Year: 2016

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)


Notes for Friday – May 27, 2016

On May 27, 1813, former President Thomas Jefferson wrote former President John Adams about the loss of their mutual friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush. Reflecting upon the loss, Jefferson wrote, “We too must go; and that ere long. I believe we are under half a dozen at present; I mean the signers of the Declaration.” Dr. Rush was instrumental in the reconciliation of Jefferson and Adams by initiating correspondence between the three of them. Both Jefferson and Adams continued to correspond until their deaths on July 4th, 1826– the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which all three had signed …


Building An Infrared Triplight (and Other Ideas), by ShepherdFarmerGeek

Here’s an idea for how to build a tripline-activated infrared light that will illuminate a path or area when triggered. The person passing through will not know they have triggered it, and an observer with a night vision device will be able to see the person better than with only ambient light and without activating their own infrared source/spotlight. Why set up triplights? The reasons would be to: (a) alert you to the approach of someone at night, (b) to help you identify the approaching person(s), and possibly even (c) to help you target the approaching person if you absolutely, …


Letter Re: Lost Knowledge

Hugh, My great grandmother was born in the late 1800’s and was raised in an orphanage in a rural area. This orphanage had an on-site school where, in addition to the 3R’s, all the girls were required to learn to “Cook, Clean, Sew, Crochet, and Knit”. All of the boys were required to learn to farm and master carpentry skills. At aged 16 ,when she graduated school and left the orphanage, she was equipped to run a household and earn a living as a seamstress. My great grandmother lived through the 1918-1919 flu pandemic and a typhoid outbreak. She died …


Economics and Investing:

Storing Precious Metals Safely Is Just As Important As Buying Them o o o Special Supplement: Counterfeit Coins? You Get What You Pay For – Sent in by RBS o o o Hard Times & False Narratives o o o Criminal Bankers Threaten Entire World Economy-Helen Chaitman. The author of a very interesting book about the connections between powerhouse banker JP Morgan. – RBS o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video: David Stockman Fox Interview: The Party’s Over—–Look For Cover, Not ‘Growth’ o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Large power outage strikes downtown Seattle – P.S. o o o M.B. in Alaska sent in this update on motorists who were warned to look out for a driver impersonating a peace officer. It turns out that it was actually an ATF agent. The officer’s vulgar display of unprofessionalism should further prompt calls to disband the agency that America simply does not need. o o o Actor Viggo Mortensen is working on a film where the story line is about a father of six who rejects the modern world to raise his kids completely off the grid. I’m looking forward …



Notes for Thursday – May 26, 2016

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. is now 67, so he may yet live to a ripe …


The Prepper’s American Dream: A Practical Guide To Strategic Relocation- Part 3, by Charles T.

Land: Does the area you are moving to offer an improvement from your current residential situation? How fertile is the ground, if you are planning on gardening? Are there regulations on livestock or farming activities, if you plan on farming? What is the cost of living, compared to your current location? Is the housing market higher or lower compared to your current location? Are property taxes higher or lower in your location? Is the kind of house/property you would like to purchase readily available? Do houses tend to stay on the market for a long time, or is the resell …