Day: June 15, 2012

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Submarine Knowledge and Survival by U.C.

First, a little about me. I am a Sailor and Submariner. I have spent 20+ years of my life riding submarines in various roles from deck waxer/hull painter to Communications Division and Operations Department enlisted leader. I have taught Communications, Electronic Signals Intercept (ES), OPSEC/Security, leadership and a myriad of other courses. I really started reading SurvivalBlog and other sites after experiencing a deep dissatisfaction with the course our country is heading. I have experienced first-hand the gross inefficiency of the government and the lack of will/strength/backbone to stand up and change things. “Staying the Course” seems to be the …


Letter Re: Food Forest Gardens

Dear Mr Rawles, Further to the recent excellent Food Forest Gardens article, I would like to add my support of Martin Crawford’s book Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops. I would also add that his web site is absolutely fascinating for reading through the varied types (and breeds) of fruit  and nuts. Though it is of UK bias, there are a lot of North American types included and as a source of information on types of trees it is the most extensive  source I have found.   On a personal note I have bought upwards …


Economics and Investing:

The Two Worlds of 2012: Will We Have “Inflation” or “Deflation”? Europe Brings Out The “Capital Controls” Bazooka U.S. Derivatives Probe Eyes Bank Control of LCH.Clearnet Pierre M. sent this: Italy ‘may need bailout’ – The Irish Times Items from The Economatrix: Fed Says US Wealth Fell 38.8% in 2007-2010 in Housing S&P Says US to Avoid “Fiscal Cliff,” Risks Remain Moody’s Cuts Cyprus Sovereign Rating Two Notches Fall In May Retail Sails Driven Entirely By Lower Gas Station Spending


Odds ‘n Sods:

We are pleased to welcome our newest volunteer foreign correspondent, Giorgio in Italy. Here is a brief biography: “I am 40 years old and lucky enough to be married to a beautiful and intelligent soul mate who is an Italian professoressa, fluent in five languages. We have been married eight years, with, alas, no children. We live 8-to-9 months a year in northern Italy, an hour from Milan, with the rest of our time spent in the States or traveling. Having traveled and, periodically, worked in much of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, we have had some experience in dealing with diverse cultures and getting the “other guy’s” perspective. My degree …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all. When the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, who voted without reward according to his own convictions, and who with his fellows formed in war the terrible Roman legion, had been changed into an idle creature who craved nothing in life save the gratification of a thirst for vapid excitement, who was fed by the state, and directly or indirectly sold his vote to the highest bidder, …