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 …




Direction of Force: Working Safely Now and at TEOTWAWKI, by Arizona Slim

We all accept basic firearms safety rules and know that if we were able to carry them out flawlessly, there would be no such thing as an unintended injury or what we pitifully refer to as an “accidental” discharge. [JWR Adds: Properly, this is termed a Negligent Discharge.] There is another much more broad concept that, if we can also just hone it to a fine edge, we can employ it across a broad array of activities to greatly reduce the chance of damage, injuries and even death. Activities as diverse as cutting a project out of construction paper, opening …




A Special C.R.O.S.S. Ministries Announcement: On Hiatus

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers, Greetings from the C.R.O.S.S. Ministry family, the Woods! Many and great thanks to those of you who have spent time before God praying for the ministry God placed before us, pray for us, and praying for guidance about how/when to minister to those in South Sudan. Thanks to those of you who donated financially and may God return to you abundantly more than you gave! God has worked greatly in us while pursuing the mission field in South Sudan. He has stretched, taught, corrected, edified and simply put, grown us in Christ through this process. We have …




Two Letters Re: Preserving a Digital Library

James, Regarding the article “Preserving a Digital Library” written by “H335”: Windows XP requires [remote] activation [from a Microsoft server]! If XP runs at all after a fresh install, it’ll only be for a few days.  If you find yourself reloading XP on a computer in any sort of a grid-down situation, you’re not going to be calling up Microsoft to get your fresh install of XP activated.  Without activation, you can’t even log in to Windows XP. If you want to run a Microsoft operating system, I’d suggest Windows 7.  I’ve been running a copy unactivated on a laptop …




Economics and Investing:

More details on Mulligan Mint ‘s legal troubles with Republic Metals have emerged in a recent motion before the court, for a writ of attachment. Once again, I don’t recommend placing any orders with Mulligan Mint–at least not until they are free of these potentially show-stopping legal encumbrances. Reader Allen C. sent: Why Incomes Could Fall For the Next 30 Years. When is theft not considered theft? When a national government does it, on a grand scale: Poland reduces public debt through pension funds overhaul. (Thanks to John N. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: A new contagion is …




Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Nick R. mentioned that the price of .308 ball ammo is now back below $700 per thousand. (It was at least $1 per round, in January.) Is the ammo drought finally ending? Even .22 LR is coming back down in price. (For a while there, I thought that Walton Creel would have to give up his life as an artist.)    o o o My friend Terry H. mentioned another pistol recall. This time it is the S&W M&P Shield.    o o o The American Redoubt may be growing: State of Jefferson: Board votes for separation    o …