News From The American Redoubt:

Reader T.K., who lives in the Tri-cities [Richland, Pasco and Kennewick] region of Washington wrote to mention that local credit union, HAPO, is ordering in $2,000 in nickels for him with no fee charged. “I’m simply taking $2,000 out of my account with them and they are giving me $2,000 in nickels. It is going to take a week for the order to go through and they asked me to have some kind of bins to put them in but other than that they had no issues with me getting a bulk shipment of nickels. Yet another reason to live in the Redoubt.” [JWR Adds: My bank in the Redoubt has accommodated my many requests for nickels in bulk over the past four years with no ruffled feathers. They have never requested any fees, even though I’ve often asked them to order nickels $1,000 at a time. (Ten $100 cardboard box “bricks” per order.) It is nice living in a place where even your banker doesn’t feel the need to poke his nose into your business.]

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Montana Courtroom Incident Proves Wild Fire Can Burn Twice. (Thanks to Steven W. for the link.)

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Boise company’s products kept the (solar) lights on during Hurricane Sandy

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Preparedness pays off: Snowmobiler survives weekend avalanche near McCall, Idaho

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Reader A.B. wrote to mention that there is a group of cloistered Carmelite brothers who are building a classic gothic European monastery in Wyoming.  They get a significant amount of the revenue from selling coffee beans that they roast.  You can read about them on the Charles Carroll Society web site. A.B’s comments: “These brothers live and work exclusively for Christ.  They live separately from the world’s distractions praying for it and those in it.  They looked all over to find an unspoiled area where they still could buy a mountain top to build an isolated monastery and guess where they choose?  The American Redoubt!  These brothers appear to be traditional Catholics. (Notice the habits and they use a version of the traditional Latin Mass.) They participate in the public life by opening their monastery to Christian men who are looking for an isolated retreat, and they also have men-only services on Sunday.    I am also researching a cloistered group of sisters, but they initially appear to be much more progressive. It may not be a bad thing to know a bunch of traditional monks living in a remote castle in the Redoubt in the future.”

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Duck hunter describes near-death experience on Snake River

Economics and Investing:

US citizens leaving the country to avoid stiff tax bills

Euro Area Pushed Into Recession as Trade Slows, Spending Drops

Jim W. suggested this: Research Shows ALL Paper Money Systems Failed

Items from The Economatrix:

How To Prepare For The Coming Gold Crunch

Oil Trades Near Three-Week Low as ECB Cuts Europe Growth Outlook

More US Service Jobs Heading Offshore

The World’s Economy Is In Peril, The Government Knows It

Odds ‘n Sods:

Half of America: I’d Kill to Protect My Own–Survey reveals stunning attitudes about surviving in catastrophe

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For the SurvivalBlog readers who have supported Anchor of Hope Charities (the folks who run an orphanage and mission school in Zambia), this is your annual reminder. Many thanks for supporting such a worthy and financially responsible charity. They operate with almost no overhead.

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Blogger Sarah A. Hoyt talks societal collapse: Preparing For The Long Rains

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A reminder that the Freeze Dry Guy two-week 25% off sale of Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans ends on December 13th, so order soon. This sale offer includes free shipping to CONUS!

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Jim W. sent: Here’s A Homemade Tank Using A Playstation Controller To Fire At Assad’s Troops

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Technology is a blessing for those who understand it and can develop and maintain it. It can be a snare for those who can can only depend on getting it ‘off the shelf.’ If it malfunctions they are lost. Tools, supplies, and technological equipment should play a part in anyone’s survival plans, but they should not play a part that overreaches the person’s ability to deal with it.” – Karl Hess, Editor, A Common Sense Strategy for Survivalists, p. 37, 1981

How to Thwart Nigerian Scammers: Demand Proof of Life

SurvivalBlog readers often buy gear for their retreats using Craigslist and Internet message boards such as Buddy’s Board and eHam to buy equipment. There are some genuine bargains out there, but be advised that these web sites have become the favorite hunting grounds of Nigerian Scammers. They prey upon people who are looking for bargains. Typically, the scammers place fraudulent ads offering items for sale in the Want To Sell (WTS) category , or they respond to Want To Buy (WTB) ads.

