Odds ‘n Sods:

H.H. sent a web link that illustrates what can be accomplished with simple hand tools, and plenty of sweat. Simondale: A Low Impact Woodland Home    o o o K.T. suggested this article from an Australian military journal: Che Guevara and Guerrilla Warfare: Training for Today’s Nonlinear Battlefields    o o o “Word” found this linked over at the Theo Sparks web site: Rebuild a Jeep in Under Four Minutes.    o o o A few Project Gladio secrets are revealed: NATO’s Secret Armies. What are not mentioned are the veritable mountains of cached weapons and ammunition in Europe. A …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Using an Impending Crisis to Raise the Issue of Preparedness, by S.V.

How do you bring up the issue of preparedness, and its urgency? Some people won’t listen, regardless of how you approach them. They will continue to put their faith in the government and society, convinced that what you do is paranoid, suspicious, and unnecessary. However, if they are family, and truly loved, I believe that it is necessary that we don’t give up. My brother, God bless him, is an intelligent man. He is pursuing his masters at a university located around the Washington D.C. area so that he can go to work for the Federal Government. He puts his …


Product Review: ATI Gunstocks Adjustable Hunting Stock for Pump Shotguns

ATI Gunstocks Adjustable Hunting Stock for pump shotguns are American made, well-thought out and offer a lifetime guarantee. This stock fits all three major American brands—Winchester, Remington and Mossberg pumps. It comes with stock and fore end and a bag of adapters. I first tried it on a Remington 870. For installation, you will need a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a 1/2” socket wrench. Installation is reasonably straightforward, and the instructions are quite clear with good photos that cover disassembly of the original as well. The stock easily adjusts for 13-14.5 Length Of Pull in four stops, which is good …


Letter Re: What Your Cell Phone Could Be Telling the Government

James Wesley: Regarding the recent article at the Time magazine web site that has been forwarded far and wide: What Your Cell Phone Could Be Telling the Government. Remember, this is America. While there is no better place on earth to live, you are never any more free than They allow you to believe you are at any given moment. All you can do is live out your life, raise your family, eke out some happiness, and try to affect the change that is important to you in the short time you are here. It is certainly worthwhile (and patriotic) …


Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this: IMF fears ‘social explosion’ from world jobs crisis. Here is a link to a key PDF from the study: The Challenges of Growth, Employment and Social Cohesion–Discussion Document When Will Net Energy from Fossil Fuels Peak? RBS sent this: How Debt Can Destroy a Budding Relationship. $170,000? Did Ms. Eastman do the math on how long it would take to make her college education pay for itself? Siggy sent this: Tap Dancing on A Land Mine Items from The Economatrix: How Hyperinflation Will Happen In America. (This excellent essay was originally posted in Gonzalo Lira’s blog …



Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Little accustomed as we are to stone buildings, it may be thought by many to erect such an one (sic) would be a great undertaking, yet it may be done without either great expense, nor much difficulty. Hammered or chiseled stone is adapted to public buildings, or the houses of the wealthy, and is expensive; but comfortable, decent houses may be built with common stone, such as we would use for good field walls. Such stones laid in strong mortar, will make an excellent building,either by facing the wall with stones, if fit for the purpose, or by rough casting …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Convince Your Loved Ones To Prepare–Even When They’re Kicking and Screaming, by Patriot Chick

Becoming self-sufficient during a financial meltdown is difficult enough, but trying to convince reluctant loved ones to prepare can be doubly frustrating. It’s hard to understand how anyone wouldn’t want to start stockpiling their pantries after watching the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, and more recently the devastating floods in Pakistan. We all watched the newsreels; millions of homeless and hungry fighting for a spot in breadlines. If that isn’t reason enough, the U.S. continues to be threatened with nuclear attack. Meanwhile, most of us are hanging by a gossamer thread between solvency and financial ruin. We …


Letter Re: Garage Sale Prepping

This has been covered before, but I’d like to reinforce that use of garage sales for low-key cash purchases of essential survival items. In the past two months I’ve been making weekend trips to various community garage sales – spending an average of less than $20 per weekend. Most of the items cost me less than $10 each and I often only paid $1 or $2. The following is a partial list of the haul: 2 – Complete dissection kits with scalpels, forceps, etc 1 – Craftsman toolbox, steel, in good condition 1 – 19th Century wrench 1 – Drawknife …


Letter Re: A Woman’s Perspective on Personal Self Defense

Mr. Rawles- The recent article “A Woman’s Perspective on Personal Self Defense” reminded of a situation that occurred 16 years ago. I can honestly say that the self-defense classes I took in college saved my life. I was at our local mall with my then seven month old son. We were strolling around, looking at the decorations when I noticed a guy who I thought was following me. After a little more strolling, I went into a couple of stores. Not only was the creep still following me, I caught him rubbing himself- with his hand down his pants while …


Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff Says U.S. is Powerless to Prevent Runaway Inflation, Silver to Soar to $100 US poverty on track to post record gain in 2009. It is noteworthy that in 2008, the poverty level stood at $22,025 for a family of four. But that would have been considered “upper middle class” back in the 1940s. So part of this impoverishment can be attributed to the hidden tax of currency inflation. We need a sound currency! G.G. mentioned this item: 59% of Canadians would be in trouble if their pay was delayed by a week Another step in the staircase of …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers sent this troubling article: ‘Cabbagegate’: Man Fined $5,000 for Home Garden    o o o Ham radio operators: The American Preparedness Radio Network has chats on Sunday and Thursday nights at 9 p.m. Eastern Time in the 80 meter band on (or about) 3.818 MHz. (All the usual OPSEC provisos for public venues apply.)    o o o Record U.S. Arms Deal With Saudis Advances. David in Israel notes: “This could be spun that the Arabians are purchasing arms for a confrontation with Israel or Iran. But If you use your nose for news and Follow The Money, …