Month: July 2014

Cottage/Local Manufacturing After SHTF, by S.T.

Post-SHTF America will see the end of the current modern centralized-style of mass manufacturing and all of the poor-quality foreign imports. However, it will also see the rise of the new, local, home-based and small-scale manufacturing of local, functional, non-electric, and reusable items that will replace all of the electric, disposable, and toxic items that are purchased and used now. Unless you have a group that includes two doctors (a doctor cannot operate on himself), two dentists (a dentist can’t fill his own teeth), a nurse, a pharmacist, and a herbalist, as well as the teens to act as apprentices, …


Letter Re: Potential Bioterrorism Agent Found in Colorado

Hugh, In the 19 July 2014 entry by Dr. Koelker, she brought up the potential for use of weaponized plague. Many years ago when I was in the Air Force, my tattered old shot record says I was inoculated against “Plague”. Is there currently any vaccine available that works to prevent pneumonic and/or bubonic plague? And how long is/was my ancient (1968) inoculation effective? Thank you for the excellent heads-up, Doc. BUFF Driver Cynthia Koelker, MD Responds: In my recent article on pneumonic plague I stated that no vaccine is available, but to answer this reader’s question, let me address …


News From The American Redoubt:

Police investigate officer shooting of black lab. – RBS o o o Related to the above: Threats pour into Coeur d’Alene for officer who fatally shot lab. – RBS o o o Now, federally-issued money is apparently no longer able to pay debts. City limits coin payments to $2 The justification given for the limitation is that customers would leave large amounts of coins and then walk away with their bills underpaid. They seem to be unable to carry the underpayment amount on to the next bill, or even demand that the customer count the coins.


Economics and Investing:

What Recovery? US Macro Suffers Longest Streak Of Weakness Since Lehman – H.L. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: 20 Signs The Epic Drought In The Western United States Is Starting To Become Apocalyptic Here Is The Source Of “More Than 95% Of The Market Rally In Q2” The Head Of ‘The Central Bank Of The World’ Warns That Another Great Financial Crisis May Be Coming


Odds ‘n Sods:

Armed bandits demand water in dry northern India – JBG o o o Possible Epidemic? The Chikungunya Virus Is Starting To Spread In America. – B.B. o o o Living in the age of video and Internet can be problematic. Student who sought injunction to remove online video faces legal costs of over €1m. – T.P. o o o Notice how well the American Redoubt, mountain states, and southern states did: Happiest Americans Are (And Are Not). – H.L. o o o 5 Things To Remember Before You Say, ‘Screw It, I’m Done With America’ – B.B.



Notes for Monday – July 21, 2014

July 21st is the birthday of Ernest Hemingway. He was born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois. He committed suicide in July 2, 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho, after being diagnosed with haemochromatosis, and after electroshock treatments failed to lift him from chronic alcoholic depression. We see a sad life but a great writer. o o o Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A …


How to Plan for Survival on a Small Budget, by N.G.

It’s no secret that being prepared takes time and money. These days, with the questionable economy, most people believe that they have to win the lottery or inherit a small fortune to begin preparing for an unforeseen disaster. Since I am married to a wife who is a full-time student and we have a small child and combined income of thirty thousand dollars per year, I also thought it was impossible to get started. However, whether it be supplies, equipment, training, or home modifications, anyone can get started just by starting on a smaller scale. The key is to minimize …


Scot’s Product Review: Malkoff

Thanks to all of the folks who are writing me about products to review. It really helps. One common thread in several letters is to test affordable stuff, and that’s going to be a priority. Please keep the ideas coming! They really help. Malkoff might be another word for light. It is all thanks to Gene Malkoff going out one night to protect his chickens and realizing he needed a better flashlight. The Enterprise, Alabama man tried an LED light but just wasn’t happy with it. He decided he could come up with something better. After some hard work, he …


Recipe of the Week: Sourdough Spice Cake, by DEC

I have always loved cooking with sourdough. It is super easy to make and keep a jar of sourdough sitting on the counter, ready for use in bread, cakes, pizza dough, or anything else. My favorite recipe of all is Sourdough Spice Cake: Ingredients 1 cup sourdough 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable cooking oil (I use olive oil) 2 eggs 1 cup milk 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp cloves (ground) 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp ginger 1 cup flour, if the sourdough is thin Directions To …


Letter Re: So You Think Starting a Garden Will Be Easy After TEOTWAWKI

I have been meaning to post this information online and have not found a good venue for it, but reading the responses to the article So You Think Starting a Garden Will Be Easy After TEOTWAWKI inspired me to contact you for your consideration of adding this little tidbit for your blog followers. The second letter response to the article stated that “We put dehydrated tomatoes and peppers in pint canning jars, put a tiny hole in the center of the lid, put on a Pump ‘N Seal seal, pump out the air, and place in our cool, dark, root …


Economics and Investing:

Global Financial Reset – J.W. o o o How the Rentenbank Stopped Inflation. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Why We’re In ATLEAST The Third Biggest Stock Bubble In U.S. History Mortgage Volume Tanks; Jamie Dimon Bashes The FHA If This Keeps Up, They Will Have To Start Putting Armed Guards On Food Trucks


Odds ‘n Sods:

Manpads – They obviously work: Videos show Ukrainian surveillance plane shot down by MANPADS (and crew jump from it). – T.P. Also, Youtube video of the Downed AN-30. o o o Congressman Just Confirmed the Border Patrol is Being Shot At. – D.S. o o o The Electrical Grid May Well Be The Next War’s Battlefield. – G.G. o o o Former Border Patrol agent warns what’s coming. – B.B. o o o A national identity scheme goes global: Estonia takes the plunge. – G.G.



Notes for Sunday – July 20, 2014

Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift …