Year: 2023

Trailblazer Firearms LifeCard in .22LR, by Thomas Christianson

The Trailblazer Firearms LifeCard is the ultimate in the “concealed” aspect of concealed carry. It folds into a tiny 3.38 x 2.06 x 0.5-inch package that looks something like a small cell phone, pager, or other electronic device. It unfolds into a diminutive derringer-style, single-shot handgun. It is a lot of fun to play with, and that is what I recommend it for: as a range toy and novelty. It has significant limitations as a tool for self-defense. But even the most limited tool that someone will actually carry with regularity is more helpful than a better tool that is …


Recipe of the Week: Fruit or Berry Cobbler Cupcakes

The following recipe for Fruit or Berry Cobbler Cupcakes is from SurvivalBlog reader Mike in Alaska.  It is his variant of a recipe that he found elsewhere.  Note: This recipe was originally developed for use with peaches or nectarines. It will also work for many types of berries. Ingredients 1 1/2 c. flour 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. white sugar 2 eggs 1/2 c. sour cream 1 tsp. vanilla 1 1/4 c. ripe fruit or berries, chopped. Directions Pre-heat your oven to 350 …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, another look at “shrinkflation”. (See the Inflation/Deflation Watch section.) Precious Metals: At Kitco: Key Downside Levels in Gold & Silver. o  o  o A video link, at Gold-Eagle.com: Jim Willie Previews The Upcoming BRICS Meeting. o  o  o Reader H.L. mentioned this, over at Zero Hedge: Poland Continues To Aggressively Buy Gold. Economy & Finance: Michael …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 20, 2023

August 20, 1935 was the birthday of former Congressman Ron Paul. He retired from the House in 2013. Dr. Paul is to be commended for fighting the good fight for many years. — August 20th, 1866 is the day that president Andrew Johnson formally declared the Civil War over. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are seeking entries for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $840,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for …


Ruger Precision Rimfire in .22 WMR, by Thomas Christianson

Last Spring, our church had a range day in conjunction with our Mission Conference. We knew our missionary speaker liked to hunt and shoot. We created an opportunity for people in our church family who also like to hunt and shoot to hang out with the missionary in an informal setting. There they could enjoy some shooting together prior to a short message from God’s word. My friend “Welly” brought his Ruger Precision Rimfire in .22 WMR to the range day. I was really impressed by some of his shooting. It seemed like Welly just could not miss. A few …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Truth Be Told, Both Of Them Are “Rich Men North of Richmond” Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provide that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.  


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 19, 2023

On August 19, 1960, American pilot Francis Gary Powers was sentenced to 10 years’ confinement by the Soviet Union for espionage following the U-2 Affair, but in 1962 he was later released in exchange for the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. — August 19th is also the birthday of Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906-1971). Farnsworth was an American inventor who is best known for his image pickup device that formed the basis for the fully functional and complete all-electronic television system. Among his many other inventions was the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor, a small nuclear fusion device that remains a viable source of neutrons. …


Lessons From A Hard Disk Crash

In place of another feature article that I had planned for today, I’m posting a recap of a recent laptop computer problem, with some lessons learned. To start, I should mention that I’ve been a Macintosh user for my home computers since 1986. My first Mac was a Macintosh Plus, purchased just after I got off of active duty as an Intelligence Corps officer. This was before I was ever married.  I’ve owned a whole succession of improved Macs since then.  Since the turn of the century, most of those have been alloy-case MacBook laptops. I’ve always been fairly good …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both 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 the Odds ‘n …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — August 18, 2023

On August 18, 1896, at least according to lore, more than 200 outlaws from regional gangs gathered at Brown’s Hole (near the intersection of the borders of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah), where Butch Cassidy (aka Robert Leroy Parker, pictured) proposed to organize a Train Robbers’ Syndicate, which became familiarly known as the Wild Bunch. August 18th is also the birthday of Meriwether Lewis, an American explorer, soldier, politician and public administrator that is best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 of …


Basics of Wound Care – Part 2, by D.C.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Another aspect of wounds to consider is whether or not necrotic (dead) tissue is present. Necrotic tissue is “dead” or non-viable tissue that delays the progression of healing. There are a few types you may find. Eschar is black or brown and described as hard or leathery. It firmly attaches to the wound bed and obscures the depth of the wound. Gangrene is tissue decay secondary to an interruption of blood flow to a specific area of the body. This is most seen in the distal extremities, but it can affect muscles …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the slowdown in house construction. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: At Gold-Eagle.com: Only a Retail Gold Standard Could Dethrone the Dollar. o  o  o Is the world on the cusp of Bretton Woods 3.0, 52 years after Nixon closed the gold window? Economy & Finance: Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news …