Pat’s Product Review: Deployable Compact Armorers Tool

I love working on guns, and I’ve tinkered with them since I was a teenager. Later on, I was trained by a military armorer to work on M1s, M14s, and M1911s, and I took several gunsmithing courses over the years. I’ve repaired many guns; however, the two firearms I enjoy working on the most are the grand old 1911 and the AR-15 family of rifles. More than anything, I usually can’t leave a 1911 alone, especially as it comes from the factory. So, I keep a decent supply of spare parts on-hand. The AR-15 doesn’t usually require a lot of …


Pat’s Product Review: CRKT K.I.S.S. Folder

Don’t you just hate it when someone comes up with one of those “oh-so-simple” ideas, and it is an immediate hit or success. I don’t begrudge anyone success in their lives, but how come it’s always someone else who invents a better application of the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle? I’ve been around long enough to know that keeping things simple is usually the right and smart way to go. I recently heard from one of my former martial arts students, who I hadn’t heard from in 25 years. He now holds Black Belt rank himself in several different …


Apple Bread with Brown Sugar Icing – Anonymous

This bread freezes beautifully in a freezer ziploc bag. (I recommend storing without the icing. Just defrost the bread and make the icing before serving.) It’s yummy! 1 cup sugar 8 ounces sour cream 2 eggs 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, beat above ingredients on low speed until thoroughly combined. 2 cups flour (I use half whole wheat and half bread flour) 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda pinch cream of tartar 1/2 tsp salt Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients into large mixing …


Letter: Complications of Advanced IRA Strategies

Editor: I am not a tax preparer, but I have been a financial adviser for more than 30 years. I have been growing more concerned about potential government confiscation of a portion of the public’s Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s) and 401(k) plans (employer-sponsored retirement savings plans). The “myRA,” that Obama introduced in his State of the Union address, could be a precursor to a plan that would take part of the assets in these plans, and replace them with U.S. Treasury bonds. One alternative, of course, is to take your money out of your IRA. You’ll owe taxes, of course, …


Letter: Soft Point Ammunition in a PTR-91

Dear Mister Rawles, To your knowledge, does 308 soft point ammunition function in a PTR-91? JWR Replies: Just like the HK91 from which it is cloned, the PTR91 is not specifically designed to shoot .308 Winchester softnose hunting ammo. The SAAMI specifications for commercially-loaded (Remington, Winchester, Federal, et cetera) .308 Winchester are different from the military specifications for 7.62mm NATO. Although the two cartridges have quite similar exterior dimensions, the military brass is thicker (this creating slightly smaller interior dimensions) and the pressure specification is lower. (Yet, I still hear people talk about “hot military ammo.” The reality is just …


Economics and Investing:

B.C. sent in this article that seems to be a a pretty even handed view of the macroeconomic landscape. The Author uses the mathematical concept of singularity and the astrophysics concept of a black hole to provide analogies of the risks we face. He also discusses what he believes to be a “flight path” away from the black hole. – We Are Approaching The Economic Singularity o o o And D.B. sent in another article outlining the End of the Middle Class. When the New York Times is running it, it must be obvious. Items from The Economatrix: Are U.S. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Delta2187 sent in a link to Statement for the Record – Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community and notes that the information is wide ranging (technology, terrorism, health, food, water) and could provide a good (basic) understanding of the threats we all face. The information certainly reinforces the need for prepping! o o o B.B. sends in this link showing that almost the first act of the Supreme Court was treason. It’s an interesting read. o o o B.R. notes that Violent Protests in Ukraine Supported by US Congress NED, Soros and Other Tax-Exempts o o o J.L. …



Notes from HJL:

This is the last day of the sale by Ready Made Resources with 25% to 42% off Mountain House foods. They are also offering free shipping and will be giving away a case of Mountain House Pouched Yogurts on orders where more than 10 cases are sold. (A $300 value.) — Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: 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 …


Prepper Primer for Your Non-prepper Loved Ones, by T.S. – Part 4

Communication If traveling by foot, plan on only taking the AM/FM crank radio. It will last for weeks on a couple of AA batteries and for much longer with its crank power. All the HAM radio equipment and walkie talkies are not worth the weight and have much higher power consumptions. If you can, always listen to any radio using headphones in one ear so you do not attract people to your location with the radio noise. Radio stations may only be operational for short bursts throughout the day, so try all the AM and FM frequencies at different times …


Letter: Good Find at Aldis / Carrying Blankets

Hugh, I found Aldis tuna and chicken salad packs for $1.19. It comes with a small can of chicken or tuna salad and crackers to eat it on. It’s not the lightest most calorie-packed food you can buy to walk and carry, but it has a descent taste and us good for the car/day trips or short-term power outage at home. When I lived in the South I once broke down and had to take a taxi home. I emptied my trunk of emergency supplies, including six army wool blankets I had bought from the thrift store. The taxi driver …


Letter: Battery Charger

Dear SurvivalBlog, This is the best charger I have ever used: Powerex MH-C800S Eight Cell Smart Charger has eight independent slots for AA/AAA batteries. It’s like having eight chargers! It has a deep-cycle conditioning worldwide power supply, a smaller light weight power adapter, and both soft and rapid charging speeds. BATTERIES ARE NOT INCLUDED! The MH-C800S features eight independent slots that can charge one to eight AA or AAA batteries in any combination in around one to two hours! The unit also incorporates a large, easy-to-read LCD screen featuring the charging status of each battery. This new charger uses the …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Secret Contacts between Taliban and Karzai Helped Erode U.S.-Afghan Relations – B.R. o o o This is a pretty simple article with quite a bit of background on grid blackouts that concludes by saying that the stimulus-funded efficiency improvements in the US grid make it more vulnerable to attacks by hackers. – Elaine o o o G.P. sent in this article (video included) show how drought is a growing problem in California. o o o Zerogov recently ran an article on how to decrease your electronic footprint in regards to cellular phones, but my thinking lies with Militialaw. Why do …


Economics and Investing:

C.G. notes that QE is a mistake– A big one. J.T. sent in a news article showing the per capita spending of each state on roads. he also notes that all of the American Redoubt states are in the top 12. Items from The Economatrix: Celente – The World Is Being Run By Psychopaths & Sociopaths No Janet Yellen, The Economy Is NOT \ Europe Considers Wholesale Savings Confiscation, Enforced Redistribution 20 Signs That The Global Economic Crisis Is Starting To Catch Fire