Month: October 2014

Scot’s Product Review: CMMG .22 LR Conversion for AR-15

We can have a lot of discussions about the good and bad points of the AR-15 and the .223 cartridge it is usually chambered for. Some think they are worthless junk, while others feel they are the cat’s meow. A lot of folks, myself included, are somewhere in between those two ends of the argument. I find the ergonomics to be quite good and very adaptable for left-handed shooters, like myself. You need to add an ambidextrous safety, and I think an ambi charging handle also helps. An ambi magazine release really rounds it out, but I can live without …


A Few Thoughts on Water Storage, by N.P.

Dear HJL, The referenced article was pretty complete and detailed; I just want to add a couple of details. First, when I fill my storage tank with the intent of leaving it unattended and unused for a long period of time, I usually dose the water to about 7 PPM Chlorine. Then I check it every time I visit my distant retreat, supplementing the chlorine dose if the reading gets to 2 PPM or less. Levels at and above 7 PPM are dangerous to your health but draining the right amount of water and adding untreated water to the tank …


Recipe of the Week: Excellent Microwave Sweet Pickles, by L.H.

I am still making these pickles from the original recipe cut out of the Wichita (KS) Eagle newspaper from Sunday 10.29.89 (the newsprint is getting quite yellow and brittle), which is definite proof that this is a recipe that has stood the tests of time. These are what most call a “bread and butter” type pickle, and as the name says, they are truly excellent, as well as being excellently easy. Ingredients: ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. turmeric ¼ tsp. mustard seed ¼ tsp. celery seed ½ c. cider vinegar 1 c. sugar 2 cucumbers, unpeeled and thinly sliced 1 …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Attorney Stephen Stamboulieh is attempting to overturn 18 USC 922(o) and the National Firearms Act of 1934 as unconstitutional, via GoFundMe.com. He has raised nearly $20,000 in just three days. Chip in, if you can spare a few dollars, folks! o o o Infection Control for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in the African Health Care Setting. – MDM o o o Shady company tricks police to spread spyware. – D.S. o o o Texas Health Worker Tests Positive for Ebola. – RBS o o o What Can You Do to Prevent/Treat Ebola and Other Viral Infections. – D.S.



Notes for Sunday – October 12, 2014

Today, we present another entry for Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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 …


Surviving Kidney Dialysis in a Down-Grid Scenario, by G.C.

The power-grid goes down two hours before you are scheduled to begin your next round of hemodialysis at a clinic thirty-five miles away. Using the Ham radio, you discover through your III Percent communications network that all power is down across the southern sector. There is little hope of it being restored in the foreseeable future. The clinic should have a back-up generator in place, so (other than an inconvenience) your treatment should go ahead as planned. You lock the place down, turn on the alarms, and then you and the wife head for the clinic. As usual, when you …


Letter Re: A Few Thoughts on Water Storage

Hugh, I reuse polyethelene 2.5-gallon theatrical fog fluid tanks for water storage. The fog fluid is a glycol, and the tank will smell for a while. I first rinse the tanks to get all the gross product residues out. I then begin a leaching process by filling the tank with very hot water and let it sit until cool. I then repeat the process multiple times until there is no smell. I do two more leachings after that. Another point that I thought was missed is biofilms. These, like slimes, adhear to the walls and are almost impossible to get …


Economics and Investing:

After Abenomics Failed In Japan, It Is About To Be Tried In Europe o o o The stock market is finally recognizing severe global volatility: Stock market has worst performance in two years. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: S&P 500 Caps Worst Week in Two Years as Tech Shares Drop Serious Financial Trouble Is Erupting In Germany And Japan S&P 500 Caps Worst Week in Two Years as Tech Shares Drop


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ebola = P.C. madness as Liberian Health Workers take Arriving Marines temperatures !. – T.P. o o o Drought-related or BATF incompetence? Castaic Lake so low that fisherman finds agent’s gun lost 22 years ago. – G.L. o o o How hackers took over my computer. – A.D. o o o Dr. Aileen Marty tells Fusion what she saw fighting Ebola in Nigeria. P.M. o o o Amid Ebola Crisis, Liberian Army Sees Its Chance at Rebranding. P.M.



Notes for Saturday – October 11, 2014

Today, we present another entry for Round 55 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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 …


Bugging Out With Children, by T.L.

The day that we found out I was pregnant was a happy and joy-filled day. Never once did it cross our minds that a few years down the road, we would fear for the lives of our children and their futures. The world in which we live in is a scary place. The economy is always in peril, the government continues to become more unstable, and it seems we are always one step away from some catastrophic worldly event or the threat of scientific experiments gone wrong, causing a man-made apocalypse. Whatever the case may be, we live in constant …


Letter Re: Backup Electrical Power

Hugh, In Great article by Duliskov on backup electrical power, he suggests a propane tank heater/cover to counter low temps that reduce available propane. I noticed it’s a spendy item. Depending on your conditions, you might get by with one of these and a blanket. Speaking of low temps, just a reminder of how handy thermostatic switches are as part of a freeze-protection system. My pump house is very well insulated, but I have a 100W bulb on a thermo switch which comes on if needed. Best regards, – D.O.