Economics and Investing:

Reader Andre D. sent: Feeding the Bubble: Is the Next Crash Brewing? Charles Hugh-Smith: A Quick Guide to What’s Fake: Everything That’s Officially Sanctioned. [JWR’s Comment: While I disagree with his viewpoint on government intervention in the marketplace and on taxation (I’m a laissez faire minimalist-government libertarian), I almost always enjoy reading Charles Hugh-Smith’s piercing observations.] Over at The Daily Bell: Forced Savings Bait and Switch Items from The Economatrix: U.S. October Business Inventories Up 0.7% Why The Budget Deal Is Bad News For Gold: Pro Is Your Job About To Be Outsourced By A Computer (The Probability Is 47%) …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Former Top NSA Official: “We Are Now In A Police State”    o o o Worthy of support: Benjamin Wassell Legal Defense Fund    o o o Here comes the RIF! Reader John E. wrote to mention: Army to cut 4000 captains and majors. The Air Force, too    o o o Alan W. recommended this sound advice: Is It a Cold or the Flu? How to Tell the Difference    o o o Several readers mentioned this: In Texas, Search Warrants Can Now Be Based on a “Prediction of a Future Crime.” Here is a key quote: “The majority’s …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of 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.) …


The Leader’s Recon: Planning the Homesteader’s Defensive Battle Space, by Tim R.

Today, I did a leader’s recon (reconnaissance) of my small homestead.  While I was in the infantry, I would plan my future ground defense by walking the terrain with my small unit infantry leaders.  Today, I did the same, minus the team leaders.  Twenty years in the infantry, and now several years retired, and now I look at how I am going to protect my family and defend my rural homestead.  I feel that the day may be coming soon.  President Obama stated that our nation’s deficit does not concern him.  This nation is on a mad printing spree, conjuring …


Letter Re: Could America’s Pot Growers Start Growing Opium Poppies?

Dear Jim, I thought I would let you know about something interesting going on in the Gold Country of California. Some SurvivalBlog readers may be aware that the North San Juan Ridge, aka “The Ridge” is highly populated with homesteaders, [near Grass Valley, California,, in Nevada County.] Since the soil is poor, and there are many squatters or people on largely undeveloped land, few make sufficient money from growing food for themselves, so turned to growing [marijuana, commonly called] pot.   In the old days, pot was illegal and the Fed and State CAMP task force would survey and raid …


Economics and Investing:

Readers Mark A. and John in Colorado both mentioned: Taper or no taper, the Fed will never end QE: Marc Faber Camden, New Jersey: One Of Hundreds Of U.S. Cities That Are Turning Into Rotting, Decaying Hellholes Record U.S. Gold Bullion Exports Head to Hong Kong & Switzerland Items from The Economatrix: Retail Sales Rise, Signaling Stronger Economy Jobless Claims Highest In Two Months Why I Won’t Be Surprised if the Global Economy Caves


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.T. recommended this 44-minute documentary video: Advanced Sniper Technology and Tactics. OBTW, the USMC’s four-to-six-man Scout Sniper squad structure roughly parallels what I describe for the organization of the Canadian resistance army cells in my upcoming novel Liberators. (Lord willing, that should be published by E.P. Dutton in October, 2014.)    o o o A reminder that CampingSurvival.com has a 5% off coupon code “sb1” available for all of their merchandise, aside from special sale items.    o o o Wintersown Seeds: Now is the time to start    o o o And speaking of seeds, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large …



Notes from JWR:

December 19th is the birthday of physicist Albert A. Michelson (Born 1852, died May 9, 1931), the first American to be awarded a Nobel Prize in science, for measuring the speed of light. (Along with Mr. Morley.) FWIW, I’m related to Michelson, by marriage. By way of my great aunt Zelpha (Rawles) Michelson. — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ worth of 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 …


Anderson Powerpoles: The Legos of DC Electronics, by Dan in Alaska

To say that I’m a neophyte in the electrical world, or as we say here in Alaska a “Cheechako”, is making a big understatement.  So, a couple years back my co-worker and friend got me into Amateur Radio, also affectedly known as Ham Radio.  I studied my ARRL Technician book and passed my test, but it just barely rattled what I had in my head 20 years ago from my only electronics class I had back in High School where we studied Ohm’s law, identified a resistor, and made a strobe light.  So, I’m on a big learning curve.  I …


Letter Re: Marksmanship

Sir: That was an excellent article from Josh B. on Marksmanship. But as Gary D. pointed out, following those principles under stress can be a challenge. I thought I’d recommend a few stress inducers that I practice, which have improved my shooting skills. Before I begin, I’d like to note that I’m an US Army Infantry veteran. That should not imply that I am an expert. In fact, the more I practice and learn about shooting, the more I’ve come to realize how little I learned back then. Yes, the taught me the fundamentals, but I’ve since realized there is …


Economics and Investing:

K.A.F. sent a link to some fascinating maps: America’s Wealth Is Staggeringly Concentrated in the Northeast Corridor. (But take a look at the Bakken region of eastern North Dakota.) Reader Tim R. suggested this article: Gun Stocks Soar, Gun Control ‘Dead as an Issue’ Pierre M. sent: North America to Drown in Oil as Mexico Ends Monopoly Items from The Economatrix: Proposal On Capitol Hill Would Nearly Double Federal Gas Tax The Economy: What’s Ahead In 2014 Improving Economy: Is It For Real?


Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric Peters on Bug Out Vehicles. (Thanks to OSOM for the link.)    o o o Video: Former mayors discover membership in Bloomberg’s anti-gun group was kiss of death.    o o o R.B.S. sent: The Most Corrupt County In America (Dave Hodges)    o o o Chris M. sent: Google Acquires Boston Dynamics. (After all, what is Skynet without the hardware “to go with.”)    o o o B.B. suggested: Gun control: ‘What if we say no?’ – National Conservative