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 …


Two New SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Prizes

The generous sponsors of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest have helped make it a great success, and an ongoing source of tremendous knowledge for preparedness-minded families. My sincere thanks, both to the authors and the sponsors. We are pleased to announce that starting with Round 47, we have added two new prizes to the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The first is a couple of BirkSun.com photovoltaic backpacks. (One of their “Level”, and one “Atlas” model, both in black), with a combined value of $275. These two packs are now part of the First Prize package. BirkSun makes a novel product …


Letter Re: Stocking Heirloom Seeds, In Quantity

Hi Capt. Rawles, With spring gardening underway, I want to share something with your readers. If you are buying some heirloom seed packets, with the idea of being prepared, I want to warn you that most of these “packets” do not contain enough quantity to be a food source.  Most of the packets I have purchased contain only enough seed to get what I call a “start”. For example, some of the Golden Bantam Sweet Corn I purchased had only 8 ounces in a pack. I planted 2 packs to get two rows 150 feet long. This would provide several meals for …


Economics and Investing:

Big Dang Bubble, The Next Generation: New York Stock Exchange Margin Debt Hits A New Record, Surpasses 2007 Figures Ambrose-Evans Pritchard: No saviour in sight as world credit cycle rolls over. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.) Matt The Teacher sent: Why is Progressive Insurance Lying About their Spy Devices? Basel III: How The Bank For International Settlements Is Going To Help Bring Down The Global Economy Items from The Economatrix: Impending Financial Collapse–The Grand Finale:  Here Is What’s About To Happen To You Jim Willie:  Coming To A Climax With Gold At $7,000/Oz. US May Auto Sales Seen Shaking …


Odds ‘n Sods:

West Coast Police State Logic: California Senate approves seven gun control bills. They just keep coming: Background checks on ammo buyers, a ban on any semi-auto that can accept a detachable magazine, and an outright ban on 11+ round magazines? These yo-yos are channeling Josef Stalin. Oh, and meanwhile, here is some East Coast Police State Logic: New Jersey: Court Upholds Man Arrested For Visible Gun Case In Car. “Plain view” doctrine is well-established, but what if possession of the item in plain view is considered a right in one state, but a crime in another? So now, in Neu …