SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

Tim J. suggested this great video essay from Reid Henrichs (pictured): There is a Reason This Government Wants Us Disarmed, And It’s Not for Safety.

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Some troubling news: Latest Twitter Files Bombshell: The Deep State Is Really a Tangled Collaboration of State Agencies, Private Contractors, and NGOs. JWR’s Comment: Any government agency dictating the censorship of an individual or group is a gross violation of the First Amendment!

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A thought-provoking conversation on prepping: So you want to KICK IT OFF you say?

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Reader JMD mentioned:

“If you include any drone weighing over 250g (.55lbs) as part of your kit (as discussed in numerous articles on SurvivalBlog), the US government now requires that your drone now broadcast an ID, location, altitude, control station location and elevation, and other information. Note that this is in addition to all of the information the drone manufacturers probably already collect. This is a good argument for sticking with lighter drones or, if you’re technically inclined, learn how to build your own drones.”

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C.C. found this at AgWeb: If You ‘Doctor’ Livestock, a New Rule will Determine How or If You can Buy Antibiotics. JWR’s Comment:  Stock up!

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SaraSue sent this snippet:

“The last month has been a whirlwind of adversity, which has only strengthened my Faith in the Almighty.  My youngest daughter had an emergency C-section due to pre-eclampsia.  Both mother and beautiful (over 9 lbs!) baby are doing well.  Praise God.  I am taking care of the 3 Littles until their mother and father are able.  My “good well” seemingly failed in the middle of all this, and I’m having to have water hauled in until I can get a new well drilled, or the Lord heals the well, whichever comes first.  The new siding on the house was finally completed and it’s beautiful.  The milk cow is still not bred after 3 attempts at A.I.  I made the executive decision to bring another cow/calf pair to the farm, which will help with the diminishing milk production and heat detection for the first milk cow, and provide beef from the new bull calf who will be “steered” and grown out for a year.  The seller has graciously offered to hold the pair for me.  The first calf, a heifer and future milk cow, is 7 months old, doing very well, and is promised to a family member.  But, first, the water situation must be resolved.  One great thing about this much difficulty all at once, is that I’m totally tuned out of the world news which is seemingly dire, and tuned in to the Lord’s will for my farm and family.  I covet your prayers as we wade through each day in victory, not despair.  I’ve shed a few quiet tears.

Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.””

How to check if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi and what to do about it.

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Reader Rick C. wrote us:

“It is early on a Monday morning and I’m getting my thoughts together for the week. First, many thanks to you and your group at SurvivalBlog for your excellent work. The information available on your site is practical, useful, and inspirational. There is one item I would especially like to mention, and that is your frequent exhortation to get out of debt.

As of the end of December I will have been retired for one year. Were we still in debt for anything retirement would be much more difficult. I would like to offer some observations:

Retirement dreams are great, the cold hard truth may be different. We were able to accumulate adequate funds for a modest retirement at age 64 through 401k, Roth IRA and personal savings. This took effort, and I would encourage those who are younger to take this seriously. As we approached retirement we made arrangements to receive Social Security benefits, We were fortunate that ours was more than we expected. Don’t forget the tax implications, chances are you should have some of your benefit withheld for income tax.

The Roth IRA is good stuff! I wish I had a better understanding at an earlier age. Once you get money in the Roth the government can never touch it again! See your banker and get one started, put as much money in it as you can. You won’t be sorry. If your employer offers a 401k contribute as much as you can but note, the day is coming when you will have to deal with the tax consequences. We are very fortunate as our bank has a fiduciary financial advisor, and he’s free. If such is available to you take advantage, you’ll sleep better. Personal savings is important, put as much in as you can and avoid the “put and take” trap.

We were able to pay off our mortgage in twenty years instead of thirty. I can’t tell you what a relief this was, I can tell you discipline was required. A mortgage is probably the greatest expense you’ll have, work toward keeping that money rather than giving it to the bank. As we approached retirement we had about twenty thousand dollars in debt for the two vehicles. I went ahead and dinged my 401k and paid it off. Should have thrown a party!

