Day: May 4, 2009

Note from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction. is now at $1,000. This auction is for a large mixed lot, which includes: 1.) A Three-Color Desert Camo Interceptor OTV (Outer Tactical Vest) size XL only, and a spare Woodland camouflage outer shell, kindly donated by BulletProofME.com. These items have a combined retail value of $960! 2.) A vehicle detection system, which includes: one MURS Alert Probe Sensor (MAPS) with 50 foot probe cable and one MURS Alert Hand Held (M538-HT) transceiver. The MAPS unit’s probe can be covertly installed under the surface of a driveway or road to detect vehicular …


Letter Re: Question on Commercial Parts and Critical Spare Parts for M1A Rifles

Jim, Love your site. I have a question in looking through blogs regarding M1A rifles I found some folks complaining about failures with recent M1A rifles that didn’t have USGI parts and replacement with genuine USGI parts was not even offered. I wanted to know your opinions and recommendations regarding this rifle without genuine USGI parts especially the extractor. Thanks, – Joe JWR Replies: The biggest problems with M1As seem to be the commercially-made bolts and operating rods. Some of those are fine, but at different times those produced by several makers has suffered from poor quality control. But short …


Letter Re: Responding to a CBRNE Event, by J. Paramedic

James, That was a great article by “J. Paramedic” on CBRNE events. Not that any of your readers have overly rosy predictions of first responders, but I wanted to add a few points. All in our agency are issued PPE gear. One suit, one mask, one cartridge. We are better funded. Some agencies issue individual gas masks, but issue PPE gear “per squad” (as in, kept at station, enough for squad on patrol plus some.) The decision was made that it was better to lightly equip everyone rather than heavily equip a select team, especially due to extremely large patrol …


Mexican Flu Update:

Reader RG in Arizona recommended this article: Scientists dig for lessons from past pandemics Mexico: No New Swine Flu Deaths; Cases Up to 443 UK: Supermarkets Prepare For Panic Buying Why the Flu Can Never Be Eradicated CDC Current Statistics 21 states, 160 cases, 1 death (“officially”) More Schools Shut As Swine Flu Spreads (430 schools) “The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home …


Economics and Investing:

Aubie Baltin comments on the $1,200 trillion ($1.2 quadrillion or $1.200,000,000,000,000) derivatives market, bonds, monetization, and hyperinflation. Items from The Economatrix: Desperate Car Dealers Get Useless Loans SBA’s redefinition of “small business” makes financing availabile…with strings attached. Pontiac, Pop Culture Icon, Hits the End of the Road Labor Day Rioting in Berlin Over Economy Gold Isn’t Going to $2,000 Per Ounce UK: Company Failures are “Tip of the Iceberg” Riots Across Europe Fueled By Economic Crisis France: May Day Warning Petraeus: Pakistan Could Be Two Weeks Away From Collapse


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Phil B. wrote to warn us about LBW Eyewear, for failure to deliver orders. They are a discount  mail order eyeglasses company that was mentioned previously in SurvivalBlog. As it turns out the BBB has LBW Eyewear listed with an “F” rating, with “8 resolved/closed and 8 unresolved/no-answer complaints.” Avoid them! OBTW, the Zenni Optical company has a better reputation for reliability and customer service than LBW Eyewear.    o o o KAF sent us a Wall Street Journal link: The Taliban’s Atomic Threat    o o o Greg C. pointed out this article on the “cleaner, greener” rhetoric …