A Helping Hand, by J.M.

47

One of the big debates among people who are prepared is what to do, if anything, to help out folks that weren’t prepared when a SHTF event occurs. Our Christian values tell us to help those in need by offering a helping hand when we’re able, but the logic of the situation tells us that if we give everything away our own family and friends may suffer. While perusing various forums and discussing the issue of handouts with other prepper folks, I’ve seen attitudes that range from “They had the opportunity to prepare and chose not to, so they’re on …


Rights vs Duties, by A Modern Stoic

13

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3, the Bible, New International Version “Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate …


Recipe of the Week: Caramel Baked Apples by Grey Woman

4

This is one of my favorite ways to use the last of the fall apples once spring comes. You know, these are the ones that have been in storage long enough to be a little too spongy to eat plain but still too good to feed to the critters. Ingredients: Baked Apples: 6 Large apples – I prefer Honey Crisp, but go with what you love ¼ lb + 2 Tbsp salted butter, softened ¾ cup brown sugar ½ cup chopped nuts – I prefer pecans, but, again, go with what you love ½ cup dried cranberries 2 Tbsp grated …


Letter: Colin Wilson and the Dominant Man Theory

4

Hi Hugh, A long time ago I came across a book called The Outsider. It was written by a man from England whose name was Colin Wilson. He joined the RAF at a young age, did some manual labor; and set about writing books. This was his first book published when he was only 24. He wrote the book sleeping on hills near his local library, where he researched.. The book became a New York Times bestseller. He later bought a house, and wrote about another 200 books that were published. He Raised a family; and led a respectable life …


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

34

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 …


Florida Gun Owners, I Feel Your Pain, by Swamp Cracker Yankee

45

This past week Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican, signed a new Florida “school-safety” bill that bans bump stocks, extends a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases to include long guns, and raises the minimum age to buy long guns from 18 to 21. This was all in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018. Wouldn’t Have Believed Gun-Friendly Florida To Enact Restrictive Legislation If you had told me years ago that a state like Florida with “gun-friendly Republican lawmakers” would enact such legislation, I would not have believed you. Since …



A Few Hard-Learned Lessons- Part 2, by Grey Woman

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I am continuing to share some of my hard-learned lessons as a single woman who moved out into the country. My story and lessons that follow, provided in no particular order, might save you money, time, injury, and humiliation as you make this journey towards self-sufficiency and preparedness. Yesterday, the lessons were on chainsaw, firewood, and wood stoves. Bears, Birds and Bullets One part of moving out of the suburbs and into “the country” that I was really excited about was being more in touch with nature, especially birds. I have always loved watching wild birds and hearing them sing …


A Few Hard-Learned Lessons- Part 1, by Grey Woman

37

I assure you that all of the following lessons are ones I have learned the hard way. I am sure that for those of you who grew up with a self-sufficient lifestyle or have been doing this for a while or even just possess a tiny bit more common sense than I do, this will be a good laugh. These are embarrassing but all 100% true. Feel free to chuckle, guffaw, head slap, ridicule, or otherwise enjoy my complete and utter loss of pride. I can take it, and I certainly deserve it. Sometimes even I wonder how I have …


Cipher Security- Part 2, by East Sierra Sage

5

I’m talking about cipher security. In review, I am a Retired Marine Infantry Staff Non-Commissioned Officer who has served multiple combat tours in Iraq, as well as most of the “skirmishes” the U.S. got involved in leading up to the global war on terror. I have taught “Survival in the Mountains” and have trained combat staff members in command post operations. I have taught Navy SEALS, Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, and Air Force Para-rescue operators, as well as many numerous foreign military personnel. During my career I was “voluntold” to write ground-up Intelligence reporting to higher headquarters. These tasks …


Letter: Exceptional Individuals

6

Hi Hugh, I have a good friend. His name is J.P. We met at the base gun club. He was there firing his WW2 Era carbine, and I had my “Modern Sporting Rifle” He shot tighter groups than me at 200 yards that day with his iron sights, I had my big fancy rifle with a big fancy scope. It had not been my first day at the range, but it felt like it that day. We kind of hit it off from there. One day J.P invited me and my son on a fishing trip. My son was three …


Cipher Security- Part 1, by East Sierra Sage

9

[Editor’s Note: This is good information, but readers should note that simple transposition ciphers of any type can be easily broken. Only One Time Pads and book codes offer any reasonable level of cipher security.] My Nom de Plume is “East Sierra Sage”, and I’m writing about cipher security. I am a Retired Marine Infantry Staff Non-Commissioned Officer. I served multiple combat tours in Iraq, as well as most of the “skirmishes” the U.S. got involved in leading up to the global war on terror. Two tours were served as an instructor of Mountain Warfare training for the Marine Corps. …


Our 36-Hour Test During the Nor’easter Wind Storm, by RR in the Mid-Atlantic

41

We knew this storm was a short-term situation, and so we used it as an opportunity to test systems and find holes in our plans. Keep that in mind as you read this article. We just experienced very heavy and sustained winds and no snow/rain/flooding, which would obviously bring a whole new set of challenges. Generators Backup generators are critical. Ours is a “portable”, 10K watt starting (8,500 running watts), gasoline-powered Generac. It has a 30 amp plug and cord that is then connected into a cable that connects into a 50-watt sub panel we have integrated to our home …


The Second Amendment, by D.V.

41

There is a lot of talk about the Second Amendment right now. The Bill of Rights is a document that has been enshrined in the annals of America. Ultimately, it is the fundamental rights that is provided to individuals to protect them from an overbearing government. While of the amendments on the Bill of Rights that are under attack, the amendment that takes the greatest beating is Amendment #2– the Right to Bear Arms. (I believe I could make valid arguments on all ten are under attack, yes even Amendment #3– No Quartering of Soldiers, but that is a different …


Recipe of the Week: Easy Mayonnaise by Grey Woman

4

Now that my tomato plants have broken through the earth in their snug little pots (barely) and the smell of fresh baked bread is floating through the house, my thoughts are turning to my absolute favorite summer snack: Fresh tomato sandwiches with homemade mayonnaise. When grocery store mayo just won’t do, this is the easiest recipe I have! Ingredients: I large egg (fresh from the coop is best) 1+tbs Dijon mustard 1+tbs White vinegar ¼ +tsp sea salt (or kosher) 1 cup mild flavored oil (I use avocado oil, but any mild oil will work) 1 tsp fresh lemon juice …