Month: May 2015

Letter Re: Communications In Dark Times, by J.B.

Hugh, Independent communication is really important. First thing you observe when you go to an ARRL local meeting is the intelligent, charitable, genuine nature of the people involved. Second, the information that the Technician License test preparation material contains is laterally applicable to other prepping activities if you want a deeper understanding of what is around you and what you have to accomplish. An example is the information about direct current (DC) electricity used in radios and generated by solar power systems. Alternatively, learning about repeaters and their positions and coverage make you very aware of your surroundings. You also …


Economics and Investing:

Debt-Choked Puerto Rico at Fiscal Brink as Bond Buyers Pull Back – G.G. o o o HSBC to charge for holding deposits. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Bus Driver Economics – This is a good short read. Denmark Preparing to be the First to Eliminate Cash Retirees Have More Education Debt than Ever Video Ron Paul: Cashless Society: More Attacks on Our Privacy


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (A classic nuke scenario. This book was a key influence in my writing, and it was my inspiration to write “Patriots” in a similar style.) Vandenberg by Oliver Lange (Invasion scenario. Note: It was later republished under the title: Defiance: An American Novel) Movies 3 Days to Kill (Warning: Has many violent scenes.) Paths of Glory Instructional Video: How to Shoot Beyond Belief ~ Long Range Shooting for Hunters


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Time is Now. – Avalanche Lily o o o Over at Wranglerstar’s excellent blog site, there is a new video posted on rebuilding hydraulic ram pumps. – JWR o o o SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to an article from the NRA on Keeping Your Perspective. While targeted at the use of deadly force, it’s excellent advice for the times we live in. I have seen many preppers become frantic of late, ignoring everything but their preps. Keep your perspective. What are you prepping for? (And I’m not talking about which “End-of-world” scenario.) If you are prepping …



Notes for Tuesday – May 19, 2015

Ready Made Resourcesis currently running their 25-40% off Mountain House sale. It’s a good time to stock up! o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 58 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 …


An Introduction to Gangs – Part 1, by T.N.

The Threat Unfortunately our American justice (or in-justice) system has utterly failed to curtail certain groups and organizations from threatening the safety of the American public. I am warning you that just beneath the super-thin veneer of American civil society lurks a dark and deadly threat. It’s a threat so insidious that it kills young children often times for sport and so powerful it has purchased politicians at both state and federal levels of government. Most people see very little of this threat, only catching glimpses of it as it burns through the thin layer of civility and boils over …


Letter Re: Reverse Mortgages

HJL, If I really needed to get a reverse mortgage, I would swallow hard and do it, but….I wanted to add my bit of information on what I discovered on reverse mortgages. Most of what is said is glossy sales pamphlet type info; there’s not much substance. So I started asking questions and pressing for a straight answer. Reverse mortgages give you money based on a percentage of what they think your house is worth. You can either take the money as a lump sum or take payments. My question to them was how is the interest calculated. The answer …


News From The American Redoubt:

Idaho House Approves Child Support Measure, 49-21, (Submitting Idaho to International Law). The bill now heads to the senate in a special session. – J.J. Update: The bill has now passed the senate and is headed to the governor’s desk o o o Montana boy shoots through window, kills friend trying to wake him o o o Wyoming city rallies to remove graffiti after soldier’s home is vandalized o o o Washington Governor declares statewide drought emergency o o o Rancher dies in plane crash in Eastern Oregon’s Malheur County


Economics and Investing:

Fed Rate-Hike To Trigger ‘Next Crash’ In 2016? o o o Once Cash Is Banned They Will Be Able To Force You To Buy Products: “Just Tax Their Excess Account Balance”. – B.B. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: David Stockman Interview——-Kick-The-Can Economics Is Entering The End Game Traders Watch for More Signs of Economic Stall in Week Ahead Bond-Market Crash Has Wall Street Divided on What’s Next – some in the main stream pushing off from the September rate hike theory. At some point even the Lemmings have to start to realize it’s all a show.. US Gas …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Fighting Entropy – The survival of civilization. – S.G. o o o Video: Five ways to hide something in plain sight o o o SurvivalBlog reader T.S. notes that anti-virus firm AVG has recently acquired Privax, the parent company of HideMyAss. The following is from an AVG license agreement, according to Wikipedia: “The AVG license agreement includes a clause (Section 9) authorizing AVG to collect, from your computer, any Non-Personally Identifiable Information they desire and to share it with their business partners anywhere in the world. It also authorizes AVG to track your computer usage.” AVG is also controversial in …




Scot’s Product Review: Century Arms C39V2 AK 47

This review is something of an exploration of the AK platform by one with limited familiarity to it as well as a review of the Century Arms C39V2, a U.S. made AK. I should first explain that the reason I have little AK time is that I am something of a gun snob. I have always thought that the United States, a nation founded upon riflemen and being unique in having the Second Amendment, was first among gun makers, so most of my shooting is with American arms. Folks like John Moses Browning, Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson, Eugene Stoner, and …


Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Benchmade’s Impel Automatic Folder

If ever there was a true gentleman, that person would be my friend– the late Grandmaster of American Kenpo Karate, John McSweeney. McSweeney was responsible for introducing American Kenpo Karate to Ireland many years ago. To be sure, McSweeney, was one of Ed Parker’s Black Belts, and if you don’t know who Ed Parker was, Google him. He was the Grandmaster of Kenpo Karate. Even Elvis Presley was one of Parker’s Black Belts. However, what I’m discussing here is a true gentleman, and John McSweeney was certainly at the top of the list, in my book. John knew how to …