Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.” – Ecclesiastes 10:2-6 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 38 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 $275 …


Building an Armed Response Kit, by Madduck

Nearly everyone into prepping have a bug out bag (BOB) the contents vary from person to person, but mainly they allow the carrier to have what they think they will need to survive at least 72 hours. If needed they will provide food, water, shelter, perhaps some medical items, and maybe some self defense items, in the interim of waiting for help  or getting to another location. The  BOB is usually limited to a limited armed response, and anyone that has to Get Out Of Dodge (G.O.O.D.) would be better served in getting loaded and moving, rather than finishing the …


Letter Re: Western Nebraska as a Retreat Locale

James, As a regular SurvivalBlog reader and a prepper, I would like to say western Nebraska is as close to the American Redoubt without being there. I have considered the reasons you have not include Nebraska, and though they are valid for eastern and central Nebraska, I believe if you stick to the western section, the Platte River Valley and the Sand Hills offer an attractive option. The main things I find appealing, inexpensive fertile crop land, good plentiful clean water, a plethora of wildlife (Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, and Turkey) great fishing holes everywhere, and few people per …


Letter Re: How to Drain an Abscess

Mr Rawles, The letter from Lonestar Doc about skin abscesses is both appropriate and essential. I would like to add a few points that may not have been clear. 1. Never squeeze (pinching between fingers with force) an abscess trying to get it to pop (remember your mother’s admonishments about pimples?) Squeezing may be successful in getting pus to come out, but you force the bacteria and toxins into deeper tissues and possibly blood vessels which may cause distant secondary infections. In certain areas like the face, it could be a lethal complication. If an area seems to be draining, …


Economics and Investing:

Jim M. sent me this: Citi: Euro Collapse Would Spark Global Depression, Push Unemployment Above 20% G.G. sent this: MF Global fallout delays U.S. farm seed, land deals Copper theft becomes a crisis for public agencies. (Thanks to reader S.B. for the link.) Daniel M. suggested a sobering piece by John Stossel: Ten Years to Greece   Standard & Poor’s to Eurozone: Fix It or Else… Items from The Economatrix: USPS Slowdown, 100,000 to Lose Jobs Many Americans Already Done with Holiday Shopping Soros:  Global Financial System In “Self-Reinforcing Process Of Disintegration” Jim Willie:  “The Public Will Not Wake Up …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Grace H. pointed me to a wonderful mapping site for soil surveys.  This is an ideal tool for anyone researching retreat locales. Just type in a locale name.     o o o I was doing some web wandering and found an interesting piece: Former “Seasteaders” Come Ashore To Start Libertarian Utopias In Honduran Jungle. And from there, I found a link to this fascinating page: A Map Of Where All 7 Billion Humans Are Cramming Together. Note that the dot sizing used is counterintuitive–the larger the dots, the fewer people. (This illustration certainly adds credence to my exhortation to Go …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Decency, security, and liberty alike demand that government officials shall be subject to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen. In a government of laws, existence will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. if the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law, it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. To declare that in the administration of the criminal law the …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 38 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 $275 …


How to Drain an Abscess, by Lonestar Doc

Most of us have heard of them and many of us have had to creep surreptitiously to the nearest emergency room to have one drained. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, someone is going to have to do the dirty deed and take care of the darn thing. This is a short description on how to try to fix an abscess and to determine when do you really need to break into the antibiotic storage? I must warn you you up front, do not do this if there is any other option. If there is medical care available, they are the ones …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this: UBS’ Advice on What to Buy in Case of Eurozone Breakup: “Precious Metals, Tinned Goods and Small Calibre Weapons” Also over at Zero Hedge: Rumor Meet News: S&P to Put All 17 Euro Nations on Downgrade Watch. (Thanks to Keeley for the link.) Lord Stevens: youth unemployment will fuel disorder on the streets. Chris Martenson and James Turk talk about the Global Debt Explosion, Europe, and Derivatives. Martenson asks: “How do you un-wind $600 trillion to $1 quadrillion in derivatives?” Richard Russell: Expect a Jolt in Commodity Prices in the Near Future Items from The Economatrix: Fed …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Texas Drought Visible in New National Groundwater Maps. (Thanks to L. M. for the news tip.)    o o o Pierre M. sent us a tale of the Hegelian Dialectic, Perfected: Documents: ATF used “Fast and Furious” to make the case for gun regulations    o o o File under Poor Choice of Targets: Mugger left bloodied after attempt on MMA fighter. (A hat tip to J. McC. for the link.)    o o o House Busters: Television Stunt Goes Awry, Sends Cannonball Rocketing Through Homes. Just because a technology is old doesn’t make it ineffective.    o o o …



Notes from JWR:

Today marks Pearl Harbor Day — December 7, 1941, 70 years ago today. My Quote Of The Day comes from the lyrics of the song Smoke On The Water. (No, not the better-known song of the same name by Deep Purple.) This one dates from 1944, by Western Swing singer Red Foley. I suppose that many in the Kumbaya crowd would consider the lyrics politically incorrect. With the World War II generation now nearly gone, it is time to reflect. I, for one, have not forgotten their sacrifice. — The following another entry for Round 38 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction …


Self-Sufficiency Gardening in Climate Zones 8 and 9, by David G.

Unemployment is rampant. The government is bankrupt. Foreclosures are everywhere. And one day soon, you may find your local grocery store has closed and shut off your supply of Hot Pockets. Most of us have never had to grow our own food. Those that have grown their own generally do it as a hobby – or as a way to get a vine-ripened tomato without selling a kidney.. Climate zones 8 and 9 [found in much of Arizons, parts of Florida, and the regions at the north end of California’s Central Valley] are not a gardening paradise. If you go …