The vast majority of readers voted in favor leaving SurvivalBlog the way its is–predominantly text, for minimum bandwidth. I did learn that man readers would like more links to off-site graphics and videos. I also learned that I need to warn folks when a link is to a video, so that their mobile devices aren’t overwhelmed or “blow their budget” on bandwidth . So henceforth I will try to include the word “video” in those text links,
Dear JWR, Last spring, with the ammo shortage clearing the shelves everywhere, I found myself in a position to expand my collection. I decided on a Ruger .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk, with the 7" barrel. Legal for whitetail in my state, you see. Having neglected to actually check the retail supply, I assumed that the shortage would be primarily the military calibers (9mm Para, .45 ACP, 5.56mm NATO, .308, and 7.62x39mm) with the civilian calibers being readily available. Experienced wheelgunners are already laughing. Took me a month to track down 100 rounds of basic .44 Magnum. Eventually, diligent checking at …
Andre D. forwarded this Reuters article link: Insight: Europe faces moment of truth on banks, with flawed defenses Mike Rowe on the Hidden Cost of Compliance (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: IT’S A SCANDAL: New Budget Agreement Doesn’t Contain Extended Benefits For The Unemployed New Wave Of US Mortgage Troubles Threaten Europe Repeating Japan’s Errors As Deflation Draws Closer
Ken W. suggested: Proper Field Dressing in Today’s CWD World o o o Frequent content contributor F.J. sent this from MIT Technology Review: How Remote Places Can Get Cellular Coverage by Doing It Themselves With Swedish telephone numbers and a tree-bound base station, a remote Indonesian village runs its own telecommunications company. o o o H.L. sent: Rhode Island town voting on recall after gun-permit row o o o Construction of secret hiding places. (Thanks to Pete S. for the link.) o o o Video: J. McC. mentioned a 1950s Special Forces training film (now on …
"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching." – Gerard Way
Today marks the birthday of Simo Häyhä (born 1905, died April 1, 2002.) He was the world’s most successful sniper. Using an iron-sighted Mosin–Nagant in Finland’s Winter War, he had an astounding 505 confirmed sniper kills. — Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,400+ 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. …
The service has ended, we say goodbye to our friends, wait for everyone to leave then lock up the church. The drive home takes only a few minutes and when we arrive my wife and I take off and secure our weapons and conduct a debrief on any problems we encountered during the service. Not exactly the Norman Rockwell version of a day in church. I realize that the fact that someone would carry a weapon in church is appalling to many people. However, before you begin stereotyping Christians as right-wing radicals, ask yourself a few questions. When you were …
Mr. Rawles, Is there any way that I can avoid enrolling in Obamacare? (I believe that abortion is sinful and there’s no way I want to support it.) Thanks, – Debra L. JWR Replies: As currently enacted, the Affordable Care Act (commonly called “Obamacare)” contains a special exemption provision for members of healthcare sharing ministries. One of the best of these is called Medi-share. A similar plan–and even less expensive per month–is available from Samaritan Ministries.
Dear Editor: I live an in area that is considered to have excellent water, however with time and age the delivery system is having some issues. I am a great water drinker so this is an important matter to me personally, not withstanding any kind of a meltdown. A friend of mine recommended that I buy a Berkey brand water filter. So I researched and of course found that they are not cheap. Being one that does so much with alternative purchases such as yard, estate type sales I almost choked when I heard the price. I contacted LPC Survival …
Gary Marbut (one of the originators of the now famous “Made in Montana” guns law) has proposed novel legislation: The Constitutional Settlements Commission of the States o o o R.B.S. sent: Lt. Gov: In rural Idaho, quite a lot of hostility. o o o A larger American Redoubt? PPP Poll: Colorado Getting Redder . (A hat tip to to H.L. for the link.) o o o He never even really had to apply or interview… Harsin agrees to five year $6.5 million contract with Boise State. (So…. Does the extra advertising and scholarship revenue of a “winning” …
Reader Tom H. sent: Price of silver could double because of Apple Washington & Wall-Street: The Death of Money. (Thanks to both Gregg P. and to Jeff in Texas for the link.) C.D.V. sent this: Yet Another Massive Nail In The Dollar’s Coffin Items from The Economatrix: Richard Russell – US May Destroy The World Monetary System The One Topic No One Is Discussing Congressional Odd Couple Finally Strikes a Budget Deal
Here is a clever new product, from Israel: The Recover Grip and Rail “skin.” Note: These won’t be available until after SHOT Show but you can pre-order. o o o Gregg P. mentioned this great example of trans-national dependencies and the JIT food supply chain: Map shows what it takes to make one single jar of Nutella o o o K.T. recommended this great reference site: Exterior Ballistics o o o I’ve warned you about Common Core. Beware the “New New Math” in CC math textbooks. (I suppose these should be called “Al Gore Rhythms,” since Gore …
"True education makes you feel stupid. It makes you realize you have so much more to learn." – Robert Kiyosaki
Today is the birthday of Philip K. Dick (born 1928, died March 2, 1982.) He penned a remarkable number of sci-fi novels and novellas that have been adapted into movies including Blade Runner, Total Recall, Screamers, Impostor, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, Next, and The Adjustment Bureau. Though he had a troubled personal life (with drug use and several failed marriages), his captivating books certainly had a knack for envisioning potential futures.
This year saw a battle for the direction of precious metals waged between speculators and short-term “paper gold” traders in the West, against record-breaking physical demand in the East. That physical demand from Asia reached new highs in 2013, underpinning a market that saw the outflows from precious metals ETFs eagerly snapped up by the Chinese and Indians. Gold and silver ended the year about where they ended 2010, while platinum was down only slightly from 2012. Palladium was the big performer, doing even better in 2013 than last year, but not as well as the all-time high reached in …