The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, a further examination of the mysterious New Jersey drone swarms.

Mystery Drones Could Be Trying to Find ‘Radioactive Material’

Over at Newsweek: Mystery Drones Could Be Trying to Find ‘Radioactive Material’—Aerospace CEO.

“The recent epidemic of reported drone sightings across New York and New Jersey could be due to potential “gas leaks” or “radioactive material,” one subject matter expert has said.

Reports of mysterious drone sightings in multiple states have drawn widespread attention from lawmakers and members of the public in recent weeks. John Ferguson, the CEO of Saxon Aerospace, a drone manufacturer in Kansas, weighed in on the topic in a TikTok post that has gone viral.

The FBI said it has received more than 3,000 tips regarding drone sightings, with the majority of these reported observations happening at night.”

DHS, FBI, FAA, DOD All Say N.J. Drones Not a Threat

As of December 17th, via Breitbart: DHS, FBI, FAA, DOD All Agree on New Jersey Drones: No National Security Threat. JWR’s Comments: For these Federal agencies to declare that they haven’t identified the origin or characteristics of these UAVs, but at the same time declaring them “not a threat”, is disingenuous, at best. I’ve concluded that we are being treated like mushrooms. That is: Kept in the dark and fed horse manure. My (tongue-in-cheek) theory:  Thermopods Over New Jersey, from Planet 10.

Former F-18 Pilot: Drones Aren’t WMD ‘Sniffers’

Former F-18 Pilot Tells Joe Rogan Drones Aren’t WMD ‘Sniffers’ As Dronegate Intensifies.

Intel Officials Reveal Source of Drones in Classified Briefing

Intelligence officials reveal source of drones in classified briefing.  JWR’s Comment:  So… If they  were just licensed commercial drones, then why was the briefing so long, and why was it classified?

Superflares Erupt From Sun-Like Stars About Every 100 Years

SurvivalBog staffer Tom Christianson sent this, from the Smithsonian magazine site: Superflares Erupt From Sun-Like Stars Roughly Every 100 Years, a New Study Finds. Is Our Sun Overdue for a Massive Blast? Here is a pericope:

“The new results indicate that stars resembling our sun experience superflares approximately once every century—and if that’s true, it seems our sun may be overdue for such an explosion. As solar activity is already known to cause damage to Earth’s satellite and telecommunication systems, the discovery came as a shock to the team.

“This is 40 to 50 times more frequent than previously thought,” Valeriy Vasilyev, a scinentist at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and a co-author of the paper, tells Space.com’s Robert Lea.”

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 18, 2024

On December 18, 216 BC, in the Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia. Hannibal’s Carthaginian army defeated Roman forces on Roman soil.

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December 18, 1777: The first national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating British General Burgoyne’s surrender.

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December 18th is the birthday of Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788). He wrote more than 1,700 hymns.

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Today is also the birthday of Jørgen Haagen Schmith (born December 18, 1910, died October 15, 1944). He was better known under the codename “Citron” and was a famous Danish resistance fighter in occupied Denmark. His biographical sketch at Wikipedia describes his death, after he was tracked down by the Nazis: “German soldiers arrived at the house to arrest or kill Schmith. He fought for hours against an overwhelming force of enemy troops killing 11 and wounded scores of others before the house was set on fire and he was shot attempting to escape the flames.” His exploits were dramatized in the movie Flame and Citron.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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.
  2. 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),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.)

Pressure Limits, PSI, CIP, and CUP

How many PSI are in a CUP? And to continue the absurdity, how many CIP’s of PSI are in a CUP? Could we be more baffled and confused? Yes! And this is all the comedic relief we can expect. To include CIP into our calculus is unnecessary, yet it is mentioned only to note that it is a competing metric used in European manuals and can be a source of additional confusion. Some of the false assumptions about the pressure limits of the Swedish Mauser may lie in the inaccurate translation between the European measurement of pressures expressed as C.I.P., and North American means, methods, and metrics to measure pressure that are expressed in terms of C.U.P., or P.S.I.

All three are different metrics that represent different values and none are directly correlated with each other. There is no direct conversion formula for one to the other. Yet they can be loosely or indirectly, or weakly correlated to provide a rough conversion that is essentially an educated guess. As each rifle is an individual, so the actual maximum pressure for a rifle can be higher or low than the maximum working pressure any particular reloading manual states. There can be significant differences in the test barrels and other factors that influence the results that are recorded in reloading manuals that further add to the disparity of test results and real-world application, including the individual powders used that behave differently, especially at top pressures. I would not use a faster-burning powder than IMR3031 in an antique rifle.Continue reading“Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit”

SurvivalBlog’s Annual Disclaimers, Provisos, and Public Notices

Fulfilling my annual duty…

SurvivalBlog, a private information service, is obliged to post some disclaimers and provisos, annually. These notices are current as of December 17, 2024 and remain in force unless later specifically revoked or modified by the Editor.

Advertising and Reviews

Per FTC File No. P034520: SurvivalBlog accepts cash-paid advertising. We also have affiliate advertising  relationships. To the best of my knowledge, as of the date of this posting, none of our advertisers that sell the products mentioned in this blog have solicited SurvivalBlog or our staff to write any reviews or endorsements, nor have they provided me any free or reduced-price gear in exchange for any reviews or endorsements. JWR is not a stockholder in any company. SurvivalBlog is no longer associated with Amazon.com, and has not earned any commissions from Amazon since 2001.

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I will post letters from readers that are topical. Please e-mail us your letters. OBTW, I will only post a letter writer’s initials and location, unless they specifically direct me otherwise. Anyone sending a letter or article grants the right for posting, reproduction, or any other use. Again, all writings must be original works, and the copyright will become the property of SurvivalBlog.

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I also edit letters to conceal the identities of their writers, which might otherwise be compromised by the letter contents or contextual references. Please let me know how you’d like your letters or articles signed.

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Why is there no SurvivalBlog forum and no “autoposting” or semi-automated moderated replies to blog posts? Because: A.) They are a security risk to my readers. B.) I don’t have to have the time to moderate the posts, C.) A.I.-generated spam posts and comments have become ubiquitous, and D.) I know from past experience that if I were to allow autoposts, it would quickly degenerate into a venue for flame wars and foul language. So I will pick and choose the letters that will be posted. (It’s my ship, and I’m the Captain. Sorry.)

I am the sole “filter” for what is posted on SurvivalBlog. Just e-mail me what you’d like me to post. (There is no “Post” button, so don’t look for it!)

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Per the SEC Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (as amended): I am not a paid investment counselor or adviser. I am not a stockholder of any company. I am not employed by any company. I receive no payment or benefit from any company in exchange for my investment recommendations. I do not make stock-buying recommendations. Make all investments at your own risk.

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I am a paid consultant on survival-related topics, including relocation, logistics, communications, firearms, privacy, communications security, food storage, caching, vehicles, field gear, signals intelligence, retreat architectural concepts, and retreat security. I provide my Vonage phone number or Skype name only to pre-paid consulting clients. Before hiring me for consulting, please first search the SurvivalBlog archives and FAQs. I also strongly recommend that you read my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”. That book answers a lot of questions that I typically get from consulting clients. (And buying a $14 book beats paying $100 per hour for consulting.)

If you need my expertise about something that I haven’t already published, then my fee is $100 per hour, with a one-hour minimum. You can send pre-payment via PayPal.

My PayPal address is: james@rawles.to

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I’m not a doctor, and I don’t give medical advice. Advertisements for any medical device, treatment, drug, or food supplement are solely the responsibility of the advertisers and are in no way endorsed or accredited by SurvivalBlog.com, or its principals. SurvivalBlog.com is not responsible for the use or misuse of any product advertised on this blog site.

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In part because SurvivalBlog has many contributing authors, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or reliability of what is published in the blog. Consider it only one of many sources of information that you must test against standard references and compare against your local climate and conditions, as well as your local laws. (See: “Accuracy, Safety, and Legality,” below.)

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For your privacy, we do not compile or sell any lists of e-mail or snail mail addresses. Parenthetically, don’t expect me to remember what pen name you use. If you want to continue using one pen name, then please sign all of your e-mails that way. SurvivalBlog also does not allow third parties to screen scrape or wrap our website in a frame or i-frame in order to track user visits.

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SurvivalBlog.com is an entirely private information service that is my sole property made available to others as a form of free personal expression under my de jure Preamble Citizen’s right as later guaranteed in the First Article in Amendment to the Constitution. SurvivalBlog.com is not a “public accommodation” and it is preemptively exempt from any forced or coerced accommodation, via legislation (or bureaucratic interpretation thereof) or any dictate, directive, or decree by any agency of government or by any NGO or by any individual under any future “Fairness Doctrine” or similar charade. I reserve the right to refuse service (to wit: to refuse posting, linking, or mention of anyone or anything, at my sole discretion) to any person, agency, corporation, or other entity. I make these reservations for the sake of maintaining sound business practices, competitiveness, and to maintain my moral and religious principles.

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Our links to articles at third-party websites are offered for informational purposes only. These links are most often at the suggestion of individual SurvivalBlog readers. Not every link is checked in detail. We are not responsible for updating links that have become obsolete at third-party sites. The authenticity, political persuasion, morality, and religious standpoint of those articles and any other articles housed at those sites are not necessarily endorsed by the editors of SurvivalBlog. A link on SurvivalBlog does not constitute an endorsement!

At SurvivalBlog, we err on the side of linking rather than quoting. Not only does this make SurvivalBlog quicker to read, but it also keeps us well within the standards of “Fair Use” for quotations. All articles that are quoted, re-posted, or linked are done so with great discretion and out of genuine professional courtesy under the doctrine of Fair Use, with legal precedent dating to the Statute of Anne of 1709, and confirmed by the doctrine of “Fairness Abridgement” in Gyles v Wilcox (1740) and later codified under 17 U.S.C. § 107.

Accuracy, Safety, and Legality

The content of this blog site is not guaranteed for accuracy, reliability, safety, or legality in all jurisdictions. It is presented for educational purposes only. You are responsible for your own actions. This includes your stupidity or carelessness. Refer to manufacturer documentation for safety and dosing information. Consult a locally-licensed attorney to check on the legality of the devices, formulas, and practices mentioned in SurvivalBlog in your locale. Do not write me to ask for legal advice!

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The content of this blog site is free to access, but copyrighted. Permission to use up to 800-word excerpts is summarily granted (with no need to e-mail me for permission), but only if you include full attribution–most notably a link to the survivalblog.com URL.

Have a safe and prosperous new year! –  JWR

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Jordan Peterson Flees “Totalitarian Hellhole” Canada For U.S. Due To Censorship, Taxes. The  article begins:

“There were a number of celebrities claiming they’d move to Canada if President Trump was re-elected, but now there’s one Canadian who’s doing the opposite.

World famous psychologist Jordan Peterson has said Canada is turning into a “totalitarian hellhole” by suppressing free speech and has fled Canada as a result, according to the New York Post.

In a recent episode of his daughter’s podcast, Peterson revealed he moved to the U.S. due to Canada’s contentious Bill C-63 and his dispute with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, seeks to curb hate speech by holding social media platforms accountable for reducing harmful content.”

o  o  o

A recent Rumble video: Newly Released J6 Defendant James Tate Grant Exposes January 6th Lies.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 17, 2024

On December 17th, 1718, France, Britain and Austria declared war on Spain. (War of the Quadruple Alliance 1718–1720.)

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December 17th, 1905, was the birthday of Simo Häyhä, who was the world’s most successful sniper. Using an iron-sighted Mosin–Nagant in Finland’s Winter War, he had an astounding 505 confirmed sniper kills. He died April 1, 2002.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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.
  2. 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),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

Remember that 1983 movie, A Christmas Story? It beautifully recreated a classic scene that captured the wonder and magic of Christmas, the anticipation and excitement of Santa’s arrival and the delivery of that Red Rider BB gun. In my case, the rifle most recently delivered by Santa was not a Red Rider BB gun, but something just as wonderful, yet better suited to an old man who is beginning to reminisce, something that is perfectly suited for the old man, but you could not know that until you had it in your hands.

To my surprise, the fit and finish, and the furniture are so well put together that in my eyes this rifle is better than new. I am awe-struck. It is so pristine, the motherly instinct to preserve it arises and I am less in inclined to use it, but to hang it on the wall behind glass and admire it, and show it to others who might be infected with it’s magic. I could not be so impressed by the soulless appearance of a new modern high tech rifles. Those leave me cold and uninterested. To comprehend that the heart of the rifle was made in 1892, and was expertly remade as would an artist create something of sublime utility and beauty. And so it is with this unassuming rifle in the photo, an 1891 Argentine Mauser rebarrelled with a 20-inch .300 Savage barrel with William’s Peep sights on top. It is so ‘minty’ as if it were just made and delivered directly from craftsman’s workbench.

