Month: January 2013

Occam’s Razor, by K.Z.

Occam’s Razor is a notion that among opposing hypotheses, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be selected as most likely. For example, if you come home and find that next to an open window your floor is wet, it is a better assumption that it rained while you were away then the conclusion your neighbor came over flung a bucket of water in your house. This same concept applies not only to beliefs, but also our actions, and should be considered pre- and post-TEOTWAWKI. Bear with me for a moment as I set a baseline. If I had …


Letter Re: Traffic Web Cams as Remote Intelligence Assets

JWR: I was looking at the weather in Ohio the other day. I was using web cameras operated by the Department of Transportation and it got me to thinking that this could be a good way to gather intelligence. If the power stays on and you have computer / Internet capabilities you could look at weather cams in any of the 50 States by going to the link:  State Traffic Webcams Click on the state and go from there. Most have the major areas covered, where there are expected to be traffic problems but some have back roads as well. …


Letter Re: Prison Jobs: Consider Them Reliable Income and Training for Bad Times

Dear Editor: With people constantly being laid off and unemployment money becoming more scarce you should look into your states dept of corrections. I’ve been working in a state prison going on three years, and I can tell you the things you learn can help you post-TEOTWAWKI. You will get basic firearms training, self defense and first aid. Keep in mind that its very basic but its better than nothing. What you learn on the job is the valuable stuff, over time when dealing with inmates you learn to read body language and can even learn to subtlety alter ones …


Economics and Investing:

News from Greece: Communities set up local currencies and exchange networks in attempt to beat the economic crisis Jim W. recommended: The Dow to Silver Ratio By way of Tyler at Zero Hedge: Why Did a Train Carrying Biofuel Cross the Border 24 Times and Never Unload? Items from The Economatrix: Swan Dive of 2013 Economy Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why Three Landmines Hidden In The Fiscal Cliff “Fix” How The Budget Deal Will Push Up Unemployment


Odds ‘n Sods:

Warning! Rep. DeGette’s magazine ban bill may come up for a vote as a “compromise” in just the next few days. DeGette is talking about momentum behind this bill, that now has umpteen co-sponsors. Please contact your congresscritters TODAY and demand that this bill and other civilian disarmament bills be stopped!    o o o Cool Tools had a pointer to this book: Hawke’s Special Forces Survival Handbook.    o o o Wayne B. wrote to mention that he enjoys reading Pastor Bret McAtee’s blog, Iron Ink. Wayne says: “It is not for the faint of heart.”    o o …



Note from JWR:

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 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 …


Just in Case, by M.L.

I have seen a great deal of information over the years concerning the “Bug Out Bag” but very little that addresses the “Get Home Bag”. Considering the fact that most of us spend a good portion of our day away from our homes, I would have expected to see a greater amount of attention paid to the subject. Benjamin Franklin said it best, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. I reside in a semi rural area outside the megatropolis of Southern California, I work in downtown Los Angeles which requires a 1/2 hour drive to the train …


Gun and Magazine Ban Planned for Illinois

Reader Jim W. just sent word of horrendous new gun ban legislation in Illinois that is on the fast track to floor votes in the Illinois legislature. These laws would ban most semi-autos and even pump-actions! Magazines that can hold 11+ rounds of magazines would also be banned. I recommend that Illinois residents read the text of the bills, regularly monitor their status, and of course contact their legislators. For the sake of expediency, I’m quoting from the NRA-ILA web site, verbatim: It is imperative that you contact your state Senator IMMEDIATELY to express your opposition to House Bills 815 …


Letter Re: Long Distance Bug Out Planning

Jim: J.B. mentioned that it is important before and when bugging out to listen to all radio news reports and gather any information concerning the route.  This, of course, depends on somebody still broadcasting.  We must constantly keep up on what’s going on locally and soak up every scrap of information available.  This data is used to update the maps, note the areas to avoid, and make navigation decisions.  It will be important to constantly gather intelligence, adjust plans accordingly, and to be acutely aware of where you are. Something I found helpful: I picked up a 1000 channel scanner …


Economics and Investing:

Steve B. suggested: Analysis: After “fiscal cliff” dive, more battles, new cliffs Peter Schiff: US Economy Living On Borrowed Time Jim W. suggested this from Sovereign Man: When Priced in Gold, the US economy is at Depression-Era Levels Items from The Economatrix: Peter Schiff:  Congress Sells America Down The River to Avoid the Fiscal Cliff Roubini:  The Longer-Term Picture is Bleaker and the Next Crisis Could be Just Two Months Away The Good, The Bad & The Ugly From The Fiscal Cliff Deal


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.L. liked this: The Freest Place in the World. JWR’s Comment: Don’t assume that economic freedom equates to full liberties in all other aspects of life. Argentina is a MerCoSur (Mercado Común del Sur) treaty signatory, and hence (like all the others) they are gradually clamping down firearms ownership under a “harmonization” accord. (Harmonization is statist-speak for: “Let’s equally oppress all of our subjects, to the lowest common denominator.”) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela are full MerCoSur members, and Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are associate members. Just as with gun rights, I suspect that banking privacy will …



Note from JWR:

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 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 …


Into Bear Country, by George F.

As a result of moving into remote retreat areas, you may begin to have encounters with North America’s bear population. Even in suburban/urban areas, a lack of hunting and the return of forests has seen bears make a comeback, raising the likelihood of a bear-human encounters. Even if you live somewhere with a low likelihood of bear encounters, you should know the proper actions and make preparations, because bears can turn up anywhere. I’m going to outline the steps for bear camping, keeping your homestead secure from bears, traveling in bear country, tactics for a bear encounter, and bear defenses …