Odds ‘n Sods:

I just heard that Ready Made Resources (one of our long-time advertisers) has added Tac-Con 3MR triggers for AR-10s and AR-15s to their product line. They are ATF-approved as a legal semi-automatic trigger group. This video shows one in action. Amazing!

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For those looking for a “more traditional” way of obtaining gold, the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket might just be the key. – Sent in by DSV.

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Retired U.S. Tax Court Judge Indicted For Tax Evasion While She Sat On The Court – CPL

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Is it a camper or a boat? – It looks like it does neither particularly well, but it does both. – G.P.

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The land-use rights movement continues: Utah ranchers vow to stand up to government despite Oregon arrests – RBS

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“You know rather than the recession being resisted, it should be embraced. Because the disease is all this debt financed consumption, and the cure is we stop consuming and start saving and producing again, and that’s a recession. You know sometimes medicine taste bad but you got to swallow it.” – Peter Schiff

Notes for Wednesday – April 06, 2016

This is the birthday of Lowell Thomas.

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Camping Survival is having a successful grand opening in Sanford, North Carolina. If you stop by and mention SurvivalBlog, you will receive a free, autographed copy of JWR’s book Survivors. Hurry, there are only a few left. When they are gone, they are gone!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 64 ends on May 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.

The Sole Purpose of the 2nd Amendment, by Plain Jane Prepper

Unless you have had your head in the sand for the last few months, you know that 2016 is an election year, and this is perhaps the most competitive and heated election we have experienced in many years. Like him or not, it seems apparent to me and many others that President Obama has ignited some of the most divisive rhetoric and heated political arguments in recent history.

One thing Americans have always seemed to do is accept each others’ differences. However, a major rift in ideals has been exposed (and perpetuated), the likes of which I have not seen in my lifetime. And yes, it is sad. Any progress seems to have been erased through this administration.

The one argument that I fear most is the desire of many Americans to do away with, or limit, the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. Changing anything in the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, is very dangerous to our ideals, traditions, principles, and subsequently to our very way of life. However, most importantly, it threatens the freedoms that so many Americans cherish and have subsequently fought and died for.

Having grown up in small towns in rural areas, primarily in the south, I learned to target shoot at an early age. My father made sure I knew how to handle a firearm. He went even further to make sure that I understood the potential destruction that a firearm would inflict upon tin cans, animals, and humans alike. Of course, we did not shoot any humans, but after witnessing the destruction that a firearm might inflict upon animals (via hunting) and various non-living targets, I was very clear.

Firearms were no more than just another inanimate object laying around the house. Without a user, they were not inherently dangerous, but they were to be respected. A firearm was a tool, a source of protection, or a means to secure food. Likewise, target shooting was a skill that could be learned and enjoyed by girls and boys alike, with true equality. Target shooting was good, clean fun. No drugs, profanity, alcohol, or immorality was involved in the sport. It taught us responsibility, respect, discipline, and maturity. As a child, I did not view guns as foreign, evil, dangerous, or a mystery. As I said, they were merely an inanimate object like many others, albeit they were not by any means a toy.

Many Americans, in fact I would venture to say that “most” Americans, when speaking on behalf of or in favor of the 2nd Amendment, seem to tout the virtues of personal protection. However, I would argue they are getting it all wrong.

While it is true that the gun can be used for personal protection, the primary purpose of the 2nd Amendment has very little if anything at all to do with personal protection. Our forefathers all carried a firearm. Firearms were part of their everyday life. They were used to procure food and even in some cases to settle disputes. (Do you remember Alexander Hamilton?)

Were they used in violent crimes? Sure! Train Robbers, bank robbers, horse thieves, cattle rustlers, bar fights, murders, and other similar criminal activities were evil deeds performed usually with a firearm at the ready. The only thing separating the winners from the losers were their firearms skills and perhaps the element of surprise.

