Pat’s Product Reviews: MGI Hydra Modular Rifle

Update, October, 2011: This review has been updated to NEGATIVE. To explain: In my original review, I had posted favorable comments on the MGI “Hydra” rifle system. I am withdrawing that positive review, and alerting SurvivalBlog readers to NOT purchase this product. While the sample I wrote-up in SurvivalBlog worked flawlessly, I have been informed of some serious quality control problems with current production Hydra rifles. Several SurvivalBlog readers who placed orders have received defective guns. One SurvivalBlog reader, after many months, finally did get a working Hydra. Another SurvivalBlog reader is still waiting. He returned his Hydra before he …


Four Letters Re: Coffee in a Post-Collapse Society

Sir: In the recent article Coffee in a Post-Collapse Society, the author is talking about Arabica coffee being only cultivated near the equator. Robusto green coffee can be grown in the southern states like Florida, south Texas (same latitude as Cuba, a coffee producing country) basically any place that citrus can grow, Robusto coffee can grow. Robusto coffee can grow at low altitudes although it is not know for it’s high quality taste. Robusto coffee beans that are used mostly for instant coffee and a blend with Arabica beans in espresso for a creamier foam. Yields for Robusto coffee are …


Economics and Investing:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) mentioned this chart: The U.S. Misery Index, showing unemployment and inflation. Note that the numbers for the last 16 years are artificially low, because the back room boys have been monkeying with the inflation statistics. (They have been made artificially low, by the advent of hedonic adjustments.) Reader RJK wrote: “Jefferson County, Alabama will be bankrupt by July of 2011 and the bankruptcy will exceed that of Orange County, California.  The county is going bankrupt because the county commissioner engaged in [derivative] interest rate swaps that exceeded the level of debt. He and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Joe D. sent some insight on retreat locales: West Texas becomes ever more lonely as population drops. Since domestically-produced oil may spark a post-collapse renaissance, finding West Texas land with a reliable water well might be a good idea.    o o o Commentary from Laurel, over at the Faith and Heritage blog: A Good Children’s Book Is Hard to Find    o o o Claire Wolfe comments on the botched Mt. St. Helens evacuation, in Backwoods Home. (Thanks to The Other J.R. for the link.)    o o o The folks at Backyard Food Production are again offering a …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men’s protection and the base of a moral existence. Destroyers seize gold and leave to its owners a counterfeit pile of paper. This kills all objective standards and delivers men into the arbitrary power of an arbitrary setter of values. Gold was an objective value, an equivalent of wealth produced. Paper is a mortgage on wealth that does not exist, backed by a gun aimed at those who are expected to produce it. Paper is a check drawn by legal looters upon an account which is not …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and …


Let’s Talk About Trapping: North American Furbearers, by Jason L.

My father introduced me to the art of trapping when I was just 10 years old. I remember walking the edges of rivers checking the sets that he had made and seeing him bring home red and gray fox. When I was 12, I took a safety course and got my trapping license. The first year my father did most of the work setting the traps, while I did the baiting. As years went by he stopped trapping but I continued and by definition am now a professional. Whenever I had the chance to trap where someone else was setting, …


Letter Re: It’s The End Of The Welding As We Know It

James: It is the “End Of The Welding As We Know It”.   For a while anyway…  There was an accident at the Louisville, Kentucky plant which supplies most of the calcium carbide to North America. Calcium carbide is the main raw material used for for making acetylene gas for oxy-acetylene welding and more importantly oxy-acetylene cutting. Most welding is done with other processes and most cutting can be done with propane, MAPP (Methylene Acetylene Polypropylene), or natural gas. The cutting torches will require different tips and even when up and running there are those who will dislike the longer preheat times.   Suddenly the things I was …


Three Letters Re: Maps of Caves and Mining Districts

Mr Rawles:   Well, this is an area of knowledge where I do in fact have some expertise, being a caving professional.  I hadn’t ever really considered caves to be of much use from a prepping standpoint, but as an expedient shelter with a constant temperature they could have their uses.   A bit about my background –   I have logged about 3,000 hours in caves during the past 5-6 years during which time I have been a ‘wild cave guide’ – meaning that I run tours through rugged and undeveloped caves – not the wheelchair accessible type.  I am …


Letter Re: Some Investment Options for the Prepper

JWR: Regarding the article “Some Investment Options for the Prepper”, K.P. suggested: “Real Estate Rentals – Buying real estate now? Are you crazy? No, not at all.” No, K.P. isn’t crazy, but I believe that he is uninformed. For many decades I have been bullish on real estate, but the rules have changed, and this time those changes are permanent and come with very serious consequences for those who hold a mortgage. Details of “The forever mortgage” were quickly spelled out, and then any information of “The forever mortgage” disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Real estate is great and …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Linda U. sent this: Five Things that Will Happen to You When America Goes Bankrupt Pierre M. spotted this: Faux job numbers could lead to real trouble G.G. suggested this piece: How Safe Is Your Roth IRA? Also from G.G.: Charles Plosser and the 50% Contraction in the Fed’s Balance Sheet G.P. recommended this New York Post article: Taxpayers foot $850M bill for Wall St.’s pension fees Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Edge Higher on Better Economic Data Fed Survey: US Economy Improves in Spring Oil Falls as Hopes Grow for Libyan Cease-fire Gold Advances to Record on Weakening …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Trapper Mike sent this: Future farm: a sunless, rainless room indoors    o o o Pierre M. sent us a link to an interesting site on van modifications–showing real world experience with both four wheel drive and photovoltaic power systems.    o o o Bill in Virginia sent this: Hanging out at the Sensible Preppers Conference (in South Carolina.)    o o o F.H. recommended this article: North Dakota the First to Pass New Tactic Against Federal Debt    o o o G.G. liked this one: Feral chickens have proliferated in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute." – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791


Letter Re: Let’s Talk About Trapping: North American Furbearers

Letter Re: Let’s Talk About Trapping: North American Furbearer As a fellow trapper I enthusiastically read the article on trapping and although I have never eaten Raccoon. I can vouch that beaver and muskrat are good meat sources. Muskrat, I do not eat regularly, but beaver is more substantial and I do regularly take the meat and the skin is durable enough to be used for hats, mittens, coats, etc. When skinning beaver take care not to cut the castor glands, first these smell awful and would taint the meat, second you can sell them, and third you can use these to …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 34 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , …