Odds ‘n Sods:

Those sneaky thieves! Apparently the coat hanger trick has moved from the car to the garage door. But you can stop it cold with a simple zip tie: $1 fix could secure your garage from thieves – G.S. o o o Once a country no longer values human life, how long till they descend into this? –Red Reign: China’s horrific nonconsensual organ harvesting and religious oppression unveiled o o o For Valley citrus growers, this season has 2 natural disasters. News of the severe drought continues to rock the system. o o o And the executive orders issued by Obama …



Notes from HJL:

In analyzing the Ukraine, I’m finding interesting facts about an area that I have known little of. To me, it appears that the Ukraine is in a similar position to the U.S. in 1776. Much of the country is pro-Russia and much of it is pro-Independant. While the U.S. government makes much ado (at least with their lips) regarding Putin putting forces on the ground in Ukraine, it appears that there are long-standing agreements in place that allow Russia access to facilities in the Black Sea. P.M. sent in this link showing maps of Ukraine from the New York Times …


Guest Article: Precious Metals Month In Review, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in review. Every month, we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals, covering everything from price action to the information that’s driving the numbers. February In Precious Metals Three major factors for precious metals in February were Chinese physical demand; poor economic news in the U.S. (which was blamed on sequential blizzards); and emerging market crises, especially Ukraine. China Chinese gold sales last month hit 246 metric tons – a record for January – but the pace didn’t slow down after the Lunar New Year as expected. Chinese gold buyers …


Guest Article: Jailbreak Your IRA Before It Becomes MyRA, by William Lehr

I am not suggesting the IRA LLC is the bulletproof solution to government confiscation of retirement accounts. However, the LLC investment company does offer another layer of protection. If the government requires a percentage of accounts be invested in treasuries, for example, they may very well come after self-directed IRAs and require them to sell real estate, metals, or any other asset to fulfill the new bond investment obligation. If they come after these specific self-directed IRA LLCs, the individual has the choice to comply or to not comply. Non-compliance certainly has its ramifications, and I am not endorsing it, …


Pat’s Product Review: Magnum Research Desert Eagle 1911C

I’m asked, all the time by readers, and students who take some of my handgun training, what is my “favorite gun.” Well, I think most of the time, they mean “handgun” and not just “gun.” Well, I honestly can’t give a pat answer to that question…usually, whatever I have strapped on my hip is my “favorite” gun – at the moment. And, what’s right for me, may not be right for you. I can’t pick a gun for you, it’s a pretty subjective issue as far as I’m concerned. Folks also ask me what kind of handgun they should get …


Pat’s Product Review: 750 & 550 Parachute Cord From 5 Col Survival Supply

I get contacted by SurvivalBlog readers daily, and I take the time to answer each e-mail, and I have to keep my replies short, because my time is limited. I’m often asked, “what should I carry in my BOB?” and I can’t really give a definitive answer to that. It depends on where you live, you age, your own personal requirements, when do you plan to bug out to, and other factors. Many readers send me a list of all the things they have packed in their BOB, and most are pretty well equipped for many different emergencies. One item …


Recipe Of The Week: Arizona Cowgirl’s Potato Sausage Skillet

Arizona Cowgirl’s Potato Sausage Skillet Recipe. We really enjoy this dish, and it’s a delicious ‘comfort’ food on a cold wintry day! Ingredients are: 4 large baking potatoes, peeled & sliced thin. 1/2 diced sweet onion 1/4 Red or green Bell Pepper, diced Combine the above veggies in a large 12″ skillet with cooking oil. Cook covered on low heat, stirring occasionally. While these cook, add the following ingredients as you prep them: 1 whole smoked kielbasa sausage, sliced thin. 1 small can of diced green chilies. Fresh cut Broccoli, as much as you like. Salt and pepper to taste. …


Letter Re: American Made Tools And Tool Boxes?

Greetings, As always, thank you for the survival blog. It is a wonderful resource. I remember seeing a link or list of American made products, but I can’t find it on the site. I’m starting tool boxes for my young children for either DIY home projects or for survival on the homestead after the SHTF. Do you have any suggestions for quality American made tool boxes and hand tools? Thanks – JR HJL Replies: JWR posted a list of companies that sell American made gear and tools last year. If our readers are aware of any others, we would be …


Economics And Investing:

E.B. – Looks like the fed leadership is introducing the idea of inflation as a “solution”. I don’t think this is a mistake nor a spur of the moment idea. This was probably a planned comment. Fed may need to let inflation run hot to meet goals: Evans Items from The Economatrix: Yellen Repeats Fed Likely To Keep Trimming Asset Purchases Viedeo: RED ALERT VIDEO! RUN, DON’T WALK FROM THE U.S. STOCK MARKET. By Gregory Mannarino Is This Time Bomb Going To Implode The Economy? The Coming Global Monetary Reset


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.G. sent this link in on wood choping: Less effort, more wood and safer too. Something that could be built by just about any reader here. o o o H.L. sent in this link on 11 sure signs you’ve been hacked. In today’s threatscape, antivirus software provides little piece of mind. In fact, anti-malware scanners on the whole are horrifically inaccurate, especially with exploits less than 24 hours old. After all, malicious hackers and malware can change their tactics at will. Swap a few bytes around, and a previously recognized malware program becomes unrecognizable. o o o In light of …



Notes from HJL:

It looks like things are beginning to move quickly in Ukraine. This came in yesterday: US issues travel warning as armed men seize two Crimean airports. Per Spetsnaz military doctrine, airports are always the first objective. This establishes what the U.S. military calls an “airhead”, thus bypassing border defenses. Then today, Putin asked for and recieved permission from parliment to use the military in Ukraine. The parliament apparently also wants their ambassador pulled from Washington DC. Of course, the U.S. is apparently hamstrung. Despite warnings from Obama, Russia is moving forward with their plans. We knew clear back in 2008 …


Staying Warm In An LP/OP, by M.E.

Hugh, recently B.B. wrote asking for readers’ input on how a listening post/observation post (LP/OP) occupant can stay warm during extremely cold weather. His letter, and your reply, generated some self-reflection as I begin retirement in a few months after a 30+ year Army career, which spanned both active duty and National Guard service. During that time I served on active duty as an artillery forward observer to both Infantry and Armor companies and was branched Infantry for most of my National Guard service. I suspect that B.B. will find that his biggest problem will not be one of staying …


Letter Re: Ammunition Shortages

The article on ammunition, shortages, and government purchases was very informative and well written. Here is a very simple way to look at the shortages that occur from a mathematical perspective. Assume that 20 million rounds of .22 are available every single day. That would be 40,000 boxes of 500 rounds each. Fifty states get 800 boxes each. Fifty retailers per state get 16 boxes each. I cannot tell you how much ammo the U.S. can manufacture or import, but I do not think it is anywhere near the level of demand created by our current government’s stance on the …