Preparedness Notes for Monday – October 16, 2017

There is now a petition on the White house web site, encouraging the President to veto H.R. 3999 if it reaches his desk. Please take a few moments to sign it!

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October 15th, 1859 is the anniversary of abolitionist John Brown’s raid against the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election. Brown’s raid helped make any further accommodation between North and South nearly impossible and thus became an important impetus of the Civil War.

Butler Creek ASAP Magazine Loader, by Pat Cascio

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We’re going to take a close look at the new double stack handgun magazine loader from Butler Creek www.butlercreek.com.

Getting Older and Feeling It

I don’t believe that any of us like to admit we’re getting older. No matter what you age might be, it’s a fact of life. Believe me when I tell you this, I never thought I’d live as long as I have. Very shortly, I’ll be turning 66 years of age. I lived a pretty wild, exciting, and dangerous life when I was younger and never thought I’d live beyond 35. That’s the truth. Had I known I would live this long, I sure would have taken better care of my body in many ways.

I spent more than 35 years active in the martial arts, either as a student or an instructor. I hold Black Belt rank in five different styles of martial arts with my highest rank being a 6th Dan. I’m not bragging, not in the least. It was a lot of work. And, even now, with all those Black Belts, I don’t consider myself an “expert”. I’m still just a serious student of the martial arts.

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on investing in Rolex wristwatches. (See the Tangibles Investing section, near the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

Spot gold has bounced back to around $1,300 per troy ounce.  But the price of silver is more like to break out.

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Peter Hug comments on Rhodium: Forget Bitcoin – Is This Overlooked Metal Heading Straight Back to $10,000?

Stocks:

First off, there is this: Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs as Wall Street bets on a strong earnings season

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S&P 500 is poised to make uncanny stock-market history—for doing almost nothing

Commodities:

Gregory W. Harmon: Copper Shows Strength

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Oil On Friday the Thirteenth

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Stalking the Night- Part 2, by Mark B.

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Yesterday, I wrote about my experience where I needed night vision while being stalked on the mountain “alone”. I also wrote about the various generation technology advancements of night vision. Let’s proceed to outline the details of night vision technology and what it means.

Understanding Resolution and Signal-to-Noise Specifications

The two most important specifications for any night vision device are resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. In fact one of the main parameters for determining whether a night vision device can be exported is the multiple of these two specifications, also known as “Figure Of Merit”. If the NVD you are considering buying is subject to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), it is a pretty good bet that you are looking at a high quality NVD. Conversely, if there is no restriction attached to the unit you are considering, it is probably a POS.

Resolution

Much like a television or computer screen, the more information that can be packed onto your night vision image tube, the clearer it will be. Measured in line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm), the higher the specified lp/mm the better. When you compare an average Gen1+ 25 lp/mm image tube to the typical resolution that you’ll find on a Gen3 tube, which is 64 lp/mm, it’s pretty obvious that a Gen3 tube is going to be better. No matter how you slice it, 150% better resolution means a better image.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

However, a high resolution isn’t the only thing you should be looking for in your image tube. Though it’s a good start, keep in mind that the real function of a good night vision system is to perform well under incredibly low light conditions. This is where the signal-to-noise measure becomes important.

Signal-to-Noise provides a measure of the light signal that reaches your eye divided by the perceived noise that you actually see. For example, “noisy” tubes look like there’s a snowstorm going on inside the tube. Even a very bright tube that’s full of snow (noise) is going to produce lousy results. A good Gen3 tube will have a signal-to-noise ratio in the high 20s, while Gen1+ ratios are much lower, generally sitting in the single digits. My two best NVDs are a PVS-22, which has a photocathode response of 2200, a signal to noise ratio of 27, and it also provides 64 lp/mm resolution. I also have a Knights Armament PVS 30 with a photocathode response of 2300, signal to noise of 25, and also 64 pm/mm resolution.

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Letter: Millennial Snowflakes are Melting at a Rapid Pace

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HJL, JWR, Readers of Survival Blog,

Almost a year has passed since the US presidential election, but the continuing message of hate and racism by the far-left media is starting to take its toll. Ordinary people are beginning to mentally crack and act out. The typically passive millennial that occupies the moderate left is quickly becoming more radicalized. No longer satisfied with virtue signaling hashtags on social media, this group has taken to the streets and is committing acts of vandalism and violence. The perpetrators are overwhelmingly upper-middle-class “activists” who have spent the majority of their entitled lives secluded from accountability for their actions. For proof, you need not look any further than the pasty pale-skinned youth that currently make up a majority of ANTIFA protests.

I loathe social media, but my wife keeps me up to date on the general feelings and attitudes of the masses during her nightly session on Facebook. She tells me personal attacks on individuals with opposing political positions are the worst she has ever seen. The divisive nature of modern politics is causing family and friends to turn on one another at unprecedented rates.

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The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Interestingly enough, NASA was practicing their asteroid early warning communications.

Las Vegas

Reader DSV sent in this link outlining some of the inconsistencies and quick conclusions that the anti-gun crowd have over the Las Vegas shooting. They include differences in times, unknown motivation while simultaneously being a large scale operation with contingencies.It’s becoming harder and harder to accept the formal explanation. About the only thing we know for sure at this point is that TPTB want your guns.

Peoples Republic of Kalifornia

California Governor Jerry Brown signed an order that lowers the penalty for knowingly exposing a sex partner to HIV from a felony to a misdemeanor. Under the guise of claiming HIV is only a health issue, the state has now declined to treat those with HIV using it as a weapon as criminals. Of course, I don’t think anyone was asking to treat them as criminals just because they were HIV positive in the first place. It was only when the disease was wielded as a weapon that it was a felony. I suppose we can now expect firearms related crimes to be considered a misdemeanor in California? Oh wait, they don’t want any firearms there. Thanks to M. for the link.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” – Romans 7:21-25 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday – October 14, 2017

The Cuban Missile Crisis began on October 14, 1962, bringing the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear conflict. Photographs were taken by a high-altitude U-2 spy plane and offered incontrovertible evidence that Soviet-made medium-range missiles were in Cuba. These missiles were capable of carrying nuclear warheads and were stationed 90 miles off the American coastline.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today features another entry for Round 73 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,090 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. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels 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. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses, and
  8. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. 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,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

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. 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), and

Round 73 ends on November 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.

Stalking the Night- Part 1, by Mark B.

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I remember as a young man I spent a considerable amount of time hiking, backpacking, and camping in the mountains, usually by myself. Getting away from it all and honing my skills of self-reliance at the same time has always appealed to me. Maybe it is something, on a primal level, relating back to my cave man ancestry.

Senses Go Into Overdrive

It has been my experience that anytime you are completely alone that your awareness and senses go into overdrive, bombarding you with all sorts of new stimuli. At times, this can become overwhelming, and I would be lying if I stated that I have never had the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I was deep in the woods all by myself.

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The Editors’ Preps for the Week

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

JWR

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers,

This week, while celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, things have been fairly quiet at the Rawles Ranch.  Most of the week was devoted to homeschooling.

Jim completed assembling a couple of AR-15 PDW-style pistols, using 11.5″ 5.56mm Wylde chamber barrels, Franklin BFS-III binary triggers, and Maxim arm braces. He also added a few more bits to his KDG Optics Hub spotter’s tripod. (That is turning into a multi-month project. This has been slow, in part because we are bidding on mostly used components on eBay–to avoid paying full retail prices.)

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The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. I highly recommend reading the article on Power Grid Intrusions in today’s postings.

Update on Arrested Nurse

Jeff Payne, who was fired after arresting nurse Alex Wubbels has stated that he intends to appeal the decision as he believes it wasn’t fair to him. attorney Greg Skordas has publicly stated that if the body cams had not been widely circulated, which generated much publicity, he would still be employed. Aw shucks! If only he hadn’t been caught violating Wubbels civil rights. Thanks to reader T.P. for the link.

Licensing Journalists

Reader C.F. sent in this article on an Indiana state lawmaker who has proposed a bill that would require all journalist be licensed by the state police. It is highly unlikely that this bill will advance through the legislature, but the fact that the lawmaker proposed it shows an incredible ignorance of the constitution and is downright scary.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” – Joshua 1:1-4 (KJV)