Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“People are defiantly in denial about what we’re doing. . . . Nobody mentions the $85 billion a month we’re printing now [via Quantitative Easing] . . . . We’ve only printed about $800 billion in the last 100 years. We’re going to print more than that next year. So, literally 100 years of printing next year.” – Bob Wiedemer




Notes from JWR:

June 20th is the birthday of Audie L. Murphy. he was born in 1925. He died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971.) — I just heard that novelist Vince Flynn died at the untimely age of 47. I’m sure that he had more books planned. He will be missed. — Today we present a guest article by Amy Alton (of Doom & Bloom fame.)




Sharp Wound Management, by Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. and Joe Alton, M.D.

Given the media outcry against gun ownership, it’s easy to forget the wounds that are caused by knives and other sharp instruments.  Trauma incurred from these injuries may be minor or major; penetrating trauma such as caused by a stab wound should not be discounted as a major injury; it can be life-threatening, depending on the organs and blood vessels damaged.  Penetrating trauma is divided into perforating and non-perforating.  A perforating wound is one in which the object causing the damage goes into one side of the body and then exits through the other side.  A wound from .223 or …




Economics and Investing:

Analyst Says China’s Credit Bubble Is Unlike Anything In Modern History. (Thanks to Andre D. for the link.) Four current trends in the housing market: Rents holding steady nationwide, young home buyers, bidding war trends, and going after strategic defaulters. Shock: Iceland Defies EU, Freezes Membership Bid Items from The Economatrix: Obama Rewards Wall Street Again, Thwarts Reform By Sacking Gensler Financial Chaos, Disappearing Freedom & Hyperinflation Bond Bubble Threatens Global Financial System




Odds ‘n Sods:

Pantry Paratus is offering a free Sport Berkey filtering water bottle with any purchase $150 or more.  This offer is only valid through June 30th.        o o o Maine has become the first state in the nation to pass legislation ordering its grid to be hardened against an electromagnetic pulse. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.)    o o o Over at Ryan and Ryan’s excellent blog: Birdshot For Self Defense?    o o o My old friend Terry sent: Russia Nearing Final Stages For New Assault Rifle In Legendary Kalashnikov Series    o o o What …







Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon. He was born in 1834 and died in 1892. This British Particular Baptist preacher’s powerful sermons are still widely read, and can now be listened to, as presented by modern orators. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 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 …




850 Miles in 27 Weeks: Experience With Long Distance Walking, by Erik M.

Do you plan to walk to your retreat?  Then read this first. For those who like me, are nearing or over 50 years old and out of shape after years of working a desk and who think that walking or biking to a retreat is an option for them, let me tell you about the last 27 weeks and the 850 miles I’ve covered by walking and biking. In doing so I’m hoping that I can convince you to start now rather then waiting for a situation that forces you to do so. After all, if my retreat were 260 …




Letter Re: Mass Versus Bullets (and Hail Stones and Gamma Radiation)

Hello James, I read your blog every day and enjoy finding information that is useful. Recently a posting discussed the use of the 5.56 mm NATO bullet and its poor performance in penetrating automobiles.   I took notice of this information about the penetrating power or lack of penetrating power of the 5.56 in relation to single and double barriers. We moved onto our five acres of land nine years ago. One of the first building projects was to have a contractor installed tornado shelter set in the ground. Then over the next two years I added a 16’x20’x50” high …




Economics and Investing:

Congressional hearing video: $9,000,000,000,000 Missing From The Federal Reserve. (Why is it that the larger the dollar figure, the less the accountability? Just ask the Boptrotters–some of whom were convicted over sums less than $100–if their scrutiny and punishments were proportional.) Reader Jon S. pointed me to this eloquent essay by Mark Hendrickson, at Forbes: The Pandora’s Box of Progressivism: Positive Law Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Sentiment Slips In June Emergency Manager:  Detroit Will Default on $2.5 Billion it Owes US Wholesale Prices Rise More Than Forecast On Fuel, Food




Odds ‘n Sods:

By way of Mac Slavo’s SHTFPlan blog: September 6, 1984: Ron Paul Warns of Surveillance State    o o o A reader e-mailed me: “I have seen it all, now: Storage Food for Your Cat.” It is amazing what you can buy at Costco. The practicality of car storage food is debatable, but nonetheless Costco can be great. Stocking up on storage food and other items for your family’s survival stockpile at warehouse stores is described in “Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course.” (Now available inexpensively via digital download.)    o o o The aging robot: Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Up …







Notes from JWR:

Please contact your legislators and insist that they vote against the pending Immigration (Amnesty) Bill. For among other reasons, the Campaign For Liberty warns us that : “…buried deep within the bill are plans to develop a National ID Database of every American citizen, linked with birthdates, Social Security numbers, biometric information – like photos and retinal scans – laying the groundwork for full-scale tracking of every aspect of our lives.” This legislation clearly fails Joe Huffman’s “Jews In The Attic” test, so it must be stopped! — Today is the 60th birthday of Pastor Doug Wilson (born 1953.) He …




Sample Chapter From My Upcoming Novel “Expatriates”

Introductory Note: My upcoming novel opens with a prominent disclaimer that includes: “This is a work of fiction.  All of the events described are imaginary, taking place in the future, and do not represent the world as we know it in the present day. It does not reflect the current geopolitical situation, governmental policies, or the strategic posture of any nation. It is not intended to be commentary on the policies, leadership, goals, strategies, or plans of any nation. This novel is not intended to be predictive of the territorial aspirations tactics of any nation or any planned use of …




News From The American Redoubt:

The ultimate in politically incorrect ammo: Jihawg. (Made in Idaho, of course.)    o o o I recently watched a few episodes of the murder mystery television show Longmire, via Netflix. The show is supposedly set in Wyoming. But the timber just didn’t look right to me. So I did some checking and it turns out that they actually film the show in and around Las Vegas, New Mexico. (Coincidentally, the same town where the original Red Dawn movie was filmed.) And I learned that the leading man (Robert Taylor) is actually an Aussie! (His American accent is flawless.) FWIW, …