Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For …


Notes from JWR:

This is the birthday of novelist Ayn Rand (born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum in 1905), died – March 6, 1982) She is of course remembered for her novel Atlas Shrugged, which is considered a Libertarian classic. While I sharply disagree with her views on religion (since she was an atheist), I admire both her skill as a writer and her ability to articulate some core precepts of human liberty. — Today we present the first entry for Round 45 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good …


Cooking the Farmyard Fowl for Modern Eaters, by Irishfarmer

In an austere situation, or even an economically challenged one, what do you do with those old hens, the ones eating more than laying, and especially, extra males, like all those roosters that hatched or came with the hatchery order?  We’re not talking here about raising broilers from the hatchery, feeding and sweating over them for the required number of weeks, doing the killing all in one or two days and then packing them into the freezer.  This article is for the person who is facing eating real barnyard birds.  It is also for the person whose family is used …


Letter Re: LEPCs Show That Help Won’t Be Coming

Jim: I wanted to comment on my experience with my county LEPC. When I got my ham radio license in 2003 I was invited attend the sectional ARRL ARES/RACES meeting being held at the local court house. I jumped at the opportunity to meet my local ham brothers. For those who don’t know ARES/RACES is the emergency response arm of ARRL. The idea is to provide amateur radio help to the local emergency response teams of the Government including FEMA. Sounds all well and good. The county had a total population of under 25,000 at that point. It is still …


Economics and Investing:

Economic meltdown insurance: Virginia alternative currency plan moves forward Peter Schiff & Doug Casey On Gold, Investor Cluelessness, And The “Escape From America” Plan Items from The Economatrix: Unemployment Rates Fall In Most Large US Cities 2013:  We are Witnesses to a Grand Disconnect of Hope/Perception from Reality AGAIN  Like 2007 Growth Stall Obscures US Consumer, Business Gains Fed Blames Stalled Economy On Weather


Odds ‘n Sods:

Running a tyrannical state government can be so expensive, these days. (So it is best to tax the people and charge them fees to pay for the bureaucracy of their own enslavement.)    o o o Kevin S. mentioned a handy frequency allocation chart.    o o o For those who have been patiently waiting, the fourth installment of the Mad Max movie franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road is now in post-production and will be released in 2014. The vehicles used look totally wild and OTT.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Mike Williamson sent the link to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.” – Psalm 100 (KJV)


Announcing Writing Contest Prize Winners and a New Grand Prize

We ‘ve completed the judging for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. But before announcing winners, I have a special announcement: The Gunsite Academy–The first and best of America’s large scale shooting schools–has kindly donated a Three Day Course Certificate (good for any one, two, or three course with a value up to $1,195) for Round 45 and subsequent writing contest rounds. This course certificate is being added to the First Prize package. This brings the value of the First Prize package to $3,090 and the combined value of the top three prize packages to $7,485. (Note that …


Letter Re: LEPCs Show That Help Won’t Be Coming

Mr. Rawles, Here is my take on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for my hometown. At risk of preaching to the choir, the Government isn’t coming to help you. We all have seen the horrific images of hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and how the Government response is woefully inadequate to help people after these large scale disasters. And in many cases, our current government uses these disasters to further tread on our collective liberty. The quote “Never let a crisis go to waste” leaps to mind. It occurred to me that the government is really made up of people, …


Letter Re: Personal Debt Levels

Dear Mr. Rawles,  I have read Patriots and am working on (from the library) your three other books.  I have a great group I am connected with and all are reading your material.  Also, I have the book Strategic Relocation–North American Guide to Safe Places by Joel and Andrew Skousen.  I really appreciate all your advice and tips and have been working as best I can to prepare.  My question revolves around how crucial you think it would be for  me to pay off as much debt as possible before the coming collapse or whatever comes?    I am struggling with balancing paying a credit card …


Letter Re: Unarmed Defense in the Apocalypse

Mr. Rawles, I just read the excellent article you posted by Tony C. The only thing I would add (and you can’t always cover everything, so this is not derogatory towards Tony C. in any way) is this: If you do want to educate yourself in any martial art, please do as much research of the facility that you want to take it from as you do in research for your firearms. This does not mean go around and ask the people that take it there if they like it. Their only experience may be of that one place. I am …


Letter Re: Sugar and Spice Will Always Be Nice

In the interest of honest and complete coverage of the topic, I’d like to clarify and expand upon the comments made by a contributor about the "brown sugar" typically marketed in the United States and Canada.   Brown Sugar is indeed just white sugar with molasses added to it. But what is not clear to most people is that molasses is what is left over when you refine sugar cane or sugar beets into white sugar.   Some sugars labeled “turbinado” or “demerara” sugars are made from partially refined sugar-juice that have had some of the water driven off by …


Economics and Investing:

The 8 Retailers That Will Close the Most Stores in 2013 Tax Foundation: Americans Pay 17.2% in Cell Phone Taxes Items from The Economatrix: US Debt Headed Toward 200 Percent of GDP Even After “Fiscal Cliff” Deal US Rating Still At Risk Despite Reduced Threats From DC Triple-Digit Oil In Sight As Economy Heals


Odds ‘n Sods:

An interesting design: Paracord Belt with Carabiner Buckle and D-Ring    o o o An honored veteran who has been in the Warrior Games (for wounded servicemen) gets treated like dirt because of New York’s absurd magazine ban. When politicians ban plastic boxes and sheet metal boxes–turning them into potential felonies–something has gone very wrong with America. Please support Nate Haddad’s legal defense fund.    o o o Google unveils detailed map of North Korea–The map is a culmination of years of data collected from “citizen cartographers”    o o o Backyard Farming Gets Fancy: High-End ‘Homesteaders’ Want Pricey, Stylish …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Religion is a most cheerful and thing to practice, but a most sad and melancholy thing to neglect. The government of God in the soul is a government which regulates, but does not enslave. If we seriously consider what religion is, we shall find the saying of the wise King Solomon to be unexceptionably true: “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” The idea that religion is a kind of slavery, to which none can submit without sacrificing the natural enjoyments of life, has ever been the greatest hindrance to its advancement among mankind. How …