Month: October 2014

Three Letters Re: How to Build a Defensible Single Family Retreat

Hugh, Regarding M.S.’s statement: “You can forget about defending any type of suburban or urban home or business altogether.” I beg to differ. If anyone attacks my suburban home, he’ll be immediately counter-attacked from the flanks and rear by my neighbors. This is more effective and cheaper than elaborate defenses.- G.K. HJL Replies: The importance of having relationships with your neighbors cannot be stressed enough; however, M.S.’s statement still stands. For example, the average suburban home has 6 to 8 3/8” sheet-rock walls and a couple of chipboard sidings on a cross section, all of which a standard .308 round …


Economics and Investing:

“Hiring Grandparents Only”: 230K September Jobs Added In 55-69 Age Group; 10K Lost In Prime, 25-54 Group – G.G. o o o The middle class is poorer today than it was in 1989. – T.J. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: ECB Reveals Asset Purchase Plan, Skimps on Detail Video: Interview with G. Edward Griffen – Thoughts On Gold And What Makes The Fed Such A Dangerous Organization Yen’s Steepest Decline in 20 Months Spreads Unease in Japan U.S. Apartment Vacancies Rise for First Time Since 2009


Odds ‘n Sods:

With Dry Taps and Toilets, California Drought Turns Desperate Mapping the Spread of Drought Across the U.S. o o o DHS Insider – Terrorist Self-Infect with Ebola. – J.W. o o o As we expected: Boss, Coworkers of US Ebola Patient: He Knew He Had Ebola, US Trip Was ‘Desperate Attempt to Survive’. – P.M. o o o Obama virus D68 aka enterovirus affecting thousands of US children, Dr. Claudia Hoyen, Reported cases tip of iceberg, Coincides with entry of illegal alien children, Obama warned by health professionals. – P.M. o o o Why America’s Not Ready For An Ebola …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” – Deuteronomy 32:1-3 (KJV)


Notes for Friday – October 03, 2014

October, 3, 2014 is the 21st anniversary of the Mogadishu, Somalia raid. The 18 Americans killed were: MSG Gary Gordon, 1st SFOD-D SFC Randy Shughart, 1st SFOD-D SSG Daniel Busch, 1st SFOD-D SFC Earl Fillmore, 1st SFOD-D MSG Timothy Martin, 1st SFOD-D CPL Jamie Smith, 3/75 Ranger SPC James Cavaco, 3/75 Ranger SGT Casey Joyce, 3/75 Ranger PFC Richard Kowaleski, 3/75 Ranger SGT Dominic Pilla, 3/75 Ranger SGT Lorenzo Ruis, 3/75 Ranger SSG William Cleveland, Jr. 160th SOAR SSG Thomas Field, 160th SOAR CW4 Raymond Frank, 160th SOARD CW3 Clifton Wolcott, 160th SOAR CW2 Donovan Briley, 160th SOAR SGT Cornell …


Building Skills While Paying the Bills: Carving Time to Hone, by Scouter Dad JEB

The Greek philosopher Aristotle– teacher of Alexander the Great (a title given later in life and probably not while he was a student)– is quoted as saying, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” This statement applies in many areas in life, but perhaps it rings most true with the prepper/survivalist community. As a budding prepper/survivalist with three young children, the most valued commodity in our family is time. Hours of dedication spent skipping lunch breaks at the corporate office to stay employed, followed by the children’s after-school activities, make time for …


Letter Re: JWR’s Ebola Comment

Regarding this: “Keep in mind that you can collect your mail from your mailbox with disposable exam gloves and then put both the gloves and the mail in your microwave oven for 90 seconds to decontaminate them.” In the last two weeks a group of our local letter carriers, who come in contact with everyone and hence every germ in the community,  inquired of their Union regional leadership and of the USPS management at their District-level what would be the protocol if we experience some kind of Ebola pandemic? In both cases they were told, “It’s not coming here; stop …


Economics and Investing:

Alan Greenspan: Gold Is “Universally Acceptable” and Why China Is Buying o o o One World, One Bank, One Currency o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video: Peter Schiff: Biggest Crisis Ever Looms – 25mins long but very good. August Construction Spending Weakens US Mortgage Activity Remains Stuck in Neutral Consumer Comfort in U.S. Declined Last Week to Four-Month Low


Odds ‘n Sods:

“un” Comfortably Numb – RBS o o o Meanwhile In Hong Kong “Tonight Is Going To Get Messy”. – J.W. o o o A future valuable skill? Make A Lawn mower Blade Knife – F.J. o o o 4 People Prosecuted Under #AgGag Law for Photographing Factory Farm From the Road – T.P. o o o Ebola virus: Pandemic should be treated ‘the same way’ as threat posed by nuclear weapons, security officials say – P.M.



Notes for Thursday – October 02, 2014

Today, we present another entry for Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,100+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A 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, DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hardcase to go with your …


How to Build a Defensible Single Family Retreat, by M.S.

My parents were part of the “Back-To-The-Land” movement in the 1970’s, so I am no stranger to the principles and techniques underlying today’s prepper movement. Cutting ten cords of wood to heat our northern Minnesota home, by hand with an axe and a crosscut saw, was part of my formative years. Raising chickens; living in the deep woods, which were especially deep during the year that my father moved us to a camp in northern Ontario that could only be reached by float plane with the nearest neighbor 60 miles away and only accessible to us by snowmobile in the …


Letter Re: Single Mom prepares

Hugh, I just had to respond to this dear woman’s story. I don’t remember the last time—if ever—that I have been so moved by the example of another person’s courage, grit, and determination. This lady has the inner toughness that once belonged to the quietly heroic pioneer women, without whom I doubt that this country could have been successfully settled, and without whom our country’s history would be far less colorful. Lucky are those who are M.B.’s friends and neighbors; when the challenging, chaotic days arrive, she will be a true asset—as will her daughter through her tutelage. I wish …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Health News – Beware of the Dangers Out There o o o Oilcloth – making non-petroleum based waterproof fabrics. – P.M. o o o New Jersey Man Accused Of Shooting Down Neighbor’s Remote Control Drone. – T.P. o o o High school student arrested for imagining hunting a dinosaur with a gun in fiction story. – RBS o o o Here’s Why You Should NOT Panic Over Ebola. – J.W.