Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader B.K. sent: Lights out: House plan would protect nation’s electricity from solar flare, nuclear bomb    o o o Eli sent us this video link where a “20-Something” with apparently mixed feelings about guns journeys into the wilderness to unleash his Inner Charlton Heston: Shooting the Biggest Guns Money Can Buy – The Big Sandy Shoot. BTW, that shoot looks like a lot more fun (and a lot safer) than attending a Saudi wedding.    o o o B. in Idaho sent an interesting article about Syrian militias competing.  B. noted:  “It is notable that one militia that was …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, …


Notes from JWR:

Please pray for SGT Bowe Bergdahl and his family. He has been held as a POW by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. — This is the birthday of the late Col. Rex Applegate (born 1914, died July 14, 1998.) He was a mentor and friend of SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio — Today we present a guest article by wild foods expert Linda Runyon. Her writings have often been cited in SurvivalBlog


The Other Use of Wild Edible Food, by Linda Runyon

I am a wild food author who lived it for years while homesteading in the Adirondacks of upstate New York, and I lived on wild food for many years after that during my teaching days. I still eat wild food today in retirement. YES.  Wild food is abundant, nutritious, healthy, easy-to-use and, best of all, free! This is important to know, and it’s an important cognition to have early on the way to becoming proficient with it. Having your eyes opened to the fact that it is everywhere must, of course, come before starting the journey that ends with being …


Economics and Investing:

The stock markets and the precious metals markets all got hammered on Thursday (June 20, 2013), following some comments by Ben Bernanke. Don’t be spooked. Don’t be fooled. The Fed and Treasury Department are essentially locked in to QE to Infinity. They may try to “taper”, but it probably won’t work. Today’s news does nothing to change the market fundamentals. Silver will remain in a bull market for as long as the government continues to grossly over-spend. So when the price of silver gets temporarily pushed down by these rumors, just look at it as another buying opportunity. Over at …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson recommended this brief video: How Turkish Protesters Deal With Teargas    o o o There is a gun show scheduled in Colorado Springs this weekend. With the July 1st legislation deadline looming in Colorado, I’m sure that sales of battle rifles and full capacity magazines will be brisk. Last call in Colorado!    o o o K.A.F. sent this: Telegrams no more. Stop. India to send world’s last message July 14.    o o o Courtesy of OSOM, come this link: Gary North on hands-free headlamps    o o o Sarah C. recommended …


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 …