Notes from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …


Preparing to Prepare: Amending Your Garden Soil, by Windwillow

If you are a newbie prepper or a veteran gardener this article may raise a number of different questions. Are you counting on growing a garden to supplement your food storage program?  Good! Okay, you have your Survival Seed Bank heirloom seeds in storage.  Now what? Are you thinking that you have a large back yard that when the time comes you will sacrifice to turn it into a garden? Good use of your backyard, but let’s get it ready before you are desperate for the food. Are you going to rent or buy a tiller when the time comes? …


Letter Re: The ABA’s Projections for the U.S. Economy

Jim: Greetings and my Compliments. I have just returned from a training meeting my employer, USDA-Rural Development. It was presented by the American Bankers Association. Bottom line, the ABA is projecting the economy not to bottom out until late in 2014. With over 90 banks already closed (in 2010) and some 775 on the the "Troubled" list, things do not look good. The troubled list has a projected 70 percent failure rate. Keep up the good work. We have a long way to go. May God Bless and keep you and your family. – Lame Wolf


Letter Re: Observations on a Gunfight in Montana

Jim: Take a look at a one-minute a video of a routine nighttime DUI stop in Hamilton, Montana that turned ugly. Listen for the first “click” as the suspect attempts to fire his .41 Magnum revolver about two inches from the officer’s nose. The “click” is the hammer dropping on an expended round in the cylinder. The second round was live, but Officer Jessop had by then recovered and made a strategic move to the rear of the vehicle, buying more time and a much more advantageous position for a firefight. He tossed his flashlight so he could use both …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Bill R. sent this: Sin Taxes for 2009 at all time high. OBTW, since when is owning a gun a “sin”? G.G. forwarded a link to a piece in The Economist: Gold: Store of value. Also from G.G.: States Dodge Defaults as California May Cut Worker Pay Items from The Economatrix: The Big Crash–America Plunges Into Depression for Real Gold Keeps Rising as Panicky Investors Look for Security Harry Schultz on the Power Elite, Free Markets, The Internet, and Why Gold Is Going Much Higher China Cuts Rare Earth Export Quota 72%, May Spark Trade Dispute With U.S. Inflationville …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sean recommended an interesting piece about how to gain privacy while flying: fly with a gun. That is a very clever approach. Note that he mentioned that you can simply carry a stripped AR-15 lower receiver in your airline-approved locking case. That is brilliant. Also note that he recommended the Abloy “Puck” padlock, that was previously mentioned in SurvivalBlog.    o o o M.O.B. suggested this item: In Pictures: Shots fired at police in third night of violence in Belfast.    o o o Everlasting Seeds has a 15% off special in progress, just for SurvivalBlog readers. This special offer …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable, when using our forces we must seem inactive, when we are near, we must make the enemy believe that we are away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is superior in strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …


Getting My Lists Together, by Old Dog in Wisconsin

A Life Altering Moment There are times in one’s life when everything changes.  For me it was it was in early May, just two months ago.   My wife and I were visiting my parents in Florida, and taking the opportunity to check out places where we thought we would like to retire in a few years.  We have been traveling to the west coast of Florida from Wisconsin for over 20 years and were trying to finalize the community we would choose.  As I am still employed, life is basically good. After another round of exploring we chose to escape …


Four Letters Re: Creating Secure Perimeter Fencing with Plant Life

Hi– Great blog and great books! I just finished “Patriots” and enjoyed it. I wanted to add a suggestion, FWIW, re: botanical perimeter fencing. I’ve seen stretches of “trifoliate orange” (Poncirus trifoliata) that are truly impressive in their effect of being -but not looking at all like- the botanical equivalent of razor wire. It is well adorned with a most ferocious array of thorns. It produces smallish bitter-tasting fruits that, if of no other use, are good as an anti-scorbutic. It is not native to the US, but in my opinion, bogeymen aren’t usually well-versed in the finer points of …


Economics and Investing:

Federal budget gap through June tops $1 trillion amid GOP resistance to more government spending. (Thanks to KAF for the link.) Thanks to Brett G. for flagging this one: Fed Warns Economy May Take Five or Six Years to Recover Items from The Economatrix: Obscure Weimar Collapse Book a Cult Hit Central Banks Start to Abandon the US Dollar Top for Silver $100 Per Ounce? Stocks Mixed After Disappointing Retail Sales Data Home Loan Applications Down 2.9% Retail Sales Drop 0.5% in June Oil Dips Below $77 as US Crude Supplies Rise Watchdog: Small Banks Struggling Despite Bailouts A Modern …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers have mentioned a new magazine, called The New Pioneer, now available at news stands, and by subscription. It’s premiere issue was just released. Reader G.S,. described it as “Kind of a combination of Pioneer Living, Mother Earth News and Backwoods Home.” The magazine is edited by Nancy Mack Tappan, the widow of Mel Tappan. It’s published by Country Almanac, part of Harris Publications. When I recently spoke with Nancy, she mentioned that Harris does not yet have a promotional web page for the magazine. Check it out at your local news stand. Editorial mailing address: New Pioneer Magazine, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"How complacent we become when we sit secure, hedged round by laws and protections a government may provide! How soon we forget that but for these governments and laws there would be naught but savagery, brutality and starvation. For our age-old enemies await us always, just beyond our thin walls. Hunger, thirst and cold lie waiting there, and forever among us are those who would loot, rape and maim rather than behave as civilized men. If we sit secure this hour, this day, it is because the thin walls of law stand between us and evil. A jolt of the …


Notes from JWR:

Do you have any favorite quotes that relate to preparedness, survival, self-sufficiency, or hard money economics? If so, then please send them via e-mail, and I will likely post them as Quotes of the Day, if they haven’t been used before in SurvivalBlog. Please send only quotes that are properly attributed, and that you’ve checked for authenticity. Many Thanks! — Today we present another entry for Round 29 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 …