Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …




Help for the New Prepper, by Don H.

 Many of us that have been prepping since before the Internet have welcomed all the new information, knowledge, and interaction with our fellow preppers. But for someone who is just starting out, it can all be overwhelming. So overwhelming that they don’t know where to start. The sad part is that many of them don’t start. They feel that they have to  spend so much money at one time to get all the gear that the experts say they need, that they just can’t do it. This is in large part due to shows like Doomsday Preppers. While I watch …




Letter Re: Manual Hair Clippers

Jim, I enjoy your blog very much, have been following it for years. Keep up the good work.   On the many lists of items preppers are encouraged to obtain, I have never seen hair clippers suggested.  An essential item. (By hair clippers I mean manual, not electric.) – Pastor D. JWR Replies: Although they are probably still made in India and China, the best place to find traditional clippers is used, via eBay or Craigslist. If they are well-made and aren’t rust-pitted, even a century-old pair of clippers will probably last another century. Just be sure to keep them …




News From The American Redoubt:

More evidence that wolves are called “land sharks” for good reason: Wolves kill 176 sheep near Victor, greatest loss recorded in Idaho . (Thanks R.B.S. for the link.)    o o o Colorado’s Secession Wildfire Spreads to Northern California: Siskiyouans Raise “State of Jefferson” Flag.    o o o Top 25 firearms businesses in Idaho come together, expand awareness. (Thanks R.B.S. for the link.)    o o o I heard that Harrison Gear (in Bozeman, Montana) has been harassed by the management of PayPal. It is Harrison’s 80% complete receivers that are the issue. (PayPal is attempting to force them …




Economics and Investing:

Hi-yo silver! (I hope that you folks bought during the summer doldrums, as I had suggested.) Is Europe still in crisis? “Eurogeddon” was the buzzword on everyone’s lips in 2011. But is a euro recovery real or imagined? Community South Bank, Tennessee, Becomes Second Largest Bank Failure of 2013 Items from The Economatrix: Peter Schiff: The Market That Lives By QE Dies By QE Moody’s eyes downgrade of biggest US banks Asia Shocks West By Demanding Their Gold Be Sent Home




Odds ‘n Sods:

First look inside famous Cold War nuke vault. Under a McDonalds hamburger place in downtown Los Alamos, New Mexico!    o o o Leaked: German Government Warns Key Entities Not To Use Windows 8 – Links The NSA    o o o I recently asked if someone made a set of stencils for camouflage spray-painting rifles and other field gear to replicate popular camouflage patterns, such as Woodland pattern. Yes, there is a company that makes them. And as previously mentioned, similar stencils are also available from the makers of Duracoat, Lauer Custom Weaponry. Just be sure to use flat …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Did you ever see the beauty of the hills of Carolina Or the sweetness of the grass in Tennessee And Lord I can’t make any changes All I can do is write ’em in a song I can see the concrete slowly creepin’ Lord take me and mine before that comes.” – From the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s All I Can Do Is Write About It.