Odds ‘n Sods:

One often overlooked traditional tool is a bark spud. You probably already own lots of axes and perhaps a shingle froe and a draw knife. But few folks recognize the importance of a bark spud for peeling logs. (In fact, these days most people wouldn’t even be able to name this tool, if they were handed one.) These are expensive to buy new, so look for used ones, via Craigslist. Or watch for garage sales or estate sales where “logging tools” are mentioned.    o o o Frank and Fern (pseudonyms) recently started blogging about their retreat and their preps. …



Notes from JWR:

“They can’t stop the signal!” Please help spread the word to mitigate the latest ping flood attack on SurvivalBlog’s main server. If there is another wave of pinging attacks, folks can use this temporary site:  http://64.92.111.122. (Please bookmark that!) — This is the last day in Camping Survival’s 25% off sale on Mountain House foods. Meanwhile, Freeze Dry Guy has extended their 25% Off Special on All Mountain House #10 Cans through July 10, 2013. — This is also the birthday of Robert A. Heinlein. (1907-1988.) I’ve quoted Heinlein in SurvivalBlog more often than any other fiction writer. One of …


Low-Budget Photovotaically Charged Drill Batteries, by C.K.

I’d like to discuss some practical aspects of power tools. Some posts in the past have been mentioned about them but I am going to discuss making solar power tools. And not just buying the pieces and making them (which you could do if you wanted) but actually making them from salvaged “junk”.   I’ll be the first to admit that while I love and own all types of traditional (non-electric) hand tools, using them does take considerably longer and more effort than the powered ones. (Not surprisingly).   My background is that of a professional tinkerer, and a trained …


Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent: The Federal Reserve is Paying Banks NOT to Lend 1.8 Trillion Dollars to the American People Tom Cloud: People Want Physical Gold and Silver in Their Hands Items from The Economatrix: $1.5 Quadrillion Storm:  EU Accuses 13 Banks of Derivatives Collusion Wall Street Banks Extract Enormous Fees from the Paychecks of Millions of American Workers Silver at Less Than $19/oz?  Are You Kidding?


Odds ‘n Sods:

My #1 Son suggested this bit of practical knowledge over at The Art of Manliness: How to recognize when someone is drowning.    o o o S.D. suggested a great article on trash can EMP shielding. JWR’s Comment: Note that the typically-available mild steel wool has a tendency to rust, and that might induce rust on the contents of the can. So I’d recommend that you substitute stainless steel wool. This is particularly important if you live in a humid climate.    o o o Reader Luke D. sent an items that is hardly a news flash to SurvivalBlog readers: …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” – Colossians 2:6-9 (KJV)


Notes from JWR:

Camping Survival’s 25% off sale on Mountain House foods will run until tomorrow, July 7th. Meanwhile, Freeze Dry Guy has been given permission to extend their 25% Off Special on All Mountain House #10 Cans through July 10, 2013. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. …


On Safe Cooking, by Mrs. Icebear

Disclaimer: Please use common sense in applying anything you read here! In the (European) country where I live in we have a lot of cooking shows on television, and I never cease to be both shocked and amazed at seeing (some – thank God not all) professional chefs taste their exquisite creation with a spoon  and then put that spoon straight back into the pot. So, if anyone feels offended by my stating the obvious below, please don´t take it personally. For preppers/ survivalists/ people who want to be self sufficient there are of course a host of reasons to …


Economics and Investing:

Once again, the American Redoubt States rank well: Pro and Anti Constitution States. (A hat tip to CDV for the link.) Why The U.S. Economy Is Facing An Inflationary Time Bomb Has the US lost control on debt market growth? Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Sentiment In US Declines Less Than Forecast US Manufacturing Resumes Expansion US Economy Looks Weaker As GDP Data Is Revised First-Time Jobless Claims Rise


Odds ‘n Sods:

The latest on concealed carry in The Land of Lincoln Obama. (Thanks to “S.” for the link.) And Mark sent: Illinois Gov. Quinn triggers backlash after changing concealed-carry bill.    o o o Reader Stephen S. wrote to mention that he got the following confirmation on the use of deep chamber flute barrels from the management at PTR: “All of our rifles have run the same chamber as the G.I. [variant] rifles since the G.I. rifles were brought to market.  This means that regardless of model, all of our current rifles will shoot the same ammo.”    o o o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“[[A Psalm of David.]] I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked [person]. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a …


Notes from JWR:

The wicked DDOS (“Ping”) hacker attack on SurvivalBlog is still in progress. Thanks for your patience while we get the site back up and running on one of our backup servers. — Camping Survival’s 25% off sale on Mountain House foods will run until July 7th. Meanwhile, Freeze Dry Guy has been given permission to extend their 25% Off Special on All Mountain House #10 Cans through July 10, 2013. — Today we present a guest post by the well-known video blogger Wranglerstar. His fascinating blog chronicles his many projects at his full-time retreat in the Pacific Northwest, in the …


Economics and Investing:

Life in free fall: Horrific Retail Sales In Greece Illinois ends fiscal year $6.1 billion in red The latest from Pepperdine University law professor Paul Caron’s blog: Hedge Fund Billionaire Who Gave $9.6 Million to Obama in 2012 Skirts Tax Law to Pay 15% Tax Rate A Rise In Interest Rates Could Disrupt The Derivatives Market Items from The Economatrix: Fed’s Stein Hints at September Taper Consumer Numbers Send Confusing Signal Business Activity In US Cools More Than Forecast


Odds ‘n Sods:

For those following Orange Jeep Dad: He just got his grandfather’s 1949 Ford 8N tractor running!    o o o The Montrose a Prepper recently had some interesting observations of the threat that feral dogs will pose, come TEOTWAWKI, in a piece that was cross-posted at Lew Rockwell’s site.    o o o Please ask your congresscritters to support this bill that would at least partially secure America’s power infrastructure: H.R. 2417: Secure High-voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage Act    o o o And speaking of our technological infrastructure, see: EMP Attack and Solar Storms, Part II: Cascading …