Letter Re: Euthanizing Pets Who Can’t Bug Out

Hugh, I have searched the internet for a humane manner in which to euthanize a pet who can’t bug out. Is there anything other than a bullet to take care of this? – T.B. HJL Comments: This is a tough situation and should be a call for people to evaluate their “need” for pets before they take on that responsibility. A pet is usually entirely dependent on it’s owner for survival and that is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. I highly suspect that if such a situation were to occur, most pet owners would simply turn their …


Recipe of the Week: Kitchen Sink Garden Muffins, by S.H.

I call this Kitchen Sink Garden Muffins. It’s half a recipe that I’ve been experimenting with since there are only the two of us. Ingredients: Sift together in small bowl: 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt Set this aside. Whisk together in larger bowl: 1/4 cup oil 4 oz applesauce 1 egg 4 oz crushed pineapple, NOT drained 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup shredded zucchini I add a handful of ground flax (and you can add chopped dates, raisins, and/or nuts– your choice) Directions: Set your oven at 375 degrees. Add dry …


Letter Re: Cut Shells

Sir: Watching the video on the 12-ga. from today’s post, I am wondering about the safety of the cut-off shot shell. First, is it safe at the chamber/bore juncture? Secondly, is it dangerous in a choke? Thank you! – CF HJL Comments: Shotgun slugs have only been with us for a little over 100 years. Prior to that, a cut shell was generally the closest a person could get to the modern slug. The fact the load is still made up of the typical birdshot and that the case is generally flexible (being paper or plastic), the load will deform …


Letter Re: Dehydrator Screens

Hugh, I’m not sure how I came across SurvivalBlog, but I’ve been reading it for a while now and really like it. I’m glad to see someone “telling it like it is”. Anyway, the post about dehydrator screens caught my eye, ’cause I’ve been thinking about that very topic lately. And wouldn’t you know it, I got my dehydrator from Aldi (my default grocery store) and it has (just as I wanted) round trays. Yesterday, I went into Dollar Tree (another favorite) for something entirely unrelated and came across some splatter guards for skillets. (I should probably get one for …


The First Steps of IRA Confiscation Have Arrived, by Will Lehr

There is approximately $17 trillion sitting in retirement accounts, 401ks, and pensions.  Sources of liquidity of such magnitude are certainly at risk in the face of the upcoming financial crisis.  The U.S. government, its central bank, and its entire financial and banking system are about to face a massive shortfall for cash.   In 2008 the bailout required via TARP was $700 billion, and estimates of backdoor easing and bailouts are in the tens of trillions, or more, not to mention the confirmed and admitted trillions in Federal Reserve off balance sheet transactions. This time the bubble is many multiples …


Letter Re: Banking Questions

Hugh, August proved to be an eye opening experience regarding “Big Brother” and the banking system. We recently sold our home in a large metro area to move to our own redoubt in an adjacent county. During the underwriting process for a mortgage, the banker asked which bank has the money we identified as savings? Our savings was in physical cash, however, the bank underwriters won’t accept this when applying for a mortgage. The mortgage originator instructed us to get the money in our checking account. We proceeded to deposit cash every few days for a month. A couple of …


August in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, by Steven Cochran of Gainseville Coins where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers. What Did Gold Do in August? Every August, most of Europe is off on summer vacation, as are a good number of Wall St traders. With far fewer trades per day, liquidity suffers. Orders that normally would not be big enough to move gold prices have a larger effect when fewer traders are participating. And …


Letter: Banking Questions

Sir: We only use our bank for a checking account to funnel our paychecks through and to pay bills. If banks go to negative interest rates or start confiscating accounts to cover their liabilities, what are we to do? Are we to switch to check cashing services and to money orders to pay bills? I am not seeing this addressed anywhere. HJL Comments: Right now, the negative interest rates mostly affect interbank deposits. However, many have already seen the effects of fees, which make your bank account essentially a negative interest bearing account. If your monthly fee for having an …


The Bride of Christ in An Apocalyptic World- Part 3, by R.B.

What Needs To Be Done? There are numerous books available to assist people who have begun to prepare themselves for the coming catastrophe. Indeed, prepping has become an “industry” in some respects, as many have come to the realization that the government will not be able to step in and solve everyone’s problems in the face of a true national disaster. Just ask the folks in New Orleans who suffered through the comparatively short-term disaster of Hurricane Katrina. At the end of this article, I will provide a brief and rather incomplete bibliography of some of the publications that I …


Letter Re: I’m Not In The Position To Right Now

Hugh, The last section of this article had me in stitches; the writer really knows his stuff. I could picture his ex-wife, the same as many people I know going through what he described. I myself am not as self sufficient as I should be, but I have a good start and understand the sacrifice and learning one must make to get there. Because I do know people who have made snarky remarks about my “life style” and because I do have many people that think because I now live on 14 acres, I can provide for all, I have …


The Bride of Christ in An Apocalyptic World- Part 2, by R.B.

What Would This Mean For Christ’s Bride– The Church? While all of this is frightening and should give us pause respecting the fragility of our civilization, what would such potential events mean for the Bride of Christ– the Church? While Scripture tells us that even the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church of Christ Jesus, that does not mean that His Bride will not suffer in this world. The genocide we see of Christians and their culture in the Muslim world should prove the point. It should be remembered that we still live in the Church Militant, not …


Letter: Tip for Oxygen Absorbers

Dear HJL, Here is a tip for those who will use oxygen absorbers for storage but will not use the whole lot. So you have your bulk grains and what not in mylar bags and buckets ready to close off. You bought a package of oxygen absorbers and you will not need all of them this time. What’s to be done? Quickly open the package and place the absorbers in zip lock bags, being careful to flush the oxygen out of each when you close it up. Put just what you need for each bucket in each zip lock. (Snack …


The Bride of Christ in An Apocalyptic World- Part 1, by R.B.

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35) Understand the Times If you have been paying attention to current events, especially to economic news and news related to asymmetrical military preparedness (i.e., cyber warfare …


Letter Re: Dehydrator Screens

Greetings. I come across a lot of people who are looking for a solution to drying smaller items in their dehydrator. Over the years I have tried various solutions over the years while prepping and doing backpacking meals. The solution I finally came up with was to go to the hardware store and buy a roll of stainless steel screen door mesh. I cut it to the size of my trays. The mesh lets the air flow and the little pieces stay on the tray. – Crazyman o o o Hugh, I bought some pieces of this stainless steel fabric …


Recipe of the Week: Old World Sauerbraten, by G.M.

Ingredients: 3½ to 4 lbs beef rump or sirloin tip 1 cup water 1 cup vinegar 1 large onion, sliced 1 lemon, sliced (unpeeled) 10 whole cloves 4 bay leaves 6 whole peppercorns 2 Tbsp salt 2 Tbsp sugar 12 gingersnaps, crumbled Directions: Place the meat in a deep ceramic or glass bowl. Combine water, vinegar, onion, lemon, cloves, bay leaves, pepper, salt, and sugar; then pour it over the meat. Cover and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours, turning the meat several times during marinating. Place beef in a slow-cooking pot. Pour 1 cup of marinade over the meat. …