But our forefathers weren’t concerned with all of that when they entered the 2nd Amendment into the Bill of Rights. They had a much more important function in mind– the absolute guarantee of ALL of our other God-given rights. So, the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with making us safer or protecting us from each other. The 2nd Amendment was written into the Constitution as means to insure all of our other rights against a tyrannical government. Quite a lot of people are afraid to say this these days, but this is your history, as an American citizen.

The 2nd Amendment was, for lack of a better phrase, “Balance of Force”. An armed citizenry would be better able to exercise control over its government, and the forefathers warned us about the temptations of power in government. I believe Thomas Jefferson said it best in several quotations:

“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787

“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistence. Let them take arms.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787

“The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Cartwright, 5 June 1824

As a bonus, here is a quote from Mr. Jefferson’s book regarding personal protection:

“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” – Thomas Jefferson, Commonplace Book (quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776

And this quote seems quite ominous:

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.” – Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, October 10, 1787

“Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

Those men were very wise and in modern words, they saw the “Big Picture”. I would encourage all to think gun control through to its very end.

If our government becomes so intrusive as to test people before they can own/operate a firearm, then what is to stop them from refusing your right to own/operate a firearm or to stop them from taking your firearms for no reason other than to place a subjective label on you (or me) that we are too dangerous in our thinking to own or operate a firearm? Thus leaving us defenseless against our own government. Also, if our government knows who owns a firearm, they know where they are and precisely where then to go to confiscate every firearm in the country.

With an unarmed citizenry, what is to stop your government from taking ALL of your God-given rights and freedoms? Do you truly believe in man’s ability to resist the temptation of complete power and control over others? We are human beings, and that ugly tendency resides in most of us. Very few men can resist the temptation to rule. It is part of our DNA to favor one group over another, or favor our own family over another, or favor girls over boys, or boys over girls, or looks over brains, or brains over looks, or  _____________(insert category here) over another, or those who can or will do something for us over those who cannot or will not. You see this behavior in businesses, churches, schools, politics, the playground, and every other facet of our lives.

This is not a negative view; it is a realistic one. After all, that very tendency is also what makes humans better able to dominate the world we live in.

So what is to stop your government from favoring one group over another? Perhaps it’s a group you are not affiliated with or part of. I will tell you. It’s the threat of expulsion. Though we can and do vote for our preferences, the voting privilege could be taken away very easily, if the public had no means of facilitating that very expulsion. It was intended that Individual Rights would (and rightfully should) always trump the rights of groups of people. Are you certain that your group will always be in a favorable position? The winds of change do blow with much force in different directions, and I might add, quite often.

Those in positions of power will always be tempted to abuse their power. Some of the worst offenders that come to mind are Hitler, Stalin, Ivan the Terrible, Caligula, Mengele, Kim Jong-Il, and his progeny– Kim Jong-Un. Roman emperors were experts at domestic terrorism and abuse of power. Why were they so successful with their brand of tyranny? Because they ruled people who had no realistic way of fighting back to defend themselves.

Our government is far too intrusive in our lives already. I do not want them poking around in my bank account, my blood, my bedroom, my family, my workplace, my gun vault, my mind, or my children’s minds. Those who believe the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with those things are short-sited and miss the point of the 2nd Amendment. It would be prudent to read a little history about the 2nd Amendment, its purpose, and also on the history of dictatorships, tyrants, and how they initially gained and subsequently retained control of the populace.

It is my belief that the 2nd Amendment is our last hope of remaining a free society, because “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. This, my friends, is the sole purpose of the 2nd Amendment, and we need to start saying that out loud.

Suggested Reading: The Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Thanks for reading!

