Month: October 2013

Notes from JWR:

October 31st is Reformation Day. For those unfamiliar with Reformed distinctives, here is a web page that is good starting point. — I’m pleased to see that the post-fire recovery benefit auction for Orange Jeep Dad has already been bid up to $760. This auction is for a full sealed tube of 20 American Redoubt Silver -1-ounce coins (no longer being minted) with 100% of the gross proceeds going to OJD’s family. OBTW, he has posted: New P.O. Box & FFL Address. — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,500+ worth …


Knowledge: The Survivor’s #1 Preparation, by Chad H.

What is a prepper’s number one tool? What is the asset that all preppers need regardless of where they are or why they are preparing? Some will say water purification, others will say food, and either others will give a list of shelter, weapons, or a medical kit. I disagree with all of these. Yes, all of these are necessary to survival and great preps to have; however, they are not the number one prep needed. After searching hundreds of lists and web sites, and watching show after show about survival, and piecing together preps on a budget, I have …


Letter Re: Your Two Foot Bugout

CPT Rawles, The author of the “Your Two Foot Bugout” article refers to through-hiking the Appalachian Trail as a simulation of a “shank’s mare” bugout. I’ve had similar thoughts in the past and would add these recommendations: in a situation where the fecal matter has impacted the rotating blades of the oscillating air moving device, do as the Laytons did in Patriots, i.e. go heavy on bullets and light on food. As the Golden Horde descends on your trail, you’ll want to defend whatever remains of your belongings and family. Also consider that thru-hikers count on resupply on average of …


Economics and Investing:

Congress To Eliminate The Debt By Not Counting It Anymore… Does End of Cent Mean End of Coins? (Thanks to RBS for the link.) What Is The Timeframe For US Dollar Collapse? Mike Maloney Items from The Economatrix: Obamacare Rationing: Seniors’ Doctors Get Booted From Medicare Advantage Look Out Below: Home Sales Plunge: “Biggest Drop in 40 Months” Means-Tested Recovery: Over 108,000,000 Americans Received Means-Tested Benefits In Latest Report From Census Bureau, More Than Are Currently Employed Full-Time.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ray Jason (The Sea Gypsy) writes: The Road to the Future Leads to the Past    o o o A couple of reminders: I will be a featured guest speaker (via teleseminar) Life Changes. Be Ready! Preparedness and Gun Expo that will be held in in Lakeland, Florida on November 2 & 3, 2013. (My slot should be mid-day, on Saturday.) I will also be a featured guest speaker (again, via teleseminar) at the Charlotte, North Carolina Back To The Basics convention on November 16, 2013. (This event was formerly known as Charlotte PrepCon.)    o o o Don H. …



Notes from JWR:

It was sad to hear of the passing of ace fighter pilot Robbie Risner. For more than seven years, it was Risner who was both the senior ranking officer and the spiritual leader of the Americans imprisoned at the Hanoi Hilton. Due in large part to Risner’s leadership, the will of the American POW contingent was never broken. — October 30th is thought to be the birthday of President John Adams, in 1735. (Some sources cite his birth date as October 19, 1735.) — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,500+ …


A Terrifying Awakening, by Mike C.

“My grandpa taught me how to live off the land, and his taught him to be a businessman.” Remember those words from “A Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams, Jr.?  Those lines are the story of my life.  I was born just outside of San Francisco in 1963.  I was raised overseas and lived in Singapore, a nation where possession of guns by citizens was (and is) illegal.   The extent of my outdoor life was exploring what was left of the jungles around our home, and digging up WW2 relics (casings, helmets, hubcaps etc.)  I returned to the US …


Letter Re:Your Two Foot Bugout

The recent SurvivalBlog article titled “Your Two Foot Bugout” raises some interesting points. The author describes a plan to bugout on foot, using a baby stroller to carry essential gear. That’s reminiscent of the Pushcart Mormons who traveled from Iowa City to Salt Lake City in the mid 19th century. More than 250 of the immigrants died along the way, and any plan to evacuate the Phoenix area by foot would risk difficulty at least as severe. The author describes a plan to leave Phoenix by foot in order to avoid traffic gridlock. He plans to walk alongside a canal, …


Two Letters Re: The Blackout Docudrama

James, To respond to the recent letter about the fictional Blackout show:   I too was annoyed with the way they portrayed some of the people in the story but after thinking about it I am afraid that this is how a lot of the people will act.    The prepper is the story obviously had no idea what he was doing.  I think they portrayed an arm-chair prepper with more resources than street smarts spot on.  First of all letting his young son patrol the perimeter in the middle of the night while he is nice and cozy in bed …


Economics and Investing:

Tiberius Used Quantitative Easing To Solve The Financial Crisis Of 33 AD Detroit Pensioners Face Miserable 16 Cent On The Dollar Recovery Setting the Dollar up for a fall: In Fed and Out, Many Now Think Inflation Helps. (Thanks to John E. for the link.) Perpetual Assets Interviews James Wesley Rawles Items from The Economatrix: Gas Prices Slip Below $3 In Missouri Unemployment Falls But Hiring Slows Wal-Mart Moms Vent On Economy And ‘Disgusting’ Politics


Odds ‘n Sods:

The folks at Prepper Press wrote to mention that they’ve released a new book by author Tony Grice. It is titled Indivisible: With Justice for Some (Volume 1.) Coincidentally, that increases their generous writing contest prize package from 22 books to 23 books.    o o o G.G. suggested this article: ‘We’ve reached the end of antibiotics’: Top CDC expert declares that ‘miracle drugs’ that have saved millions are no match against ‘superbugs’ because people have overmedicated themselves    o o o Ender’s Game is scheduled for release on November 1st. I hope that Hollywood didn’t mess up a great …



Notes from JWR:

Today is the first anniversary Superstorm Sandy, which caused an estimated $50 Billion in damage and resultant lost productivity. I’m hopeful that Americans learned something about infrastructure fragility from that event, and have been stocking up, teaming up , and training up, accordingly. — This is the birthday of Vermont Garrison, a legendary fighter pilot who fought in three wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was born in 1915 and died February 14, 1994, in Mountain Home, Idaho. — It is also the birthday of famed World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin (Born 1921, died January 22, 2003.) Oh, and …


Using Auctions, Goodwill and Second Hand Stores to Stockpile Prepping Supplies at Bargain Prices, by Chris M.

I was unexpectedly laid off two years ago.  Although I eventually landed another position after months of searching, losing my job was perhaps the most humbling and painful experience I’ve been through in recent years.   Truth be told, I was also bitter.  The frustrations of hunting for a new job in a tough market, starting up a sideline family business and wondering where in the world my family of six will end up really began to take their toll.  I sorely needed a distraction and an excuse get out of the house! On a whim, I started going to auctions. …