Letter Re: Long Term Public Employee Pension Obligations

James: A good read, and the author is right, we shouldn’t paint with a broad brush. However I think he had one glaring inaccuracy, and that inaccuracy is regarding the crucial fact is the crux of the problem people have with government pensions. he wrote:   “I contribute 3% of my salary to my government retirement. Not much you say, but in the civilian corporate world, most companies provide 100% of the employees’ retirement without employee contribution”   This is a blatant falsehood. Company provided pensions have been getting phased out aggressively. They may have been the norm in earlier decades, …


News From The American Redoubt:

John Jacob Schmidt (the host of Radio Free Redoubt) mentioned that the latest version of the AmRRON Communications plan is now available.     o o o Coffee Churches? Book studies the growth of the evangelical movement in the northwest: Evangelical vs. Liberal.    o o o The latest flying video from “Ttabs” shows the vast timberland wilderness area in north-central Idaho. Talk about “lightly populated”! And simply gorgeous…    o o o A handy set of maps. Of course the Redoubt States rate quite well.    o o o The Redoubt shines, as usual: Where You’ll Want to Live in …


Economics and Investing:

QE is Coming! Bleak jobs outlook raises heat on Fed: Chief of San Francisco reserve sees benefit of open-ended QE. Inevitably, monetization leads to inflation. Ken W. sent: Analysis: Shoppers may be spared worst of corn price surge. Ken’s Comment: “I ain’t believing it!!!…” Over at Dr. Housing Bubble they spell out the impact of $1 trillion in student debt: Mortgaging your way to a college education – the burden of student debt and the impact on the starter home market. LIBOR suit threat from small banks Items from The Economatrix: Ron Paul Interview With Gold Seek Radio What’s So …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Woolsey: Stormy preview of electric-grid crash. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o A very useful article by Dr. Bones: Sleep Deprivation in Survival Situations    o o o Peter S. sent this insightful piece about Syrian Civil War and some lessons learned about “Getting Out of Dodge”: Life During Wartime    o o o M.C.C.L. suggested this over at Sailboat Diaries: Why I’m Leaving America



Pat’s Product Review: Springfield Armory XDs Compact .45 ACP Pistol

One of the most anticipated handguns to come along, is the new Springfield Armory XDs, single-stack, 5+1 shot, .45ACP pistol. This gun was due to be released in March of this year, but there were production  delays that had to be worked out. And, I am grateful for a company like Springfield Armory, who won’t release a gun until it is what it is supposed to be, instead of releasing the gun sooner, and then facing a recall of thousands of guns down the road because of some kind of glitch. Still, people want what they can’t have – and …


Pat’s Book Review: Understanding the Use of Handguns for Self-Defense

Author: David Nash Copyright Date: January 2011 Publisher: Looseleaf Law Publications ISBN: 978-1608850259 I was contacted by David Nash, who wrote “Understanding the Use of Handguns for Self-Defense” and I did a little checking around, to see what his credentials were, before deciding to review his book.   One of the first things that caught my attention, was the Foreword – written by SurvivalBlog’s own Editor At Large, Michael Z. Williamson, and he gives Nash a good review for his efforts. Secondly, and this really caught my attention was the Introduction, written by Nash. Here’s part of what Nash humbly …


Harry’s Book Review: The Royal Wulff Murders

Author: Keith McCafferty Copyright Date: February 2012 Publisher: Viking ISBN: 978-0-670-02326-4 Audio, e-book or foreign translation avail? Yes–Kindle Suitable for children? No, and probably not for the ladies either. When I received my stack of fiction books to review for SurvivalBlog, the novel The Royal Wulff Murders caught my eye right away.  From the description of the murder victim and of Sean Stranahan’s studio I knew this book would have an element of humor worked into the mystery.  In fact, given the author’s day job (Survival Editor of Field & Stream) and the setting for the novel I seriously wondered …


Letter Re: Self Defense Without Firearms

James: Concerning the recent article on traditional weapons, I have a couple of comments: Knife fighting:  Stabbing may have it’s place, but a good knife fighter will slash and cut.  Someone who stabs with a knife is relatively easy to disarm.  Someone who slashes is much harder to defend against.  A stab wound is unlikely to be instantly fatal.  A slashing attack directed at tendons can instantly render the victim defenseless and eliminate his ability to fight back or flee.  (See the following link for more info http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com/ A word of warning regarding arrows:  If you shoot a compound bow …


Recipe of the Week:

The Late Memsahib’s Molasses Taffy Ingredients: 1 Cup granulated Sugar 1 Bottle (1-1/2 Cups) Dark Molasses 2 tsp vinegar 1-1/2 Tbsp Butter 1/8th tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Baking Soda Coating: Powdered Sugar Directions: In a THICK 3-quart saucepan, mix molasses, sugar, and vinegar. Heat and stir CONSTANTLY until it reaches the hard ball stage. Remove from heat. Add butter, salt and soda. Stir until foaming stops. Pour into -a well-buttered pan. Pull the taffy by hand until it is light and stiff. Using buttered scissors, cut into bite-sized pieces (1/2 diameter cylinders x 1 inch long. Roll in powdered sugar. …


Economics and Investing:

Steve W. mentioned a Numismaster article about nickels. Although it is presently illegal, it almost inevitable that following a debasement that the law willl change, and there will be large scale nickel melting. Do I detect a hint of panic? IMF Calls on Euro Authorities to Stand Behind Deposit Insurance. (Thanks to Rhonda T. for the link.) Quantitative Easing: QE3 Is Coming and Here’s How To Prepare 12 Signs Showing The Next Recession In The U.S. Is Underway Items from The Economatrix: This Is The Government:  Your Legal Right to Redeem Your Money Market Account Has Been Denied Why the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Tin Can” sent an article about someone who earns demerits for judgment but bonus points for creativity: Camouflaged Residence Discovered in California Park. It was interesting to read that growing dope in California is now a crime only if it is done “without a permit.” (For cultivation of medical marijuana.) It should be mentioned that this man is just one of many in a long succession. Back in 2009 I mentioned in SurvivalBlog a father and daugher who had secret residence in a Portland, Oregon park, and a news story about a hermit who secretly lived for at least …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases in which the whole people of an existing government may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people, that can, may revolutionize, and make their own of so much of the territory as they inhabit." – Abraham Lincoln, in an …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 41 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 …


Safe Drinking Water, by Lloyd T.

We all know that three days without water and we are incapacitated and nearing death.  We all know that water from streams, lakes, ponds and rivers if consumed “raw” can lead to parasitic infection.   We also know that those same sources may be polluted with pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, and a host of other contaminants.  These can lead to sickness and to death.  If you find yourself in a situation where it is drink or die, then drink of course and hope for the best, right?   In a worst case scenario that might be the only choice you have, and …