Month: March 2019

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — March 21, 2019

Just three days after Hessian mercenary forces assaulted the local New Jersey militia at Quinton’s Bridge, the same contingent surprised the colonial militia at Hancock’s Bridge, five miles from Salem. In what became known as the Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge, at least 20 members of the militia lost their lives, some after attempting to surrender. The Loyalists reputedly exclaimed “Spare no one! Give no quarter!” as they stormed the occupied house. Judge Hancock and his brother (both Loyalists) were bayoneted in the melee by the attackers even though they were both staunch supporters of the crown and were themselves non-violent …


Shelter Preparedness, Pt. 1, by Pete Thorsen

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We know to be prepared we need certain things. We need water, food, security, and shelter. This article concerns shelter in a future possible emergency situation. This situation could be anything from a gas leak in your apartment building that requires your evacuation, a wildfire approaching your home, a chemical spill that requires your evacuation, maybe even up a nuclear bomb going off and you are in the fallout drift zone, or maybe it is just civil unrest and you want to stay off the streets for awhile. For many things the best shelter is likely your house or apartment. …


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 “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the Nebraska floods. Nebraska Floods Still near the top of the news cycle: Historic floods hit Nebraska after ‘bomb cyclone’ storm. A selection from the Reuters article: “The National Weather Service predicted dangerous flooding would continue through the weekend in Nebraska and in south and west central Iowa, particularly along the Missouri River. ‘We’re still in a very widely dispersed and intense flooding situation in the eastern third …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Bodily vigor is good, and vigor of intellect is even better, but far above both is character. It is true, of course, that a genius may, on certain lines, do more than a brave and manly fellow who is not a genius; and so, in sports, vast physical strength may overcome weakness, even though the puny body may have in it the heart of a lion. But, in the long run, in the great battle of life, no brilliancy of intellect, no perfection of bodily development, will count when weighed in the balance against that assemblage of virtues, active and …


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — March 20, 2019

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March 20th is the birthday of Mel Tappan. (Born 1933, died 1980.) His perennially popular survivalist books Survival Guns and Tappan on Survival have a well-deserved following. JWR’s Comment: I propose that March 20th be designated National Survivalism Day. That would be fitting to begin next year, to mark the 40th anniversary of his untimely death. It is also apropos that it falls in March–one of the months that both Northern Europeans and Native Americans refer to as The Starving Season–when stored food runs low, but before spring bounty appears. Plan ahead. Stock up. Don’t starve. I’m sure that Mel …


Strangers in a Strange Land: Communication, Pt. 2, by L.C.

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(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS. HUMBLE YOURSELF. We took Danish lessons. It is a very difficult language that has 6 extra vowels that I can’t even hear the differences. After living on our small street for several months, we received an official-looking post card. Using our Danish-to-English dictionary made no sense of the phrases on the card. We had met our neighbors but had not developed friendships. We had learned that all Danes are taught English from 3rd grade onward. If we spoke Danish, they would answer in English. So I humbly …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on Thermo-Electric Generators (TEGs). (See the Gear & Grub section.) Books: The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals (Includes Refrigerator Labels) o  o  o Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, Boost Brain Health, and Reverse Disease o  o  o The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition   Movies: The Battle of Britain. This now-classic war film was released in 1969. The stunt flying and special effects are all genuine “old …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news 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 SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on western societies going cashless. Precious Metals: Palladium soars to record, gold moves back up above $1,300/oz o  o  o Brace For “Slingshot” Rally; Best Days For Silver Are Yet To Come – CEO   Economy & Finance: Formerly Red-Hot Retail Sales Fizzle Back to …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“One of the first things they teach stockbrokers is to stay out of the stock market. Brokers make their pile from selling advice, and from commissions on stock transactions. They can’t predict the market, and few risk their own money. They, at least, only affect their clients’ fortunes. Economists, though, can ruin the lot of us with their advice — yet if no science can predict a relatively closed system like the stock market, how the devil are you going to ‘fine tune’ something a large as the American economy? I’d think it arrogant to try; as arrogant as the …


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — March 19, 2019

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On March 19, 1649, the House of Commons of England passed an act abolishing the House of Lords, declaring it “useless and dangerous to the people of England”. Perhaps it’s time Americans did the same with our Senate–or better yet return our Senate to its proper role of representing the individual States rather than electing Senators by popular vote. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran …


Strangers in a Strange Land: Communication, Pt. 1, by L.C.

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HOW TO MEET PEOPLE/MAKE FRIENDS IN A NEW AND FOREIGN AREA After growing up on small farms in Ohio, my husband and I were given the opportunity to live in Denmark for his work. Looking back, that was total culture shock to both of us. Also looking at it now in hindsight, I’ve compiled a plethora of hints with anecdotes, to illustrate. HOPEFULLY, THESE HINTS CAN APPLY TO ALL PEOPLE MOVING INTO A NEW HOME, OR TO A BUG OUT LOCATION. To make this meaningful, perhaps a little more background is necessary. As I mentioned, my husband and I each …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on whole house backup generator companies in the Redoubt. Region-Wide Four of the largest whole house backup generator companies are Generac, Kohler, Cummins, and Honeywell. They have authorized dealers/installers, nationwide. o  o  o Two important points: Make sure that the generator you buy can also operate your well pump, if you are on well water. Most well pumps …


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 “JWR”.  Today, we focus on digital home invasion–sadly by both hackers and by our own NSA. Parliament’s Brexit Betrayal D.S. sent us a link to the latest from commentator Mark Steyn (who you might have heard filling in for Rush Limbaugh): Exit Brexit.  D.S. included a brief excerpt: “Last night, sixteen days before Britain supposedly leaves the European Union in accord with the people’s vote of three years ago, their elected representatives voted …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Before, my managers knew never to mention a TV series to me, because they knew how furious that would make me. I’d look at it like a vote of no confidence in my movie career, that I was going to be sent off to the television graveyard. But at a certain point I looked at the stuff I was consuming — The Sopranos, The Wire — and I realized the writers went to TV because they’d been screwed by the movies. It was still a difficult moment for me. I mean, my hand was shaking. Then they sent me three …