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Sunday, January 27, 2019

January 27, 2019 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

"Earth Catastrophe Cycle | The Oceans"--Suspicious Observers (7 min.)

  • It's not too late to check out Active Response Training's Weekend Knowledge Dump for this past week. Links include a test of three different popular .223/5.56 defense loads out of an AR pistol (7.5 inch barrel) which just seem to confirm my decision to use .300 Blackout for a pistol AR rather than 5.56.
  • While you are at the Active Response Training site, check out Greg Ellifritz's article on "How to Spot a Bad Guy- A Comprehensive Look at Body Language and Pre-Assault Indicators." It is important to understand that the use of firearm or other deadly weapon is (or should be) the end of a long path of opportunities to avoid crime. The biggest factor in whether you are going to be the victim of a violent crime is life-style choices. But if you find yourself in a situation where you are being stalked by a potential predator, you need to learn to watch for certain behavior to identify the fact that you are being singled out for a possible assault as well as warnings that an attack is imminent. As Ellifritz mentions, a clenched hand or holding hands above the waistline are signs that someone may be getting ready to use those hands. Similarly, someone positioning themselves into a fighting stance is a sign that they may be about to fight. Ellifritz also mentions breathing, the "thousand yard stare", or touching themselves around their face or shoulders in order to mask movements or nervousness. Anyway, Ellifritz discusses a lot more warning signs, as well as methods to reduce signals or signs that a criminal might look for to determine whether you are potential victim or someone to be avoided. Read the whole thing.
  • "New CMMG Resolute .350 Legend in Burnt Bronze Cerakote"--The Firearm Blog. Winchester was apparently working with CMMG to bring out an AR using the new .350 Legend. Since it is based on the .223 case, the bolt and bolt carrier are the same, and it makes use of a standard AR15 upper and lower. The barrel is obviously different, but because it is a straight wall cartridge, it cannot use the standard AR magazine. The magazine it does use, however, can be used in the standard AR magazine well. CMMG is making complete rifles, but also promises to release separate uppers and, even, just barrels. CMMG will also sell the new magazines. 
  • "Guns for Beginners: How to Aim a Pistol"--The Truth About Guns. A critical point:
You should see an equal amount of light between the sight posts (called “light bars”) and equal height of the front and rear sight.  That is good sight alignment. After you can obtain both good sight alignment and a good sight picture, it’s all up to your trigger finger.  In fact, a proper trigger press is probably more important than a perfect sight picture and alignment.
  • "5 facts about crime in the U.S."--Pew Research Center. They are: (1) Violent crime in the U.S. has fallen sharply over the past quarter century; (2) Property crime has declined significantly over the long term; (3) Public perceptions about crime in the U.S. often don’t align with the data; (4) There are large geographic variations in crime rates; and (5) Most crimes are not reported to police, and most reported crimes are not solved.
  • "FIVE TIPS TO MODIFY A ZIPPO LIGHTER FOR SURVIVAL FIRE MAKING"--Survival Common Sense. Tips include putting an extra flint in the fuel reservoir under the stuffing, and some methods of sealing the lighter to reduce the evaporation of the fuel. And that is the biggest problem with the Zippo, in my opinion, is how quickly fuel can evaporate. The author noted that, even sealed, he had all the fuel evaporate within a few days. It doesn't take long for fuel to evaporate, so you need to make sure that the lighter works before you go out, and be sure to top it off if you are planning on going into the field or woods.
  • "TTAG Exclusive Ammo Review: Steinel .38 Special 125 gr +P Snub Nose Pro"--The Truth About Guns. This is a monolithic projectile, made of copper, that performed quit well in ballistic tests conducted by the author out of a J-frame snub-nosed revolver. He reports consistent penetration of 13-inches, and consistent expansion even through heavy clothing and leather. MSRP is a little high, however: $32 for 25 rounds.
  • "Review of the North American Arms Mini-Revolvers"--The Survivalist Blog. The other day I linked to a video from Lucky Gunner that wasn't very positive about the NAA revolvers. In this review, the author approaches the weapon more as one for keeping with you in a non-permissive environment. In answer to why carry one, the author responds: "Simply put, when you positively cannot carry anything else. These guns have serious advantages in their niche, but as niches go theirs is very, very small." The author goes on to discuss different models and the disadvantages and advantages to this weapon.
  • "Should You Buy An AK-47 Rifle?"--The Truth About Guns. The AR glut and international sanctions have resulted in a price reversal where a decent quality AR is cheaper than an AK.
  • We know that the Glock 42 was the .380 single stack compact pistol, and the Glock 43 was the single stack 9 mm pistol. Then Glock released the Glock 45 which was the Glock 19 slide mated to the Glock 17 frame. And then Glock just recently released the Glock 48 which is a single-stack 9 mm with a slightly longer grip on the frame. But what about the missing numbers:
  • Glock 44? Don't know.

