Year: 2020

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. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, books, and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how-to” self-sufficiency videos. There is also an emphasis on links to sources for storage food and a variety of storage and caching containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This week the focus is on PVS-14 Night Vision Monoculars. (See the Gear section.) Books: …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“The 1994 assault weapons and high-capacity magazines bans worked. And if I am elected president, we’re going to pass them again — and this time, we’ll make them even stronger. We’re going to stop gun manufacturers from circumventing the law by making minor modifications to their products — modifications that leave them just as deadly. And this time, we’re going to pair it with a buyback program to get as many assault weapons off our streets as possible as quickly as possible. I won’t stop there. I’ll get universal background checks passed, building on the Brady Bill, which establishing the …


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 20, 2020

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Today is the birthday of shootist Ed McGivern (born 1874, died December 12, 1957.) He was born in Nebraska, but was a long-time resident of Butte, Montana. His classic book Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting is fascinating reading. Today is the birthday of the late Tom Petty. (Born October 20, 1950, died October 2, 2017). He was a great singer-songwriter and a passable actor. October 20th is also the birthday of actor Viggo Mortensen (born 1958.) He lives somewhere in the American Redoubt. On his ranch is his horse-for-life “TJ”–one of the five paint horses used in the filming of …


Book Bomb Day For The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide!

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[UPDATED] Hooray! Today is the much-awaited Book Bomb Day for my latest nonfiction book, The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide. My sincere thanks for waiting until today to place your order. Hopefully, with this big one-day surge of orders, it will push it into Amazon’s Top 100 (overall, in books) by this afternoon. We’re also hoping to make it onto the New York Times Bestsellers list, this weekend. Amazon Sales Rank Updates: Sunday, October 18th, 5 PM, Pacific Time:  #13,007 in Books Monday, October 19th, 8 PM, Pacific Time:  #7,685 in Books Tuesday, October 20th, 4:30 AM, Pacific Time: #6,058 in Books …


Range Estimation and Windage with Mil Reticles – Part 1, by N.E.

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“Tossing a bit of dry grass in the air as he had done at countless high-power matches, T.K. judged the wind. He complained, ‘Darn, I wish I had a windage table for .50 Browning. I’ll just have to guesstimate.’ Getting ready for his first shot seemed to take forever. First, he made several adjustments to the bipod. Then he squirmed around trying to get into a comfortable prone position. He tried placing his cheek on the stock several times before he found a position that was both comfortable and provided a full field of view through the rifle’s ten-power Leupold …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on Yellowstone National Park’s efforts to boost its Trumpeter Swan population. (See the Wyoming section.) Region-Wide Supply chain issues affect items from cars to fishing lures o  o  o What’s Next for the Pacific Northwest? — Neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Conditions o  …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 19, 2020

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We’re counting down the hours!  Book Bomb Day for my latest book (The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide) will be tomorrow Tuesday: October 20, 2020. Please wait to place your order until after midnight tonight, eastern time, to maximize the rankings on Amazon.com, and on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Thanks! — October 19th is the birthday of some notables. First is the late Alexander Zeisal “Zus” Bielski –he and part of his partisan band are pictured.  Other birthdays today: investor Jim Rogers (born 1942), and James Howard Kunstler (born 1948). Kunstler is well known to SurvivalBlog readers as the …


Star BM 9mm Pistol, by Pat Cascio

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I’m a fan of military surplus firearms, of all kinds – unfortunately, there aren’t too many in my meager gun collection. Once again, everyone believes that because I’m a writer – mostly about firearms and knives, that I have a huge collection. But in fact I don’t. I can’t afford all of the guns I’d love to have, so I’m a habitual gun trader. My local FFL dealer recently purchased two huge gun collections, and they obtained quite a few M1 Garands and M1 Carbines in these collections. I’d love to own one of each, especially since those are in …


Recipe of the Week: Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables)

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The following recipe for Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables) was kindly sent by SurvivalBlog reader “Animal House.” Chef’s Notes: I developed a love for giardiniera when I lived in Europe; and now it is a family favorite. In the summer we add giardiniera to cold rice, salad, soups or eat as a snack. In winter add to warm rice, soups, stews and casseroles, or as a stand-alone vege with dinner. There is a German version that adds hot peppers and uses coriander rather than oregano; but I like the Italian version. This recipe fills 24 pint-size canning jars. BRINE: 4 cups …


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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the nationwide shortage of guns, ammunition, magazines, and reloading components. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Election countdown: Sell U.S. dollar, buy silver, and other advice from analysts o  o  o Egon von Greyerz: MALDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH & SILVER – INVESTMENT OF THE DECADE o  o  o Podcast: …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 18, 2020

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October 18th, 1662 was the birthday of Matthew Henry. (He died 22 June 1714). Henry was a Presbyterian minister who lived primarily in Chester, England. Matthew Henry’s six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called Matthew Henry’s Commentary) (1708–1710) is a must for the bookshelf of any serious Bible scholar. — The first printing of the Survival Retreats and Relocation book that I co-authored is pre-selling at a rapid pace. Get in the queue soon. Otherwise, you may have to wait an extra month or more, to buy one from the second printing run. That second printing probably …


My Preparedness Evolution, by Melody Channel

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I was six, and there was very little food in the house that night. I rummaged around in a cupboard and pulled out a nearly empty peanut butter jar, and using a table knife and my finger, I scraped out every bit of it and went to bed early. Being young, I don’t remember if this time lasted days or weeks, but the gnawing feeling of hunger made a profound impact, and from the roots of that childhood experience came the mindset for preparedness and survival. Everyone has a story, and this is mine. It is hoped that by sharing …