Month: July 2013

Notes from JWR:

July 31st is the birthday of free market economist Milton Freidman (born 1912, died November 16, 2006.) — Camping Survival is having an unprecedented “10% off everything” sale from July 30th to August 1st. Take advantages and use coupon code “everything10“ — Today we present the final 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 …


If Life Gives You Tomatoes, Make Salsa! By S.M. in Arizona

Gardening in the Southwestern United States is a huge challenge!  Growing a successful garden takes hard work and a commitment to never give up.  My gardening quest began in earnest in October 2010.  Prior to 2010 I had planted seeds in the ground with few, if any, results.  I had one lemon tree and aloe vera plants (part of my first aid kit, used for burns, skin irritations, etc.) that grew without much help from me.  A friend, who was a master gardener, gave a class one Saturday on how to start a garden.  He taught basic desert gardening and …


Letter Re: Practice, Cub Scouts, BB Guns, and the Old Guy

Dear Jim and Readers, I want to start out with a little bit of pre-history. About five weeks ago I had my first heart attack, and the doc installed a stint. That was a wake-up call! Wow. Of course the subject by the doc was diet, lose the lard, get exercise. I started losing by cutting back, but I needed a bit more help. Work would be nice, it would help with my activity level plus I needed some extra finances to come in as some big bills were hitting all at once. So when all these things begin to …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Karl G. suggested this by William A. Levinson: How the Cooper Color Code Explains ‘Stand Your Ground,’ and Prevents Crime    o o o Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting wrote to mention that he has been successful is finding retreats for a large number of clients this year. He also mentioned that he is offering a 50% discount for clients who retain his services during the month of August, 2013.    o o o “Lithium is no longer available on credit.” Back to Land Lines? Cell Phones May Be Dead by 2015    o o o Reader B.G. …



Notes from JWR:

Today we remember the birthday of author Reginald Bretnor. He was born Alfred Reginald Kahn on July 30, 1911, in Vladivostok. He died on July 22, 1992 in Medford, Oregon. In addition to penning many witty science fiction novels and short stories in his characteristic style, he also wrote nonfiction survivalist articles for Mel Tappan’s P.S. Letter — 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 …


Bone Broth, a.k.a. Stone Soup, by H.A.

Bone broth is slow-simmered broth, made with bones.  Vegetables and/or vegetable scraps are also sometimes used, as is a shot of vinegar to help leach the minerals from the bones.  Bone broth is healthful and frugal. Why make bone broth?  For starters, prepping can be expensive!  Being frugal makes prepping easier.  Bone broth can be “almost” free to make, from items that you don’t even realize that you have, hence the “Stone Soup” title.   Also, bone broth is chock-full of minerals and nutrients, which is always a good thing, but especially so if/when the “balloon goes up”, when staying healthy …


Letter Re: Preparedness Course Question

Mr. Rawles: If I get the downloadable “Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course” can I print out a copy for my reference binder? Is that considered okay? (I have a giant binder with 4″ rings that my husband got in the Navy that we use for all our prepping references, except for recipes.) With My Regards, – Sheila C. JWR Replies: Yes, since you are legitimately downloading it, you are welcome to print out a reference copy for your own use.


News From The American Redoubt:

I heard about another Reformed church in Spokane, Washington: Reformation Community Church. The Pastor is Jeremy Lyerla. Phone: (509) 496-0920.    o o o A study shows that the American Redoubt region and much of the Great Plains region now offer the most opportunity for lower class Americans to rise into the middle class. (Thanks to Chris W. for the link.)    o o o Yes, even in Wyoming: Local Wyoming Gun Control Scheme Targets Children’s Rights. (Note that Platte County’s school superintendent is a recent transplant from Minnesota. Also note that school funding is based on days of attendance. …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent: Cyprus, lenders set Bank of Cyprus bail-in at 47.5 percent, sources say Over at FOREX Crunch: Is the smart money fleeing stocks? The article begins: “Institutional investors have been net sellers of stocks for the most of the past year or so.. Since late June, this trend increased, with the 4 week average flirting with sales of 1 billion dollars. On the other hand, retail investors have been net buyers since early June…” [JWR’s Comment: With the Dow Jones Average bouncing around 15,500, we are entering into what they call a “sucker’s market.” Get out of stocks, now!] …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Our friend Commander Zero sent this: First Responders Broke Into Shore Army-Navy Store in Seaside Heights During Sandy. The article begins: SEASIDE HEIGHTS – First responders in Seaside Heights were forced to break into an Army-Navy store during Superstorm Sandy. The Shore Army-Navy store, located on Hamilton Avenue, was broken into by first responders during Sandy. The first responders took an estimated $185,000 worth of goods, including clothing, sleeping bags, camping equipment and backpacks. Mayor Bill Akers says first responders had little choice when they were soaked and needed dry clothes. The tab has now been settled with store owner …



Notes from JWR:

Today is birthday of Alexis de Tocqueville, born 1805. He died 16 April 1859. — I heard that ownership of Naturally Cozy has successfully changed hands. The new owners (also a small, home-based family operation) have picked up making the products with no interruption in order processing. They will continue to sponsor our non-fiction writing contest, just like their predecessors.


Harry’s Book Review: The Wayward Journey, by Nathan Hale Jefferson

Book Title: The Wayward Journey (Volume 1) Author: Nathan Hale Jefferson Copyright Date: 2013 Publisher: Abundant Future Media ISBN: 978-0989319904 Audio, e-book or foreign translation avail? Yes–Kindle edition of The Wayward Journey Suitable for children? Teens and up. The Wayward Journey is a story in which a natural disaster is piled on top of a growing disaster of financial mismanagement. There is not much in this novel which requires significant stretching of the imagination. In this story John, Margaret and their two children are struggling to make ends meet in an America which is burdened with both high inflation and …