Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Healthcare should be based on consent and private transactions. Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs should be privatized and marketized. HAS’s and privately operated health insurance are fully legitimate as long as they are consensual. Licensing should be ended as should all healthcare subsidies, taxes, and regulations.” – David J. Theroux

Fighting Words: An Open Letter to Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.

The New York Times just published the newspaper’s first front page editorial in 95 years. It urged America’s legislators to outlaw civilian ownership of semiautomatic battle rifles. This editorial twisted words to castigate our militia arms as follows: ” These are weapons of war, barely modified and deliberately marketed as tools of macho vigilantism and even insurrection.”

The editor went on to urge: ” Certain kinds of weapons, like the slightly modified combat rifles used in California, and certain kinds of ammunition, must be outlawed for civilian ownership. It is possible to define those guns in a clear and effective way and, yes, it would require Americans who own those kinds of weapons to give them up for the good of their fellow citizens.” [Emphasis added.]

Those are fighting words. They’ve made it clear: These statists want to enact a law forcing civilian disarmament. This would of course be enforced under color of law, by their recently militarized bully boys in black. (Formerly in blue.)

I have a few terse points for Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Editor Dean Baquet, their subordinate editors of The New York Times, and all others of their ilk:

  1. The words of our Founding Fathers were unequivocal: “…the right of The People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Those words can only be taken one way.
  2. There are more privately-owned guns in America that there are inhabitants. The task of attempting go out and collect them is a Fool’s Errand.
  3. These are indeed ‘”weapons of war.” They are in fact our most important militia weapons. It was the specific intent of our Founding Fathers that our civilian populace be armed on an equal footing with any standing army. They have their M4s and we have ours. And by the way we also have even more powerful scoped deer rifles with 500-yard effective range. Millions of them.
  4. Even if just 3% of the citizenry were to take up arms against your intended tyranny, we would still outnumber the combined strength of the police and military by a substantial margin.
  5. There are 10.3 million licensed deer hunters in the United States, and around 22 million military veterans.
  6. Not everyone in law enforcement and the military will go along with your scheme. Many of them will have the backbone to stand against you.
  7. Any attempt to disarm the citizenry by force will surely be met by a matching resisting force. Aggression begets aggression. It will be you and your minions who will be the first initiators of force, not us.

    Lastly, and most importantly:

  8. You hint of “insurrection.” Yea, if you continue using such fighting words and if the fools in Congress do indeed enact such unconstitutional legislation, then by God, you will spark an insurrection of the sort that has not been seen in this land since 1781. There will be a second Civil War, and it will be concluded in a matter of weeks, not years. There will be blood, and that blood will be on the hands of the tyrants, not We The People.

Tyrants deserve to have their bodies dragged through the streets. It happened to Benito Mussolini. It happened to Nicolae Ceau?escu. It happened to Muammar Gaddafi. Be warned: History does not precisely repeat, but it often rhymes.

If you want my guns, sir, then come and take them. But when you send your thugs to my ranch, tell them to bring plenty of body bags and extra grub. Because they’ll certainly need them.

Sincerely, – James Wesley, Rawles
Founder and Senior Editor, SurvivalBlog.com
Author of the novels Patriots and Land of Promise

Notes for Sunday – December 06, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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).

Round 61 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.

Homesteading for a Single Female Senior Citizen, by V.P.

1

Yes, it is possible to make your dreams come true at any age! Twelve years ago, at age 52 and after 31 years of marriage, I found myself divorced and ready for a new chapter in my life. I had always been rather self-sufficient, so being alone was not a daunting situation. My former hobby– singlehanded sailing– gave me the courage and confidence to start a new life. After the divorce, I lived aboard my boat for a couple of years, but something in my spirit kept telling me to go back to the land. When I was a child, a lot of my relatives lived in the country and were always self-sufficient. They had gardens, cows, chickens, and lived rather simply. I remember those wonderful Sundays when we would leave the suburbs, drive out to their places in the country, and share a meal with them. The afternoons consisted of rifle practice, milking the cow, taking a horseback ride, and enjoying the country life. So, whether it was a yearning to return to a less hectic life or God telling me to prepare for what may be coming, I don’t know. I just know it was the best decision I have ever made. Although my friends and family would prefer for me to be a “cougar” and find a young man to do the chores, I have found my life as an SFSH (Single Female Senior Homesteader) quite rewarding!

