SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Turkey disturbingly calls for an “Army of Islam” to attack Israel this week.
The Six “No’s” You Need to Know
Dale Carson Law, in Florida, has posted a YouTube video outlining six common things that you can say “no” to when dealing with police. What is good about this is that the lawyer outlines that while you can say “no”, you may not want to. For instance, if you are a passenger in a vehicle, you do not have to show ID to a police officer. However, if the officer declares the scene unsafe because he doesn’t know that you may belong there, he might arrest you. While the arrest would probably be removed, your fingerprints will now be in the law enforcement database forever. The record of that arrest will never be totally removed and it may affect your ability to gain or retain employment. If you have an attitude with the cop over a refusal to show ID, the likelihood of the conflict moving in that direction is much greater.
Army of Islam
Reader G.P. sent in this link responding to Turkey’s call (through their semi-official newspaper) for a 57 nation “Army of Islam” where all of the nations ruled by Islam would form a coalition to besiege and attack Israel. This move of combining military might would create the largest military force on the planet. Given Islam’s hatred of Israel and America, that is certainly a terrifying thought. Probably the only saving grace is that Islam seems just as adept at killing each other as they do at killing non-Islamist. The article does show that Turkey, while still a member of NATO, really doesn’t share any attributes with their western neighbors.
Yet More Online Safety
Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large, sent in this article on using Facebook to sign into other websites with the comment:
Facebook Login lets websites and apps offer the option to sign in using your Facebook account, and it lets them request and obtain data from those who do. Kogan had created a personality-test app that was download by around 270,000 people, according to Facebook. This, Facebook says, gave Kogan access to such user info as “the city they set on their profile, or content they had liked, as well as more limited information about friends who had their privacy settings set to allow it.”
This is why I never use my real personal data online if I can avoid it. I make up the info as I go, so there isn’t even consistency.
Gun Confiscation
According to this link sent in by reader DSV, Broward county issued the state’s first order temporarily removing guns from a person under Florida’s new gun control laws. A 56 year old man had four firearms and 267 rounds of ammunition confiscated when he was identified as a possible risk to himself or others. I haven’t hear whether the man was able to have representation in the court that decided to disarm him, but I doubt that he did. That would mean that this law violates due process and falls in line with the “take first, process later” philosophy that gun control leftists have grabbed onto lately. Also of note is that 267 rounds of ammunition is pretty much nothing. You can get a box of 550 rounds of .22LR at Walmart for about $20.
Police Mining Google for Proximity Information
Raleigh police have presented warrants to Google asking them to provide user data for everyone near crime scenes. These are broad based warrants that are not asking for data on specific suspects, but on anyone in the area. This means if you are in proximity to a crime, don’t see it, are potentially oblivious to it, and completely innocent, you are now a “person of interest”. Note that the size of the areas in the requested warrants are not small. One in particular was asking for data on people within a 17 acre area (about the size of a large city block). It may be time to dump that smartphone completely. For its part, Google has not revealed whether it has complied with the police requests. Given their history, I suspect they have or will. Thanks to Jeff from Colorado for that link.
Spreading Infectious Diseases Through Air Travel
Reader G.P. Sent in this link on the report of a study that looked at how infectious diseases can spread world wide. To no ones surprise, the one most likely to get whatever contagion is being spread are those sitting in the next row to the sick person in an airliner. The study determined that SARS and influenza gave the person sitting within one row and within two seats laterally of the infected passenger had an 80 percent or greater probability of becoming infected. For all other passengers, the probability was less than three percent. While we know that air travel is one method of disease dispersal, the study revealed that it may not be as efficient as previously thought. The study also took swabs of seat belts, trays and other surfaces and did not find active viruses. Thanks to G.P. for the link.
Portable Generator
Reader J.T. wrote in that he was looking for a small portable generator. While the 2kW Honda is the gold standard (with the Yamaha coming in a close second) he wanted to know if any SurvivalBlog readers had experience with the lesser priced models like this Pulsar unit. If you own one of these small units (or a similar model) let him know in the comments what you think of them.
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Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
Regarding the 2kw portable generator: I know nothing about this Pulsar unit but before I bought my generator I was reading reviews from people who had purchased a cheaper, other than the Honda EU2000i. One guy ended his review with, “Look, just save your money and buy a Honda.”
I did and have never regretted it.
I agree with the comment save your money and buy a Honda. My first Honda 2k ran for over 25000 yes thats thousand hours before the timing belt broke. I tore it apart and replaced the belt and a valve for less than $200.00 in parts and it is still running. I also bought a second one when the first broke because I didn’t have time to repair it quickly. So now I have two machines that give reliable service.
My experience with small generators is a bit of a rabbit trail but could be of use here.
Our home is 100% off grid. I have two Hondas. They HATE ethanol laden gas. Low batteries and no sun means reliance on a generator. (can’t watch a movie w/o it either!)
Our fuel use is pretty low and we’ve had no problems this winter since switching to non-ethanol fuel. Sure, it’s almost 4 bucks per gallon but my litany of shop and parts charges is a long one.
Our other small motors and larger generator do not seem affected by the ethanol but I no longer use ethanol gas in small motors of any make.
I find non-ethanol gas at a local bulk fuel distributor and marinas in season.
Hope this helps.
Only Jesus is Lord!
