August 30, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around The Web

Video: "How To Build a Basic AR-15"--Iraqveteran8888 (42 minutes).

Firearms and Self-Defense:

• "Concealed Carry: Glock 19 vs. Glock 26"--Modern Service Weapons. Some considerations to keep in mind on carrying a compact over mid-sized weapon. 
• "Raven Concealment Steps Into Optics Game With The New Balor Mount"--The Firearms Blog. A red-dot mount for your pistol which replaces the rear sight (i.e., it fits into the dovetail for the rear iron sight). The difference between this system and others that use the rear dovetail, is that this incorporates a back-up sight.
• "Why Do I Carry? Because Thugs Like These Will Shoot You For Making Eye Contact"--Bearing Arms. The author explains:

The gang-banging Sorells brothers are part of a feral subculture within the larger American society that is predatory and nearly primal in how they view the world. In this instance, they decided to try to murder a man for being a stranger that made eye contact, which they took as a sign of challenging their dominance over what they viewed as their territory.

This is the sort of behavior we often associate with wild animals, but it is in fact the norm for much of human history, and is a current problem in many parts of the world even today.

• "Garage Gunsmithing: 101"--The Arms Guide. More of an explanation of why you might want to try your hand at DIY gunsmithing than how to do any particular project. However, it does have a list of basic tools you will need.
• "Quality is in the details."--Oleg Volk. While using infrared in a recent photo shoot, Volk noticed that an inexpensive camouflage sling showed up bright white in the infrared spectrum--potentially a problem if facing an opponent using night vision equipment. He notes that there are manufacturers that specifically make products that will appear camouflaged even in the IR spectrum. And, as some of the comments point out, any hunters need to be aware of how their clothing or gear may show up in the UV spectrum, since deer (among other animals) have limited UV vision.
• AR15.com has a thread on an interesting project--an M249 clone using an AR lower and a bump-fire stock.

The Coming Conflict:

• "'There Will Be Blood' - The Whole Game Is About Containing Russia-China"--Zero Hedge. The Pax-Americana collapses while Russia and China strengthen their ties.
• "The Second Coming of MIRVs: The Future of Strategic Arms Competition"--War On The Rocks. From the article:

Some 18 years ago, India and Pakistan conducted successive nuclear tests, joining China as Southern Asia’s three overt nuclear powers and transforming the region into a nuclear trilemma. Both India and Pakistan have developed their arsenals at a measured pace, at least compared to historical standards. Today, however, there are concerns that we could be witnessing a potential slow-moving, but cascading, arms competition in the region following China’s deployment of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), or multiple-warhead missiles, in 2015. 

• A few from the SNAFU blog:

• A recurring theme from the Saudi army: "Saudi troops fleeing Houthi rebels is turning into a tragic clown show."

• "Kurds destroying Turkish MBTs in Syria..."

• "Kurds are taking Turkish forces apart at the border."

Other Stuff:

• "'Brazil is on the brink of a coup', says suspended president Rousseff as she faces impeachment judgement day as her supporters riot in the streets"--Daily Mail. Probably wishful thinking on her part.
• "Cluster of Big Earthquakes Rattles Iceland’s Katla Volcano"--Wired. I saw several posts at various survival/prepping sights that were worried about this. The author of this piece maintains that the earthquakes are only one indication of activity, and that none of the other signs are present. He concludes that there is not much to worry about from this.
• "Indestructible strain of E.coli 'has reached the US', researchers warn"--Daily Mail. A antibiotic resistant strain of E. coli was discovered during treatment of a 76-year old man in 2014. Although this strain of E. coli is resistant to two families of antibiotics, it appears to be an isolated case. However, the article warns of a spreading incidence of E. coli that is resistant to one family of antibiotics.
• "PoliceOne On Rifles For Every Cop"--Captain's Journal. The Captain doesn't think much of an article in PoliceOne suggesting that all police should be riflemen like Marine riflemen, and the rifle should be their principle weapon. As the Captain observes, "It’s a long way and a lot of water over the dam since the days of peace officers, yes?  Steel yourself for what’s coming, folks."
• "Uh-Oh: Obama Will Sign Climate Accord Without Congressional Approval"--The Daily Wire. Just another in "a long train of abuses and usurpations".
• Move along, nothing to see here: "Female Police Officer Stabbed In Toulouse, France By Mentally Ill Muslim Man"--Zero Hedge. The attacker first tried to take the officer's handgun, and when that didn't work, stabbed her in the neck. 
• "One person is killed and four more are injured in wild shootout on New Jersey highway in broad daylight"--Daily Mail. Probably gang related.
• "Exposing the Myth of Nordic Socialism"--Helen Smith at PJ Media. From the article: "Debunking Utopia Swedish author Nima Sanandaji explains why this is all wishful thinking. Certainly, some aspects of Nordic welfare states, such as childcare provision, merit the admiration of liberals. But overall, it is a unique culture based on hard work, healthy diets, social cohesion and high levels of trust that have made Nordic countries successful." (Italics mine). You will note that these traits (with the possible exception of health diets) are missing from the immigrants that they are welcoming into Sweden. 
• Just a reminder that we live in the 21st Century:

• "Russia reveals world's first test of radical pulse-detonation 'super-rocket'"--Daily Mail. From the article: "The Russian Advanced Research Foundation has announced the construction and testing of a pulse-detonation rocket engine, which uses high thermodynamic efficiency to allow spacecraft to achieve much greater capabilities. The researchers say this type of engine could enable rockets to carry a heavier payload and reduce the cost of shipping cargo into orbit."

• "Is the mystery of the 'impossible' fuel free EmDrive thruster about to be solved? Claims secretive Nasa lab to publish paper on 'warp drive' that could take humans to Mars in 10 weeks"--Daily Mail. (Note: I still think it a strange coincidence that the configuration of the EmDrive is so similar to the alleged Nazi Bell).