Practical Eschatology: May 23, 2018 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

May 23, 2018 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

"7.62x39mm gel test: 123 gr Fusion"--The Chopping Block (2 min.)

Good penetration and good expansion.

Grant Cunningham's Hump Day Reading List for this week.
"Defensive Knife Use: Teen stabs would-be abductor with her pocketknife"--The Truth About Knives. The article quoted in this post reported: "Police say she pulled out a pocket knife during the scuffle and stabbed him in the side. She told police that he fell to the ground before he ran away."
"Russian Soldiers Report Issues with Ammo"--The Firearms Blog. Squib loads, overcharged loads, improperly seated or missing primers, and more.
"Loaner/ Cache Pistols"--Total Survivalist Blog. I've seen discussion before of keeping some extra weapons--generally inexpensive but durable weapons--to throw in a hidden cache, lend to a friend or neighbor during a SHTF event, or even as a trade good. The conversations I've seen or engaged in have focused on rifles or shotguns, with something basic and inexpensive like the Mosin–Nagant or, especially back when they were dirt cheap, an SKS. This article instead looks at the same concept, but with handguns (which might actually be more useful for most people in the aftermath of a natural disaster for self-defense). The article in particular looks at the Ruger P-series of pistols (which were built like tanks) as a good option.

I've become more cautious as I've gotten older about lending firearms to someone simply because of the liability issues if they have an accident with the firearm or, worse yet, use it illegally to harm someone. And if things were so bad that liability issues were moot--such as a complete loss of rule of law--I would still be concerned about arming someone that might later use the weapon against me. I have a few friends to whom I would loan firearms because I know they are skilled, careful, and I absolutely trust them, but I would have a hard time loaning a firearm to someone else.

"Conversion Chart for Powdered Milk"--Preparedness Advice. Instructions for mixing up smaller quantities (i.e., 1 cup or less) of powdered milk, which is handy for baking or cooking.
"POWERLESS COOKING"--Food Storage Made Easy. The article begins by listing some key points:

When it comes to cooking without power, you have to have a fuel source. That fuel source may be in the form of the sun, propane, butane, Insta-fire, charcoal or a variety of other fuels.

We recommend working on building, and using a food storage in cases where you have power, then gradually start learning about, and implementing powerless cooking tools.

There are a variety of make-you-own cooking tools out there. They are good for short term emergencies, or to practice and get your feet wet if you have a smaller budget. As your able to allocate more of your budget to powerless cooking tools, we recommend getting more durable tools.

One thing to consider is that while there are many options for cooking outdoors, it may not always be feasible to do so (i.e. a huge snow storm). So make sure you have some back-up plans in place to cook indoors or have some meals that do not require cooking at all.

Read the whole thing.

"Why the Flex is Best"--Massad Ayoob at Guns Magazine. Ayoob has recommended for a long time that pistol shooters rest their shooting finger on the frame above the trigger guard, with the finger curved, rather than flat along the frame, or flat with the tip resting on the front of the trigger guard. Part of it is a safety issue--if your finger is resting ahead of the trigger guard or straight along the frame above the trigger guard and for some reason you involuntarily clench your hand, the finger can unconsciously be pulled back and discharge the weapon. Part of it is a weapon retention issue. As Ayoob describes:

An attempt to disarm the Good Guy will likely begin with the Bad Guy slapping the weapon off the midline of his own body. If the Good Guy’s trigger finger is extended along the frame, this can drive the gun against the index finger bending it backward, causing a sympathetic release of the other fingers and yielding the gun to the Bad Guy.

You can simply push your own straight index finger over the back of your hand toward your wrist and experience this for yourself. The bent trigger finger we teach greatly strengthens the index finger and reduces the likelihood of this happening.

And part of it is speed. Ayoob explains: "The tip of the flexed trigger finger — being directly above the triggerguard — allows it to simply slide down and effortlessly find the trigger instantly when the time to shoot does come."

"Why Does the Chinese Government Love Natural Disasters?"--China Uncensored (10 min.)

The Chinese government in the Sichuan province have made a new holiday on the anniversary of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake (estimated to have killed between 70,000 and 300,000. Particularly hard hit were students in government schools, which collapsed due to poor construction--government officials had embezzled construction funds, resulting in the use of poorer quality materials and shortcuts in construction. However, the holiday isn't to honor the victims, but is instead being called a day of Thanksgiving ... to show appreciation for all the Chinese government did to help after the disaster.

"U.S. Imported More than 10M Immigrants in Last Decade, Exceeding the Population of NYC"--Breitbart News. That's more than the population of some states! Idaho, for instance, has a total population of only 1.7 million.
The scorpion and the frog: "In America: Distinctly Different Parallel Societies Being Imported"--News With Views. The article contains excerpts from an interview with a Somali "refugee" in Michigan:

In Minneapolis, Somalians, at 120,000 of them, created what Americans in the area call, “Somaliland.” It’s totally distinct and antagonistic to American society.

“Get with the program, miss,” he said harshly. “We are here to stay. We never left our Somali heritage or culture. That’s what America is missing. Please stop forcing us to your ways. You’re old and have very old ideas. Get with the program. I’m trying to have my son to be the first Muslim black governor of the state of Minnesota in next 20 years. He’s gonna run as a Democrat. Oh, and on those upgrades at Cedar Riverside.

* * *

The Somalian continued, “They better give us those upgrades and changes if the mayor wants to earn our votes. Or else we can always get another Mayor next time around. You see how being an American works? I told you lady please get with the program because Somalis are the latest addition to black folks.

“Why should we assimilate? Do you know how stupid you sound? Guess what? We’re here to stay and will transform America for the better. Get that through your thick, ignorant skull. You need to see a doctor. It’s inevitable that Somalis will be taking over and there isn’t anything you can do about it. Again, what’s wrong with Somalis taking over? It is inevitable! This land doesn’t belong to either of us. It is our time to populate it and rule it. Go back to Europe or wherever you’re from if you don’t like it.”

"A Russian's Devastating Verdict on Norway"--PJ Media. From the article:

In one telling anecdote, Snegirov described a type of conduct I've witnessed repeatedly in Norway: he's on a train from Hamar to Oslo on which all the seats are taken; although a number of able-bodied males (including young men in military uniforms) are seated, none of them stands up to offer his seat to any of the several elderly women (some of them weighed down by massive backpacks) who are forced to stand. But then a Pakistani man boards the train, and a red-bearded Norwegian immediately “jumps up ... and invites the Muslim to sit down.” The Pakistani says no, but Redbeard insists. After the Pakistani sits, Redbeard stands with his back to the door, his facial expression making it clear that he feels he has “done a good deed.”

Snegirev also visited Grønland, a Muslim-heavy part of Oslo, where he met Yevgeny Dyakonov, a local from Uzbekistan. Describing Grønland as more dangerous than even the worst parts of Moscow (I wouldn't know, having been in Grønland many times but never in Moscow), Dyakohov talked about the several times he'd been mugged by his own Muslim neighbors and explained that it's no use to go to the police, who give you the brush-off. (Verdict, based on my own experience: true.) Dyakonov mentioned a fellow resident of his apartment building, an actual Somali pirate who lives on welfare and child benefits and whose rent is paid by the government. When Dyakonov asked why he doesn't work, the man said: “I'm a born pirate! I never worked and I will not work!”