Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This week I’m leaving most of the column up to Lily, since I’m traveled to the Missoula, Montana gun show, where I have five tables. It is a long drive, but quite worthwhile since it is such a great show. I have more than 80 antique guns on my tables. If you are a SurvivalBlog reader and drop by, then let me know. I’m bringing some SurvivalBlog 2005-2023 archive waterproof USB sticks.  While the small supply lasts, I’ll be including one as a bonus with any purchase of $50 or more, to blog readers.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.” – Exodus 18:8-20 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — August 9, 2024

On August 9, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for exile on Saint Helena island onboard the British ship the Northumberland.

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August 9th, 1831 was the birthday of James Paris Lee (August 9, 1831 – February 24, 1904). He was a Scottish-Canadian and later American inventor and arms designer, best known for inventing the bolt action that led to the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield series of rifles.

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I just heard that Seed for Security is running a stock-up sale. Their Colossal Pack is now priced at 25% off. This pack is a total of over 5 pounds of vegetable, herb, and grain seeds. All of these are open-pollinated and non-GMO. Included are their most popular collections: the Super Survival Pack, 4-Grain Collection, and Heirloom Herb Collection. Each Colossal Pack comes with full planting instructions and a 4-page Seed Saving Guide. This offer is for a limited time, so order soon.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

—

More than $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.

Basic Sewing: Cloning Clothes – Part 1 , by N.C.

Being able to make your own clothing is an old-time skill that shouldn’t have been forgotten. Our forefathers made their own hunting shirts and buckskin leggings out in the wilderness but with modern cheap clothing few of us know how to make our own clothing anymore. I taught myself how to hand-sew garments and what I found is that it is an excellent project for intermittent spare time or for multitasking. It doesn’t tie up all your attention. You can make useful progress in 5 to 10 minutes. It’s easy to pick up and put down. You’re practicing a skill before you need it. And each step gets you closer to having a duplicate of that one great shirt or pair of shorts that fits just right. In this three-part article, I will show how to clone a pair of short pants.

I started looking into sewing because I found a perfect plaid button-up shirt. I love that shirt. Enough that even my Scottish genes said “Well, it’d be worth paying full price for that shirt” then I looked it up to get another and found it retailed for over $150. So, on the one hand, great find at the thrift shop. On the other hand….I ain’t paying 150 bucks for a shirt. Even at the rate my dollars are currently devaluing I can’t get over that sticker shock. So I started looking to clone it.

Here’s garment sewing in a nutshell: Sewing is essentially carpentry with cloth. You’re taking something flat (cloth or wood), cutting it, and assembling (joints or seams) into a 3-dimensional object (garment or wood project). Beginners worry about finding the perfect plan or pattern and perfectly measuring. More experienced practitioners look at the desired object and say “oh ok, he used blind dovetails there. These are the front panels, that’s decorative, that’s structural, I’ll extend that, I’ll shorten that… Yeah. I can make one of those sized for my living room”. It doesn’t take long before you have a good sense of how things come together, what you can free hand, what just needs to match, what’s close enough, what can be simplified, and what you want to complicate to achieve a specific goal.Continue reading“Basic Sewing: Cloning Clothes – Part 1 , by N.C.”

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, some troubling news from legendary investor Warren Buffett.

Precious Metals:

Early in the week, all of the precious metals went into a slump, along with base metals, and as better publicized, the stock markets.  I’m assuming the drop in the precious metals was in anticipation of lower industrial demand. That same day, Bitcoin was down 9.8%.  Obviously, there was a lot of cash needed muy pronto, for covering stock long options.  Dips like these are a good opportunity to increase your physical silver holdings. – JWR

o  o  o

Frank Holmes, at Gold-Eagle.com: Gold SWOT: China’s Gold Demand Has Cracked in the Face of Record-High Prices for the Precious Metal.

Economy & Finance:

Buffett Calls The Top: Berkshire Quietly Dumps Half Its Apple Shares Amid Unprecedented Selling Spree. JWR’s Comments:  I’ve concluded that Warren Buffett foresees Donald Trump getting a second term in office. BUT, he also foresees the elites crashing the economy and the stock markets in early 2025, to be able to point the finger of blame at Trump, calling him: “Another Herbert Hoover.”TM  I should mention that I’ve never seen Warren Buffett shift quite so heavily to cash. (A lot of that cash is now just parked in T-bills.) So he must be expecting an enormous market crash.

o  o  o

Crisis on Wall Street: Inside the Turbulent August 2024 Market Crash.

o  o  o

Selling from US volatility-linked funds may be drying up after $150 billion dump.

o  o  o

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Xi Jinping Turns China Into ‘Fortress Economy’ to Withstand External Shocks: Report.

