Month: September 2015

Notes for Saturday – September 12, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day 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 hard case to go …


The Aging Prepper, by R.H.

If you are reading this article, then you are aging. Obviously, the only way to escape aging is to pass on to the “other world”. So assuming that you are not reading this while comfortably seated in a recliner in the Happy Hunting Ground, let us have a discussion of aging and how it relates to the activity of prepping. First, aging usually brings forth some diminished mental and physical abilities. Those past the age of say forty have probably noticed changes in eyesight and perhaps lessened strength and endurance. Balance and reflexes are probably not as keen as they …


Letter Re: Killer Survivalism

Dear JWR: I would add a thought to the advice from the writer of “Killer Survivalism“: Don’t neglect your current responsibilities in favor of your preparations for TEOTWAWKI. A relative of mine had a “prepper” mindset but was not very stable financially. He had chronic problems with credit card debt, could have used a better automobile, and constantly put off repairs to his house. Upon his sudden death from a heart attack, I helped dispose of his estate and found that although he was chronically short of funds, he had spent a large amount of money on stored food and …


Economics and Investing:

Zombie Home Foreclosures – A.L. o o o Glencore and the World of Global Commodities – A.L. o o o This Is EXACTLY What The Early Phases Of A Market Meltdown Look Like o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Welcome To The Recovery – Two Out Of Five American Children Experience Poverty Video: David Stockman On Bloomberg: The Unemployment Rate At 5.1% Is In The Fed’s Full-Employment End Zone—–More ZIRP Is Crazy


Odds ‘n Sods:

Military misplaces black plague samples – J.C. o o o Taking the President’s lunch money: In Major Humiliation For Obama, Iran Sends Soldiers To Support Russian Troops In Syria – GJM o o o Interesting, the kinds of articles that are starting to show up on such relatively nerdy sites as “Zerohedge”, these days… Guide for Learning to Use a Sidearm to Defend Yourself, Your Loved Ones, and Your Property, Should a Race War Break Out – GJM o o o Hackers had full access to your GM car for five years – D.S. o o o Microsoft is downloading …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do …


Notes for Friday – September 11, 2015

September 11th is of course the anniversary of the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on the U.S. , but it is also the anniversary of the Benghazi Embassy attacks in 2012. Please remember the sacrifice of J. Christopher Stevenson, Sean Smith, and CIA (former Navy SEAL) agents Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Between them, Woods and Dohery reportedly dropped at least 60 of the attackers, before their position was overwhelmed. Please also remember the spineless worms in Washington, D.C. who decided to not back up the embassy staff when they were in dire need of help. Eventually, they will pay for …


My Long Lesson, by D.D.

As an engineer I make my living by solving problems efficiently and with an eye toward the future. I can be stubborn in technical things, which bleeds into other parts of my life. This article is a about how that failed to serve me. Perhaps, it will ring true for you. I remember the day I became a prepper. I was living and working in southern California. One morning in my office, after a discussion of current events a fellow engineer quietly and kindly said to me, “You know, gasoline stations only have about one day of fuel in their …


Letter Re: The 20% Solution, by Redoubting Thomas

Hugh: I have comments to the communications section of Redoubting Thomas’ article. Communication is the process of moving information from one place to another. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, there will not be just one specific communication need, there will be several. You will want to communicate over short, medium, and long distances. Some communications needs will be one way. Some will be two ways. Differing needs require differing means to achieve differing objectives. In my opinion, the CB radio, for very many technical reasons, is a poor solution for many, if not most, of these needs. The author emphasizes that …


Economics and Investing:

Personal Austerity – A.L. o o o Buy Gold, Sell the S&P o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Peter Schiff – Meet QT; QE’s Evil Twin GLOBALIST WARNS FED RATE HIKE WILL CAUSE PANIC, CALLS FOR QE 4 Government Employees Outnumber Manufacturing Employees 1.8 to 1 – News Flash: We are in trouble… Krugman `Really, Really’ Worried Abenomics Might Fail – You need no better proof that sometimes people with high IQ’s can be downright stupid. What alternate universe does he think his beliefs on economics exist?


Odds ‘n Sods:

TSA blunder hits travelers at U.S. airports – D.S. o o o Obama Orders That America Take In 70,000 Islamic “Refugees,” But Now John Kerry Says That The Number Will Be Up To 100,000 Muslims. Be Prepared For ISIS Massacres To Happen In The US Soon – B.B. o o o Bill Whittle – An Illegal Immigrant Catastrophe… In Europe? ISIS Refugees! – MtH o o o Video Shows Cops Tell K9 “Good Boy” as they Let Him Maul a Handcuffed Man – RBS o o o Traditional Family ? The CEO Of Starbucks DOESN’T WANT YOUR MONEY – T.P.



Notes for Thursday – September 10, 2015

On September 10, 1776, George Washington asked for a spy volunteer. Nathan Hale stepped up to the challenge of an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City. Unfortunately, the British captured and executed him. He is probably best known for his last words before being hanged: “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” He has long been considered an American hero, and in 1985, was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut. It is good for us to remember that every American patriot and hero from the times leading up to and during the …


The Thorough Planning and Orders Process- Part 2, By J.E.D.

2. Arrange for Reconnaissance: The best way to describe this portion is with a story. Let’s say you’re looking to buy a new house with some property. This new place is going to be your retreat, so you really want to make sure it’s going to be the right place for you and your family. You found a place you really like by looking on the internet, but it’s on the other end of the state from you. So, the first thing you do is find the address to the property. Then you’ll probably MapQuest or Google map it, and …


Letter Re: Progressive Presses

HJL, Regarding your answer on progressive presses; not to start a Red vs. Green vs. Blue war (this is a reference to the colors of different brands of reloading presses), but there are some other considerations to take into account. Here’s a link to a paper that compares three popular progressive presses. I was considering purchasing the Hornady LNL AP but decided to go with another option. I upgraded from a single stage press to the Lee Precision Classic Turret Press. It’s a compromise between a single stage and a true progressive press. You have to pull the handle four …