Year One at the New Retreat, by Mrs. R.L.B.

Have you been thinking about leaving the crowded city and moving to a retreat? Perhaps you are weighing many factors, finances, age, leaving friends and family, and work.  But the most important factor you should weigh, is the answer to the question, “If the SHTF, can we survive here?”  If the answer is no, then take the leap and move!  We did!  We sold our San Diego house and finally landed in Washington state, on the west side of the Cascades.  We aimed for the Redoubt, but due to work constraints we could not make that work for us.  So, …


Letter Re: Is the M1A the Ideal Rifle Choice?

Jim, Is the M1A the best rifle to have sitting in your gun safe?  Ever since there have been rifles and humans, there has been discussions about what is the best rifle to have when you are thrust into a survival situation.  That situation might just be a government fallout, natural disaster, or the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI).  Either way, you need a rifle that will take you thru that situation and give you a fighting chance to survive.  So what attributes make a good rifle to rely on?  For starters there are many of …


Economics and Investing:

Federal Debt Jumped $409 Billion in October; $3,567 Per Household Greek Companies Unable To Pay Taxes Explode From 182,000 To Over Half A Million In One Month (thanks to H.L. for the link.) Reader Frank B. suggested a Time Monk Radio show where “Plane” leads the interview: The Plane Truth ~ Gas and Gold: Goodbye to the Petrodollar with Jim Willie. The latter half of the interview veers off into some conspiratorial speculation, but their conclusions on the death of the Dollar are quite sound. Items from The Economatrix: US Households Cannot Avoid Soft Default Consequences Of Deleveraging: While US …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader H.L. mentioned some great video instruction for newbies from Dave Canterbury: Shelter Basic Tarp Setups and an E Fire 2    o o o Google’s Secret Revealed: Barge To Offer High-End Showrooms, Party Deck. Note that with CONEX construction, it is feasible to make the enclosed portions of these structures EMP-proof.    o o o Abundance from a prepper’s garden: Green eggs & Ham sandwich – eat more sweet potato and malabar leaves    o o o Hiker stranded in Canadian wilderness reportedly ate dog to survive.    o o o I had received several enquiries from readers about the …



Notes from JWR:

Today is the anniversary of the death of actor Steve McQueen. (Born March 24, 1930, died November 7, 1980.) His many well-publicized exploits in his tempestuous life as an actor and his enduring super “cool” persona are well known. But the end of his life was actually the most noteworthy part, even though this seldom gets much publicity outside of Christian circles: He came to Christ just weeks before he died, after he had been diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma. He died with his forefinger pointing to his key verse in his Bible: Titus 1:2. — Safecastle has launched their last …


Lessons Learned as a Military Civilian Contractor in Iraq, by Robert S.

I started my journey much to the dismay of my wife and family, in December, 2007. Not ever having been in the military or anything closely resembling it. Without having a clue of what I was doing I headed off to good ol Houston Texas where my journey began at an old shopping mall with portions of it still active selling goods. This was the “processing” phase of me getting ready to deploy as a US DOD contractor to the war effort in Iraq. My life was about to take a very drastic turn and I jumped head long into …


Genocide Ahead: A Special Note for South Africans

My prayer life in recent days has been dominated by South Africa. I have relatives in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, so I’ve kept a close eye on the situation there for many years. After reading the writings of Ilana Mercer, other South Africans (including Dr. Peter Hammond, Cathy Buckle, the anonymous posts at The Afrikaner Journal,) and the many voices from the African diaspora, I can see that there is indeed a genocide nearing in South Africa. Those who fled Zimbabwe (the former Rhodesia) to South Africa gained only a temporary reprieve. I encourage all freedom-loving Christian and Jewish …


Letter Re: Hand Wood Splitting Tools

Jim, To clarify: Snow & Nealley in Maine was formerly a complete wood cutting tool manufacturer but now is only an assembler of metal heads from China and handles from Canada. A true US made wood cutting tool manufacturing company that uses US made steel and Grade A American hickory is Council Tool of North Carolina. Regards, – Tim in Connecticut


Economics and Investing:

Michael Lombardi: National Debt to Double from $17 trillion to $34 Trillion? Mark J. sent this: Picture of the Day: Bitcoin Reaches Record Market Capitalization of $2.64 Billion. Mark added this caveat: “Remember the difference between currency and money.” (Real money is tangible and inherently has value.) Burke C. suggested a great piece featured at Zero Hedge: Mike Maloney’s Top 10 Reasons to Buy Gold and Silver Items from The Economatrix: Fed to Test Banks for Interest Rate Rise, Housing Collapse Paul Craig Roberts:  Fed Trapped By Money Printing Tide Thefts, Cargo Hijacking And Cattle Rustling: Why Is An Epidemic …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Bill in Colorado sent this: 51st State Question Answered “Yes” in 6 of 11 Counties Contemplating Secession    o o o Pat S. suggested a useful primer: How to Save Seeds    o o o L.D. mentioned a great article at Reason.com about the Free State Project: The Free State Project Grows Up: Libertarians are changing the face of New Hampshire. L.D.’s comments: “[This project] seems to be gaining traction. It’s actually yielding results when you start small and build within the framework we have in place right now. It is possible to bring about positive change. I also believe …



Notes from JWR:

November 6th is the 69th anniversary of the day that Al Millspaugh’s B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down over over Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1944. I got to know Al at some John Birch Society chapter meetings back in the late 1970s. Hearing his stories was fascinating. He told me that during one part of the war his squadron flew black-painted B-24s that were used to parachute-drop weapons and Jedburgh-type OSS teams behind enemy lines to organize resistance. I also recall that he mentioned that one of his fellow internees at Stalag Luft I was a USAAF radio operator who soon …


The Cycle of Prepping: One Man’s Approach, by Steve in Wisconsin

Although I’m sure far wiser people than I have said it before, I certainly subscribe to the notion that prepping is a road, not a destination.  In other words, although the pace may vary, I’m continually prepping and always will be.  Possible exceptions to this rule, to one degree or another, are the folks who have the means to simply take one of the “list of lists” available and write a big check to cover virtually all of their needs, but even that will require some ongoing maintenance.  I am certainly not in that camp and I think it’s clear …


Three Letters Re: Hand Wood Splitting Tools

James, Here’s a wood splitter that I’ve been using for years.  The Woodwiz Splitter is easy to using and safe way of splitting wood and it’s made in the United States. Respectfully, – Tim McC.   Jim In my experience, over several decades of processing hardwoods for fuel in the lake country of mid-Ontario Canada, I found no maul which can out split the venerable “chopper 1”.   With or without operational springs on the wedge face, these axes, usually marketed with a tough composite handle in Canada would be my candidate to recommend as the “American made splitting tool …