o  o  o

From the leftists at Yahoo Finance: What a Kamala Harris Election Would Mean for the Economy Across the US.  JWR’s Comments:  In truth, we can expect a wrecked economy that will be mired in stagflation, a new round of regulation, globalist trade policies, and a confiscatory level of federal taxation.  Face it, folks: Kammie is a Commie.  To be more precise, she could best be described as a strident Maoist communist.  Her Senate voting record was even more extremely leftist than that of Bernie Sanders.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — August 8, 2024

On August 8, 1786, the US Congress unanimously chose the Dollar as the monetary unit for the United States of America. The coin’s specifications were based on the silver composition, diameter, and weight of the Spanish Dollar.  Also known as the piece of eight (Spanish: real de a ocho), the famous Spanish Miilled Dollar (pictured) was a silver coin of approximately 38 mm (1.5 in) diameter, worth eight Spanish reales.

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A reminder: I will have five tables at the Missoula, Montana Gun Show on August 9-10-11, 2024. This is your chance to shop from about 80% of the Elk Creek Company inventory, including more than 30 antique cartridge guns and percussion guns that have not yet been cataloged. This will include a new batch of several antique Model 1896/11 Swiss rifles. The show will be held in the modest convention center of the Hilton Garden Inn, on North Reserve Street, just south of I-90. To find my tables, look for a five-foot-wide tan “Pre-1899 Federally-Exempt Antique Guns…” banner sign, five tables with dark blue table drapes, and beau coup Mausers.  Out-of-state buyers are welcome, but of course, consult your state and local laws before you make a purchase. Thankfully, both pre-1899 guns and blackpowder replicas are exempt in most states.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

—

More than $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.

Mitigating the Drone Threat, by Tunnel Rabbit

This article is a response to an article on SurvivalBlog.com and other recent discussions that are beginning to examine this threat. To wit, here is the most recent:

As Ukrainian Defenses Collapse, What Can US Patriots Learn?, by Brandon Smith.  Therein, Smith observes:

“The real danger is in constant air-based surveillance, 24/7, around the clock, always watching. Maneuver warfare requires the swift relocation of larger units without the enemy being aware; with cheap drones this is no longer possible. All large-scale troop movements can be predicted and countered using nothing more than a handful of $3,000 toys.”

As the discussion on the Internet in patriot circles increases, we continue to examine the threat from drones. In previous articles, I’ve offered several ways to mitigate the threat. In this article, I will review the topic in light of recent discussions such as this example, and and once again offer several of my methods of mitigation that are discussed in detail in my early articles on the topic. But it would be productive to first appreciate the threat that is more than simply a small drone that delivers a High Explosive (HE) device.Continue reading“Mitigating the Drone Threat, by Tunnel Rabbit”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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

Reloading: Homesteaders Going Full Dillon

Over at the always entertaining Canadian homesteading Gridlessness vlog: We Made 10,000 Rounds in 24 Hours! DIY Ammo Factory.  JWR’s Comments: “Always keep plenty of spare de-priming (a.k.a. “de-capping”) pins on hand. You never know when you’ll run into Berdan-primed brass that you missed, during your initial brass inspection. By the way, that family lives near Williams Lake, British Columbia, which is in the same region where I set part of my novel Liberators.

US Could Expend Ammo in ‘As Few as 3 to 4 Weeks’ in a China War

Reader C.B. sent this: Wargames show the US could burn through its ammo in ‘as few as 3 to 4 weeks’ in a war with China, commission warns.  A pericope:

“A new high-profile report on US national defense acknowledged that the Pentagon could deplete its munitions within “three to four weeks” in a protracted war with China.

The 114-page report, published on Monday by a bipartisan commission appointed by Congress, warned urgently that the US is unprepared for a sustained conflict with China or Russia, much less both at the same time.

Many of its assessments were based on previously reported material. Still, the review concentrates a slew of recent findings and dozens of officials’ testimonies into a formal and dire recommendation for the US to increase defense spending and streamline its forces.”

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 7, 2024

On August 7, 1420, construction began on the dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi.

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August 7th, 1933 was the birthday of Jerry Pournelle. He, along with Larry Niven authored the survivalist classic Lucifer’s Hammer.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

—

More than $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.

Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 2, by D.K.

(Continued from Part 1.  This concludes the article.)

Equivalent Value

When most people think of the word ‘barter,’ they think ‘trade,’ or ‘like-for-like.’ The following is a list of possible items that you might want to consider having for bartering purposes, or charitable giving, should the need ever arise. These are merely suggestions.

