Month: October 2016

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: Rand McNally 2017 Large Scale Road Atlas Blue Book of Gun Values Movies: Ender’s Game RED 2 Music: Sounds of Summer: Very Best of The Beach Boys The Blues Brothers Original Soundtrack Podcasts: The Mountain Medicine Podcast The Survival Podcast: Episode-978-Fall Gardening Primer with Tips and Tricks for 2012 Instructional Videos: Firewood cutting rack DIY Firewood Storage From Pallets Gear: Nitecore i4 Intellicharge Universal Smart Battery Charger with 12 VDC Cable Israeli Battle Dressings



Odds ‘n Sods:

Charles Hugh Smith:  What Happens When the Electricity Is Off for Three Days? o o o SurvivalBlog Reader G.L. wrote to mention this Radio Free Redoubt podcast: Episode 16-40 Reconciling Christian Dual Citizenship, Patriotism, and Politics (You can scroll forward to the 35:20 mark to skip over some now dated news..) o o o Here is a useful primer: Travel Power Adapters: How to Choose


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“What can be simpler or more accurately stated? The Mexican government is forcing their most unwanted people into the United States. They are, in many cases, criminals, drug dealers, rapists, etc. …Many fabulous people come in from Mexico and our country is better for it. But these people are here legally, and are severely hurt by those coming in illegally.” – Presidential Candidate Donald Trump


Notes for Tuesday – October 25, 2016

This is the birthday of explorer and pilot Admiral Richard Byrd (1888–1957). His autobiography titled Alone is a must-read. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 67 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 (a $1,700 value), A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value), A …


Everyday Survival Living Overseas Among Muslims, by A.E.

I read articles and letters on this site, and other blogs and web sites, where people are prepping for survival. Oftentimes these articles and letters concentrate on hypothetical or theoretical post-TEOTWAWKI situations. My family’s and my survival experience is not theoretical. We live in an everyday survival context. I hope this article can help to enlighten some of you on prepping for everyday living and to expose some of the challenges faced across America and the world by people wishing to prep in less than ideal circumstances. I am an American, an Army veteran of foreign wars, believer in the …


Letter: Advice for Rural Retirees

Dear Editor: My husband and I are older, he is 84 and I am 70.  We are very concerned about the way this country is traveling and are even more concerned if Hillary Clinton is elected.  I realize that we need to start gathering supplies and storing them.  My question is: we live in a small, rural, agricultural community. However, we live on a main road and are within 50 miles of two major cities and about 70 miles of another one.  Our economy took an unusually hard hit in 2008 and is recovering at a slower rate than many …


News From The American Redoubt:

An enormous 500MW wind farm could soon grace the fields of Eastern Oregon. The skyline in the region is already dominated by wind turbines, but this will mean seeing even more of them. The entire Northwest (both Pacific and Inland) is already a power exporter. Thus, it will be the most likely to see rapid islanding and then restoration of regional grid power, in the event of a collapse of the western grid. o o o This Spokane-based company is making news:  Stay Alfred: The biggest short-term rental startup you’ve never heard of is on track for $25M in revenue …


Economics and Investing:

Alasdair Macleod: Fiat Money And Gold. JWR’s Comment: A government simply cannot triple the money supply without it affecting wages, consumer prices, and commodity prices.  We are witnessing deflation now, but in the long term, mass inflation is inevitable. Be ready for both, folks. o o o Republican Trump says 70 percent of federal regulations ‘can go’ o o o Zero Hedge: Three Weird Consequences Of NIRP o o o SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.


Odds ‘n Sods:

Linda Y. suggested this great 24-minute video showing old-time carpentry skills, in Latvia: The Birth Of A Wooden House. The portion showing joinery was particularly interesting. Note the growth of their daughters, marking the considerable passage of time.  All in all, a very satisfying documentary! o o o Several readers sent this: Iceland, a land of Vikings, braces for a Pirate Party takeover o o o Commander Zero’s humorous poster:   Election year and Smokey the Bear… o o o Telegraph: U.S. Top Country for Gun Ownership, Not Even in Top 10 for Firearm Deaths



Notes for Monday – October 24, 2016

October 24th is the anniversary of the firing squad execution of Norwegian traitor Vidkun Quisling, in 1945. His ignominious place in history was to have his surname become a noun. (“Quisling” is now a moniker synonymous with treason and alliance with an invading army.) Note: Because of the most recent nationwide hack attack, our mail server is presently down. It may be 48 hours before our e-mail service is restored. Thanks for your patience. – JWR


Just In Case: Preparing for the Evening and Day After Election 2016

There is a substantial risk that Hillary “Hitlery” Clinton will become our next President. She is notoriously anti-gun, and has made many promises to her gun-grabbing campaign donors to give “gun control” (read: civilian disarmament) her top priority. Consider the guidance in this article just a contingency. You can simply ignore it, if Donald Trump is elected. (Since he is outspokenly pro-gun.) But if Clinton is indeed elected, then gun, ammunition, and magazine prices will surely start to rise immediately. And by the time she actually takes office, prices might well have already doubled or tripled, and shortages of some …


Recipe of the Week: Patty in Vermont’s Salad Dressing Cake

This old family cake recipe is baked in a greased Bundt pan: Mix the following ingredients thoroughly, to form the batter: Two cups finely ground white flour 6 tsp cocoa powder 1 cup of granulated sugar 1 cup of Miracle Whip (or a similar mayonnaise) 1 cup of water 1 tsp vanilla extract (liquid) Pour the cake batter into a greased Bundt pan and then bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about one hour. (Check it with a toothpick to test if it is done.) o o o Useful Recipe and Cooking Links: Yellow Cake Made from Scratch Food Storage …


Letter: The End of OTC Veterinary Antibiotics

Dear Jim: Many preppers store antibiotics for fish or livestock water/feed medications over the counter (OTC). As of January 1st, 2017 this will come to an end as livestock producers will be required to get a VFD (veterinary feed directive) from a veterinarian to obtain these antibiotics. I don’t want to go into the specific differences but think of it as a prescription.   For anyone  wanting antibiotics I would recommend getting some before the first of the year.   I am a mixed animal vet in  the Ozarks. –  E.E. JWR Adds: A full list of drugs transitioning on …