Letter Re: A Dual Ring Village

Mr Rawles, thank you for the service you provide. A comment on the dual ring village concept. If it is advanced as a defense tactic, I would urge remembering that the walled-town versus siegecraft dynamic is thousands of years old, and the survival of walled towns and cities is only possible if they are: 1. Provisioned to last longer than the besieging force, which is of course free to forage and be resupplied 2. Fireproof 3. Relieved by a friendly force from outside. They are also utterly obsolete since the development of artillery bombardment, still more so since the airplane …


Economics and Investing:

Tyler Durden reports: Gold And Silver Physical Market And Inventory Update From The Source: “In A Word, Ugly.” The Silver Market: An ‘Operation’, Not A Liquidation Sinclair – Swiss Bank Just Refused To Give My Friend His Gold Items from The Economatrix: No Food Inflation?  Take A Look At Lettuce Leading Indices Drop Points To Slower US Growth Home Building Rises To Key Milestone


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader M.K.P. suggested this over at Instructables: A Homemade Rocket Stove    o o o Lilia sent this: WHO says new bird strain is “one of most lethal” flu viruses. Ken J. sent this: Mapping the H7N9 avian flu outbreaks.    o o o Edward Hasbrouck on Travel Surveillance, Traveler Intrusion. (A tip of the hat to Chris M. for the link.)    o o o Andre D. sent: Start-Up Lets Users Track Who Tracks Them    o o o Mercedes-Benz Unimog gets new look, engines for 2013. (Thanks to Tim J. for the link.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"That the several States composing, the United States of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their general government; but that, by a compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States, and of amendments thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes — delegated to that government certain definite powers, reserving, each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self-government; and that whensoever the general government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force." – Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions of 1798


Notes from JWR:

Today is the birthday of Carolyn Cole (born 1961) a well-known staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times. For a few years in the late 1960s, the Cole family lived next door to my parents’ house in Livermore, California. That little girl with whom I played hide-and-seek would grow up to earn a Pulitzer Prize, two World Press Photo awards, and be named Photojournalist Of The Year. Congrats and Happy Birthday, Carolyn! — Today we present another entry for Round 46 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day …


Special Announcement: The American Redoubt Bullion Silver Coin

The new American Redoubt .999 fine silver coin has been launched! These very attractive coins are produced by Mulligan Mint. They are one Troy ounce weight, and are being sold at a very competitive market price. (Spot silver was advantageously below $23.10 per ounce, when I last checked, and many dealers are charging a premium of $9 per ounce over spot!) Lord willing, this release will be followed in a few months by fractional 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, and possibly 1/10th ounce coins of the same design. Note that we will earn a modest commission from each sale, to help …


Colorado’s New Law on Private Firearms Transfer, by Attorney Timothy J. Priebe

1

On March 10, 2013, the Governor of Colorado signed into law three new statutes that pertain to gun and magazine owners throughout the state. In this post, I will address the addition of C.R.S. 18-12-112, having to do with “Private Firearms Transfer”. No reader should consider this post to be legal advice for themselves or anyone else. My intent is to educate you on the law and for you to make your own decisions.  On and after July 1, 2013, a person who is not a licensed gun dealer, before they transfer or attempt to transfer possession of a firearm …


Letter Re: A Dual Ring Village

Dear Sir: I am taking this time to write, because you express an interest in solutions that provide enhanced security and prosperity for people. I, too, like the idea of a fortified village, instead of isolationism. One possible solution, the dual ring village (DRV), is based on a simple idea. Imagine a line of mixed use buildings – something like the 1890s in New York City. Stores on the street level, with apartments above. Take that line and wrap into a circle. Take another line of buildings, and wrap that into a circle, placed within the first circle. The result …


Economics and Investing:

Ken J. sent me a troubling piece that was published three years ago: The Just-in-Time Consumer Merkel To Europe: “Prepare To Cede Sovereignty” Ronald Stoeferle: “Last Week We Were Really Close To A Default of The 130-to-1 Paper Gold Market” Items from The Economatrix: The Terrifying Reality Of Long-Term Unemployment Inflation, Factory Data Favor Continued Fed Easing Arizona Becomes Second State To Approve Gold And Silver As Legal Tender


Odds ‘n Sods:

The ultimate remote retreat? Check out this new listing at our SurvivalRealty.com spin-off site: Salmon River Wilderness Ranch. That is almost as remote as Sylvan Hart’s old homestead.    o o o Reader Michael U. mentioned that Keepshooting.com is selling alloy HK 91 mags for just $1.50 each if you buy 100 or more. That is a real bargain, these days! With an import ban about to be announced (and prices of milsurp parts, ammo, and magazines likely to skyrocket) you will probably thank yourself for stocking up.    o o o F.G. sent: Why one cop carries 145 rounds …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We’re going to suspend your rights to protest, bear arms, privacy, and trial by jury.” “Why?” “To protect you from terrorists.” “Why do we need to be protected from terrorists?” “They hate you for your freedom.” – Reader “Nick Tha Swede,” commenting on an article about Mayor Bloomberg at The Politicker web site


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 46 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 …


Geospatial Intelligence on a Laptop, Part 1, by N-101

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is mapping using satellite images, digital elevations, transportation networks, land use classifications, vegetation classifications, weather data, demographics and much more to help the decision making process for any activity a corporation, army, or group wishes to undertake. Unfortunately much of the best data, the highest resolution and degree of accuracy, is only available to large corporations and nations. This does not mean it is not possible to create your own GEOINT solution. A small scale solution is constrained by data storage and computing power, in every GIS (Geographic Information System) user’s dream is to be able to …


Here Come the First of the Executive Actions

Just as I warned SurvivalBlog readers, it appears that the BHO Administration is taking executive action on firearms importation. Take a few minutes to read this: After Senate setback, Obama quietly moving forward with gun regulation. Here is the key portion of the article: “The Importation of Defense Articles and Defense Services — U.S. Munitions Import List references executive orders, amends ATF regulations and clarifies Attorney General authority “to designate defense articles and defense services as part of the statutory USML for purposes of permanent import controls,” among other clauses specified in heavy legalese requiring commensurate analysis to identify just …


Letter Re: Demographic Shifts in The American Redoubt

Hello Mr. Rawles: I noticed in your answer about demographic changes in the “American Redoubt,” you only dealt with political notions. The question, as I read it, asked about immigration and the American Redoubt and the demographic changes as a result of that. Can you talk about some other issues? Thanks for your blog. – A Virginia RN JWR Replies: I’ll be happy to address the demographics in more broad terms. My apologies for only addressing political aspects in my initial reply. Religion: The religious demographics of the American Redoubt generally parallel the rest of the nation (with an overall …