A Call for Legislative Change – Part 1, by J.D.

Why not now? Why not us? A call for legislative change. The mystic Chinese philosopher, Lau Tzu, once said, “The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.” I can’t help but think of an image regarding 6,899,000 people under the supervision of adult correctional systems in local, county, state, and federal custody (Glaze, Kaeble 1). The Unite States has more jails, approximately 5,000 (Stephan 1), than degree granting institutions, approximately 4,700 (“Fast Facts”). Our Judicial system is a blood sucking beast of a hundred thousand heads draining our country of its dwindling …


Letter Re: Vacuum Sealing Mason Type Jars

Dear HJL, I own my own freeze dryer and with this I seal a lot of food in glass jars. The best way I have found to seal in bulk is something I built. I took an old pressure cooker with a good seal on the lid. I removed all the pressure cooking fittings on top of the lid. I then installed a vacuum gauge with a tee fitting and a ball valve to relieve the vacuum later in the process. I also installed a fitting with a 1/4 flare end. I then attach the flare connection to a vacuum …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“’We love death more than you love life.’ This is civilization’s ultimate challenge. Will the lovers of death and destruction overwhelm and defeat those who love life and have created great civilizations that celebrate human creativity and achievement? Will all that is left of three thousand years of human civilization be reduced to rubble and a mindless religio-ideological lockstep? The Islamic State is not just a challenge to Judeo-Christian Western civilization. It is a challenge to civilization itself–to the very idea of civilization. And that is why it is doomed to fail. Life will always conquer death in the end. …


Notes for Wednesday – June 29, 2016

Another day, another Islamic terror attack… This time it was the international terminal of the airport in Istanbul, Turkey. The latest report is that there are 41 dead and 239 injured. Prayers, please for the wounded and for the families of the dead. o o o Today is the birthday of historian John Toland (author of The Rising Sun.) This is also the birthday of rodeo cowboy turned actor Slim Pickens (born: Louis Burton Lindley, Jr.) — he memorably played Major Kong in Dr. Strangelove), and of actor Gary Busey. o o o A reminder: Safecastle’s Mountain House Sale with …


Letter Re: Canning Jars

Hugh, As I was reading a recent SurvivalBlog post on the many uses of canning jars, I remembered that in my childhood days the ladies doing the canning would sometimes use melted paraffin poured over the top of the food instead of using metal lids. (They also used metal lids.) So maybe the wax only on the sweet stuff like jellies, etc.? Maybe only on smaller size, smaller mouthed, recycled, jars? As I remember it they would keep the paraffin, wash it, and reuse it the next year. Has anybody used this style of sealing lately? – K.S. HJL’s Comment: …


Letter Re: Sanitation Issues: Understanding Home Septic Systems

Jim: Regarding this letter: Sanitation Issues: Understanding Home Septic Systems, I have  a  few observations: When our family recently took a vacation to South America, we were instructed to throw all toilet paper, wet and dirty, into a waste can – even at the best hotels. By American standards, we found that pretty gross. I read that this is standard in many countries and greatly reduces the need for septic tank pumping – to once every 10 years instead of the recommended four  years. Although pumping is expensive, about $400 when we last had it done, that is a fraction …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: The Soapmakers Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies by Hugh Coffee Movies: Meru (A  fascinating documentary about modern alpine climbers and skiers. Available free for those with Amazon Prime.) Cast a Giant Shadow.  (A docu-drama starring Kirk Douglas about David “Mickey” Marcus, an American general officer who volunteered to help Israel form its army shortly after independence.) Music:


Economics and Investing:

Both Mr. Econocobas and blog reader D.S. pointed me to this revelatory piece over at Zero Hedge: Greenspan Warns A Crisis Is Imminent, Urges A Return To The Gold Standard o o o Some market analysis from Hubert Moolman in South Africa: Major Debt and Dow Collapse Will Set Ideal Conditions For Silver o o o British pound could hit history-making dollar parity by end of 2016 o o o Jim Rogers on Brexit: ‘Worse than any bear market you’ve seen in your lifetime’ o o o Gold is sending a dark sign that ‘almost everything has changed’ in the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Long-time content contributor B.B. sent us this important link: The Six Things Obama Doesn’t Want You to Know About the Islamic State.  The next day,  B.B. also sent a link to this article:  ISIS Jihadists Caught This Week in California and Indiana. These articles serve to  confirm many of my conclusions about geopolitical trends. Reading them also made me feel justified in dedicating myself to writing at least five books in my new  Counter-Caliphate Chronicles novel series.  These are “survival manual dressed as fiction” stories that need to be told, to encourage freedom-loving Christians and Jews to prepare for the tumultuous …



Notes for Tuesday – June 28, 2016

June 28th, 1703 was the birthday of theologian John Wesley.  Today is also the birthday of writer, director, and actor Mel Brooks, as well as that of actor John Cusack. 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 wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for …


Letter: Rebalancing Your Gun Collection

Daer Editor:I had a thought about JWR’s suggestions on re-balancing your gun collection.  While I own a few pre-1899 guns, they are now pricey, even for well-worn guns in shooting condition.  I believe an acceptable alternative would be to purchase new reproduction black powder revolvers (the Model 1858 Remington is probably one of the best) and obtain a .45 Colt conversion cylinder.  The BATFE does not consider these to be firearms, so they can be purchased with no paperwork locally or through mail order.  With the conversion cylinder installed they can fire modern cartridges, albeit at low pressures that replicate …


Letter Re: Sanitation: Can You Burn It?

Dear Editors, Regarding the question: “Has anyone tried taking the poo and simply tossing it into a hot outdoor fire?” I can answer that question in the form of a personal reminiscence: When I was serving in Vietnam if someone screwed up our Platoon Sergeant would take the offending person in the morning to old papa-san. Papa-san’s job was to take the cut down 55 gallon drums out of the latrine pour some diesel fuel into them and then burn the contents. Papa-san’s face would light up with a huge grin as the offending troop was delivered to him for …