Year: 2016

Letter Re: Prepping for Elderly

Gentlemen, A few days ago you advised retired and elderly folks about possibly finding a young person with a back to the land mindset to help out on their property in exchange for rent of a room. Might I add that they should also consider recently discharged veterans? Most have a proven work ethic. Many of them are not able to find meaningful employment in our current economy. In a SHTF situation, they already have recent military training. Check with your local veterans service office, the DAV, and the VFW for possible prospects. – JBA


Economics and Investing:

How I Became A Gold-Bug by Hugo Salinas Price o o o What traders are buying if Trump wins o o o How Could Shift In Monetary Regime Affect The Gold Market? o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Venezuela is telling hungry city dwellers to grow their own food – Seems like something I’ve read before in a JWR novel, turning every available space into crop producing land. Buy Gold No Matter Who Wins the Election, HSBC Says – Remember, never use money you need. Having weak hands in an investment hardly ever leads to good things. o o …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity – A Pentagon Video JWR’s Comment: The dystopian predictions are based on some solid demographic trends. Urbanization will surely continue. The choice for survivalists is clear: Avoid urban areas! – JWR o o o At The Charles Carroll Society page: Support local producers, produce for yourself and then others – a homesteading theory o o o I just noticed that KeepShooting.com now has British Army Arctic Woodland (DPM pattern) Trousers back in stockBritish Army Arctic Woodland (DPM pattern) Trousers for less than $20 a pair. o o o Pirate Party Surge Falls Short as …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Steal a fish from one guy and give it to another–and keep doing that on a daily basis–and you’ll make the first guy p*ssed off, but you’ll make the second guy lazy and dependent on you. Then you can tell the second guy that the first guy is greedy for wanting to keep the fish he caught. Then the second guy will cheer for you to steal more fish. Then you can prohibit anyone from fishing without getting …


Notes for Wednesday – November 02, 2016

On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a declaration of intent to establish a Jewish homeland known as the Balfour Declaration. While Arab hostilities and the outbreak of World War II delayed the desired outcome, the Nation of Israel was eventually re-established in 1948. Today, we present another entry for Round 67 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard …


Five Things Women Need, by J.W.

My wife has a love-hate relationship with all this personal defense stuff.  She hates the idea of needing to be prepared and can’t stand that her day-to-day life is affected by potential or perceived and often unseen threats of violence, bUT she loves me.  So that means she agrees to all my training, prepping, security protocols, and most of my gear purchases.  Most? Okay, many of them. Many? Okay, fine. I just buy what I want. She gets mad for awhile and then eventually forgives me! The point of this article is to give you five things that we think …


Letter Re: Spare Tire From Hurricane Matthew Lessons Learned

Gentlemen, I really enjoyed DD’s Hurricane Matthew Lessons Learned write up. There was a lot of good stuff in there, and it gave me a couple of things to work on. One thing I can personally vouch for is the mention of your vehicle spare tire. I recently had some work done of my main vehicle, and it required the removal of the spare, which is mounted on the undercarriage. The mechanic called and said he needed to cut the bracket with a torch, as it was so corroded that he couldn’t remove the tire. If I had broken down …


Economics and Investing:

Video: This Is Gold’s Turnaround Year – Aden Sisters JWR’s Comment: I am still more bullish on silver than I am on gold. I can foresee that by around 2030 the silver-to-gold price ratio will slide back closer to the historical norm of around 16-to-1. (Presently it is around 71-to-1, making silver a huge bargain.) o o o Reader A.N. sent us this evidence over at Zero Hedge that there is another Zimbabwe in the making: Venezuela Throws In The Towel On Hyperinflation: Will Print 200x Higher-Denominated Bills o o o Also at Zero Hedge: “Recession Risk Is Rising” Fast, …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications Idaho for the Curious: A Guide Movies: Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (recommended for children and teens) Rooster Cogburn Music: The Best of Guy Clark Gloryland: 30 Bluegrass Gospel Classics Podcasts: Podcast-James Wesley Rawles – We’re Still Headed For A Cataclysmic Event – Part 1 Podcast-James Wesley Rawles – We’re Headed For A Cataclysmic Event – Part 2 Instructional Videos: A YouTube video from VikingPreparedness about mental preparedness for Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) situations: “It all happened SO FAST!” YouTube Video Collection 152 Do It Yourself Projects Using …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Video: Hicock45 test shoots, describes and field strips the TNW Aero Survival Rifle. This is a straight-blowback AR variant that uses Glock magazines. It is available chambered in .45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, 10MM, and .357 SIG. Though I’m not a fan of pistol caliber carbines, the TNW looks quite well machined and finished. However, as you can see from the video, the ergonomics of the undersize grip are so-so, and the feeding reliability appears to be highly dependent on having fully-seated magazines. – JWR o o o New social media tools empower citizen journalism. SurvivalBlog readers are strongly encouraged …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“How bad do things have to get before you do something? Do they have to take away all your property? Do they have to license every activity that you want to engage in? Do they have to start throwing you on cattle cars before you say: ‘Now wait a minute, I don’t think this is a good idea.’ How long is it going to be before you finally resist and say: ‘No, I will not comply. Period!’ Ask yourself now because sooner or later you are going to come to that line, and when they cross it, you’re going to …


Notes for Tuesday – November 01, 2016

November 1st, 1923, was the birthday of science fiction writer Gordon R. Dickson (born 1923, died January 31, 2001). Many of his novels and short stories, such as Wolf and Iron, have survivalist themes. November 1st is also the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was a prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven years in prison without a trial, the longest Federal incarceration for contempt in American history, Armstrong was finally put on trial in a proceeding that was branded as a …


October in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, by Steven Cochran of Gainseville Coins where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers. What Did Gold Do in October? October gave gold no treats. Gold started the month in the $1,335 range and ended more than $50 lower. Unexpectedly hawkish comments throughout the month from various senior officials at the Federal Reserve sent the dollar on a strong rally while depressing gold prices. The capitulation of the British …


Letter Re: Ammunition Buying OPSEC

Mr. Rawles, In response to Cliff’s e-mail regarding ammunition OPSEC, I just wanted to write in and express my firm belief that the worst thing one can do, unfortunately, is to conduct e-commerce for bulk ammo via any Internet sites. I have nothing against any of the online vendors, but their records are kept and not immune from subpoenas or government seizures. I have had particular luck with bulk ammo sales on Sunday afternoons at gun shows. The fact of the matter is that no vendor wants to carry that weight of unsold inventory back to their trailer after the …


News From The American Redoubt:

Malheur Jury Rejects the Thought Police o o o Spokane County flooded with permit requests after Supreme Court ruling o o o The good folks at Lone Wolf (in Priest River, Idaho), are now offering No-FFL required 80% complete Glock pistol frames for hobby gunsmiths. They also now make nifty AR-15 lowers that are compatible with Glock magazines. o o o If you are looking for a rifle suppressor, check out this company in Cheyenne, Wyoming: Thunderbeast Arms. o o o Soft energy markets mean more financial trouble for Wyoming. o o o Steel belting is not just for tires. …