Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Jump down the shelters to get away The boys are cockin’ up their guns Tell us General is it party time? If it is can we all come? Don’t think that we don’t know Don’t think that we’re not tryin’, no no no Don’t think we move too slow It’s no use after cryin’ Sayin’ ‘It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake.’” – Men At Work, “It’s A Mistake” (Lyrics by Colin Hay.)




Notes from JWR:

Today is the birthday of Ludwig von Mises. (Born 1881, died October 10, 1973.) — 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 …




A Year of Starvation: My Experience, by K.S.

Though food shortages and malnutrition are popular discussion topics for preppers, I doubt that many of us have experienced a real, prolonged lack of food. Certainly we’ve all had a day or two – maybe even more, for the gutsy– with minimal or no food, but often those days happen by choice and are for practice, with a set end in sight. How many of us have gone weeks, months, or more on limited rations? How many of us know what to expect and how we’d feel? How many of us are ready for the surprises and challenges that prolonged …




Letter Re: Thoughts on Barbara Tuchman and System Fragility

James, I was reading Tuchman’s seminal work The Guns of August last night and found this quote, where she describes the emphasis in 1910 by author Norman Angell in his book The Great Illusion on how the increasing connectedness of business and nations would assuredly preclude future conflict: ‘By impressive examples and incontrovertible argument Angell showed that in the present financial and economic interdependence of nations, the victor would suffer equally with the vanquished; therefore war had become unprofitable; therefor no nation would be so foolish as to start one.’ This cited work was published in 1910, just prior to …




Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this: Stockton Farmers Say Walnut Crops Are Prime Targets For Creative Thieves B.B. sent this: Credit card firm cuts off nation’s No. 1 gun store — for selling guns Items from The Economatrix: Over at Zero Hedge: QE Worked For The Weimar Republic For A Little While Too Cyprus-Style Wealth Confiscation Is Now Starting To Happen All Over The Globe US Economic Confidence Slumps To Six-Month Low Oil Rises Above $103 A Barrel On US Data




Odds ‘n Sods:

RBS recommended this fascinating article: Six Months in the Middle Ages: Surviving the Moscow Winter    o o o F.J. suggested this: Vintage Machinery Website    o o o H.L. liked this one: What to do when your Dominant Eye Differs from your Dominant Hand    o o o The 1911 Pistol Is Its Own Toolbox! (Thanks to K.T. for the link.)







Notes from JWR:

Happy birthday to L.K.O., SurvivalBlog’s Rocky Mountain Regional Editor. — 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 …




The Night I Became a Community Organizer, by Sergeant Dad

We started “Prepping” the day I was issued my DD-214 from the 2nd Marine Air Wing back in 1970. Even way back then the writing was on the wall if you cared enough to take a hard look and pay attention.   The VietNam War was pulling this country apart. “So you don’t believe, we’re on the Eve of Destruction?” We swallowed John Prine’s antidote, hook, line and sinker. “Blow up your TV, throw away your paper Go to the country, build you a home Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches Try an find Jesus on your …




Letter Re: Basic Mechanics Skills and Knowing Vehicular Limitations

James, Thank you for your contributions on SurvivalBlog. I read with interest the article on basic mechanical skills.  Changing a tire can be a difficult process,  last summer I had a blow out on a 100 degree day, found that changing a tire in the severe heat was a difficult task  and for an older man, and possibly dangerous.   I decided to decide to find a workable solution for this problem. At first I tried the 12 volt DC impact wrenches but found them unsatisfactory. My solution was to take a 1,700 watt inverter that I placed in a tool box …




Economics and Investing:

Alex G. sent: Why Quantitative Easing Is Not Working Eric Sprott Exclusive: The Fed Has Lost Control of the Bond Market!   Items from The Economatrix: This Will End In Catastrophic Collapse & Tragedy For The West Consumer Confidence Drops Most In 6 Months To 4 Month Low Making $100,000? Then Flipping Burgers May Be In Your Future




Odds ‘n Sods:

A traitorous act! Kerry Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty — Civilian Disarmament Advancing    o o o Loyal content contributor RBS spotted this on Craigslist: Brand New Atlas Survival Shelter – $105000 (Council, Idaho)    o o o Leslie in New Mexico mentioned: Reese Case: Date Set for the Appeal    o o o Why Revolution is axing the storyline that drove the entire 1st season. In an Orwellian lexicon shift, the “Patriots” are now the designated evil villains! (Last season it was a “Militia.”) The first season had rather lame acting and implausible situations. To suffer through the 2nd …







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 …




Bugging Out of the City with Your Family, by O. Dog

The never-ending threat of the TEOTWAWKI looms in the depth of all of our minds.  My work experience lays primarily in public safety, government peroration to emergency response, tactical team assaults, gang mentality and survival, logistics and law enforcement radio communication.  My personal experience is very broad beginning with my first job at age 15, working continuously through college, being married for the past 16 years to my “high school sweetheart” and raising three young children.  I have been validated in court as an expert in several fields regarding gangs, firearms and narcotics.  I would like to share with you …