I started with six acres. It was in rough shape, and my family pitched in to help. At that time, my 70ish year-old step-dad and mom came out every week to help. I could not have done it without them. We would work hard and then sit down and laugh about all of us old people doing such physical work. We weren’t going to let our minds tell us we were too old to start something new. I had a RV shed constructed, and I moved on the property to live while I started to develop a plan! A year later the land next to me became available, so I purchased an additional 5.5 acres. I converted the metal RV building into a small house a few years later. I put in a wood stove for heat, and the nine foot ceilings and lots of insulation helps to keep it cool in the summer time.

Simplicity, self sufficiency, and safety are the keys to having a homestead as a senior. I think about all projects with this in mind. Except for a few things, everything here is designed for someone who isn’t very strong, is mechanically challenged, and is concerned more about function than looks! I want to be as self-sufficient as possible for as long as possible. Yes, it is hard work, but that is what keeps you healthy!

I purchased a small tractor in the very beginning with the idea of using it to till, clear the land, cut the weeds, et cetera, but I quickly found that attaching the implements to it was quite an effort if you are alone and not very strong. I use it mainly to haul stuff in the bucket or pull small downed trees out of the woods so I can use the fire wood. Tilling and clearing brush is only done when I have help. It had a mechanical issue last year, and I realized that while it is a wonderful tool to have, I cannot repair it. So I started to really think about how I would need to operate if I could not use “the beast”. I think we all need a bit of Amish cultural thinking at times! A garden that requires a tiller, a pasture that requires cutting, heavy stuff that needs lifting– all of this is dependent on the use of a mechanical thing. What happens when you can’t call the dealer and have them come pick up the non-working equipment? This is something most of the prepper community needs to address. A lot of us just can’t fix the complicated mechanical equipment found in most cars, trucks, and farm tools.

I opted for raised bed gardening and small animals. Attaching the tiller, brush hog, or middle buster to the tractor was not going to be an option, so I needed something simple and sustainable. I started with 4 x 4 beds with concrete block perimeters. Then, I added row type raised bedding using 8″ x 10′ x 2″ lumber. The rows are far enough apart that I can use a self-propelled mower between them. After four or so years of raised bed gardening, I prefer the concrete blocks. I need help to make repairs or replace the wooden ones, but I can put the individual blocks in place without assistance. So, all future beds will be concrete.

Farm animals are small and easily managed. Rabbits, Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats, chickens, and ducks can provide milk and eggs. While I do use the rabbits and chickens for meat from time to time, I have become mostly a vegetarian, simply because I don’t like to process the animals. The rabbit manure is fantastic for the garden, and I do sell rabbits if we have several litters at the same time. Providing for the animals in my care, during a grid down situation, is a major concern. I am slowly transitioning the rabbits to a more natural diet, so I can feed them without using much of the commercial pellets. This is a long process, because most rabbits will experience extreme digestive distress (often fatal) if you try to switch them to a grass and vegetable diet quickly. You also must make sure you provide a variety of wild plants to make sure they get the proper nutrients.

Chickens are free roamers, so they get a little commerical feed just to keep them close to the barn. Otherwise, they can manage well foraging on their own. The goats and miniature donkeys get a commercial feed daily, but they also graze to keep down the grass and weeds. If necessary, they could survive without the feed. I do keep a variety of grass seed on hand to reseed pastures.

Fencing and cages are always in need of repair. When I can, I hire help to take care of fence issues, but the electric netting mentioned below allows me to contain the animals if help isn’t available. Cages for small chickens and rabbits can be made with PVC pipe and the appropriate wire. I am currently getting about five years of use out of cages before they need repair or replacement. I keep PVC pipe, connectors, and wire on hand so I can make new cages or containment pens.

