Lessons from the Pandemic – Part 2, by Don and Patrice Lewis

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(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Thoughts About Preparedness Listen to that still, small voice and trust your instincts. Over and over again, people related a general sense that something wasn’t right as early as January (or even before). Ignoring the derision from friends and family, they stocked up when prices were low and availability was high. Sadly the Normalcy Bias is very common. It’s sometimes called the “It can’t happen to me” syndrome. For a lot of people, the Normalcy Bias prevented them from taking sensible precautions until it was too late. Prepping will be called “hoarding” …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, books, and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how-to” self-sufficiency videos. There are also links to sources for both storage food and storage containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This week the focus is on a great David Lean film, starring Alec Guinness. It is no wonder that an anagram of …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 13, 2020

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Today is the 79th birthday of songwriter and singer Paul Simon. (Born, 1941.) — Today we present Part 1 of a guest article written by our friends and fellow bloggers, Don and Patrice Lewis. Patrice is the North Idaho-based Editrix of the excellent Rural Revolution homesteading blog. I strongly recommend bookmarking it. She is a regular columnist for WorldNet Daily. Patrice is also the author of a large series of “how-to” homesteading mini books, the nonfiction book The Simplicity Primer, and the co-author of How to Start a Home-based Craft Business. Most recently, Patrice branched out into writing Amish-themed Christian …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, some good news for wolverines. (See the Montana section.) Idaho Write-in candidate faces off against incumbent in Custer County prosecutor race. JWR’s Comment:  You just have to love Idaho political races. Often you see “a real character” pitted against “a real character”. o  o  o …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 12, 2020

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Today, in 1492, after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sighted a Bahamian island, believing he had reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia. Despite the liberal hive mind’s attempt to twist this into “Indigenous People’s Day”, it is still Columbus Day. — Our big Pre-Election Sale at Elk Creek Company is underway. I’ve reduced the prices on every gun in my …


Recipe of the Week: Tim J.’s Thermal Steel Cut Oats

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This recipe for “no fuss” Thermal Steel Cut Oats comes to us courtesy of blog reader and frequent content contributor Tim J. You will need an 18-ounce Thermos-style vacuum jar. (Weighs 1 pound.) Ingredients: Slightly less than 1/2 cup (minus 1 tablespoon) of steel cut oats.  Note: Do not use the quick (3-minute) variety of oats. 1 & 3/4 cups boiling water 1/2 cup of your favorite dried fruit Directions: Combine the oats and boiling hot water in a thermal jar. Seal it tightly. Shake the jar. Let sit on its side for 8 hours (overnight.) Chef’s Notes: Preparation time …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at galloping gun and ammunition sales. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Weaker U.S. dollar, stimulus hopes drive gold price up 2% o  o  o Arkadiusz Sieroń: Is Gold Market Going Back Into The 1970s? Economy & Finance: Trump Raises Stimulus Offer to $1.8 Trillion Days After Halting Negotiations …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Despite a largely rural population and relatively little international travel, the bubonic plague wiped out about a third of Europe’s population in the mid-14th century. Today, over half of the world’s seven billion people live in cities visited daily by international travelers. We are more urbanized and densely packed, sustained by food and water that arrives from distant locations, relying on delivery systems and economic operations that may shut down if there is a lethal contagious virus spreading and people understandably do not report to work. Even those with the courage to face the risk may change their mind when …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 11, 2020

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Today is the 70th birthday of novelist William R. Forstchen. (He was born 1950.) Forstchen is best known for his survivalist novel One Second After. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 91 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 10, 2020

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We’ve just started our big Pre-Election Sale, at Elk Creek Company.  I’ve reduced the prices on every gun in my inventory. The chances of a contested election are fairly high, so this is your chance to tuck away a few pre-1899 guns, just in case. Imagine if Creepy Joe Biden wins, and we end up with a ban on private party sales, nationwide. (So-called “Universal Background Checks.”)  It is important to have a few guns that are out of Federal jurisdiction–and hence exempt. And heaven help us if we end up with Nancy Pelosi as “Interim President.”  This sale ends …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

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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. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy …