The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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 “JWR”. Today we have a special piece on Google and YouTube Spying.

How Much Do Google and YouTube Spy on You?

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson wrote to describe a first-hand experience with Google and YouTube spying:

“My daughter was watching YouTube videos. Her YouTube browsing history also shows on my computer, when I go to YouTube. As you know, YouTube is now owned by Google. Yesterday, I referenced that people here at my home have the flu. Just a few minutes later her YouTube feed started showing cartoons about people being sick and needing bed rest. Bottom line: If you don’t want Facebook, Google, the NSA, Wikileaks, the Russians, the Martians, the DNC, the GOP, the drug cartels, 4chan, your parents, your kids, and the local police to know something, then Do NOT Put it on Facebook, or into a Google search.”

Question Re: The Significance of 6.5 and 6.8 Cartridges

Reader Mark O. wrote to ask: “What is your opinion of the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.8 SPC for defensive purposes?”

JWR’s Reply: I’m in “wait and see” mode. A lot depends on the U.S. Army’s commitment to actually procure and field the as-yet-undefined 6.8 rifle. Odds are that it will be a conversion upper for the M16, rather than an entirely new platform. I’m waiting to see: A.) If that ever happens, B.) Exactly what cartridge is chosen, and whether or not it will use reloadable brass. D.) What rifling twist they choose, and E.) What actuating system they choose. I’m assuming that it will be an M16 variant with a piston upper. But they may decide to “go cheap” for the sake of Big Army logistics and lighter weight to go with a traditional Stoner direct impingement gas tube system.

The last I heard (in December, 2018), there was still talk of using a polymer case and/or a cased-telescoped cartridge. This open question will surely lead to endless debate over at AR-15.com.

Bottom Line: There is a good chance that the Pentagon will pour million of dollars into development for the 6.8 Whatzitz for the next few years. Then, when budgets get tight, simply drop it and revert to 5.56mm NATO. Time will tell.

In the meantime, I’m staying the course with 5.56mm NATO. And of course my primary rifles are in 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester. It is important to note that although I own several of them, I consider M4gery carbines in 5.56mm NATO as guns primarily for young teens and for anyone frail for any reason.

Requests to Bring in Child Brides Okayed

By way of FreeZoxee Friends, I found this article: Requests to bring in child brides Okayed; legal under US laws.

Here is a quote: “Thousands of requests by men to bring in child and adolescent brides to live in the United States were approved over the past decade, according to government data obtained by The Associated Press. In one case, a 49-year-old man applied for admission for a 15-year-old girl.”

JWR’s Comment: Just how much do the leftists expect us to accept, in the names of “tolerance” and “diversity”?

The “Right to Repair” Movement Is Fighting Planned Obsolescence

This Do-It-Yourself movement has been mentioned once before, in SurvivalBlog: The “Right to Repair” Movement Is Fighting Planned Obsolescence

Natchez Offering Free Shipping on Ammo and Magazines

I just heard that Natchez Shooters Supplies (one of our affiliate advertisers) is offering free shipping on ammo and/or magazine orders that are over $200. This special promotion ends at midnight on January 25, 2019. Don’t miss out!  Be sure to use this promo/coupon code:  FS190123

Child Brides Approved for Immigrants

Simply incredible! Requests to bring in child brides okayed; legal under US laws. Here is how the article begins: “Thousands of requests by men to bring in child and adolescent brides to live in the United States were approved over the past decade, according to government data obtained by The Associated Press. In one case, a 49-year-old man applied for admission…”

Washington Insurance Commissioner Calls Gun Owners Criminals

Reader R.J. sent this: Have NRA Carry Guard in WA State? The Insurance Commissioner Assumes You Are a Criminal.

Please send your news tips to JWR. (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!




22 Comments

  1. “How Much Do Google and YouTube Spy on You?”. I watched this documentary The Creepy Line about Google and Facebook on Amazon. The Creepy Line shows what they are doing. I watched for free on Amazon Prime.

    1. I did a Google search on my pc at work, and by the time I got home I was seeing related ads on my home computer. The system at work had DOD level security.

      I use DuckDuckGo now for searches but anything that touches Google, like gmail, and it’s just a lost cause.

  2. “Just how much do the leftists expect us to accept, in the names of “tolerance” and “diversity”?”

    Absolutely anything and everything their perverted minds can imagine, and they’re working hard at it 24/7/366/666. “Everything Not Forbidden is Compulsory ” T.H. White.

  3. It would seem that the child bride issue could use attention from the feminist groups out there. Are they just all talk? It is very obvious that our immigration issue system is in need of a major overhaul and all immigration should be stopped until the do nothing congress addresses it. Allowing bureaucracies to address this is a very bad idea as there is little or no accountability for them.

