In the Odds ‘n Sods column today, there is a link about the general bias of the SPLC. To add to that, one of our readers informed us:
“I thought I should draw your attention to an article that contains a reference to ‘Patriots, A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse,’ where it is described as a ‘radical survivalist book’ being marketed by a neo-Nazi activist April Gaede, who apparently receives commissions from Amazon for any sales that are linked to her website.” – W.B.
JWR Responds: The irony of this, of course, is that the “radical survivalist book” (Patriots) is distinctly anti-racist. While claiming to be “Fighting Hate”, the SPLC certainly seems to have plenty of hate of its own. They lump everyone that they dislike into the “hate groups” category. Like an enormous manure-spreading machine (versus a precision rifle), the accuracy of the SPLC’s aim is just vaguely in one direction.
To have law enforcement intelligence fusion centers accept SPLC reports at face value (which we have seen they often do) demonstrates one of the great vulnerabilities of The Information Age. If those who we pay and entrust to protect society cannot filter out blatant propaganda then we are in deep trouble. Most ominously, the SPLC reports have been used as the basis for assembling law enforcement watch lists. It takes no great stretch of the imagination to envision in some future crisis that those same watch lists could morph into “No Fly/No Buy” lists, “No Entrance” lists for public events, or worse. Even today, if the watch lists are keyed to motor vehicle and drivers license records, then they could escalate a routine traffic stop into a massacre of innocents, if an excitable highway patrolman gets a “flag” when they run a license plate check (or if their cruiser does it for them, with the rapidly emerging automated license plate scanner technology).
Legitimate intelligence agencies always warn their analysts about the dangers of “single source intelligence”. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for our intelligence and law enforcement communities.
o o o
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 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,
- Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
- A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
- A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
- A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
- A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
- A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
- Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
- KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
- APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
- TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.
Second Prize:
- A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand,
- A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589.
- A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
- $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
- A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
- A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
- Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
- EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles, is donating a $250 gift certificate,
- Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
- Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
- TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
- Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.
Third Prize:
- A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
- A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
- Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
- Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
- A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
- Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
- Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.
Round 51 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.