A reader brought this video to my attention. I would also add to stock up on ammunition.
  • "Migrant Caravan Swells to 12,000 at Mexico’s Southern Border"--Breitbart. Per the article: "The ranks of a new Central American migrant caravan reportedly grew in size to more than 12,000 as of Friday. The caravan is now heading to Mexico’s southern border." The article suggests that changes to Mexico's immigration laws, making it easier for migrants to obtain humanitarian visas, is part of the reason for the surge (although that doesn't seem to have been an issue in the past). In that regard, the article indicates that "[i]t is believed that many of the migrants will be able to seek out temporary work while waiting at the U.S. border for asylum requests to be processed. Many are expected to decide to attempt to cross illegally into the United States."
Roger Stone, a political operative and former Trump campaign associate, was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by a battalion of FBI agents wielding automatic weapons, because Stone was a dangerous threat as evidenced by the cheesy process crimes he is charged with committing. Fake News CNN was there to film it, obviously tipped off by the FBI. I’ve no doubt Mueller himself directed a subordinate to tell CNN about the raid, because this piece of shit wanted his handiwork broadcast live and in color, as a message to those who thwarted the ascension of his Queen Hillary to the throne. He’s Still With Her.
He has also uncovered the FBI and CNN link, discovering that the CNN reporter at the scene, Josh Campbell, used to work for the FBI as an assistant to James Comey
  • "This Map Shows Where in the World the U.S. Military Is Combatting Terrorism"--Smithsonian Magazine. Apparently "the U.S. is now operating in 40 percent of the world’s nations".
  • Anthony Watts reports that "Germany totally kills coal – will likely end up in the dark, without heat and light." Germany already killed off their nuclear power industry, which forced the country to rely more heavily on coal. Now Germany is planning on closing all 84 of its coal fired power plants over the next 19 years. To be replaced by what? Supposedly the generating capacity will be made up through so-called renewable resources, presumably wind or solar. So how will this play out over the long run? Wind turbines are energy and material intensive to manufacture compared to their output, besides the fact that they tend to chop up birds. It also isn't reliable. Germany isn't exactly the best country for solar power, so that source will also be intermittent. So Germany has the choice of either purchasing power from other countries to make up shortfalls (i.e., exporting its carbon footprint) or storing the power during periods of excess production. Generally storing power under these circumstances is accomplished by pumping water into reservoirs and then using the water to drive turbines when the wind or solar power production declines. Consequently, Germany will need to build large reservoirs. I'm not sure how that will be any more environmentally friendly than coal mining.
       My guess is that Germany will have to backtrack. Perhaps not return to burning coal, but switching to power plants burning natural gas. I can't see Germany sending troops to Syria in order that the pipeline from the Gulf States can reach Europe, so Germany will have to turn to Russia to import even more natural gas or ... gasp ... purchase gas from Israel as it develops its off-shore gas fields. If Germany does the latter, though, it will cause friction between Germany and Turkey and, by extension, friction within Germany because of its large Turkish community.
  • Related: "How Germany got its gold back"--Financial Times. During the cold war, Germany built up and stored its gold reserves in Paris, London and New York, in order to keep it out of the hands of the Soviet Union in the event of war. In the early 2000s, Germany repatriated some of the gold stored at the Bank of England. In 2013, Germany decided to repatriate half of the gold kept at foreign locations, including from Paris and the Fed in New York.
  • Related: "The Fed Has 6,200 Tons of Gold in a Manhattan Basement—Or Does It?"--Wall Street Journal (alternate source). The article relates that "[i]n a 2012 audit of U.S. gold at the Fed’s vault, the U.S. Mint and the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General sent 367 samples to an independent lab for testing. All but three samples came back within 0.13% of the purity recorded by the government, within standard industry tolerance, according to the Mint and Treasury." And what about those three? 

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