Year: 2013

Letter Re: Declining Aquifers

Hello Mr. Rawles, I am a great fan of your work and I eagerly anticipate the release of your new novel.   I live in rural Northeastern Colorado, where both sides of my family settled in the 1870s.  The mid-sized ranch, 1,900 acres, that I live on has been owned by my family for 104 years.  I raise cattle, goats, horses and hay along with my dad, my wife and kids.  I also have a “government job” in local emergency services to help make ends meet.    I read the recent article by Denise Chow of Live Science, titled Water Woes: …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Mike H. sent: Silver Outshines Everything in the Market During August The Case For Why Silver Is Better Than Gold Smoking gun? Spreadsheet of high-profile hires found Items from The Economatrix: Is the Housing Recovery Still On Track? Get Ready For A ‘Massive Interest Rate Shock’ Soon The Global Financial Death Spiral?


Odds ‘n Sods:

R.H. kindly sent us the full scoop on Maryland’s new ban on semi-auto rifles and standard capacity magazines that goes into effect in one month (October 1, 2013.) Vote with your feet, if you can. But if you can’t, then stock up, soon!    o o o Common Household Items that Add Hundreds of Dollars to Energy Bills. [JWR’s Comment: Don’t overlook the umpteen power cubes (AC to DC transformers) throughout your house. By simply plugging them in to a $5 power strip you can turn off those “wall warts” with the flick of a switch when they aren’t in …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from …


Note from JWR:

Today we present Part 2 of a four-part 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 …


Stuff Hitting the Fan: A Position Paper – Part 2, by R.L.

(Continued from Part 1) Level I Scenario In these paragraphs, we will look at the areas of primary and secondary importance as they can be managed in a Level I scenario. Water A person needs around two gallons per day for cooking and rudimentary cleaning.  For short term emergencies it may be possible to store up two weeks or more water, that much should be stored up anyway.  When you store water, treat it with iodine or Clorox or boil (iodine is better, boiling is best) and rotate water stores every six months, see level II instructions for disinfecting ratios.  …


Letter Re: Some Advice for Those Strapped for Time

Dear Sir: I have been reading your blog for several years but have not been able to convince my dear husband to stop laughing at me until very recently. We are very busy people with full time+on call sort of jobs, three busy kids and I’m also a full time student as well. We consider our time as important as our money. I know there are others reading that haven’t started yet due to lack of ‘spare time’. I have begun utilizing the ‘Subscribe and Save’ feature on Amazon.com. This feature allows me to pick out items we need to …


Economics and Investing:

Jason in Kansas alerted me to this: More Executive Orders on guns: Administration announces new gun control measures, targets military surplus imports. There probably will be more Executive Orders. (Jason opines that will most likely come just after the November mid-term elections, and I concur.) As I’ve mentioned before, I believe that BHO has set a priority on banning the importation of magazines that hold more than 10 cartridges. So stock up on imported full-capacity magazines, ASAP. If there is a ban, then they will be a great investment. (Depending on the wording of a ban, their prices may triple …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Elbert suggested: Improvised Weapons of Syria    o o o No room in their hearts for charity? It Is Illegal To Feed The Homeless In Cities All Over The United States.    o o o I’m discouraged that even though several of my novels have been best-sellers, no Hollywood production company has picked up the movie rights. If you know anyone at a decision making level with a Hollywood studio, or an independent (“indie”) producer, please let them know about the availability of the rights to my novels. (I can ask my agent to send review copies of my books …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Given the razor’s edge the financial system now teeters on, analysts estimate a Treasury Bond interest rate of 3.5% is about where a death spiral begins. Of all the 10-year Treasuries held in the world, the Federal Reserve owns a bit less than a third. Should the interest rate tick up toward its normal 4% to 6%, the Fed would need to “print money” just to break even, meaning more bonds need to be issued to put it into play. What seemed “manageable” is transformed into a runaway, self-compounding event. Rising interest rates also trigger serious effects outside the bond …


Notes from JWR:

JRH Enterprises has started their big Labor Day Weekend sale on New Gen 3+ Pinnacle autogated ITT/Exelis PVS-14 night vision monocular/scopes with five year warranty. In addition to all the standard accessories, JRH is also including for a free weapons mount and and free shuttered eye guard with this unit, all for just $2,595. — Today we present Part 1 of a four-part 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.) …


Stuff Hitting the Fan: A Position Paper – Part 1, by R.L.

The United States of America is a very resilient country; that is to say, the people of the United States are a very resilient people.  But, stuff happens and our current crop of politicians seems determined to drive us into the ground with their short-sighted and self-serving policies.  The purpose of this paper is to briefly identify some possible trouble spots, and suggest a few remedial type actions to help prepare for any adverse consequences of catastrophic failures induced by pin head politicians.  Most of the current problems we face have their origin firmly rooted in, and are fertilized by, …


Letter Re: Custom Magazine Pouches

Greetings Sir, I read your post concerning magazine pouches for some of the more obscure weapons systems favored by many in our community. I’m not sure if the demand is there to justify a full production run of the pouches you mention, but we do produce very limited custom articles from time to time for clients with specific needs. If you would like a truly custom, American made product to fit the systems you mentioned, we would be glad to provide that service for you. Your input will completely drive the design, including, the products style, color, material, mode of function, attachment …


Economics and Investing:

Not Your Land! – California City Wants To Seize Mortgages – Stuart Varney Items from The Economatrix: Wealth Distribution In US Rivals A Modern Day Gilded Age: In 2013 Wealth Inequality At Record Levels. 72 Percent Of Wealth In US Held By 5 Percent Of The Population. Will 8th Time Be The Charm For $1,400 Gold? Economy Recovers, Income Doesn’t


Odds ‘n Sods:

B.B. sent this encouraging news: Missouri Set to Nullify All Federal Gun Laws. I hope that they are successful and that this becomes model legislation.    o o o M.B. suggested a new piece of short fiction by Matt Bracken over at the WRSA site: Alas, Brave New Babylon    o o o Massive Drill Planned to Test Resiliency of U.S. Electric Grid.    o o o F.G. recommended both this article and this same training discipline for civilian shooters: ‘This is not your rifle:’ Marines take foreign weapons instructor course    o o o A spectacular OPSEC Fail: Look inside: …