T.M.’s Book Review: The Great Game, by Peter Hopkirk

© 2006 Peter Hopkirk Published by The Folio Society 2010 510 pages with map of the area on the inside covers. Available in paperback and eBook from Internet booksellers. There are color photos and illustrations, a lengthy bibliography, and a comprehensive index in my copy. Recommended for high school students and older. If you want to know the back story of the present situation in Afghanistan, you need to read The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia. First published in 1990, it is still available thanks to paperback and eBook editions. First edition hardback copies are available …


The SPLC Crosses the Line with Their Latest Smears

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The smears and innuendos by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that I’ve noted before in SurvivalBlog are continuing. Take a few minutes to read this new article on the controversial Citadel project that appeared in the Summer issue of the SPLC’s magazine, and at their web site, titled: Behind the Walls. It was written by Spokane region journalist Bill Morlin. The SPLC is famous for cleverly using loaded words, half-truths, and guilt by association to attempt to destroy the reputations of conservatives. This latest article is no exception. Take note of the numerous conclusions that Morlin draws just from …


Recipe of the Week:

K.A.F’s Winter Crisp Serves 8 Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar 3 T flour, all purpose 1 tsp lemon peel, grated 5 cups apple, unpeeled, sliced 1 cup cranberries 2/3 cup rolled oats 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 c whole wheat flour 2 T ceylon cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground ginger 3 T butter, soft melted Prep: Filling: Combine sugar, all purpose flour, lemon peel, and ginger in a medium bowl and mix well with a spoon. Stir in the apples and cranberries and spoon into a greased 6 cup baking dish. Topping: Combine the oats, brown sugar, whole wheat flour and …


Economics and Investing:

Does this sound familiar? How A Trip To Costco Can Work As An Investment Strategy. Buying in bulk at Bog Box stores like Costco is described in detail in the “Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course. It is now priced at less that $20, and you’ll get immediate delivery, via digital download. Why does this not come as a surprise? DoE Lost Billions in Deal with Tesla G.G. flagged this: Marc Faber: “People With Financial Assets Are All Doomed” Silver Short Squeeze Scenario 420 Jim W. sent this commentary on deleveraging from Jim Noland at The Prudent Bear: It’s Going …


Odds ‘n Sods:

For just a week, Ready Made Resources and Safecastle are running semi-annual sales on Mountain House long term storage foods, with the maximum allowable discounts of 25% to 40%. And BTW, the folks at Ready Made Resources mentioned that they are willing to “mix and match” items, as long as you order in six-can increments. So, for example, you can order two cans of Lasagna an Meat Sauce, two cans of Pasta Primavera, and two cans of Chicken Alfredo, to complete a six-can case. And the folks at Safecastle mentioned that they have an incentive package for the sale that …



Note from JWR:

Today we present the first 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 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 …


Surviving the Aftermath, Hurricane Katrina Style, by Frank G.

On the morning of August 29th, 2005 we came face to face with TEOTWAWKI in the form of Hurricane Katrina.  An estimated 92% of our community in Pascagoula, Mississippi was inundated with a storm surge of 20-30 feet and 30-55 feet sea waves.  The surge waters traveled well inland, between 6-12 miles and combined with freshwater flooding from our numerous creeks, rivers, and the runoff from the Mobile, Alabama reservoir that opened its flood gates to relieve stress on the dam.  This basically cut Jackson County in half.  Fortunately the worst of the storm hit in the morning just as …


Three Letters Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

CPT Rawles, To follow up on the recent letter son Guerilla warfare: 1.   The most important thing to the success of the insurgent is the support of the people (the fish swims in the sea). The insurgent must maintain support/legitimacy.  Discipline when dealing with the people is paramount.   2.   The insurgent always chooses the location of the fight. 3.   The insurgent never fights when he knows he will lose.  The insurgent wins by surviving. 4.   Advance/retreat; rest/harass; retreat/advance – read Mao. 5.   The insurgent seeks to make the enemy overreact against the people. 6.   In the early phases of …


Letter Re: New Jersey Court Upholds Man Arrested for Visible Gun Case

Sir: The situation described in the recently-cited article (New Jersey: Court Upholds Man Arrested For Visible Gun Case In Car) only underlines frequent Rawlesian reminders for maintaining OPSEC at all times.  His arrest might have been avoided had he simply covered the cargo area with a blanket so the cases were not visible.  Hopefully the conviction will be overturned in a higher court under the provisions of the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA).  In general, this states that: “notwithstanding any state or local law, a person is entitled to transport a firearm from any place where he or she may lawfully possess …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Mike M. sent us a Porkchop Express report on some Big Trouble From Big China: Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, is being bought by Shuanghui–at $5 billion, this is the largest-ever planned buyout of an American company by China. Curious… IRS’s Shulman had more public White House visits than any Cabinet member 157 visits! Apparently the White House had some deep concern about taxes. Perhaps BHO felt deep anguish about assuring tax fairness, or…? Chart of the Day: Euro Unemployment Hits Its Worst Level Ever All Time Record Gold Transactions Reported By LBMA Items from The Economatrix: …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Tam, over at View From The Porch recommended this piece: Small Impact Tool Basics    o o o Doxycycline and Tetracycline Shortage Update    o o o Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) suggested this by Dave Hodges: Increasing Your Odds Of Survival    o o o Lisa Bedford (of the excellent The Survival Mom blog) has launched a radio network, with all female hosts.    o o o Global flight-path maps: Five interpretations. [JWR’s Note: Our ranch is blissfully situated in a little valley without any railroad tracks and that is not beneath any major air routes. There is a lot …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were …


Note from JWR:

Ready Made Resources and Safecastle have both just launched semi-annual sales on Mountain House long term storage foods, with the maximum allowable discounts of 25% to 40%. Both are reputable companies that have been loyal SurvivalBlog advertisers and both are offering free shipping. So toss a coin, or pick the company closest to you, for the quickest shipping. These sales will run for only one week, so order soon. — Coloradans have some important paperwork to do. The state’s new magazine ban will go into effect in 30 days (on July 1, 2013.) Of particular note is the fact that …


Writing Contest Winners – Round 46

We’ve completed the judging for Round 46 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. First Prize goes to Steven in Alabama for When Bugging Out is Not an Option: Hunkering Down with a Quadriplegic, which was posted on May 24, 2013. He will receive: 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 …