Odds ‘n Sods:

A gent in the Peak Oil camp recently posted a very interesting round-up review that compares James Howard Kunstler’s novel World Made by Hand to several other post-collapse novels, namely: Parable of the Sower, Lucifer’s Hammer, The Road, Wolf and Iron, The Long Emergency (also by Kunstler, non-fiction), and my novel Patriots . I think he went way too far when he referred to me as “the patron saint of survivalism.” I believe that the moniker “obscure, backwoods enthusiast” would have been much more accurate.    o o o Upcoming hearings: A new NAIS legislative battle. Please contact your congresscritters …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Until they realize that their agenda is destroying the life savings of millions of Americans, then all I can give you is caution… I’m not saying Mr. President go stare at the Bloomberg quote machine and come to your senses. I just want some sign that Obama realizes the market is totally falling apart and that his agenda has a big hand in that happening. I don’t know about you but I felt it everywhere I went this weekend… A young kid took me aside. He said I was right when I said we’ve elected a Leninist… I felt the …


The Long Arm of the Lawless, by Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Last week [in a STRATFOR briefing] we discussed the impact that crime, and specifically kidnapping, has been having on Mexican citizens and foreigners visiting or living in Mexico. We pointed out that there is almost no area of Mexico immune from the crime and violence. As if on cue, on the night of Feb. 21 a group of heavily armed men threw two grenades at a police building in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero state, wounding at least five people. Zihuatanejo is a normally quiet beach resort just north of Acapulco; the attack has caused the town’s entire police force to go on …


Ten Letters Re: 3-in-1 Home Workshop Machines

JWR: One of your readers asked: “I want to buy a 3 in 1 machine. Does anyone have any experience with them? Perhaps a brand to recommend or stay away from?” Having considered that choice extensively myself, my home shop amateur opinion is to recommend separate machines. Now that I see what a real mill table looks like, I realize there isn’t enough table space on the 3-in-1 to set up anything. Instead, get the cheapest lathe you can stand, and the best mill you can afford. If you still want a combo for space reasons, get one of the …


Economics and Investing:

Tony W. sent this: Even ‘Dr. Doom’ Is Scared: Economy Much Worse Than Roubini Predicted Bill from Ohio spotted this: 5000 Dow? 500 S&P? From Kevin A. come this sign of the times: Manhattan Apartment Buyers Abandoning Six-Figure Deposits Rather than Closing on Deals. Reader Kris N. mentioned in a recent e-mail: Over the last few weeks I have heard several politicians say that credit markets need to be opened up so Americans can start spending more to improve the economy. Is this not like Marie Antoinette proposing the solution to the peasant’s bread shortage is to have them switch …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Rourke sent us this: An Asteroid Near Miss    o o o OSOM recommended this review of Joseph Tainter’s book The Collapse of Complex Societies. This squares nicely with my views on the complexity and fragility of our modern, highly technological society with long and vulnerable chains of supply.    o o o Cheryl sent us this: Food for Guns in Dallas [JWR notes: Perhaps it would be better titled: “Trading Pottage for a Texas Birthright”]    o o o Cheryl also flagged this: Nationwide Ammo Shortage Hits US


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“For what, after all, is the stimulus package attempting to stimulate? A restrained life of living within our means? No. It’s stimulating consumption. All the big talk of get the credit markets moving again, banks healthy again, balance sheets strong again comes down to this: we need little Susie [Homemaker] to get a loan for a really cool new car she can live without, drive it to a shopping mall to buy cr*p she doesn’t need with a credit card she shouldn’t have, and return to a home mortgaged at a price higher than she can afford. That way, when …


Letter Re: Advice on Contact Lenses

Mr. Rawles I’ve worn contact lenses for all of my adult life. On your published advice, I’ve also bought two pair of inexpensive glasses, from LBEeyeware–a company mentioned in SurvivalBlog That was great advice. ($23 per pair, complete? You can’t beat that!) The glasses are the correct prescription, but after so many years of wearing contacts, glasses feel downright “clunky” to me. I worry about breaking them, much more than I ever worried about losing or tearing a contact. My question is: What should I do about spare contact lenses and solutions? Should I skip them–and just plan to wear …


Letter Re: Some Preparedness Lessons Learned

James, The need for usable skills in tough times, goes without need for embellishment. The grand question is: which skills are the most valuable? In any situation the basic needs are obvious – food, shelter, and clothing. Choosing what I would concentrate on learning, became predicated on what I could do, and what the community could provide in stressful times. I moved some time ago from the gulf coast to Tennessee to retire and begin preparing for the coming events. I moved into a community which is pretty much self sufficient, mostly by religious choice. Livestock husbandry ranges from cattle …


Letter Re: The Risk to Reward Ratio in Getting Concealed Carry Permits

Greetings – Regarding non-resident concealed weapon permits [recently mentioned in SurvivalBlog], folks should be very careful. Anyone thinking of doing this should consult a lawyer or carefully read their home state’s firearms laws. In many states, another state’s concealed firearm permit is invalid if you are a resident of the state [in which you do not have a CCW permit.] In other words, if you live in Georgia, Georgia may have a law that says your Florida non-resident permit is invalid for concealed carry in Georgia, because as a Georgia resident, you must have a permit issued by Georgia. Consult …


Economics and Investing:

JWR’s Introductory Comment: Gee, in light of all the following very bad economic news, can someone please send me something cheery to post? Perhaps some more articles about gun makers making record profits and building huge order backlogs? Frequent contributor HPD sent this: Brown told us not to question banks on risky practices, says City watchdog Reader “Bigbird” mentioned a piece in The Australian by Niall Ferguson with some biting criticism of Keynesian economics: The Great Repression CJB flagged this news story on the Chinese economy: China warns of unemployment risk GG sent us this one from Smart Money: Nothing …


Odds ‘n Sods:

KAF forwarded this: Depression Cooking Teaches You to Cook Really, Really Cheaply    o o o Ben B. sent this: Jim Rogers sees civil unrest in the US    o o o A bit of food storage humor, courtesy of reader Larry T.: The “Worst Food Product Ever” May Have Been Found. Is it cheaper in case lots? 😉    o o o Fitzy in Pennsylvania flagged this Lou Dobbs Journal piece on CNN: 2nd Amendment Under Attack


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When watching men of power in action it must be always kept in mind that, whether they know it or not, their main purpose is the elimination or neutralization of the independent individual — the independent voter, consumer, worker, owner, thinker — and that every device they employ aims at turning man into a manipulatable “animated instrument,” which is Aristotle’s definition of a slave.” – Eric Hoffer, The Ordeal of Change (1963)


Note from JWR:

I just heard that Paul Harvey passed away. He was a fine, patriotic American. Appropriately, two of today’s blog posts deal with “The Rest of the Story.” Someday, we’ll meet Paul in heaven. And also Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus. — The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $935. This auction is for a large mixed lot, which includes:: 1.) Another “be ready to barter” box of 38 full-capacity gun magazines, from my personal collection in JASBORR. This box includes: 4 – Used original East German 30 rd. steel AK-47 magazines in a “raindrop” camouflage pattern …


Self Defense and Christianity, by Tim P.

When Christians talk of self-defense and their reaction to violence in general, they frequently speak of turning the other cheek. While I would not attempt to dissuade someone from that point of view I have always been against that type of pacifism in the face of violence – particularly in the case of deadly violence. In the extreme example of self-defense against someone who wants to kill you – people who advocate turning the other cheek advocate throwing away God’s gift of life or worse yet not defending those you love when their lives are threatened. That I could not …