Notes for Thursday – December 04, 2014

December 4th is the birthday of SurvivalBlog’s Back Country Editor, Mat Stein. It is also the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 56 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 …


Two Letters Re: How To Obtain Protein From Alternative Sources Without A Firearm

Dear HJL, Here’s a low-cost alternative to metal traps-– build a trapping pit. Trapping pits have been used since the Stone Age to put meat on the table. A deer trail or other evidence of animal activity is located, then a deep pit is dug and lined with stone or wood planks to prevent escape. Spikes or sharp sticks are mounted on the bottom of the pit to kill or injure the prey, and the hole is covered with a tarp or branches to disguise it. My family has stored up a dozen or so 4’ re-bars and a couple …


Economics and Investing:

Chicago to boost minimum wage to $13 by 2019 . – RBS o o o New Signs Gold and Silver Are Returning As Monetary Assets o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Surprise End to India Gold Controls Boosts Wedding Demand The Retail Apocalypse Accelerates: Collapsing Holiday Sales Are A Signal That A Recession Is Coming PETER SCHIFF: Fed Yearns for Higher Inflation to Disguise Asset Bubbles


Odds ‘n Sods:

Video: Manny Edwards fights off dark without a flashlight. – H.L. o o o Lead ammunition ban passed after feds withheld key data, hunters group says . – P.M. o o o Feds turn to antiquated law to open locked iPhones. – RBS o o o How to Pull an All-Nighter: Tips from the Special Forces. – G.P. o o o SurvivalBlog reader MTH suggested a 550 paracord alternative that I have been experimenting with myself. The Hennessy Hammock, which was recently purchased by my son, has a strand of Spectra cord that is 1/3 the diameter of 550 paracord, …



Notes for Wednesday – December 03, 2014

Today, we present another entry for Round 55 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 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with …


Economics and Investing:

India Submits To The Free Market, Fails To Suppress Gold o o o Could Falling Oil Prices Spark A Financial Crisis? o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Ponzi: Treasury Issues $1T in New Debt in 8 Weeks—To Pay Old Debt Moody’s Downgrades Japan as Concerns Grow – This is the kind of thing you might see as a headline in a JWR novel, like Liberators. “The news came just after the country’s main stock market, the Nikkei, closed at a seven-year high.” Total US Debt Rises Over $18 Trillion; Up 70% Under Barack Obama


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books Emergency War Surgery (NATO Handbook:- Third United States Revision, 2004) by Dr. Martin Fackler, et al. Great Livin’ in Grubby Times by Don Paul Fiction Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle Movies Farewell to the King The Road Warrior, aka Mad Max movies (Mad Max 2 “The Road Warrior” is by far the best of the three, although Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome has its merits.) These movies are gruesome in sots, so they are definitely NOT for children!


Odds ‘n Sods:

We’re adding a migrant city the size of Birmingham every 30 months reveals MP who co-chairs migration group . – J.C. o o o Directed Deep Impact: The Next Arms Race?. – G.P. o o o Magpul finalizes departure from Colorado in response to gun-control bills. – B.B. o o o School has hissy fit over Creation invitation. – H.L. o o o Bird flu outbreak in India caused by strain humans can contract: OIE. – K


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It’s growing out of sour earth. And it’s strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way.” ? Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Notes for Tuesday – December 02, 2014

Today, we present another entry for Round 56 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 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hardcase to go with your …


Round 55 Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winners Announced!

First prize goes to SheperdFarmerGeek for “Ebola Unafraid: A Preliminary Ebola Treatment Protocol, Part 1” & “Part 2” as well as “Making Your Own, Part 1” & “Part 2” which was posted on October 27, 28 and November 11, 12. He will receive the following prizes: 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: How To Obtain Protein From Alternative Sources Without A Firearm

JWR/Hugh, I loved this article about alternative means for obtaining food. Much of the information was repeat for me, as I do a lot if those things already. I would add as a point for anyone trying to get into trapping that unless you are in a very target rich environment, trapping has a low rate of return. Typically, traps will catch something 1 out of 5 or 1 out of 10 times. Either the animal misses it, or a non-target animal trips the trap. I would recommend having multiple traps (like 6 or 12) and some snare wire around …


News From The American Redoubt:

Automatic recount for GMO labeling vote in Oregon gets deadline . – RBS o o o BLM backs off wolf-coyote killing derby o o o Yellowstone tries to shock lake trout to death o o o Montana: Owner of extravagant Flathead Lake island home seeks to reduce tax value by $32M o o o Wikipedia has an interesting global map of “Unpopulated or nearly unpopulated” regions. Zoom in on North America, and note how much of The American Redoubt is considered under-populated. Fewer people will mean fewer problems, in the event of a societal collapse.


Economics and Investing:

Gold Is A 6,000 Year Old Bubble o o o The kids aren’t alright: The trend continues to renting. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Black Friday Fizzles With Consumers as Sales Tumble 11% Ruble Falls to Record Amid Bets Russia Intervened to Stem Slide Oil Shock Streaks Across Globe From Moscow to Tehran to Caracas. Ready for $40?