Recipe of the Week: Homemade Biscuits, By M.B.

Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup butter or margarine 3/4 cup milk Directions: Combine all dry ingredient and blend well with whisk. Cut in butter until resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stir in milk until all comes together to form a dough ball. Turn out dough ball onto a heavily floured surface. Let set for a couple of minutes and then knead for about a minute and then re-flour surface and pat out to about 1/2? thick. Cut biscuits with floured biscuit cutter or thick drinking glass or a …


Letter Re: Magnum Research

Pat Cascio product review on the Magnum Research 1911C generated an interesting conversation with a SurvivalBlog reader: There are a plethora of 1911s on the market, many of them suitable for combat. If I am going to own a gun from Magnum Research, it would have to be a Desert Eagle. – B.P. o o o Ben, I have owned a Desert Eagle in .50AE. It wasn’t one of the plated weapons but just a plain parkerized version. I will have to admit that the “fun” factor was second to none on that handgun. However, the reality is that it …


Letter Re: Kansas Bill

Sir, I am writing in response to the article link about the Kansas bill seeking to legalize police retaliation. I will first state that I do not agree with a second agency not being able to do an investigation– a fair and impartial investigation should always be the case. That said, I served 13 years in the infantry ending as an LRS team leader and currently serving with 15 years at a large, midwest police department. My department will take any complaint. A complaint can and has been taken over the telephone (even anonymously) with nothing more than the allegation …


Economics and Investing:

Warnings Of Rising Food Prices Follow ‘Bad Weather Events’ o o o As Predicted, Stocks Make New Highs o o o Items from The Economatrix: Only 11% of long-term unemployed have a steady full-time job in a year, study finds 6 economic consequences of a new cold war February leading indicators rise 0.5% U.S. jobless claims rise 5,000 to 320,000


Odds ‘n Sods:

There is an epidemic of death and contagion sweeping across the farms of this country that is barely getting a mention in the mainstream media. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus – K.F. o o o A Dozen Uses For Empty Soda Bottles – R.J. o o o Non-Christians Given ‘Special Consideration’ In Union Teacher Contract – TPY o o o The Law Society has issued guidance on how to use Sharia Law in Wills, Trusts and Estates disputes in England and Wales. The guidance effectively enshrines Sharia into common legal practice for the first time and will make it easier to …



Notes from HJL:

We are ready to start looking for a new Product Review Editor. Applicants must have an extensive background of varied experience in working with survival-related products, as well as have writing and editing experience. The ability to provide interesting, personal anecdotal stories relating to use of guns, knives, paracord, water storage, food preservation, and other survival-related items make the reviews interesting and is a much-valued attribute. Products will be sent to the applicant with the expectation of written reviews. Most products must be returned to the manufacturer or sales person who sent them in for review. This editor position pays …


What the Locals Really Think, by Gonzo

A lot of us, in the prepper community, are eager to get out of town, establish ourselves in the redoubt, and hunker down for the coming storm. Too often we put little thought in how the locals will receive us upon our arrival. Everyone knows that being integrated with your new neighborhood is important, but how you go about this integration can be the make or break point of your preps. As an educational guide, I offer the following conversation that occurred between my cousin and I over chat recently. First, here’s a little background on my cousin. He is …


Letter Re: Dual Ring Village

Regarding the comments on the Dual Ring Village. Thank you for the comments and criticisms. Objections noted: Monolithic structures susceptible to urban fires. Fire breaks missing. Obsolete fixed fortification. Susceptible to bombardment, siege. These may be true. However, the outstanding features and functions of a dual ring village are not constrained to that of a defensive fortification against a military force. Engineering benefits The curved walls are self supporting, stronger than equivalent flat walls, and thus outperform rectilinear structures of the equivalent volume and surface area. The dividing walls further strengthen the inner and outer curved walls. The enclosed spaces …


Economics and Investing:

Best & Worst States to be a Taxpayer – SDS o o o Quantitative Easing has been the fuel for rising inequality and welfare for the modern Gilded Age: President Fisher from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas mentions QE’s gift to the rich. Items from The Economatrix: The Federal Reserve Seems Quite Serious About Tapering – So What Comes Next? Jim Sinclair: Russia Could Cause Gold To Hit $2000 In 2014 Fleckenstein – The Fantasy Is Alive & Well But The End Is Near Do Not Make Fun Of Those That Have Fallen Out Of The Middle Class – …


Odds ‘n Sods:

From the Police State: Man receives felony after speaking too long at town hall meeting – H.L. o o o If you are planning on travelling to Russia, you may want to bring cash: Credit Cards Frozen at Sanctioned Russian Banks – B.R. o o o A disease flare up in Africa has an almost 50% fatality rate: 29 dead from viral hemorrhagic fever. – G.P. o o o It seems to me we have been here before… Could the U.S. Face a Cruise Missile Threat from the Gulf of Mexico? o o o More proof that reading government websites …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV)


Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


The Warfighter and the Auxiliary Opinions

There are many that want to be the cool guy running in the hills with a rifle, taking out targets, conducting raids, and setting up ambushes. Several think that they can sit on a hill top with their rifle and take out any targets in sight. Just about everyone wants to do something tactical. While learning, knowing, and practicing those skills is great, it is not practical to have everyone in the prepper community running and gunning. Everyone in this community needs to know how to run their rifles, pistols, and shotguns, but it is not necessary for everyone to …


Letter Re: Preparing for Family & Friends

HJL, “Preparing for Family and Friends” by Thor1954 was a thought-provoking article, but I would include basic cooking directions and perhaps a recipe or two concerning the rice and beans. Do you really think that people who are unprepared for emergencies and disasters will know what to do with plain rice and beans that weren’t part of a packaged meal? – D.M. Hugh Replies: Hunger is a great motivator. While I like my beans well cooked and spiced up, it’s really not necessary. All they need is a pan of water to make something usable, but I’m sure that small …