Two Letters Re: Traditional Tools for TEOTWAWKI, by Bill H.

James, For best use with most woodworking other than large beams, a draw knife requires a shaving horse. A draw knife very useful for barking logs as they last much longer with the bark removed. You will also need a broad axe and adze to shape beams. A froe to rive boards and shingles is good too. Good books to get are the Foxfire series, as are the primitive series by John McPherson. Also see McPherson’s web page at PrairieWolf.net.      Keep up the good work, – Ted. J   Sir: Having just read the most recent article Traditional …


Economics and Investing:

A derivatives article worth reading, by way of Fierce Finance: Exclusive: SEC widens probe of exchange-traded funds. Currency Debasement Should Take Gold Prices Over $6,000/oz and Silver Above $400/oz Spain barter economy wins followers in grip of crisis. (Thanks to Tim R. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: 18 Statistics that Prove the Economy Has Not Improved Under the Current Administration Colorado Looking At Gold, Silver Currency Turning The Screw On Greece Oil Above $104 After EU Gives Greece Bailout Deal


Odds ‘n Sods:

P.G. sent this: How to Use the Internet in Stealth Mode    o o o Rick B. sent another link to good piece at The How Do Gardener: Crop Rotation in the Home Garden    o o o Jeff G. suggested this: Introduction to the Constitution (a free lecture series featuring Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College)    o o o Some more observations from Ol’ Remus: Guns.    o o o J.M.C. sent us this: More Indiana Women Carrying Guns


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“In reading The History of Nations, we find that, like individuals, they have their whims and their peculiarities, their seasons of excitement and recklessness, when they care not what they do. We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till their attention is caught by some new folly more captivating than the first.” – Charles MacKay, from the preface to his classic book “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds“


Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 39 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 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 …


Picking the Imperfect Retreat Location, and Making the Best of It, by Michael C.

I think I’m the the position of many out in the real world. I’m strapped for cash. Feeling the time crunch that I must do something soon or be caught up with the unprepared masses and get overrun. I’m also feeling the responsibility for my immediate and extended family whether they are preparing or not. It’s a huge burden to bear when you have been raised to be the “man” of any situation that might affect you and your family. That being said, I’m also a logical, common sense person. I approach things like this: 1. Look at the situation …


Celiac Disease: The Gluten-Free Prepping Challenge, by Geoff in Kentucky

In mid-2010 I began to suffer from some relatively severe digestive problems. After several months of discomfort, and many rounds of expensive medical tests, I finally received a confirmed diagnosis. I had Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is a digestive disorder that is greatly misunderstood. It is not a food allergy. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system produces antibodies to a specific protein, gluten, that is found in the ordinary grains of wheat, rye, and barley. This protein adheres to the microscopic villi (fingerlike projections) in the small intestine. As the body’s immune system attacks the …


Three Letters Re: All You Need to G.O.O.D. You Can Carry on Your Back, by Charles M.

James Wesley: That was a fine article by Charles M., but there are some important differences between hiking the Appalachian Trail and Getting Out of Dodge. G.O.O.D. When hiking the Trail, you are able to resupply frequently, so food is not a major concern.  You don’t need to carry very much with you, and you can easily buy more when you run out.  When G.O.O.D., you will need to carry as much food as possible, and the means of collecting more food.  Predators, both four-legged and two-legged, will also be a much greater concern in most G.O.O.D. scenarios, so that …


Economics and Investing:

Diana sent this: Silver Price Could Double by Year End. G.G. suggested this New York Times article: Citing Losses, Postal Service Seeks Higher Stamp Prices Also from G.G.: Jobless disability claims soar to record $200 Billion as of January Chuck recommend a piece that was posted over at Zero Hedge last year: Art Cashin On The Most Important History Lesson Of The Last Century Items from The Economatrix: Eric Sprott:  Silver Will Be A Currency Again NY U.S. Bankruptcy Court Rules MERS’s Business Model Is Illegal. Here is a quote: “United States Bankruptcy Judge Robert Grossman has ruled that MERS’s …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers sent this news item: Missouri 4.0 Quake Felt in 13 States. Take note that it was: “…about 150 miles (240 km) south of St. Louis, near the New Madrid fault line.”    o o o The new semi-auto RPD belt-feds from DS Arms are getting some attention. I just talked with D.S. himself and he mentioned that they are making a carbine variant (three pounds lighter), and even one chambered in 6.8 SPC. If you are one of those folks that bought a spare 6.8 SPC upper for your AR-15 and that have stacked up 6.8 SPC ammunition …



Note From JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 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 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


Traditional Tools for TEOTWAWKI, by Bill H.

Like many men, I like tools. I spent 23 years in the military, and when you move a lot, weight becomes an issue. It makes you think about the tools you own, and the things that you want to carry around with you. Just like a traveling businessman, you tend to pack light and only take what you will use. Now that I have retired and settled down, my tool collection has grown, but still remains relatively small. Just so you know I live in the suburbs, not a country retreat. I mention this background, to make a point about …


Salt for Food Preservation, by Chef N.D.

One survival item that I rarely see listed in any blogs or survival articles is salt. I know that many survival web sites and forums concentrate on the immediate survival needs of individuals and families, but what would a person do if there really was a long term necessity for survival? How would a father feed his family over an extended period of time? MRE’s last forever, but let’s face it, they are expensive and eventually will all be consumed. How will a mother feed her children when all of the canned goods and stores are finished? When you plant …


Letter Re: Switching to AR-10 Rifles

James: I happened to notice that in a recent posting you’d mentioned transitioning at your ranch from a FAL platform to a Stoner-designed AR-10. I imagine that a number of your readers would be interested in how this decision came about. I’ll I bet a number of other readers would be interested to hear why. – P. Z. in Arizona JWR Replies: The decision to switch to AR-10s was based upon the following factors: 1.) Training compatibility. Since my kids all did their transitional training to high power shooting using M4geries, and some of them might end up serving in …