Letter Re: Mechanically Interlocked Panel

Hugh,

I’ve had a “prepper” mindset for most of my life (I’m in my late 40’s) and find the information contained in your blog to be some of the best on the web. I try to read the blog often but have never submitted a piece based on my experiences. Today I was perusing SurvivalBlog when I realized that I have some information that may be helpful to your readers. It will definitely save anyone considering wiring their home for a back-up genset considerable money as well as simplify its operation. One who is considering this project typically will read that the only safe way to wire a back-up generator to your service is through a transfer switch. There is another way that I contend is safer, much less expensive, and simpler.panel It’s called a mechanically interlocked breaker panel cover. Basically how it works is this: a receptacle is installed outside the home where the generator is plugged in. That receptacle is then wired to a breaker in the panel (mine is a 30 amp breaker). This breaker is typically located in the uppermost right slot on the panel. This breaker can not be thrown to the “on” position without lifting an integral gate on the panel cover that can only be lifted by shutting “off” the main breaker. Once this is accomplished, you simply switch whatever circuits you DON’T want off by their breakers. Then you can start the generator. It is foolproof and positive, and the only part that needs to be purchased is a new panel cover with the interlock. The cover is much less than $50. The savings are multiplied by the ease of installation. Another benefit to those who may have limited space near their panel to mount a common transfer switch is that this product takes up no more space than your existing electrical panel.

“Back feeding” a panel by any other means is dangerous to utility workers and possibly firefighters who would respond to your residence. I submit this information as a professional firefighter and have had mine installed in my primary residence by a co-worker who is also a Master electrician. It meets all existing electrical codes and is as simple as throwing a switch. The only drawback that I can see is that it is purely manual. I hope your readers can benefit from this information and save substantial cash over a commercially available transfer switch. – MM

Economics and Investing:

Was There A Run On The Bank? JPM Caps Some ATM Withdrawals – DSV

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The Boomer Retirement Meme Is A Big Lie

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

Fed Loosens Key Post-Financial Crisis Banking Rule (Washington Examiner) Excerpt: “The impact of the rule will be to increase demand for such bonds, lowering the interest rates that states and cities must pay to finance roads, bridges, buildings and other spending projects. It will also make it easier for banks to meet the liquidity requirement.”

Wall Street’s Latest Dirty Word – Stagflation (CNBC) Excerpt: “Stagflation, or conditions in which costs are rising but growth is not, last was seen in the 1970s, before then-Fed Chair Paul Volcker had to push the economy into recession to slay the inflation dragon.”

Obamacare Patients Sicker and Pricier than Expected (CNN Money) Excerpt: “…the fact that these patients are sicker than expected is putting some insurers in a financial bind. Several have reported big losses and have questioned whether they can afford to remain in the Obamacare market.”

Why 80% of Obamacare Plans are Ineligible for this Tax Break (Market Watch) Excerpt: “…only 19% of health plans on the federal Obamacare marketplace were eligible for health savings accounts (HSAs), even though the vast majority of them had high deductibles.”

International News

Saudi Arabia Can’t Stop Spending Its Foreign Cash (Business Insider) Excerpt: “The country is now running a massive budget deficit, just shy of $100 billion (£72.2 billion), as it refuses to cut spending even though oil receipts are down.”

How Cheap Oil is Transforming the Saudi Economy (The Fiscal Times) Excerpt: “The fiscal squeeze is forcing some changes. First, the Saudi government is looking at new taxes, including a 5 percent value added tax (VAT). That may seem like a run-of-the-mill austerity measure, but for Saudi Arabia it is a novel proposal: it will be the first tax imposed in the country.”

Saudi Arabia Plans $2 Trillion Megafund for Post-Oil Era: Deputy Crown Prince (Bloomberg) Excerpt: “As part of that strategy, the prince said Saudi will sell shares in Aramco’s parent company and transform the oil giant into an industrial conglomerate. The initial public offering could happen as soon as next year, with the country currently planning to sell less than 5 percent.”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

36 Ways to Lower Your Power Bill this Summer (Just Plain Living)

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Readers’ Recommendations of the Week:

SurvivalBlog reader DMS writes in: I only have one faith-based movie to recommend this week for good reason– it stands alone! It comes with one question, one statement, and one warning. The question: What are you doing right now?? The statement: Yes, we have lost rights. Let’s take them back the same way we lost them– one right at a time. The warning: If you lost one of my brothers or sisters who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice, the ending of the movie may be too much. (I had a tough moment but a good wife.) Okay, the movie is Last Ounce of Courage. It’s a story of faith, family, and freedom.

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Two highly recommended sports movies, both based on true stories.

When the Game Stands Tall The winningest high school football team in history. The important part is that’s not the important part– character is.

Woodlawn Birmingham, Alabama, during one of the worst times. A spiritual awakening began at Woodlawn High School in their football team and moved through the whole city. – C.P.

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Reader M.B. suggests two of his favorite movies (that he watches over and over again):

Culpepper Cattle Company(1972) Perhaps the best cowboy movie made IMHO. Great coming of age story, graphic violence (not glorified but realistic), and a great portrayal of the gritty and self-reliant life of the old cowboys. Preview link

Sorcerer (1977) A remake of the old French film Wages of Fear about four fugitives hired to drive trucks loaded with nitroglycerin across rugged terrain to extinguish a oil well fire sparked by terrorists. Some things never change, oil and terrorists that is. Preview link

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AM & Family suggested these movies as well:

The Debt

Argo

Super 8

War Games – An older movie but a good one.

Odds ‘n Sods:

James Wesley, Rawles was a recent guest on “The Alex Jones Show”. You can listen to the interview on YouTube. Scroll forward to the 5-minute mark for the beginning of the interview.

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Further evidence of the breakdown of the “Rule of Law” – Cop Goes Nuts When Told “God Bless You”. There is no question that as society breaks down, the job of cops gets harder, but they are held to a higher standard and they are not making it. – T.P.

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Revealed: How Associated Press Cooperated with the Nazis Note: LevinTV also aired an excellent program about this story late last week. Although it’s not surprising, it is deeply troubling with regard to the evil perpetrated against millions during the Holocaust of the past as well as the one that may yet be coming. In the broadcast, Mark Levin asked his viewers never to forget right from wrong and to stand with what is right always and most especially when times are the toughest. – Submitted by T.A.

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Judge sends homeschoolers to ‘fake’ court Now faces accusations of “improper intimidation and retaliation” – Sent in by D.S.

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March Sees Record Gun Sales – The March record is the eleventh straight monthly record for background checks. – Sent in by B.B.

Notes for Tuesday – April 05, 2016

On this day in 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe which ensured peace between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Indians for several years.

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It appears that Northwest Territorial Mint is seeking bankruptcy protection. The company lost a lawsuits where the $37 million judgment is disputed. (It is likely to be appealed.) SurvivalBlog’s queries have not been returned by the company and two readers have reported to us that they have orders in limbo with them.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 64 ends on May 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.

No Way!- Part 2, by J.P.

Security

Okay, so you stopped and listened and also made a plan and the necessary preparations. Good for you. But the job is not done, sorry to say. More bad news to shoot your fear factor to the moon. With panic all around you, people will not be acting nicely. They will be reacting in a mode of self-preservation for themselves and their families. “Nice” has just flew out the door. You have seen the news reports of historical disasters, where the people are screaming in the streets begging for help because they are not prepared. This power outage will be way worse! However, you are prepared. That is one secret you must keep to yourself. If word gets out that you have stuff, you’re in deep trouble.

Security, next to water, is crucial to your survival. Water is the first priority, as you can’t live without it. Security is the second priority. With no security, there’s no chance of coming through this mess alive. Security is a very big aspect of the American fabric of life. Security is everywhere. Those normal security measures will no longer protect you. Well, the dog will still bark, but that’s about it. There will be no phones to call for help. The doors are still locked but can be easily smashed in. I warned you that it was going to get worse. I can put it all on a silver platter, or I can tell you the truth. Truth will save your life (or give you the best chance of surviving), if you listen. Maybe you prefer to remain a “No Way”. I hope not.

