Odds ‘n Sods:

I was recently chided by a fellow blogger, for encouraging people to relocate to a lightly-populated region in the western United States. He mischaracterized my retreat locale recommendations by referring to me as “…some novelist living in Idaho who has completely discounted every state east of the Mississippi as unfit for survival.”  For the record, I have never called the eastern states “unfit for survival”, but I have concluded that one’s statistical chances of surviving a grid-down collapse will be better in regions where the population density is low. I did not include any eastern states in my rankings of 19 states merits (and demerits) for retreat locales. In essence: More people means more problems, in a disaster. Parenthetically, that gent’s post included several maps. Perhaps he should have included this map: Distance To McDonald’s A McDistance Map Of The Contiguous U.S. (Thanks to Roman for that link.)  And here is a graphic that compliments it nicely: satellite imagery showing the lights of the United States at night.  FWIW, the population density of the county where the Rawles Ranch is located is around five people per square mile. I feel relatively safe here, where “Street crime” is unheard of. (Our biggest worry is bears and wolves killing our livestock, not any two-legged predators.) My advice remains: If you can, go west!

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Congressman Ron Paul really tried to help out Governor Rick Perry at the recent candidates’ debate, but the poor man was so flustered that he was beyond help. I hope that he does better that that if he ever gets into a crucial “Tell him yes on one and no on two”-type decision situations.

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Recession reshapes life in USA. The article begins: “The dismal economy is having a profound effect on the American way of life, from delaying marriage and divorce to reducing car ownership and private school enrollment, according to new Census data.” (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)

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T. J. mentioned this essay: The Truth about Violence–Three Principles of Self-Defense

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F.G. sent this: Elderly couple’s large gun collection targeted in violent home invasion. Think OPSEC!