Year: 2013

Letter Re: Drawing the Line on Noncompliance with Unconstitutional Laws

Hello Mr. Rawles,  As an avid reader of your blog I felt compelled to send this email. I noticed again in your Sunday blog that your telling people to not register there firearms. While that may be easy advise for someone living in a free state, those of us who can’t relocate due to various reasons and live in Progressive hell holes like myself (in Connecticut) find that advise to be very dangerous. If you do not register your firearms here and get caught with them after our new unconstitutional new “laws” go into effect, it’s a class “D” felony …


Letter Re: Chicken and Beef Bouillon Without MSG

Hello, I would like to point out to everyone that even though the Better Than Bouillon labels say “NO ADDED MSG” it does still contain some MSG. Those of us who are made very ill by MSG have learned to triple check all listed ingredients. Here is a quote from Food Renegade that explains this better than I can: “Hydrolyzed soy protein is an ingredient that always contains MSG! (source) Because the manufacturer didn’t add an ingredient called “mono-sodium glutamate,” they can “truthfully” claim “No MSG added” on their label. Yet, nothing is stopping them from adding ingredients that contain MSG. In …


News From The American Redoubt:

Ministry Opportunities in The American Redoubt Several readers have written to mention these current ministry opportunities in the American Redoubt region. Pray hard! One of these might be the right fit for you, by God’s providence. Idaho: Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum, Idaho has a Youth Director opening, Full-time. E-mail your resume to: office@pcbw.org or mail it to PCBW, P.O. Box 660, Ketchum ID, 83340. First Presbyterian Church Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has an opening for a Director of Children and Family Ministries. E-mail: office@cdafirstpres.org. Woodland Friends Church, near Kamiah, Idaho is seeking a pastor. (Originally a Quaker …


Economics and Investing:

Getting ready for a cashless society? France Prohibits Sending Currency, “Coins And Precious Metals” By Mail The Maduro era: Venezuela hit by fears of hyperinflation and recession Silver Prices: Paper, Physical and the Coin Dealer FDIC closes North Las Vegas bank; will reopen under different ownership Items from The Economatrix: Financial Insider:  “We Are Moving Into The Last Stages Before An All-Out Collapse” Greenspan: Taper Now, Even If Economy Not Ready; Marc Faber: Even QE99 Won’t Help Us May Jobs Reports “Pleased No One” Says Paulsen


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim W. sent: The Obama Administration Plans to End All Federal Protection of Gray Wolves    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson has released two new humorous T-Shirts that are bound to be the height of fashion at gun shows and at shooting ranges: Soliliqy and AK Impact.    o o o Two more of Mike Bloomberg’s “crime-fighting” mayors are in hot water. The latest headlines: Mayor gives home makeover documents to grand jury and E. Orange council demands mayor Bowser resign after he admits to sexual affair in legal papers. Twice-convicted Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is …



Note from JWR:

I heard that fellow blogger Ron (a.k.a. “The Orange Jeep Dad“) will soon be leaving Phoenix, Arizona and moving his wife and family (they have six daughters) to their old family farm in Oklahoma. Established in the late 1800s, it has been abandoned since the 1980s when his grandfather became ill. Ron promises to blog about the entire adventure and include videos of how he and his family learn to farm, raise livestock, homestead, and homeschool. We wish Ron and his family the best for their move. Their new life will be quite a ride. And as one who has …


How Can We Be “Antigovernment”?

