Cybersecurity: A Systemvault Primer, by D.P.

Welcome to all the brave souls that didn’t scream and/or quickly scroll on when reading the title. I know a fair percentage of SurvivalBlog readers are concerned about OPSEC, but what about your electronic OPSEC? Is it as good as it should be? As good as it could be? I promise you won’t have to read the entire submission but you should take a look at the first few paragraphs to determine if its something you need to address. If you do, you can always try to find some trusted help in securing your systems. During the second half of …


Two Letters Re: Building Your Own No-FFL AR From an 80% Complete Receiver

Dear JWR, Regarding the recent article by “Nomad”: I strongly urge all AR-15 owners to get an 80% complete lower receiver, even if you do not finish it now.  [Under American jurisprudence,] if gun confiscation comes, the only thing that must be turned in is the stripped lower receiver.  The BATFE recognizes that the stripped lower receiver constitutes the firearm as it contains the serial number.  The rest IS NOT a “firearm”, by their own regulations.  With the non-registered (as per regulations, again) lower receiver, you can build a fully functioning AR-15 that is not on their books. – Carl …


Economics and Investing:

Six Reasons Why the Government Is Destroying the Dollar Big COMEX Gold Withdrawals & New Record Low Dealer Inventory K.F. flagged this: $10 Billion Bitcoin Goes Live On Overstock! Items from The Economatrix: 15 Disappearing Middle-Class Jobs Dr. Paul Craig Roberts-U.S. Markets Rigged by its Own Authorities–It Blows the Mind Deep Freeze Puts $5 Billion Chill On Economy


Odds ‘n Sods:

Terry H. was the first to send: How to open a can with your bare hands. Oh, and if the can is short, then see this video.    o o o Our friend Tam at the great View From The Porch blog mentioned that Colt has added a handy serial number lookup service to their web site.    o o o R.B.S. sent: Like to Travel???? The Places You’re Most Likely to Get Kidnapped    o o o Long-time content contributor KAF suggested this article in JAMA: Comparing Diabetes Medications: Where Do We Set the Bar?    o o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: …


Notes from JWR:

Please pray for the folks who are stranded by vehicles with dead batteries or frozen fuel lines, or without water, or cleaning up after burst pipes. All of these have happened with the recent severe cold spell in much of the United States. Hopefully folks have learned from this, and they will become better prepared. — Camping Survival has announced a “Free Shipping Friday”, with free shipping on orders over $150. This promotion is only running today (Friday 01/10/2014, from 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m.) Some heavy items with minimal markup are excluded. (See their web site for details.) No …


Off-Grid Electronics, by D. Smith

When I am looking for electronics for my cabin that is so far back in the woods it is cost-prohibitive to get grid power, I look for certain things: Low energy use, flexibility of use,and a long service life. I don’t have a lot of extra room in my cabin but I love to read, so I have an e-book reader. Several years ago, I bought a book scanner and scanned in most of my books to make them e-books. Some people say this is a legal gray area but I have no moral qualms about format shifting an item …


Letter Re: How To Use Your IRA /401k to Fund a Survival Retreat Property

Dear SurvivalBloggers, How do you use your IRA /401k to fund survival property or fund a startup business in the area you want to exit to? I have been running into many of my clients here in the north east, way outside the American Redoubt, that want to take greater control over their 401k or IRA’s that have accumulated over a period of time. Being a reader of this web site for a number of years, I felt that I could explain to your readers thru a simple monograph of what an individual or group of individuals could accomplish with …


Economics and Investing:

Reader C.J.C. suggested this piece by Lars Seier Christensen, the founder of Saxo Bank: What is the broader relevance of Ayn Rand for society? Extreme Cold Weather Freezes US Fuel Supply Items from The Economatrix: Unemployment Benefits Clear Senate Hurdle Employment Recovery? 1,600 Workers Apply For Just 36 Jobs At An Ice Cream Plant In Maryland How Will The Economy Improve In 2014 If Almost Everyone Has Less Money To Spend?


Odds ‘n Sods:

I just heard about the Buckmaster, a 7 Band, 300 Watt ham radio off-center feed (OCF) antenna that currently sells at a special price of $207. (The regular list price is $273.) It is manufactured by the same folks who operate the widely-visited Ham Call web site that lists more than 9.8 million amateur radio call signs from over 200 countries, also available on DVD.    o o o Reader K.A.F. mentioned an upcoming free online Survival Summit from January 20th to 26th, 2014.    o o o B.B. sent this interesting news: 3D Printed metal gun hitting the market    …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,700+ 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.) B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) …


Non-Internet Social Networking for TEOTWAWKI, by A.K. in Kansas

If you have finally decided to take the plunge and eliminate social networks from your life (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), the skills for maintaining interpersonal relationships should not be completely thrown by the wayside.  Over the course of the last five years our “group” has created a network of people that has proven to be very valuable.  One disclaimer that I must put forth is that the flippant nature of social networking on-line must be completely discounted as OPSEC is paramount.  I would never bring someone into my home to have contact with my family or include them in my preps …


Letter Re: Lessons From The Polar Vortex Invasion

Dear Mr. Rawles, This week has been a wake-up call for me. Living in the Deep South, I have never worried too much about being too cold. We have made quilts and have had many quilts passed down to us when my wife and I married. We had more quilts given to us when our daughter was born. But, our electric heat pump loses its efficiencies when the temperature is below freezing. Using natural gas is not cheap and the price varies based on the economic principals of supply and demand. We have never had to worry about our pets …


Economics and Investing:

C.J.A. spotted this news: One Week Into 2014, UK Royal Mint Runs Out Of Gold Coins North Carolina Sheriff Swaps Out 2 Vintage Tommy Guns for 88 new ARs. (Thanks to T.P. for the link.) Dr. Paul Craig Roberts-U.S. Markets Rigged by its Own Authorities–It Blows the Mind Items from The Economatrix: Doug Casey: “We’re Really Close To The Edge Of The Precipice” A The Prepper Podcast: Three Warning Signs That A Financial Crash Is Imminent Here Is The Most Frightening Prediction For 2014