Odds ‘n Sods:

Why is it that nearly every mainstream newspaper, magazine, and web journalist reporting on “preppers” or “survivalists” feels obliged to illustrate it with a picture of someone wearing a gas mask?  (And usually it is a nearly useless and thoroughly obsolete Russian gas mask with a dangling filter canister, not properly stowed in a pouch.)  These cliched images are tiresome, and they only serve to belittle the whole movement. Such images are about as de rigueur as pictures of Steampunk enthusiasts with goggles on their hats.  But at least those folks actually wear them. – JWR o o o Instructables:  …



Notes for Sunday – October 23, 2016

Today is the birthday of French actor Gérard Blain, best known to Americans for his role in the classic African adventure film Hatari, that starred John Wayne. The film’s vehicular big game capture “rodeo” scenes are unforgettable. (They would be considered politically incorrect, these days.) o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 67 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard …


Economics and Investing:

Fortune magazine reports: Apple’s Next Goal Is Killing Paper Money Once and For All. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) o o o Saudis, China Dump Treasuries; Foreign Central Banks Liquidate A Record $346 Billion In US Paper o o o Michael Pento: Equity Bubble Has Run Out of Excuses and Time o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Michigan: Anti-Gun Lawmakers Introduce Gun and Magazine Ban Legislation o o o Reader D.S.V. sent this warning from Kim Komando: Card skimming malware infecting thousands of online retailers o o o G.G. flagged this:  NSA Can Access More Phone Data Than Ever (Thanks to John N. for the link.) o o o Since Cabela’s has been acquired by Bass Pro Shops, they now appear to be deeply discounting a lot of their “Cabelas” logo-marked camouflage clothing. 


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” – Revelation 19:5-6 (KJV)



Letter: Ammunition Purchasing OPSEC

Good morning!  I have a question regarding Operational Security (OPSEC) and buying ammunition.  I’ve tried to do my search due diligence at the SurvivalBlog site, searching multiple term combinations, but I still may have missed an existing article.  What are the most prudent OPSEC considerations for buying ammunition, other than not ‘flapping yer gums’?  Online sellers offer the best prices, but in -tore has benefits as well, though it’s much more expensive. Thanks for your time.  – Cliff JWR Replies: In essence, you will need to pay more, if you want to keep your privacy.  My advice is that f …


Economics and Investing:

The Contagion Deutsche Bank Is Spreading Is All About Derivatives o o o Mark O’Byrne: Euro Will Collapse…As It Is A House Of Cards o o o Silver Eagle Demand Returns With A Vengeance As Political & Economic Turmoil Increases o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Study: 1 in 2 American Adults Already In Facial Recognition Network. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) o o o Another DDOS Ping Flood attack: Many sites including Twitter, Shopify and Spotify suffering outage. And this article explains how it might have been done, by harnessing the processing power of hijacked The Internet of Things linked devices: When the Entire Internet Seems to Break At Once o o o Conspiracy Theorists Vindicated: FBI Docs Reveal “Shadow Government” Protecting Hillary Clinton o o o Case against Ammon Bundy heads to jury


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” – Psalm 139: 1-6 (KJV)


Notes for Friday – October 21, 2016

On this day in 1950, Chinese forces invaded Tibet, beginning a brutal occupation that still continues.  For some insight on Tibet in the late 1940s and early 1950s, I recommend the book Seven Years in Tibet. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 67 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day …


Letter Re: The National Do Not Call List

James, Yes, the national Do Not Call service will greatly reduce junk phone calls.  I’ve used it for years and have found that once every three or four years I need to reenter my information on the list.  I suppose my number starts floating around out there and gets picked up and the junk calls start again. As for political calls and political junk mail: When I register to vote I registered as an independent or unaffiliated voter.  I can still vote in the primary, but the best part is I no longer get a bunch of email from a …


Economics and Investing:

I’m going to go out on a limb and make a prediction as of today (October 21, 2016):  I am convinced that as long as the Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP) continues, there will be a strong demand for not just mattress money but also for physical silver and gold.  So I’m now going on record as saying: There should be a steady bull market in the monetary metals for as long as NIRP is in place.  Meanwhile the industrial metals will probably continue to be in the doldrums.  This explains why an ounce of platinum is now selling for …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader C.S. recommended this web site for trauma care training resources:  NAEMT.org TCCC. o o o BHO’s latest Executive Order: Coordinating Efforts to Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events.  JWR’s Comment:  Someone must have reminded his cabinet Science Adviser that the risk of X-Class solar flares is greatest during prolonged sunspot minimums–just as we are now experiencing.  And it is noteworthy that many of the same infrastructure protective steps for surviving solar flares also protect systems from electromagnetic pulse (EMP.) o o o Reader B.B. sent us this: NRA-ILA: Hillary Clinton Supports Australia-style Gun Confiscation o o o H.L. …