Letter Re: Advice on Retreat Properties in Southwestern Oregon

Dear Mr. Rawles, We relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area at the end of 2012 to southern Oregon, as I was able to find a job with [deleted for OPSEC] in Medford. We have been spending part of each weekend looking for a retreat property, while renting a modest home in town. We were even under contract for a lot outside of Jacksonville, but the well produced just 0.16 gallon per minute and other wells surrounding were over 400 feet and were also low producers, Oregon has plenty of water not to struggle with that unknown outcome of re-drilling. …


Letter Re: Taxes for Millionaires: Food For Thought

Jim, How many times has the President said that we need to raise taxes on those making more than $1 million per annum? Some believe that the government will also confiscate gold and silver. As many know, our government already confiscated gold in America, circa 1933. Even so, collectable coins were exempt, which is reason enough to own gold/silver coins that have value beyond the base metal – a discussion topic for another day.   Many of us at retirement age receive some form of retirement income from the federal government. Some receive disability pay as well, but the feds …


Economics and Investing:

H.L. sent this Reuters article: More US States Weigh Gasoline Taxes. Unfortunately this superficial article failed to detail the aggregate gas taxes–it only talks about the recent and planned increases, such as Wyoming’s 10 cent cent rate “leap.” But this map from 2012 gives a more complete picture. In fact, Wyoming merely normalized its gas tax rate with its seven contiguous neighboring states. It is noteworthy that the Northern Rocky Mountain states have taxes that range from 40 to 46 cents per gallon, which is well below the national average of 48.8 cent and far below the west coast states …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader C.D.V. mentioned this handy online table: How many cups in a pound of…    o o o Drone Strikes On American Citizens: Peter Schiff / Rand Paul Interview    o o o Census shows record 1 in 3 US counties are dying off. (Thanks to Tim J. for the link.)    o o o Reader C.D.V. sent some more demographics: America’s sadness belt: Alarming map shows residents in South and Midwest are far more likely to be depressed, obese and hate their jobs    o o o Kevin S. pointed me to this prototype: Quadski. [JWR’s Comment: In our …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The church used to be a lightning bolt, now it’s a cruise ship. We are not marching to Zion – we are sailing there with ease. In the apostolic church it says they were all amazed – and now in our churches everybody wants to be amused. The church began in the upper room with a bunch of men agonizing, and it’s ending in the supper room with a bunch of people organizing. We mistake rattle for revival, and commotion for creation, and action for unction. ” – Leonard Ravenhill


Note from JWR:

Today we present another 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 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 …


Out of Options — Get a Guard Dog, by T.J.

We came late to the prepping party.  We didn’t own any guns.  We lived paycheck to paycheck in a suburban area.  We couldn’t afford to buy property in Idaho, while it’s still a dream.  We have slowly stocked up on short term and long term food and water, bought heirloom seeds and learned to garden, loaded up on firewood for two huge fireplaces for cooking and warmth, but that’s about it.  Recently our son, honorably discharged from the Armed Services, came home to start his life as a civilian.  He owned a 9mm and promptly proceeded to purchase a .22 …


Letter Re: Useful Space Weather Updates

James, Many folks have an interest of viewing solar information and typically subscribe to raw data feeds; however probably do not understand a lot of the science behind the numbers. There is a gentleman who produces daily morning youtube forecasts typically from 3 to 4 minutes long which covers the gamut of space weather and it’s impact on terrestrial weather. These broadcasts are extremely informative and he does an excellent job breaking down all of the information. His Youtube channel is called Suspicious0bservers. I have become a regular daily viewer of his short yet extremely informative broadcasts. Warm Regards, – …


Letter Re: Colorado’s Magazine Ban

Hi, I saw that the Colorado law banning magazines of greater than 15 round capacity passed – outrageous but not unbelievable for this state. Colorado  used to be a great and conservative one, but no longer. [Regarding the law’s limited grandfather clause,] I have written out documents for all of my magazines, which I have had notarized, transferring ownership of the magazines I own to my children. This way, when I die, it can easily be ascertained that the magazines were actually their property before the law went into effect. I am not a lawyer, but this sort of thing …


Economics and Investing:

James Turk: Gold to $11,000 – We Are in a Fiat Currency Bubble We all know it is going to end badly Let’s Stop Fooling Ourselves: Americans Can’t Afford the Future Items from The Economatrix: The Coming Crash Of The Bond Market The Chart That Proves The Mainstream Media Is Lying About Unemployment Like All Sleight-Of-Hand Games, It Cannot Continue Forever


Odds ‘n Sods:

UN Arms Trade Treaty 2013 – It’s Back…    o o o Some news from Utah: ‘Constitutional carry’ law could create showdown between governor and legislators    o o o This retreat property, recently added to our SurvivalRealty spin-off site, is proof that there are still some great rural properties in Northern California: New Long Valley Retreat. If work or family commitments have you stuck in California, then this is about as good as they get.    o o o Wary of Attack With Smallpox, U.S. Buys Up a Costly Drug. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Remus respects vegetarians, sort of, although he thinks vegetarianism is an unalloyed crock and its adherents are being rather silly, or conflating appetite and hunger, having known one but not the other. What they really need is a ‘teachable moment’ and some fresh road kill. He suspects vegetarianism started when somebody lost a World Series bet, maybe during the Harding administration. Or perhaps it’s a holdover from the Sylvester Graham-Charles Post agri-marketing fervor of the nineteenth century. Are we allowed to mention Hitler was a vegetarian? ‘I’ll have the barley soup with alfalfa tips and a side order of Czechoslovakia.’”- …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another 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 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 …


Caring For Moms and Babies in Disastrous Times, by EMT Tina

Having a baby under normal circumstances is a great and beautiful thing, but when disaster strikes there’s going to be some issues.  Obviously in dark times one might not be able to deliver at a clean, safe hospital, or run to Walgreens in the middle of the night to get formula and diapers, or to Target to get extra pajamas for baby.   As a mom (and EMT 3 years, 8 years as a First Responder before that) I feel a certain responsibility to help others and to encourage preparedness in others.  Here are some helpful shopping tips, knowledge, and other …


Good News and Bad News for Colorado Citizens

SurvivalBlog reader Diana V. wrote to mention some good news: Colorado ban on campus concealed weapons defeated. But the same day, reader Bill C. sent some bad news: The Colorado legislature passed H.B. 1224—a ban on any magazine over 15 round capacity. It is now headed to the Governor’s desk. It appears that he will sign it. The only glimmer of hope is that the law has a grandfather clause. Updates: Reader K.A.W. wrote to mention: “The grandfather clause in HB13-1224 only applies to current owners.  There are NO transfers to anyone else, including descendants, upon death.  The only way …