Some Red Flags that may indicate that you’ve been contacted by a Nigerian merchandise scammer:

1.) The seller offers new or like new merchandise for around 1/2 of the regular retail price.

2.) The seller writes in broken English, and with strange punctuation.

3.) The seller seems ignorant about the technical details of what he is selling–never going past “copy and paste” from other ads or a manufacturer’s marketing descriptions..

4.) If you are the seller, then the buyer offers to send you a check for more than your asking price with a request to wire back the difference.

5.) Their e-mails are sent at odd hours . (At 3 a.m., Pacific Time, it is 12 noon in Nigeria– a nine hour difference.)

6.) The seller claims that he is deaf, so that he cannot converse with you by phone.

7.) The seller asks for any unusual form of payment.

8.) If it is an ad at a forum that lists member numbers, the seller has a high member number, indicating that he just recently joined the forum.

 

I was recently looking for an expensive and scarce Trijicon ACOG scope for one of my guns. So I placed a WTB (Want To Buy) ad on Buddy’s Board. I got this offer via e-mail, originating from a Gmail address:

Good day,

Have you got any leads/order on your WTB ads listed on my subject
Email?? Let me know as i have one up for sale.

Respectfully,

Ben

I wrote back:

Ben:

What is the condition of the ACOG and your asking price?

He replied at 2:57 AM:

It,s in LNIB conditions with an asking price of $640 Shipped. Ben

It is notable that this is a scope normally retails for around $1,500. Note his poor punctuation of “It,s ” and the misspelling: “conditions.”

Smelling a rat, I wrote him in reply:

Ben:
Yes, I’ll take it.  But because Nigerian sales scams have become so commonplace, I need you to provide me “proof of life”.  Before I send you payment, I need you to do the following:  Take a magic marker and write your e-mail address and today’s date on a strip of paper and DRAPE IT in a curve over the scope and take a crisp digital photo of the scope, showing that paper strip draped in place. This photo will prove to me that you actually have the scope in your possession.

Without this photo, we have NO DEAL.  But with it, I will send you immediate payment via US Postal Service Money Order.

Pardon me for being so cautious, but we are living in the age of deception and betrayal. – ~Jim Rawles

Not surprisingly, the scammer made no reply. Beware folks, and take precautions when dealing with potential scammers. Making a “proof of life” photo demand will almost always send a scammer scurrying back under his rock. If there is ever any doubt, one final test that works well in ferreting out scammers is to pose a fake technical question. For example, if the item in question is a gun, ask the seller to “provide its PCGS grade.” If it is a scope, ask the seller to “describe it’s bore condition.” Or if it is a ham radio, ask him “how much squelch are you including?” Such questions will almost always trip them up.

The bottom line: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Addendum: I have heard that one of the latest schemes used by Nigerian scammers is to buy merchandise from American vendors, making payments via wire transfers. Then, after he goods have shipped, they use a loophole in the wire transfer rules to withdraw the transfer, snatching the funds back overseas. Beware! – J.W.R.

Pat’s Product Review: Clearly Filtered Water Filters

This is a simple fact; without a source of fresh and safe water to drink, you will die within four days – depending on weather conditions. As I’m writing this, the folks back East are still suffering the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Many are still without power or heat in their homes after two weeks – at least 40,000 people were totally homeless right now, and winter temps are setting in. I read one news report, where people were paying $7 for a loaf of bread, and $10 for a box of matches. FEMA ran out of bottled water less than a week into this emergency and folks were left to fend for themselves for a source of safe drinking water for several days.
 
Many poke fun at “Preppers” or “Survivalist” for preparing for bad times. I just don’t get it! What is wrong with storing some extra food and water, for a future emergency? And, sooner or later, the lights and power go out, and I don’t care where you live – it happens! The folks on the East Coast had plenty of warning of the impending hurricane coming their way. However, may chose to ignore the dire warnings, and went about their usual daily routine – instead of spending a few dollars and a little bit of their time, stocking-up on extra food and water. Instead, they depended upon FEMA and the Red Cross to take care of them. I read numerous reports that the Red Cross was giving hot chocolate and cookies to hurricane victims. Really? There are also victims living in unheated tents that FEMA set-up, and depending on the FedGov to feed and care for them. Don’t you ever trust or depend on the FedGov to care for you in a time of disaster. And, reports stated that 50 million people were affected by Hurricane Sandy – there is no way that the FedGov can possibly care for that many people in a disaster.
 
