September 8, 2017 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

"Bug Out Vehicle - Prepared And Ready!"--Survival Lilly (17 min.)

• TGIF: This weekend's "Weekend Knowledge Dump" from Active Response Training. As always, this is a small treasure trove of useful articles. However, given my interest in how civilizations collapse and comparative history (I just finished reading both of Spengler's volumes comprising his Decline of the West!), there was one article in particular that jumped out at me: "Hard Truths and The Biggest Duty You Have" which discusses Sir John Glubb's take on comparative history. 

       One of the takeaways from Glubb's research (and one that the article focuses on) is that every empire only lasts approximately 200-250 years. My only quibble with the article is that the author assumes that the U.S. has had its 200 to 250 years. That is only true if you consider the U.S. to be part of the British Empire (which broke apart in the 1950s, but, I've noted, appears to still be breaking apart), or that the U.S. was an Empire from its inception. I don't believe either is correct; the earliest date for Empire would, in my opinion, be the Civil War, but more realistically, it would date to the end of World War II when the U.S. effectively stepped into the vacuum left by the demise of the British Empire. In any event, we would only be about half-way through our Empire stage. Even looking at Spengler's comparative history, the United States is the inheritor of Western Civilization much as Rome was the inheritor of Classical Civilization. And comparing the fates of civilizations, per Spengler, we are only just entering what he called the age of Caesarism, which puts us at the point of the beginning of the Roman Empire. Yes, I agree that we have reached an age of decadence, but Western Civilization, as whole, reached that point over a century ago (just look at pre-WWII Weimar Germany). What we are on the point of is loosing any semblance of a Republic and moving into a true Empire. Thus, I agree with Anonymous Conservative's prediction that "the United States will spend some time as a relatively openly acknowledged dictatorship/oligarchy at some point in the next two to three decades."

       But this is not to diminish the article on Glubb's work. First of all, it offers a different perspective on the same issue: where are we vis-a-vis other nations in respect to comparative history. The author is correct that the Constitution is effectively dead--the division of power between states and the federal government was mortally wounded in the Civil War and died in the Depression. The Federal Government today is not one of limited and carefully delineated powers, but effectively possesses the general police powers that had formerly been reserved to the States. The author is correct that the surveillance state is complete. And he is correct that this is not something that can be reversed. As he notes:

You can’t stop the tsunami that is coming; you’re not going to be able to “restore” anything. You can, however, shift your mindset to preparing for how to survive it, as opposed to failed attempts at preventing it. You can make it through the storm, come out the other side, and possibly start something even better — unless you’re in jail or dead, of course, which is where it seems the movement is hell-bent on getting to, and the gov is all too happy to oblige.

       Read the whole thing and check out the other articles to which Greg Ellifritz has linked.

• Self-Reliance Outfitters has released a black-powder adapter for 20 gauge shotguns (they also have one for 12 gauge). It is for use with shot, not slugs (or balls or bullets).
• "Hurricane Harvey Comments on Currency, Ammo & Guns"--Ammo Land. Comments from the author's (John S. Farnam) students and instructors in the affected area, including: power and water being off or only intermittent; the need to be armed because of looters/thieves; and the need for cash in order to purchase anything. They also pointed out that gasoline was hard to impossible to find, they saw a lot of people suffering from inadequate footwear (flip flops just aren't enough for SHTF) and that ammunition in the common calibers was impossible to find.
• "New Data: Illegal Voters May Have Decided New Hampshire in 2016"--PJ Media. Hillary took the state by only about 2,700 votes. However, data now shows that over 5,000 voters who don't live in New Hampshire voted there, taking advantage of same-day registration.
• "Why not 308? The battle between 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua, 260 Rem, 243 Win, 6BR, 6×47 Lapua, and 6 Creedmoor"--Rifleshooter.com.  A look at the advantages and disadvantages of each for long-distance target shooting (i.e., punching paper or ringing steel; not hunting or sniping).
• "Six Historical Egg Preservation Techniques: What is the best historical way to store eggs?"--All Outdoors. This article (and the embedded video) discusses techniques for storing eggs that do not require refrigeration. One method discussed in more detail in the article is storing the eggs in "slaked lime," which may work for up to two years.
• "China may be the real target of North Korea's pressure"--AFP (via Yahoo). The article notes that many of North Korea's shenanigans were times to overshadow important diplomatic events sponsored by China. From the article:

       Communist propaganda deifies Xi as an infallible father figure, but Kim's actions are puncturing the facade and exposing the Chinese leader's impotence toward the nuclear crisis on his doorstep.

       "North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests have put China in a more and more difficult position," said Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing.

* * *

      Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test, by far its most powerful to date, came just as leaders of the five BRICS emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- gathered for a summit.

       The meeting in the southeastern city of Xiamen was intended to be the typical China-hosted event -- micromanaged to the smallest detail to portray Xi at home as a wise and benevolent world leader.

       But Kim stole the spotlight, just as he did in May when the North conducted a missile test that embarrassed Xi as he hosted a large international summit on trade.

The article goes on to note that North Korea's defiance is particularly disruptive as Xi prepared for the Chinese Communist Congress--a once every 5 year event to select leaders and ratify major policy. 

      But the nuclear standoff in increasingly making Xi appear powerless to prevent a deepening crisis next door.

       He now looks paralysed, with US President Donald Trump criticising China for not doing enough, and North Korea acting increasingly aggressive, analysts said.

• Related: "China's military rehearses fending off a 'surprise attack' near the Korean peninsula as tensions in the region continue to escalate"--Daily Mail. Per the article, "[a]n anti-aircraft defence battalion carried out the exercises early on Tuesday, near the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea that separates China from the peninsula, the official army website stated."

• Related: "US Intelligence: North Korea's Sixth Test Was a 140 Kiloton 'Advanced Nuclear' Device"--The Diplomat. 

• Of course: "Documents Tie Berkeley Riot Organizers To Pro-Pedophilia Group, NAMBLA"--Daily Caller. This is the next big fight after the Transgender victory is complete.
• Yes, Virginia, there is a slippery slope: "How The Transgender Crusade Made Me Rethink My Support For Gay Marriage"--The Federalist. The author admits: "The Left has shown the totalitarian manner in which it exacts support, or at least silence, from everyday Americans. We’ve seen how lives were destroyed in the wake of the gay marriage debate, how many individuals were shouted down into submission by the side that proclaims itself to be 'open-minded' and employed the slogans 'No H8' and 'Love Wins.' For many conservatives, including myself, the lesson has been learned." Actually, I don't think Conservatives have learned, or there would be a stop to this nonsense. The Left learned long ago that the path to victory was to be unreasonable. If they wanted a foot, but could get the other side to give up 6 inches, they still won. Only as to gun rights has there been any effective resistance, and it is because enough gun owners were finally willing to take a position that further compromise would not be tolerated, and dragged the NRA kicking and screaming to (at least publicly) taking the same position. The next step in the firearm debate is to push for repeal of the NFA--machine guns and destructive devices for all. Even if we obtain only a few concessions, we win. 
• Heh. "Refugee Resettlement — In Hellerup"--Gates of Vienna. Hellerup is an "exclusive" suburb of Copenhagen. Its where a lot of people that support immigration live, but without having to experience the fruits of their policies up close. That is about to change. A lawyer, who had his plans to build a new house frustrated by the opposition of his wealthy neighbors, will put his existing house to good use: 

“I think Uffe Ellemann-Jensen needs new neighbors. Therefore a family of 9-11 members of alternative ethnic origin, with a large dog, will now move in, since I will not be allowed to build my new house. It is my impression that the tenants have an extremely large social circle,” says Jan Leth Christensen…