Day: May 28, 2016

Notes for Saturday – May 28, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. …


A Micro Solar Power System With Maximum Utility, by B.C.

Necessity being the mother of invention, I recently stumbled backwards onto an inexpensive and truly totable way to power two-way radios, shortwave, and other receivers; charge smart phones and iPads; provide lighting; quickly purify water on the go; keep night vision functional; enable electronic security systems; and pump rainwater to a gravity tank, while protecting all these functions from EMP in the interim. I will quietly be turning 50 next month. I joined the survivalist movement in the early 1980’s, at the tail end of that upswing of interest in such things. Vietnam was still fresh in our minds, and …


Memorial Day: Give it Meaning!

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day), a day of remembrance for those who have died serving in the military of the United States of America. In my family, we think especially of my Great Uncle Robert Kinsella, who died when his B-24D bomber “Punjab” was lost on a bombing mission over Rabaul in the South Pacific, on November 16th, 1942. It was the lead bomber on the mission. Both Group Commander (Colonel Arthur Meehan) and the Squadron Commander (Major Raymond Morse) were on board. Memorial day is more than just a three day weekend with BBQs, …


Letter Re: Using EMP-Hardened HF Ham Radio

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Hugh, I strongly recommend against using any Heathkit rig for an emergency radio. There was one solid state Heathkit but it was a rebadged, factory assembled Yaesu. All others were built by an individual, whose attention to detail you most likely have no idea about. They are known in the hobby as “GRIEF kits” for a GOOD reason. They fail – early, and often. They have too many disadvantages for the emergency backup purpose. Besides all the ones mentioned by the original author: They have high (LETHAL) voltages inside. They require 120V AC power. They have no cooling fan on …


Economics and Investing:

S&P Significant Low has Occurred – NOT Likely! – “Of course this time might be different, but it seems wise to consider the possibility of a substantial S&P 500 Index drop in coming months.” o o o Why $50 Oil Is Here To Stay – “As oil prices hit $50, oil traders are trying to answers the million dollar question: will U.S. drillers turn the taps back on?” o o o Video: Brexit – The Movie – a crowdfunded film that presents the case for Britain to leave the EU on June 23rd. – P.S. o o o Greece’s Journey …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Facebook Will Now Track You and Force Feed You Ads Even If You Don’t Use It – DSV o o o A warning to Canadians via video: S-223 Canada’s New Gun Control Bill o o o Senate bill would let FBI read your emails without a court order – “All the agency would need is a National Security Letter, which lets the FBI get information from companies about their customers without alerting the person being investigated. Currently, the FBI can access phone records that way, but not emails.” – B.B. o o o The inmates are indeed running the asylum! …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men” – Jeremiah 32:17-19 (KJV)