The marks on this fine tiger-striped stock added to the flavor of what is a fine old wine surrounded by expertly recreated finish on the metal that imparts old world-class taste and standards. A like new or a modern stock would have ruined the piece. I too am a craftsman at heart. However humble is the finished work, the heart of the artist is imparted and this is an example that is a work of art.Continue reading“Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”

A Book Review for the Children in Your Lives — A New Prepper Pete Series

Dear Readers,
I want to bring to your attention an illustrated survival book series for your children.  These would make great Christmas/Hannukkah/Birthday presents.

The series is called Prepper Pete and Friends and is written by Kermit Jones, Jr.  Ten years ago he started the series and published four books.  After a long hiatus Mr. Jones is adding more books to the series.

The first four original books in the series were:

  • “Prepper Pete Prepares, An Introduction to Prepping For Kids”
  • “Prepper Pete’s Twelve Days of Prepper Christmas”
  • “Survivalist Sam Stocks Up, The Four B’s of Prepping”,
  • “Prepper Pete’s A Gun of a Son,  A Gun Safety Book for Kids, Teach Safety, Not Fear”.

His latest Prepper Pete books are a series about Ham Radio: “Radio Rick Relays Relief, A Hamergency Hero Book For Kids”, and a “Story by A. American Survivalist, Sam Saves the Day: A Real Life Hamergency Hero Book”.

I have received two of the books of the new series, thusfar.  The first one I received two weeks ago and the second book this week.  I read them and really enjoyed them.  To be honest, I have not spent time studying up on Ham radio…because we have OPSEC issues with the licensing process. These two books have caught me up to speed with the basics.  I love the format.  Mr. Jones’ writing is very simple and direct.  He gives short sentences with definitions of each Ham radio concept with illustrations that clearly demonstrate what he is explaining in the text for children and adults to understand what Ham Radio is all about.

In the first Hamergency book, Mr. Jones explains what a Ham Radio Operator is, What ARES is, Repeaters, Handie-Talkies, Mobile radio, Base Station, Ham Shack, Frequencies, Line of sight, and the Ionosphere with a cute story of rescuing an injured person during a storm.

In the second book, “Story by A. American, Survivalist Sam Saves the Day, A Real-Life Hero Book”. Is another story about the use of Ham radios and how they can help save someone whose vehicle becomes stuck in sand in the National Forest.  This story has only one new word, that is defined, “Infrastructure”.  It is short and sweet and has two instances where a knowing adult will snort with laughter.  It is very cute.  The stories are short, concise, and clear.  The illustrations are also very clear and cute.

These books are a super way to introduce the need for prepping and the importance for children to learn skills to become prepared and self-reliant. The books are for all ages of people.

“Some people prepare because they are afraid.  Our family does not have to be afraid…Because we are prepared!” – Prepper Pete.

I highly recommend them.

These book series are published by Kamel Press and can be found on Amazon, Books-A-Million (BAM), and Barnes and Noble. – Avalanche Lily

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, we focus on Bureau Of Land Management (BLM) control of western lands.   (See the Region Wide section.)

Region-Wide

An update: In August, Utah and 12 other states filed a suit, challenging BLM control over western lands:  ‘Without merit’: Feds respond to Utah’s public land lawsuit. A list of the 12 plaintiff states: “Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming and the Arizona Legislature. Iowa, which spearheaded a brief signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas.”  JWR’s Comment:  Montana should get on board, with their own amicus brief.  The new Attorney General in Oregon, Dan Rayfield, is a Democrat. The new Attorney General in Washington, Nick Brown, is also a Democrat.  I assume that they both are in the Bidenista crowd and won’t get involved in the BLM challenge.

o  o  o

AmRRON Amateur Radio Network is Streaming Live on Sunday Nights on the Internet.

Idaho

California man sentenced for using counterfeit money at Post Falls store.

o  o  o

Idaho education board will consider eliminating diversity offices from UI and other state colleges. JWR’s Comments:  All publically-funded colleges and universities nationwide should be “color-blind” in their admissions, and rank their applicants by academic merit.  If that means admitting a majority of Asian-Americans at some schools, then so be it.  Athletic scholarship programs should also be eliminated.

o  o  o

In related news: Boise State University Shutters DEI and Gender-Equity Centers.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 16, 2024

On December 16, 1497, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail along Africa’s East Coast. He named it Natal.

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The Romanian Revolution began on December 16th, 1989. No less than 1,066 civilians died in the successful attempt to overthrow the dictatorial President Nicolae Ceaușescu.

