Economy

Jim: Greetings and my Compliments. I have just returned from a training meeting my employer, USDA-Rural Development. It was presented by the American Bankers Association. Bottom line, the ABA is projecting the economy not to bottom out until late in 2014. With over 90 banks already closed (in 2010) and some 775 on the the "Troubled" list, things do not look good. The troubled list has a projected 70 percent failure rate. Keep up the good work. We have a long way to go. May God Bless and keep you and your family. – Lame Wolf


Letter Re: Observations on a Gunfight in Montana

Jim: Take a look at a one-minute a video of a routine nighttime DUI stop in Hamilton, Montana that turned ugly. Listen for the first “click” as the suspect attempts to fire his .41 Magnum revolver about two inches from the officer’s nose. The “click” is the hammer dropping on an expended round in the cylinder. The second round was live, but Officer Jessop had by then recovered and made a strategic move to the rear of the vehicle, buying more time and a much more advantageous position for a firefight. He tossed his flashlight so he could use both …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Bill R. sent this: Sin Taxes for 2009 at all time high. OBTW, since when is owning a gun a “sin”? G.G. forwarded a link to a piece in The Economist: Gold: Store of value. Also from G.G.: States Dodge Defaults as California May Cut Worker Pay Items from The Economatrix: The Big Crash–America Plunges Into Depression for Real Gold Keeps Rising as Panicky Investors Look for Security Harry Schultz on the Power Elite, Free Markets, The Internet, and Why Gold Is Going Much Higher China Cuts Rare Earth Export Quota 72%, May Spark Trade Dispute With U.S. Inflationville …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sean recommended an interesting piece about how to gain privacy while flying: fly with a gun. That is a very clever approach. Note that he mentioned that you can simply carry a stripped AR-15 lower receiver in your airline-approved locking case. That is brilliant. Also note that he recommended the Abloy “Puck” padlock, that was previously mentioned in SurvivalBlog.    o o o M.O.B. suggested this item: In Pictures: Shots fired at police in third night of violence in Belfast.    o o o Everlasting Seeds has a 15% off special in progress, just for SurvivalBlog readers. This special offer …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable, when using our forces we must seem inactive, when we are near, we must make the enemy believe that we are away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is superior in strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If …


Note from JWR:

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 #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 …


Getting My Lists Together, by Old Dog in Wisconsin

A Life Altering Moment There are times in one’s life when everything changes.  For me it was it was in early May, just two months ago.   My wife and I were visiting my parents in Florida, and taking the opportunity to check out places where we thought we would like to retire in a few years.  We have been traveling to the west coast of Florida from Wisconsin for over 20 years and were trying to finalize the community we would choose.  As I am still employed, life is basically good. After another round of exploring we chose to escape …