Year: 2015

Becoming A Warrior At Gunsite Academy, by J.H.

I had dreams of becoming an armed warrior at a very young age. My father and my uncle put a .22 rifle in my hands after I joined the Boy Scouts, and they asked that I go with them through the woods along the Cahaba River in Shelby County, Alabama. They cared less about sports and preferred that I learn how to survive in a non-urban/non-suburban environment. I believe they were interested in passing along family history as much as anything else. They told me how my ancestors, mainly my great-grandfathers, survived as warriors when they fought in the American …


Letter: Nickels Strategy

JWR/HJL, Here’s a nickel accumulation strategy that might be useful to SB readers building their piles. Instead of asking the bank teller for loose rolls, I have switched to $100 boxes. I get no eye-rolls from the tellers; they just walk to the vault and pick up a box. Boxes are not especially durable, but a few wraps of duct or strapping tape take care of that. Our local banks may be friendlier than some, but I have never been charged a fee for loose rolls or boxes. – AAA/Another Army Aviator


Economics and Investing:

Venezuela’s Currency Collapsing as U.S. Companies Announce They Will Only Accept U.S. Dollars. – JBG o o o The Stress Index indicated a bottom in the gold and silver markets in March of 2015. – GC o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: China Blows Its Debt Bubble Bigger Yuan Now Most-Used in Asia for Payments to China, Swift Says Bloomberg, China and $64,000 Gold Greece Risk Timeline — Why July 20 Matters Most – Interesting data


Odds ‘n Sods:

Krayton Kerns: Lessons of the Dirt Pile. – Avalanche Lily o o o An interview with JWR on SGT Report was just posted dealing with the impending collapse of the U.S. economy and the treason within our own government which has led to the fast-tracking of the secretive TPP. o o o Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large, presented us with this fascinating look from a historians perspective at “natural” diets. o o o Remember, this is with plenty of food, and open gas stations. – T.P. 56 shot, 12 killed in violent Memorial Day weekend in Chicago 28 people …



Notes for Wednesday – May 27, 2015

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 is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with …


Surviving Science, by Funtripmom

What happens if you decide to homeschool and you failed science class, not just one science class but practically all of them? On the other hand, what happens if you decide to homeschool and you got an “A” in chemistry, but you never did anything to merit that grade, and therefore you don’t know the first thing about chemistry? That about sums up my science class record. I either didn’t do very well or I passed with flying colors all to the tune of helping the teacher grade papers. At the time I loved it. I thought, “This is grand! …


Letter: Ham Radio Classes

Hello James, and Hugh, and readers I just finished teaching my second Ham radio class for this year, with four licensees in each– two general and two tech. I teach general and tech at the same time, with emphasis on tech, and I encourage extra study on the general with questions and instruction for each being answered for each class. My classes usually go for 10 or 12 Saturday mornings 0900-1200 or until we exhaust the teacher, whichever comes first. I just found out last Tuesday that I have seven more students who want me to teach another class. Whew! …


Economics and Investing:

Is The 505 Trillion Dollar Interest Rate Derivatives Bubble In Imminent Jeopardy? – B.B. o o o Suicidal Credit-Based Money System o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video: David Stockman On Fox: How Washington Is Sowing The Whirlwind Bring Your Own Bed Sheets—–Athens Has Strip-Mined Every Dime Of Cash From Greece’s Health Care System – The Greek government is delusional thinking that its socialist agenda of government run healthcare is going to function in an already bankrupt country. Greece Hasn’t Got the Money to Make June IMF Repayment – While the situation is getting dire, I still expect a …



Odds ‘n Sods:

US-China war ‘inevitable’ unless Washington drops demands over South China Sea. – G.P. o o o 10 Rules For Self-Sufficient Living: Survival Tips from the Great Depression. – D.S. o o o Man from Essex County was Lassa Fever victim, officials say. – D.S. o o o The Average American Attention Span Is Now 8 Seconds – Lower Than a Goldfish. – G.S. o o o Target to add RFID tag technology. – RBS



Notes for Tuesday – May 26, 2015

May 26th is the birthday of Randall Hank Williams (Hank Williams, Jr.). He was born in 1949. When not touring, he lives somewhere in Montana, so he qualifies as a Redoubter. He reportedly has a large gun collection, which is heavy on Sharps rifles and rifles that have factory letters showing that they were originally shipped to Montana. His song A Country Boy Can Survive is of course practically a survivalist anthem. His father was just 29 when he died, and despite a couple of close calls, Hank Jr. has lived well past that so he may yet live to …


Mike Williamson’s Review: Benjamin Blatt, Firearm Attorney in Indiana

Benjamin Blatt is licensed in Indiana only at this point, so this review will unfortunately have a limited market. https://www.facebook.com/hoosierattorney My own knowledge of firearms law is extensive, for a layman and activist who has been at this since 1986. So, coming across a professional with detailed knowledge of the fine points is a great find. Ben recently set me up with two firearms trusts– one trust for NFA items specifically and one for my valuable antiques and collectibles. The price for each was exceptionally reasonable. The process for both was simple and straightforward. I provided him with information on …


Ruger P-Series Bargain Handguns, by R.S.

Several weeks ago during a visit to my favorite gun shop I noticed a used Ruger semi-automatic handgun on the bottom shelf of the display. It had a lengthy model number that was unfamiliar, but then it has only been the last several years (coincidental with my newfound interest in prepping) that I have taken a serious interest in firearms. I could see that it had a stainless steel upper assembly with a gray (presumably metal rather than polymer) frame. I could also see that it had an exposed hammer, so I assumed it was an older design rather than …