Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader J.B.G. mentioned this from Michael Bane: The Great Ammo Drought of 2013. Michael has some good advice. OBTW, to compensate for the current high cost of ammunition, we are doing more practice with our SIRT laser training pistol.    o o o K. recommended the tips included in The American Civil War Account of Harriet Cobb Lane. The comments about the coffee substitute that later became known as Postum were interesting, and worthy of some experimentation.    o o o Seed For Security is now featuring their Four Grain Collection. Included in this collection is: 2 pints of Winter …



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 …


Wealth From a Prepper’s Perspective, by DocLiberty

Many (if not most) people seek wealth, yet few can define it.  There are many practical definitions.  One author defines wealth as having sufficient assets to provide the cash flow necessary to meet your monthly living expenses.  That’s a great definition for normal times, but having a bunch of rental houses when the dollar is worthless and the hungering hoards are loose upon society won’t do you much good. If you are at all familiar with the concepts promoted in this blog you know what you need to have for basic survival.  I will not spend space and electrons reviewing …


Letter Re: Jurisdictional Issues and Modern Statutory Law

Dear Sir: Many are dismayed by the recent Colorado law restricting firearms. But a cursory reading shows that the law only applies to “persons liable” and not the people at large. Regarding any new law, tax or regulation, remember to ask servant government: [ ] Whose endowed rights are being secured by this ? [ ] How and when did I give consent to be bound by this ? [ ] What privilege is the subject of this tax ? Because the Declaration of Independence states that Job #1 = secure rights, and Job #2 = govern those who consent. …


Economics and Investing:

TPC: Distribution of the Tax Burden in Obama’s 2014 Budget H.L. sent: Putin Demands Proposals to Stem ‘Alarming’ Economic Slowdown B.B. suggested: These are Perilous Times Jim Rogers Items from The Economatrix: Dave Hodges: Economic Armageddon Is Imminent There is a Run on Physical Gold and Silver, that’s why the Feds are Attacking It! This is the first time in human history in which all the world’s major currencies are collapsing together! Jobless Rates Plummet In States With Housing Recovery


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. suggested: Have hired guns finally scuppered Somali pirates?    o o o I noticed that LPC Survival has added American-made Emberlit folding stoves to their product line    o o o J.B.G. sent: Japanese police want to ban Tor, stop anonymous browsing    o o o Seven Rules for Recording Police. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Let us consider, brethren, we are struggling for our best birthrights and inheritance, which being infringed, renders all our blessings precarious in their enjoyments, and, consequently trifling in their value. Let us disappoint the Men who are raising themselves on the ruin of this Country. Let us convince every invader of our freedom, that we will be as free as the constitution our fathers recognized, will justify." – Samuel Adams, A State of the Rights of the Colonists, 1772


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 …


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 …