Month: March 2014

Economics and Investing:

Best & Worst States to be a Taxpayer – SDS o o o Quantitative Easing has been the fuel for rising inequality and welfare for the modern Gilded Age: President Fisher from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas mentions QE’s gift to the rich. Items from The Economatrix: The Federal Reserve Seems Quite Serious About Tapering – So What Comes Next? Jim Sinclair: Russia Could Cause Gold To Hit $2000 In 2014 Fleckenstein – The Fantasy Is Alive & Well But The End Is Near Do Not Make Fun Of Those That Have Fallen Out Of The Middle Class – …


Odds ‘n Sods:

From the Police State: Man receives felony after speaking too long at town hall meeting – H.L. o o o If you are planning on travelling to Russia, you may want to bring cash: Credit Cards Frozen at Sanctioned Russian Banks – B.R. o o o A disease flare up in Africa has an almost 50% fatality rate: 29 dead from viral hemorrhagic fever. – G.P. o o o It seems to me we have been here before… Could the U.S. Face a Cruise Missile Threat from the Gulf of Mexico? o o o More proof that reading government websites …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV)


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



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 …


Barter Goods, by C.Y.

If and when the end of civilized life as we know it arrives, there will be a period lasting from months to years before your community stops collapsing and develops a stable local economy. During this time, the agreed exchange of goods and services between residents is clearly preferable to looting and theft, but successful transactions will not be easy without a widely accepted replacement for money. People may still have cash, credit cards, and checks, but without a central government these are unlikely to be seen as a good exchange for essentials like food, clothes, fuel, or services. A …


Letter: Mental Illness

Hugh, I have a mental illness and know that if things go south my chances are slim, but I will persevere until the “oops” occurs. I suggest reading the fictional book “One Second After” to get a glimpse at what might happen to the old and the mentally ill; it is not pretty. Also, “The Walking Dead” did an episode, “The Grove”, where there was a mentally ill person. For the seriously mental ill, a bullet to the head might be the only choice. That stinks but is realistic. For the less serious, like me, you have to decide whether …


Letter Re: The Ice Hits the Fan in South Carolina

This piece is a much needed wake up for prepper families that think it is okay for Dad, Mom, Son, Daughter or someone else to do everything…alone. This warning goes both ways, as I know plenty of men who “go it alone” because that is the way they want it. They haven’t figured out that young man/lady in the house, watching TV or hanging out with his friends, is capable of much more and needs to earn the confidence that practice gives. If your older children or parents, or your neighbor down the road is counting on you to help …