Month: August 2016

Notes for Wednesday – August 24, 2016

On August 24th, 410, Rome was overrun by the Visigoths in an event that symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This is a moment in history that we would do well to remember. An empire that ruled the world was corrupted from the inside to the point that they could not defend themselves from a much weaker enemy. This could conceivably be the beginning of the dark middle ages. 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: …


I’m Not In The Position To Right Now- Part 1, by D.D.

Bring up disaster preparedness and you’ll get a variety of reactions, everything from concern to amusement. Awhile after you start this discussion you’ll usually receive a comment like “I’m coming to your house.” This last declaration being an entirely different issue in and of itself, it’s a statement to the effect of “I don’t have to do anything because you’re doing it all for me. I will continue on my merry life while you make the sacrifices necessary to save me if anything goes wrong. You save, you train, and you go without. We’re friends, and I’m special.” Here are …


Letter Re: Dehydrating Food – A Low Tech Method

Hugh, Just wanted to mention that in the absence of electric power to run dehydrators, you can also dehydrate leafy greens and salted tomatoes in the back seat of a closed car on a hot day. I have had good success using a muslin dishtowel placed on a cookie sheet (do not allow greens and tomatoes to touch metal during the drying process as this will turn them brown and icky) and just place the washed and patted dry greens (preferably not touching each other, place each leaf or slice singly not overlapping) and put the tray(s) on the back …


Economics and Investing:

Barack Obama may have finally destroyed America’s #1 advantage o o o China Plans To Slash Crude Demand By 250,000 Bpd o o o Scottish economy to see 2-11 billion pounds Brexit hit, government says o o o Sweden Warns U.K. Against Aggressive Tax Cuts Amid Brexit Talks o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival by Jack A. Spigarelli Preparedness Now!: An Emergency Survival Guide (Expanded and Revised Edition) by Aton Edwards Fiction Vandenberg by Oliver Lange (Invasion scenario. Note: It was later republished under the title: Defiance: An American Novel) Movies Amazing Grace (Biography of the abolitionist William Wilberforce) The Thing (Has some horrific scenes, but it is thought-provoking. NOT for kids!)


Odds ‘n Sods:

The Pentagon Takes Aim at Bomb-Carrying Consumer Drones o o o ‘They’ll kill for it’: Ramen has become the black-market currency in American prisons. Alternative currencies are fascinating. Chocolate, cigarettes, silk stockings and now Ramen noodles. Who knows maybe some smart debt bound college student will find his niche on campus and pay off their student loans. – RBS o o o Something Has Gone Wrong – B.B. o o o Situational awareness is becoming more important, including some form of legal EDC. Knife attack in Virginia – P.S. o o o Bingo hall raid turns up ‘doomsdayish’ cache of …



Notes for Tuesday – August 23, 2016

August 23rd is the anniversary of the declaration of the independent state of “Franklin” in Eastern Tennessee by the settlers there in 1784. Unfortunately, the Continental Congress rejected it, so the state of Franklin never became a reality. In 1833, Britain abolished slavery in the colonies and 700,000 slaves were freed. I can’t help but wonder; Had Abraham Lincoln allowed the political process to run its course, as it did in England, and slavery was abolished by the will of the people, as it would have been, rather than executive order, would we have the racial tensions we have today?


Guest Article: SHTF Intelligence – Getting Started- Part Three, by Samuel Culper

This is the third article in a series about using intelligence for preparedness. I’m starting from square zero in order to introduce a new crop of Americans to the concept of using intelligence, to prove that there’s a need for intelligence and to get readers quickly up to speed on how to incorporate it into their security planning. For a better foundation, be sure to read Part One and Part Two and check out the Ultimate ACE Startup Guide, too. Brief Recap In the first article, we established that prepared communities need intelligence because they’re going to have blind spots …


Letter Re: Dehydrating Foods

Hugh, In regards to what to use to keep your small foods from falling through the cracks of the screens, I have an answer that may or may not be safe, but I’ve have years of good luck. I put tin foil on the screen, then put a spritz of Pam cooking spray, then use a bit of paper towel to make sure the foil gets covered. I don’t spray the foil completely because I don’t care for the oily texture that remains after dehydration. When I use foil, I only use every other tray giving my machine ample air …


News From The American Redoubt:

Miles from nowhere… Video of a family’s life at the end of the road: Living in Idaho Back Country o o o Ten-Minute Video: North Idaho Wilderness Beauty. o o o The editors of the leftward-leaning Coeur d’Alene Press put their spin on the recent widely-read feature article in The Economist: Welcome to the American Redoubt o o o Wyoming Now Claiming It Owns the Wind – Taxes Energy Created by Mother Nature o o o From a SurvivalBlog reader: The employees of the largest employer in our Eastern Oregon county were made aware of this little gem today. It …


Economics and Investing:

Gold Demand To See Boost From Indian Wedding Season o o o The ultimate breakdown likely to be surprising, sudden, intense, and large o o o A sure sign of a sick political economy appears in Illinois – Connecticut is not far behind. A state “death spiral”: high taxes drive out business and people, causing more tax increases, an underfunded State pension plan (CT is only funded 45%), and so it goes! – H.L. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: The Marginal Buyer Holds The Pin That Pops Every Asset Bubble o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Lets bring in more muslims, Boy, 8, dies in Swedish hand grenade blast. o o o Container Full Of Assault Rifles And Grenade Launchers Headed To USA, Seized In Spain – G.P. o o o From reader A.S. – This was posted some years ago (Australian, but easily adapted for anyone) timely to repost again, its in a PDF format. Very worthwhile to keep in the current circumstances around the world: The food Lifeboat o o o An example of when sheltering in place just isn’t a possibility: Mysterious gas leak forces 200 people to evacuate San Diego neighborhood. Is …