Odds ‘n Sods:

A neighbor up the valley who is moving a cattle fence line recently complained that he was having trouble pulling steel T-posts by hand. He said that they often got bent when “rocking” them out, and that in rocky soil, they would sometimes have their cross-plates (“wings”) break off. I resisted the urge to laugh, and I introduced him to my old standby: A Red Rooster T-Post Puller Plate. These work remarkably well. I use mine with one of my pair of 48″ Hi-Lift jacks, but these can also be used by attaching a short length of chain to the …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.” …


Notes for Friday – February 19, 2016

JRH Enterprises is running a sale on their popular Nightfighter 2 combo. This package includes a High Performance AN/PVS-14 Third Generation Pinnacle autogated night vision device brand new with a real factory 10-year warranty, plus an infrared laser, ACH helmet, helmet mount for the PVS-14, infrared marking beacon, and light interference filter (LIF). There are limited quantities on the size Large helmet. o o o SurvivalBlog would like to welcome two new advertisers to the site: Go Sun has a variety of solar cookers, from small individual sizes to commercial/party sizes, and they not only work well they look cool! …


Letter: T.Z. Answers Some Questions on Paleo Prepping

HJL, As to getting rid of accumulations of prepper storage carbs, find some livestock that naturally eats such things. Maybe a local beekeeper could use the sugar over winter. Maybe some chickens can turn it into good eggs or meat. As to storage, I already mentioned good, organic vitamin and mineral supplements and protein powder, which you can put in bug-out bags. If I have fat on me, I’ll be burning that for a while as I’m bugging out or assessing the local area for wild food, barter, or what I’ve stored. Since I’m not hungry all the time, I …


Economics and Investing:

Why OPEC Production Freeze Could Pave The Way For Actual Cuts o o o More indoctrination of our kids. “Ultimate Banking” Monopoly Edition Goes Completely Cashless – L.P. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Why Negative Interest Rates Will Fail (Mises) Excerpt: “…there is an old adage: you can bring a horse to water but you cannot make him drink! With the world economy sinking into recession, few banks have credit-worthy customers and many banks are having difficulties collecting on existing loans.” Percent of Total Wealth Owned in the United States: Bottom 40% Control -0.9% Meaning Close …


Odds ‘n Sods:

It looks like the Feds hold a grudge for a pretty long time. SurvivalBlog reader B.B. sent in this article outlining the charges that Cliven Bundy and sons Ammon and Ryan have been indicted for Nevada standoff in 2014. Now that the indictments have been handed down for that, the rumors are flying about how many more indictments will be coming. The government doesn’t like to lose a fight, and they are feeling their oats now after Burns, Oregon. o o o Given world events, it is difficult not to see this as “sinister”. South Florida Jewish Community Concerned Over …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“All the fiery rhetoric of the Founders was directed at a `tyrant’ who taxed his subjects at a rate of about three percent. Today, we in `the land of the free’ are taxed at about 50 percent when you add federal, state, and local taxes. What kind of government would do this? A dictatorship would. “ – Doug Newman


Notes for Thursday – February 18, 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: Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Beyond Locks

HJL, Often missed in this sort of door up-armoring process are the hinges. Assuming your door is set on its own rough framing (no sidelights), replace at least two hinge screws on the jamb side in each hinge with 4 1/2″ flathead stardrive heavy screws (through the finished jamb into the rough framing). In other words do the same thing you’re doing to the strike, fastening them deep and strong. This works. When we first moved into our present quarters, I replaced the strike and hinge screws is this manner. About a month later my wife came home to find …


Economics and Investing:

The War On Paper Currency Begins: ECB Votes To “Scrap” 500 Euro Bill – G.G. “Draghi: any ECB action on EU500 note is not about reducing cash. Translation: the ECB action is only about reducing physical cash, some 30% of it to be specific.” o o o Central bankers ‘don’t have a clue’ – Jim Rogers – G.G. o o o When Cash Is Outlawed… Only Outlaws Will Have Cash– Sent in by D.S. o o o Percent of Total Wealth Owned in the United States: Bottom 40% control -0.9% Meaning Close to Half the Country has a Negative Net …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader R.C. writes in with regards to JWR’s comment on purchasing PVC pipe and caps for burying caches on SurvivalBlog. Sportsman’s Guide has some used U.S. Military Surpolus M14A2 cylinders for sale. o o o SurvivalBlog reader G.G. sent in this article on How to Survive Falling Through the Ice from The New York Times. o o o State Supreme Court Rules That Cops Do Not Need Warrants To Enter Homes And Forcibly Seize Evidence – D.S. JWR’s Comment: <Sarcasm On>Oh, well, now that we’ve been told that the polizei were just being friendly “Community Caretakers” when they kicked …



Notes for Wednesday – February 17, 2016

The Zelman Partisans contacted Ted Nugent to inquire about his offensive anti-Semitic Facebook post. This was the best possible outcome from the situation, and it was enthusiastically accepted. This should be an example to us of the dangers of social media. The graphic was indeed anti-Semitic, but whoever posted it for Ted didn’t pay attention. Kudos to Ted for recovering from this misstep. 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 …


Letter Re: Prepping for a Paleo Diet

Hugh, TZ’s article on the Paleo diet vs. the more usual heavy-on-carb diet that preppers typically prep for was exciting for me to read because it addressed many of the issues my husband and I are dealing with. We’ve been formally prepping for the past six years, storing up wheat, rice, beans, etc. Then two years ago we found a great doctor, a Functional Medicine Doctor, who emphasizes the health model vs. the pathology model. He started with extensive blood tests, then based on the results starts you off on a series of supplements and a strict non-carb diet. We’re …


Economics and Investing:

Items from Mr. Econocobas: Larry Summers Launches The War On Paper Money: “It’s Time To Kill The $100 Bill” – This is going to keep being in the public sphere, because I believe it gets us used to the idea. With NIRP banning cash is almost a necessity even though it is not without many consequences. Here’s Why (And How) The Government Will ‘Borrow’ Your Retirement Savings – This is not a new idea even for the U.S., but it is a Rubicon to still be crossed. The Return Of Crisis – From Chris Martenson at Peak Prosperity, as always …