Necessary Items

Below is a list of items that every single senior homesteader, male or female, will find helpful:

  • Dip nets– They are not just for fishing! I catch wayward chickens and rabbits with them, because I can’t chase down escapees! Get one with the longest handle you can find.
  • Small live traps– Again, these are for catching escapees or small predators.
  • Electric netting fence– This stuff has made my life so much easier. I can set up a temporary containment pasture all by myself using this netting and a 12-volt battery! It will contain goats and fowl with clipped wings.
  • Scythe– Yes, I’m talking about the old fashioned type of grass/hay-cutting hand implement. I really hate a weed eater! The noise, vibration, and difficulty of starting them drives me crazy. This is quiet, quick, and keeps me in shape. In a grid down environment, I do not want to use my precious gas for weed/grass control. I can keep a pathway open to the barn, house, and elsewhere using the scythe. I gave up keeping the fence rows clear of grass. I get as close as I can with the scythe or mower and have learned to live with that.
  • Headlamps– You may feel dorky using them, but they keep us old folks from tripping over stuff with our hands free and still able to see.
  • Baby monitors– I put one in the window of the barn, and I can hear everything that goes on at night. A simple $30 investment gives me a great sense of security. I can hear a car coming up the drive or a goat bellowing in labor.
  • Hand Carts– Why strain your back, when you can use a tool to do the work for you! As we get older, lifting and carrying heavy objects can be a daunting task and puts us at risk for injury. I have two– one large and one small hand cart!
  • Small generators– I have two Honda 2000 watt generators that have proven themselves over the years. You can purchase an additional parallel kit to combine the two and have 4000 watts readily available for larger energy needs. These small, quiet generators allow me to pick them up and move them around. They weigh under 50 pounds! Also, they are very energy efficient. They will run four hours on one gallon of gas at full load or eight hours at 1/4 load! So, if you just need lights and a fan, they will run a long time!
  • Power Gear Loppers– I have tried a lot of loppers, pruners, etc. and these, made by Fiskar, allow me to cut through 2″ branches with ease. I use them almost daily to cut branches for my goats when they can’t graze freely and to keep our trails open.
  • Home Defense Plan – I have a concealed carry permit and always have a shotgun or carbine with me, when I am working in the woods. However, I prefer to deter than to defend! The best thing for this is a big dog! I have several. Nothing comes on this property without all of them sounding an alarm. They are not grid dependent so if the lights go out, I still have an alarm system.
  • Simple Handguns– I like revolvers, because I don’t have to worry about springs, et cetera, found in the semi-automatic models. It is easy to clean, and speed loaders act like magazines! I prefer them for safety reasons and reliability.
  • Small Electric Chain Saw– My lightweight little Honda generator runs an electric chainsaw with ease. I load the generator in the bucket of the tractor and take it to the location where I need to cut the small downed trees for firewood. I don’t need huge logs for the wood stove. Again, I can do this without help!

Priority List

One item that is not a “tool” but certainly necessary when you are alone is the “Priority List” that will help you manage your day. I used a “to do” list, when I was working, so why not here! If we treated our homestead as if it were our paying job, then we would get far more accomplished. There is always an abundance of work, and I find that I am easily distracted. A good list keeps me focused. It helps me purchase the right material, look for sales or used items, and shift my efforts from Plan A to Plan B when necessary. If I can’t plant those seedlings today, then I go down the list and find something else that needs to be done! Remember TIME is your most precious commodity. It is limited and non-renewable.

Homesteading is always a learning experience. Gardening isn’t for sissies. Animal husbandry can be heartbreaking (when the goat kids you have been anxiously waiting for are stillborn), and maintenance is a challenge. The physical demands keep you in shape, and there is no time to fret over things you can’t change, thus reducing emotional stress. I have been blessed with good health, so I can take all of this in stride. I always want to depend on God for his mercy and blessings, and I pray God will allow me to be self-sufficient for a very long time.

Letter Re: Things to Prep For

Just thought I’d send a note to let you know some thoughts.

