Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) 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 …




Community Building is Critical, by W.H.

A couple friends and I recently talked about the state of ‘things’, and how ‘things’ seem to be getting worse, and how ‘things’ are so bad that ‘things’ simply cannot get better. You’ve had those conversations, right? My friend David is well aware of the sorry state of our political system, and we’ve discussed those ‘things’ several times in the past. However, he was not thinking in terms of societal collapse. David started thinking along those lines pretty quickly, once I pointed out some weaknesses of our system, like the fact that our power utilities are not adding capacity, but …




Two Letters Re: Peak Oil Meets Yuppie Marketing

James, I agree with Mr. Williamson’s comments.  To use a Tennessee expression I would opine that Heinberg does not know “diddly-squat” about farming.   First, my bona fides: I grew up on a farm.  Both sets of grandparents farmed with teams of mules in west Tennessee.   Some 30% of our farming acreage was used to grow food for the team of mules.  We now operate a mini farm to be self sufficient in food and to grow and save heirloom seeds for barter after “The Crunch.”  We have a Kubota B7510 tractor and all the implements.  This year we’ve some …




Economics and Investing:

Spot silver took a substantial drop on Friday, closing on the COMEX at $21.69 per ounce. A dip like this would be a good time to buy. And speaking of silver, Mulligan Mint is cranking out the one ounce American Redoubt silver coins in quantity, and the shipping delays are getting shorter. For those who have been waiting, thanks for your patience. India Central Bank Prohibits Sales Of Gold Coins. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Lifestyles of the Los Angeles flippers: Big money being invested in flips. Boyle Heights and other interesting market observations. Items from The Economatrix: Weekly …




Odds ‘n Sods:

The Reason an Israeli Man Couldn’t Bring Himself to Turn in His Weapons Will Sound Familiar To U.S. Gun Proponents. Never register your guns, ever! History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes.    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog Editor At Large) spotted this: Secret Man Caves Found in EPA Warehouse    o o o Radio Free Redoubt is seeking donations to defray some of their costs. Among other things they are sponsoring Pastor Chuck Baldwin’s trip to speak at the upcoming Patriots and Self-Reliance Rally at Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on July 26, 27 & …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward …