Month: October 2021

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 19, 2021

October 19th marks the anniversary of Operation Gatling; the “Green Leader” cross-border raid in which Rhodesia attacked ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army) in retaliation for ZIPRA shooting down a scheduled passenger flight, Air Rhodesia flight 825, during the Rhodesian Bush War. Rhodesia suffered only minor casualties in the raid. But they claimed to have killed 1,500 ZIPRA personnel as well as some Cuban instructors. Other sources claim that those killed were refugees camped near the border. Sadly, history does not seem to remember the two airliners shot down by Zimbabwe along with the innocent civilians killed on them, but emphasizes …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 18, 2021

October 18th, 1662 was the birthday of Matthew Henry (died 22 June 1714). He 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. — Today, another product review by our stalwart Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio. His 45-year career has spanned the globe. He has worked as a nuclear power plant security officer, police officer, police detective, small-town police chief, counter-terrorism consultant to the BSAP during Rhodesian Bush War, international security consultant, …


Springfield Armory XDm Compact Elite OSP 9mm, by Pat Cascio

I readily admit that I’m a huge fan of Springfield Armory firearms – all that they now produce. My very first Springfield pistol was a basic 1911 .45 ACP. When I first got it, the stupid thing wouldn’t even function with 230-gr FMJ ammo – very strange to say the least. I’m a trained 1911 armorer and I still enjoy working on 1911-series handguns. In no time at all, I had that early Springfield working well. I could have simply sent it back to the factory, but since I could work on these guns, I decided to fix the problem …


Recipe of the Week: Chimichangas De La Bambi

The following recipe for Chimichangas De La Bambi (Picante Venison Chimichangas) is from reader Michael S.: MixING Ingredients 1 pound of lean ground venison 1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup Picante sauce 1/2 to 2/3 cup grated Cheddar cheese Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Frying Ingredients 1 package of Chinese egg roll wrappers. (I use Wing Hing brand.) Olive oil or Vegetable oil Directions In a medium to large fry pan, brown the venison with chopped onion, stirring the venison briskly to reach a small crumble texture. Drain. Add picante sauce. Add salt, and pepper (to taste). Simmer at …


Is The Small Business Sector Being Deliberately Targeted for Destruction?, by Brandon Smith

I’m traveling to attend a memorial service, so in place of my usual Monday Economics & Investing column, I’m posting the following article that was written by Brandon Smith of the great Alt-Market.us web site and originally published at Birch Gold Group. It is re-posted with permission. — The past 18 months have not been kind to small businesses. If you were unfortunate enough to live in a blue state during the onset of the covid lockdowns and you own a brick-and-mortar business then you have probably spent a large part of that 18 months closed, or struggling to stay …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Ps. 115:3). To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is “The Governor among the nations” (Ps. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the “Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). Such …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 17, 2021

On this day in 1835, Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers– a corps of armed and mounted lawmen designed to “range and guard the frontier between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers”. After winning their revolutionary war with Mexico the following year, Texans decided to keep the Rangers, both to defend against Indian and Mexican raiders and to serve as the principal law enforcement authority along the sparsely populated Texan frontier. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 97 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The …


Backup Power Generation Considerations, by Tractorguy

Emergency backup power is a key consideration in prepping for emergency situations and disasters. This is not meant to be a exhaustive discussion of different types of generators and backup power systems, but rather a discussion about critical items in an emergency situation. Backup power is a two-edged sword. Many people think they are ready for a power outage because they own a generator, with no consideration given to proper connection, maintenance, fuel availability, or operation. I have been maintaining generators and backup power systems for more than forty years as a broadcast engineer and engineering consultant, and I can …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 16, 2021

On October 16th, 1859 was the second day of abolitionist John Brown’s raid against the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election. Brown’s raid helped make any further accommodation between North and South nearly impossible and thus became an important impetus of the Civil War. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 97 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for …


A Flashlight, A Book, and A Knife, by The Novice

I would like to pass along some nutty discoveries for your amusement and edification. A Flashlight The IKEA Ljusa hand crank flashlight looks like a gaudy pepper grinder. IKEA originally marketed it as a child’s toy. Why would a prepper be interested in something like this? The Ljusa is interesting because of the source of its power. The hand crank does not charge a traditional battery. It charges a capacitor instead. This characteristic gives the flashlight a virtually indefinite shelf life, since it has no batteries to degrade over time. I first became interested in the Ljusa a couple of …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, 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 your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in …