Economics and Investing:

Things are looking more like my novels with every passing day. Here are the latest headlines… Stocks tank as Greece admits it won’t hit targets. Mentioned over at Don’t Tread On Me: 2011 US Mint Silver Set To Have Bigger Sales Than ’86 to ’92, combined! Are Hedge Fund Managers Dumping Gold Assets To Raise Cash? Four (4) Market Signs Signaling A Recession John R. kindly sent me a whole bunch ‘o links: The Dollar and Reserve Currency (Martin Armstrong)  Debt Men Talking (Richard Webb)   Batten Down The Hatches, A Big Storm’s Coming (Dave Cohen) The FINal Countdown (over …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Shortages Lead Doctors To Ration Critical Drugs. (A hat tip to Brian D. for the link.)    o o o Couple recovering from home bear attack. Important safety tip: Keep a loaded gun handy at all times, for both two-legged and four-legged predators! (Thanks to F.J. for the link.)    o o o Fed Plan to Consolidate Power Over Nation’s Power Highway Has States Nervous    o o o A bit more truth comes out: ATF Fast and Furious: New documents show Attorney General Eric Holder was briefed in July 2010. Meanwhile, we read: Whitehouse Document Dump Raises Possibility of …



Notes from JWR:

Tomorrow (October 4th) is Book Bomb Day for my latest novel “Survivors”. Please wait until midnight, Pacific time to place your order. The book is already ranked #170 in overall sales rank and #23 in Amazon’s “Action Adventure” books category. I’m hopeful that it will get in to the Top 20, overall, and the Top Three in the Action Adventure category. (There is some weighty competition, with authors like CJ Lyons, Stieg Larsson, George R.R. Martin, K.C. May, and Brett Battles.) At least my book won’t be competing against multiple “Twilight” vampire novels, like “Patriots” was, on its release day. …


Pat’s Product Reviews: SOG Knives – SEAL Knife 2000 and SEAL Pup

Pat’s Product Review: SOG  Knives – SEAL Knife 2000 & SEAL Pup SOG Knives makes some of the best cutlery around, bar none! I’ve been using their knives for many years, and have never been let down by any of ’em, including their multi-tools. My youngest daughter, who is a Combat Medic in the US Army, carries a SOG folding knife everyday – that says a lot! I’ve had several SurvivalBlog readers write and ask me to do a review on the SOG Seal Team and SOG SEAL Pup fixed blade knives, and I’m happy to oblige.   The SOG SEAL …


Letter Re: Lessons From Wayward Motorists

Mr. Rawles: Here is a quote from a recent news story: “A 67-year-old man found alive days after his car plunged 200 feet off a mountain road built a makeshift camp, ate leaves and drank water from a nearby creek to survive, his daughter said.” Interesting. “Non Life Threatening Injuries”!  Lessons learned: (1) Leave a trail of breadcrumbs? Let folks know where you’re going, your route, and when to expect a check-in. This lesson is oft repeated in stories of fatalities. (2) Put some water in your car’s backseat. Hook the seat belt to it so it doesn’t become a missile. Plan …


Economics and Investing:

World is heading for ‘Great Stagnation’, says Goldman “It’s Going to Get a Lot Worse”: ECRI’s Achuthan Says New Recession Unavoidable. (Thanks to Alan W. for the link.) J.B.G. sent this: Protectionism beckons as leaders push world into Depression Erik B. spotted this article: Greece to Miss Deficit Targets Imposed by Lenders as Part of Bailout Texas Bank Is Closed; U.S. 2011 Failures at 74. (Link courtesy of G.G.)


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader C.D.V. kindly sent me a map of the most rural counties in the U.S., compiled by Purdue University. This map is a great tool to help in selecting retreat locales. By the way, you can right-click to zoom in on the map. Do you notice a correlation with my designated American Redoubt states? Interesting. (And BTW, here is the source page and there is an accompanying Rural-Metropolitan Levels map, and here is the key for the second map. And it is also interesting to correlate that data with the Frontier designation of some counties.    o o o The …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We’ve all had to rewrite the scripts of our lives the last few weeks, we’ve learnt a lot and we’ve had to figure out what’s important, what matters – what really matters. Its been quite a time.” – Caitlin Stasey as Ellie Linton in the film Tomorrow When the War Began, (Screenplay by John Marsden and Stuart Beattie.)


Notes from JWR:

Just two days to Book Bomb Day! Tuesday (October 4th) is Book Bomb Day for my latest book “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse”. Please wait until Tuesday to place your order, so that the book will get a big boost in Amazon’s sales ranks. (When I last checked, “Survivors” was already ranked at #152 in Amazon books (overall), and #20 in the “Action Adventure” category.) Thanks! — Today we present the first entry for Round 37 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This …


Some Seed Saving Advice, by Lydia S.

Currently I have a couple hundred tomato seeds in my supplies. For the moment, I am focusing on cv. “Raincross Rock” as that is saved seed for a variety I happen to be developing. If I continue to grow and save this variety each year, those few seeds pretty much means that my friends and family (and hopefully many generations into the future) will be assured of a bounty of tomatoes each year. Such is the promise of seed saving! However, not every plant in every place is a great candidate for seed saving. Plants have rules, too, and while …


Letter Re: Another Job Opportunity in The American Redoubt

Sir, I’m a country kid who never knew other people were hopelessly dependent on “the system”. I got interested in being prepared while serving as a US Marine during a Mountain Warfare and Survival course in Bridgeport, California. I now live in Wyoming which has just opened up concealed carry to responsible citizens without having to have permit. While reading your books you’ve talked about employment near a retreat in the American Redoubt. I work for the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC). They pay very well and offer a retirement following 20 years of service. New officers start out at about $17 …


Six Letters Re: Thinking About Weapons

James, I agree with your critiques of Jon W.’s article, so I won’t belabor those points.  There are a couple of points Jon makes that I would like to add to:   First, since Jon is taking a very practical approach to the weapon consideration and refers to his family, and to the possibility of fleeing with what you can carry, my response will continue in that direction.  I’ve considered weapon choice very much and come to some of the same conclusions. However, I personally disagree with the AR as the only platform.  AKs are extremely common in the united …


Economics and Investing:

F.G. flagged this from The Wall Street Journal: House Is Gone but the Debt Lives On Max Keiser provides some manic comments on the European debt crisis, the Euro, bailouts, the ECB, the Fed and the potential loss of sovereignty for some nations on the European periphery. CNN: Forecast says double-dip recession is imminent. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) Jonathan B. sent this: How to Stop a Second Great Depression. (Note that this is coming from globalist billionaire George Soros, so don’t be surprised to see “more government” as the proffered solution.) John R. sent the link to this interesting …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Gun crime continues to decrease, despite increase in gun sales. ‘ Here is a brief quote: “The FBI recently released its Crime in The United States statistics for 2010. Overall, murders in the U.S. have decreased steadily since 2006, dropping from 15,087 to 12,996. Firearms murders — which made up 67 percent of all murders in the U.S. in 2010 — have followed this trend, decreasing by 14 percent.” The statists don’t like hearing that “More guns equal less crime”, but facts are facts.    o o o Generator Sales Surge After Recent Wave of Storms. (Thanks to K.A.F. for …