Odds ‘n Sods:

An innovative new company that makes portable DC power systems has been launched by three Florida college students: SharkBox.    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) spotted this: How to Make a Soup Can Forge. (Of course a section of scrap Schedule 80 steel pipe would prove far more durable for the outer sleeve. )    o o o The Republican Liberty Caucus of Idaho is sponsoring the Treasure Valley Liberty Expo on Saturday, November 9th at the Red Lion Downtowner Hotel in Boise, Idaho.    o o o Beyond the Bunker: Preppers Go Mainstream.    …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden—that is what the State is there for. And unless they are helping to increase and prolong and protect such moments, all the laws, parliaments, armies, courts, police, economics, etc., are simply a waste of time."  – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity


Notes from JWR:

Today, November 3rd, 2013 the CBS Sunday Morning show is featuring a news segment with Mark Baird, spokesman for the State of Jefferson Declaration Committee. — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,500+ 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 …


Resolve: The Ultimate Survival Attribute, by Talon Flyer

Ask yourself this question:  “Do I really think I could use deadly force against someone to protect my family?”  Most, (if not all reading this) quickly respond with a resounding YES!  In fact, you may even have fantasized about scenarios where that might happen; usually in the context of “what would I do if…”   One has to plan for every contingency, right? The thing is, these fantasies are usually on the same level as a Hollywood movie—contain some sense of bravado—and almost always leave you feeling like somewhat of a hero.  There are those who are unnerved about this and …


Economics and Investing:

Don’t miss this: Jim Sinclair: Gold Will be $50,000 per Ounce, Gold Confiscation, Dollar Gets Hammered and More. Note: Jim Sinclair is famously terse in his writings, so it is a treat to see a 40+ minute interview with him. From Rochester to Dorchester: New York firearms importer ATI to move operations to Summerville [South Carolina], create 117 jobs California’s dependency culture extends to the far northern counties: Hoopa Tribe has to dip into emergency food supplies during 17 day federal shutdown Items from The Economatrix: Annihilation Of U.S. Dollar Coming – Jim Sinclair China Is Preparing To Declare Financial …


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.L. sent this news from Nanny State New York: Three Too Many Cartridges Means Loss of Firearms Rights    o o o Reader B.B. recommended the latest essay by Matt Bracken, over at the WRSA site.    o o o How to disable MRAP Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Light Armored Vehicles    o o o JMC sent: Holocaust And Resistance: “Without A Weapon, You Were Worthless.“    o o o Amnesty Is Republican Party Suicide (Phyllis Schlafly )



Notes from JWR:

Readers in the United States (except Arizona) are reminded to set their clocks back one hour before retiring on Saturday night. — Today we present another entry for Round 49 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $8,500+ 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, …


From Just Surviving Life to a Life of Survival Preparedness, by Michael B.

From Just Surviving Life to a Life of Survival Preparedness, by Michael B. I was born into the percentage of Americans,who statistically don’t make it to the American dream. I was Born 1980 in Modesto, California. The third child of a young mother and father hooked on Speed, KJ and any other number of drugs they could get their hands on. By 1983 we found ourselves 140 miles south in Visalia Ca. That year my father was shot point blank range in the lower abdominal area with a .22 Long Rifle hollow point. It was the neighbor in the next …


Letter Re: The Blackout Docudrama

First of all: The creators are in the "Hollywood way" so they live there, their friends are all there, They are not going to go build a bunker, they are already working on their next project about an Alien invasion or something like that.  So from my perspective, they did pretty good over all considering the source. Over acting, oh yeah.  I have seen some pretty tense situations and there are many men who show no emotion at all.  they are deep in their thinking and in this video, we have simply lucked out that all the characters are highly …


Economics and Investing:

The Perils of Mussolini Economics: Feds Report $9.7 Billion Loss on GM shares Man buys $27 of Bitcoin, forgets about them, finds they’re now worth $886,000 Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Sales Head For Annual Record Over 40 Million Items from The Economatrix: Don’t Worry – The Government Says That The Inflation You See Is Just Your Imagination How Obama Overlooked 10 Million Americans Who Could Lose Health Insurance What Is The Federal Reserve’s End Goal? Follow The Money And You Will Find No Intention Of Tapering, Out Of Control Public Debt, And Financial Steroids For Stocks. Fed Balance Sheet Up …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Loyal content contributor J.B.G. sent this link: 28 solar flares in the last seven days, and more may be coming.    o o o Joe E. spotted this interesting product: FiberFix aims to make duct tape look pathetic.    o o o To counter the claims of some Chicken Little fanatics on the Internet who apparently have no clue about the Inverse Square Law, here is some hard data: Health risk assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, based on a preliminary dose estimation. The health risk in the U.S. because of continuing …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their …


Notes from JWR:

I’m thrilled to report that the post-fire recovery benefit auction for Orange Jeep Dad has already been bid up to $1,043. This auction is for a full sealed tube of 20 American Redoubt Silver 1-ounce coins (no longer being minted) with 100% of the gross proceeds going to OJD’s family. Thanks, folks, for your very generous bids for this worthy cause. Today is the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was an American prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven horrendous years in …


Communications WTSHTF, by Rangoon

There have been many articles written by the prepper community outlining why having a communications plan for a grid down situation is so important.   So we are not going to go in depth about why you need a communications plan, but rather offer concrete suggestions on communications in general and particular products that every prepper should own. I am a licensed ham radio operator and have been participating in Skywarn spotter activities and off grid battery operated events for over ten years.  I am also a pilot and a licensed EMT, both activities in which radio communications are a matter …