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December 16th, 1928, was the birthday of Philip K. Dick, who died March 2, 1982. He penned a remarkable number of sci-fi novels and novellas that have been adapted into movies, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, Screamers, Impostor, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, Next, and The Adjustment Bureau. Though he had a troubled personal life (with drug use and several failed marriages), his captivating books certainly had a knack for envisioning potential futures.

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The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773. The Census Bureau’s History webpage shared this interesting tea tidbit:

“Although tea was a popular beverage in the United States, Americans began drinking more coffee than tea as a direct result of the Tea Act of 1773, the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution … Boston-area merchants like John Hancock were so enraged by the 3-cents-per-pound tax on tea arriving in colonial ports that he declared that anyone who drank the ‘baneful weed’ and paid the tea tax was an ‘Enemy of America’.”

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Today’s feature article is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.

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We need some more entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

MyTopo Waterproof Topographical Maps, by Thomas Christianson

Have you ever tried to read a map in the rain? Or a map that got wet when a canoe tipped over? Or a map that accidentally got dropped in creek that you were crossing? If you have, you know that water and maps are not on very friendly terms with each other.

MyTopo Waterproof Topographical Maps offer outdoorsmen a more weather-resistant navigational aid than traditional paper maps. MyTopo maps are waterproof, frostproof, and stand up to repeated folding better than traditional paper maps.

They are available in the newest post-2009 USGS quads, the classic pre-2009 USGS quads, game management unit hunting maps, historic topo maps, national park maps, gazetteers, custom maps, and more. They come in various sizes, and can be purchased either rolled or folded.Continue reading“MyTopo Waterproof Topographical Maps, by Thomas Christianson”

Simple Farm Cheese Recipe

Reader Brian H. wrote to ask me about how I make the Farm Cheese that I’ve mentioned a few times in the Editors’ Prepping Progress column. I don’t claim any special cheesemaking knowledge.  The following Simple Farm Cheese recipe that I’ve used many times comes from “The Cheese Queen”, Ricki Carroll, in her excellent book “Home Cheesemaking”, pages 104-105:

Ingredients
2 gallons of milk
1 packet of Direct set mesophilic starter or 4 ounces of prepared mesophilic starter
1/2 teaspoon liquid rennet (or 1/2 rennet tablet) diluted in 1/2 cup of cool  unchlorinater water.
1 Tablespoon of cheese salt.
Cheese wax
Directions
Note: I generally use only a 1/2 gallon of cow milk or a gallon.  If I do, then I cut everything to a 1/4 or a half depending on the amount of milk I am turning into cheese.
1. Heat cow milk to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Add mesophillic starter and stir thoroughly. Cover and allow milk to ripen for 45 minutes.
2. Add diluted rennet.stir gently with an up and down movement for one minute. If using farm-fresh cow’s milk, top stir for 1-minute with the flat underside of the ladle no more than a 1/2 inch deep to blend the butterfat that rises to the surface.  Cover and let set at 90* Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, or until the curd gives a clean break.
3. Cut the curd into 1/2-inch cubes.
4. Place the pot into a sink full of hot water and slowly heat the curds to 100* Fahrenheit, increasing the temperature by two degrees, every 5 minutes.  This will take about 30 minutes.  Stir gently to keep the curds from matting.  The curds will shrink noticeably in size as the heating continues and you stir gently.  The yellowish whey will grow in quantity as the curds shrink.
5. Cover the container and let the curds set for 5 minutes. Pour the curds into a cheese cloth-lined colander.  Tie the corners of the cheese cloth into a knot and hang the bag in a convenient spot to drain for 1 hour.  Do not hang in a drafty spot – the curds need to stay relatively warm.
6. Place the drained curds in a bowl and break them up gently with your fingers into walnut sized. Mix in salt.
7. Firmly pack the curds into a 2-pound mold lined with cheesecloth, then neatly fold the cheesecloth over the top.  Apply 10  pounds of pressure for 10 minutes.
8. Remove the cheese from the mold and gently peel away the cheesecloth. Turn over the cheese, re-dress it, and press at 20 pounds of pressure for 20 minutes.
9. Repeat the process but press at 50 pounds of pressure for 12 hours.
10.  Remove the cheese from the mold and carefully peel away the cheesecloth.  Air-dry the cheese at room temperature on a wooden board until a nice rind has developed and the surface is quite dry.  This can take 2-4 days, depending on the weather.  Turn the cheese several times a day so moisture will not collect on the bottom.
11. Wax the cheese.
12. Age the cheese for at least 1 month.

Yield: 2 pounds.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe by Ricki Carroll. – Avalanche Lily