We can all go a good long time without food – some say people can go weeks or even a month, without food. However, without a source of clean, safe drinking water, we’ll all perish in short order – this is a fact! While its a good idea to store some bottled water, I wouldn’t want to only have that as my source of drinking water. Some excellent filters are made by Clearly Filtered water filters. I recently received three of their products for testing: One is their Athlete drinking bottle, another a military-type canteen, and lastly a straw – all filter waster so that it is safe to drink. The Bottle can filter up to 100-gallons of water, removing approximately 99.9% of many nasty things that can make you ill or even kill you. It filters 99.99% of Giardia, Crypto, bacteria and viruses – ditto for the Canteen and Straw.
 
I set about to test all three of these products over more than a month – along with the assistance of my wife. She took the Athlete bottle to school – where she works as an elementary grade teacher. Living in the boonies, we have well water – which tastes much better than city water, that is loaded with chlorine. Most folks who live and work in the town, don’t taste the chlorine because they are used to it. However, if you depend on well water, you can smell and taste the chlorine in city water, so my wife would usually take a bottle of water from home each day to drink while at work. She decided to give the Athlete water filter bottle a good work out – she said, and I concur, that the first few bottles full of filtered watered had a bit of a “taste” to it – after that, the water was clearly “filtered” and had no strange taste. I found the same true with the Straw and Canteen – after a use or two, the “taste” was gone, and we were drinking great water.
 
The Athlete bottle will last up to 6-months or 100-gallons of water – and I drink a lot of water each day. The Canteen can also filter up to 100-gallons of water or 6-months of use. The straw, which is very small, can filter up to 25-gallons of water. The Athlete bottle and canteen replaces up to 800+ plastic water bottles – stop and think about that for a moment. I don’t know many people who store 800+ bottles of water in their homes – that’s a lot of room they would take up. One water bottle or canteen can replace 800+ water bottles – this is a win-win situation in my book. Of course, these water filters do not filter salt water, so don’t attempt this. However, if there is a mud puddle in your yard, or standing water any place, you can filter it so it will safely take out all that nasty stuff that will make you sick or even kill you. And, right now, back East, they have plenty of water around – but they just can’t drink it. Also, the Clearly Filtered water bottles are 100% BPA free, if this is a concern to you.
 
Living in Western Oregon, we always have plenty of water – we get about 48-inches of rain each year – we have two seasons – one is about four months of beautiful summer sunshine, and then 8-months of rain (with a little snow) so there is plenty of water around to drink if we ever had to bug out – however, it simply isn’t safe to drink from a stream, creek or standing water – without first filtering it. I tested the Straw, and it was difficult to get centered over a body of water and drink it. So, the solution was simple, just take my canteen cup and scoop the water into it, and then drink the water from the canteen cup through the straw – piece of cake!
 
I also tested some dirty looking water that was standing along a logging road – not something you’d even consider drinking. I placed my Canteen on the side and let the dirt water flow into the canteen – and then, just to be sure the water was actually “filtered” I squirted some of it out before drinking it – and it came out crystal clear – so I took the drive and drank so – no nasty taste and it tasted great!
 
Just think of what people back East would be giving to have their own source of filtered water right now? FEMA tells everyone to be prepared – and they used to say that folks should have three days worth of food, now they are saying to have two weeks worth of food and water. Too bad they didn’t take their own advice and have enough food and water stored to help Hurricane Sandy victims. Anyone who depends on FEMA or the FedGov for anything is a fool in my book! While the Red Cross does some good, did they really think people were gonna survive on cookies and hot chocolate? I just read an article where the Red Cross said their response was “near perfect” to Hurricane Sandy. Huh?
 
People who had only debit/credit cards of their welfare debit cards, were out of luck, when it came time to purchase food or water, in grocery stores that were able to open, even without power. The debit machines couldn’t work without power, so cash was king. Take that to heart, even if a grocery store can open, if they don’t have power, they can’t take your credit or debit cards – you have to have cash!
 
