Notes for Monday – September 19, 2016

On September 19th, 1778, the Continental Congress passed the first budget of the United States. While the budget may have passed, the states responded poorly to the call for taxes to fund the government, and the government resorted to printing paper money to cover debts. In effect, the first budget was a failure, due in large part to the states not responding to the demands of Congress and the depreciation of fiat paper money. Are we talking about 1778 or 2014 here? Also on this date in 1796, George Washington addressed the nation in his farewell address as president. On …




Pat Cascio’s Product Review: CRKT Trencher

If you stop and think about it, everything I cover on our website, be it knives, guns, or water filters, are tools. They’re tools for survival in one shape or another. Many people simply look at a knife or a gun and consider them as “weapons”, and they are. However, they are still tools designed for specific tasks. Some firearms are designed for self defense, some are designed for hunting, and some are designed for target shooting. The same goes for knives; some are for self defense or everyday use, some for dressing out game, and some for use around …




Recipe of the Week: Beefburger Stroganoff

Ingredients: 1½ lbs lean ground beef 3 slices of bacon, diced 1 small onion 2 tbs flour ¼ tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 1 (10¾ oz) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup 2 tbs dry red wine 1 cup dairy sour cream 6 to 8 hamburger buns, toasted and buttered Directions: In a large skillet brown beef and bacon until red color disappears; then, drain. In a slow cooking pot, mix together drained beef, bacon, onion, flour, paprika, and salt. Stir in undiluted soup and wine. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Stir in sour …




Letter Re: The Golden Moments of Silence

Hugh, This article, “The Golden Moments of Silence” struck me by its coinciding with my experience from just last week while traveling through a very majestic and picturesque part of the country. This paragraph in particular by Sarah Latimer: “This article, I hope, will inspire you to look up from the computer, smart phone, iPad, or pull out the ear buds ….” While camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota last week I was appalled at the behavior of those who drove up to scenic overlooks that jumped out of their vehicle and went to the perch and held …




Economics and Investing:

Washington’s Endgame: First Your Guns, Then Your Cash? This is an eye opening article. Use cash wherever you can, and resist the removal of cash from your life, because it gives you a type of freedom you need. It keeps the government from complete dictatorship. – H.L. o o o Harvard Economist: US Should Phase-Out All Currency Larger Than $10 Bills. Eliminate “filthy lucre?” – D.S. o o o Free Trade Brings Abundance — Protectionism Brings Scarcity o o o Beijing desperately needs a recession to shift the economy o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment …




Odds ‘n Sods:

It is noteworthy that my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty.com web site now has 175 retreat properties listed. It is a great place for land buyers and sellers to connect, the ad space is surprisingly inexpensive, and there are NO sales commissions charged. Many of the properties have truly great attributes as retreats, like this one: Northern Ontario Wilderness Home – Plane or Boat Access. – JWR o o o Pokemon makes its foray into international espionage: ‘Pokemon Go’ lies behind China’s unprecedented military overhaul – D.F. o o o Jihad Knife Rampage at St. Cloud Mall, 8 Stabbed, Muslim Asked Victims …