  1. I use my hands for everything. One of the biggest things I would say to stock up on is rubber gloves for yourself and the kids. It hurts to do the dishes with cuts on your fingers. Rubber gloves take care of that problem, but they do rip easily. You need another pair for changing the composting toilet, another for doing laundry by hand when you have bleach in the water, and another pair for anything gross that comes up. Also we have used the disposable gloves quite a bit for animal related jobs. It also hurts quite a bit when your finger splits due to dryness. Anything that bumps it hurts, and you’re always bumping your fingers. Hand cream and something stronger to put on the split fingers is good. Here is what I do: When my hands become very dry, I put some strong, thick hand cream, like Petro Carbo or the equal, on and then put on medical disposable gloves and let the cream work all night long. In the morning, it usually helps. Of course you need garden and work gloves, but I thought people may overlook the winter indoors and how drying it is, especially if you are doing dishes, cleaning, and laundry by hand.
  2. Slippers wear out way too fast. They are not as reliable as I thought. A better choice would be indoor runners. When it is cold you are going to wish you had slippers, but it’s not even Christmas and everyone has holes in theirs. Just letting you know.
  3. Dice and cards are probably the most bang for your buck. We play all together, and it’s something that involves the whole family. However, stock up because as soon as a card is missing you need a new deck.
  4. It takes about 20 days in the dark winter to go through a a 9.46 liter jug of Kerosene. That will light up about five lamps. One of our lamps (for the table) is a double wick, bought from Lehmans. It gives off the most light and is our best lamp. Glass lamps are better in my opinion, since it is easier when filling to see how much oil you are putting in. I’ve spilled over the other metal ones, and it makes a mess. Kerosene can give people headaches, as compared to lamp oil (which is more expensive). We had this at the beginning, and now it doesn’t seem to bother us. It helps to have a window a crack open, but that may be too cold in the winter. You should practice now and see, before stocking up on the wrong thing for your family.
  5. You need to now practice quick suppers/meals. You will be so busy that you are not going to have alot of time to put into meals. Everyone comes in hungry, and you will not have fruit. Too much flour in recipes make people feel sick. Here is something I have learned: Day 1 cook a chicken. Make something with chicken over rice. Day 2 boil the bones all day and make chicken soup (double batch) Day 3 use the left over soup and put that in a casserole dish and just add a drop biscuit recipe by putting spoonfuls of the dough on top and cook it in the oven. Note: The soup must be boiling hot first, so I put it in the oven and then make the biscuit topping. When I’m ready with the biscuit dough, the soup is boiling. (Otherwise the bottom of the dough is not cooked and the top looks done.) Day 4 serve chicken fried rice. This is how I get four meals out of one chicken for a family. We just add diced chicken to the meals; we don’t eat it as a main course.
  6. If you are tight for money, here are my ideas: Truth is, if you are really tight for money you can’t afford meat, fruit, and veggies and expensive healthy breads. You can only afford a little bit of it. So how do we do this for our family?
    1. Don’t eat meat as a meal; everything needs to be diced up. Here are some ideas: casseroles, fried rice, soup, pizza, quiche, pastas, salads with diced meat, sandwich melts, and macaroni/potato salads.
    2. When you go shopping, look at the meat and ask yourself how many meals can I get out of this package. Pepperoni sticks are great. You want meat with a lot of strong flavor when you are adding it to meals. I can make two large pizzas by dicing up one piece of smoked sausage. Garlic sausage is good too. Imitation crab meat can be made into a soup, sandwich, or salad. Think of how many ways to use it so that it doesn’t feel like your eating the same thing. So maybe you will spend $6 on a piece of meat and get three meals.
    3. If your family complains because they are used to better, do your practicing on lunches so as to get them used to eating some new recipes. If someone doesn’t like something, just because they are picky, they are just not hungry yet. However, it really bothers me when parents make their kids eat. Some times people really do have a hard time with foods, and it is really rude to think that just because it doesn’t bother you it shouldn’t bother them. I just let them dish out their own. You can tell the difference, if you watch their attitude.
    4. Start gathering recipes to bake that require no butter, eggs, and milk. Learn how to make these. Often you can run out of something, then at least your not stuck. They will also save you money. Cookies, cakes, and breads can be found.

Hope this helps, – LM

Economics and Investing:

Obama Care Will Implode and Kill the Economy-Karl Denninger – Link sent in by RBS

o o o

ISIS is obsessed with gold currency – Link sent in by G.P.

o o o

Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Travel Tab for the Obamas and the Bidens: $70,563,336.75 (Waste Fraud and Abuse) Commentary: This article details yet another way the federal government spends the hard earned money of the American people.

Top 10 Wasteful Government Expenses (National Review) Commentary: …and yet another example. Among the programs described in this piece is one designed to answer the question of what bugs do near lightbulbs. The cost? $65,473.

$1B Inept BioWatch Does Not Work. There is NO Plan B. (Judicial Watch) Commentary: We may shake our heads in disgust and sometimes even laugh at the absurdity of the programs on which our government spends money, but this article details a billion dollars in waste for a failed program that should be protecting the literal lives of large numbers of American people.