Guns protect us from those who do not abide by the laws of the land. If someone is busting into your home, uninvited, it may well be a gun that saves your life. It is very sad times that people are not listening, not preparing, and are not ready for a disastrous event, such as a national power outage. There are people who are prepared. They know what they have to do, no matter how unpleasant it is. Other people choose to ignore the warnings to be prepared. And now, in bad times, those same people expect “the prepared ones” to give them their stuff. And if they won’t give it to them, in their panic, they will just take it. The negligent are not entitled to your stuff any more than, as today, are the bad guys breaking into your home, entitled to steal and kill.

Guns have always been the plan; you are just a late comer. However, you have to get on board if you want to be a freedom fighter for America. Without you, she is a gonner. It takes the literal “Boots on the Ground” to defend our country from the evil that is trying to overtake her. Put on some courage, and move forward with your security plan. If you don’t prepare, you are saying you like the weak, negligent state of our country, and you have no desire to change that. Good luck. History is against your plan of no plan.

When the power goes out, if you do not have a security plan to include guns, your chances for survival are limited by the ones who do have guns and want your stuff. Guts my friend, it takes guts. You will need an array of weapons. You don’t just have one tool in the kitchen or garage. It takes multiple tools to contend with multiple scenarios. Depending on how much money you have, that will determine the extent of your weoponary. Do the best that you can, and over time your security plan can build. Start with a handgun and work up from there. A handgun is very portable and can be concealed when required. Above all, make sure you know the gun laws of your state and abide by them. If you use your gun in an unlawful manner, you will suffer the consequences.

Okay. We got that settled. I have scared you pretty well now. No, because you already decided to be of good courage and are going to be a fighter and not a victimized wimp. Hey, it’s hard doing the right thing. It’s easy to do nothing. I am proud of you for getting this far in this article. Yet, reading is one thing; doing is another. Today is the “Day Before”, as you see on TV all the time. If you read this and do nothing, you will be kicking yourself eternally. You will find yourself in tomorrow with no plan. You have to imagine yourself in the “bad times” and examine how you would feel. Your family will say, “Why didn’t you do something to protect us?”. You are going to make a plan, and your family is going to be very thankful that you had the courage to stop, look, and listen. You are already an American hero or heroine, a person of action and purpose, and not a bystander.

Here are some simple rules to assist your security decision-making:

Rule #1 – Do not attract attention to yourself. You want to be invisible and quiet, especially at night. In the daytime, be quiet and stealthy. Obviously a night fire is not a good idea. A billowing cooking fire in the daytime says come on down. Your plan has to contend with this scenario. Plan how to cook stealthily, and plan how to see without being seen at night. Invest in Night Vision Goggles (NVG); they are a must. Invest in Infra-Red flashlights to use with the NVG’s. You will be able to see intruders and they won’t be able to see you. Invest in propane, clean smokeless cooking. You are essentially a small, military recon unit that must evade the enemy (the takers) at all cost.

RULE #2 – Do not shoot anyone, if at all possible to avoid. Once you shoot someone, you will attract great attention to yourselves and be in grave danger of attack. The someone you shoot is someone’s loved one. They are trying to survive as well. Intruders will force you to shoot them, because they will be so desperate. You must establish methods of discouraging people to intrude your boundaries. You may choose to reveal a huge “Display of Force”– one that will convince them to go away and not come back. Guns are the only means of making that display work. In any case, no compromise can be made that will jeopardize your family’s safety. Shooting is an absolute last resort but not a “never”. Keep in mind the bad guys do not have rules of engagement to follow. Trust no one! Last resort, shoot or be shot.

