Economics and Investing:

25 Myths Broke People Believe. – T.A.

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The Petrostate Hex – how fluctuating oil prices affect currency valuations – T.A.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Going Back To What Works: Gold Is Money Again – Was aware of what Utah did in 2011 but didn’t know this. Interesting..

Traders Now See Fed First Hiking Rates in 2016 – How many times can these lemmings be fooled? The Fed is not hiking rates unless it did so in a minor way and for a short period of time. It is too dangerous to their credibility to raise rates to have to cut them again. It’s easier to pretend that they will and always come up with an excuse.

Could Negative Rates be Next on the Fed’s Policy Menu?– Of course it is. This is why they have already been declaring a war on cash worldwide. It is a good article explaining some of what the plan will be.

Bullard Slams “Unsavory” Jim Cramer’s “Permanent Cheerleading,” Admits “Fed Can’t Support Stocks Forever”

Notes for Monday – September 21, 2015

On this day in 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold met with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word “traitor”. It’s too bad the current crop of politicians are not held accountable for their treasonous acts.

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Camping Survival is currently having a sale on Mountain House. It’s a good time to stock up, but it’s going fast.

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: GLOCK 43 9mm Subcompact

Back in 1987, while living in Colorado Springs, CO, I used to haunt Longs Drugs. It was a huge drug store chain that carried a pretty good selection of handguns, and plenty of ammo was available, too. I only recall purchasing a couple of firearms from them. The first one was a new GLOCK 17 9mm with a 17-rd magazine, which was unheard of, for the most part, back then. Most 9mm handguns had a 15-rd capacity, and then there was that “plastic” frame. Everyone back then just knew that you could sneak a plastic framed handgun on a plane. WRONG!!! However, to this day, the ill-informed politicians still tout the “GLOCK 7”, even though there is no such model, as a gun used by hijackers to take over a plane. They often refer to the “GLOCK 7” as a ceramic handgun. WOW! I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t much care to fire any gun made out of ceramic material; it would blow up in your hand.

I was totally impressed with my new GLOCK 17. It never missed a beat and would fire any kind of 9mm ammo you could feed it. I often carried the GLOCK 17 during my many treks into the Rocky Mountains, panning for gold, which was a waste of time but fun, or just out hiking. I had a lot of confidence in that “plastic” handgun. The only thing I didn’t care for was that the magazines didn’t fall free from the gun, though that’s something GLOCK has long since corrected. I don’t recall what I ever did with that GLOCK 17. I probably traded it for something else. It’s too bad since first generation GLOCK 17s command a mighty good price these days. It easily would go for double or triple what they retailed for back then.

Many people thought that Gaston Glock, the designer of the GLOCK 17, came out with the first polymer handgun. Such is not the case. H&K was way ahead of Glock in this respect. Then we had many gun writers back then doing torture testing on the GLOCK 17, trying their best to destroy it. For sure, any gun, or any product, can be destroyed if you work at it. The GLOCK 17 was run over by cars and trucks, as well as dropped (unloaded) out of helicopters that were several hundred feet off the ground. These types of tests prove nothing. About the worst that happened was the plastic front sight broke off the guns, and GLOCK still puts plastic front and rear sights on their handguns. Then came the 5,000 and 10,000 round torture tests. Again, this proved nothing. Who fires that many rounds in one shooting session? The GLOCKs held up!

While working for the late Col. Rex Applegate from 1990-1993, I had the opportunity to work with Col. Applegate, the late Chuck Karwan, Tommy Campbell (who was at one time S&W’s top shooter), Wiley Clapp, and some others on the very first video that Paladin Press produced called “Manstoppers“, and we tested just about every double-action handgun available at the time, including the yet-to-be-introduced GLOCK 27. That prototype GLOCK had a lot of feeding problems because a proper magazine wasn’t yet in production, and we were using a modified GLOCK 26 magazine. So, my history with GLOCKs goes back quite a ways.

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I’m not sure how many different makes or models of GLOCKs are on the market these days; however, they range from subcompacts to long slide target models and everything in between. To be sure, GLOCK said they would NEVER produce a single stack version of their guns, EVER! Well, GLOCK ate those words when they came out with the Model 42– a single-stack, .380 ACP super-compact handgun. I tried one and didn’t like it. It was too small for my hand.

