Homemade Aftershave, by Thomas Christianson

I will be the first to admit that aftershave does not rank high on any list of survival necessities. In fact, if used in the wrong way, products like aftershave may actually produce threats to one’s chances of survival. SurvivalBlog reader David L. shared some insights along this line in the September 13, 2023 Snippets column in SurvivalBlog:

Like many well-prepared preppers, I have gotten past location, food, guns, ammo, etc, etc, to stocking toilet paper, paper towels, and things such as shampoo and deodorants. The last two can be literally DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH! Yeah, right, you say! Bear with me…You have survived the bomb(s), fallout, EMP, CME, et cetera and are venturing into town for a little recon with your hair combed and nails trimmed, freshly bathed or showered and doused with your favorite Brut deodorant spray. You arrive at town on your freshly washed and waxed UTV and immediately notice that many of your friends and neighbors look ill, dirty, slovenly, under-nourished, and more importantly, are staring at you in your sartorial splendor. Did you forget to pin a sign to your shirt stating “LOOK AT ME AND THINK OF ALL THE STUFF I HAVE AT HOME THAT YOU DON’T”! Guess who will be having lots of visitors for supper (with bad attitudes AND MORE!!!!). MORAL OF THE STORY – think: Situational Awareness.

So the purpose of this article is not to promote the production of aftershave per se. Instead it is to promote the idea of learning how things are made in general, and how you can make many of the things that you regularly use in particular. This will both make you more self-reliant in a crisis situation, provide you with useful skills which may enable you to better assist others, and save money in the present which you can then utilize in ways that will provide better long-term benefit. This knowledge and the products thereof can also contribute to a sense of stability and a positive mental attitude that can greatly enhance the odds of survival in a difficult situation.Continue reading“Homemade Aftershave, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Four-Cheese Fried Sandwich

The following recipe for a four-cheese fried (grilled) sandwich is from reader Michael E., in England.

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp ricotta cheese
  • 1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
  • 50g mozzarella cheese
  • 2 thick slices of white bread
  • 25g gorgonzola cheese
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp butter
Directions
  1. Prepping: Mix the ricotta with the grated parmesan and mozzarella. Take 2 thick slices of white bread and spread the cheese mixture over one of them. Top with the gorgonzola, broken into pieces, then close the sandwich with another slice of bread.
  2. Sandwich Frying: Spread the outsides of the sandwich, top and bottom, with the mayonnaise. Fry the sandwich in the butter for 3-4 minutes on each side, whilst often pressing the sandwich down gently with the flat of your spatula as it cooks  – that will ensure that it melts evenly inside and stays together.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Libertarianism is rejected by the modern left – which preaches individualism but practices collectivism. Capitalism is rejected by the modern right-which preaches enterprise but practices protectionism.” – Karl Hess

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 15, 2024

The Battle of Sekigahara on September 15, 1600, marked the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan.

On September 15, 1928, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin while studying influenza.

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On September 15h, 1950, United Nations troops landed at Inch’ŏn, South Korea, crippling a North Korean invasion during the Korean War.

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On this day in 1944, the U.S. 1st Marine Division landed on the island of Peleliu, one of the Palau Islands in the Pacific, as part of a larger operation to provide support for Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was preparing to invade the Philippines. Within one week of the invasion, the Marines lost 4,000 men. By the time it was all over, that number would surpass 9,000. The Japanese lost more than 13,000 men. Flamethrowers and bombs finally subdued the island for the Americans, but it all proved pointless. MacArthur invaded the Philippines without need of Army or Marine protection from either Peleliu or Morotai.

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Today’s feature article was too short for consideration in the judging for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  So it is running as a guest post.

More than $900,000 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 114 ends on September 30th, 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.

Chelation After a Nuclear Event, by S.F.

Editor’s Introductory Note: For those who are not familiar, there is this general background, from the Infogalactic Wiki:

Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelation therapy has a long history of use in clinical toxicology[1] and remains in use for some very specific medical treatments, although it is administered under very careful medical supervision due to various inherent risks.[2]

Chelation therapy must be administered with care as it has a number of possible side effects, including death.[3] In response to increasing use of chelation therapy as alternative medicine and in circumstances in which the therapy should not be used in conventional medicine, various health organizations have confirmed that medical evidence does not support the effectiveness of chelation therapy for any purpose other than the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

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First, I’m not an NBC specialist, but I do know a good deal about chelation.  In the current political environment, the risk of a nuclear incident is increasing by the day. This can be from nuclear detonations or the targeting of nuclear power plants.  As such, here are some thoughts.Continue reading“Chelation After a Nuclear Event, by S.F.”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Design and Text by James W. Rawles — www.SurvivalBlog.com  — Copyright  2024

Meme Text:

Kamala’s Own

Classic Word Salad Dressing

News/Commentary Link:

The Woke Plot To Destroy Our Economy.

