Day: July 15, 2013

The Quest for Safety: Is Jackson County, Florida America’s Ideal Retreat Locale?

I recently found a YouTube slide show that is a good example of flawed statistical analysis: Economic Collapse Survival Map – Risk Analysis of best area in United States. In it, you will see how “Paul Revere” narrowed his search down to just Jackson County, Florida. While I’m sure that he was well-intentioned, this gent seems to have assigned undue weight on the factor of year-round crop production. In my estimation, if the power grids go down the key factors in survivability will be population density and proximity to urban areas rather than the ability to grow tomatoes in January. …


Pat’s Product Review: CRKT Otanashi Noh Ken Folder

I spent more than half my life involved in the martial arts – and not just one style, either. I started out in Judo, and earned my Black Belt in this style. I went on to study several different styles of Karate, as well as Kung Fu. I hold Black Belt rank in five different styles of martial arts, with my highest Black Belt ranking a 6th Degree. Not bragging, not in the least, as I honestly believe that when you get your Black Belt, you are then a very serious student of the martial arts. I have adapted what …


Letter Re: The Dark Side of the New Illinois CCW Law

Dear Jim, I’m hoping that you will help me get the word out nationwide on this: As many celebrate the passage of Concealed Carry in Illinois it comes with a very heavy price. Municipalities have 10 days from the law’s enactment to pass their own “Assault Weapons” bans. Many of us in the suburbs of Chicago will face a choice in 90 days to move our weapons somewhere else, render them permanently inoperable or turn them over to the police. Lets call it what it is, Confiscation! No grandfathering, straight up outlawing of previously lawfully owned rifles and standard capacity …


Recipe of the Week:

Sassy C.’s Shelf Stable Chicken Enchilada Chili For my boys with large appetites –the following recipe only serves three people! 1 onion chopped (can be replaced with dried onions) 1 can chopped green chilis–do not drain, add both chilis and juice 1 large can white chicken 1 can corn 1 can black beans (can be replaced with dried beans that are cooked up) 1 can enchilada sauce (I’ve used both green and red–the green is a little more sour, the red a little more sweet. Use the larger can if you want to serve over spinach or lettuce) 1 envelope …


Economics and Investing:

Five years of the Fed and Treasury Department’s forced Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) have badly distorted our economy, removing any pretense of a “free market.” All that we have left are markets on life support. With yields of less than 1/4 of 1%, passbook savings accounts are joke. Money market rates ranging from 0.40% to 0.85% aren’t much better. With ZIRP, local, state, and Federal government over-spending has had no serious consequences. But when rates eventually do spike, there will be a bloodbath. Bond yields are completely out of whack. Banks have been given unrealistically high reserves. So ZIRP …


Odds ‘n Sods:

I recently heard about a useful site: PrepperDating.com. I ‘ve just added that link to my Finding Like-Minded People in Your Area static page.    o o o Sarah Connor saw it coming: Boston Dynamics has been busy working on an entrant for DARPA’s Virtual Robotics Challenge, a contest aimed to create robots that can help in disaster situations. Gee, “…someday save you from a crumbling building.” That sounds so noble. So what about: “… someday relentlessly track you down and shoot you, or crush your skull.”    o o o The good folks at Cajun Safety and Survival are …