Year: 2013

Two Letters Re: Keeping Cash and Tangibles at Home

Sir: We have had cash on hand since Y2K, which became 9/11 cash, then 2008 crash cash. I agree with the author to be careful, because depositing/withdrawing or spending large amounts of cash can trigger a report to the authorities due to the Patriot Act, or cause other problems. My own example is: In 2008 I withdrew $7,500 and closed an account at a failing bank. This money sat “under the mattress” so to speak, until just  a few months ago when I decided to purchase a small second home, using this cash as part of the down payment. I had about $5,000 left of the cash …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this, and I also saw it linked at The Drudge Report: Stockton bankruptcy can move forward, judge rules. This sets a precedent,so other large cities may follow suit. How are those muni bonds doing for your? Storing Silver for the Next Generation US Household income continues to fall in midst of recovery: Since the recession started median household income is down 7.3 percent. File Under “No Great Surprise Dept.”: New Yorkers Enjoy Less Freedom Than Residents In Any Other State In U.S. Cyberattacks Seem Meant to Destroy, Not Just Disrupt Items from The Economatrix: Top Banks Investigated …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Coming up this Sunday (April 7, 2013) in Orlando, Florida at the Days Inn conference center, JRH Enterprises is hosting Survival Medicine I: From the ground up. You can register ahead of time or pay at the door. Bring a friend or family member and save $25.    o o o Utah’s ‘real-life Davy Crockett’ captured after five YEARS on the run for stealing from mountain cabins and taunting police.(Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o Kansas couple: Indoor gardening prompted pot raid. [JWR’s Comments: This events echoes some OPSEC warnings that have previously been published in …



Note from JWR:

Today we present the first entry for Round 46 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 …


A Short Review of a Complex Document: Armageddon Online, by Old Bobbert

I saw the link in the March 23rd  “Odds & Sods” to 297 free online reference books at Armageddon Online and began to drool with excitement powered by anticipation and saved the link to my desktop. Two days later, while sitting at my desk finishing off a small tube of Albuteral in my nebulizer, I finally followed up on that wonderful impulse to get something good for me for free. I soon found that “free” was actually $5, a small fee supported quite well by an apologetic explanation of the onslaught of used bandwidth when offered for free. We all …


Two Letters Re: Pre-Trib Rapture Doctrine and Preparedness

Howdy; I’ve been researching the ‘rapture’ for a while now. I discovered that they all have something in common with the three theory’s of evolution. Each proves the other two wrong. My take is that I’m not smart enough to know Gods mind and it really don’t matter. When it happens it will happen. The bible says that he will come like a thief in the night. We are told to be working until he comes. So be it. I will prepare and prep as I can’t be effective if we’re starving because we didn’t heed the warnings in his …


News From The American Redoubt:

Reader H.L. sent: Montana Governor Vetoes State Nullification of Federal Gun Grab. Sounds like Montana needs a new Governor. Oh well, at least there are a lot of Sheriffs there with some backbone.    o o o Some folks have jumped on the band wagon and now tout Tennessee as “The Redoubt of the East.” But violent crime statistics suggest that the American Redoubt is a much safer place to live. And the difference in the relative risk of being robbed at gunpoint is even more pronounced. (Granted, the state’s crime problem is concentrated in its three largest cities: Memphis, …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent: Marc Faber Spells it all out in 6 minutes Karl Denninger warns against adopting the Bitcoin currency: BitCon: Don’t. JWR’s Comments: I use Bitcoin strictly for privacy, convenience, and as an alternative to PayPal, which has anti-gun management. (We accept Bitcoins for Ten Cent Challenge subscriptions.) I never let more than 15 BTC accumulate in my wallet. Bitcoins are not an “investment.” Since they have no tangible backing whatsoever, there is a potential for a Bitcoin crash. And, of course, if the Internet ever goes “poof”, then so will your BTC balance. If you want to invest your …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reminder: The Get Prepared Expo will be held April 6-7, in Lebanon, Missouri. I will be one of the featured speakers (via teleconference.) I will be on from 11AM to 1 PM on Saturday April 6th. They will have 100 exhibits and 80 of their 1-hour seminars – running six at a time for two days.    o o o Apparently it is fine for Veep Joe Biden to proclaim “Get a shotgun”, but then when it is suggested that they actually be handed out to lowly peasants in Texas and Arizona in neighborhoods where they are most needed to …



Note from JWR:

I’ve never been one for pranks, so don’t look for any hidden “joke” articles in SurvivalBlog on April Fool’s Day. April 1st is better recognized as the birthday of Arthur W. Pink (born 1886, died 15 July 1952.) He was a Christian evangelist and outstanding Reformed Biblical scholar. It was his meticulously referenced arguments in his book The Soverignty of God that first convinced me of the truth of the doctrine of Election.


Writing Contest Winners, and a New Prize

We’ve completed the judging for for Round 45 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize goes to Lockstich for Industrial Sewing Machines for Prepared Families which was posted on February 8, 2013. He will receive: 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 …


T.M. in Arkansas Book Review: A History of Warfare

A History of Warfare © 1993 by John Keegan Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN: 0-394-58801-0            Available in paperback and eBook The copy I read is the first edition hardback. There are 64 photos and illustrations, a lengthy bibliography, 18 pages of notes, and a nicely done index. Recommended for both male and female high school students, and older. A History of Warfare was first published ten years ago, but has no expiration date as shown by now being available on your eBook reader. It is indeed timeless. The author gave us two dozen books in his career before …


Pat’s Product Review: Italian Gun Grease

In more than 45 years of shooting, I’ve tried just about every kind of lube and gun cleaner on the market. Some work a little better than others, and some don’t work very well at all. Anyone who is serious about taking care of their firearms, for self-defense, combat, military missions or survival, had better take very good care of their firearms. If you don’t properly care for your weapons, they will fail you, just when you need them the most. I couldn’t tell you the number of students who have trained under me, who have had their firearms fail …