Today’s graphic shows US Megaregions. More than 50% of people live in these seven areas.
(Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)
The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.
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“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – George Armstrong Custer
May 26. 1907 was the birthday of Marion Robert Morrison who adopted the stage name John Wayne. He is of course remembered for his dozens of westerns including True Grit. He also starred in McQ and The Green Berets. He passed away on June 11, 1979, not long after shooting his final western film, The Shootist.
May 26, 2024 is the 34th wedding anniversary of Don and Patrice Lewis. Patrice is the Editrix of the excellent Rural Revolution blog.
May 26, 1949 was the birthday of Randall Hank Williams (Hank Williams, Jr.) When not touring, he lives Somewhere in Montana, so he qualifies as a Redoubter. He reportedly has a large gun collection which is heavy on Sharps rifles and other rifles with factory letters showing that they were originally shipped to Montana. His song A Country Boy Can Survive is of course practically a survivalist anthem. His father was just 29 when he died, and despite a couple of close calls, Hank Jr. is now well into his golden years, so he may yet live to a ripe old age.
(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)
Using military field telephones as our primary communication method solves a number of training issues. And they are the most sustainable communications technology for an austere environment. Most importantly, field phones defeat several significant threats. And take note that using the same inexpensive insulated wire, we can operate remote transmitters, a P.A. or intercoms at gates, hard-wired trip wire alarms, and low voltage DC lighting as a part of our security operation in a fixed location. Low-cost and durable WD1A wire can also be used as tanglefoot, anti-vehicle, to construct HF antennas, and even as laundry line. Field phones can also be used in the field with lightweight equipment designed for patrol work. And lower technology is the more sustainable technology. They are also EMP-resistant. Given the high-tech threats from above, this rugged, affordable, easy-to-use and low-tech means is sublimely appropriate. Here is an article from the SurvivalBlog archives that provides a better introduction to the topic than my own articles: U.S. Military Field Phones, by Ken in Michigan.Continue reading“Improving Local Security – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit”
The latest meme created by JWR, based on a suggestion by SurvivalBlog reader Simon in England:
Meme Text:
The Mass Media Says: Protestors Can Burn U.S. Flags as “Freedom of Speech”
But if You Burn a Rainbow Flag That You Paid for Yourself: “That is A Hate Crime!”
News Links:
Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!
Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” – Matthew 24:21-24 (KJV)
On May 25, 1720, the ship “Le Grand St Antoine” reached Marseille, bringing Europe’s last major plague outbreak. The Plague of Marseille killed around 100,000.
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On May 25th, 1787, The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding. The task of replacing the new American government as it had been defined by the Articles of Confederation eventually led to the United States Constitution that is so abused today.
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Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
In anticipation of a worst-case scenario that is well depicted in the Bible’s book of Revelation, I fortunately relocated in 2005. I live on the edge of the wilderness in a mountainous and heavily forested part of western Montana. Simply being located in this remote region of the country, and given its terrain, greatly increases my odds of surviving The End Times, if that is possible at all.
The debate over a slow decline versus a fast decline is now academic. We are indeed seeing a ‘quickening’, a higher frequency of attacks on society’s remaining foundations. Yet the people are so apathetic that they will stew in their own juices, and starve to death rather than fight to save the country before it is too late to save it. What will it take to snap them out of their stupor?
In my estimation, a financial collapse will trigger a societal collapse and that is what it will take to get the people mad enough and mean enough to be dangerous. We are now experiencing stagflation and with the bull market in precious metals, we seeing the results of hyperinflation and a currency in the process of collapsing and at an accelerated pace. Together, these are solid indicators that a financial crisis is in progress and that a subsequent societal collapse is brewing. Total collapse might be prevented by the introduction of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), such as the one that Australia recently test adopted.Continue reading“Improving Local Security – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”
To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!
We had a mostly rainy week here at the Rawles Ranch. Three of our four grandsons came for a four-night visit. That was mostly fun. While they were here, we assembled outdoor survival bug-out bags for them, and taught them how to use most of that gear. (The compass training, of course, will come when they are older, with some solid math skills.)
I replaced a post-mounted electrical outlet and light switch near the middle of our barn. They had been bashed by tumbling hay bales so many times over the past 17 years that they were becoming a hazard. I replaced the cracked blue plastic (interior construction style) boxes with galvanized steel ones. And now the outlets and the switch have proper heavy-duty outdoor covers.
I also kept busy packing and mailing Elk Creek Company orders.