Mises Institute’s Week in Review (Mises Institute)

International News

The Never Ending Story of the World Economy (The Economist)

Japan Urges Its Companies to Help Stimulate Economy (New York Times)

The Forgotten Greek Economic Crisis (The Greek Reporter)

Brazil Recession Deepens, Worst Annual Drop on Record (Reuters)

Personal Economics and Household Finance

The Jackal of Wall Street: George Graham Rice (Market Watch) Teaser Quote: “Before Bernie Madoff, before Charles Ponzi, there was George Graham Rice.”

FBI: Understanding Financial Fraud & Protecting the Public (FBI) Resource: Link for information about a variety of fraudulent financial schemes for the benefit of public education, awareness and safety.

Clark Howard’s Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide (Clark Howard) Resource: The “Credit Freeze” is one of the most effective tools available to consumers in the prevention of identity theft. Link here for information about how to freeze and thaw your credit via ClarkHoward.com

Odds ‘n Sods:

Former Congressman DARES Loretta Lynch to Prosecute Him in Scathing Rant – Submitted by RBS

o o o

One key point that can be concluded from the San Bernardino terrorist attack is this: The attack took place soon after an argument at a social event, but the Farook couple already had some bombs prepared, and the parts to build more. So it is likely that they were a sleeper cell and that self-activated, ahead of schedule. I suspect that they were actually intended to be part of much larger simultaneous attacks–perhaps even by dozens of sleeper cells–all across the country, at a later date. That attack is very likely still in the works. Be vigilantly prepared for a defensive response locally, folks! Be armed. – JWR

o o o

A consulting client in the UK asked me about the availability of the Rawles XL Voyager knife, which was made to my specifications. They are indeed available in England, but be prepared to pay 97 British Pounds ($147), plus another 20% in Value Added Tax. (A total of around $177, plus postage. Ouch!) Readers in the U.S. will find them much more affordably-priced at the Lynn Thompson Special Projects web site. Be advised that this is a limited edition knife and that Cold Steel now has less than 1,500 of them left on hand. Once they are gone, they are gone, so don’t hesitate to order. Also note that 100% of the profits (both mine and Cold Steel’s) are going to Christian charities. – JWR

o o o

Gun-free zones? Why not disease-free zones? – Link Submitted by Avalanche Lily

o o o

From the office of Krayton Kerns, DVM (the Conservative Cow Doctor): Christmas Wishes – Link submitted by L.A.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” John 2:12-17 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – December 05, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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).

Round 62 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.

Attaining Food in Urban Locations (From Land and Sea)- Part 5, by Cracker Makk

LOBSTER

Lobster are a delicious source of protein and can also be found in locations that have structure. They forge around hunting for food at night and tend to take shelter in the day time. Look for them in cracks and crevices, and look carefully for their antennas sticking out of the hole where they have taken refuge. Remember that lobsters swim backwards, so if you are using a net to catch one then make sure you set it behind them. I have always caught them with my hands. If you choose to do it this way, make sure you wear gloves and do not just reach in the hole blind. Know what is in the hole, before you reach your hand in. There could be a moray eel in there, and if it latches on to you are in big trouble. (Safety needs to come first. If a moray does happen to latch onto you, the chances are that he won’t let go. Grab your dive knife and try to stick him in the head.) If you are desperate and do not want to chance losing a lobster, then you can shoot him with your gun. It is easy pickin’s, but be careful as it is not legal to spear lobster in the U.S.

Lobsters move in large numbers, depending on the weather. If the barometric pressure drops below 1000 millibars for more than eight hours (like in hurricanes or tropical storms) then a lobster walk is sure to follow within the next week. This is not a joke, and it’s an incredible phenomenon to experience. When this occurs, hundreds of thousands of lobsters from the Florida Keys to Stuart will walk in straight lines moving in a north easterly fashion to find safe harbor, sometimes in water as shallow as three feet. If you time it right, you can eat well for a long time.

I have been fortunate enough to experience this incredible occurrence on six separate occasions. Be observant and know what is happening around you. Sometimes catastrophes spawn huge opportunities.

SEA URCHIN

Sea urchins are perhaps the easiest animal of all to catch, once you have found one. They too live in structured areas– on reefs and sometimes around mangroves. They are delicious and bring in a premium dollar at sushi restaurants around the globe. They look like circular balls with spikes sticking out everywhere. Usually when you find one, there will be more close by. This ligoes for lobster as well. To catch a sea urchin, simply reach down with a net and scoop them up. If you don’t have a net, you can also grab them with your hands. (That’s how I have always done it.) If you are planning on grabbing them with your hands, you definitely need gloves. Pick them up softly, and do not grip them tightly. If you do it carefully enough, you will be fine. You may get pricked a few times, but it sure beats starving.

