Year: 2016

Odds ‘n Sods:

Clinton says Supreme Court ‘wrong on the Second Amendment’ – She also criticized the NRA during this fundraiser: “I’m going to speak out, I’m going to do everything I can to rally people against this pernicious, corrupting influence of the NRA,” she said. “And we’re going to do whatever we can.” – T.P. o o o For those who don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade their old computer hardware, or perhaps are looking for an inexpensive alternative for a 2nd computer: Endless Mini – $79 computer. It’s not blazingly fast, but it does the job. – P.S. …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The ability to refer to a document (or a person or any thing else) is in general a fundamental right of free speech to the same extent that speech is free. Making the reference with a hypertext link is more efficient but changes nothing else. . . . We cannot regard anyone as having the “right not to be referred to” without completely pulling the rug out from under free speech. . . .It is difficult to emphasize how important these issues are for society. The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, for example, addresses the right …


Notes for Sunday – March 20, 2016

March 20th is the birthday of Mel Tappan (born 1933, died 1980). His perennially popular survivalist books Survival Gunsand Tappan on Survivalhave a well-deserved following. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 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 …


Backup Electric Power Design Considerations- Part 2, by Duliskov

Solar Energy Generation For any significant solar power generation, plan to cover your entire roof with panels. Consider installing a few panels on the roof of your trailer, if you have one; this will give you mobile power and better concealment. If you make the panels tilt or slide out from under each other, you can significantly increase the total surface exposed to the sun while stationary. Alternatively, install the panels on a ground support for easy access and scalability. Make sure that the selected location does not have structures or trees casting a shadow over, and take photos in …


Sarah Latimer: Inspiring Family Unity and Heroic Identity- Part 2

Some suggestions for activities with these Bible stories, include: For young children, tell them the story of Noah’s ark. Make a paper ark by using a brown paper grocery bag, animal crackers, crayons/markers, construction paper, and hot glue. Take a brown paper grocery bag and cut across from side to side, leaving the bottom and about four inches for the bottom and side. Now, take the top, cut away portion of the bag and cut five 2”x5” strips; fold these strips in half so that they are now 2”x2½”. Have your child draw full-figured Noah and his wife and three …


Letter Re: The Fallacy of Hunting as a Survival Technique

Sir, I have been concerned about the mindset of hunting in national crisis for some time. The general assumption that one can hunt to feed one’s family long term is likely to prove empty. I had the privilege of living with my grandmother just after I was released from submarine duty. We spent many evenings talking about the old days and the days to come. She bore 12 children and was in her 30’s during the depression. My grandfather was a wood-walking, ax toting lumberman. He managed mills all over Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. My grandmother ran the mill store …


Economics and Investing:

Greek Banks Admit To Charging Customers To Exchange Big Bills For Smaller Ones – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Bernanke: Monetary Policy ‘Reaching Its Limits’ – Isn’t this what Japan said right before going negative. “We are not considering negative rates”… Silver Soars Post-Fed As Gold Ratio Tumbles Most In 5 Months Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Obamacare Enrollment to Cap at Estimated 14.7 Million Americans (Washington Free Beacon) Excerpt: “Absent a substantial boost in outreach or changes to the subsides to make insurance more affordable, substantial increases in marketplace enrollment are unlikely.” CCAGW Releases 2015 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Build your own mini wind turbine from printer parts – Sent in by M.H. o o o An interesting perspective on our modern society: Feudalism – Then & Now – B.B. o o o When will they learn that attempting to ban guns won’t stop the violence? Increase in stabbings in NYC – P.S. o o o Sent in by JFJ: Youmerica – “[This] is the nightmare of the Founding Fathers come to life. ‘We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion,’ John Adams warned. ‘Our Constitution was made only …



Notes for Saturday – March 19, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 63 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. …


Backup Electric Power Design Considerations- Part 1, by Duliskov

This article covers a complex area, and to keep myself focused I will break it into three sections. In the following I would like to share what I learned researching and building an emergency power station. The content below assumes that the reader understands the basics of electricity (AC and DC), batteries, and solar power. I have no affiliation with any of the sellers of products I provided links to; the links are for your convenience only. I have no engineering degree and reserve the right to be completely wrong. It is possible to build the systems in many different …


Letter Re: EoTech

Fitzy in PA is worried about his EoTechs. There really isn’t anything to be worried about unless he finds himself in extremely cold weather. The zero shift that is the subject of the military’s concern only happens in extremely cold environments. It has recently come to light that Trijicon’s MRO also suffers from Thermal drift. Since Thermal drift is across almost all optics, anything you put on your rifle has the potential to have the same problem as the EoTech. My EoTechs have served me well in any weather I have had them in in SW PA. Keep your EoTechs …


Economics and Investing:

Largest U.S. Coal Producer Skips Interest Payment, Warns Of Bankruptcy; Stock Crashes – B.B. o o o Companies to reduce employment in 2016? – P.S. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News The Liquidity Endgame Begins: Whitings Revolver Cut by $1.2B as Banks Start Slashing Credit Lines (Zero Hedge) Excerpt: “But while lender banks are all too eager to take advantage of the brief surge in equity prices just so they can “help” their clients dilute their shareholder base so to repay the very same lender banks, they know quite well that the equity offering window is rapidly …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Wondering how to generate a little extra cash to top off your preps? Do you really need those old VHS tapes? 5 eBay hot sellers that are collecting dust in your home right now – B.L. o o o Computers are great until they have a “glitch”. Seems that’s what it’s always called when there’s an issue, not that they are broken! Mechanical really is better in the long run, but it seems the whole infrastructure system of everything relies on computers now. Mystery glitch’s return knocks out BART cars, snarls commute – D.S. o o o Your Data Footprint …