Barter Item Categories & Suggestions

Air Gun/Archery:
BBs/pellets, CO2 cartridges
Spare bow strings, arrows/bolts		 Food:
Freeze dried, #10 cans, MRE
Flour, yeast, sugar, wheat
Coffee/tea, drink mixes
Hand crank grinder (meat/grain), spare parts
Alcohol:
Homemade wine/liquor
Airline mini-bottles		 Fuel:
93-octane, diesel, kerosene, white camp fuel, 1 lb. Propane
Fuel stabilizer, anti-bacterial, injector cleaner
Spare gas cans, assorted gallons, siphon
Ammunition:
See the ‘Equivalent Value’ section		 Games/Entertainment:
Boardgames, card games, dice
Books (assorted reading levels)
Baby Supplies:
Cloth diapers, pins, powder, rash ointments
Clothing		 Honey and Salt

(Both have an almost unlimited shelf life, if properly stored.)
Batteries:
AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V (rechargeable and non-rechargeable)
Small solar charger, charging station		 Hunting:
See ‘Air Gun/Archery’, ‘Ammunition’, ‘Sling Shot’, and ‘Fishing Gear’ section
Cabling:
Assorted thickness, cable clamps		 Hygiene (feminine):
Diva Cups, pads, tampons
Yeast infection cream, UTI pain relief (see ‘Medical Supplies’ section)
Candle Making Supplies:
Beeswax, tallow, molds, wick material		 Hygiene (general):
Soap, cleaning products, razors, shampoo, conditioner, solar shower, lime (for outhouse)
Hair/nail clippers, scissors, combs/brushes
Toothbrushes/toothpaste, lotion, ChapStick
Canning Supplies:
Jars, rims, lids, funnels, tongs		 Fire:
Matches (all-weather), magnesium flint, Zippo fuel, lighters
Lint, fire starting cubes, kindling, firewood
Communication:
Handie-talkies, hand-crank radio, CB
Portable solar panels
Paper, pens/pencils, pencil sharpener		 Fishing Gear:
Line, weights, bobbers, lures, nets
Rod and reel
CondomsDuct Tape:
Muted colors, assorted roll lengths		 Kitchen Supplies:
Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, baggies, plastic ware
Assorted tools (whisk, knives, measuring cups/spoons)
Duct Tape:
Muted colors, assorted roll lengths		 Laundry Detergent

Continue reading“Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 2, by D.K.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

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

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Reader H.L. sent us this link: How Appalachia Has Become a Hot—Even Hip—Place To Live That’s Still Dirt Cheap. Here are H.L.’s Comments:

“No one has to tell me how beautiful and affordable West Virginia is.  I lived there for 10 years. I loved the land and the people.  The four seasons are wonderful, no tornadoes nor hurricanes to speak of, fairly low crime rates, helpful folks, and a reasonable cost of housing.  There is lots to do, like fishing, hunting, skiing, and white water rafting. There are four seasons that rival much of New England. West Virginia is great for church-goers. They may be Rednecks, but they are a proud people with a very interesting heritage.”

o  o  o

A fascinating and inspiring video for all you gardeners and orchardists: I Filmed Plants For 15 Years — Time-lapse Compilation.

o  o  o

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I see the liberty of the individual not only as a great moral good in itself (or, with Lord Acton, as the highest political good), but also as the necessary condition for the flowering of all the other goods that mankind cherishes: moral virtue, civilization, the arts and sciences, economic prosperity. Out of liberty, then, stem the glories of civilized life.” – Murray N. Rothbard

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 6, 2024

On August 6, 1819, Norwich University was founded in Vermont as the first private military school in the United States. Pictured is a squad of Norwich Army ROTC cadets on an air movement via a 10th Mountain Division Blackhawk helicopter, in 2021.  (U.S. Army photo by PFC Ethan Scofield.)

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August 6, 1699, HMS Roebuck, captained by “explorer and pirate”  William Dampier, landed at Shark Bay, Western Australia on the first British scientific expedition to Australia.

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August 6, 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook military helicopter operating with the call sign Extortion 17 (spoken “one-seven”) was shot down while transporting an Immediate Reaction Force attempting to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board – 25 US Navy SEALs, one pilot and two crewmen of the United States Army Reserve, one pilot and one crewman of the United States Army National Guard, seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces, and one Afghan interpreter, as well as a U.S. military working dog.

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On August 6th, 1945 at 8:16 a.m. (Japanese time), an American B-29 bomber– the Enola Gay– dropped the world’s first war-time atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people were killed as a result of the blast, with another 35,000 injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout. History is always written by the victors, so the reasoning and justification for this will be argued for years to come. But one thing is for sure: this action officially ushered in the nuclear age in war and has generated mass fear among civilization ever since, even though the firebombing of Japanese cities caused far more damage and loss of life. An interesting side note is Tsutomu Yamaguchi was 3km from the Hiroshima blast but survived. Along with a few other survivors, he made his way to his hometown, Nagasaki, and was again within 3km of the second blast yet survived this one also.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

—

More than $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.