Notes for Thursday – May 21, 2015

Today is the birthday of weapons designer John Douglas Pedersen, (born 1881, died 1951). o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 58 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 …


Letter Re: Reverse Mortgages

Hugh, According to the CFPB at this link, interest is charged like a credit card, based on last month’s balance. The lesson here is to read your loan documents. It doesn’t matter what you are told, it only matters what is in the documents that you sign. “Each month, interest and mortgage insurance charges are calculated based on the current loan balance. These charges are added to your loan balance. The amount you pay in interest and mortgage insurance compounds the same way a balance on a credit card does. The loan balance used to calculate interest and mortgage insurance …


Economics and Investing:

An Insane Financial World o o o No, JP Morgan Is Not Buying Silver Eagles. Ted Butler claiming that JP Morgan is the big Buyer of Silver Eagles and Maples takes the credit away from the public who are the real buyers. o o o China has overtaken Mexico as the source of the largest number of immigrants to the U.S. – the Far East is the new Southwest. o o o OPEC Struggling To Keep Up The Pace In Oil Price War o o o It’s Time To Hold More Cash and Buy Gold


Odds ‘n Sods:

Common Core Lesson Plan Pushes Pro-Palestinian Agenda. – H.L. o o o This is what is wrong with the typical American Church, The Apostles would be appalled. – R.G. o o o More “children’s picture books” better utilized on the floor of your hen-house.. – T.P. o o o “If Not Us, Then Who?” In Ukraine, Volunteers Collect Soldiers’ Bodies. – T.P. o o o Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee agree that EMP is a threat to America. – G.P.



Notes for Wednesday – May 20, 2015

May 20th, 1942 was the birthday of Carlos Hathcock, who was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. He died February 23, 1999. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 58 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted …


Letter Re: Communications In Dark Times, by J.B.

Hugh, Independent communication is really important. First thing you observe when you go to an ARRL local meeting is the intelligent, charitable, genuine nature of the people involved. Second, the information that the Technician License test preparation material contains is laterally applicable to other prepping activities if you want a deeper understanding of what is around you and what you have to accomplish. An example is the information about direct current (DC) electricity used in radios and generated by solar power systems. Alternatively, learning about repeaters and their positions and coverage make you very aware of your surroundings. You also …


Economics and Investing:

Debt-Choked Puerto Rico at Fiscal Brink as Bond Buyers Pull Back – G.G. o o o HSBC to charge for holding deposits. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Bus Driver Economics – This is a good short read. Denmark Preparing to be the First to Eliminate Cash Retirees Have More Education Debt than Ever Video Ron Paul: Cashless Society: More Attacks on Our Privacy


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (A classic nuke scenario. This book was a key influence in my writing, and it was my inspiration to write “Patriots” in a similar style.) Vandenberg by Oliver Lange (Invasion scenario. Note: It was later republished under the title: Defiance: An American Novel) Movies 3 Days to Kill (Warning: Has many violent scenes.) Paths of Glory Instructional Video: How to Shoot Beyond Belief ~ Long Range Shooting for Hunters


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Time is Now. – Avalanche Lily o o o Over at Wranglerstar’s excellent blog site, there is a new video posted on rebuilding hydraulic ram pumps. – JWR o o o SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to an article from the NRA on Keeping Your Perspective. While targeted at the use of deadly force, it’s excellent advice for the times we live in. I have seen many preppers become frantic of late, ignoring everything but their preps. Keep your perspective. What are you prepping for? (And I’m not talking about which “End-of-world” scenario.) If you are prepping …



Notes for Tuesday – May 19, 2015

Ready Made Resourcesis currently running their 25-40% off Mountain House sale. It’s a good time to stock up! o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 58 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, DRD Tactical …


Letter Re: Reverse Mortgages

HJL, If I really needed to get a reverse mortgage, I would swallow hard and do it, but….I wanted to add my bit of information on what I discovered on reverse mortgages. Most of what is said is glossy sales pamphlet type info; there’s not much substance. So I started asking questions and pressing for a straight answer. Reverse mortgages give you money based on a percentage of what they think your house is worth. You can either take the money as a lump sum or take payments. My question to them was how is the interest calculated. The answer …


News From The American Redoubt:

Idaho House Approves Child Support Measure, 49-21, (Submitting Idaho to International Law). The bill now heads to the senate in a special session. – J.J. Update: The bill has now passed the senate and is headed to the governor’s desk o o o Montana boy shoots through window, kills friend trying to wake him o o o Wyoming city rallies to remove graffiti after soldier’s home is vandalized o o o Washington Governor declares statewide drought emergency o o o Rancher dies in plane crash in Eastern Oregon’s Malheur County


Economics and Investing:

Fed Rate-Hike To Trigger ‘Next Crash’ In 2016? o o o Once Cash Is Banned They Will Be Able To Force You To Buy Products: “Just Tax Their Excess Account Balance”. – B.B. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: David Stockman Interview——-Kick-The-Can Economics Is Entering The End Game Traders Watch for More Signs of Economic Stall in Week Ahead Bond-Market Crash Has Wall Street Divided on What’s Next – some in the main stream pushing off from the September rate hike theory. At some point even the Lemmings have to start to realize it’s all a show.. US Gas …