Day: March 31, 2011

Notes from JWR:

Notes from JWR: Until midnight on March 31st, Lulu.com is offering a 20% off sale, for any product. That includes the 2005-2010 SurvivalBlog Archive CD-ROM! So if you’ve been “thinking about it”, here is your chance to save $3.99. Order now! To get the 20% discount, enter coupon code “SPLISH305“, during checkout. — Today we present the final two entries for Round 33 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round 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 …


Traditional Womanly Arts for Austere Times by Sue of Suburbia

Sometimes I ponder what it means to be a woman in our society of hyper-consumption.  If you watch television or read today’s women’s magazines, you are led to believe that the activities most preferred by a woman are shopping, poisoning her nails, getting her hair yanked around in a salon, zapping packaged foods in the microwave, and ingesting a concoction of prescription drugs to stay sane through it all. I tried some of these things in the past.  Each time, I was left with an utterly unfulfilled feeling and thinking, “There has to be more to being a woman than …


Fully Ready But Not Fully Prepared, by Expat D. in Japan

Where We Were In Kogoshima, in the southern part of Japan, residents know that when the active Sakurajima volcano finally erupts with its full force, they will most likely be killed. Some of them even know that it will be the quaking and the toxic pyroclastic flows that kill them rather than flowing lava. Similarly, living just 15 miles from the heart of Tokyo, we have always been aware that Tokyo is past due for a major earthquake. When it hits, it will cause suffering on a scale that will make Kobe and Mexico City seem as if they got …


Letter Re: Free Homeschooling Curricula

Mr. Rawles, There were several letters recently concerning homeschooling.  I homeschool my four children ages 3-12.  I wanted to mention two web sites that offer free downloadable products on either a weekly or daily basis. CurrClick.com offers a free product every Monday.  You simply download the curricula from their site. The majority of offerings would be most appropriate for the elementary crowd.  We did a wonderful semester long study of rocks and geology a few years ago from material I downloaded from Currclick. HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com offers a free product every wee day (Monday- Friday).  They offer a wide range of homeschooling …


Letter Re: Seven Common TEOTWAWKI Misconceptions

Jim, The recent article by Brian T. regarding common TEOWAWKI misconceptions is largely true as relates to the bad boy bikers, drug addicts and such. He is particularly correct as relates to BOBs. Where will they go, and can they carry it? What will they do when and if they get there? He’s accurate with regard to traffic jams and all that surrounds that subject. What he has failed to address, however, is the broader definition of who the “golden hoards” actually are. They are actually your friends, family and unprepared next door neighbors and theirs, and theirs, and theirs. …


Economics and Investing:

Latched on to the Federal teat: A First in American History: 2011 Federal Aid Set to Overwhelm State General Funds. This is the master stroke of Federal statism. If the 50 states get more than half of their revenue from the Federal government, there is no way that they can forcefully insist on 10 Amendment rights. The U.S. Mint has set April 4th as the deadline for public comment on new metallic compositions for U.S. coins. Clearly, the days are numbered for U.S. 5 cent pieces (“Nickels”) that are 25% nickel and 75% copper. Stock up! Pierre M. mentioned this …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Deep Shallow Schumer Schemes: Schumer coordinates Democrat budget attack on GOP    o o o Nanny State Europa: EU to Ban Gas-Powered Cars in Cities by 2050. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Steve S. sent a link to this fun video: John Moses Browning Model 1911 — 100th Anniversary    o o o Yet another reason to relocate to the boonies, from this blog post: Farmstand Canceled Due to… the City of Oakland. A $2,500 conditional use permit, just to grow a big garden?    o o o Sam K. found a fascinating pair of …