Year: 2011

Letter Re: The Endless “One Gun” Internet Debates

Jim, I understand and agree with your position regarding the “One Gun” debate. I have no desire to challenge or question yesterday’s article on the topic. I do have a question on your thoughts about the new Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. What is your opinion regarding the concept behind this type of gun? I know they are marketing this as the “the gun to have if you can only have one” and I am not asking about that aspect of it. I see this gun as being versatile and an asset to anyone who has small arsenal. Do you think …


Economics and Investing:

The ultimate tangible? Currency Devaluation in Belarus Causes a Run on Toilet Paper (Thanks to G.P. for the link.) Housing Apocalypse Tomorrow – 675,000 homes in foreclosure have made no payment in over two years. Consumer spending, income drop as inflation accelerates. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Gas Tanks Are Draining Family Budgets Rising Consumer Confidence Lifts Stocks April Consumer Spending Shows Weak Gain Nine Ways That The World Has Gotten Even Crazier in May 50 Things Every American Should Know About the Collapse of the Economy Glut of Foreclosed Homes Threaten Market US Worse …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Rachel F. mentioned an interesting video about a couple that lives very close to the land.    o o o Congressman Ron Paul: The Last Nail – Floor Speech (May 25, 2011). The Defense Authorization Act or H.R. 1540, aka” The Forever War Act”, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives May 26th with a vote of 322 to 96.    o o o U.S. to propose mandatory vehicle ‘black boxes’. I hadn’t heard that most vehicles already had post-crash decelleration event data recorders (EDRs), and that for several years the Lexus brand cars have recorded pre-carsh events. (Presumably …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-5 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Preparing Kids for Disasters, by J.B. in Montana

Consider this possible scenario: Let’s imagine for a moment that nuclear fallout or a tornado is approaching your home. If you said to your child, “Stop what you are doing- go to the basement right now!” – would he obey without question or hesitation? Would he even pay attention to your voice if he were deeply involved in a video game or a text message? Would he whine “WHYYYYY? Do I HAAAAVE to? It’s not faaaair. Bubba got to play longer than meeeeee!” Would your daughter pout, glare at you, and sulk if she had planned to go to a …


Letter Re: The Endless “One Gun” Internet Debates

JWR, First, a big thanks for all you do to educate and enlighten us! My day is not complete until I have had my SurvivalBlog fix (one of my good habits!).   I whole-heartedly support your gun is a tool analogy, and that having just one gun is like having just one tool in the box. Where we would differ is in how to build a suitable battery of firearms to fill most needs – much like a plumber’s tool box will look different from a auto mechanic’s. Under the cover of YMMV, those of you who have escaped to …


Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff: “You are going to see riots in the streets”. (Thanks to Bob G. for the link.) Fed Gave Banks Crisis Gains on $80 Billion Secretive Loans as Low as 0.01%. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) C.D.V. forwarded this item: Foreclosure sales slow, but remain very high Huge backlog of distressed properties means any housing recovery is a long way away. Here is a brief quote: “Sales of homes in some stage of foreclosure declined in the first three months of the year, but they still accounted for 28 percent of all home sales — a share …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. flagged this: The Most Dangerous Cities in America. (All of them are nowhere near the American Redoubt.)    o o o 45 Seconds: Memoirs of a Joplin ER Doctor from May 22, 2011    o o o Loyal content contributor F.G. sent this: Police on radio scanner apps: That’s not a 10-4    o o o Courtesy of John in Ohio: Mark Zuckerberg’s new challenge: Eating only what he kills (and yes, we do mean literally…)    o o o Yankee Prepper sent us this to file this under “Emerging Threats”: Mexican officials seize ‘narcotank’. (The linked video is …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be]; What prayer and supplication soever be [made] by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou …


Notes from JWR:

Please pray for the folks in Joplin, Missouri, where there are more than 230 people missing. The recent satellite photos show horrendous destruction. The latest headline: Search for missing tornado victims enters fourth day. — Today we present another entry for Round 34 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 for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze …


Bug Out and Strategic Planning Aids Using Freeware and Open Source Software, by Josh M.

The following is intended to introduce some free computer resources to use for disaster planning. Topics covered are Bug Out Route planning, neighborhood  resource identification, and offline data back up. My background includes growing up in the Arizona desert. Living forty miles from town and two miles to the nearest neighbors encourages one to be self reliant. Later in life I moved to and still live in the Pacific Northwest. During most of this period I was in complacent consumer mode. After the birth of my two children I began to question my abilities to provide for my family in …


The Endless “One Gun” Internet Debates

I often read suggestions in survivalist and shooting forums that run something like this: “If you had to choose just one gun to handle all your tasks, then what would it be?” A lively debate then ensues, usually marked by extreme opinions, running the gamut from pipsqueak calibers, to elephant guns. These debates go on, endlessly. The result is a confusing muddle that does little to educate folks that are new to shooting as to what is truly practical. What prompted this post is that recently received a “one gun solution” article entry for SurvivalBlog’s writing contest, which I politely …


Letter Re: Food Handling and Cooking Safety

James, While I enjoyed the article written by Jason A., there were minor points that stuck out to me. As a professional chef who has completed numerous food safety courses, many of them the same that health inspectors must take to be certified, Jason’s list of final food temperatures and cooking suggestions were a good start, but had some potentially precarious recommendations. Washing fruits and vegetables will rarely remove all the pesticides and bacteria, unless you use a food sanitizing liquid such as bleach water, which you may or may not have in such a situation. Washing removes any exterior …


Economics and Investing:

A foretaste of life in the U.S. in the near future?: Belarus devaluation spreads panic. On the same topic, Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge posted some commentary and a scary “hockey stick” currency chart: Welcome To Hyperinflation Hell: Following Currency Devaluation, Belarus Economy Implodes, Sets Blueprint For Developed World Future J.B.G. sent this: Greece risks ‘return to drachma’ World Bank Predicts the Demise of the US Dollar by 2025   Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Likely To Face Bumpy Ride Into Summer Gas Prices Dampen Memorial Day Vacations States Shorten Duration For Unemployment Benefits What Is Behind Europe’s Stock Market …