    1. The feminists, like the black lives matter folks, the code pink folks, and every other left-wing group, will always subvert their stated cause to communist/socialist positions when it comes down to a choice. They are all merely fronts and cover for hard-line communists/socialists and nothing else. Hence the feminists desert their cause whenever a leftist like Bill Clinton is accused of abusing women, code pink forgets their anti-war stance when the war-monger is a communist like Obama, and black lives matter doesn’t give a damn when blacks are being killed by other blacks as in Chicago and other black hellholes.
      All leftwing groups are first and always loyal to their political goals and loyal secondarily or not at all to their stated goals when obvious hypocrisy or a moral dilemma occurs.

  4. JWR, “…I consider M4gery carbines in 5.56mm NATO as guns primarily for young teens and for anyone frail for any reason.”
    I conceed to having been young and carried one while always affectionately appreciating the the 7.62×51 as a primary along with a 45.
    However, having surcome to the “any reason” above ~ I identify the reason in lighter is more is better philosophy. Packing ammo, weapons, gear and running (let alone walking) is truly better left “…for the young teens and for anyone frail for any reason.” I am an older, wiser & happier person all around with less weight to carry.

  5. Years ago I decided to abandon all my non-mil standard cartridge rifles and invested in 5.56 and 7.62 shooters. Then I moved to Alaska and realized that 308 was not sufficient for dealing with charging Brown bears. Also, I found out that neither round was sufficient for long range competition, and I did not enjoy shooting 200+ rounds of heavy 300 win mag in a day. So there are standards, and then there are purpose driven acquisitions that just make good sense. A few years ago I added a nice stainless carbine bolt gun in 375 ruger to my gunsafe that will drop an elephant, and I recently acquired a precision shooter in 6mm creedmoor and find it both highly accurate with the right ammo, and exceedingly comfortable to shoot all day long. Having at least one 1,000+ yard shooter in the arsenal seems reasonable, as well as one sledgehammer gun for putting big bears’ and 3/4 ton pickups’ noses in the dirt on the first round.

    1. Add the Brave browser with the TOR option and you’ve added a bunch more security. The one thing I’m not sure about is that Brave is built on the Chrome platform. It gives me a little pause, but I haven’t been getting all the ads I could or should be getting if I was being tracked. So far, Brave, TOR, and Duckduckgo seem to be doing the trick as far as security goes. The only thing I use Google for is Google maps.

  6. While I prefer my elk rifle in 30.06, I also have .223 rifles due to the abundance of ammo for that caliber. Should the Army buy quantities of another caliber, I will likely buy one as well. But I’ll wait until they make that large scale buy.

  7. From Alaska, land of the charging grizz and the lunatic moose: 45/70 in 500 grains (modern rifle of course) boat stopper. Also works on bad dudes and polyticks. Just sayin …

  8. 5.56 versus 7.62 versus 6.5?

    Shot placement.

    1960 == a brown charged our camp in Idaho back country. Surrounded and bumped by barking biting dogs and kicking mules, Grandpa Jack dropped it with one to the brainpan with a 30.06 bolt action. Worked the action, scanned for its spouse and kids.

    It was delicious.

  9. Regarding child brides: I was waiting in line at a state government office the other day and they had a sign in about 40 languages that simply said point to your language and a interpreter will be provided. My thought was that there should be a sign in immigration offices in 40 languages that says if you are being forced to do something you don’t want please point to this sign and a lawyer will be provided.

    1. Young women being forced into marriage in another country are being advised to place a metal spoon in their underwear. (Really). This sets off the airport metal detector and the girl is then taken away from the parents to be privately interviewed by law enforcement, giving them this last opportunity to ask officials for help. Airport officials are on the alert to help these girls. https://clarionproject.org/spoon-underwear-saving-girls-forced-marriage-4/

  10. Just ordered ammo and mags from Natchez. It took 4 tries to get the order through. I guess they were just busy when I tried 3 hours ago. Ordered 4 Ruger Mini 30 mags, factory mags that were $10.00 each cheaper than ordering directly from Ruger.

  11. My understanding of the 3 calibers:

    The 6.5 Grendel is marginally not as good as the 6.8 SPC for shorter (urban) distances. At 200+ yards – it’s superior to the 6.8 SPC.

    Either one in an M-16 – new bolt, new barrel – weapon is converted to that caliber.

    6.5 Creedmoor – as I understand it – would require a different weapon. IIRC there are some converted 7.62×51 (.308) AR platforms that have been recalibered for the 6.5 Creedmoor. New weapons, new magazines, new magazine pouches.

    Seems to me we could wind up with am deadly almost 1000 yard weapon at a reasonable cost simply by switching to the 6.5 Grendel.

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