Year: 2018

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 from “HJL”. More Social Media news today. Social Media Reader S.M. sent in this article on how the State Department has unveiled new rules that require most visitors or immigrants to the United States to turn over their recent social media histories. This is part of President Trumps “extreme vetting” national security enhancements. Given that social media is a primary means of communication among radicals, this is certainly a step in the right direction. …



Preparedness Notes for Saturday – March 31, 2018

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March 31 is the birthday of economist Dr. Walter E. Williams, PhD., who was born in 1936. His book American Contempt for Liberty is highly recommended. o o o Ready Made Resources is having a great sale on PVS-14 Autogated 3rd gen white phosphor night vision with a 10 year warranty. It you’ve been waiting for the right time to pick one up, this is an excellent opportunity. o o o SurvivalBlog Writing Contest This has been another entry for Round 75 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


Survival, Thirteenth Century Style- Part 2, by Snow Wolf

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After I happened to watch the first episode of a 1975 British TV series called Survivors, I began to think differently about survival. Two conversations rearranged everything I’d assumed about survival and the continuation of civilization after a catastrophic disaster. I began to think from a perspective of thirteen century style survival. I watched as the character in the show named Abby interacted with others and concluded that no one person had the knowledge to make much of anything in our modern society and she needed to learn how to master the old crafts. You might know some part of …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

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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 review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready! …


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.  Today, the focus is on some firearms headlines. Build Your Own AR-15 Class in Michigan Sometimes a dose of reality creeps in to the mainstream news. This was aired by ABC News: ‘Build Your Own AR-15’ class in Michigan draws a crowd just days after protest. Our thanks to H.L. for the link.   New ATF Regulations Expanding the Definition of “Machinegun” Adam Kraut  of The Legal Brief has some details on the new …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom …


Preparedness Notes for Friday – March 30, 2018

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On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr. Also wounded were White House news secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent, and a District of Columbia police officer. Known for his quips and unaware of the injury to others at the scene, President Reagan walked into the hospital, despite his wound, and was heard telling his wife, “Honey, I forgot to duck.” o o o SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today features another entry for Round 75 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes …


Survival, Thirteenth Century Style- Part 1, by Snow Wolf

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Like many preppers, I love disaster movies, whether Godzilla stomping a city, asteroids hitting the earth, pandemics, earthquakes, or volcanoes. After all, any of these things could happen, except maybe Godzilla, and useful ideas can come from anywhere, regardless of the style of disaster. The disaster movies were good for a laugh, but they also convinced me that any major disaster—asteroid, pandemic, or nuclear attack—will make societal recovery lengthy and perhaps impossible and survival difficult. Then, I happened to watch the first episode of a 1975 British TV series called Survivors. Two conversations rearranged everything I’d assumed about survival and …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on tangible Bitcoin hedges.  (See the Tangibles Investing section, near the end of this column.) Precious Metals: Gold Prices See Little Movement As Inflation Rises To Highest Level In A Year Stocks: Trade war watch: These are the U.S. companies with the most at stake in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Thus the steel serpent becomes an automatic governor upon the upward and downward movements of the ship due to meteorological changes. Hence the name ‘equilibrator’ or ‘stabilizator.’ The huge snake and its valuable stuffing is really ballast which may be used over and over again without ever losing it. It is unnecessary to carry sand or water to throw overboard. Our serpent, if he behaves as well as a well-made reptile ought, should hold the [dirigible] America at an altitude of from 150 to 250 feet above the ocean, save us ballast ‘which means fuel’ on one hand, save us gas …


Preparedness Notes for Thursday – March 29, 2018

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This is the birthday of the gifted electronic and orchestral musician Vangelis. (Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou) o o o We are coming down to the last few days of Round 75 of the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest. Make sure you get your article submitted! o o o I noticed that there are less than 150 SurvivalBlog 2005-2017 Archive USB sticks left. If you want one, grab it while you can!


Ghost Gunner Review- Part 2

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Yesterday, we started looking at the Ghost Gunner, running it through its paces and turning out the first completed lower starting with an 80% completed unit. Today, we’ll finish up that review and look at the problems we encountered while running the machine. First Completed Lower The only real test of the Ghost Gunner is whether or not a decent trigger control group fits in the receiver after that first lower is completed. I’m happy to report that, yes, it does. This receiver wasn’t as fulfilling to make as my first one on a milling machine (using a Tactical Machining …


Letter: The Disturbing Trend of the Disengaged Prepper

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JWR, Hugh, SurvivalBlog Readers, In case you haven’t noticed, our 2nd Amendment rights are being stripped before our very eyes. As uncomfortable as it was, I chose to participate in the local pro-gun side of the recent #MarchforOurLives protest on March 24, 2018. The only thing more disappointing than the turn-out for “our” side was the complete absence of any members of my circle of preppers. I’m not sure when it became the apparent modus operandi of so many in the self-reliance and prepper movements to stop participating in chances to voice our opinions and stand in the here and …


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 from “HJL”. Once again, the statists are foiled by the ingenuity of the average man. (pun fully intended – read “knife, foiled” to see how.) Politics Apparently the “Roseanne” reboot blew up the TV ratings this week. I don’t know, because I didn’t watch it. It would appear that many conservatives are cheering because ABC finally put a pro-Trump character on that wasn’t a total idiot. There is just one problem. If you thought …