Year: 2016

The Art and Practice of OPSEC, by T.H.

What is it? We often hear the term OPSEC, also know as Operations Security (not Operational Security), but few people actually know what it really means. When asked they often say, “It means not talking about what you are doing.” Or, they may say, “It means staying gray.” This is an extremely simplistic view of the program and fails to incorporate the nuances and methodology of the process. The concept is nothing new. In the fifth century BCE, Sun Tzu wrote, “If I am able to determine the enemy’s dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then …


Letter: Use Even More Caution Putting Personal Information Out There

HJL, A study by the RAND Corporation, published in the Journal of Cybersecurity, looked at the frequency and cost of IT security failures in U.S. businesses and found that the cost of a break-in is much lower than thought, typically around $200,000 per case. With top-shelf security systems costing a lot more than that, not beefing up security looks in some ways like a smart business decision. “I’ve spent my life in security and everyone expects firms to invest more and more,” the report’s author Sasha Romanosky told The Reg. “But maybe firms are making rational investments and we shouldn’t …


Economics and Investing:

There are huge implications to society if this forecast is even partially correct. Men Without Work. – P.S. o o o As Heavy-Truck Sales Go, So Goes the Economy – G.G. o o o 44 Percent Hike in Taxes Covers Obama-Era Debt – B.B. o o o 8M Americans Paid $1.7 Billion For Not Having Obamacare – B.B. o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

At Senate hearing, US State Department refuses to say how many Syrians in next year’s flow – B.B. o o o Refugees from all 50 states in DC today lobbying for more $$$ and more refugees – B.B. o o o Secret Report: Terrorists Running Wild Within U.S. Borders – V.E. o o o Solar storm heading towards Earth threatening to break your Sky TV and mobile phones – G.G. o o o Used Coffee Grounds Can Clean Contaminated Water – S.B. – D.S.



Notes for Wednesday – September 28, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 66 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. …


Prepping Mindset: The New Normal, by D.V.

I am a one year oral cancer survivor. I survived a 13 hour operation that included removing my lower right jaw and replacing it with the tip of my shoulder blade. My operation is called a lateral neck dissection, and it sounds nicer than it felt! The lining of my cheek received a living tissue transplant from the same shoulder area. I had a tracheotomy and couldn’t speak. During the “cut, burn, and poison” treatment, I was connected to a feeding tube for four months. Months of treatment and physical therapy have helped me survive, but I am still discovering …


Two Letters Re: Differences Between Combustible Gases

HJL, I read the article on combustible gases. You have to be very careful with the cheap conversion kits to propane for generators; almost every one of the cheap ones do not have a device to cut off the propane if the engine stops. Like loss of spark or low oil, it will keep pouring propane into the Gen set. I have been a mechanic since 1967, and these cheap kits are very dangerous. I have seen several cause explosions. – B.L. o o o Sir, I just finished reading the post about different kinds of gas and saw some …


Economics and Investing:

Economic Growth Requires More Than Low Interest Rates o o o Bill Fleckenstein On The Recent Weakness In The Gold, Silver & Mining Share Markets o o o WTO Slashes Global Trade Forecast by 39% Since April: “Wake-Up Call” Says WTO Director o o o Billionaire Capital Turns Into Ghost Town: “Home Contracts Down 80%”, Trophy-Cars Pile Up In Showrooms o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.



Odds ‘n Sods:

Man awarded payout for leaving school illiterate becomes self-confessed crook – A.S. o o o Is it possible to make private all of your computers, smartphones, data and communications and still remain digitally connected? Down the rabbit hole, part 1: Making my life private and secure. – D.B. o o o Missing Afghans Raise Terrorism Fears – B.B. o o o Sheriff David Clarke: ‘Being Scared Is Not Enough,’ Get a Gun to ‘Fight Back’ – P.S. o o o Washington Goes After Pre-Crime: Gun Confiscation Proposed For Those “Likely To Commit Violence In The Near Future”



Notes for Tuesday – September 27, 2016

This is the birthday of Samuel Adams (not counting the change in dates due to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar). He was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 66 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 …


Alaska As A Survival Location, by S.J.

I would like to add some more thoughts to the discussion of Alaska as a potential area for survival relocation. There are many drawbacks to Alaska that should be addressed, but ultimately I do believe Alaska can be an excellent and advantageous survival area for some people. I was born in Alaska and left when I was 17 for military service. I spent nine years in the lower 48, living in New England, Washington State, and North Dakota, with plenty of travels to all the in-between parts of the U.S. and a few trips to foreign countries. I’ve since returned …


Letter Re: Differences Between Combustible Gases

Dear Hugh, In response to D.H.’s questions on gas, I offer my thoughts. Generally, I would tell anyone to use the gas specifically recommended for the equipment they intend to use. Trying to keep it simple about the different gases, an explanation of the differences follows. The first difference between the gases is chemical makeup. Propane has three carbons atoms (and hydrogen atoms) in the molecule. Butane has four carbons, and so does its isomer iso-butane. Butane is arranged in a four carbon chain, while Iso-butane has a center carbon, with the other three carbons coming off like spokes, and …