After 34 years in the same job for the same company working for good men I finally got a boss I positively could not stand, and that’s all we’re gonna say about that. Retiring a year early meant providing health insurance for my wife and I for a year. Fortunately we are about the same age. This cost about twenty grand and worth every penny. Whether you retire early or not health care is going to be something that you don’t want to trust to luck. As we approached Medicare my long-suffering wife began wading through the Medicare maze. Having been through this process I would encourage anyone approaching 65 years to seek out an advisor, even if you have to pay them. Your sanity will benefit.
Before retiring we made a much-needed addition to our home which included a large walk-in pantry which leads me to my last point: PREPARE! Much has been written and good advice is available on SurvivalBlog. The day is likely coming when having prepared as well as we can will mean the difference between living more or less comfortably vs existing (if you’re lucky). Food, guns, cash, silver, gold, ammunition, and reloading components and other tangibles are a core theme of SurvivalBlog. Heed the advice found therein.
I would like to add have something to do in retirement, it is important.
Thank you again, we give thanks to the Almighty daily for all our blessings.
Pray without ceasing.”

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D.S.V. spotted this: Knife Control? Fatal Stabbings in NYC Up 37% This Year. JWR’s Comment:  This statistic underscores the futility of all civilian disarmament schemes.  If crooks can’t easily obtain guns, then they will use knives, blunt objects, and even flame weapons.

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A fascinating map:  Average Land values, by Zip Code, in the U.S.. JWR’s Comments: One reason why private land in the American Redoubt is so highly valued is because there is so little of it.  Most of the region is public land — shown on the map in light blue, and tribal land — shown in tan.

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Reader Rick B. suggested this Deseret News article: Why you should blur your house on Google Maps.

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Sarge wrote:

“This is a follow-up to reviews submitted by Thomas Christianson on a “Genuine Jeep Cap” and “U.S. Army” wool socks.

Bottom Line: Just because someone claims their product is “Genuine Government Issue” does not mean it is true.  Just because someone claims their product is a “U.S. Army” item, does not mean it is true.  In both cases, the items were military fakes.

I spent 25 years on active duty in the Air Force and never saw a “jeep cap”, either as an issue item or optional wear item.  I suspect it was an Army clothing item that was eventually phased-out after the Korean War.  However, in the early 1980’s I was issued the same five-button olive drab wool sweater that was issued to troops back in WWII.  That classic design had not changed over the years.  But at some point it too was phased-out and is no longer issued.

Since I still work on a military installation, I called the base supply section and asked them to run the National Stock Number (NSN) listed on the “Jeep cap”.  The NSN of 8405-01-006-1074 came back as an active stock number, with an item description of “Cap, Knit, Watch”.  But there was no further information, and defiantly no mention of a visor.  It appears to be just a standard military watch cap that is probably a blend of synthetic yarn.

Please also note that the National Stock Number [NSN] is a U.S. Department of Defense stock number.

JWR Adds:  The NSN is called a National Stock Number in the United States. Elsewhere, it is commonly called a NATO Stock Number. Each country has its own origin country codes in position 5 and 6 of an NSN. If you see anything marked  “00” through ’09”, then the item was made in USA.  “12” refers to Germany, and “99” refers to the United Kingdom.

A visit to the official military clothing store on the military installation where I work turned up no 100% wool watch caps.  The watch caps being sold as authorized for wear with the Air Force uniform are an acrylic mix.  Apparently having the correct color is more important than the natural warmth of wool.

The actual military issue items I found for sale do NOT have the “Department of Defense” logo.  All of the “issue” items now carry the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) logo, along with the statement “DLATS Government Issue”.  The abbreviation “DLATS” translates to “Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support”.

In my military travels I have always found the military clothing stores on Army installations to be better stocked with a greater variety of “issue” items available for purchase.  Someone with access to a military clothing store on an Army base might find a better selection of authorized watch caps.

So the “DoD” tag attached to the “Jeep” cap is fake.  The first warning sign is the use of the slang term, “Jeep”, which is not an official military term.  The real vehicle was designated as something such as “Truck, Utility, ¼-ton”.  The term “Jeep” was military slang that eventually became a registered trademark.  I’m guessing that including the statement “Made to Department of Defense Specification” is how they justify displaying the DoD logo.  The fact that “Jeep” is a registered trademark means the nomenclature listed on the back of the tag, “Military Specification Cap, Knit, Jeep” is also fake.  The Department of Defense would not be able to use the “Jeep” trademarked name.  It would probably be something like, “Cap, Knit, with Visor”.

The second warning sign is the use of the word “Genuine”.  None of the military-issued clothing or equipment I ever received while on active duty was ever labeled as “Genuine”.  It was simply marked as “Government Issue” as is the case with the current items provided by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

The tag inside the hat does contain the DLA abbreviation and the National Stock Number below it.  But military issue items also list the actual manufacturer’s name.  If not, then they list a “CAGE Code” number that a supply specialist can cross-reference in the Federal Logistics (FedLog) database to the company’s name.  They would not list a number related to the FTC Registration Number for items covered by the Textile, Wool, and Fur Acts.  The use of the RN number indicates this item is a commercial product, not military issue.

So in the case of the “Jeep Cap” you have a functional product that at best can claim to be “an authentic copy” of the original military design.  It is not actual military issue, but a modern copy of the classic “Jeep” cap that is no longer issued by the military.  But at least it appears to be well made and keeps your head warm.  The unauthorized use of the Department of Defense logo and the “Jeep” trademarked name is a separate issue.

By the way, I purchased the same “Jeep” cap several years ago from an “Army/Navy” store.  I smirked when I saw the “Genuine Government Issue” tag. But the cap seemed well made and functional, so I bought it anyway.  I also noticed the green color is not the current shade used by the U.S. military. Today the predominant colors for T-shirts and other garments are brown and tan.  Even the 5-button sweater I was issued back in 1982 was olive-drab to almost brown in color.

But the Silver Fox “U.S. Army” socks are clearly not only fakes but of poor quality as well.  The use of the “Silver Fox” label on the socks indicates that these are a commercial product.  That should have been your first warning sign that they were fakes.  If they had been actual “Government Issue” they would have the DLATS “Government Issue” label. The manufacturer would possibly be listed on the DLATS label or attached tag in small print.

I’m certain the company will claim the phrase “U.S. Army Men” is generic in nature and not intended to be taken literally.  They also never claim the socks were made to any military specifications, or even in the United States.  They are probably a cheap Chinese import product that initially looks good, but soon reveal their true quality.  The correct statement would be “Evidently, some company found itself with a large overstock of poor quality socks and a desperate need of cash.”

Please do not refer to them as “U.S. Army” socks, since they are obviously not military issue and have no connection to the U.S. military.”

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Oregon judge halts voter-approved high-capacity magazine ban.

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Reader B.G. sent this sign of the times: French Industrial Plant Wrecked by 200-Strong Eco-Mob Cutting Cables and Starting Fires.

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H.L. noted:

“I listened to Fox News and learned the following. The CDC used to keep statistics on how many cases in a year of citizens using their firearms to defend themselves or others.  The CDC has CAVED to the anti-gun people and will no longer keep such stats.  The CDC also has also removed the link to past statistics.  Again, the Left is trying to take away our 2nd Amendment Rights.  I do not know if there is any other organization that is keeping these stats. I do know that the NRA magazine always has their The Armed Citizen page with news clippings about instances where good citizens use firearms to save themselves or others.”

JWR Replies: The Heritage Foundation maintains this web page: Defensive Gun Uses in the U.S.

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P.K.H.  sent this:

“My wife and I were late getting to a very remote BnB cabin as part of a recent business trip. We didn’t have time to stop for supplies, and once at our destination, going back out for food wasn’t an option. I drive constantly and keep a backpack of emergency provisions in my trunk. These things have been in the trunk for a couple of years, and so I wouldn’t trust the MREs or the Vienna sausages due to heat and cold cycling. The Mountain House freeze dried meals, however, were perfect! Note to self: More freeze-dried provisions that won’t deteriorate as quickly…  OBTW… My wife was impressed, and after 40+ years, that’s getting harder to do.”

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And finally, courtesy of reader F.J., there is this tale of miraculous survival: No fuel, no mast, no water: Rescued sailors describe ordeal.

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