Day: September 18, 2013

Notes from JWR:

I’ve just sent the completed manuscript of my nonfiction book “Tools For Survival” to Penguin Books for editing. This is the first time that I’ve written a book with accompanying photographs. (Skillfully created by my #2 Son.) The Foreword was written by our Backcountry Editor, Mat Stein. The book should be released in June of 2014. Now I can jump back into writing my novel “Liberators,” for E.P. Dutton. That manuscript–part of the “Patriots” series–is due in March, and the book should be released in October of 2014. (Deo volente.) — Today is Chilean Independence Day. On this day in …


Prioritized Prepping, by Z.T.

I, like so many people across the country, can’t walk out of my local sporting goods store without buying the limit of ammunition. Now, before you judge me, realize that most places limit you to small boxes of ammunition, and usually one two per caliber. Is it being prudent or just being obsessed? While the firearm and ammo situation is very much a media-hyped thing,  I have even talked about things you must buy every time you are out, like my article on Things Commonly Overlooked.  But what about those items that you pick up, look at the price tag, but pass …


Letter Re: Prepping for Winter

Hi! Thanks for all you do.  In my quest to do one thing to prepare for the coming uncertainties each day, I thought I would take a moment to remind you and all readers that this coming weekend is the Equinox, the time that I update my car kit to prepare for the coming winter.  Besides my day to day car kit, I’ll add extra warm coats, hats, gloves, boots and scarves to the trunk.  Additionally, a few ponchos and garbage bags.  Here in one of the nanny states in the northeast US, there aren’t many places I go that …


Letter Re: Advice on Firearms Caching

James, In “Letter Re: Advice on Firearms Caching”, Mark J. wrote “Should I simply use a Hot Hands hand warmer inside the mylar bag and then another one inside the PVC tube? I should not have to worry about moisture if it is vacuum sealed? right? “ Well, no–regardless of the chemicals in the heater. Putting any temporary heat source in a sealed container may actually cause corrosion or water damage that wouldn’t have happened before. This is why: Heating air does not remove moisture from a confined environment; it simply increases the air’s ability to absorb moisture from other …


Economics and Investing:

Investment Banker Alpert: ‘Massive Deflationary Forces’ Lurks Money Versus Currency – Australian Comedian Michael Connell’s View 25 Fast Facts About The Federal Reserve Reader “Subman762” wrote to warn: “There have been some fake Chinese silver plated copies of Northwest Territorial Mint’s Stagecoach silver bar circulating on eBay. The corner radii are a little off and the fakes come in plastic holders that open,while the genuine ones are sealed. I was unfortunate enough to buy some of them and they are very convincing. A scratch test quickly revealed their plated nature and the acid test produced mixed results, due to some …


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.T. sent: Media mongers new fear campaign over ‘bump fire’ stocks. (FWIW, I bought a short stack of SlideFire AR and AK stocks, just in case further production is banned, but their possession is grandfathered. )    o o o Reader Joe G. recommended this holster maker in New Hampshire: Mitch Rosen    o o o The Red State Ranger recommended: The Don’t Own Stuff You Can’t Fix Plan for Life


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The concept of ‘necessity’ is almost always dangerous and insidious in political matters. Asking whether vanilla is necessary for a specific cupcake recipe is very different from asking whether guns or tobacco or beer or soda or cocaine is ‘necessary’ for a person’s life. People place different values on different things, and it is supremely arrogant and insulting for a person to look at a particular product and think that he can decide for the rest of humanity whether it is ‘necessary’ to own. It is true that certain guns are not ‘necessary’ for human beings, in the sense that …