Once you have succeeded in catching an urchin, make sure you have a bucket or something you can fill with salt water to keep them fresh. Do NOT kill the urchin. They spoil very fast. Keep it alive. You don’t want to eat one after it has died. It should still be alive seconds prior to eating it.

To clean an urchin, first cut it open at its belly and pour out the liquid inside. The edible part has an orange color to it and is nestled vertical on the inside walls of the sea creature. I usually scoop it out with a spoon and eat it right there. It is out of this world. Try it, and you won’t be disappointed.

STINGRAYS / SHARKS

Stingrays are overlooked by most people and considered a nuisance to take off the line, if caught by most fisherman. The reality is they are a very tasty item and one you should not discard. They can be caught using what I call a shark line. This is basically a trot line in salt water with a few differences.

First, your plan of attack is to find an area like an estuary or where the sea water flows into at high tides. This is an area that is dry at low tide and about three to five feet deep at incoming and peek high tide. These are areas stingrays love. A little trick is to visit the area when the tide is all the way out. If you see holes in the sea bed in different circular diameters all over the place, you know you are in the right spot. Those are the footprints of where the ray has been laying before the tide changed and jit went back out to sea. (As a side note, if you are ever walking in one of these areas when the water level is up, make sure to drag your feet. This is a safety measure that will prevent you from getting tagged by the barb of a stingray. The barb is located above the base of the tail, and if you step on top of a stingray the chances of getting stung are high. However, dragging your feet will result in your foot touching the outer portions of the ray and causing it to swim away rapidly with no issues occurring.

Once a good location to fish is found, you will need to construct a shark line. To do this you will need 15 ft. of wire liter, four large swivels, four treble hooks, two medium-sized hooks, two large shark hooks, 15 feet of nylon rope, one cement cinder block, and four milk jugs painted a bright color. If you don’t have some of these items, then improvise. Pay attention to this; it always works. Remember this is the same concept as the alligator line and the trot lines we discussed earlier. The setup is just a little different but same concept. You are setting a line that works for you without you being present. To rig your shark line, you will need to tie the nylon rope to the handles of all four milk jugs. (These are buoys or use something that floats very well and can be seen from a distance.) Next you will need to tie the other end of the nylon rope to one of the eyes of the swivels, making sure you tie it in a square knot so it won’t loosen with tension. Next, tie the wire liter to the other end of the swivel. Twist the wire liter around the swivel and the other end of the liter wire. You will need a pair of needle nose pliers to get it snug. Snip the end when you are done so that it stays tight. Now, start attaching your hooks at spaces of 12 inches to the wire liter by twisting each hook eight rotations or whenever the hook is tight and not able to travel down the liter wire. I usually mix it up and place a different hook every 12 inches, but all you want is for the creature taking the bait to get snagged. If the shark hooks don’t catch your fish, usually the treble hooks will. After you have all of your hooks attached to the liter wire, the next thing to do is weave the liter wire through the inside squares of the cinder block four times and then rotate the end of the wire around itself. Make it tight, and use your needle nose pliers to insure it doesn’t come apart if something gets caught and tries to free itself. Now you are ready to set your line. Ideally you will need a kayak, canoe, small dinghy, or paddle surf board. If you need to wade out to set it, then so be it. Make sure to drag your feet, if you are in the shallows of an estuary. Just be sure to set your line where it is going to get fish traffic. I usually bait every hook, including the treble hooks. (I personally like mullet, but use whatever you can get. You may need to go and spear something and use it for bait.) The great thing about the line is that you never know what you are going to catch. This is why you use the large hooks for sharks and large stingrays and the smaller hooks for the smaller things. The treble hooks are there to snag whatever it is you already have at the line in hopes of not losing it. The cinder block is there to create drag, keep the line stationary, and hold some of the bait at the bottom. The jugs or buoys are to allow you to find the line should you catch something very large that has moved the rig several hundred yards away. (I was once dumbfounded when my shark line went missing one morning. It took me three hours to locate almost a mile away. When I pulled up the line, it had the head of a 7-foot Mako shark on it. I set my line the day before in six feet of water.) The moral here is you never know what you are going to catch, but if you bait your line the right way you will be successful and you will get something to eat.

