Making a Living in the Hinterboonies

One of the great quandaries faced by many American preppers is that their desire to move to a lightly-populated rural region is usually not consistent with the ability to earn a good living. Let’s face it: The job opportunities in the Hinterboonies are scarce. Unless you are retired, self-employed, or you are in a high-demand profession (such as medicine or dentistry), then it might be difficult to have the same standard of living that you’ve enjoyed in an urban or suburban community. Part of the following repeats what I wrote in SurvivalBlog back in 2009 about the sorts of jobs …


Letter: Starting a Manufacturing Business on a Tight Budget, by M.B.

In case you have not kept up with the Maker movement the last couple of years, great strides have happened in the average guys ability to build advanced micro-manufacturing facilities for very little money versus even a few years ago. I will note that this discussion is not all inclusive as this field changes on a sometimes weekly basis. The ability to do advanced manufacturing with relatively small amounts of money is the dirty secret of China’s present economic success.  I should know, since I have been there, I have friends in the industrial automation business who have been there, …


Economics & Investing:

The Trajectory of Venezuelan Hyperinflation Looks Familiar… o o o Puerto Rico Faces Record Default: A Look at the Bonds Due ($2 billion is coming due!) o o o At The Sovereign Investor:  Another Market Meltdown? o o o ‘The end is coming,’ says Ron Paul o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

At Instructables: Best Solar Oven (Home-made!) o o o Fresh details spur debate on Orlando police response o o o Best Bug out Vehicles You Can Actually Afford (The Prepper Journal) o o o Over at The Daily Caller:  State Department Won’t Release Clinton Foundation E-mails for 27 Months.   “Nothing to see here, move along.” o o o She’s painted herself into a corner: Lynch to Accept F.B.I. Recommendations in Clinton Email Inquiry, Official Says.  My favorite quote in the article: “Ms. Lynch has said she wants to handle the Clinton investigation like any other case.” Ah-ha! This explains why …



Notes for Friday – July 01, 2016

July 1st, 1863 was the beginning of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. Today is also the birthday of actress Olivia DeHavilland (star of Gone With The Wind), actor Dan Aykroyd (co-star of The Blues Brothers),  and film director William Wyler (often remembered for his film Best Years of Our Lives.) o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 65 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a …


A Call for Legislative Change – Part 2, by J.D.

(Continued from Part 1) The third explanation is law, which is defined as the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties. Let’s disagree with that definition, because clearly with millions of laws and regulations on the books to regulate our actions it doesn’t work. Our country’s prison system maintains over 5,000 jails with a population of nearly seven million. It doesn’t look like law regulates anything to include the definition of “actions”. I think we can argue ethics does regulate action, because …


Letter: Washable Cloth Toilet Wipes

Dear Editor: I have a suggestion, prompted by my reading of the recent two-part SurvivalBlog article titled: “Sew and Grow, Save and Recycle Your Way Into Preparedness“: Why go to all the trouble to cut and sew toilet wipes when you can simply use mass-produced bathroom washcloths? They are already the right size and will clean you up better than smooth cloth will. I already have a large stash of thick washcloths that I bought at a thrift store, along with a case of rubber dishwashing gloves in various sizes. When all the toilet paper is gone, each family member gets …


Letter Re: Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins are the Best Defense Against Counterfeits

James, That was an excellent letter sent recently by “The Silver Bull” (Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins are the Best Defense Against Counterfeits).  Regarding his suggestion of  pre-1965 “junk” 90% silver coins,  I’d like to ask  a question: Are the 1 Troy ounce U.S. Mint American Eagles purchased from dealers considered suspect for counterfeiting? I know that are when purchased through eBay. There is some good counterfeit-spotting tutorials available on YouTube. I appreciate what he is saying. By the way,, my favorite precious metals remain quality brass, lead, and copper in 5.56 and 7.62. Thanks for all you do. – RetiredPara …


Economics and Investing:

Will Gold Crash With The Dow…Or Soar? o o o Faber Says Own Gold, Prepare for QE4 as Easing Follows Brexit o o o BBC: Pound falls as Bank of England hints at fresh stimulus measures o o o Gary Tanashian: A Path Toward Inflation o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Paul Ryan shows his true colors: House Plans Vote on Guns Next Week.  JWR”s Comments:  It is obvious that the Republican Party leadership is preparing to cave in on this issue. Please contact your congressman immediately and insist: NO COMPROMISE on background checks! Remind them that the “No Fly” and “Selectee” lists are both horribly flawed and are based on rumors and innuendo–NOT any proper sort of due process! And please remind them that so-called “universal background checks” would destroy a key part of the Second Amendment: The anonymity of American gun owners!  Register brides, not gun owners! o o …



Notes for Thursday – June 30, 2016

Hooray! Tomorrow (Friday, July 1st, 2016) permitless concealed carry of guns (also called “Vermont Style Carry” or “Constitutional Carry”) becomes legal throughout Idaho. (Previously, it was only legal outside of city limits.) Sadly, this new law is just for residents–not visitors.) But, as as we can plainly see, freedom is on the march!  OBTW, there will be a celebratory rally on the lawn opposite the State Capitol building on Friday at 5 p.m., organized by the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance (ISAA.) On this day in 1908, the mysterious Tunguska event occurred in a remote part of Siberia. June 30th is the …