Notes from JWR:

December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. I encourage my American readers to gather publicly and read the Bill of Rights aloud. This is also the birthday of Uziel “Uzi” Gal (born Gotthard Glas) in Weimar, Germany in 1923. According to his Wikipedia biography, when the Nazis came to power in 1933 his family “…moved first to England and later, in 1936, to Kibbutz Yagur in the British Mandate of Palestine where he changed his name to Uziel Gal. In 1943, he was arrested for illegally carrying a gun and sentenced to six years in prison. However, he was pardoned …


Still Living in Defiance, by Tim B.

I frequently read about varying doomsday scenarios.  Everything from a total collapse of the economy, to super-storms, to EMP attacks, and lately even dubious writings about life in a post-antibiotic world.  While the odds are not in favor of one devastating event that ends the world as we know it and plunges us into a repeat of the Dark Ages, there is still the possibility that something like a surprise EMP attack or an unexpected asteroid impact could wipe out most of humanity.  There’s always that “What if…?”  Before I go any farther, however, let me offer this strong disclaimer:  …


Letter Re: More Bureaucratic Over-Reach

Sir, The faceless “bureaucratocracy” strikes yet again, threatening to condemn an off-grid homeowner for allegedly violating an “international property maintenance code” due to lack of running water and electricity – even though neither utility is specified in said international property maintenance code.  How does an international code apply within the confines of an incorporated entity like the City of Cape Coral (which has its own building codes adopted pursuant to its own ordinance procedures)?  And now the city has graciously indicated that, if the homeowner can prove she can “sustain herself” without these utilities, they “might be able to reach …


Letter Re: Marksmanship

Dear JWR, The article on marksmanship by Josh B. was an excellent one and discussed all of the basic principals of good marksmanship except, in my opinion only, one. I have several years experience with three Law Enforcement agencies in training other Officers  how to shoot and have come to realize that the biggest factor in shooting accurately is mindset. In a real shooting scenario, you will most likely have no control over your breathing, your  posture, your grip or your trigger squeeze. You may be out of breath, your heart rate may be through the roof, you may be …


Economics and Investing:

Reader H.J. sent this news of a trial balloon: Obama Admin Plans To ‘Force’ Americans To Move Into Cities – “Redistributing” the Wealth H.L. sent: Market Analyst Is Looking at Something He Says Should Be Causing ‘Panic Aplenty’ Rob McEwen: “Our [Currency] Is Being Debased, And One Needs To Protect Their Capital” Items from The Economatrix: 37 Reasons Why “The Economic Recovery Of 2013? is a Giant Lie US Job Openings Reach 5-Year High, A Hopeful Sign The Minimum Wage Ain’t What It Used To Be


Odds ‘n Sods:

Obama to Give Wind Farms 30-Year Pass on Eagle Deaths. (The number of bird kills associated with wind turbine farms, exceeds 570,000 annually.)    o o o A conspiracy so vast — the FBI, your local police are also spying on US citizens By Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. (Thanks to Tim J. for the link.)    o o o And on a similar note: The NSA Mindmeister Web of (your) Data    o o o And one more: How the NSA infers relationships based on mobile location data (Thanks to T.A. for the link.)    o o o Pierre M. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth …


Notes from JWR:

December 14th is the birthday of the late John Warren Wadleigh. (Born 1927, died September 24, 2013.) Wadleigh was better known to many SurvivalBlog readers by his pen name, Oliver Lange. He was the author of the best-selling resistance warfare novel Vandenberg. He reportedly authored 55 novels, but only 13 of them were published. This is also the birthday of Air Force General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle. (Born 1896, died September 27, 1993.) — Today we present a guest article…


A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils, by C.D.H.

I have recently been introduced to Essential Oils and I am by no means an expert, but I believe they definitely have a place in the prepper’s medical bag. They are a pure, all-natural alternative to many types of medications and ointments without the side effects of chemicals. Essential oils are extracted from certain varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, and flowers. The oil is concentrated in different parts of the plant. The most common way of extracting oil is through steam distillation. It takes thousands of rose petals to make one small bottle of rose oil! Most essential oils are …


Letter Re: Soft Body Armor and Blunt Trauma

JWR, I am a fan of Infidel Body Armor, and appreciated the recent review by Pat:  Pat’s Product Review – Infidel Body Armor Goes Soft.  As a member of the LE community, I always wear [Level]  IIIA soft armor on duty, and while it will stop some rifle rounds, a piece of ceramic or steel armor is definitely better as it spreads the impact over a larger area.  My reason for writing is to familiarize your readers with an aspect of all soft body armor that carries NIJ ballistic ratings.  It is very important to note that the ratings allow …


Economics and Investing:

Five Bullish Indicators That Will Drive Silver Prices Higher Andre recommended this photo collection: Modern Ruins of Abandoned Detroit. (Quite sobering, and hopefully not a preview of the demise of America’s other large cities.) Items from The Economatrix: Another Government Shutdown In Sight? Five Trends Beneath The Surface In Nov. Jobs Report Depreciating Cars And Expensive Diplomas Fueled By Easy Debt: 95 Percent Of Consumer Debt Growth In Past 12 Months From Cars And Student Loans


Odds ‘n Sods:

Many blog readers will recognize this locale from my novel Survivors: Farmington Police Department buys armored military fighting vehicle . (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o J.B.G. sent: Imagine America Without Los Angeles’: Expert Warns Southern California Isn’t Ready For Major Quake    o o o Bob G. suggested a video by Josie The Outlaw: Why Good People Should Be Armed    o o o The first edition of the  Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) has been released.  It is available as a PDF on the OEC web site. No printed copies are planned. The …



Notes from JWR:

Notes from JWR: Please pray for Mat Stein (our Backcountry Editor) and his wife Josie. She is nearing death, with cancer. Heaven awaits her. — Today is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. — Last day! Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until midnight tonight (December 13, 2013) with 25% to 42% off, free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand. — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ …


A Winter Storm After Action Report, by Emily in North Texas

The ice storm that hit north Texas this past Thursday was forecast at least four days in advance, if not longer, but when it hit  apparently just about everyone was taken by surprise.  Drivers on I-35 north of Denton were stuck for so long they eventually abandoned their cars and sought refuge in local churches.  There was talk of sending in the National Guard to rescue them before that.  These people had days of advance warning about the weather but chose to drive anyway.  (Many of them apparently on their way to a rap concert in Dallas.)  Imagine the conditions …