I have the Yamaha 2000W and it has been outstanding. Both mine and the Hondas were built in Japan. I do understand both are now built in China which is disappointing. I am concerned the quality will be adversely effected but time will tell.
Honda’s new model is the EU2200i with 10% more power. Honda offers a 3-year warranty. Pulsar offers a 1-year warranty. Humm….
Same advice here. “Look, just save your money and buy a Honda.”
Re Police mining Google
Government just has to stage a false flag crime at any event and B-I-N-G-O!, they have the identify of everyone present. Like at patriot rallies, Oath Keepers meetings, lawful militia meetings, any gathering of one the 954 ‘Hate Groups” on the SPLC hit list.
https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map
And now everyone knows why I don’t use social media
Landmsupply.com is where we got ours.
I’ve heard of people (and I don’t just mean one or two) buy generators made with Honda engines and all other parts made buy someone else. The story is always the same, the add read “Honda Engine for reliability” and in every case with in under 100 hours of use the Honda engines are the only thing left working. I’m with every one here “Look, just save your money and buy a [100%] Honda.”
Police Mining Google for Proximity Information
Two things to avoid police scrutiny, for any reason, innocent or not.
1 – When walking about, remove the battery from your cell phone. Turning the phone off is not enough. There are apps that can be activated by remote control. Sorry, iPhone users, you’re SOL.
2 – Wear a hat, preferably broad brimmed, in any and all weather. Security cameras, don’cha’know.
2a – If you’re clever enough, make a hat band using IR LEDs, they’ll “flare” any security cameras gazing in your direction.
Ok so my first post didn’t work I guess. We’re in north Central Id, 4 yrs 5 winters now. Started with Harbor freight 63cc 2 cycle 900 surge watts. We run our generator 4 or 5 hours in the am and 5 or 6 in the evening’s during winter. Wore out 4 of them. We tried the pulsar 2000 with mixed results, ran well the first couple of months then started rpm surges, and running rough. We tried 3 total before we went back once to the 2cycle. Pulsar customer service was excellent however. Last summer we bought a champion 1500/1200 80cc unit. It has almost the same fuel economy as the 2 cycle and no 2 cycle oil to buy. Estimated hours is now about 5500 with zero problems! And I am admittedly not following the maintenance recommendations. I do use non ethonal fuel only and napa 10/30 full synthetic oil, made by valvoline /Ashland oil. I know that the Honda is a good unit, but if you can only afford 1, then I would buy 2 champions. After all from personal experience, one is indeed none, and 2 is one! Insulated the small generator shack this year too with single digit temperatures felt the Rings weren’t selling up solid. Two low of an operating temp. Anyway, I highly recommend the champion, and check out Landmsupply.com when you compare pricing.
We started off with a Champion. It did the job but the noise level was unacceptable. Went out the very next year and bought a Honda. Expensive, but worth it for sanity’s sake.
Bought a Honda 1000 years ago for RV use, charging batteries. It,s a great unit but very limited on what you can run. Spend the $200.00 more and get the 2000. It may use more fuel but at least you can run a circular saw and more.
Thanks for all the great feedback on the small generator. I’ve got my 10Kw Honda and it’s been with us for nearly 20 years and with likely less than 1,000 hours (used it only when building our last two homes and only occasionally for power outages or to loan it out to friends). Expect that it will last another 20 years as I always fog the engine if I don’t plan on running it in the near term. The only issue has been with fouling from ethanol gas (have two backup carbs on hand for this reason) – have learned that you have to run it until it dies after turning off the fuel value, otherwise the carb gets a lot of varnish and fouled easily, and nearly impossible to get it cleaned sufficiently to run smoothly even after ultrasonic cleaning and carb cleaner.
As for the smaller Pulser generator/inverter, will use it for Ham field days – from another Ham’s experience, the output is very clean (based on his oscilloscope measurement), ran as quiet/efficiently as the Honda but envious of the Hand units for their longevity.
I plan to use a line conditioner when running my laptop and mobile wifi station while powering the HF/VHF/UHF radios with the 12 volt outlet that supposedly provides 15 amps – good for one but unlikely more than one radio.
Will report back how this unit performs – may be the worst or best $400 spent on this bargain unit. Will run it through the paces with my induction cooktop unit, small microwave, and small refrigerator.
I have both of the super quiet predator harbor freight inverter generator models (2000 and 3500)
The little 2000 is amazing and I’m guessing it has at least 300 to 500 hours on it so far.
My mountain cabin has only generator power.
I’ve used both ethanol and non ethanol fuel in it but usually let it run out of fuel a few times a month. The 2000 is pretty quiet but the newer 3500 watt predator is even more quiet somehow.
It only has about 30 hours on it so far but I think it will give my 2000 watt a much needed brake.
I usually run straight synthetic Lucas oil in them.
My friends have Hondas and when my 2000 dies I’ll probably replace it with the Honda 2000.
Also, I have a 4000 champion that is still going strong as well after 5 years and probably more than 1000 hours. My brother still uses it quite often for his off grid place.
Great articles
Best preparedness site imho
Patriots was so important for my life change that got me to where I’m at today.
Thanks to all the great site contributors
Those 1500 – 4000 watt generators you see at the big box stores will last, on average, 1,200 hours of use before either the engine or generator coils die. Oil level was regularly checked and changed, along with good fresh fuel being used.
Over the past ten years my company has purchased several of these kind of generators and all failed after being used on average of 3 hours per day.