Don’t wait for the next disaster to hit, or for your power to go off. Start storing some extra food and water, and make sure you have an alternate source of fresh drinking water. The Clearly Filtered Athlete’s bottle is on-sale right now for $34.99, the Canteen is also $34.99 and the Straw is $19.99. Additionally, if you’ll go to the Clearly Filtered web site, you’ll find many more of their water filters that you might want to consider purchasing. In my neck of the woods, a store-bought bottle of water is about a buck or more – and that’s a lot of money in my book. To be honest, I’ve rarely drank bottled water – I don’t see any sense in paying that kind of money for water – when I can get it for free at home from my tap. If you purchased the Athlete or Canteen filters, you could drink 100-gallons of fresh, clean water for $34.99 – that would be about $400 in bottled water, and odds are, that bottled water came from a water tap, just like you have at home – so you aren’t gaining much in the way of “safe” drinking water. With a Clearly Filtered product, you know you are drinking extremely safe water, and at a bargain price too boot. Plus, the filters in the Bottle and Canteen can be replaced, so you don’t have to purchase the entire product – just replace the filter, and save money.
 
Don’t depend on FEMA, the Red Cross or anyone else for a source of safe drinking water – take responsibility for your own needs and the needs of your family and do the smart and right thing – make sure you have a way of obtaining safe drinking water. The Clearly Filtered water filters are a step in the right direction. Check out their web site for complete information on all their products. You’ll be glad you did! – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Harry’s Book Review: Citizens (Sci-Fi Anthology)

Citizens
Authors: Multiple. Edited by John Ringo and Brian M. Thomsen
Copyright Date: 2010
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
ISBN: 978-1-4391-3347-7 (also 978-1439134603–mass market paperback)
Suitable for children? Not young ones. Teens depending on maturity. (Parental screening recommended.)

Citizens is a collection of fifteen military science fiction short stories. From a prepper’s perspective these stories are not going to provide in depth detail for making provision for an uncertain future, but they do illustrate the mentality required to survive, or at least succeed, in combat.

It should probably be noted that in several of these stories success does not equate with survival. There are heroes in these stories who give their lives so that others can survive. Some of these stories, and particularly “The Long Watch” by Robert Heinlein, are very powerful. Even several weeks after reading it my throat still tightens up thinking about the choices Johnny Dahlquist made
and the consequences he accepted.

It should also be noted that other stories are downright funny. “Allamagoosa” by Eric Frank Russell is a largely humorous jab at the bureaucratic side of a military organization. “The Question” by Patrick A. Vanner, while largely dealing with the delicate matter of introductory contact and negotiation with a completely foreign culture, ends on a humorous note due to the naiveté of a
child.

What makes this book most worthwhile is the philosophical side. These are thought provoking stories about how decisions are made and how one life may be valued in comparison to another. These are stories in which responsibility has a very tangible meaning and consequences reverberate through entire continents. These are stories for a warrior to ponder, and to the extent that a prepper anticipates the role of a warrior in their future this book has merit.

Given that this is science fiction, most of the stories involve factors such as space travel, alien life forms, artificial intelligence, genetically modified hominids and other such dreams for the future. However, those details do not detract from the value of the philosophical issues which arise. The question of the value of a genetically modified hominid is very much parallel to the historical treatment of minorities, lower classes and slaves.

For one who would survive in an uncertain future these stories provide examples of adapting to situations in order to stay alive. Both “Exploration Team” by Murray Leinster and “Neither Sleet, Nor Snow, Nor Alien Invasion…” by Dave Freer provide clear contrasts of those who will adapt and those who would not. Both of those stories involve creative measures for coping with deadly alien species. For one who would step back for the sake of perspective, the issues involved are comparable to different methods of warfare which have evolved over the centuries and over different continents.

For the most part these stories are free from profanity and sexuality. There are no graphic sex scenes, but there are references made in a couple of the stories. A parent wishing to screen this collection should take a look at “Under the Hammer” by David Drake as that one is the roughest one in the lot. It is still substantially better than much of what is published anymore, but it
does have some expletives, references to deviant sexuality (worth noting that the protagonist is repulsed) and graphic deaths.

