Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), 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, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …




The Warfighter and the Auxiliary Opinions

There are many that want to be the cool guy running in the hills with a rifle, taking out targets, conducting raids, and setting up ambushes. Several think that they can sit on a hill top with their rifle and take out any targets in sight. Just about everyone wants to do something tactical. While learning, knowing, and practicing those skills is great, it is not practical to have everyone in the prepper community running and gunning. Everyone in this community needs to know how to run their rifles, pistols, and shotguns, but it is not necessary for everyone to …




Letter Re: Preparing for Family & Friends

HJL, “Preparing for Family and Friends” by Thor1954 was a thought-provoking article, but I would include basic cooking directions and perhaps a recipe or two concerning the rice and beans. Do you really think that people who are unprepared for emergencies and disasters will know what to do with plain rice and beans that weren’t part of a packaged meal? – D.M. Hugh Replies: Hunger is a great motivator. While I like my beans well cooked and spiced up, it’s really not necessary. All they need is a pan of water to make something usable, but I’m sure that small …




Letter Re: 22LR: Truth & Myth

HJL, Although the author of this piece is a real live outdoor enthusiast, he neglected to mention the 22LR is the favorite rifle of deer poachers. Don’t take my word for it (although I too am an outdoor enthusiast). Here are just three of the hundreds of credible news stories of game warden investigations that confirm this: http://vtdigger.org/2014/01/08/fish-wildlife-investigation-leads-double-arrest-poaching/ http://naweoa.org/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319:4-south-carolina-poaching-cases&catid=4:us-news&Itemid=82 http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/game-warden-cases-do-you-know-these-deer-poachers-officers-need-your-help/ Sport hunting and survival hunting are different. I can sit on my porch and take a deer from twenty feet away with a 22LR. My neighbor gets more out of season than in and the 22LR, being much quieter, doesn’t …




Economics and Investing:

From E.B.: Normally, I don’t pay much attention to NPR due to their leftest political lean, but this caught my eye. (Yes, that NPR.) – E.B. o o o Fed Fraud and Hostage Markets – D.B. o o o Items from The Economatrix: The Run On U.S. Gold Continues… Richard Russell – Silver Is The Greatest Buy In The World Today Putin Could Win World War III Without Firing a Shot Collapse and Systemic Failure at All Levels Coming to U.S.-Dmitry Orlov




Odds ‘n Sods:

Students at the shooting range for gun safety – W.W. o o o Reports of the Death of a National License-Plate Tracking Database Have Been Greatly Exaggerated – P.S. o o o A SurvivalBlog reader sent in this link on testing the purity of the honey you buy. The best way, of course, is to have your own beehive, but for those that cannot have that… How to Verify the Purity of Honey