Month: August 2016

Notes for Wednesday – August 10, 2016

On October 10th, 1984, Red Dawn, the first PG-13 rated movie, starring Patrick Swayze was released. The movie (the 1984 original, not the 2012 remake) is a favorite of both JWR and HJL, and the characters that the movie is about embody the independent, indomitable spirit that created this country. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 66 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled …


“So Tell Me Again…”- Part 2, by M.P.

After a year-and-a-half using the mason jars and oxygen absorbers I did another test. In every category it was like I had dehydrated yesterday. The food had good flavor, nice texture, and little to no recognizable difference between fresh, so the system was clearly working. Take-away #4. Another valuable lesson was in the rehydrating process. I found that none of the typical recommendations of two, three, or four hours soaking was sufficient to bring vegetables back up to full hydration. Twelve to twenty–four hours gave an almost undetectable difference to their original state. Broccoli oddly enough took the longest, coming …


Letter Re: Christian Medical Sharing Ministries

Hugh: In response to a recent contributor’s comments on health care sharing ministries, I want to add my biased take. (Full disclosure, I am a member sponsor for Liberty HealthShare, meaning I make some money by referring people to their programs. However, I do recommend any of the various major health sharing ministries– Liberty, Samaritan, Medi-Share, and Christian Healthcare Ministries. I think most people will have a good experience with any of them, so long as they are properly informed and know what to expect.) The big concern raised in the recent post was that it might be difficult to …


Economics and Investing:

The worst place in the world to bank o o o Social Security’s looming $32 trillion shortfall – B.B. o o o 30 Years After The Disaster: Ukraine Plans Huge Solar Farm In Chernobyl – Perhaps the most well-known site of a nuclear disaster in the world, Chernobyl is now the location for an ambitious solar project. o o o The Minimum Wage: Taking Away the Right to Work o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Readers’ Recommendations of the Week:

Reader T.J. recommended these books for your prepping library: ARRL’s Low Power Communications: The Art and Science of QRP, by Richard H. Arland, ARRL’s Wire Antenna Classics, by ARRL Inc., US Marines’ Field Antenna Handbook, MCRP 6-22D, Antenna Handbook, by US Marine Corps, o o o G.W. suggested The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why


Odds ‘n Sods:

Over at Sipsey Street Irregulars: The venerable Woobie and GI Poncho JWR Adds: If you can afford a few extra bucks, the Wiggy’s Improved Poncho Liner is pretty close to perfection. And it is American made. (In Colorado.) o o o Harvard Study: 6 Million Americans’ Drinking Water Contaminated With Toxins – K.C. o o o Lobbying arm for refugee resettlement contractors wants US to take 200,000 refugees in FY2017 – B.B. o o o FBI Agent Goaded Garland Shooter To “Tear Up Texas,” Raising New Alarms About Bureau’s Methods – B.F. o o o Turkey: Headless Military, Confused Foreign …



Notes for Tuesday – August 09, 2016

August 9th, 1831was the birthday of James Paris Lee (August 9, 1831 – February 24, 1904). He was a Scottish-Canadian and later American inventor and arms designer, best known for inventing the bolt action that led to the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield series of rifles. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 65 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case …


“So Tell Me Again…”- Part 1, by M.P.

During the course of arising out of my slumber these past seven years to the fact that our country has taken a historic and possibly terminal change for the worse, I’ve noticed there seems to be stages of awaking from that long-winters-nap, for those of us fortunate enough to have had such an experience. Personally, as I look back I consider it to be a God thing– where I was, where I am now, and how the journey has transpired. And when I finally started moving on my new-found convictions, I, like most others, felt one of my first priorities …


Letter: Christian Medical Sharing Ministries

Hello Hugh, Some time ago I read about Christian medical sharing ministries on SurvivalBlog. (My Experience in Expatriating to Panama, by Chuck Holton) I am retiring early at 61 due to a medical condition, and not wanting to use Obamacare I thought I had found my solution. I joined Liberty Health Share after researching them. They tell you they will help you establish a connection between them and your doctor. You fill out a form detailing your doctor’s office and send it back to Liberty. They then send correspondence to your doctor’s office. If your doctor does not respond to …


News From The American Redoubt:

The Economist (a leftist magazine and web site) did a pretty decent writeup on the American Redoubt featuring JWR. There are a few back-handed compliments, but overall it’s a good article. On the other hand, the comments (367, at last count) are pretty amusing and some are outrageously ill-informed. FYI: No, Idaho is not a “Blue” state. No, JWR has not undergone heart surgery. He is very healthy and active. While not a farmer, he is a rancher, and he most definitely does live inside the American Redoubt. He also coined the term “American Redoubt” in 2011–not “more than 10 …


Economics and Investing:

Wake Up And Smell The Bull Trap! o o o The Consequences Of Big Oil’s Exploding Debt. Big oil has seen its debt load increase tenfold since 2008 as a result of high spending and unstable earnings. o o o Stocks a Screaming Buy in Fed Model That May Never Prove Right o o o The Seven-Year Short o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Hillary seemingly freezes up again causing her personal medic/bodyguard to alarm. – H.L. o o o Benghazi families sue Clinton for wrongful death, defamation – B.B. o o o Forward Observer has an interesting article on understanding doctrine. When it comes to intelligence and security, this is an important concept. o o o An hour long video on emerging infectious disease by S. Hatfill M.D., MSc, M. Med. These are diseases that are emerging which have never been seen before in human populations or in areas where they have never been seen before. – Sent in by S.C. o o …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Government-to-government foreign aid promotes statism, centralized planning, socialism, dependence, pauperization, inefficiency, and waste. It prolongs the poverty it is designed to cure. Voluntary private investment in private enterprise, on the other hand, promotes capitalism, production, independence, and self-reliance.” – Henry Hazlitt


Notes for Monday – August 08, 2016

August 8th is the birthday of Terry Nation (August 8th, 1930 – March 9th, 1997), who was a Welsh television writer and novelist. Nation wrote two series, Survivors and Blake’s 7, in the 1970s. Survivors was re-made a few years ago. o o o Last week I received word from Cold Steel that they now have less than 900 Rawles XL Voyager knives knives left on hand. This limited edition folding survival/utility knife of my design is now priced at just $69.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members. Remember that ALL of the profits from the sale of these …