Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader B.B. sent in this link. We have been discussing the danger of computer algorithms determining everything about you from your credit worthiness to how “good” a citizen you are, now comes the “threat” score: The new way police are surveilling you: Calculating your threat ‘score’ This should be yet one more wake-up-call for those who are active on social media. Data mining of information that you just “throw out there” is big business. o o o Continuing the ongoing bluster coming out of North Korea is a video of a ‘new’ submarine-launched missile test. There is some considerable question …



Notes for Sunday – January 10, 2016

January 10th, 1776 is the day that North Carolina Governor, Josiah Martin, issued a proclamation calling on the king’s loyal subjects to raise an armed force to combat the “rebels”. This ultimately led to Colonel Donald McLeod leading the men on an assault on the Patriots that ended with fifty of his men dead and 880 captured. The Patriots lost only two of their number. Also on this day in 1976 the song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall was the #1 song on the U.S. pop charts. o o o Note to our Readers and Advertisers: We are currently updating how …


Guest Article: Federal Reserve’s “Net Worth” Collapses 33% in Two Weeks, by Simon Black (Sovereignman)

In case it weren’t completely obvious how completely screwed up the financial system is, please allow me to introduce Exhibit A: the Federal Reserve’s own balance sheet. First, we need a quick accounting background, and stay with me, because this is important. Think about your own finances. You, me, everyone… we all have assets and liabilities. Your assets might be things like cash, your house, car, baseball card collection, et cetera. And your liabilities are loans, credit card debt, et cetera. The difference between the two can be thought of as your “net worth”. Hopefully, it’s positive, i.e. your assets …


Letter Re: Hickok45

Google is a publicly traded company, acting in their own interests. Perhaps it is time to remind folks that there are alternatives to their search engine and e-mail service that are more respectful to your privacy: Startpage.com for searches. Startmail.com for e-mail. For video content providers, consider running your own website and only mirror select videos onto social media, thereby minimizing your losses if and when they do decide to exercise their vast arbitrary powers. This is the strategy employed by other popular channels, such as the Corbett Report. –ER Update: It appears that Hickock45’s channel is back up today. …


Economics and Investing:

46 Months Of Accelerating Deflation Mean Beijing Is Now Trapped – JFJ o o o Apple has dumped $100B in market value in past month – RBS o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Study Finds Higher Minimum Wage Hurting Youth Employment – Not sure why they needed a study to realize this…. Puerto Rico Defaults on Debt Payments – Not sure how, but this news seemed largely ignored probably due to such market volatility Items from Professor Preponomics: US News End Injustices Now, Not Later (Mises Institute) Excerpt: “We’ve been robbing from Peter to pay Paul, and Paul’s taken …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Islamic State’s suspected inroads into America. A map showing where Federal prosecutors have charged people with crimes in connection with the Islamic State. – G.P. o o o From our friends over at the Thoughts from Frank and Fern blog: On the Brink o o o Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large wrote in: Why did they make them look like daleks? Crime-Fighting Robots Hitting The Streets In California. I can see legitimate observation and recon uses for this in reducing crime, as moving security cameras with interactive capability for victims. My concern is that someone will decide to …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath …


Notes for Saturday – January 09, 2016

On this day in 1776, writer Thomas Paine published his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 62 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 …


Letter: Law Enforcement Officers

Sirs, When did “Peace Officers” become “Law Enforcement Officers”? Is not the purpose of police to keep the peace? Are laws merely meant to be the tools to enforce the peace? Why not call police “Baton, Pepper Spray, Taser Enforcement Officers”? If I spent a little time at it, I could probably come up with a list of peace keeping tools that would make a snappy acronym to rival “LEO”. I encourage people, particularly police, to read the principles of policing developed by Sir Robert Peel: Principle 1 – “The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent …


Economics and Investing:

Items from Mr. Econocobas: Dow Tumbles Nearly 400 Points on China Worries- Dow and S&P Off to Worse Start Ever – I would expect a relief rally very soon, otherwise I don’t see how we don’t get a serious intervention by world central banks. Silver Seen Beating Gold as Ratio Rises to Near Historical Peaks– And we are not even talking about the historical average of around 16:1. Most Americans are One Paycheck Away from the Street Items from Professor Preponomics: US News Watchdog Says Government Agencies Ignore Billions in Savings (Taxpayers for Common Sense) Excerpt: “Agencies have a “too …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Computers as judge, jury, and executioner – The risks — and benefits — of letting algorithms judge us. We aren’t to be judged, so we are algorithmed. – T.Z. o o o Doctors Urge California Residents “Leave Now…While You Can” As Gas Leak Fears Grow – Interestingly enough, I have some contacts in Texas that are telling me that this leak is small potatoes. There are apparently oil fields that have long had unstoppable leaks much larger than the one in California. o o o Denver Science Museum Reverses Course on Concealed Carry – T.P. “The new policy quietly went …



Notes for Friday – January 08, 2016

On this day, in 1835, the U.S. National Debt reached zero for the first and only time. This is also the birthday of the late Algis Budrys (born 1931, died June 9, 2008). He was the Lithuanian-American science fiction author who wrote the classic survivalist novel Some Will Not Die. o o o An ongoing financial crash…war looms on the horizon…tyranny at home…feeling like you need a bit more long-term food storage? Ready Made Resources has a sale on Mountain House cans with savings from 25-40%! o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog …


Letter Re: Welding With Car Batteries

Mr. Williamson, I can verify that this will work. Using two car batteries I field repaired a bracket for a hydraulic water drilling rig in Honduras. I have a few comments on the linked video to make it easier for SurvivalBlog readers. First, use an old wire coat hanger for your welding rod. Second, Mark in the video appeared to swap the polarity of the electrode before and after. Positive DC to the stick (electrode) puts more heat into the workpiece, negative DC to the electrode puts more heat into the stick (for thinner workpieces). Lastly be sure to use …