Overall this is a book for the guys, and probably best suited for a young man considering enlisting.

[JWR Adds: It is noteworthy that one of the short stories included in the anthology, “The Price” was penned by SurvivalBlog’s own Editor at Large, Michael Z. Williamson.]

Letter Re: A Useful Free USGS Online Maps Web Site

Dear Jim,

I have found an invaluable free tool for your pre- and post-SHTF operations that allows you detailed and accurate mapping for your location(s) within the U.S.  Here is a link to the U.S. Geological Survey Map Store where you can download at, no cost, detailed topographic, contour, road maps, etc. even including satellite images. These newer maps usually are around 20 megabytes, so if you have a slow Internet connection, be aware of that.
 
 First navigate to the USGS Map Locator and Downloader Web Page
 
Now Double-Click to Zoom-In and Click-and Drag to Re-center the interactive map until you get to the area you want.
 
Next Select “O  MARK POINTS: “ instead of “O  NAVIGATE: “ on the right side of the window. If you are not zoomed in too tight this will cause grid lines to appear. These indicate the approximate borders of the most recent maps available.
 
There is a Pull-Down window near the middle of the right side of the window indicating either “30 Minute and larger” or “7.5 to 15 Minute”.  The “30 Minute and Larger” refers to maps covering about 30 miles by 30 miles or larger. Always use the “7.5 to 15 Minute” selection. I will explain why in a minute.
 
Click on the map in the center of an area you want to map out. The map will then refresh with a marker pointing to your spot.
 
Move your mouse pointer to this marker and left click on the target dot.  This will create a popup window showing all maps available which include the spot you selected.
  
The left column shows the location name for each map listed. Do not use this hyperlink unless you wand to purchase a hard copy of the map. The maps with a place name followed by “US Topo” have the best details.
 
The second column indicates the geographic size of the map in minutes of longitude and latitude (roughly one mile per “Minute”).
 
The third column indicates the date the map was made (Very Important).
 
The fourth column is a link to show you a compressed preview of the map.
 
The fifth column shows the size of the PDF file of the map. It is also a link to allow you a free download of a zipped PDF version of the map.!
 
The icon in the last column of the map list is a link allowing you to add multiple maps to a download cart. I recommend against using it.
 
Find the most recent map for the area you need and click on the file size for that map.
 
This action will generate a “Save As” window with a generated .zip file name which you can download to a folder on your PC.
 
Once Saved, go to the folder where you saved it.
 
Right click on the name of the .zip file, and select “Extract all…”.
 
Be sure to use the browse function to place the final map in the folder where you want the actual Map stored on your PC.
 
The unzipped file will be in a PDF format (readable with Adobe Reader).
 
The newest maps (2010 and later with the “US Topo” following the location name) actually contain multiple map information layers including satellite images, roads, hydrographic features, contours, etc.  If you download and install the TerraGo software (available free at the lower left corner of the interactive google map window) you can select and manage which layers to include or exclude when you’re viewing the map with Adobe Reader.
 
I recommend against using the download bundle icons for obtaining a collection of maps.  The process for using it successfully is not user friendly, and can cause a lot of confusion. If you want multiple maps, simply repeat the process that is described above.
 

Whether you are looking for a suitable or alternate routes when traveling from one location to another, scouting your own area, or looking for a suitable location, these maps are great and free. 

God Bless You and Yours, – Scott S.

Letter Re: Synthetic Fuel Production

James,
Your reference to SASOL’s gas-to-liquid synfuel project in Louisiana reminded me of a recent news story about Sinopec’s joint venture in Medicine Bow, Wyoming to produce liquid fuel from coal.

They claim to be able to convert 1 ton of coal (Powder River Basin mine-mouth value: $10) into two barrels of petroleum product (value: $200+).

A great idea, if it works, but I can’t say I’m excited about inviting the Chinese into our backyard to do this.

Best Regards, – Don in Oregon

Michael Z. Williamson: Telecom Cable Rooms and Salt Water–A Bad Combination

This article bears special mention: Into the vault: the operation to rescue Manhattan’s drowned internet Hurricane.

