Month: May 2017

Notes for Monday – May 08, 2017

May 8th is the birthday of missionary and U.S. military intelligence officer John Birch. (Born, 1918, died August 25, 1945.) Many considered him to be the first American casualty of the Cold War.

o o o

SurvivalBlog is introducing a new column this week. We intend  to let our readership know that we are not “armchair preppers”.  We actually live the life that we write about! Each week, we will share a bit of what our plans for the week are to further our preps and we invite you to do so as well. Be prepared, because we all know that no plan survives contact with the enemy. This weekend, we’re going to ask you how you did with your plan.

A couple of things to note:

As you share, please be mindful of good OPSEC and don’t post personally identifying information…


Bushnell Equinox Night Vision Scope, by Pat Cascio

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This week, I will be reviewing The Bushnell Equinox Night Vision Scope.

Most SurvivalBlog.com readers readily know that I’m a bargain hunting hound. I have to be. I simply don’t have enough income to purchase all the “toys” I want. It’s been this way my entire life, too. Several of my are amazed at my bartering skills and survival mindset, but I have to be this way. Now that I’m semi-retired and collecting my very meager social security benefits each month, I once again am forced by life to make do with what we have.

I know that many people believe that all writers make millions of dollars a year. If only that were the case! Most gun writers I know hold down a second regular job. They can’t live on what they are paid for their articles. What we do is akin to a “ministry”, if you will. Our hearts are in it. We love to pass along information to our readers. When testing various products, we all hope we get it right most of the time.

The local gun shop knows that I love a bargain. It has to be a bargain before I’ll even look at a firearm and consider purchasing it. Every now and then, the gun shop will set a firearm aside for me. They seem to know that I’ll probably buy it some how! I know I’m in trouble when I walk in the front door and someone starts waving a gun in the air to get my attention. Grrrr!!


Recipe of the Week: Basic Bread, by P.B.

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I have been using this recipe for about 20 years and continue to experiment with different ingredients and techniques. My favorite is still using the basic ingredients, letting it cool overnight, and slicing it for toast the next morning. My neighbors like it also.

Ingredients

4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 to 2 teaspoons of granular yeast
about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of warm water[2]

May also use the following items (examples):

1/4 cup of wheat germ;
1/4 cup of oatmeal;
1/4 cup of rye flour;
1/4 cup of cornmeal;


The Editors’ Preps for the Week – May 8th, 2017

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To be prepared for a crisis, every prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors will share their planned prep activities for the coming week, ranging from healthcare and purchases to property improvements and food storage. We also welcome you to share your planned activities for increasing personal preparedness in the coming week in the comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

JWR:

The Rawles ranch is abuzz with activity as the snow has melted and life has begun to spring forth. This is the time of year that we prepare our firewood for the next season, so we are actively cutting wood. We like to manage similar projects at the same time, so this is an excellent time to a little bit of wildfire preparation. We are clearing underbrush and stacking in piles to burn this week These slash piles are still slightly damp so they take a while to burn, but that is certainly better than a raging conflagration of completely dry wood.

HJL:

With springtime quickly upon us, prepping is kicking into high gear around the Latimer homestead. The goals are starting to look ambitious:


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks to watch, investing opportunities, hedges, derivatives, and the precious metals markets. These are all from the quirky “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR:

Precious Metals:

The Outlook for Asian Gold Demand in 2017. Hmmmm… Note the recent spike in Swiss exports to China.

Commodities Economics:

Consider the source of this press release, but this sounds promising: Industrial Commodity Prices to Rise in 2017: World Bank.


The Editors’ Quote Of The Day

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“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them — words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they’re brought out. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That’s the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.” – Stephen King, Different Seasons


Notes for Sunday – May 07, 2017

This is the birthday of two notable men: Senator Rand Paul (born 1963); and Bent Faurschou-Hviid, known as The Flame (born 1921, died October 18, 1944). The red-haired Danish resistance fighter fought the occupying Germans with the Holger Danske Group during World War II. His exploits were dramatized in the movie Flame and Citron. Rand Paul Rand Paul describes himself as a Constitutional conservative and supporter of the Tea party movement. He advocates for a balanced budget amendment, term limits, and privacy reform. Rand Paul has been serving as the junior senator from Kentucky since 2011. Bent Faurschou Hviid Bent Faurschou …


Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 3, by Sarah Latimer

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Know who you are. Know your identity as a women within God’s framework of His Kingdom, within your family, and within society.

