Month: May 2014

Odds ‘n Sods:

Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting has launched a new blog: StrategicRelocationBlog.com, in cooperation with well-known preparedness author and lecturer Joel Skousen. I have great respect for both Todd and Joel. Be sure to check it out. – JWR o o o AAPS News May 2014 – Do Doctors Expire in 10 Years?. – H.L. First, the absurdity hit teachers. Now it looks like doctors are next on the list. I have been both a teacher and a medical professional (EMT-B). I can state with first-hand knowledge that I have never had a class (in a classroom) or taken a …



Notes for Tuesday – May 6, 2014

May 6th is the birthday of Tuvia Bielski, born 1906. You may remember him as the main character in the movie Defiance This movie was based on the book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec. o o o For those that like Sig Sauers, one of our contest sponsors, Autrey’s Armory, is offering 10% off for any Sig Sauer firearm in stock, and they will throw in the shipping. Just use “SIG10” at the checkout to get the discount. They will run the sale until May 15th. o o o Today we present another entry for Round 52 of …


Using Homeowners Insurance To Replace Lost Prepping Supplies And Retreat, by J.H.

First, I am a licensed insurance agent. I prefer not to mention the companies I represent. However, laws differ from state to state. This article is to educate people how to use their insurance to replace their prepping supplies and retreats when disaster strikes. Terms and Definitions to Know There are some basic terms to know when dealing with insurance. I’ve defined some of these terms into every day language: Actual Cash Value– This is also known as the depreciated value. Think about your roof. If you have 20-year shingles that have been on your house for 11 years and …


Letter Re: Experience With Wells Fargo Safe Deposit Box

Hugh, I noted the post in Economics and Investing on 30 April. I would like to share my experience with Wells Fargo which occurred about 20 years ago. I went in to the branch to access my safe deposit box. After telling me that I had no box, we sorted out that they had made a mistake about deducting my annual fees and closed my account. The next thing they said was that there was no such box. I convinced them that there was such a box, and we went into the vault and the previous location of my box …


Letter Re: Ideas Concerning a Post-Collapse World

Hugh, Considering the important position you have taken as editor on this blog, any post by you should have authoritative backing. I have concerns about parts, 3, 4, and 5 of your post “Response to Ideas Concerning a Post-Collapse World.” Part 3. Usury. Usury is simply a fee for the use of money. Not all religions prohibit it. In Judaism, it is prohibited only in loans of “brothers” to each other, not to outsiders. It is not prohibited in Christianity. Compound interest has a number of uses, including calculating the present value of an amount to be paid in the …


News From The American Redoubt:

Frank Limbs Hernandez, 94, of Eagle, Idaho, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 21, 2014. He, serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, gave over 30 years of service. He was the oldest living Marine in Idaho to have survived three combat theaters. A true hero. – D.H. o o o 3.8 quake in central Idaho, 2.5 in west Montana | KTVB.COM Boise. – RBS o o o Fourth graders kicked out of school after planning to make fireworks. – RBS o o o Thieves swipe fruit trees from Boise’s first urban orchard



Odds ‘n Sods:

Rare Earthquake Warning Issued for Oklahoma – M.M. o o o I usually don’t get too excited about boycotts, but I may just participate in this one: Oppose Corporations Helping NSA Spying . – B.R. o o o Showing just how fragile the system can be: Spy Plane Fries Air Traffic Control Computers, Shuts Down LAX. – P.M. o o o Raw milk movement grows amid push to ease regulation. This is another one of those issues that just plain makes me mad. I was raised on raw milk from the dairy down the road. The USDA and FDA are …



Notes from HJL:

I have received a number of complaints about the new server and the move across platforms that can be traced to old software. It is important that SurvivalBlog readers understand the importance of keeping your desktop software up-to-date to guard against security threats. Most users with complaints are running Windows XP with IE6 or IE7. XP was introduced in 2001 and has far exceeded the normal 10 year life cycle of Operating System software. Microsoft officially ceased mainstream support of XP in April of 2009, offering only monthly security updates. As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft no longer offers even …


Guest Article: A Recent Experience On An Ultra-Low Calorie Diet, by BadIdeaGuy

Caloric intake, in a post-SHTF, has been mentioned before, but I wanted to share a recent experience with a low-calorie disaster and what its implications are for challenging times that lie ahead. After some health concerns, my doctor asked if I’d like to try their physician-overseen weight loss program. I’m a 38 year old man, who is busy raising a family and performing in a career. I eat what I can when I can. The long workdays following by parental responsibilities have cut into my workout time, which results in my being fatigued, and have resulted in some poor dietary …


Scot’s product Review: Quick Hits

Holster Ops Magazine Pouch I think anyone who carries a defensive handgun needs to carry spare ammunition. In today’s world, bad things are happening and it may be necessary to have a reload magazine handy. Additionally, many semi-auto pistol problems are caused by a magazine issue and being able to dump and replace the one in the gun might be the indicated response. I have long carried two magazines for my Colt Commander but recently decided to add a third spare. We 1911 sorts are somewhat ammunition limited, and it occurred to me, as I read of flash mobs and …


Recipe of the Week: Taco Locos, by C.R.

Here is a recipe I invented using leftovers from baked potatoes to make tacos: After scrubbing well and baking, slice the top of the potato with a sharp knife lengthwise end to end. Eat all of the baked potato, scraping excess potato from the skin. (Not too hard, you don’t want holes in the skin.) The skin is now ready to be used as a tortilla, thereby cutting back on tortilla carbs, if dieting, or gluten, if sensitive. Holding the skin of the potato in one hand, you are now ready to apply a filling. Being a girl from Texas, …


Letter Re: OPSEC and Paid Security

Dear Jim and Hugh, I agree with the statements about private security. However, having too much visible security implies you have something worth protecting inside, and with the glut of marijuana production getting legalized in many states, the price of that drug has dropped, meaning the growers who were used to a certain income are now scrambling and desperate. There have been many reported incidents of home invasions in pot growing areas, with violent outcomes, and it is likely there are many that weren’t reported because the invaders were all killed and buried. Falling crop values and potential full legalization …