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Earlier this year, GLOCK came out with a single-stack 9mm subcompact pistol. I handled one but waited a few months before purchasing one. GLOCK was a little late coming to the subcompact 9mm single stack game. However, the wait was worth it, in my humble opinion. A quick look at the GLOCK 43 shows a little single-stack, 9mm handgun that only weighs slightly under 18-oz with a 3.40-inch barrel and a black polymer frame. The slide is also black with a white dot front sight. It’s still plastic, and a white outline rear sight is also still plastic. The gun comes with two 6-rd magazines– one with a flat floor plate and the other with a pinky catcher extended floor plate, which I much prefer. The GLOCK 43 is of the 4th Generation design. It has nice “checkering” on the grip, and there is also an slightly extended tang, so you don’t get bit by the slide moving back and forth. There is also the large and reversible magazine catch, which is my one complaint. It’s too big. It doesn’t need to be “that” big on such a small handgun, and many others have said the same thing.

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I have to admit that I love the way the GLOCK 43 fits my average-sized hands. It fits much better than many other subcompact 9mm handguns do. While a subcompact 9mm handgun with a 6-rd mag, one in the chamber, another 6-rd mag on the belt for a fast reload, should be more than enough ammo to get you out of a jam, I believe GLOCK could squeeze in one more round in those mags. Yeah, I know, one more round doesn’t sound like much, but when lead starts flying, you’ll realize that you don’t ever have enough ammo. I’ve never heard anyone complain about having too much ammo on hand in a gun fight or in combat. The good news is that there is one company making a pinky catcher extended magazine bottom for the GLOCK 43 that holds one more round. However, for the life of me, I can’t find that maker after reading about it on the ‘net. So, there is an option, for adding one more round in your mags if you want to. Of course, it extends the overall height of the gun a bit but not so much to really matter when properly concealing it.

I had a great selection of various 9mm on-hand for testing in the little GLOCK 43. From Black Hills Ammunition I had their 115-gr JHP +P, 124-gr JHP +P, 115-gr FMJ and their 115-gr Barnes TAC-XP all-copper hollow point, +P load. From 100_6130href=”http://www.bufflobore.com”>Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I had their 147-gr Standard Pressure Sub Sonic JHP load, 147-gr Outdoorsman Hard Cast +P, 115-gr Barnes TAC-XP all-copper hollow point +P+ and 124-gr FMJ FN +P+ load. Now, to be sure, many compact and subcompact 9mm pistols won’t function 100% of the time with +P and +P+ loads. There aren’t any gun makers that I’m aware of that recommend you shoot +P+ loads in their guns. It’s just one of those lawyer liability things, ya know.

In more than 300-rds of shooting, I had zero malfunctions with any of the above ammo. I was more than a little impressed that the GLOCK 43 didn’t have any problems with the +P+ loads. I would have bet good money that it would have malfunctioned with those loads. I thought the slide would be moving too fast back and forth and it wouldn’t allow the magazine spring to feed the next round up there fast enough. My fears were unfounded. I will say though, shooting +P and +P+ loads in this little GLOCK really let me know I had something powerful there. I wouldn’t recommend a steady diet of +P or +P+ loads though this gun. Getting a little practice here and there, so you know the gun will function with those loads, if that’s what you want to carry for self-defense, is more than enough. Extended shooting with hotter loads, shortens the life of any handgun – keep that in mind!

I did my accuracy testing at 15 yards, standing, two-handed with no rest of any sort. If I did my part, I could get three-inch groups with the Black Hills 124-gr JHP +P load, and that would be my preferred carry load for self-defense work. The Buffalo Bore 147-gr JHP Subsonic load was biting on the heels of the Black Hills load in the accuracy department. All other loads were still under four inches at 15 yards, if I did my part. I did find myself flinching after a while with the +P and +P+ loads. It was my bad, not the gun or the ammo; it was just me! As an aside, I’ve had full-sized 9mm handguns that wouldn’t handle +P+ load reliably, so this was quite the feat for the GLOCK 43!

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I carried the GLOCK 43 for several weeks, in a Blackhawk belt slide holster, which was the only thing I could find that would properly fit the little GLOCK 43, and it held the GLOCK high and tight to my body for outstanding concealment. I’ve used this holster on many different sized handguns, and it is one of the few “generic” ballistic Nylon holsters that actually can give you a very good fit, rather than a sloppy one, with various handguns, big and small!

Recipe of the Week: Carrot Soup, by C.S.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2/3 cup sliced celery
  • ¼ cup butter
  • Add: 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1/8 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp. nutmeg (according to taste—I use 1/8 tsp.)
  • 3 cups sliced or diced carrots
  • 1 large diced potato
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 cup of cream (optional) *do not add if you’re going to freeze this soup; wait to add cream until puree has been reheated and just before serving.

Directions:

  1. In an 8-cup pot, combine butter, onion and celery and saute until tender.
  2. Add broth and remaining ingredients, except cream. Cook until all vegetables are tender and soft.
  3. Carefully transfer soup into a blender or food processor and whiz until smooth. (You will have to do this in batches.)
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add the cream, if you wish and are serving immediately. Heat through (do not boil). Serve.

This is a nice thick soup that freezes well. For those who like a thinner soup, add more chicken broth.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Helping the Maxners

You actually printed the email from the Maxners who asked for help rebuilding their home and barn? Part of being prepared for disasters is being insured, as in food insurance by stocking up on food. Now, this irresponsible couple asks for others to help them out and you are enabling their behavior. I didn’t agree with your telling readers that Chuck Baldwin’s move to Montana cost more than expected and then telling readers how they could help Chuck financially. Why? He should have “counted the cost” before his move. Now you’re suggesting people help the Maxners out. It’s a miniature version of the nanny state popping up in the great American Redoubt. I have made some big financial sacrifices to get my preps in order and to live debt free. I don’t have the luxury to move to a remote location. The Maxner’s made their choice, and it is not the responsibility of your readers to bail them out.

You owe your readers an apology for making this suggestion. You can feel free to forward this email on to the Maxners so they will know how I feel about their entitlement mentality. – George

HJL Responds: I believe you are confusing the concept of a “nanny state” and Christian charity. A nanny state is one where you are compelled to give by force and then that money is distributed to someone else. You generally have no control of the collection or distribution process or the rules that are made. On the other hand, Christian charity is voluntary on your part. No one compels you to give, and when you do give you have full control over where that money goes.

I also find it interesting that our modern “Christian” society has accepted insurance as a way of life. In reality, insurance is nothing more than gambling. You pay into a pool and hope that that pool will pay out if you have a crises. If you never have a crises, then the money is just lost to you. Others, who manage to work the system, have faux crises after crises and manage to get the pool to pay out even when there is no need. At the bottom of the pool, you will find connections to the banking system. Risk assessment is everything, and I have seen insurance companies simply drop the insured when they felt the risk was too great to themselves. Every penny that the insured paid was simply lost to him, lining someone else’s pocket.

A careful read of the Bible reveals that insurance is not a method chosen by God. Instead, we are to take care of our own. If your brother has a need and you have the ability to meet that need, you have a duty to help him without expectation of recompense. Likewise, he has a duty to help you. This willing help is exemplified all the time around us and we often pay no attention to it. I have been the recipient of it, and I have also been a giver. God expects you to get personally involved with those that you help.

We stand by our publishing the need of the Maxners as part of this charity. If you are led by God to donate, then do so with a happy heart. If not, then you are not required nor expected to help. That’s how Christian charity works.

Economics and Investing:

UK interest rates may have to be cut, warns Bank of England chief economist

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Census data shows a record 46.7 million Americans live in poverty. Over 40,000 dollar stores now permeate the United States.

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Global Angst Lingers, RMG Wealth Management Recommends that Long Term Investors Hold Cash – T.A.

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Los Angeles is the most unaffordable place to rent with renters spending nearly 50 percent of their income on rents: San Francisco is the most expensive place to purchase a home.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large, received this email from one of his friends in Austria:

Well I don’t know if you have seen the news? Here in Austria and Germany…we get flooded with immigrants…my battalion will be enlisted what I have heard yesterday. All border are full or getting full in near future. I was in Graz Styria near the border, yesterday I have seen 6 heading to somewhere…so one border near Vienna full, but in Styria it come the same 800 yesterday.
I finish now all clean and make me ready to go border patrolling in the near future, because our National Guard will join or change place with the active military personal.
…but we don’t know nothing as ever… and prepare for the worst.
Best wish
[redacted]

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If You Live In These States You’ll Soon Need A Passport For Domestic Flights – G.G.

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Midvale woman recently named Ms. America promotes preparedness – G.J.

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The Millionaire Pitcher that Lives in a Van

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Welcome To The Mass Surveillance State Through Microchipped Pills – T.P.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“There are rumours that the Austrian army is obliged to retire a little; that the Spanish squadron is gone to South America; that the English have excited a rebellion there, and some others equally unauthenticated. I do not mention them in my letter to Mr. Jay, because they are unauthenticated. The bankruptcies in London have recommenced with new force. There is no saying where this fire will end. Perhaps in the general conflagration of all their paper. If not now, it must ere long. With only 20 millions of coin, and three or four hundred million of circulating paper, public and private, nothing is necessary but a general panic, produced either by failures, invasion or any other cause, and the whole visionary fabric vanishes into air and shews that paper is poverty, that it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself. 100 years ago they had 20 odd millions of coin. Since that they have brought in from Holland by borrowing 40 millions more. Yet they have but 20 millions left, and they talk of being rich and of having the balance of trade in their favour.” – Excerpted from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 27 May 1788

Notes for Sunday – September 20, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd 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.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. 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,
  9. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  4. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. 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 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,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  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 60 ends on September 30th, 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.

Ten Non-Power Tools That Will Help Long-Term After An EMP, by Z.T.

p>An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a formidable weapon in the hands of a foe. After the blast of an EMP, you automatically enter a world without electricity for an indefinite period of time. With China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran currently working on EMP weapons, it’s a good idea to be prepared for life without electricity.

Many other articles out there detail the basic survival supplies that you are going to need to live life “in the rough”, but very few of them tackle the subject from a long-term perspective. Should an EMP attack happen, what tools are you going to be left without? Your power tools most likely aren’t going to work, yet you’re still going to need tools to keep your home/camp/shelter in shape. What do you need?

Read on for a list of 10 non-power tools that will help you to survive long-term after an EMP.

  1. Washboard

    Even without power, laundry still has to be done. So, if the washing machine no longer works, what are you to do? Aside from the obvious drawback of smelling absolutely putrid without clean clothes, fresh laundry has other benefits as well. Boosts in morale, fabrics lasting longer, retaining your humanity, and the avoidance of various pests and diseases are all other reasons to ensure that you have a steady supply of clean clothing and bedding.

    A washboard will help to ensure that as long as you have access to water, you will be able to scrub your clothes clean.

  2. Saw/Hacksaw

    Thanks to the invention of power tools, construction projects don’t take nearly as long as they used to. If you’ve ever dabbled in woodworking before though, you know that without that chainsaw/circular saw/jigsaw/reciprocating saw, you would be in a world of trouble. Most of us take our power tools and electricity for granted, and as a result, finding somebody who actually still has an old fashioned hand saw is rare.

    What do you do after an EMP attack, if you have to do minor construction to your house and you have absolutely no way of cutting that leftover scrap wood? You improvise, of course, but your safety is compromised and your time is wasted as a result. Hand saws and hacksaws will ensure that you can still cut through whatever you need to after the electricity goes out.

  3. Scythe

    This one’s going to sound a bit odd, but there is a good chance that you’re going to want to keep your grass short around your house. I personally don’t like the idea of Lyme disease, and considering the fact that ticks thoroughly enjoy hanging around in tall grass, keeping the grass short around your working areas may be a good idea.

    And what if you have animals? A scythe (maybe multiple ones in this case) will help you to be able to harvest hay to store during the winter for your livestock. Currently, you probably just hop on the tractor for a few hours and then hire some help with the bailing process. Without electricity, your fields’ crops remain where they are. A scythe can help to prevent that from ever occurring. They’re not as difficult to find as you may initially think either. A quick Google search will find you a good quality scythe (possibly minus the blade) for approximately $60.

  4. Shovel

    Unless you live in an apartment or townhome style setting, odds are you already have a shovel or two laying around the house. However, if you don’t have one, I would at least buy one here soon. Preferably a round point, the traditional spade shape. A shovel has a myriad of uses. Digging outhouses, preparing foundations, getting rid of snow, irrigation, burying caches, removing animal carcasses, and fencing are all a few of the uses that you can get out of your traditional shovel.

  5. Wind up clock/watch

    Is a clock or watch a tool? I suppose that depends on how you look at things. Either way, the ability to tell time makes life a whole lot easier. My alarm clock at home has to be plugged into a wall. The odds are that yours is plugged in too. Having an old fashioned wind up clock, like your great grandparents used to have, is the best way to ensure that you still have the ability to tell time after an EMP strike.

  6. Abacus

    This is another odd one. Complex math gets rather difficult when you don’t have a calculator, and think about how often you use one throughout the day without even realizing it. Do you need to do a little geometry for a construction project? You’ll probably want a calculator. Will you try to predict approximately how much feed you’ll need for your livestock over the winter? You’ll probably want a calculator. Are you wondering how many pounds of meat you need to keep for your family this winter, and how much you can afford to barter with? You’ll probably want a calculator.

    You get the point.

    As much as your inner 5th grader hates to admit it, you actually do need math. You use it every day. However, after an EMP attack, there will be no working calculators. Sure, you could carry paper and pencil with you everywhere, but there’s a reason that alternatives such as the abacus were invented. Because people from the past realized that pen and paper often take too long, they wanted a quicker, easier way to get the answers they needed. As a result, the abacus was invented.

    They’re not anywhere as near as hard to learn as you might anticipate. It’s a little formidable at first, but with ten minutes of practice or so, you’ll be an abacus wizard.

  7. Anvil/Rebar

    Let’s go back to the construction scenario, which is something that happens quite often during a survival situation. If you need to build something, you’re going to need nails. So do you just swing on by your local hardware store to pick up a few things after an EMP? Good luck.

    Odds are that just about everything has already been looted clean, and even if it hasn’t been, journeying several miles through a densely populated area full of desperate people while loaded down with as many nails as you can carry isn’t my idea of a good time.

    An anvil, some rebar, and a really hot fire will enable you to make your own nails during a survival situation. Knives, spearheads, door hinges, silverware, door handles, horseshoes, and candlesticks are all a few of the other options as well. Basic blacksmithing obviously takes a little bit of practice, but those skills may come in very handy later.

    Regarding the rebar, just make sure that it is not galvanized. If you purchase some galvanized rebar, you’re going to be in for a rude awakening when you wake up dead after putting that thing into your forge. Galvanized steel emits zinc gas when heated hot enough, and if you breathe in enough of it, that’s what’s going to happen.

  8. Axe/Hatchet

    This is probably the most obvious one on the list, yet there’s a reason that this is such a cliché answer: axes and hatchets are incredibly versatile. No power means that you’re going to have to have some method of obtaining heat during the winter. You’re also going to need some way to cook your food. An axe or a hatchet give you the ability to readily collect firewood to store for later. Clearing land and felling trees for timber are other options with an axe as well.

    Hatchets, if they have a flat metal back, can double as a hammer as well, giving you more bang for your buck. Neither of these tools takes up much room, yet both offer you excellent options for potential survival situations.

  9. Rotary Hand Drill

    I absolutely love my power drill and very easily can find a project to use it on every week. However, after an EMP attack, the ability to use that drill you so readily depend upon may wither away to nothing. Drilling holes is still going to be important, but you’re going to need another option.

    That’s where great grandpa’s old drill comes in handy. A rotary hand drill essentially has some sort of handle, which you grab to support the drill, while the other hand revolves a small gear which rotates the drill bit. It’s more work than a power drill, but it’ll get the job done.

    There’s two basic types of rotary hand drills as well with the other option being a rotary breast hand drill. That’s the one that I prefer. Instead of a handle that you grab, there’s a small pad that you lean against with your shoulder/chest which applies weight to the drill. I find it to be much more comfortable and easier to hold steady than your typical rotary hand drill.

    You can find these pretty readily at your local antique malls, but if a newer model is what you’re after, Sears has a few good options as well.

  10. Carpenter’s Planer

    If you’re going to build something, you most likely are going to need boards. If boards are in short supply, sometimes making substitutes is your next best option. Though you’re never going to be able to take a log and turn it into a 2×4 with a carpenter’s planer, you will be able to give a flat surface to two sides of that log, allowing you to stack it. Likewise, if you do already have some spare 2x4s laying around your house, a carpenter’s planer can enable you to turn that board into a 2×3, or whatever other size board you need, to finish whatever you’re doing.

    You can easily pick these up for $10 or so at your local antique malls, and can even buy them new from hardware stores. They don’t take up very much space and can be very handy to have somewhere down the road.

Conclusion

An EMP would certainly make life difficult, and the odds are that if you’re reading this website you’re already some level of a prepper. However, do you have the tools that you are going to need for the long run? You probably already have some of these on this list, and it is most certainly not an exhaustive one, but it should get you thinking.

What other tools are you going to need, if you are to survive long-term after an EMP attack?

Letter Re: Vehicle Fences

HJL,

Cutting vehicle cable barriers is very time consuming and destructive. The cables lift out of the vertical post and only have a pop-out plastic retainer to separate the cables. After the cables have been removed, the post will pull out of the “receiver” (much like a trailer hitch receiver) cemented in the ground. Removing several post will allow the cables to lay on the ground and be driven over. [Editors note: This must depend upon the construction company installing the fences or the state requirements. I have seen both types of fences.]- JDL

Odds ‘n Sods:

Gallup Poll: 75% See Widespread Government Corruption – T.A.

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The foxes are guarding the chicken coop – The majority of UN member states are not full-fledged democracies – A.D.

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Utah Supreme Court allows self-defense at work – G.G.

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I Will Follow God – B.B.

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Is North Korea concealing a nuclear missile from U.S.? – C.L.

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Top 20 Photos of Helpless Muslim Refugees in Europe You’ll Never See in Legacy Media – B.B.