Odds ‘n Sods:

Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large sent in this report on a comparison and analysis of 5.56mm and 7.62mm with several intermediate caliber cartridges and their effectiveness stating “This supports my previously stated hypothesis and prediction that intermediate calibers would do away with 7.62mm, possibly before replacing 5.56mm. “Though I would be leery of the commentary from Program Executive Office Soldier and their love for ‘universal’ solutions to distinct environments, given that their previous effort along those lines was the “universal” camouflage now being dumped as a complete failure.” o o o As the flood of Middle Eastern Refugees continues …



Notes for Sunday – October 18, 2015

18 October 1662 was the birthday of Matthew Henry (died 22 June 1714). He was a Presbyterian minister who lived primarily in Chester, England. Matthew Henry’s six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called Matthew Henry’s Commentary) (1708–1710) is a must for the bookshelf of any serious Bible scholar. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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 …


Letter Re: Sources of Vitamin C in a Post-SHTF World, by Okie Ranch Wife

HJL, Regarding R.T. in Georgia’s advice of using sassafras root tea to counter “bad water”, sassafras tea won’t halt a bacterial infection, and it isn’t safe to consume as tea, regardless. From Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: “Because there is no evidence of effectiveness, sassafras should not be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, infections, or any other medical condition. “Sassafras is classified as a carcinogenic substance. It caused liver cancer in laboratory animals; the risk of developing cancer increases with the amount consumed and duration of consumption. “Sassafras was once used as flavoring agent in root beer and candies, but …


Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader B.B. sent in this jewel of an article calling the economy what it is: Ignore The Media Bullsh*T – Retail Implosion Proves We Are In Recession (The Burning Platform) o o o Dollar Death Sentence (Daily Reckoning) Sent in by G.G. on the Economics Team. o o o The Brutal Reality of Municipal Bankruptcy: Vallejo, California (Huffington Post) Puerto Rico’s Severe Financial Crisis (The Puerto Rico Report) Signal of Global Trade Collapse Coming From India (Zero Hedge) Sent in by T.A. on the Economics Team. Items from Mr. Econocobas: Biggest US Debt Sell-Off In 15 Years Capitalism Explained …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Sent in by SurvivalBlog reader P.M. Islamist UK Teachers Tell Pupils: ‘Wives Can’t Refuse Sex’ (Clarion Project) o o o Jason in Kansas writes in to say: “So my birthright is now to be thrown away like an old Buick?? I truly feel as if I’m going to vomit. God, please save what remains of our republic from this monster…” Clinton Praises Australian Gun Buyback Program (Free Beacon) o o o A SurvivalBlog reader sent in this article from WND on Healing a Broken America. o o o San Francisco Whistleblower Transferred After Revealing Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi NOT Qualified To …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. …


Notes for Saturday – October 17, 2015

On this day in 1835, Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers– a corps of armed and mounted lawmen designed to “range and guard the frontier between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers”. After winning their revolutionary war with Mexico the following year, Texans decided to keep the Rangers, both to defend against Indian and Mexican raiders and to serve as the principal law enforcement authority along the sparsely populated Texan frontier. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: …


Letter Re: A Budget Disaster Response Kit

Gentlemen, Bruce F. gave some good advice about cutting down barrels, but I find that the process is greatly improved by using a standard pipe cutter, not a tubing cutter. Most tubing cutters will fail if put to the task of cutting steel. A pipe cutter is a tool used to cut primarily black steel pipe. It is very similar in design to the tubing cutter but substantially more robust and up to the task. – Tim in CT


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent in this article: 77.5 Million Households Are Not Paying Federal Income Taxes (CNBC) o o o D.S. informs us that Illinois to Postpone Pension Payments “We Are out of Money Now” (The Daily Sheeple) o o o From the Economics Team: Wal-Mart Tumbles Most in 15 Years After Predicting Profit Slump (Bloomberg) Hyperinflating Argentina Forces Government To Increase Banknote Denomination (Zerohedge) Repossessions spike 66% as foreclosure crisis lingers (CNBC) Sanders and His Followers are NOT Outliers (Mises Institute)


Odds ‘n Sods:

J.C. informs us that the BLM is at it again with this article from News Channel 6 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Video: BLM Land Grab o o o Speaking of the BLM and Federal government overreach, B.B. sent in this article: Feds Sentence Oregon Ranchers to 5 Years in Prison for Setting Preventative Fires (The Gateway Pundit) o o o I just heard about a small company in the state of Washington that makes oil centrifuges, called www.simplecentrifuge.com. These centrifuges would be of great utility for anyone setting up a biodiesel factory, or for anyone that has a need to …



Notes for Friday – October 16, 2015

October 15th, 1859 is the anniversary of abolitionist John Brown’s raid against the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election. Brown’s raid helped make any further accommodation between North and South nearly impossible and thus became an important impetus of the Civil War. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes …


Two Letters Re: The Harsh Truth About Bugging Out of Cities

Hi HJL and JWR, The Harsh Truth About Bugging Out of Cities was an awesome article. Patrice Lewis definitely addresses the knowns, the unknowns, known unknowns, and unknown-unknowns in her article! I totally agree, based on the same data that she and her husband are looking at that most people won’t make it out of the cities alive. As a collapse theorist myself, if we do indeed have a fast crash (as compared to the slow one we’re currently in), I believe that the current societal trends– the suicides, the mass-shootings, overdoses of legal and illegal drugs, et cetera– would …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent us this gem from Zero Hedge: The Problem Explained In 110 Words o o o R.V. spotted this: US Banks Build Defenses Against Downturn. R.V.’s comment: In spite of the title, the article is actually about how banks have taken down loan loss reserves to bolster profit, not about how they have increased the reserves. If I reduce the loan loss reserve, I have to back out the previously recognized expense, which has the effect of increasing profit. So if I increase my loan loss reserve, it is an expense, which would lower profit and reduce assets (loans …