Steve [an acquaintance who is a telephone lineman] wrote to note:

“Having a cable vault under a central office flood is a major disaster in the telecom industry. One splice getting wet is a big job. Losing the entire office brings up comments like I didn’t want any days off this year. Having fixed splices like this that have gotten wet I have a good idea what is involved to fix this. It’s a lot of slow meticulous work. If the damage is only in the splice case and the copper is plastic insulated and not paper then drying and replacing the connectors may be all that’s needed (Two guys around the clock 2 or 3 days). If it’s paper insulated then it’s fish out each pair and replace it across the splice repeat 3,000 times (Two guys around the clock for 5 or 6 days per splice).

Most of these cables will have water under the sheath several feet from the opening which can’t be removed or blown out completely. Eventually this water will rot the plastic insulation on the copper and cause various problems, mostly static that will be intermittent. The only way to fix this is to open up the splices and dry those out. You then cut back on the sheath until you find dry cable or you hit the wall, that’s when you start replacing cable.

They describe replacing the copper lines with fibre optic cables in some of the pictures. The future of the telecom industry is fibre but this will require installing switches at all the customer addresses, no small job in itself. First you have to get a new cable into the building (anybody want to dig up the street in front of every customer because that is where the cable duct lines are). Then you have to find space in the building to place the switch. Building owners are being bombarded with requests for space from all the various telecom competitors for space under normal circumstances and they just don’t have space to spare which they aren’t being paid for. After that it’s time to provide power for these switches. Most of the time you need multiple dedicated circuits and UPS’s for these switches. By the way you think maybe all the electricians might be busy?

Bottom line they have a lot of work to do before they are back to normal. The cost for just this one office could easily reach millions of dollars and if somebody said $50 million I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Letter Re: Survival Bikes

A few more thoughts on survival bikes, especially two readers’ recommendations to use Presta-valve tubes. Mark L. might be a bit of a bike snob; I understand that, having myself been into high-end
bicycles and raced and toured thousands of miles, but his comments on Presta valves and suspension bikes I think are off the mark in a TEOTWAWKI situation. You cannot buy a Presta valve anywhere except a [high end] bike store or online. In my area, in the winter, there are no bike stores open within 150 miles in the best of times. Of course, if you’re thinking of stocking up on Presta tubes, remember they will
grow brittle with age. Big-box stores, which stand a better chance of staying open in a civil crisis situation, DO NOT CARRY THEM–only Schrader. You cannot fill a Presta tube at a gas station. Schrader
valves have served cars well enough. The late bicycle tourist Ken Kifer, whose web site kenkifer.com is still up through the kindness of a friend, was a pragmatist who lived in a Thoreau-inspired cabin in
the woods and toured many thousands of miles on bicycles–on Schrader tubes. (Detailed diaries of most of his rides are on his site–he powered a laptop with a solar cell on the carrier of his bike.)

And suspension bikes WILL break; without welding tools (and of course the power to run them) you will be out of luck. The only possible realistic reason for any suspension on a bicycle is on a racing trials
bike. Otherwise, all the vehicle’s wheels are on the ground 95% of the time (which is the purpose of suspension on a four-wheeled vehicle). One can always stand on the pedals for rough terrain.

Mark’s right, though, about Kevlar tires when you can, and about “seats.” A small saddle on a bike that’s well-fitted (and fitting and riding technique can be researched on the Internet–it’s quite
important) is much better in every application than any “seat” with too much padding or springs (except the highest-end Brooks and Ideale saddles).

I also agree with all about the superiority of steel lugged frames and avoiding buying bicycles in big-box stores. (Although bicycle manufacturing is so low-tech that a simple bike from Wal-Mart or Kmart
nowadays will probably last a good long time with proper care.) – Peter H.

Recipe of the Week:

N.G in Minnesota’s Rye and Cranberry Stuffing

This recipe started off as an “oops” and turned into a great side dish. I was making a Rye Batter Bread, but hadn’t greased the pan well enough. When I went to remove the bread, it came out of the pan in chunks. The taste was great, so I didn’t want to waste it, but it wasn’t going to work for sandwiches.
We’ll start with the Batter Bread:

1 ¼ cups warm water (100-110F)
2 ½ t dry active or instant yeast
2 T honey
2 T oil or softened butter
1 c Rye flour
2 c Wheat flour
1 ½ t Salt
1 T Caraway seeds

Combine water, honey, and yeast. Let rest for 5 minutes. Stir in oil or butter, the rye flour, and 1 cup of wheat flour. Stir in remaining wheat flour, salt, and caraway seeds. Cover and let rest in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Stir down the batter. (It will not have raised much in this step) Spoon into a well-greased 9×5 bread pan. Cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool on a wire rack.