“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” – Joel 2:21-32 (KJV)
On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge—spanning the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan Island in New York City— officially opened. It was designed by civil engineer John Augustus Roebling.
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The Sporter Sale Continues! All 16 of the remaining sporterized Pre-1899 rifles in my inventory are on sale, at Elk Creek Company. By request from several readers, I’ve extended this sale for a full week, to end on Friday, May 31st. When I last checked, we still had sporters available chambered in: .22-250, .243 Winchester, .257 Roberts, 6.5×55 Mauser, 7×57 Mauser, .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, 7.62x39mm, 7.65mm Argentine Mauser, and .45 ACP.
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Today’s feature article is an essay by Brandon Smith, Editor of Alt-Market.us. It is reposted with permission.
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We are in need of entries for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
Recently, I was watching a short documentary about the history of political discourse and division in the US and it got me thinking about how the internal conflicts of the past might relate to the rampant social battles Americans are dealing with today. From early disagreements between various Founding Fathers on hot-button issues like the Sedition Act, central banking, and standing armies, to epic and disastrous conflagrations like the Civil War, America has never been “of one mind” on everything.
Overall, though, the longstanding assumption is that even when we slip and fall into disarray Americans will find common ground and move on towards the future together. It’s a nice sentiment, but what if this ideal no longer applies?
There are some people that argue there was never a golden era for the US; that we’ve always been destructive, or exploitative, or “imperialist.” Of course, it’s very easy to examine any given time period through the lens of modern sensibilities and pass judgment. How we would do things today is not necessarily how we would do things yesterday. We can’t easily condemn the men and women of the past without at least recognizing that we will probably never see the issues of their day from their perspective.
The political left is the most egregious violator of this principle. They have a bad habit of trying to rewrite history according to their current ideological cultism and applying their taboos to time periods when civilization had very different views on how to function. The progressive philosophy is partially rooted in “futurism”; the idea that all old ideas and ways of doing things must be abandoned to make way for new methods. In other words, they think everything “new” is better and must be embraced.Continue reading“The Unifying Principle: Why The Political Divisions In The US Today Cannot Be Mended, by Brandon Smith”
Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the market prospects for gold.
The new floor for spot silver seems to be around $30 USD per Troy ounce. Any time it drops lower in Western trading, the Asian traders quickly run it back up, with strong buying.
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Jim Rickards: $27,000 Gold. A quote:
“This analysis begins with a simple question: What’s the implied non-deflationary price of gold under a new gold standard?
No central banker in the world wants a gold standard. Why would they? Right now, they control the machinery of global currencies (also called fiat money).
They have no interest in a form of money they can’t control. It took about 60 years from 1914–1974 to drive gold out of the monetary system. No central banker wants to let it back in.”
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With Momentum In Its Favor, Gold Has Potential To Head Higher.
A video essay from a familiar face with a quite sound Big Picture view of the global monetary milieu, pointing to an upcoming Dollar Collapse: Something Huge Is Unfolding in the Financial World. She summed it up with this: “The day of the Dollar’s reckoning is here.”
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House Releases $1.5 Trillion Farm Bill, Teeing Up Duel With Senate.
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Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site:
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Martin W. Armstrong: US Consumer Sentiment Reaches 6-Month Low.
“You can always create a fraction by putting one variable upstairs and another variable downstairs, but that does not establish any causal relationship between them, nor does the resulting quotient have any necessary relationship to anything in the real world.” – Thomas Sowell
May 23, 1824 was birthday of Ambrose Burnside. He served as the Governor of Rhode Island from 1866 to 1869. During the American Civil War he was a general in the Union Army, where he led successful campaigns in North Carolina and Tennessee, but suffered defeats at the Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of the Crater.
After his period as a governor, he served as a US Senator for Rhode Island from 1875 until his death in 1881, and also had a number of industrial directorships, most prominently on the country’s railroad networks.
His distinctive style of facial hair gave birth to the name “sideburns”, derived from his last name.
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The Sporter Sale Continues! All 20 of the remaining sporterized rifles in my inventory are on sale, at Elk Creek Company. By request from several readers, I’ve extended this sale for a full week, to end on Friday, May 31st. When I last checked, we still had milsurp sporters available chambered in .22-250, .243 Winchester, .257 Roberts, 6.5×55 Mauser, 7×57 Mauser, .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, 7.62x39mm, 7.65mm Argentine Mauser, and .45 ACP.
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Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