To clean a stingray, you will first need to be extremely cautious in not touching the barb. The best thing you can do is remove it with a hatchet or a machete. (Stingray barbs make great spear tips and can be used for frog gigs as well). Cut off the wings on both sides of the ray. Once the wings have been cut act as if it were a fish and proceed to filet it. Caution, there is a strip of cartilage in the center, so cut just above and below it so that you don’t get tough strips in the meat. Once you have your filets, you will then cut strips off and then you are ready to eat. Stingrays taste like a mixture between shrimp, fish, and oysters. They are best sautéed or fried. They are also good in gumbo and make a great fish chowder.

Sharks are a protected species now, but in a worst case scenario you may need to harvest some to stay alive. Sharks will eat most anything, and you can utilize the remains of what you catch on land or sea to use as bait for sharks. If you are trying to catch sharks, it would be best to set your line in water that is a little deeper than in an estuary. Fifteen feet is a good depth. I have eaten many sharks in my day. They have a rich taste are great in soup, and they will keep you and your family from going hungry. The last tip in setting your shark line is to leave it out during the night, and check it early in the morning, providing of course that the tide cooperates and it is deep enough if you are placing it in an estuary location. The same rules apply to a shark line, as that of the trot line; do not leave it out for days at a time. This way you limit the exposure it has to passing boats or other starving people. In addition it limits the time that your catch can get away or be eaten by something larger.

SEA TURTLES

Another protected species is the sea turtle. They are beautiful creatures, and I have had the privilege of swimming with them on numerous occasions. But this article would not be complete, however, if I didn’t mention them as a potential food source. Sea turtles are still considered a delicacy in many countries and are still harvested by poachers. Their meat and eggs are sold on the black market for huge amounts of money, even to this day. It should be noted that sea turtles walk ashore in May to lay eggs. They move very slow when walking on the beach and can easily be caught if needed.

Nests can be found on the coastlines usually until October. You can’t miss the footprints on the sand in the mornings before the waves have washed them away.

FINAL WORDS

The techniques mentioned here are not limited to the animals specified above. There are food sources everywhere. Open your mind to the choices, and don’t limit yourself and feel like you’re entitled to anything better. There is no such thing as entitlement. You are entitled to what you provide for yourself.

To stay healthy, you will need to consume other things, like fruits, vegetables, and foods with fiber as well. Do some research, as there are many edible plants that grow naturally, no matter where you live. Starting a garden is something we should all be doing. It is much healthier and brings us back to nature.

I would like to conclude by stating that I am NOT by any means an advocate of taking protected species, nor do I agree with the unnecessary killing of animals. I obey the law, and I only kill what I intend to eat. I also, however, do not agree with the practices of our political leaders who see fit to throw everything our forefathers did down the toilet. We are in sad but scary times, and the actions of our people in office could lead to a devastation in our way of life. We may be faced with limited options one day. If reality changes for the worst and our survival depends on putting food on our tables, then everything else goes out the window. I will take my chances at catching a protected species to keep my family alive. The world is completely different now than it was even ten years ago. We, as a species, had better get it together, or someday we may be facing extinction. We need to remember where we came from and embrace our past and the practices that are centered on self-reliance. Although virtues, integrity, and sacrifice may be a thing of the past, there are still a few of us out there that believe in it. To you out there on the edge of fence, I will leave you with this– Always view things from an outside perspective. I hope this information helps you to attain whatever types of food sources that are available in your area. They have worked for me, and I promise they will work for you. There is no better feeling than being able to put food on your on table that nature has provided to feed the ones you love. Remember, if it has hair, feathers, or scales you can eat it. Make it work; be an innovator and improvise. You are part of the circle of life, and whether you acknowledge it or not, that is who you are. Be safe, Good luck and may God be with us all.

Letter: Things That May Be Essential But One Never Sees Mentioned

Hugh,

Little things mean a lot. Here’s a few:

  • Imodium – Avoid dehydration, discomfort, and dis-association.
  • Ant-acids – Nothing worse that having to puke while you’re trying to hide.
  • Shoe Laces -Two things: Moving about with loose shoes. Taking them off if laces are knotted.
  • Tire stuff – Makes for an intense fire. Especially useful in wet conditions. Usually found by road sides.
  • Hand restorer – Nothing is easy with split finger tips.

