Recipe Of The Week:

Pumpkin Soup, by Mrs. R.L.B. Pumpkins store very well, which makes this a great recipe to have on hand. I have made this with a variety of pumpkins and other winter squash, including butternut squash, but I have also used some pretty odd looking varieties of squash out of curiosity at the store. (If it kind of looks like a pumpkin, it will probably work. ) This soup has always come out great despite my experimentation.  When you plant your pumpkins, consider planting a variety so that you have a better chance of growing and storing successfully.   Two tricks to better storage of pumpkins are: 1) to let …


Economics and Investing:

Tax Doomsday Is Coming for Amazon Why The Bernanke Effect Has Catastrophic Long-Term Consequences Items from The Economatrix: California To Run Of Out Cash In One Month:  Controller Freddie Mac Betting Against Struggling Homeowners Why Hasn’t The Day Of Financial Armageddon Occurred Yet? Europe’s “Great Deleveraging” Has Only Just Began Silver:  $50 Here We Come


Odds ‘n Sods:

I heard that Ready Made Resources will have a booth at the upcoming Dallas, Texas Self Reliance Expo on February 10th and 11th.They tell me that they will have Mountain House foods available by the case–over $30,000 worth of inventory at the show available for you to take home immediately. They will also have with them: Country Living grain mills Goal Zero solar power products, Katadyn,  and Ultimate Survival kits, as well as many others. Anyone who desires absolute privacy  can purchase there at the show without any records. (So bring plenty of cash!)    o o o Preview of …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


A Survivalist Plan of Action and a Survivalist Mindset, by Ringo

I have recently retired from the military and have began to dig deeper into the survivalist arena. I have always been interested in this area for quite some time but have not really dedicated the amount of time that I want due to job requirements, life events etc. I have been reading all the blogs, videos and write ups about prepping, survival and there are a lot of good information out there. So I decided to use my 26 years of military experience (4 yeas Infantry, 6 years Long Range Surveillance and 16 years Special Forces)  and apply pertinent concepts …


Prepping for Less and for the First Time Prepper, by Becky Bear

Recently, because of some significant financial changes in our life (including moving halfway across country, one of us unable to find work and the other getting laid off, and then getting a job at 50% of the previous salary) we are no longer able to invest as we done in the past. However, because we invested in prepping prior to our sudden reversal of fortune, what would normally happen in this type of financial emergency merely became a financial irritant. Even without 75% of our previous income, we are still able to live well and continue our prepping effort, if …


Letter Re: Insurance Companies Encourage Immunization Paternalism

<p>JWR:<br>   As a practicing physician, I would like to alert your readers to a new policy which we are beginning to see from our insurance companies.&nbsp; As these companies become increasingly paternalistic, it is important to keep abreast of just what they are requiring, especially since most of these policies are invisible from the subscribers’ viewpoint.&nbsp; What we are seeing specifically is a policy under which we (the physicians) are penalized if parents opt out of vaccines, check-ups or follow-up visits.&nbsp; </p> <p>The key here is that if you opt to follow a vaccine or check-up schedule that differs …


Two Letters Re: Melting Lead for the Meltdown

James: Anyone casting lead must understand that Molten Lead and Water or Perspiration don’t mix!   Just One Drop of Water in the Lead Pot and…BOOM, an instant steam explosion.   Casting lead is hot business.   Standing over the pot you feel one drop of perspiration run down your brow, down the bridge of your nose right to the tip and in the pot. By the time you realize what just happened, well… it’s too late.   That one little drop of sweat will most likely cause a violent explosion of molten lead all over you and every thing …


Economics and Investing:

F.G. sent us this: Number of U.S. expatriates increases 16% in 2011. Diana sent us this: States seek currencies made of silver and gold Kevin C. suggested this over at Lew Rockwell’s site: Internet Resources for the International Man Items from The Economatrix: S&P Warns Cuts Loom For G20 Nations CBO:  Taxes Will Shoot Up By More Than 30% This Year Bill Gross Explains Why “We Are Witnessing The Death Of Abundance” And Why Gold Is Becoming The Default “Store Of Value” The Experts’ View On The Euro’s Future:  There Is None Oil Prices Rise After Drop In US Hiring …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Galt’s Gulch Green Light! I just heard that Atlas Shrugged, Part 2 is set to start filming in April, with a fast-tracked (pardon the pun) release date in October, 2012. Presumably to get it in theaters before Election Day in the United States. For some reason they are re-casting the film. I should mention that I found the first film (Part 1) was fairly loyal to the original novel, and worth watching. (Thanks to Jim M. for the link. )    o o o Steve V. was the first of several to mention this piece over at Mac Slavo’s blog: …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” – Colossians 3:12-15 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


Preparing To Be Prepared, by Patricia K.

Preparation, by definition, is this: “1. the act of getting something ready. 2. a state of getting ready.” So what is it you are getting ready for? Are you taking action and making a plan? Are you stocking-up? “Sure!” you say with enthusiasm “I am a prepper!”  You boast, as you align yourself with the great people of the past that were also prepared for catastrophes and unseen calamities of their day. Today is my opportunity to give you some insight on a topic that might easily be overlooked. I want to touch on the subject of “preparedness”, specifically a …


Layering: A Practical Approach Survival and Preparedness, by J.C.

We are all survivors.  I can prove it.  If you are reading this, then you are alive and surviving.  We all survive every day.  Our home is our shelter.  We use cars for transportation.  We barter our skills in a workplace in exchange for money.  That money is then used for supplies.  And so on and so on.  Our lives are comfortable.  So what happens when that comfort is disrupted?   Chaos, insecurity, fear, anxiety, despair, alcoholism, etc…not a pretty picture. To prevail in an unfortunate situation, I believe the most important skill one must possess is the ability to adapt.  …