The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on power grid vulnerability to cyber attacks. EMP, CME (severe solar storms), and physical infrastructure attacks are not the only risks! Power Grid Vulnerability: Utilities Fined for “Serious Cyber Risks” This troubling article illustrates the vulnerability of our three national power grids: Secrecy Reigns as NERC Fines Utilities $10M citing Serious Cyber Risks.  Here is how the article opens: “The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) imposed its stiffest …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“One of the reasons that we find so few persons rational and agreeable in conversation is there is hardly a person who does not think more of what he wants to say than of his answer to what is said. The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say. Instead of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly to please …


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – February 6, 2019

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Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th, 1911. He was an American politician and actor, who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Prior to his presidency, he served as the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, following a career as an actor and union leader in Hollywood. Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, dubbed “Reaganomics”, advocated tax rate reduction to spur economic growth, control of the money supply to curb inflation, economic deregulation, and reduction in government spending. In his first term he survived …


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. This week the focus is on MagPul D-60 AR-15 drum magazines. (See the Gear section.) Books: I’ve mentioned this book several times since I started SurvivalBlog back in 2005. It was formerly published by the now sadly defunct Paladin Press. I consider it a classic, and I’m glad to see that it is back in print: Total Resistance. If you don’t already have a copy on your bookshelf, then you should! One reviewer had this to say: “Much of the minutiae may not …


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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on the Electrolux departure from Memphis. (See the Economy & Finance section.)  Pictured is the storefront of an Electrolux dealer, more than five decades ago. Precious Metals: Mark Lundeen; Market Update For Early February 2019 o o o Gold falls as stocks gain on strong …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“If an earthly king was to issue out a royal proclamation, on performing or not performing the conditions therein contained, the life or death of his subjects entirely depended, how solicitous would they be to hear what those conditions were? And shall not we pay the same respect to the King of kings and Lord of lords and lend an attentive ear to his ministers, when they are declaring, in his name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?” – George Whitefield


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – February 5, 2019

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On February 5th, 1988 two indictments were unsealed, accusing Panamanian General Manuel Noriega of drug trafficking and bribery. — Warning! The private party gun transfer ban bills (H.R. 8 and its Senate equivalent, S.42) appear to be on the fast track through committees and passage.  Please contact both of your U.S. Senators and remind them that this bill is unconstitutional. This law would essentially end the privacy of firearms ownership. Nearly all modern gun transfers would have to go through an FFL, (for a fee) with an FBI background check. Whether it is a sale, a gift, a trade, or …


Letter: Steel Job Site Boxes as a Valuables Storage Option

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Hugh and James: It’s often mentioned at Survival Blog that firearm magazines are a critical component. As Tamara K. of the View From the Porch blog has written: “The correct number of magazines to have is: ‘more.’” So, some of us buy magazines, especially lots of them when we find a very good price. But…as valuable as magazines are to us they’re just as valuable to anyone else, which is why we buy way more than we need, even considering that they are “wear items” that will eventually require replacement. Magazines have substantial value as trade or barter items. They’re …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on saddlemakers in the American Redoubt. Many of these craftsmen also make saddlebags, holsters, and magazine pouches. Pictured is a custom saddle made by C&S Saddlery in Idaho.   Idaho (Saddlemakers in the American Redoubt) There is custom leatherworker from Bayview, Idaho who does excellent work at very reasonable prices. His name is Clay Ensley. Along with his wife …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on H.R. 8 — the Private Gun Transfer Ban bill. Private Gun Transfer Ban (H.R. 8) Entering Committee Hearings H.R. 8, the so-called “Universal Background Check” (private gun transfer ban) bill reportedly now has 229 co-sponsors. Committee hearings on the bill begin this week. It has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. That is enough for passage in the House of Representatives. Yikes! Our only viable chance now …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.”  – Marcus Tullius Cicero


Preparedness Notes for Monday – February 4, 2019

On this day in 1789, George Washington became the first and only president to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College. This was repeated again on this same day in 1792. Because of the way the early American voting procedure worked, the electors cast two votes with no distinction for president or vice president. Washington was chosen by all of the electors and is considered to have been unanimously elected. Of the others on the ballots, Adams had the most votes and thus became the vice president. — Today we are posting a review from our Field Gear Editor, Pat …


Recipe of the Week: Avalanche Lily’s Dairy-Free Sweet Butternut Squash Cream Soup

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When I discovered that I was intolerant to milk products, I was forced to create dairy-free versions of some of my recipes. This is one of my favorites and uses canned coconut milk. (I haven’t yet tried this with reconstituted powdered coconut milk, but I plan to.) Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash 1 medium onion 3 medium sized apples 1 Tablespoon or two or three cloves of garlic (or amount to your taste, I use Kirkland brand diced/chopped garlic) 1 13 oz can Coconut milk (I use Native Forest Brand, Unsweetened) 1 Tablespoon coconut oil (for frying) Himalayan salt, to …


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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on City Finances. (See the Economy section.) Precious Metals: First up, at Zero Hedge: Store Your Gold At The Bank Of England And You Might Never See It Again o o o Reader H.L. suggested this: Central Bank Gold-Buying Reaches Half-Century High… Peter Schiff: Fed …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Grace, honour, praise, delight, Here sojourn day and night. Sound bodies lined With a good mind, Do here pursue with might Grace, honour, praise, delight. Here enter you, and welcome from our hearts, All noble sparks, endowed with gallant parts. This is the glorious place, which bravely shall Afford wherewith to entertain you all. Were you a thousand, here you shall not want For anything; for what you’ll ask we’ll grant. Stay here, you lively, jovial, handsome, brisk, Gay, witty, frolic, cheerful, merry, frisk, Spruce, jocund, courteous, furtherers of trades, And, in a word, all worthy gentle blades Here enter …