And there’s lots more everyday stuff, when one thinks about it! – A friend!

Economics and Investing:

This Is What Happened The Last Time The Fed Hiked While The U.S. Was In Recession

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Physical Silver Investment Demand Great Deal Higher Than Official Estimates

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Why This Sucker is Going Down. Again. (Contra Corner) Important Quote: “…permanent gains in wealth and living standards cannot be achieved by the kind of rampant speculation and debt-fueled financialization that had generated the phony boom of the Greenspan era.”

ECB Fumbles the Stimulus Baton Hand-Off (Wall Street Journal) Commentary: Yellen’s plans for “lift off” may be based more on economic psy-ops than on the reality of the big economic picture. This article presents interesting thoughts about the Fed strategy which may have been simultaneously advanced and complicated by the ECB.

The Best and Worst Run States (24/7 Wallst) Commentary: An interesting and challenging assessment. North Dakota and New Mexico create the “book ends” representing first place and last place respectively.

94M+ Americans are NOT in the Work Force (Breitbart) Commentary: The manipulation of employment numbers alongside the recasting of a good report showing the creation of just 211,000 jobs cannot overcome the fact that more than 94,000,000 Americans are not part of the work force.

International News

UBS Summed Up the “Third Wave” of the Financial Crisis in 2 Charts (Business Insider) Spoiler Alert: Asia has a debt problem and a debt service ratio problem (the cost to service the debt relative to income). Asia is not alone.

China Restocking and Demand for Iron Ore Lower than Expected (Market Watch) Note: Be sure to monitor economic conditions in China directly (in so far as this is possible given the likelihood that of misinformation or disinformation) and indirectly with respect to the impact of these conditions on emerging market economies.

Will Brazil Impeach Rousseff? (Mises Institute) A Thought: Often economic conditions have political consequences. …and although this commentary is not specific to Brazil (it is neither an endorsement of or objection to political events and outcomes unfolding), it may be said generally that political choices made by an electorate under significant economic strain do not generally lead to the healthiest and most stabilizing longer term results. Never underestimate the power or consequences of economic forces at work within any country or among countries whether or not they are (or appear to be) friendly.

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Gift Giving in the Style of a Minimalist Christmas (The Minimalists) Something to Consider: We have before us a tremendous opportunity to bring the Spirit of Christ and meaning of Christmas back into the celebration of this important holiday. This article includes several wonderful examples of ways to accomplish just this!

Odds ‘n Sods:

More pandering to Muslims: Loretta Lynch Vows to Prosecute Those Who Use ‘Anti-Muslim’ Speech That ‘Edges Toward Violence’ Never mind that Islam, a political system masquerading as a religion, is responsible for these attacks on the American populace.

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To understand reactionary Islam’s current push to establish a new global Caliphate, you must understand the history of Islamist jihadist expansionism. This video is a great primer: Why We Are Afraid, A 1400 Year Secret, by Dr. Bill Warner

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SurvivalBlog reader B.B. sent in this link to Frank and Fern’s blog: Good Advice from the Plant Lady

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While this may initially sound like a good idea, it’s based upon the principle of violating a person’s right to privacy. Expect to see more of this in an effort to justify the true reason for license plate readers: License plate readers could expose Johns to their families – Link sent in by D.S.

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A recent web search for a nearly unmentionable medical issue in our household resulted in finding this video on the YouTube on that side of the Internet. Juvenile humor aside, the video does teach an important medical principle that the civilized world has forgotten. Warning: you may never think about soft-serve ice-cream the same way again. (For those that are curious, there is also a Behind the Scenes video.)

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmealites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” – Genesis 37:28 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – December 04, 2015

December 4th is the birthday of SurvivalBlog’s Back Country Editor, Mat Stein.

It is also the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington (born 1912), an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington.

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An update on the Survival Mule profiled on SurvivalBlog:

  • Survival MULE is now on Facebook.
  • Now almost 4,000 miles on the MULE (just drove it to MT and back for Thanksgiving).
  • The next 10 orders get either free powder-coating of the locker, or $250 applied to shipping, or $250 credit if picked up in MN.
  • There are new videos on the website and Facebook, showing a two-minute transition between locker and trailer modes, and showing use of the pulley system.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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).

Round 62 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.