Month: October 2012

Guarding Your Mental and Emotional Health, by C.T.M.

One aspect of our lives that can take us out and render even the most prepared of preppers useless is our mental health. Very few people have ever experienced a long duration high stress environment to test their mental strength. The incredible men and women of the military may be among the elite few who can attest to how their mental health might survive in a post TEOTWAWKI environment. Police, first responders, EMS personnel, and firefighters may have a glimpse into what it takes to survive mentally in high stress environments; however, those stressful events, even the most complicated are …


Two Letters Re: Grow Your Own Nutrient Dense Fruits and Vegetables

James, You are correct about the risks of only using a wood mulch in gardening.  In his book Gardening When It Counts, Steve Solomon discusses the normal carbon/nitrogen ratio in soil — 12:1 — and compares that to various fertilizers.  Woody products such as tree bark can have C/N ratios in excess of 100:1, causing "nitrogen robbing": the nitrogen already in the soil is retained by soil microbes until the wood decomposes and the excess carbon is burnt off, leaving even less nitrogen for the plants in the meantime.  As you mention, it can take years for wood to decompose, leaving the …


Economics and Investing:

Why Ben Bernanke Is Setting The Stage For Another Housing Crash   How QE3 and Higher Inflation Are Part of The Fed’s Master Plan 15 minutes of fun: CNBC: Jim Rogers vs. Marc Faber Items from The Economatrix: Gold Hits Record High In Euros And It’s Setting Up For Another Rally Top CEOs:  Fiscal Cliff Is Hurting Job Growth Fiscal Cliff Could Cost US Households An Extra US $3,446 In Taxes Bernanke Seeks Gains For Stocks In Push For Jobs Gold Fields Tells Miners To Pack And Go


Odds ‘n Sods:

R.B.S. mentioned: Hay thefts and intentional intrusive grazing in New Mexico.    o o o Bob G. suggested: The Grey Man approach to personal protection    o o o Reader Joe K. spotted this: Emergency uses for Paracord    o o o Do you carry a gun openly? What are your legal rights during a police stop?    o o o Do you carry concealed and/or in your car? Be aware of “Must Inform Officer” state laws. (No such laws in any of the American Redoubt states, where the gendarmes all rightly assume that most of the vehicles they pull …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” – Habakkuk 3: 17-19 …


Notes from JWR:

I heard from my publisher that my latest novel Founders hit #11 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book also landed at #20 on their hardcover and paperback combined list and #32 on their print and eBook combined list. — This is the birthday of Jonathan Edwards (born October 5, 1703, died March 22, 1758.) He was a prolific Calvinist theology writer. Many of his writings were later collected in the multi-volume book “The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards”, edited by John Gerstner. Those excellent books are considered the benchmark for all other Bible commentaries, at least …


Why Firefighters are Some of the Best Preppers, by Shawn

I started prepping a few years back when I was in paramedic school.  I had no educated goal when prepping initially.  Then I met a good friend of mine that changed the way I look at prepping, and helped me make my prepping intentional.  I read Patriots and I started prepping all the more; now with motivation and intelligence.  When my friend reads this he will probably view this is as some form of Narcissism even though he falls into this category.  But I digress. I have been a full time firefighter for 5-1/2 years  I am currently a Paramedic, …


Letter Re: Grow Your Own Nutrient Dense Fruits and Vegetables

Dear James: Thank you for your wonderful blog – my husband and I are daily readers.  In response to C.F.B.’s excellent article dated September 30th titled Grow Your Own Nutrient Dense Fruits and Vegetables, I would like to expound on his suggestion that gardeners employ a no-till method for raising their own nutritious produce. I humbly suggest that your many readers watch a film on the Internet from a devout Christian man who has let the Lord lead him to his current no-till method of gardening, called Back To Eden.  I found it very interesting that this man felt called …


Economics and Investing:

Barter, anyone? For Spain’s Jobless, Time Equals Money. (Thanks to Kristina D. for the link.) Low Global Growth Is Worse Than Mega Sovereign Default: Slowdown Will Depress Corporate Earnings And Trigger Our Next Big Market Crash Rhonda T. sent: South African Economy Paralyzed As Miner Strike Spreads To Truck Drivers Items from The Economatrix: “You Better Look At Reality … And Understand What’s Coming Next 13 States Now Considering Gold And Silver As Money Why Your Money May Be At Risk After Bank Cyberattacks Water Prices Rise Sharply Across America; Double And Triple In Some Locales


Odds ‘n Sods:

Alex Jones: Elite Buying Underground Shelters in Record Numbers    o o o Safecastle’s last Mountain House sale of the year ends soon. The 25% discounts on many of the most popular #10-can entrees end on October 7th. OBTW, they also have Mountain House freeze dried strawberries at 33% off. And they also offer additional member incentives to Safecastle Royal club members. Order soon!    o o o For those who enjoy hilariously campy movies: Iron Sky has finally been released on DVD in the North American DVD format. Judging from the trailer, it looks like it was worth the …



Notes from JWR:

The folks at Barnes & Noble kindly positioned my novel Founders on the front table at most of their stores. Please thank the staff of those stores for doing so, and consider giving them some business. Thanks. — This is the birthday of the late Charlton Heston–born John Charles Carter–on October 4, 1923. He died April 5, 2008. He was best known for his lead role as Ben-Hur and for his many science fiction movies in the 1970s. For what its worth, I still like the movie The Omega Man with Charlton Heston better than the re-make, I Am Legend, …


Health and Fitness for Preppers, by Jason M.

A lot of what is posted at the SurvivalBlog site talks about what you should do after a The End Of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) situation happens. We are constantly forgetting the here and now. I believe that there is an awful lot that can be done today to help maximize your ability to survive if a TEOTWAWKI situation actually goes occur. If the end never does happen, then my suggestions don’t cost you a dime and still improve you and your family’s quality of life.  We all know what fire can do for morale, boiling water …


Letter Re: Feedback on Todd Savage’s Redoubt Retreat Evaluations

Dear Mr. Rawles, After several years of reading your books and web site, and watching things continue to deteriorate, my family and I decided to “vote with our feet” and relocate.  We tried Internet searches, but fortunately  found a reference to Todd Savage and his service on your web site.  We now know we were truly Blessed to have found him.  I cannot imagine trying to do this without him.   He more than exceeded all of our expectations. Here is what I posted: My family, after finally deciding on an area for our retreat, found a reference to Todd …


Economics and Investing:

Hyperinflation Has Arrived In Iran. Followed, not surprisingly, by riots in the streets. G.G. flagged this: Living Through a Currency Devaluation. JWR’s Comments: Norte Americanos are advised to learn from this preview of coming attractions. Zi sent: The Stock Market Is Heading For A Third Major Crash of The Century And Monetary Policy Is “USELESS” Under Current Bleak Conditions Reader Jim W. suggested this at Zero Hedge: The ECB – EUR22 Trillion Is Missing Items from The Economatrix: Hedge Funds Lagging:  Is “Enormous Unraveling” Near? Manufacturing Snaps Back:  Is It A Turning Point Or A False Positive? US Banks Hit …