Recently, I was falsely labeled “antigovernment” by the SPLC, and that prompts me to post some clarifying remarks: There is a huge difference between being “antigovernment” and being someone who insists that our government remain our government and that it abide by the law of the land. Constitutional rights are not negotiable. In our system of government–a Constitutional Republic–we are a nation of laws, with the consent of the governed. In effect, we govern ourselves, through our elected representatives and our appointed officials. Or at least that is how it is supposed to work. I am not a “subject” of …


Betsy’s Book Review: The Prepper’s Cookbook by Tess Pennington

Publisher:  Ulysses Press, Berkeley, California. Copyright: 2013 ISBN:  978-1-61243-129-1 223 pages Available on Amazon or eBay for between $10 and $15 I received The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals as a copy for review. Tess Pennington made the assumption that the reader of her cookbook is new to prepping.  She goes step by step and explains why to prep, why to be proactive, and how to afford food preps. Also covered are economic prepping, the just-in-time grocery store concept, how to begin to stockpile, and rotating supplies. Additionally, she explains “essential …


Michael Z. Williamson’s Product Review: Brite Strike LED Tactical Balls

I’m reviewing the Brite Strike LED Tactical Balls® RID-3, Rolling Illuminated Distraction and Disorientation Device. Awkward name aside, these are an interesting item. The LED balls come as a set of three, in a black nylon pouch with a MOLLE-compatible belt loop and Velcro closure.  They activate with a push button on the back, which is readily locatable by touch.  Once lit, you roll them into an area and they tumble, sending bright light in several directions each. RID-3 are a low-level substitute for a flash bang device, being less distracting, but much safer.  Brite Strike publicizes this fact; they …


Pat’s Product Review: Montie Gear Ultra-Lightweight Knife

Over the years I’ve probably handled and tested well over a thousand different knife designs. I know a lot about knives. I look for quality materials in knives, then I look at their intended purpose, as well as the carry system – be they folders with pocket clips, or fixed blade knives with sheaths. I also look at the design of a knife, and I look at the price point, too. I test knives for sharpness and durability – do they do what they are supposed to do?   Some time ago, I wrote an article on the Montie Gear …


Letter Re: Chicken and Beef Bouillon Without MSG

  Hi Jim,  I was in Costco yesterday and noticed that they now stock chicken and beef bouillon that has no MSG. Some people try to avoid MSG because it gives them headaches. I like to avoid it for health reasons, since it’s been shown that MSG is an excitotoxin–a nasty chemical that may cause humans to develop brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. No thanks! The Bouillon in question is sold under the “Better Than Bouillon” brand, and I think bullion will store very well for at least five years, making it a great addition to our food storage …


California’s Draconian Gun Legislation: The Beat Goes On, and On

California State Senator Tom Berryhill (who represents a far-flung conservative district up in the lightly-populated Sierras) recently sent an e-mail with a depressingly long list of pending Democrat-sponsored gun legislation in People’s Republic of California: Senate Bill (S.B.) 47 (Yee, D-San Francisco) Changes the definition of “assault weapon” to include a firearm which is a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle or semiautomatic pistol that does not have a detachable magazine. S.B. 53 (DeLeon, D-Los Angeles) Dubbed the “ammo purchase permit bill”, this legislation creates new state permits that require background checks for buyers of ammunition. S.B. 108 (Yee, D-SF) Requires ‘safe’ storage …


Letter Re: Sugardyne for Wound Treatment

Hi James, I’m sure you’ve heard of this–but on the off chance you haven’t, you definitely need to: The miraculous wound-healing benefits of a goop made from sugar and betadine (povidone iodine–available cheaply everywhere). You mix together and make a paste, which can be packed into deep wounds and gouges. Some people refer to it as “sugardine.” Not everyone knows that sugar alone has been used for hundreds of years as an effective gunshot wound treatment. The high osmotic gradient it promotes attracts and traps bacteria–and animal cells are better able to withstand high osmotic conditions than bacterial cells. The …


Letter Re: Free Food: How I Found it and What I’ve Done With it

Jim, The writer of the “Free Food” article wrote that she had not found a good way to preserve avocados and in the next paragraph wrote that she had not had success dehydrating citrus fruit. If that citrus fruit is lemon or lime, it is part of the answer as to what to do with those avocados! I ordered a box of avocados prior to having a large gathering of friends and family for a long weekend. A personal tragedy prompted several of my guacamole eating guests to depart days early, so I had to think fast as to what …