Day: January 6, 2013

Notes from JWR:

I’m sad to report that John Noveske died in an automobile accident on Friday night, near Grants Pass, Oregon. John was the president of Noveske Rifle Works. Please keep his family in your prayers. Our sincere condolences. — Today we present another entry for Round 44 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 …


Wilderness Fire Making: We Have Ignition, by Brad M.

I have been a scoutmaster for 18 years. It is a lot of fun teaching scouts how to make fire using unorthodox methods.  Seeing the look in their eyes as they get their first fire built in the outdoors using no matches is a great experience.  As a matter of fact, in winter camps where the ground is not frozen I like to use a trench fire pit with rocks in it, then bury it and sleep on top for a very cozy and warm night. I too was bitten by the survival bug when I was a young scout, …


Letter Re: Just In Case

I was glad to read in M.L.’s article “Just In Case” that he packs some form of flashlight for the train commute. I wonder if he realizes the single-most important use for it would be inside a tunnel. A grid-down situation will stop subway and above-ground light-rail trains which operate on electricity delivered by overhead wire or energized third rail. Grid-down will also bring at least a momentary stop to diesel-powered trains if the signal system goes dark. Earthquake, terror attack, or even a derailment are other ways one might find themselves onboard a train that suddenly gets stopped inside …


Letter Re: Argentina Versus Chile as Offshore Havens

Regarding Doug Casey’s linked article on Argentina: The Freest Place in the World.  Seriously?  That country does all the things we fear the US might do.  Rampant inflation?  Check.  Confiscate retirement accounts?  Check.  Currency controls & dollar-sniffing dogs?  Check.  Crony socialism and capricious Diktat replacing rule of law?  Check.  Punitive taxes on the productive, such as farmer-exporters?  Check.  Hitler-style appeals to nationalism to justify seizure of assets (such as NPF, the largest oil company in the country) or to provoke rows with foreigners (Falklands).  Check.  Profound corruption?  Check.  Argentina is cheap for a reason.  Refer to FerFAL (An Argentine who …


Economics and Investing:

75 Economic Numbers From 2012 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe Reader “Rock Farm” recommended a piece by Victor Davis Hanson: Very Scary Times Putin Saves French Actor From Tax Slavery With Russian Citizenship Items from The Economatrix: My Name Is Cash New Gold for a Scary New World Moody’s Says “Fiscal Cliff” Deal Doesn’t End Credit Downgrade Risk 2013 Predictions:  S&P 500 Plunges, Gold Soars “Panic Buying” In Gold, Just Four Days Into 2013, A New Gold Milestone Has Already Been Passed


Odds ‘n Sods:

All of the major firearms industry vendors are gearing up for SHOT Show, 2013. It will be held January 15-18 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lot of our friends and associates will be there. For example, Mil-Comm lubricants will have a booth there (Booth # 4227) and Italian Gun Grease will be sharing a booth with Hero Guns (Booth #3727.) They will also have their own booth at the SHOT Show Media Day at the Range, which will be on Monday, January 14, 2013 at the Boulder Pistol & Rifle Range, Boulder City, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” – Luke 6:22-23 (KJV)