Michael Z. Williamson’s Book Review: Hank Reinhardt’s Book of Knives

I was privileged to meet Hank several times, and participate in one of his lectures on knife fighting.  At the time, the man was 30 years my senior and I would not have wanted to rumble with him. His Book of Knives was written largely in the 1970s, compiled and published after his death, with assistance from his widow and friends.  It follows his Book of Swords. The first half, in Hank’s voice, is entertaining, anecdotal and informative.  It covers various lessons learned from fights he observed or was involved in, in some seedier areas of the country.  In very …


Letter Re: Eastern Thunderstorms and Power Outages

Good Morning Mr. Rawles, You probably already know about this, but there are several good quotes in this article about the massive scope of the damage from nothing more than a few lines of strong thunderstorms over two days rumbling through my neck of the woods. Folks were stranded in trains, stuck in traffic, crushed in their homes, and millions will be without grid power this coming week during a heat wave. Even central valleys in interior states can suffer damage similar to a large tropical cyclone, so folks shouldn’t get cocky and fail to prepare.  As an aside, I …


Recipe of the Week:

Two Stinging Nettle Recipes from Notutopia Stinging Nettle Pesto Ingredients ¼ lb. young stinging nettle leaves ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 1 garlic clove, minced ½ cup pine nuts, toasted 2 Tbsp. lemon juice extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup firmly packed grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Prep: – Fill a large pot halfway full with water. Add ¼ cup salt and bring to a boil. – For washing the nettles, fill a large bowl with cold water. Using latex gloves or tongs (if you’re allergic to rubber), submerge the nettles in the water and …


Economics and Investing:

Sue C. sent this: British farms a better bet than gold Risk of foreclosure looms over 700,000 Californians The financial benefits of food stamps – Record $78 billion worth of food stamps issued in 2011. Select Wal-Mart stores pulled in 25 to 40 percent in revenues from food stamps according to a recent analysis. Lee M. flagged this article: Libor Rate Faces Review Amid Barclays Scandal


Odds ‘n Sods:

I will be the keynote speaker via teleconference at Charlotte PrepCon. This is an event for North Carolina and South Carolina preppers. The conference will be held on July 14, 2012 in Ft. Mill, S.C. (near Charlotte, N.C.) Phone: (800) 704-1862 for details.    o o os Reader Chris M. sent us this: History teaches why you don’t want to become a disaster refugee or an Internally Displaced Person (IDP).    o o o Don’t miss this: Pantry Paratus Interviews Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms.    o o o How to make a $1 Homemade Mosquito Bag Fan Trap kills …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We have around six months left of trading in Western markets to protect ourselves or make enough money to offset future losses. Spend your time looking at the risks of custody, safekeeping, counterparty etc. Assume that no one and nothing is safe. After that……we put on our tin helmets and hide until the new system emerges. I wish I wish I could see another outcome with an equally high probability, but I can’t……All we can do is hope that I am wrong, but either way, a new system will emerge and it will open up a whole new set of …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry 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 any …


Preparedness and Supply Chain Management, by J.C.R.

When we think about preparing ourselves, families, communities, businesses, and country we are really at the core of the issue preparing for any disruptions to our supply chain. When we hear the phrase supply chain management, most of us are thinking about raw goods and materials as they relate to the manufacturing process and how/when those goods are delivered.  But not just delivered from the supplier, but how they make it into the production process and as a result are turned into a usable finished product to be consumed.  On occasion, we’ll relate the supply chain phrase to the grocery …


Letter Re: Trijicon — What’s the Right Color for a Color-Blind User?

I live in the hinterboonies — hours from anywhere where I can ‘try-out’ the different colors of Trijicon ACOG sights.  God willing, I’d like to purchase one for my .223.  Since I’ll have to purchase by mail-order I want to specify the right one the first time.  I’m hoping for help from you, or one of your experienced readers. In my early 20s I had to take a flight physical.  Boy was I surprised to learn, for the first time, that I had a degree of red/green color blindness.  I can see red.  I can see green.  I can match …


Two Letters Re: Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo

Mr. Rawles, Recently a reader responded to a recent post titled ‘Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo’ and inquired whether or not it would be a good idea to shoot without eye and hearing protection in order to get a feel for ‘real world’ shooting conditions if subjected to such. You wisely responded that doing so is ill-advised. I would like to make note that in a real world shooting experience a phenomenon known as ‘Auditory Exclusion’ often occurs. Auditory Exclusion is the lack of awareness of the loud report of firearms one would normally hear …


Economics and Investing:

Eric Sprott: Silver to Go Supernova, Paper Markets are a Joke! (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.) SGT Report: Watching the Clock: Will a Total Economic Collapse Occur in September-October? AmEx spotted this: Is Gold on the Edge of a Violent Downturn? B.B. suggested this news item: Gun stocks shoot through the roof. Items from The Economatrix: Roubini:  We are Heading for a Global Perfect Storm Slowdown Concern Ebbs on Durable Goods, US Home Sales Rio+20 Economic Reality Check Stockton Teeters on Bankruptcy Edge, But City’s Not Alone


Odds ‘n Sods:

A sign of the times: Amazon opens canning store. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o Pierre M. sent this: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about police speed trap.    o o o Also from Pierre: The New Crop Resource Online Program    o o o An Idaho newspaper asks: Can you text at a stoplight?   o o o Timothy J. suggested this: Minnesota action park lets you drive a tank


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry 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 any …


Your Local Museum: A Key Non-Internet Knowledge Resource, by Prairie

One of my favorite places to find information on just about everything I may need at TEOTWAWKI is at my local museum.  As a genealogist and museum professional I also have an inside track and know that 90% of all hard copy information about individuals or local communities is not now and probably will never be on the internet.  I am one of four part-time employees at our local county museum and am responsible for all nine computers, printers, our server and web site.  Technology is a tool that may not always work when I need it and I recognize …