Notes from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Banning Our Birthright: Feinstein’s New, Ugly Legislation

Here are some details on the proposed gun and magazine ban, directly Madame Feinstein’s web site. Also see this PDF. In summary, the law includes some handguns, it requires nationwide registration, background checks and fingerprinting, even for current owners, just one evil feature-such as a pistol grip–can get a semi-auto banned, and it mentions: “Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment.” Does this mean that your heirs must turn in your guns for destruction? Let’s wait to see the wording of the bill that is introduced. But regardless, this is definitely bad legislation, so start contacting your legislators! …


Survival Seeds-Plan Your Survival Garden Now, by Jennifer A.

Let’s say that the SHTF scenario you prepared for has happened.  You are in your bug-out location or somewhere with a bit of land and you envision a return to a normal society will take a few months or years.  You know you need to grow food and fast to prevent depletion of your stores and for a well-rounded diet. You’ve got your survival seed bank, but now what? Hopefully in your survival seed bank you’ve given some thought to the order and priority in which you will plant, tend, grow and harvest those fruits and vegetables. My first recommendation …


Letter Re: Ballistic Clipboards

Hello Mr. Rawles, I don’t like to bother you, but I would like it if you could let your readers know that if they are wanting to do something to help protect kids/ teachers in schools that don’t allow weapons, a gift of a ballistic clip board (from one of SurvivalBlog’s advertisers) would be a small step. I have a female teacher friend that accepted the gift to her. I know she’s not pro gun, but also know she’s pro kid, so I figure this is a fairly inexpensive way to allow some sort of capability of protection in a …


Two Letters Re: Observations On Bugging Out By Foot

JWR: “Observations On Bugging Out By Foot” was a great article by J. Smith.  Like him, we use the Military Modular Seep System.   It can be purchased new on eBay for $120 to $150.  We keep them in our bug out bags here in cold country.   Another item we have tested and found to be very useful is the Solo Stove wood gas stove.  It only weighs 9 ounces and you can cook a meal with just twigs.  It has an alcohol stove option that fits inside and only weighs a few ounces.  You can get both stoves as a kit for …


Economics and Investing:

The most educated and indebted generation ever – Average student debt has tripled since 1990 while earnings have gone stagnant for college graduates. Social Security Ran $47.8 Billion Deficit in FY 2012; Disabled Workers Hit. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s G.G. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Say Good-bye To The Good Life US Retailers Scramble After Lackluster Holiday Sales Home Prices Rose In 9th Straight Month


Odds ‘n Sods:

Jim S. sent: Don’t Fear That Expired Food    o o o Reader W.C.P. suggested a piece by LTC Dave Grossman: The Enemy is Denial    o o o The fledgling C.R.O.S.S. missionary organization is looking for a volunteer publicist. In essence, they need someone to schedule interviews and to help write press releases. This is a way that you can help out that requires no cash outlay whatsoever. This position is not geographically bound. (You can live anywhere that there is a reliable Internet connection.)



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Planning for Double Duty, By Lane C.

Doing “Double Duty” is a concept that I was first introduced to during my first enlistment in the US Army.   It is a term that simply implies that an item or material (or person) could be utilized to fulfill an additional purpose besides the one that it was specifically designed or trained for.  As a young soldier in an infantry company, I quickly learned the value of being able to “get creative” with my equipment and supplies in order to increase their versatility and make them go farther.  Chances are that this idea is not new to you.  With our …


Letter Re: Origin of the “13% of People are Leaders in a Crisis” Statistic?

Captain Rawles, I have seen this statistic of “13% of people are leaders, 74% are followers, and 13% shut down during a crisis”. I have seen this stat mentioned on Dr. Koelker’s blog, on your blog, and it was even mentioned on a NBC Dateline program covering the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident. Despite seeing this stat mentioned in a variety of places I have yet to see who created the stat. I have never once seen where it was cited from and I can not seem to find any citation of it on the internet. Have you ever come …


Economics and Investing:

It’s Not a “Fiscal Cliff” … It’s the Descent Into Lawlessness Post-Hyperinflationary Zimbabwe Welcomes The Holidays With 80% Unemployment, Empty ATMs And Paralyzed Transport. (Thanks to Jim W for the link.) American Vehicle Miles Driven Haven’t Been This Low Since The 1990s Items from The Economatrix: Chinese Rating Agency Puts US On Negative Watch Geithner Warns Lawmakers Debt Standoff Risks US Default A Horrific Economic Collapse Is On The Way: Bond Market Is Imploding, Debt Ceiling Will Be Breached Next Monday, Homeowners Now Foreclosing On Banks, And America Is Rapidly Becoming A Nation Of Takers


Odds ‘n Sods:

Feinstein’s ‘assault weapon’ ban would be tantamount to confiscation. (A hat tip to Jim W. for the link.) Here is a summary in Feinstein’s own words about how she plans to “perfect” renewal of the 1994 to 2004 ban. The law would be worded so that you semi-auto rifles could not be passed on to your heirs. When you die, your guns would have to be turned in for destruction! Please contact your senators and congressmen and urge them to vigorously oppose any new restrictions on guns and full capacity magazines.    o o o Reader Vince W. alerted me …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The complexity of social organization does not change. Our technologically sophisticated industrial society is more complex than the agrarian society of America in the eighteenth century. In this regard, that was ‘a simpler world.’ But the complexities of politics (politics here meaning the science of governing) do not change much. The basic political problems confronting the Framers of our Constitution were as complex as our political problems today—perhaps more so, because they were striking off into the dangerous unknown, whereas all we need do is return to the fine highway we were once on.” – Congressman Larry McDonald


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …