Notes for Tuesday – September 22, 2015

September 22nd in the birthday of the late Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Reid-Daly, who founded and commanded the Rhodesian Selous Scouts. He was born in 1928, and he died August 9, 2010. His history of the Selous Scouts, titled Pamwe Chete, is fascinating to read, but it is a very hard-to-find book.

I should also mention that September 22nd, 1290 is the birthday of one of my favorite fictional characters, Bilbo Baggins (in Shire reckoning).

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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.

The Surveillance State 2015- Part 1, by Kass Andrada

The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it. Woodrow Wilson, 1912

The question of whether a surveillance society was looming on the horizon has been growing since Justice Douglas remarked in 1966, “We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all times; where there are no secrets from government.” [1] Early in the new millenium, only about 33% of Americans were concerned about their online data as of 2009. [2] Just a few years later, in 2015, polls show 54% disapprove of government surveillance of telephone and Internet data.[3] Most seem to feel that they have no control over their personal data, with only nine percent (9%) stating that they feel they have a lot of control over their data.[4] Those who have more knowledge of the degree of surveillance that exists are more likely to indicate that they have no control.[5]

More interesting still, only about half of people responding have anything more than the vaguest notion of just how much surveillance is actually occurring. Many seem to think that their Internet searches are private or can’t be connected to their name, or they believe the retention period for the information is somehow limited, although it is not.[6] About 55% don’t think their search engines or social media should be able to save any information about their activity at all.[7] However, this is divorced from reality. Every element of online activity is fully known to both civil and government entities. This article attempts to compile information about the extent of surveillance in the United States in 2015 in order to provide a snapshot of what is known about privacy in the modern era.

Private surveillance is not a new thing. Google street mappers were actually driving around collecting data from home and network structures including email, passwords, and other personal information for years between 2007 and 2012.[8] They only admitted this practice when sued by 38 states.[9] Google also admitted to bypassing privacy settings in the Safari browser, an action for which the Federal Trade Commission fined Google $22.5 million in 2012.[10]

The practice is not limited to Google.[11] “DropBox, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, FaceBook, Skype, —and others—all do pretty much the same thing: read user data and grant government access to it.”[12] The trend is accelerating with every generation of software. The new Windows 10 collects a massive amount of user data and sends it to Microsoft:

Cortana will not only remember all of your search history, but it will also collect information on the people you know, the places you go, your calendar details, your emails, IM messages, your text messages, your phone calls, and virtually everything else you do. That’s not to mention that the system sends “speech data” to Microsoft periodically. Microsoft is ambiguous as to what “speech data” is, so we don’t know if it is voice recordings or some other sort of information…[13]

More recently, it was discovered that certain models of televisions were actively “listening” to people’s domestic conversations and sending that data back across the Internet.[14] The “feature”, which was intended simply to allow voice commands to the television, can theoretically be disabled,[15] but within days experts were able to demonstrate how the microphones and detection features could be remotely activated and run behind browsers and other Internet functions to relay data continuously.[16] Further investigation suggested that all “wired” devices are moving toward data collection from voice navigators in XBox, Siri, Amazon Now, and others down to Nest home thermostats.[17] Internet providers have been using “supercookies” to track activity of every kind and let every website know your information.[18] Even if the provider isn’t tracking, many applications or “apps” are tracking (and selling or transferring) huge amounts of data that have nothing to do with the purported functionality of the app.[19] The people or entities to whom the information is sold or transferred isn’t revealed by the app, of course.

Only one Internet provider has offered more privacy, but they want to charge for it:

Recently, AT&T surprised everyone when it added a new option to its GigaPower fiber Internet service: privacy. Yes, for just $29 more a month AT&T promises it WON’T sell your search and browsing history to advertisers. How generous.[20]

This may have been related to the fact that, for decades, AT&T had been happily turning over massive amounts of data to the federal government:

Under a decades-old program with the government, telecom giant AT&T in 2003 led the way on a new collection capability that the National Security Agency said amounted to a “‘live’ presence on the global net” and would forward 400 billion Internet metadata records in one of its first months of operation, The New York Times reported.

The Fairview program was forwarding more than 1 million emails a day to the NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, the newspaper reported. Meanwhile, the separate Stormbrew program, linked to Verizon and the former company MCI, was still gearing up to use the new technology, which appeared to process foreign-to-foreign traffic.

In 2011, AT&T began handing over 1.1 billion domestic cellphone calling records a day to the NSA after “a push to get this flow operational prior to the 10th anniversary of 9/11,” according to an internal agency newsletter cited by the Times. Intelligence officials have told reporters in the past that, for technical reasons, the effort consisted mostly of landline phone records, the newspaper reported.[21]

Old law, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act from 1986, is largely ineffective because it allows old communications left on servers after six months to be deemed “abandoned” and therefore searchable by the government without a warrant.[22] U.S. government agencies have been aggressively obtaining that information and more, placing so many demands on so many tech companies that a number of the companies banded together to launch a website called “Reform Government Surveillance”.[23]

Cell phones and cell phone providers are also invading personal data like never before, despite the ACLU’s warnings:

Knowing where a person’s phone is located can reveal sensitive information, like when they go to the doctor or psychologist, what political activities they engage in, who they spend time with, and where they sleep at night. Law enforcement agencies can often obtain this personal information without ever getting a warrant from a judge. The federal government also invokes powerful surveillance authorities to collect this information and more, including our call records, contact lists, and even the contents of our text messages and calls.[24]

There is no requirement for a warrant for this information.[25] Government agencies bombard cell carriers for the information up to 100 times a day.[26]

No official information exists as to whether government agencies are engaging in similar data collection behavior,[27] however there would seem to be little reason to think otherwise, as they have been exposed spying on everyone including other world leaders.[28] Letters obtained from a senator’s request shows that it’s not just the NSA spying on U.S. citizens; it’s the FBI and CIA as well.[29] Examples of such activity are numerous, but more public revelations include the fact that Federal agencies built “phantom cell towers” in order to intercept cell phone transmissions from all sources within their range.[30] The technology was eventually miniaturized to a suitcase-sized package referred to as “Stingray”, which most federal agencies and at least 25 police departments use to trick cell phones into connecting with them and transmitting their calls and data to police or agency recording devices.[31] More significantly, the technology also turned off cell phone encryption and intercepted texts as well as calls.[32] Whatever is not immediately found out by U.S. operations within the United States is instead picked up by Great Britain or another U.S. ally and sent over to the U.S., who returns the favor by spying on the citizens of those nations, thereby neatly evading laws against such behavior.[33] Whatever the source, bulky voice files which are obtained, are reduced to fully searchable text files via sophisticated programs and then retained.[34]

References


[1]Dissent, Osborn v. US 385 US 341 (1966).


[2]http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304704504579432823496404570 retrieved July 30, 2015.


[3]http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/29/what-americans-think-about-nsa-surveillance-national-security-and-privacy/ Retrieved 7/30/15.


[4]Americans’ Views About Data Collection and Security http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/05/20/americans-views- about-data-collection-and-security/#few-feel-they-have-a-lot-of-control-over-how-much-information-is-collected-about-them-in-daily-life Retrieved 7/30/15


[5]Id.


[6]“…a Ponemon Institute survey of 1,000 Google users found that 89% thought that their searches were private and 77% thought Google searches could not reveal their personal identities – wrong on both accounts.” Why Google is the Biggest Threat to Americans’ Privacy; The Detailed Case from my House Testimony http://precursorblog.com/?q=content/why-google-biggest-threat-americans-privacy-the-detailed-case-my-house- testimony


[7]Americans’ Views About Data Collection and Security, Id.


[8]Google’s Wanton WarDriving Scandal: Fallout & Cover-up http://precursorblog.com/content/googles-wanton- wardriving-scandal-fallout-cover


[9]Google Concedes That Drive-By Prying Violated Privacy http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/technology/google-pays-fine-over-street-view-privacy-breach.html?_r=0 Retrieved July 30, 2015.


[10]Id.


[11]Pharmaceutical companies have been tracking user data or paying firms to track such data, since at least 2000 http://articles.latimes.com/2000/aug/17/business/fi-5801 Retrieved July 30, 2015.


[12]http://www.salon.com/2014/02/05/4_ways_google_is_destroying_privacy_and_collecting_your_data_partner/ Retrieved July 30, 2015.


[13]Cortana Is Listening Michael Justin Allen Sexton August 10, 2015. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/cortana-is-watching,29791.html#xtor=RSS-181


[14]http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/09/technology/security/samsung-smart-tv-privacy/


[15]http://www.cnet.com/how-to/samsung-smart-tv-spying/


[16]Your TV may be watching you By Bruce Schneier Updated 9:16 AM ET, Thu February 12, 2015 http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/opinion/schneier-samsung-tv-listening/


[17]http://mashable.com/2015/02/10/smart-devices-listening/


[18]Id.


[19]“Flashlight is designed do location tracking, read my calendar, use my camera, gain access to unique numbers that identify my phone, and then share data with a number of ad networks, including Google’s AdMob, iAd, and JumpTap.” The Hidden Privacy Threat of … Flashlight Apps? http://www.wired.com/2014/10/iphone-apps/


[20]What cellphone companies don’t want you to know http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2015/03/13/cell-phone-privacy/70202468/


[21]http://wtop.com/politics/2015/08/report-documents-reveal-details-behind-att-nsa-partnership/


[22]“… right now, the ECPA considers remotely stored digital files more than 180 days old to be abandoned and forces service providers to hand over those files whenever law enforcement demands—without the need for a warrant. This means that all those old emails in your inbox aren’t granted basic due process protections.” Federal Agencies Fight for Warrantless Access to Emails http://reason.com/archives/2015/08/13/federal-agencies-fight- for-warrantless-a retrieved 8/14/15.


[23]Companies include Google, LinkedIn, facebook, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, Dropbox, Evernote. https://www.reformgovernmentsurveillance.com/ Companies include Google, LinkedIn, facebook, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, Dropbox, Evernote.


[24]Cell Phone Privacy https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/internet-privacy/cell-phone-privacy Retrieved 8/10/15.


[25]Do Police Need a Warrant to See Where a Phone Is? http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/08/warrantless-cell-phone-location-tracking/400775/


[26]In its most recent annual report, AT&T said it received 64,703 requests for CSLI in 2014. And just in the first six months of this year, Verizon says it received more than 21,000 requests. That is, in 2015, a single carrier received more than 100 requests daily for the geographic history of an American’s life, as told through their location. Id.


[27]Information on PRISM collection, operating since 2007 exists in Wikipedia subject to the known limitations of that source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM_(surveillance_program)


[28]See inter alia http://www.cbsnews.com/feature/nsa-surveillance-exposed/ ; https://www.eff.org/nsa-spying; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/government-surveillance/ ; https://www.aclu.org/issues/national- security/privacy-and-surveillance/


[29]http://leaksource.info/2014/08/01/fbi-and-cia-use-backdoor-searches-of-nsa-data-to-warrentlessly-spy-on- americans-communications/


[30]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/08/cellphone-data-spying-nsa-police/3902809/


[31]At least thirty-six more departments refused to answer whether they were using this technology. Id.


[32]http://www.newsweek.com/what-cell-ls-those-ominous-phony-towers-268589


[33]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/03/gchq_duncan_campbell/?page=3


[34]https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/05/05/nsa-speech-recognition-snowden-searchable-text/

Letter Re: Helping the Maxners

Hugh,

It is never possible to insure or prepare for every event. You can only do what you are able and what is prudent.

The one thing which should be different about the Redoubt vs. other “preppers” goes back to DeToqueville when our country was young.

But the scene is now changed, and gradually the two ranks mingle; the divisions which once severed mankind are lowered, property is divided, power is held in common, the light of intelligence spreads, and the capacities of all classes are equally cultivated; the State becomes democratic, and the empire of democracy is slowly and peaceably introduced into the institutions and the manners of the nation. I can conceive a society in which all men would profess an equal attachment and respect for the laws of which they are the common authors; in which the authority of the State would be respected as necessary, though not as divine; and the loyalty of the subject to its chief magistrate would not be a passion but a quiet and rational persuasion. Every individual being in the possession of rights, which he is sure to retain, a kind of manly reliance and reciprocal courtesy would arise between all classes, alike removed from pride and meanness. The people, well acquainted with its true interests, would allow that in order to profit by the advantages of society it is necessary to satisfy its demands. In this state of things, the voluntary association of the citizens might supply the individual exertions of the nobles, and the community would be alike protected from anarchy and from oppression.

Each one prepares as best he can and seeks to be as independent as possible, but through those “voluntary association of the citizens” we are prepared to help each other. If one is struck down with misfortune, it is his neighbors, and with current technology it means the entire Redoubt are “his neighbors”, are to help.

Remember the story of the Good Samaritan? (Luke 10) A man was attacked by thieves. A priest and Levite just passed by, probably muttering about how this beaten man should have been more careful or going to form a commission to do something about robbers on the Jericho road. A Samaritan showed him mercy and helped him, when he couldn’t help himself. The answer to “who is my neighbor” is “he who shows mercy”. The Bible can be reduced to two commandments– Love God with everything you have, and love your neighbor as yourself.

We must start now. If and when TEOTWAWKI comes, we will all have to band together. We must be a community.

I Corinthians 12:12-26: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”

We shall not survive if everyone is merely their own family on their own land and doesn’t care for anyone else. Is that not a description of the cities, where people are depending on government to provide, where there is no collective preparedness, and where neighbors don’t help neighbors but rather point to government? And the churches are worse; many have no charity except the phone number or email of every government aid agency in their contacts list.

In my area, we are each prepping in our own way as no one wants to have to ask for help, but also we have specialists and we know we can count on each other. We are a body, not a bunch of individual cells or dismembered organs. That should extend across the Redoubt and even beyond. Jesus prayed that we all “may be one”:

John 17:20-23: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

The example that will convince the world, especially the good but non-Christian neighbors, that Jesus was sent of God will be our unity.

– Redoubting Thomas

News From The American Redoubt:

Bozeman, Montana: Transient with sword accused of attempting robbery

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Blackfeet Tribe decides to banish drug dealers

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‘Regulatory War’ Fought Over a Wyoming Family’s Pond Didn’t know rocks and sand were pollutants… – MtH

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Parents Protest Medical Kidnappings in Michigan – D.S.

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The western states emergency/disaster services, both government and volunteer organizations, are planning for a massive disaster training exercise in June of 2016 (named Cascadia Rising). It is an earthquake/tsunami scenario based exercise that I’ll be talking about more in the near future. Many state-level ARES groups are planning ahead of time to help become more prepared. The Idaho ARES will be conducting a SET (Simulated Emergency Test) on October 17th. For more information, you can go to the Idaho ARES website. – John Jacob

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.

100_6123

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.

100_6124

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.