Month: November 2014


Notes for Tuesday – November 25, 2014

November 25th is the birthday of economist and comedian Ben Stein. His unscripted monologue on economics from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of the most memorable scenes in American cinema. By the way, Stein spends part of each year at his second home in Sandpoint, Idaho, so he is an honorary Redoubter. I’ve heard that he plans to retire here. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, …


The Accidental Prepper, by J.C.

This isn’t as much of a “how to” as it is a “how I have done it” in the spirit of sharing my “experience, strength, and hope” instead of giving advice or instruction. I am a little over two years into my own serious preparations as well as recovery from my own personal TEOTWAWKI. Prior to August 12, 2012, I had been sort of a hobbyist or dabbler but mostly a self-absorbed guy. I was working 55 miles from home in my chosen career, which I will acknowledge will never be worth more than about 45K a year. My wife …


Letter Re: Human Relationships by JC

Well Hugh, What JC describes is pure citizenship. If we had a lot more of that, we would only have to prep for natural disasters. I do what JC does, but I do it from my Rotary Club. I am complimentary and polite at the tax office, election office, school office, city hall, and building department. My truck got stolen and returned a year later. The nice lady at the tag office just took my word for it and over-rode the extra fees for not having a tag. I was pulled over for no seat belt last month. Driving a …


News From The American Redoubt:

This Lewiston Tribune story was featured by the AP wire service: Men charged after Idaho Fish and Game truck taken (I was sort of believing their story, until the Tequila bottle was mentioned…) o o o Big Horn Sheep Killing: A Betrayal of Trust JWR’s Comment: So wait a minute… It was the undercover fish and game agent who killed the ram??? o o o Montana: More than 800 roadkill salvage permits issued in first year o o o I noticed that Primary Weapons Systems (PWS, in Boise, Idaho) has expanded their product line substantially. In addition to ARs and …


Economics and Investing:

State Budgets Reeling from Low Oil Prices o o o Uncle Sam is Driving Americans to Let Go of Their Citizenship o o o Economic goals of young and old pulling in diverging directions: times will only get tougher for young Americans. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Are You Better Off This Thanksgiving Than You Were Last Thanksgiving? All Eyes on Oil: What Will OPEC Do This Week?


Odds ‘n Sods:

Meet the coyote packs roaming downtown CHICAGO: Predators have adapted to city life so well more than 2,000 now call the Windy City home. – RBS o o o FAA drone rules would ban farm use and delivery services, report says . – RBS o o o The US Is Stockpiling Ebola Survivors’ Plasma to Treat Future Patients. – G.P. o o o Wolf travels hundreds of miles from the Northern Rockies to Arizona in the first sighting at the Grand Canyon since 1940 o o o CT Report Lays Groundwork for Nationwide Psychiatric Surveillance . – D.S.



Notes for Monday – November 24, 2014

JWR’s License Plate Collection I have started collecting license plates from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. My goal is to collect pairs of modern (recent issue) plates from all 50 states (or single plates from “one plate states like Florida and New Mexico.) I’m also interested in getting unusual plates, such as trailer plates, “Permanent” plates, and truck plates. And I also collect novelty front license plates that show state flags, branches of military service, and so forth. For your privacy and mine, please DO NOT send me any e-mail mentioning particular plate numbers. Also, put my address in both …


Guest Post: Self-Directing Your Retirement ~ Sheltering the Fruits of Your Labor, by Will Lehr

As we prepare our lives for the unknown, the various categories needing attention are overwhelming.  Many start with the obvious: water, food, security, defense, and self-reliance.  Once we secure our basic survival needs we almost all come to the same next dilemma: money.  How do we shelter the fruits of our labor from the coming storm?   Retirement accounts are among the largest asset for the average American.  Many people have five and six figure sums of money in these accounts.  Whether you’re concerned about a currency collapse, government theft, or complete societal breakdown, finding a good home for these …


Scot’s Product Review: Crimson Trace Rail Master Laser Sights

Crimson Trace is a Wilsonville, Oregon based company that sells laser sights and weapons lights. They have two basic strategies to attach them to firearms– dedicated ones that work with a particular model gun and universal ones, which will attach to the rails found on more and more of today’s firearms. The dedicated laser sights for handguns are subdivided into two variants– ones that are attached to the handgun’s grips and larger ones that attach to the front of the trigger guard. The ones that are part of the grip offer the most compact package and can often be used …


Recipe of the Week: Mole’s Favorite Deeper’n’Ever Turnip’n’Tater’n’Beetroot Pie

This is an easy turnip recipe we love. It’s from The Redwall Cookbook by Brian Jacques, but I tweaked it just a little. (The Redwall series of books is geared toward upper elementary/jr. high students.) The name of it is almost as good as the recipe! Ingredients: 2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and chopped (all amounts are approximate; we rarely make this exactly the same twice.) ½ lb. carrots, peeled and chopped 1 lb. turnips, peeled and chopped 12 Tbsp. butter/margarine, divided 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste (we only use pepper) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 …


Letter: Boy Shot in Cleveland

Hugh, I don’t have much experience with how the police works, considering I am only a few years older than the kid in the article. However, as a person who plays airsoft, paintball, and likes guns, I am interested in the article and your opinion. I recognize the fact that the kid had taken off the orange tip on the gun, and a good rule of thumb is to leave it on (unless you like to mod weapons like me; then you can’t help it.) Did the police have any right to shoot the kid? Come on! He is 12 …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Ready Made Resources has announced their new, offshoot company– Sunrise Holistic Solutions: An “All Natural Health & Wellness” website, operated by the owner’s wife, Roxanne Griswold, who is also a Naturopathic Doctor & Certified Natural Health Professional. One of the many benefits of buying from them is that you can actually talk to someone who understands nutrition and can help you achieve lasting health from the inside out. It is Roxanne’s desire to help equip people with the nutritional tools to stand “ready”, whatever the crisis. The website offers all-natural products, including nutritional supplements, skin & hair products, pure essential …