Odds ‘n Sods:

Until October 15th, the SurvivalBlog 2005-2012 Archive DVD is sale priced at just $11.99.    o o o Winston Churchill once famously said: “History is written by the victors.” But I’ve noticed an exception to that rule: The history of Rhodesia’s Bush War. In this case, the victors were a gang of largely illiterate, communist (and quasi-communist) nincompoops who very quickly wrecked and looted the nation. Since the end of the war and the establishment of Comrade Mugabe’s Proletarian People’s Paradise there have been at least a dozen books published about the Bush War by former Rhodesians, but just handful …



Notes from JWR:

September 22nd in the birthday of the late Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Reid-Daly (born 1928, died August 9, 2010) who founded and commanded the Rhodesian Selous Scouts. His history of the Selous Scouts, titled Pamwe Chete, is a fascinating to read but very hard-to-find book. I’d also like to wish a happy birthday to J.M. — Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …


Airsoft: Effective Firearm and Tactical Training for Adults and Children, by So Ed

To many people, Airsoft is just a toy gun that annoying 12-year olds spray at each other with plastic pellets in the back yard.  But to the military and creative survivalists, it’s a training tool that saves lives. The Japanese invented Airsoft in the 1990s and militaries worldwide soon discovered that the inexpensive, safe Airsoft guns are a realistic method for training tactical movement, magazine change drills, building clearing, and much more. What is Airsoft? There are a myriad of different types and styles of Airsoft guns, but the common attractive feature is that they are modeled in size and …


Letter Re: My View on Self Defense for Women

James, Thanks to Sheri for pointing out several fallacies regarding women fighting men who mean them harm, specifically, that a punch/knee/whatever to the groin will incapacitate the man. She’s correct (or her male advisers are): It won’t. Hollywood says it works, but in fact it has the opposite effect of enraging the male further. I am a male, and I know. I learned how to fight after being kicked in the crotch in junior high. I am not a martial arts instructor, but I have taught several women how to defend themselves. I have been a bouncer at large bars …


Economics and Investing:

James W. recommended: Derivatives, The Gift That Keeps On Taking. [JWR’s Comment: I’ve been warning my readers about derivatives since 2006. That was two years before derivatives CDOs torpedoed the real estate market and triggered a recoveryless recession with bailouts that have doubled the national debt and tripled our money supply. Ironically, the magical smokescreen “solution” to the ongoing recession (actually just a forestalled Depression) has been Quantitative Easing, which creates $85 billion per month out of thin air, mostly by means of buying up Mortgage Backed Securities (MBSes), which are derivatives!] The Never-Ending Charade Of Debt Ceiling Fights Items …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Frequent contributors B.B. and H.L. both sent this: US Gun Owners: Felon or Free    o o o Missing the point about Alexis: How Can Red Flags Be Missed Like Navy Shooter’s? This article claims that the security clearance system has failed. But what was not mentioned is that the gunman only held a Secret clearance. That clearance level only requires a National Agency Check (NAC) and a local records check. So anyone that has never been arrested usually qualifies for a Secret clearance. You don’t get the right answers if you ask the wrong questions.    o o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …


How to Deal with Dead Bodies in a Survival Situation, by Tim K.

During a break-down of society you may happen upon a dead body. In a without-rule-of-law situation such would not be unusual. This article will give you a rough outline of what to look for when you examine a dead body. The dead body may be near your camp and you may need to get rid of it pronto. There are several reasons why you might need to closely scrutinize a corpse and document what you see. You may need to protect yourself from the outbreak of disease. You may need to protect yourself from later accusations of murder once the …


Letter Re: Prioritized Prepping

Hi JWR, In response to Sunshine’s research into gas masks online, I’ve purchased from Approved Gas Masks.com before. They sell many different brands of masks, canisters and other NBC products. The canisters I’ve bought use the standard NATO threads, are sealed and dated. They’re going to set you back a little more than the mil surplus but they’re current production from reputable companies. Hope this helps. – S.M. from Pennsylvania


Economics and Investing:

Stocks are about to plunge, Wells Fargo warns Marc Faber Warns “The Endgame Is A Total Collapse – But From A Higher Diving Board Now” Michael Snyder: The Greatest Debt Crisis The World Has Ever Seen Is Coming Items from The Economatrix: Pension Disaster Looms Over The Horizon: In 1980, 60 Percent Of Americans Participated In A Pension Program. Today It Is Less Than 10 Percent And The Amount Saved For Retirement Is Startling. The Percentage Of Americans That Consider Themselves To Be “Lower Class” Is At An All-Time High Jobless Claims Fall To 7-Year Low, But …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader R.B.S. sent: Poison-resistant sewer rats discovered in four Swedish cities    o o o Lou F. suggested this piece: Is Buckshot Lethal at 50 Yards?    o o o Rebel-on-Rebel Violence Seizes Syria. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)    o o o Hunger grips Acapulco: Mexico storms strand thousands of tourists, with no reprieve in sight. (A tip of the hat to Luke D.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” – Numbers 14:17-18 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …