Notes for Monday – March 21, 2016

Just three days after Hessian mercenary forces assaulted the local New Jersey militia at Quinton’s Bridge in 1778, the same contingent surprised the colonial militia at Hancock’s Bridge five miles from Salem. In what became known as the Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge, at least 20 members of the militia lost their lives, some after attempting to surrender. The Loyalists reputedly exclaimed, “Spare no one! Give no quarter!” as they stormed the occupied house. Judge Hancock and his brother (both Loyalists) were bayoneted in the melee by the attackers, even though they were both staunch supporters of the crown and were …


The Long and Short of Bolt Action Rifle Magazines

I often hear from consulting clients and other SurvivalBlog readers with bolt action rifles who are looking for a magazine with more than the standard 3 or 4 round capacity. (“Just in case”, they say.) Thankfully, there are now several aftermarket extended detachable magazine systems available. Here are some examples: Remington M700 Most Model 700 Remington rifle owners are probably already familiar with the Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) detachable magazine bottom metal and magazines, available from Brownells and several other vendors. (Note: The steel magazines are fairly expensive, but the great news is that MagPul now makes both long …


Letter Re: The Fallacy of Hunting as a Survival Technique

HJL, In the article he omits two important points: Are you willing to leave your safety, family, and supplies to wander out into an “anything goes” environment? You can bet there will be no one wearing fluorescent orange. You are not the only one “hunting”. You are also “game”. When you are dragging home your equipment, weapon, and your kill as well as possibly a few bits of yourself, who is going to stay home and guard your door? When it goes up, all bets are off. All the “rules” are no more. Better to store than go out in …


Recipe of the Week: Pumpkin Nut Bread

Ingredients: 1½ cups flour 1¼ tsp soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg 1 cup canned pumpkin 1 cup sugar ½ cup buttermilk 1 egg 2 tbs soft butter 1 cup chopped pecans Directions: Sift flour, soda, salt, and spices. Combine pumpkin, sugar, buttermilk, and egg in a mixing bowl. Add dry ingredients and butter; beat until well blended. Stir in nuts. Spread in a well-greased and floured 4 to 5 cup mold or a 1-lb coffee can; cover with foil. Place your rack in your slow-cooking pot. Pour 2 cups of hot water in …


Economics and Investing:

Social Security Administration Beneficiaries Top 60,000,000 – B.B. o o o Subprime Auto Delinquencies Soar Past Crisis Levels, Now Highest In 20 Years – G.G. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News We Need the Pain that Comes with More Saving (Mises) Jacques: When Will the Sky Fall for Detroit Public Schools? (Detroit News) Excerpt: “The district’s latest emergency manager, former bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, is trying to strike fear into lawmakers this week about the impending cash flow woes, in the hopes that the April 8 deadline will force the Legislature to pass bills to send an …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Clinton says Supreme Court ‘wrong on the Second Amendment’ – She also criticized the NRA during this fundraiser: “I’m going to speak out, I’m going to do everything I can to rally people against this pernicious, corrupting influence of the NRA,” she said. “And we’re going to do whatever we can.” – T.P. o o o For those who don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade their old computer hardware, or perhaps are looking for an inexpensive alternative for a 2nd computer: Endless Mini – $79 computer. It’s not blazingly fast, but it does the job. – P.S. …


Notes for Sunday – March 20, 2016

March 20th is the birthday of Mel Tappan (born 1933, died 1980). His perennially popular survivalist books Survival Gunsand Tappan on Survivalhave a well-deserved following. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 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 …


Sarah Latimer: Inspiring Family Unity and Heroic Identity- Part 2

Some suggestions for activities with these Bible stories, include: For young children, tell them the story of Noah’s ark. Make a paper ark by using a brown paper grocery bag, animal crackers, crayons/markers, construction paper, and hot glue. Take a brown paper grocery bag and cut across from side to side, leaving the bottom and about four inches for the bottom and side. Now, take the top, cut away portion of the bag and cut five 2”x5” strips; fold these strips in half so that they are now 2”x2½”. Have your child draw full-figured Noah and his wife and three …


Letter Re: The Fallacy of Hunting as a Survival Technique

Sir, I have been concerned about the mindset of hunting in national crisis for some time. The general assumption that one can hunt to feed one’s family long term is likely to prove empty. I had the privilege of living with my grandmother just after I was released from submarine duty. We spent many evenings talking about the old days and the days to come. She bore 12 children and was in her 30’s during the depression. My grandfather was a wood-walking, ax toting lumberman. He managed mills all over Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. My grandmother ran the mill store …


Economics and Investing:

Greek Banks Admit To Charging Customers To Exchange Big Bills For Smaller Ones – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Bernanke: Monetary Policy ‘Reaching Its Limits’ – Isn’t this what Japan said right before going negative. “We are not considering negative rates”… Silver Soars Post-Fed As Gold Ratio Tumbles Most In 5 Months Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Obamacare Enrollment to Cap at Estimated 14.7 Million Americans (Washington Free Beacon) Excerpt: “Absent a substantial boost in outreach or changes to the subsides to make insurance more affordable, substantial increases in marketplace enrollment are unlikely.” CCAGW Releases 2015 …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Build your own mini wind turbine from printer parts – Sent in by M.H. o o o An interesting perspective on our modern society: Feudalism – Then & Now – B.B. o o o When will they learn that attempting to ban guns won’t stop the violence? Increase in stabbings in NYC – P.S. o o o Sent in by JFJ: Youmerica – “[This] is the nightmare of the Founding Fathers come to life. ‘We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion,’ John Adams warned. ‘Our Constitution was made only …



Notes for Saturday – March 19, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 63 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. …


Letter Re: EoTech

Fitzy in PA is worried about his EoTechs. There really isn’t anything to be worried about unless he finds himself in extremely cold weather. The zero shift that is the subject of the military’s concern only happens in extremely cold environments. It has recently come to light that Trijicon’s MRO also suffers from Thermal drift. Since Thermal drift is across almost all optics, anything you put on your rifle has the potential to have the same problem as the EoTech. My EoTechs have served me well in any weather I have had them in in SW PA. Keep your EoTechs …