Day: March 2, 2016

Notes for Wednesday – March 02, 2016

On March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Today is coincidentally also the birthday of Sam Houston. Today is also the birthday of Moe Berg, famous as both as an American baseball player and as a pre-WWII clandestine agent in Japan. He was born in 1902 and died in 1972.  His biography The Catcher Was a Spy is fascinating reading. And this is the birthday of libertarian economist Murray Rothbard (born 1926, died 1995.) His book For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto is highly recommended. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 of …


Ghillie Up, by Molon Labe

From a young age, I’ve been fascinated with hunters and snipers alike who stalk the wilds with a bushy cloak that conceals their location, like a ghost who conforms to his terrain and disappears in plain view. And so since an early teen I’ve researched, constructed and eventually refined the art of personal camouflage by way of the ghillie suit. The truth is that nothing can make you truly invisible and that even the best camouflage can be compromised with movement. However, through constant research and development both for myself, friends and eventually building ghillie making into a side business, …


Letter: A Forced Digital Currency Swap

Hugh and Jim, Yes, we can be effectively forced into a digital currency swap. Here is a real world example: In the early 1970s (as a young U.S. Army Captain) I was with the G2 Div, 2d Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea (ROK). In those days the military (and presumably civilian) personnel used Military Payment Certificates (MPCs) in lieu of US Dollars. This supposedly helped combat the local ROK black market which was notorious. A decision was made to make a change in the MPC (color, design, etc). The whole conversion process was initially classified until rollout. When …


Letter: Bullion Silver Coins Versus Pre-1965 Silver Coins

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Sir,I understand the need to have silver [available for barter] for the coming economic problems.  I have been obtaining silver Maple Leafs rather than pre-1965 US coins, mainly because they are less expensive [per ounce of silver].  However, many people I know and and bloggers say that people should have pre-1965 coins.To me when things get bad and the silver is used, it will be harder to explain the value of pre-1965 coins to normal people versus a 1 ounce silver coin. Is there a reason I am missing that pre-1965 coins are best? – JES JWR Replies: For anyone …


Letter Re: The Vulnerability of Many Commonplace RF Electronics

Dear JWR, Regarding the recently linked article on the hack of the Simplisafe alarm system, I’d like to alert readers to the fact that many, many radio frequency (RF) devices available on the US market have similar vulnerabilities. But it’s worse than that. These devices operate on one of several unlicensed radio frequency bands authorized under Title 47, part 15 of the FCC rules, most specifically Section 15.231. There are transmitters available for purchase on 433MHz, as used by Simplisafe, and they are quite inexpensive. Many of these evaluation kits only require attachment of a battery and you are ready …


Economics and Investing:

Gregg sent this news link that illustrates that the U.S. is living in a financial fantasy-land: 31% of U.S. Govt Assets Are Student Loans o o o Reader T.A. spotted this:  Despite Initial Ruling, Venezuela Seeks to Silence US Website (Miami Herald) o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: This Is How Bad It’s Got In Latin America’s Socialist Utopia U.S. Has Record 10th Straight Year Without 3% Growth in GDP Fed’s Bullard Again Says It’s ‘Unwise’ to Raise Rates Items from Professor Preponomics: US News The Long History of Government Meddling in the American Marketplace (Mises) A $123B Chunk …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: Stillwell and the American Experience in China 1911-45, by Barbara W. Tuchman Miracle at Belleau Wood: The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps, by Alan Axelrod DVDs: AGI Glock Armorer’s Course Killer Elite.  Warning: This is an often brutally violent film, based on a true story. (Not to be confused with the fanciful Sam Peckinpah film The Killer Elite, starring James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Bo Hopkins.) Music:  The Very Best of Steeleye Span Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Pierre M. suggested this: Fighting infections with viruses, as antibiotics fail o o o T.Z. sent us this troubling tech tip from geekdom:  How to Hack WiFi Password from Smart Doorbells .  T.Z.’s comment: Never, never, never, ever use anything wireless for security.  I wonder how many more such hacks will come out in the next few days and weeks. o o o Justice Clarence Thomas Asks Questions in Court, 1st Time in 10 Years