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:1-12 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 14, 2024

On September 14, 1847, US Marines under General Scott entered Mexico City. (The “halls of Montezuma”, mentioned in the Marine Corps hymn.)

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Today is the birthday of actor Clayton Moore (1914–1999). His name is almost synonymous with The Lone Ranger.

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This is also the birthday of James Wilson, a lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1742 – 1798).

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And on September 14, 1812, the Great Fire of Moscow began as Napoleon approached the city and retreating Russians burned it. The fire continued to burn for five days

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by Brandon Smith, the Editor of both Alt-Market.us and The Wild Bunch Dispatch. It is reposted with permission.

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The weekly Editor’s Prepping Progress column will resume one week from today: Saturday, September 21st.  Thanks for your patience.

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We are seeking entries for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  More than $900,000 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 114 ends on September 30th, 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.

Globalists Are Trying To Escalate Ukraine War Into WWIII, by Brandon Smith

The purpose of NATO involvement in the Ukraine War has, to me, always appeared obvious. Ukraine has nothing to do with the interests of the western public, nothing to do with the security of Europe and nothing to do with the economic advancement of the United States. Yet, NATO and the globalists have been politically interfering in the region since at least 2014 and preparing the ground for an eventual war with Russia.

To be clear, I don’t favor Russia any more than I favor Ukraine. The Kremlin has long had its own ties to the globalists, as I have outlined in numerous articles. How deep those ties go is up for debate – Maybe the honeymoon is over and Russia is truly done trying to get a seat at the globalist table. What I do know is that western elites want a world war and they have done everything in their power to start one.Continue reading“Globalists Are Trying To Escalate Ukraine War Into WWIII, by Brandon Smith”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.” – Proverbs 29:1-4 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 13, 2024

On September 13, 122, construction began on Hadrian‘s Wall, in northern England.  (A Creative Commons photo by Quisnovus.)

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Today is the birthday of Richard Jordan Gatling (September 12, 1818 – February 26, 1903). He was an American inventor best known for his invention of the Gatling gun, the first successful machine gun.

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It was 15 years ago today, that Linda L. Rawles (“The Memsahib”) passed away, following her battle with cancer. We still mourn for her. Linda very selflesslessly arranged the marriage of JWR to Avalanche Lily, before she passed away.

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Today’s feature article is a guest piece that is too short to be included in the judging for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

We are seeking entries for Round 114 of the writing contest. More than $900,000 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 114 ends on September 30th, 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.

Preparedness Logistics – Part 2, by 3AD Scout

Labels, Markers, and Tags

I purchased a label maker to help mark our shelves, totes and other containers.  I am sure we have all run into a situation where we could not read some else’s handwriting that was scribbled on a piece of duct tape that over the years faded. Printed labels avoid this.  I can pick different color labels and sizes of labels as well.  So, for totes I use larger labels but when I label a drawer on a “parts” organizer I use very small labels.   I also use the label maker to identify what food is in our buckets, how much and the date that it was put in the bucket.  Each ammunition can also gets a label with caliber, and type of projectile such as full metal jacket (FMJ), soft point (SP), hollow point (HP), tracer or lead.  I also identify the ammunition as factory or reloads.

Although labels are good for most of my items, I still use black markers with a wide tip to help mark things where labels will not work.  For example, I used rough cut lumber to build shelves and the labels do not adhere well to the rough cut wood so I use a marker to label the shelf.  Markers are also great for marking the date of purchase/expiration on containers, such as oil, spray cans, bottles and other containers, that are being stored on a shelf versus inside a container. For fuel cans, I use tags (normally plastic tag with wire ties) to note the type of fuel, date purchased and what I used to treat it with like Sta-Bil or Pri-G.Continue reading“Preparedness Logistics – Part 2, by 3AD Scout”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the new era of the $1 million starter home. (See the Tangibles Investing section section.)

Precious Metals:

At Kitco: Gold/Silver: What will silver do when the Fed cuts rates? Metals Minute w/ Phil Streible.

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At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold-Backed ETFs Report Net Gold Inflows for the Fourth Straight Month.

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Gold’s Demand Comeback.

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At Zero Hedge: Silver: The Unsung Hero Of The New Economy.

Economy & Finance:

Yield Curve Un-Inverts For First Time In Years. (Thanks to reader C.B. for the link.)

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Forbes: Fed Rate Cuts Coming: The Impact On Stocks And Bonds.  JWR’s Comment:  How convenient… …a major pivot just a month before a presidential election. The fix is in, folks.

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Home Depot rival to shut all 442 stores across 47 states after going bankrupt – but will have huge clearance sale first.

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In The Telegraph: Britain is about to discover how poor it really is.

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Over at Whatfinger.com there is this: Trump Lays Out Vision to Ignite ‘National Economic Renaissance’.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.” – Joseph Story