Day: April 11, 2013

Notes from JWR:

Happy birthday to John Milius. (He was born 1944.) He both wrote the screenplays and directed the films Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Big Wednesday, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Farewell to the King, and Flight of the Intruder. He also wrote the screenplays of the first two Dirty Harry movies as well as the first draft of the screenplay for Patton. (Before Francis Ford Coppola turned it into a vaguely anti-war commentary laced with references to reincarnation.) Milius is my favorite Hollywood writer and director, in part because he stands for everything that Hollywood doesn’t. — Today we …


Off Grid Cooking Solutions, Part 2, by V.W.

To follow up o my article Off Grid Cooking Solutions, Part 1: One of the first items we purchased for off grid cooking was the humble Dutch Oven.  There are many enthusiasts of this time honored way of cooking.  The Dutch oven is surprisingly versatile as it can be used over a fire, with charcoal briquettes, on a regular kitchen stove, a woodstove, portable camp stove, or the rocket stove.  Because of the fuel consumption required and the logistics of storing charcoal and wood, I am not as interested in using my Dutch oven over an outdoor camp fire or …


Letter Re: Ham Radio Standardization for SurvivalBloggers?

Good Day James, I’m a long time fan of your books and your blog thanks for all that you do. There is some great information there. I am interested in finding out if your [local] group or another group has established any ham radio frequencies that may serve as a beacon of information in a SHTF situation or are you totally off the grid when that time comes. I do have your IP written down, but was just curious… Regards, J.M., USMC JWR Replies: The folks at Radio Free Redoubt are already doing a fine job of coordinating communications with their AmRRON …


Letter Re: Hard Working Homeless in Kansas Dug Tunnels

James, A brief article I saw on underground homeless camp in Kansas: Underground homeless camp cleared near the East Bottoms. Although the article does not give much detail, I find it an interesting use of space, staying out of the way and a lesson to learn regarding people who may be close to your proximity without one even knowing it.  It also drew my mind back to the Bielski partisans and the camps they dug in Naliboki Forest. God Bless, – John in Ohio


Economics and Investing:

Daniel Fisher of Forbes reports: The Bullet Bubble: Is Ammo The Next Bitcoin, Or Gold In The 1970s? Recognizing Ballistic Wampum for what it is: An almost perfect barterable tangible. (Thanks to Glenn M. for the link.) Comex Gold Inventories Collapse By Largest Amount Ever On Record BitCrash: Down 50% In Massive Sell Off: Over $1 Billion Vaporized In a Few Hours AmEx (American Expat) sent: Marc Faber: Now Is Not a ‘Very Good Time to Buy Stocks,’ Crash Coming Jim K. recommended an article from earlier this week: Kyle Bass: On Friday, The Market Gave Us The First Glimpse …


Odds ‘n Sods:

S.Q. sent this encouraging news: PoliceOne’s 2013 Gun Policy & Law Enforcement Survey    o o o Reader Anthony P. wrote to mention a very sad accident: Two children killed at bunker construction site. Anthony’s comment: “I’m sure the media will take this as an opportunity to further vilify the prepper movement.”    o o o I heard that Alec Smith’s latest book, Staying Home, (the follow-up to Getting Home) is now available on Amazon for just 99 cents until Friday.    o o o Frequent content contributor Jim W. suggested this Primitive Pathways video: Stone point penetration test on …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"…There is no nation on earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow. … Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence, I must confess that I do apprehend some danger. I fear that they may place too implicit a confidence in their public servants, and fail properly to scrutinize their conduct; that in this way they may be made the dupes of designing men, and become the instruments of their own undoing." – Daniel Webster, June 1, 1837