Jim’s Quote of the Day:

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.” – John 16:1-4 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

October 19th is the birthday of three notables: the late Alexander Zeisal “Zus” Bielski (born 1912), investor Jim Rogers (born 1942) and James Howard Kunstler (born 1948.) Kunstler is well-known to SurvivalBlog readers as the author of the novel World Made by Hand and the nonfiction book The Long Emergency. A fictionalized portrayal of Zus Bielski is seen in the movie Defiance. (This movie was loosely based on the excellent book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans written by Nechama Tec.) — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,730 worth of prizes for …


A Tale of Quail, by KD1

Always trying to learn and become better prepared I thought our family needed to start pursuing livestock and learning the ins and outs to raising them.  Since I deplore powdered eggs I thought we’d start with poultry.  After reading how easy quail were to raise I decided to give them a try this spring.  After all, it met many of the requirements I needed for raising poultry.  The chicks are easy to raise and inexpensive.  They take very little space.  I live in a subdivision so had only a small area to house them in as well as city regulations …


Some Shameless Self-Promotion: A Conversation with James Wesley, Rawles on His Latest Novel: Expatriates

Introductory Note: The following is an edited transcript of my conversation with my Publicist from E.P. Dutton, Emily Brock: 1.) Expatriates is the fourth novel in your Coming Collapse series.  What inspired you to write about survivalism?  Do you believe a real-life collapse is in our near future? I believe that global economic instability is rising substantially, so the risk of economic collapse is greater than ever before.  Along with instability comes the risk of civil wars, regional wars, and perhaps even a Third World War.  It is indeed time for people to stock up, team up, and batten down …


Two Letters Re: Being Charitable When the SHTF

Mr Rawles, Thank you for taking the time to read my articles and to comment on them. I appreciate the points you raised regarding charity via the church and other local organizations. I was possibly a little unclear and maybe should have stressed more that I was referring to the time during a collapse when getting supplies to organizations in order that they can disperse them could be difficult if not downright dangerous. I disagree that I am your diametric opposite Mr Rawles. I am neither a thief nor a looter and I agree with your assessment that a collapse …


Economics and Investing:

Lack of Economic Data Hiding True Health of Housing Market The Baltic Dry Index (for transoceanic shipping rates) is still in the dumpster. H.L. sent: As U.S. averts default, Japan and China brace for next dollar drama And for some humor: Hitler Learns About the Obamacare Exchanges Items from The Economatrix: The Sun Is Setting On Dollar Supremacy, And With It, American Power Gas Prices Could Dip Below $3 by Year-End Ron Paul Fears The Future Under Janet Yellen “Is Grim Indeed”


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader C.D.V. spotted this: 93-Year-Old Homesteader Living It Up In The Wilderness    o o o Former Army Captain William Swenson to receive Medal of Honor at White House    o o o Colorado Governor Hickenlooper tells gun-control groups to ‘stay away’    o o o Cato Institute: The NSA: Future Crime Unit (interview with Jim Harper)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and …


Notes from JWR:

I ‘m pleased to announce that another prize has been added to the First Prize package for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The fine folks at Privacy Abroad in Switzerland are donating both a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) annual subscription and a DigitalSafe annual subscription.  With these, the prize winner will have a VPN tunnel, secure Swiss data storage, and a secure e-mail service.  These prizes have a combined value of $195. This addition brings the value of the First Prize package to $4,185, and the combined value of the top three prizes to $8,730! — Today is the …


Surviving The E.R., by J. in Montana

This article will focus on the latter half of the oft used phrase The End of the World As We Know It.  Operative portion being “As We Know It.” As an emergency room (ER) nurse, I have the perspective of seeing on a daily basis, for patients and family members of patients, the end of their world as they know it.  While the world keeps turning for everyone else, a tragic disaster unfolds for them and life will never be the same.  I offer this article from the perspective of one who has seen a wide range of traumatic events and people’s reaction …


Letter Re: Remembering Robert W. Ford

James, You recently mentioned the death of the late Robert W. Ford, in England. I highly recommend his book Wind Between The Worlds, his account of experiences in Tibet, captivity by the communist Chinese, and his fight against brainwashing. It is an inspiring story of mental resistance which makes you wonder how well you would have fared in his position. A free PDF is available to download. Regards, – Don in Oregon


Economics and Investing:

New Jersey Island Won’t Get Its Landlines Back After Sandy Because Copper Is Too Expensive. [JWR Adds: It might be less expensive for the phone company to provide a 3-watt PV panel and DC-to-DC phone charger for each customer!] K.A. and Michael C. both sent this Zero Hedge link: Foodstamp Program Shutdown Imminent? The global copper supply glut is expected to triple in 2014–showing that the economic depression is continuing. Items from The Economatrix: Debt Deadline Approaches: Here’s What Would Happen If U.S. Defaults This Is What Has The United States Truly Terrified Fitch Places U.S. on Rating Watch Negative, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader H.L. sent: Drastic moose die-off puzzles scientists, but they have one main suspect    o o o B.B. forwarded this: US Senate Decisively Rejects U.N. Arms Trade Treaty    o o o Non-Participation As An Effective Weapon Against Tyranny    o o o Dry Ice Goes Boom.    o o o A Guide for Guarding Personal Information in the Workplace. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Yet, although history never quite repeats itself, and just because no development is inevitable, we can in a measure learn from the past to avoid a repetition of the same process. One need not be a prophet to be aware of impending dangers. An accidental combination of experience and interest will often reveal events to one man under aspects which few yet see.” – Friedrich A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) 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 $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …