Month: April 2013

Odds ‘n Sods:

Jason H. sent: First Amendment lesson sparks outrage at Florida school. Jason’s comment: “Reason number 6,264,468 to homeschool your kids…”    o o o Nan’s newest how-to video is called Starting Heirloom Vegetable and Herb Plants at Home is available from Seed for Security.    o o o Senator Mike Lee of Utah reads a letter sent in from a family that took shifts standing armed guard with their neighbors – all banding together to protect the homes on their street during the L.A. riots. They watched the city burn, and saw no police officers…..for five days. Jump forward to …



Notes from JWR:

April 16th is the birthday of two notable novelists: Agorist-Libertarian activist J. Neil Schulman (born April 16, 1953) is turning 60 today. He is best known as author of the novel Alongside Night. and, The late Samuel Youd (born 1922, died February 3, 2012.) He was the British novelist who was best known for his science fiction writings under the pseudonym John Christopher, including the survivalist novel Death of Grass (titled No Blade of Grass, in the American edition) as well as the Tripods Series of young adult sci-fi novel series. Youd wrote prolifically, using eight pen names. He was …


Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy, by The Angry Prepper

Hurricane Sandy tore through the northern eastern seaboard.  The hurricane combined with two other weather systems to create a Super storm (Some say).  The Hurricane or Super Storm created a destructive path that hasn’t been seen this far up north, ever.  Homes were damaged, properties were destroyed, and lives were lost.  This Hurricane had a lot to teach us.  A lot of us (Preppers) were prepared for this storm and tested our emergency plan for the first time, in real time.  We got to learn a lot about our emergency plan and some of us will patch the holes in …


Letter Re: Home Invasion Prevention

Sir, I’ve often wondered what the “typical” home-invasion victim’s house looks like.  Does it have high fences; does it sit perched on a hill with a beautiful view; are BMWs seen entering & leaving?  Perhaps.  I wonder if home invaders (or burglars, for that matter) even bother with modest homes that have 20-year-old cars parked in front?  Probably not so much. What I’m saying is that, even if you have the means to live well, part of OPSEC should probably include maintaining the appearance of being a low-value target.  Making your home into an obvious fortress will naturally cause those with …


News From The American Redoubt:

Heracles Research, well-known for their Bed Bunker gun vaults had added Truck Bunkers to their product line. The company is located in Spokane, Washington.    o o o Some Idaho headlines, courtesy of Joe M. and R.B.S., and Bret F.: EPA issues new permit for suction dredge miners. – Idaho wealth concentrated in just a few areas.– Idaho restricts drone use by police agencies amid privacy concerns – Frugal Idaho among states in the black, with $60 million surplus    o o o More Federal meddling: Montana Management Plan Would Close Public Land to Target Shooting.    o o o …


Economics and Investing:

I heard that some precious metals investors have felt panicky, in the recent sell-off. Don’t panic. The current sell-off was manipulated. The thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve have nearly tripled the money supply in the past four years. So the long term prospects for the metals remain strong. Look at big dips such as these at buying opportunities. The bull will resume his charge. DO NOT sell into the falling market. I recommend buying physical silver right now. Remington Sells Out To NY For $80 Million “Sniper” Rifles Government Contract. Granted, they …


Odds ‘n Sods:

PRNMED is conducting a three day medical class May 17-19 at the Ohio State University Campus in Caldwell, Ohio. This class will be unique since they will be doing some new scenario-based training. They will also include some new information on tactical medicine, and will be using some skill stations to allow for more individual instruction in key areas. Please contact Dave Turner at dturner@prnmed.com, or telephone: (610) 633-2276. Visit www.PRNMED.com for details.    o o o Reid’s Gun Control Bill Makes a Missing Firearm a Ticket to Five Years in Prison. This is of great concern to anyone who …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it political? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular – but one must take it simply because it is right." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Notes from JWR:

April 15th is dreaded as Income Tax Day in these United States, but it is also Patriot’s Day and this year it is also celebrated as National Buy A Gun Day. — Final Day! A reminder that Safecastle is currently running a semi-annual 25% off sale on Mountain House canned long term storage foods. Get your order in before midnight, Eastern time on April 15th. — We had hoped to announce the availability of the American Redoubt .999 fine silver coin today, but unfortunately because of a contractual problem between S.B.S.S. and their mint, this project is now on hold. …


Excerpt From: Home Invasion Prevention, by Frank Hilliard

[JWR’s Introductory Note: I’m presenting this book excerpt as a guest post. His book is available at Lulu.com.] The prospect looms of an economic collapse caused by the enormous sovereign debt of the United States and moves by China, Russia, Brazil and others to dump the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. If they succeed, America will be dethroned from its position as the middle-man in world financial affairs and the dollar will begin to reflect America’s true financial position. In short, America will become the new Zimbabwe. This devaluation will create massive disruptions in domestic economic activity, banking, public …


Pat’s Product Review: Benchmade’s 63 Bali-Song Bowie

I still remember when I first laid my hands on a “butterfly” style knife – it was back in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1986 or 1987. I thought they were a bit strange-looking, to say the least. And the examples I handled were all very cheaply made on top of it all. I just didn’t get what all the fuss was about, watching people doing the “twirl” with the butterfly knives – they had to whipped these knives out of their pockets and fling them around, until they opened and locked in their hand. Seemed like a lot of work, …


Letter Re: Paddle Magazine Releases for HK Family Rifles

Captain Rawles, I would like to tell your readers about a piece missing on HK Model 91s and clones, except for some Vectors.  This is the paddle magazine release.  With this latest skyrocketing of prices and the cheap availability of HK .308 magazines, you have suggested these type rifles.  I have had my beloved PTR for years, but only recently had what I consider the most important upgrade added to it: My paddle magazine release.  The G3 rifle (which all these are civilian copies of) had the paddle magazine release, but since it also used the pushpin mount/hole for the …


Letter Re: Weasel Words in Pending Federal Gun Legislation

Captain Rawles: I read the text of the draft Toomey-Manchin-Schumer Amendment. It does not define the word “publication.” Because there are several common definitions of the word, including the transitive verb ,”publish” could include just telling two or more people at once that you have a gun for sale.  Also the “safe travel” provision does not include magazines, so if you are stopped in New York or Connecticut or Maryland with a 30 round mag while driving from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire (for example) then you are a felon.  Also NY SAFE act bans transport of Guns AND Ammo,  the …


Recipe of the Week:

Matt The Teacher’s Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Spice Hard Tack I’ve tried many of the  hardtack recipes that are floating around on the web (including some that have been featured here on SurvivalBlog) and I find that most of them are so bland that they make Saltines seem like a five course meal!  So, I decided to mix things up a little bit and what I came up with is something I’ve dubbed…  Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Spice Hardtack: 4C unbleached flour (you can go 50/50 with whole wheat or all whole wheat but I personally don’t like it) 2C rolled oats …