Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Given the razor’s edge the financial system now teeters on, analysts estimate a Treasury Bond interest rate of 3.5% is about where a death spiral begins. Of all the 10-year Treasuries held in the world, the Federal Reserve owns a bit less than a third. Should the interest rate tick up toward its normal 4% to 6%, the Fed would need to “print money” just to break even, meaning more bonds need to be issued to put it into play. What seemed “manageable” is transformed into a runaway, self-compounding event. Rising interest rates also trigger serious effects outside the bond …


Notes from JWR:

JRH Enterprises has started their big Labor Day Weekend sale on New Gen 3+ Pinnacle autogated ITT/Exelis PVS-14 night vision monocular/scopes with five year warranty. In addition to all the standard accessories, JRH is also including for a free weapons mount and and free shuttered eye guard with this unit, all for just $2,595. — Today we present Part 1 of a four-part 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.) …


Stuff Hitting the Fan: A Position Paper – Part 1, by R.L.

The United States of America is a very resilient country; that is to say, the people of the United States are a very resilient people.  But, stuff happens and our current crop of politicians seems determined to drive us into the ground with their short-sighted and self-serving policies.  The purpose of this paper is to briefly identify some possible trouble spots, and suggest a few remedial type actions to help prepare for any adverse consequences of catastrophic failures induced by pin head politicians.  Most of the current problems we face have their origin firmly rooted in, and are fertilized by, …


Letter Re: Custom Magazine Pouches

Greetings Sir, I read your post concerning magazine pouches for some of the more obscure weapons systems favored by many in our community. I’m not sure if the demand is there to justify a full production run of the pouches you mention, but we do produce very limited custom articles from time to time for clients with specific needs. If you would like a truly custom, American made product to fit the systems you mentioned, we would be glad to provide that service for you. Your input will completely drive the design, including, the products style, color, material, mode of function, attachment …


Economics and Investing:

Not Your Land! – California City Wants To Seize Mortgages – Stuart Varney Items from The Economatrix: Wealth Distribution In US Rivals A Modern Day Gilded Age: In 2013 Wealth Inequality At Record Levels. 72 Percent Of Wealth In US Held By 5 Percent Of The Population. Will 8th Time Be The Charm For $1,400 Gold? Economy Recovers, Income Doesn’t


Odds ‘n Sods:

B.B. sent this encouraging news: Missouri Set to Nullify All Federal Gun Laws. I hope that they are successful and that this becomes model legislation.    o o o M.B. suggested a new piece of short fiction by Matt Bracken over at the WRSA site: Alas, Brave New Babylon    o o o Massive Drill Planned to Test Resiliency of U.S. Electric Grid.    o o o F.G. recommended both this article and this same training discipline for civilian shooters: ‘This is not your rifle:’ Marines take foreign weapons instructor course    o o o A spectacular OPSEC Fail: Look inside: …




Gold, Silver, and the Status Quo, by G.E. Christenson

Gold and silver will survive as a store of value and wealth. Paper money, the economic status quo, unfunded liabilities, pension plans, exponentially increasing debt, massive budget deficits, “to-big-to-fail” banks, and so much more are at risk of gradual or catastrophic failure. Gold and Silver Precious metals have been recognized as wealth and a store of value for over 3,000 years. They may no longer be used as currency but they retain their value. Example: I can’t go to Wal-Mart and buy food with silver coins but, practically speaking, I can sell or trade a gold or silver coin minted …


Letter Re: New Privacy Service

Mr. Rawles,  I came across this today and thought it might be useful to other SurvivalBlog readers. It is called  JustDelete.me. From the web site: ‘Many companies use dark pattern techniques to make it difficult to find how to delete your account. JustDelete.me aims to be a directory of URLs to enable you to easily delete your account from web services.” Essentially it is a listing of links to various web companies where you can delete your account. Currently 129 companies are listed and the site owner has a method for submitting others for inclusion. – Clark H.


Two Letters Re: Advice on Come-Alongs

Hi Jim, I’d like to mention another heavy duty come-along/manual winch you and your readers may be interested in.   It is built by a long time American manufacturer, Wyeth-Scott.  Please note the pull ratings are based on dead lift capacities and, as they state, pull ratings are approximately double those.  Please see their notes regarding rating differences between lifting and pulling.  A vehicle on a flat road or a tree, through mud, up a hill. Thanks, – Guy S.  Dear Mr. Rawles, and Readers, Always be careful where you place your fingers around come-alongs. I always warn people who …


Economics and Investing:

Jim Rogers says, “This is the first time in recorded history all the banks are printing money at the same time. This is the first time we’ve had massive debasement, and it’s going to end very badly no matter what they say.” (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) recommended: Blockade – The Diary of an Austrian Middle-Class Woman 1914-1924 Items from The Economatrix: Look Out! September Market Headwinds Are Looming Trying To Stay Sane In An Insane World – Part 3 The Worldwide Bank Crash Has Commenced


Odds ‘n Sods:

You’ve got to love Louisiana: Gov. Jindal Promotes Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday: No State Tax on Guns. (Thanks to Kevin A. for the link.)    o o o I heard about another great company that sells only gear made only the in U.S. and allied countries: Low Visual Impact Bushcraft and Survival Inc.    o o o Blacksmithing alive and well in parts of Alabama. (Thanks to Pam C. for the link.)    o o o An Ayn Rand School libertarian who groks Firefly.    o o o Glock owners should find this knife/gun maintenance tool of interest.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If you wanted a national monopoly, you must control a national socialist government. If you want a worldwide monopoly, you must control a world socialist government. That is what the game is all about. ‘Communism’ is not a movement of the downtrodden masses but is a movement created, manipulated and used by power-seeking billionaires in order to gain control over the world, first by establishing socialist governments in the various nations and then consolidating them all through a “Great Merger,” into an all-powerful world, socialist super-state.” – Gary Allen, None Dare Call It Conspiracy


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 …