Odds ‘n Sods:

A reminder that Safecastle is currently running a semi-annual 25% off sale on Mountain House canned long term storage foods, through April 15th. Check it out.    o o o Got a chainsaw? SurvivalBlog’s Mike Williamson spotted this: A Finnish style log camp stove.    o o o A good introductory field training video from SouthernPrepper1: Hand and Arm Signals    o o o Five Ways To Charge Your Phone In An Emergency    o o o Some interesting lessons here about “needs” versus “wants”: When Home Is a Campus Parking Lot


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], …


Notes from JWR:

I am quite concerned that S. 649 (“The Public Safety And Second Amendment Rights Protection Act”) might be approved by the Senate. A filibuster attempt failed. So now the only viable chance of stopping it is to cram it full of “Poison Pill” amendments. Please contact your Senators TODAY, and urge them to load up this bill with as many amendments as possible, to block its passage. My suggested amendments are: 1.) Redefine an “Antique” gun as any gun over 80 years old ((t is currently frozen at an arbitrary 1898 threshold), 2.) Re-open the NFA registry, allowing new transferable …


How I Got Started Prepping, by Gary S.

You may be reading this and have not made the decision to get started.  You may be facing some of the same challenges I had or you may have your own.  I want to encourage you to find ways to overcome your obstacles.  Getting started is the biggest step. My family and I have always led a very frugal life.  My wife and I both work, and I have a second job as well.  The grocery bill stays under $30 per week through couponing and eating-in.  Money has gone into savings in case of emergency and we finally have a …


Letter Re: Details Emerging on the Outlaw Maine Hermit

Hey Jim, This guy lived within 30 miles from me for 27 years. An interesting story to be sure. I’d like to bail him out just for the chance to talk but for $5,000 it would be too expensive. This is not wilderness. It is a 30 minute walk from Pine Tree Camp – I have been there a few times. My buddy in high school worked there as a cook. Here is some news coverage about him, from another source. Keep up the good work. – Bubby JWR Replies: After you wrote me to mention this, I found an …


Letter Re: Ham Radio Standardization for Survivalbloggers?

Dear JWR, I read the Ham Radio Standardization Article with great interest.  Most preppers are integrating some type of VHF/UHF communications into their plans.  These communications could be MURS, FRS, GMRS, or Amateur (Ham) radio.  In a March 2, 2013 CNET article by Declan McCullagh, I read some rather unsettling information.  In detailing some of DHS’s specifications for their version of the Predator Drone, the author states: “CBP’s specifications say that signals interception and direction-finding technology must work from 30MHz to 3GHz in the radio spectrum. That sweeps in the GSM and CDMA frequencies used by mobile phones, which are …


Economics and Investing:

FHA may need $943-million bailout Less and less privacy, as time goes on: UK signs tax deal with France, Germany, Italy and Spain Items from The Economatrix: Class Of 2013 Faces Grim Job Prospects Natural Gas Prices Jump After US Hurricane Forecast How The Looming Bitcoin Crash Will Be Exploited By Globalists To Outlaw Decentralized Crypto Currencies


Odds ‘n Sods:

Just as I warned you, the “compromise” has begun: Tommey-Manchin Sellout Bill Is Worse Than Feinstein Gun Ban. Please contact you senators and emphatically tell them how you feel about this amendment and while you are at it, please tell them where they stand on : A.) All other gun legislation, B.) the upcoming immigration amnesty bill (a lot of the same bad actors getting into Deep Schumer, on this one), and C.) Senate ratification of the UN Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) treaty. In related news: Reid’s Gun Control Bill Makes a Missing Firearm a Ticket to Five …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Fire upon it, my dear Marquis, and never spare a particle of my property so long as it affords a comfort or a shelter to the enemies of my country." – Virginia Governor Thomas Nelson, when asked by Marquis de Lafayette, who was commanding the artillery barrage of Yorktown in the American War of Independence, if he had a target to recommend. Nelson pointed to his own home, knowing it would probably be used as a headquarters by British General Cornwallis.


Notes from JWR:

Happy birthday to John Milius. (He was born 1944.) He both wrote the screenplays and directed the films Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Big Wednesday, Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Farewell to the King, and Flight of the Intruder. He also wrote the screenplays of the first two Dirty Harry movies as well as the first draft of the screenplay for Patton. (Before Francis Ford Coppola turned it into a vaguely anti-war commentary laced with references to reincarnation.) Milius is my favorite Hollywood writer and director, in part because he stands for everything that Hollywood doesn’t. — Today we …


Off Grid Cooking Solutions, Part 2, by V.W.

To follow up o my article Off Grid Cooking Solutions, Part 1: One of the first items we purchased for off grid cooking was the humble Dutch Oven.  There are many enthusiasts of this time honored way of cooking.  The Dutch oven is surprisingly versatile as it can be used over a fire, with charcoal briquettes, on a regular kitchen stove, a woodstove, portable camp stove, or the rocket stove.  Because of the fuel consumption required and the logistics of storing charcoal and wood, I am not as interested in using my Dutch oven over an outdoor camp fire or …


Letter Re: Ham Radio Standardization for SurvivalBloggers?

Good Day James, I’m a long time fan of your books and your blog thanks for all that you do. There is some great information there. I am interested in finding out if your [local] group or another group has established any ham radio frequencies that may serve as a beacon of information in a SHTF situation or are you totally off the grid when that time comes. I do have your IP written down, but was just curious… Regards, J.M., USMC JWR Replies: The folks at Radio Free Redoubt are already doing a fine job of coordinating communications with their AmRRON …


Letter Re: Hard Working Homeless in Kansas Dug Tunnels

James, A brief article I saw on underground homeless camp in Kansas: Underground homeless camp cleared near the East Bottoms. Although the article does not give much detail, I find it an interesting use of space, staying out of the way and a lesson to learn regarding people who may be close to your proximity without one even knowing it.  It also drew my mind back to the Bielski partisans and the camps they dug in Naliboki Forest. God Bless, – John in Ohio


Economics and Investing:

Daniel Fisher of Forbes reports: The Bullet Bubble: Is Ammo The Next Bitcoin, Or Gold In The 1970s? Recognizing Ballistic Wampum for what it is: An almost perfect barterable tangible. (Thanks to Glenn M. for the link.) Comex Gold Inventories Collapse By Largest Amount Ever On Record BitCrash: Down 50% In Massive Sell Off: Over $1 Billion Vaporized In a Few Hours AmEx (American Expat) sent: Marc Faber: Now Is Not a ‘Very Good Time to Buy Stocks,’ Crash Coming Jim K. recommended an article from earlier this week: Kyle Bass: On Friday, The Market Gave Us The First Glimpse …


Odds ‘n Sods:

S.Q. sent this encouraging news: PoliceOne’s 2013 Gun Policy & Law Enforcement Survey    o o o Reader Anthony P. wrote to mention a very sad accident: Two children killed at bunker construction site. Anthony’s comment: “I’m sure the media will take this as an opportunity to further vilify the prepper movement.”    o o o I heard that Alec Smith’s latest book, Staying Home, (the follow-up to Getting Home) is now available on Amazon for just 99 cents until Friday.    o o o Frequent content contributor Jim W. suggested this Primitive Pathways video: Stone point penetration test on …