There are many things that can create uncertainty, fear, division, and hate. When these emotions take control, they lead to actions that can spiral the world toward a violent TEOTWAWKI situation. A single bit of news can generate everything from extreme stock market volatility and terrorist attacks. The news may or may not be accurate.

However, if you confidently embrace your role within your family, you will be able to work together in unity. You can confront whatever challenges you face most efficiently and effectively. In the meantime, you will know joy and contentment. Your cooperative work on preparations and projects of all kinds will come together. Life will be rich and fulfilling if you respect one another and look to serve one another. Give rather than fight each other for your share.

There are many examples of couples in the Bible.  The husbands and wives looked out for the well-being of one another. They even submitted and sacrificed for each other. It just works! But you must guard against the deceptions within our culture. These are targeting women’s minds and drawing you away from your husband and your family.


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of the Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods– a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper.

Jobs (or is that Immigration)

Two GOP RINOs are getting ready to introduce legislation to allow the states to legally import 500,000 blue-collar workers and white-collar professionals to replace lost American workers. They blame depressed workers turning to drugs (through Medicaid) but rather than fix the problem, the’ll just import cheap labor and keep doing the same old things. Thanks to M.G. for the link…


The Editors’ Quote of the Day

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in …


Notes for Saturday – May 06, 2017

Today is the birthday of bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, (1924-2012) and British comic actor Rowan Atkinson (born 1955).

Earl Scruggs

Earl was an American musician who popularized a three-finger banjo picking style, now called “Scruggs style”. This style is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His radically different three-finger style of playing the five-string banjo is radically different. Previously, the banjo was typically played with a frailing or clawhammer technique. He  also popularized the instrument in several genres of music and elevated the banjo from its role as a background rhythm instrument, or a comedian’s prop, into featured solo status…


Nurse’s Perspective for Survival, by L.S.

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As a nurse who believes in making preparations for long-term survival, it has come to my attention that there are a few simple preventive healthcare measures that everyone should consider. However, obtaining important preventive healthcare and taking general measures related to maintaining general health is often overlooked or delayed because of the focused attention to the more obvious important prepping activities, such as having enough food, water, or a safe, sheltered environment.

Tetenus Vaccine

Since my favorite approach to staying healthy is a more naturopathic way, I must admit that I am not a strong advocate of most vaccines in general. This is due to a variety of chemicals that are added into vaccines with subsequent recorded side effects of some vaccines after administration. However, there is one particular vaccination that I do believe is important to obtain in emergency preparation. This is the tetanus vaccination.


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of the Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods– a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper.

Social Unrest

Continuing on the antifa subject of last time, reader T.J. sent in the link to a propaganda film by the agitators. I couldn’t make it very far into the piece without feeling sick to my stomach, but T.J. sent these notes:

  • Notice the high-quality, professional production value of the piece.
  • Aiming at young people – effectiveness unknown; try it on some test subjects.
  • Uniforms look stupid 99% of the time and are tactically unwise almost as often.
  • The odds of a Team Freedom “Only Good Red Is Dead” counter prop is near zero at this time.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day

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Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn again, but the storm adjusts. Over and over you play this out, like some ominous dance with death just before dawn. Why? Because this storm isn’t something that blew in from far away, something that has nothing to do with you. This storm is you. Something inside of you. So all you can do is give in to it, step right inside the storm, closing your eyes and plugging up your ears so the sand doesn’t get in, and walk through it, step by step. There’s no sun there, no moon, no direction, no sense of time. Just fine white sand swirling up into the sky like pulverized bones. That’s the kind of sandstorm you need to imagine….


Notes for Friday – May 05, 2017

Don’t forget about the SurvivalBlog writing contest. With $11,000 worth of prizes it can be well worth your time to finish up that article you have been writing. Round 70 ends on May 31st, 2017 so get it wrapped up and submitted! o o o May 5th is the birthday of Pat Frank (1908-1964). This was the pen name of newspaper journalist Harry Hart Frank. His novel Alas, Babylon is a survivalist classic. His personal life was marred by alcoholism, but his writing is admired and still surprisingly popular, today. (Alas, Babylon is still in print, after more than 50 …