Now for the Stuffing:

4 T butter
1 small onion, minced
4 ribs of celery diced small
1 loaf Rye bread, cut into small cubes and dried
1 c dried cranberries
2 to 2 ½ cups chicken broth or apple juice
2 t sage

Melt butter in Dutch oven or deep sided frying pan. (I prefer cast iron, because it can go from the stove top to the oven, which means fewer dishes to wash.) Cook onions and celery in butter until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and add cranberries, sage, and Rye Bread. Stir in chicken broth or apple juice slowly, until mixture is moistened. The amount needed will depend on how dry your bread is. You don’t want mush, but you don’t want to end up with cardboard either. Cover and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes. Check once after about 25 minutes. If stuffing is too soft, remove cover for the rest of the baking time. If too dry, stir in a little more liquid. If just right, don’t touch it!

Chef’s Notes:

The pie won’t set up completely but does become firmer as it cools. Mmmmm. Super tasty!

Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

Stuffing Recipes

More Stuffing Recipes

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this: Why Are People Hoarding Coins?

Reader Steve L. sent: Cost to Make Penny and Nickel Rises, Annual Loss Reaches $116.7 Million. When seigniorage goes negative, modern era governments almost always move to debase their coinage. The window of of opportunity to acquire nickels without sorting will be closing soon!

Drought expands, concerns mount about wheat and rivers

G.G. flagged this: Government borrows 46 cents of every dollar it spends. And meanwhile, we read: Federal Budget Deficit 24% Higher Over Same Time Period Last Year. How long can this go on? Protect yourself by diversifying out of Dollars and into practical, barterable tangibles.

Items from The Economatrix:

Central Bank Gold Purchases To Top 500 Tons This Year In A New Record Supporting Prices

Food Stamp Enrollment Up As Unemployment Rates Declines

Many Jobless In US Don’t Collect Unemployment

Odds ‘n Sods:

The Freeze Dry Guy two-week 25% off sale of Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans ends on December 13th, so order soon. This sale offer includes free shipping to CONUS!

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A Heapin’ Helpin’ of Chicago Hypocrisy: Anti-gun Legislator Faces Weapons Charge

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The folks at Tattler Reusable Canning Lids have announced a One Day Sale.   On Monday, December 10th, 2012 their specials will be as follows:
Regular Lids/Rings – 1/2 case (12 dozen) – $69.95 – 30% discount
Wide Mouth Lids/Rings -1/2 case (12 dozen) – $78.95 – 30% discount
1/2 case each of either Regular or Wide Mouth Lids/Rings – $137.95 – 35% discount

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This new hand/pedal-cranked generator looks promising: Crank-A-Watt

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Your editor asks: Why is it, that in this Age of Big Government, that when a corrupt, thieving, perjuring, or philandering politician gets caught hand-in-cookie-jar that the first question is not whether or not they’ll serve a long stretch at Joliet, but rather: whether or not they’ll be allowed to keep their lucrative pensions. Cases in point: Mayor Sheila Dixon, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., Congressman Anthony Weiner, and Canadian Senator Raymond Lavigne. And for those of them who go Full Kwame, there can even be the opportunity to collect a six-figure pension while in prison. (For example: Congressman Duke Cunningham and Dan Rostenkowski.)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“As for old school secession, it’s not the sort of power that is granted or earned. It’s taken, along with the consequences. The practical nexus is confiscation of federal property and loss of revenue and compensation for repatriation and so forth. It’s said “stealing their money” is the only crime DC takes seriously. Secession would be seen as robbery by DC, especially those states comprised largely of federal lands. No vilification would be enough, no remedy too extreme.” – Ol’ Remus, in The Woodpile Report blog, December 4, 2012.