News From The American Redoubt:

Despite the recent buying frenzy, Freedom Arms (in Freedom, Wyoming) has been able to keep pace. They make some big stainless steel revolvers that are capable bear stoppers.    o o o Idaho’s growth slows, but the shift from rural to urban areas continues. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.)    o o o Mountain States Ammo (in Missoula, Montana) has been logging huge sales, but has managed to keep some ammo in stock.    o o o After a huge run of sales that depleted their inventory, Lone Wolf (in Priest River, Idaho) now has many Glock magazines and …


Economics and Investing:

Switzerland Revises 1934 Banking- Act to Allow Bail In Deposit Confiscations Getting physical: Refiners Can’t Keep Up With Massive Global Gold Demand. (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.) Gold Price Attack First US Response In Currency War Escalation Items from The Economatrix: For Every Job Opening, There Are Three Unemployed Americans Explaining The Disappointing Jobs Report Maguire — LBMA Default Triggered Gold & Silver Takedown


Odds ‘n Sods:

Attention Carolinians: Spring 2013 North Carolina PATCON and 2nd Amendment Rally: Thursday May 2nd to Monday May 6th    o o o The 40th Annual East Coast Rally will be held May 9, 10, & 11, 2013 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland. This is an annual all-weather militaria flea market, held at the Ripken Stadium Complex parking lot, with 650+ vendor spaces. The event features vehicles, tents, militaria, insignia, collectibles, knives, bayonets, gun parts, electronics, surplus, uniforms, BDUs, models, parts, books, et cetera. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Kevin Reeve of onPoint Tactical describes: …



Note from JWR:

I learned about the planned Internet Blackout for today at the 11th Hour, after I had already assembled and edited all of the posts. So instead of blacking out my blog site, I’m merely delaying posting a feature article that I had written. I have also specially selected a quote of the day. Granted, these are just token protests, but I believe that the CISPA Bill is bad legislation, and that it should be stopped. The bill is on its way to the Senate, so please add it to your list of topics for the next time that you contact …


Pat’s Product Review: Speedy Sharp

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I’ve been around knives since I was about five years old. For a time, I collected custom made knives, but that “hobby” got too expensive for me. For close to 20 years I was the West Coast Field Editor for Knives Illustrated magazine. I believe I wrote for them longer than anyone else did. During that time, I wrote numerous magazine articles, and had at least a thousand different knife samples pass through my hands. When I first started writing about knives, there were a lot of knives that came across my desk that weren’t very sharp – I’m glad …


Letter Re: A Privacy Lesson From the Boston Bombing Investigation

Jim. I learned something from the recent Boston terrorist incident….though it passed very quickly in a reporter’s interview – and even though the reporter was interrupted and didn’t get to finish her thought. In regards to one of the bombers, the reporter said something like  “We can tell from the contents of his “Wish List” online, that he”  ……..(not exact quote). so… I was aware that Amazon.com had a “Wish List” that shoppers can create.  I had NOT been aware that you can search for anyone’s “Wish Lists”, but you can. So everybody needs to know that any Wish List …


Letter Re: A New Pandemic Threat On the Horizon: H7N9

Dear Editor, I am an emergency physician practicing in Southern Californistan. I share TXNurse’s concern about influenza in general, and especially new variants of Avian Influenza, like H7N9.   Her information is current and valuable.  I would urge standard OPSEC on this information if you are a nurse or physician or other health worker. Many of my colleagues pooh-pooh my concerns about Influenza.  They just don’t believe it.  And these are educated physicians!  Given many of them are liberal and believe FEMA will protect them and all that, but even so you would expect a nod from other physicians about …


Recipe of the Week:

Wayne B.’s Homemade Ranch Dressing Dry Ranch Mix 1/2 cup instant minced onion 1/4 cup onion salt 1/4 cup garlic salt 1/4 cup onion powder 1/4 cup garlic powder 2 cups dry parsley flakes 2 tablespoons dry dill weed Measure first five ingredients, minced onion, onion salt, garlic salt, onion powder and garlic powder, into a blender or food processor and blend until combined. Stir in parsley and dill. Store and keep mix dry. A Mason jar or freezer bag work well. Label and include instructions for dressing or dip. Label it. You think you will remember, but you won’t. …



Odds ‘n Sods:

I fail to see how the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a great victory for law enforcement. That fact is that he was captured outside of their much-vaunted perimeter, and he wasn’t ferreted out by The Donut Eaters. Rather, some blood stains were found on a shrink-wrapped boat by its owner, and he summoned the police. These was a failure of law enforcement of epic proportions. Furthermore, kicking in doors on several streets in Watertown, Massachusetts without benefit of search warrants didn’t exactly make make friends and influence people. It was more like a dress rehearsal for martial law. Next …



Notes from JWR:

This year April 21st is Aggie Muster Day, for all Texas A&M Corps of Cadets graduates. Aggie Muster celebrations and meetings are held as far away as Japan, Germany, and Afghanistan. I should mention that my maternal grandfather (U.S. Army Cavalry Corps) was an Aggie–something mentioned so often that everyone in our family also felt like de facto Aggies. Other than the officers that matriculate though West Point, the three institutions that seem to have the greatest ongoing esprit de corps for their graduates are Texas A&M, The Citadel, and VMI. I felt almost obliged to include an Aggie character …


A Military Wife’s Perspective on Preparedness, by Laura M.

I take a different approach, but one that may prove useful for other ladies. My husband is military, so that would make me the military spouse. However, I can tell you from experience that there SHOULD be a survival guide to being a military spouse. Now, I don’t plan on making this some betty home maker guide; Because in my opinion there is so many other survival aspects that us ladies should be aware of when our husbands are away. Unfortunately, we are not aware of these survival tactics until some misfortune is staring us in the face and we …


Letter Re: COSTCO Freeze Dried Storage Food Buckets

James, Costco sells a bucket of freeze dried food that provides 2,000 calories per day for one person for 30 days. Not a huge variety of entrees but quite adequate and rather tasty. Normally it sells for $100 per bucket including shipping. They sell a 36 bucket pallet for $3,300. That pallet is on sale now for $2,700 and the sale ends Sunday evening April 21st. That’s $75 per bucket. I don’t think it’s possible to get this much food for this low a price. The link is below. Thanks so much for all the information you provided. – K.T. …