Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader JBR sent: Automated License Plate Recognition technology is advancing at a gallop. JWR’s Comment: For potentially dark days ahead, it is prudent to think through countermeasures such as mud splotches that obscure a couple of license plate digits, or of course out-of state registration. (Just one more reason to set up a family trust.)    o o o Readers may have noticed that my FAQ articles are living documents but they are only sporadically updated. Most recently, I updated the European Ammo Box Translations FAQ with a detail that was kindly sent to me by reader Christoper B., who …



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 …


My Prepping Perspective, by Jenny O.

Waking up to the sudden realization that my safe, comfortable world as I have always known it to be was not the result of watching any “end of the world” movies or documentaries, or from reading something about it or from a friend convincing me.  I feel it was a gift, a freebie wake-up call from the heavenly powers that be.   I can’t help but think that I am supposed to be a survivor…..at least long enough to keep my children alive and healthy until they are grown and can then survive without my assistance.  My husband on the other …


Three Letters Re: Bad as a Bullet: Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases

James:  I live in Tennessee where mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks thrive.  There are two wet weather ponds near my home and if I go to my shooting range in the evening or early morning, the mosquitoes will make any quality time really miserable.  While working in the gardens and fields, one has to be constantly checking themselves for ticks.   Last year about April I read a short paragraph in Countryside Magazine from a gentleman (I believe from Maine) that has taken a Vitamin B1 tablet starting in April and takes them every day until the first killing frost in the Fall for the past …


Economics and Investing:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) spotted this: Passed from War to War’: Germany’s Small Arms Exports Double. Mike’s Comment: “This news story has been picked up by most German major papers. It is being seen as a way to attack Angela Merkel’s “Merkel Doctrine”. I believe it is safe to say that this might decrease the number of German Federal International Small Arms Export Licenses. This might impact the supply of H&Ks and Walthers in the US, which may push up retail prices.” Mike also flagged this from Stratfor: The Growing Importance of the Arctic Council The Japanese …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Anyone looking for a genuine Faraday room to protect their electronics from EMP and solar storms should contract with TruProtect.    o o o Whoa, there Facebook Bots! Some tirelessly industrious web bots have mined data from Wikipedia and created tens of thousands of unauthorized Facebook pages. For example: There is one in my name, one titled Patriots, one titled Survivors, and one titled American Redoubt. To clarify: these were not my creation, and the Facebook company never asked my permission. I’d prefer that they be removed, but that would require a costly lawsuit. (Facebook creates “fan” pages for umpteen …



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 …


News From The American Redoubt:

Quite the confab! I heard that Freeze Dry Guy, the staff of the Paratus Familia blog, Chris Walsh of Revolutionary Realty, Joe Snuffy (author of Suburban Survival: Preparing for Socio-Economic Collapse) and John Jacob Schmidt of Radio Free Redoubt will all have tables or booths at the upcoming Patriots and Self-Reliance Rally at Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on July 26, 27 & 28, 2013. Among the many speakers will be three names that should be familiar to SurvivalBlog readers: Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Stewart Rhodes (of Oath Keepers), and Cope Reynolds of Southwest Shooting Authority. (Cope was one …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader Bob in Manassas, Virginia sent a strong word of warning that stock, bond, and derivatives traders now leveraging to the hilt: Investors Are Borrowing Like Crazy To Leverage Up Their Stock Market Bets. Bob’s comment: “You have often spoken of the risks associated with derivatives. In addition to that risk, the article here demonstrates that investors have historically low (negative) net worth in their accounts due to margin leverage. I would suggest that one strongly possible consequence is that because most of these are institutions of one sort or another and most are using computer-based trading, when the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

You might have noticed that the former “Free Tibet” movement has quietly morphed into to the “Save Tibet” movement. I suppose that the word “Free” sounded too much like an active verb for those in the Kumbaya crowd…. I find that pitiful. Some of us still support the Khampas and their tactics. (Yes, there are still a few of them, stalwartly soldiering on. Sort of like The Forest Brotherhood, but without as much forest.)    o o o Good news from the Live Free Or Die State: State’s stand-your-ground law intact    o o o Chuck H. sent this news …



Notes from JWR:

Today is celebrated as Memorial Day in the United States, a day when we honor those who have died in combat, defending the nation. We are in their debt. — We can also celebrate that the Illinois legislature just voted to repeal the state’s concealed carry ban, with a veto-proof majority. It is now up to the Illinois State Senate, that is notoriously more statist. If they do the right thing, concealed carry may soon be legal in all 50 States! Freedom is on the march. Let ‘s press on to make that no permit open or concealed carry (“Constitutional …


Incendiary Words: Of Detonations and Denotations

I find it curious that the definition of “weapon of mass destruction” has become more elastic and quite geographically dependent in recent years. When it is used to describe events overseas, the phrase still seems to include only lethal chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. But here in the States, it can mean something as small as a pressure cooker packed with 10 pounds of black powder, or even just a home-made hand grenade containing perhaps eight ounces of explosive. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has ordered laser-guided GBU-38 JDAMs up to 2,000 pounds dropped on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and Yemen, yet …