Day: July 19, 2012

Notes from JWR:

Today is coincidentally the birthday of both Samuel Colt and Gaston Glock. (Born July 19, 1814, and July 19, 1929, respectively.) It has been rightly said: “God may have made men, but Samuel Colt made them equal.” As for Gaston Glock, I predict that his lasting legacy will be recognized following a war of resistance in the near future, when his ubiquitous mass-produced pistols will have the Geheime Staats Polizei or Policía Secreta, or Police Secrète quaking in their boots. In my estimation both Colt and Glock’s designs are significant contributions to human liberty and equality, all around the world. …


Food Storage on a Budget, by N.T.M. in Nevada

When it comes to food storage, people that I have talked with have almost always made the comment that they can barely afford to feed their family now much less afford to have food storage.  I am currently working with a few people and teaching them how to feed their family and still put food up for TEOTWAWKI.  There are three things that I tell people to always do, (1) gardening, (2) couponing, and (3) food co-ops. (1) Gardening.  When TSHTF, you don’t want to be changing the way that your family eats because then you could be facing worse …


Fight or Flight Decision Points, by R.P.

This most basic decision should be reviewed daily “in a crisis” and weekly in preparation for a TSHTF scenario. In order to make the correct call you must understand the situation that you are in. One thing true for all situations: You must be prepared to defend what you have. Why? Because your life may depend on it (you and your loved ones). Whatever you have prepared can be lost in one single event. You may not get a second chance to do better next time. Another thing that is important to consider is “time”. You must understand how much …


Letter Re: Long Term Public Employee Pension Obligations

James: I just read Warren Buffett’s comments about municipal bankruptcies on the rise.  (See: Buffet Says Muni Bankruptcies are Set to Climb.) Much of the problem is the super generous retirement plans available to many state, federal and local government workers.  As always, a bit of common sense would help cushion the impact of this largess. After 30 years of service workers are allowed to retire with a full pension.  Many retiring workers are still in their early fifties.  In many cases pensions are being paid out for 10-15 years before the workers are eligible for SS.  To put this …


Letter Re: Procedures for a Tourist Bringing a Pistol to South Africa

Dear JWR: The family and I have a photo safari planned in South Africa this September. I have the paperwork to take my person carry pistol with me. This paperwork is from the South African Police force. I am wondering if anyone you know has done this before. I have friends who have taken the large caliber rifles with no problem. I have searched SurvivalBlog archives but the question of taking a pistol has not shown up. My main question is this. Do I need BATF or commerce department import/export paperwork/permission to take the pistol out of the US and …


Letter Re: Dying and Death in a Collapse Situation

James: I thought the article Dying and Death in a Collapse Situation, by Irish Eyes was a well written piece.  As a funeral director I thought I would add my thoughts. The article was very well written and had good working knowledge of the death and dying process. The point that I wanted to touch on is the fact that there is a stigma that dead bodies are extremely unsanitary. They may be and should be treated as such if you were to come upon a body that died of unknown causes. However, according to Ron Hast publisher Mortuary Management …


Economics and Investing:

Economist Duncan: Next Depression May Be So Severe Civilization May Not Survive Don’t miss this important news spotted by G.G.: Here Comes the Catch in Home Equity Loans The twin lost decades in housing and stocks – baby boomers selling homes to a less affluent young American population. The impact of baby boomers on the housing market. Reader Sue C. sent this: IMF cuts global growth forecast as emerging economies slow Items from The Economatrix: Why Gas Prices Are Heading Back Up IMF Cuts Global Growth Forecasts As Emerging Economies Slow America Heading Towards A Collapse Worse Than 2008 AND …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Got eggshells? Reader C.D.V. suggested this clever DIY tip: How to Make a Calcium Supplement    o o o J. McC. forwarded an article about this fun event: ‘Tough Mudder’ pushes competitors to extremes.    o o o Another South Carolina event: Sue C. mentioned that Without Walls Ministry will host the Lowcountry Preppers Conference/Disaster Preparedness Meeting July 20 & 21 (Friday evening and all day Saturday) at the the First Assembly of God, 2957 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina.    o o o Midwest drought shows little sign of abating. (A hat tip to Sue C. for the link.) …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Shortly before World War I, the German Kaiser was the guest of the Swiss government to observe military maneuvers. The Kaiser asked a Swiss militiaman: ‘You are 500,000 and you shoot well, but if we attack with 1,000,000 men what will you do?’ The soldier replied: ‘We will shoot twice and go home.’” – Historian Stephen Halbrook, as quoted by Bill Buppert, in ZeroGov: Limited Government, Unicorns and Other Mythological Creatures