RULE #3 – Do not get shot, if at all possible. Once you or a family member is shot, odds are not in your favor of a recovery, depending on the location of the wound. You have a trauma kit and can stop the bleeding. You do not have surgical skills. To avoid being shot, position yourself in a stealthy manner. Hide behind things, when possible. Do not be caught standing out in the open waiting for a sniper hit. Keep moving; a moving target is hard to hit. Use the tactic of firing your weapon and moving immediately. Your weapon blast and sound gives away your position. Pre-position hiding spots around your abode. Also, arrange your property so there is only one way in and out. It’s called the funnel effect. Only a small target area requires defending. Also, remember, your house is like “screen doors in a submarine” when it comes to bullets. They go through walls like tissue paper. A house wall is zero protection.

RULE #4 – Befriend your neighbors ahead of time. They can be your defense team or your foe. A team of neighbors is a great defense to farther-out predators. Choose friends wisely.

RULE #5 – Scam-proof your brain. When people are desperate, truth goes out the door as well. People will approach you with great stories of need of help. Do not let anyone in your perimeter, no one! Have compassion on them and send them on their way. You cannot help them. A naïve sucker will be overtaken immediately by these scams. You are responsible for your family. There may be an extenuating circumstance but that’s unlikely. There are no second chances in bad times. You are your own fire department, police department and hospital. There is no one to call for help.

RULE #6 – Death-proof your brain. Many people are going to die. Unprepared people are going to run out of water, food, and medicine. Some are going to be overrun by looters and killed. Death will be all around you. You must be mentally prepared for this. If you give your stuff away, you will soon be dead as well. You were warned, and you responded. They were warned, and they chose not to respond. It was their responsibility to protect their families, and they neglected that. You must be ready to deal with this.

RULE #7 – It will get better. No matter the storm, the sun always comes out afterward. How long will that be, who knows. It could be months or years. The reason it will get better is because you stuck it out. You were not a quitter. Fear did not overtake you. There are many many other “Yes Way/I Can” people who will survive. Therein lies the new beginning. Faith, Hope, and Love will prevail, not evil.

RULE #8 – Your Home Defense. In the very early weeks of a power outage, people will be crazy. If you decide to protect from inside the home, you may become sitting ducks, waiting to be picked off. Inside, you have no idea what is going on outside. Outside, you know all that is going on. With NVG’s, you can see all that is going on at night, which is a most likely time for an attack. Give serious consideration to protecting your home from outside during the first three weeks or so. The takers will think you are inside asleep.

So, my friends, get with it, get your plan moving. Time is wasting. Today is the day before. Don’t be caught with your pants down. Be ready, be brave! That’s the American Spirit! God be with you.

Letter Re: Backup Electric Power Design Considerations, Expat and Other Thoughts

HJL:

Welding cable is a fine way to cut amperage loss in your line. However, since it is intended by the manufacturer to be used for welding and not solar system, it is labeled for welding and not labeled for building installation. Code inspectors want to see a certain label. They will not accept deviation. After all, an abundance of engineering went into what is in that code. Welding cable use would make pulling a system when bugging out much easier. (I am assuming there are a range of “bugging out” versions with regard to situational haste.)

Since you cannot defend a fixed position, my preps are done with an eye to rapid transportation. Supplies do not sit on shelves. They sit in bins, buckets, or ammunition cans that sit on shelves.

The introduction to Enphase’s products is very enlightening. I encourage Expat to go read. I found the technological advances exciting. (The prospect of saving money does that to me.) An inverter that is smart enough to push power into my electrical system and cut my power bill is very advantageous. Shaving a kilowatt hour or two off my electric bill 10 hours a day would be very nice when the air conditioning is running. The possibility of a 3-year cash out on the investment is very encouraging. Of course, I am talking about cooling a 7,000 foot antique store in the south and not an off grid homestead. So the equipment pays for itself and I can pull it if push comes to shove.

I will also note that the father with the 300-gallon gas tank that was used over two years without additives could probably tear down, clean, and reassemble a two stroke carburetor with his eyes closed. Stabil has saved me the annual $55 trip to the mower repair. Finding and stocking a supply of “no eth” fuel has been another big saver. I’ll also mention the magic substance known as Sea Foam, which has apparently been around since the 40’s but only entered my kin a year or so ago. For the guy that is not yet that good at maintaining a two stroke being able to aspirate Sea Foam is a big money saver. It seems to dissolve fuel line at a slower rate than carb cleaner and it gets that last little bit of crud out of the way. – R.V.

News From The American Redoubt:

The Freedom March Continues! (Study this animated map. We are winning.) The recent success in the enactment of Constitutional Carry in Idaho (going into effect on July 1st) was good news. It set the stage for similar laws to be passed in other western, mid-western, and southern states. But the law was far from perfect. It did not include permitless concealed carry on college campuses. This leaves college students vulnerable at Gun Free Zones. (Read: Possible future massacre sites.) It also neglected to allow gun owners visiting from out of state to exercise their rights. I believe that the next logical steps in this ongoing struggle for individual liberty are, in sequence: 1.) Reciprocity between all states that recognize Constitutional Carry. 2.) Recognition of Constitutional Carry rights for visitors from contiguous states (recognizing that people often cross over for shopping and social visits), and 3.) Finally, Recognition of Constitutional Carry rights for visitors from ALL states. Contact your legislators. Remind them that they are elected to be the representatives of your will. – JWR

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Malheur Eyewitnesses Reject Allegations Of $6 Million In Damages. – Sent in by RBS

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Oregon PERS unfunded liability swells to $21 billion. – RBS

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Free Set of Idaho Law Books (12,500 Pounds! Located in Sagle, Idaho)

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Reader SMD pointed us to Claire Wolfe’s recent post with some background on Idaho’s new Constitutional Carry law.

Economics and Investing:

Retail job cuts spike 41% in Q1

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Will TurboTax Boycott Lead To Free Government-Prepared Tax Returns? – PLC

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

America is Facing a Pension Time Bomb (Nerd Wallet) Excerpt: “Of the 50 states, only Wisconsin’s pension system has a surplus. Other states, such as Illinois, have pension debt that is over 50% unfunded, meaning that unless changes are made, the state will be able to pay less than half of promised retirement payments to current workers.”

Philadelphia’s $5.7 Billion “Quiet Crisis” (Financial Times via CNBC)

Yellen’s New Emphasis for Interest Rates (Washington Examiner) Excerpt: “One clear implication of Yellen stressing the neutral rate is that it means that the specific rates targeted by the Fed in the months and years ahead will be less predictable and more tied to incoming economic data that in turn gives hints of the neutral rate.”

International News

Brazil: Economic Collapse Worse than Feared (CNN Money) Excerpt: “…Brazil’s central bank announced Thursday that it now expects the country’s economy to shrink 3.5% this year.”

Argentina Lawmakers Win Approval for Debt Deal (BBC News)

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Frugality is My Hobby (Frugalwoods) Excerpt: “It’s easy to get lulled into thinking Mr. Frugalwoods and I have achieved peak frugality, but no sooner do I make that assumption than I’m confronted with a means to save even more!”

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Odds ‘n Sods:

Serious Smoking Guns on Hitlery, written by a liberal: Do I Really Need to Worry About Hillary’s Emails? Yes. She Should Be Indicted. (Full Form)

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Spooked Neighbor Shoots Drone Out of the Sky As It Performed Legal Surveillance for Construction Company – Sent in by W.G.

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Since a drivers license is not required to ride a bicycle, I’m curious how these “speeding tickets” are issued. Papers please! Marin County Cops Using Radar Guns to Ticket speeding BICYCLISTS (Subscription required to read the full story.) – Sent in by T.P.

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Other Than Mexicans Just Walk Across Our Border Unimpeded…Video – The scope of the open boarder policy is almost unbelievable! – B.B.

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How Bad Would A Radiological Terror Attack Be? – Sent in by A.D.