A Contractor’s Preps: Materiel Storage, by Paul W.

I’d like to discuss my perspective on family preparedness, from the perspective of a architectural design and building contractor. There are four categories to this aspect of preparedness:  Materials, Tools, Knowledge and Usefulness I read a lot of articles about things to stock up on when TEOTWAWKI situations occur.  One thing I do not hear discussed as much is keeping a well stock material shed at your bug out location.  Now keep in mind this is not a Bug out bag list.  The is a Bug Out Destination or Home list. Coming from the world of Architectural Design and Contracting …


Letter Re: Anderson Powerpoles: The Legos of DC Electronics

Jim, While it’s true that Anderson Powerpole connectors can be soldered, this is usually not a good idea, for several reasons: 1) Soldering is weaker than crimping because it interposes a soft metal– and possible air voids– between the copper of the wire and the copper of the terminal. A properly crimped connection places the wire in compression and the surrounding terminal in tension, ensuring a mechanically strong joint. 2) Soldering adds resistance to the connection. In a properly crimped connection, there are no gaps at all between the wire and the terminal. However low the resistance of solder, it’s …


Economics and Investing:

The Hidden Motives Behind The Federal Reserve Taper. [JWR’s Comment: The renewed talk of the Fed tapering from the current $85 billion per month of Quantitative Easing (QE) money creation is balderdash. Presently, I can see only two possible solutions for the Fed’s quandary: 1.) They find another excuse not to taper Fed purchase of MBS derivatives and other securities. or 2.) They do taper the current QE program, but meanwhile surreptitiously create another form of monetization that is just a big, or even bigger. (This might involve foreign central banks, in a mutual back-scratching arrangement, whereby we’ll buy their …


Odds ‘n Sods:

In rural America, secessionist sentiment stirs    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 Over at Mac Slavo’s blog: Experts Fear Nuclear Famine: “A Disaster So Massive in Scale that No Preparation is Possible”    o o o Rutherford Institute Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Ensure that Lawful Gun Ownership Is Not a Trigger for ‘No-Knock’ Police Raids    o o o Reader R.G. forwarded some news from the chairman of Minnesota Gun Owners about more outside influence …



Notes from JWR:

Today is celebrated as Christmas, all around the world. December 25th is of course a seasonally convenient time for celebration, just after the Winter Solstice. Most Biblical scholars agree that Christ’s birth probably took place in the spring rather than in December. And his birth year was most likely in 4 BC. To clarify: The original year calculated by Dionysius Exiguus was in error. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote circa 70 AD about the reign of King Herod. He stated that Herod died 37 years after the Romans declared him King, and 34 years from the time he actually became …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:8-11 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

It was just reported that Mikhail Kalashnikov died Monday, at age 94. — December 24th is the 14th Anniversary of when John Joe Gray’s legal troubles began. He and his family have been self-sufficiently holed up in their Texas ranch for 13 years, in defiance of a warrant for his arrest. This has been the longest personal standoff in American history, in which he has faced the administrations of four different county sheriffs. — 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.) …


My Move to the American Redoubt, by Jason L.

The recent article The Benefits of a Homesteading Approach to Preparedness, by Chaya had much wisdom about moving before a crunch. There will not be time to prepare or get to know your surroundings if you wait. I have dreamed about moving to the American Redoubt for the last 3-4 years, however there were several things that prohibited me. I had a house payment and small business in Rural Northern Pa, I had a great job and family ties. I did not want to leave my father and small hobby farm. In December of last year my mother received news …


Letter Re: Open Carry, Concealed Carry and Gun Free School Zones

James, I’m writing to warn fellow SurvivalBlog readers that there is a huge proviso for those wishing to open carry firearms in states where it is lawful to do so. I recommend reading the Wikipedia page on Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) of 1990. Some key excerpts form that web page follow: Definitions Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(25) the term “school zone” means— (A) in, or on the grounds of, a public, parochial or private school; or (B) within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a public, parochial or private school. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(26) the term “school” …


News From The American Redoubt:

Strong Rules on Fracking in Wyoming Seen as Model    o o o In Idaho: Of Poker and Plunder: Commissarina Olson Strikes Again. [JWR Adds: I’ve addressed the Federal statute on Misprison of a Felony previously in SurvivalBlog. Any genuine jurisdiction over civilians in misprision cases is dubious, at best.]    o o o What Spokane wants from state lawmakers    o o o Idaho to sell furnishings from former governor’s mansion    o o o Eastern Oregon megaload trip – This 900,000 pound load should have already be in Canada, but it is moving slowly, because of bad weather.


Economics and Investing:

What Does the Price of Gold Do In Deflation? (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) B.B. sent: The Federal Reserve Is Leveraged Roughly 70 Times Italy’s president fears violent insurrection in 2014 Andre D. sent a link to an opinion piece by Gordon Brown: Stumbling Toward the Next Crash. (Brown is a Labour Party member of the British Parliament a former Chancellor of the Exchequer and former Prime Minister.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space …


Notes from JWR:

The ice storm at our Christmas vacation locale is continuing, so I’m again posting SurvivalBlog a day early, just in case. — Today, December 23, 2013, is the 100th anniversary of the exclusive private banking cartel known as The Federal Reserve. Please take a minute to read this piece: A Long-Term Look At Inflation. Clearly, the Federal Reserve has systematically robbed the American people of the value of their currency and savings, via currency inflation. My long-standing advice is to get your money out of Dollars and into tangibles like common caliber ammunition, silver, and productive farm land! I predict …


Book Review: Ankara Fever: Journeys

Ankara Fever: Journeys (Volume 1) ©2013 Brian S. Vinson available on Amazon Kindle or print ISBN: 978-1494377496   I recently read this novel and it made me think it might be a great book for those in our community who are trying to ‘wake up’ friends and family who are simply unwilling to wake up without a swift kick to the pants.   First off, Ankara Fever: Journeys is a book based on what would happen if a major pandemic broke out.  It follows two couples on their separate journeys to the same place.  One couple is Roger and Jennifer.  …