Month: August 2014


Odds ‘n Sods:

Police stage realistic hostage drill on nursing home, terrorize unsuspecting staff – J.W. o o o Meet Four Business Owners Squeezed by Operation Choke Point – H.L. o o o DEA improperly paid $854,460 for passenger lists – P.M. o o o The Public Theft of Private Assets Always Precedes An Economic Collapse and That Time Is Upon Us. – B.B. o o o The Smart-Gun Maker Who Told Holder Off – T.P. JWR’s Comment: Mandating one company’s patented technology would be a Bill of Attainder, and hence would be unconstitutional.



Notes for Tuesday – August 12, 2014

My sons and I just wrapped up watching the “Mad Max” Trilogy (with appropriate fast-forwarding through certain parts) and thoroughly enjoyed them. That, of course, started the discussion of the much-anticipated Mad Max 4 “Fury Road”. We ended up finding this 4-part YouTube video of leaked pictures, concept art, and behind-the-scenes photographs. It’s kind of dated, but perhaps you will find them as entertaining as we did. YouTube Video: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 54 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,400+ worth of prizes …


Pre- and Post-SHTF Vehicle Operations and Preparation, By C.C.K.

Ask yourself this question: How will you get to your retreat when the SHTF? Do you imagine it will be easy? Even if you live at your retreat, there is still a good chance you work away from home. What about you city dwellers planning to jet out hundreds of miles away to a safer place? While getting there now may not be to difficult, this can all change in a heartbeat. Are you even prepared to deal with a simple breakdown, getting stranded, or a roadside medical emergency? Chances are that your pre- and post-SHTF travel plans aren’t as …


Letter Re: Time “OUT”

Hugh, I very much enjoyed the article. Great information. This is something that I have thought about for quite some time. My question is how do I re-synchronize my watch to the proper time if I forget and let it die overnight? Thanks for the awesome blog and all the insight. – MRM HJL Replies: There are a variety of ways that you can use to determine the time without another watch, some more accurate than others. A Google search will reveal at least 20 different ways. There are two that I remember right off the cuff, but you have …


News From The American Redoubt:

Idaho gun rights advocate Clayton Cramer has heart attack – T.H. o o o It’s not an uncommon occurrence in the west, but: Rattlesnake found in Oregon TV station parking lot – RBS o o o Survival bootlaces made in Idaho: flint laces – K.P. An article on these laces: Shoelaces That Include Everything You Need To Start an Emergency Fire. I love the second comment, too. o o o Idahoans spend big chunk of income on essentials – RBS



Odds ‘n Sods:

What Countries Are Currently At War? The Complete List. – H.L. o o o SurvivalBlog reader B.S. sent in this link to the chemical resistance of various plastics, an invaluable tool to understand what you need to store your survival chemicals in. One size does not fit all! o o o Total Breakdown In Less Than 24 Hours: Images and Videos of Missouri Riots and Looting – B.B. Reminiscent of the Rodney King riots… And to top it off, the hacker group “Anonymous” is weighing in on the issue even before due process can be started. o o o Authorities …




Guest Article: Substances, by Dr. Lewis Dartnell

The Knowledge: How to Rebuild our World from Scratch is a new book out in the U.S. now, and a New York Times science bestseller. If civilization does collapse, whether it’s caused by a viral pandemic, coronal mass ejection, or financial meltdown, the break in normal services is likely to cause a great deal of panic and perhaps a severe depopulation among the unprepared. The world as we know it has ended, but what now? What can the survivors do to ensure they thrive in the long-term, and how can you begin rebuilding a proficient society over the generations? Many …


Scot’s Product Review: Chinook MinimalistPak

Chinook Medical Gear, Inc. calls the kit I’m reviewing the MinimalistPak. They mean minimal in terms of size and cost. It’s not minimal, however, in terms of what you can do with it. It’s a good basic kit for handling most of the injuries one might get on a hike or perhaps while doing a roadside repair on a recalcitrant car. It can handle a good sized cut, though I would want more with a gunshot wound or other major injury. It is one of the seven kits available in their PAK line of first aid kits. The kit comes …


Recipe of the Week: Creamed Tuna, by R.B.

One versatile recipe that we love is Creamed Tuna. This is good comfort food. You can serve it on mashed potatoes (our favorite), noodles, rice, or toast. You can vary the protein, and instead of using canned tuna you can use canned salmon, shrimp, chicken, or even beef. It is easy to make. The recipe can easily be doubled, and you can make it with what you have in your pantry. Basically, it is a white sauce with whatever meat you add to it. Ingredients: 2 generous Tbsp butter 2 generous Tbsp flour 1 to 1 1/3 cup milk (fresh …


Letter Re: Time Out

Hugh, In reference to the excellent article Time “OUT”, by K.T., it is important to note the difference between “automatic” and “self winding” watches. Over the past couple of decades some companies have produced “automatic” and “kinetic” watches that charge an internal battery when the watch moves. These watches are different than “self winders” that wind the mainspring with an internal pendulum when the watch is moved. When the battery starts to go in these new automatics, it is very cost prohibitive to fix. Also, I’ll repeat what K.T. stressed in his article about buying quality mechanical watches– the cheap …