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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We’ll start today with a note that Mike in Alaska sent, with the photo above:

“Today I modified the power connectors for my SDR rig using all Anderson power pole connectors and built a BNC cable for the AX1 antenna for 20-meter and 17-meter use. The radio works great for digital applications. I’m working today (4th of July) so when I get home I’ll connect it to my JFK antenna and see how far it’ll reach. The battery is a very lightweight Dakota Lithium battery 12v /10 AH rating.
This could quite possibly be a huge game changer for EmComms. The heart of the system is a Raspberry Pi 3 running WSJTX and other programs if wanted. The transmitter can output up to 25 watts RF or be dialed down to QRP levels. This rig is very user-friendly and as the open source software is upgraded I will load it up.”

o  o o

Video: Receive HF Digital Communications — Even if You’re Not a Licensed Ham. (John Jacob Schmidt).

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At IEEE Spectrum: The Uncertain Future of Ham Radio Software-defined radio and cheap hardware are shaking up a hobby long associated with engineering. A pericope:

“The number of U.S. amateur licenses has held at an anemic 1 percent annual growth for the past few years, with about 7,000 new licensees added every year for a total of 755,430 in 2018. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission doesn’t track demographic data of operators, but anecdotally, white men in their 60s and 70s make up much of the population. As these baby boomers age out, the fear is that there are too few young people to sustain the hobby.”

o  o  o

You Can Live Off The Grid In This South Dakota Town Considered The Best In The Country. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.)

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An essay by Brandon Smith: Americans Are More Likely To Go To War With The Government Than Submit To The Draft.
Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 9, 2024

Today is the anniversary of three famous battles:

On July 9, 1386, in the Battle of Sempach: the pike-armed militias of the Old Swiss Confederacy defeated the Habsburg army of Duke Leopold III of Austria.

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On July 8, 1401, the Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane (Timur) destroyed Baghdad, killing 20,000 people.

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On July 9th, 1755: Battle of the Wilderness. This was also known as the Battle of The Monongahela.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 113 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 $2,000.
  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 $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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 Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. 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 firearms 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.

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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. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 113 ends on July 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.

Stocking Up: OTC Medications – Part 1, by A.F.

Recently, my wife cut the end of her thumb while slicing peppers to go on pizza. I followed her into the bathroom and as she kept pressure on the cut, I retrieved the first aid tote from the linen closet. After rinsing the wound under the faucet followed by a quick examination, we had a brief discussion regarding the extent of damage and whether or not stitches would be needed. Anyone eavesdropping on our exchange would have decided we were two of the most careless people alive as we compared her bleeding thumb to the various injuries from our past that had or had not require stitching.

In the end, she decided we could double bandage the cut and she would keep it elevated to see if it would stop bleeding. A few hours later she asked for help changing out the original bandaging. When she unwrapped the gauze, some of the fabric was stuck to her cut and she stated that non-stick dressing would be used for the re-bandage. We only had 2×3 and 4×4 non-stick pads in the first aid tote and I mentioned that I needed to re-stock some smaller sizes. Without missing a beat, my bride said, “I know there are some sealed for emergency use in your closet.” I agreed but suggested we cut down one of the larger pads instead of breaking into the emergency supply.Continue reading“Stocking Up: OTC Medications – Part 1, by A.F.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, the emphasis is on firearms and ammunition companies in the American Redoubt.

Idaho

Some sad news, from Sandpoint, on July 4th: Army Surplus destroyed in fire. This was the iconic store that was the inspiration for “Grogan’s War Surplus” in the humorous books written by the late Pat McManus.  A reader who lives nearby told me that a rocket from a home fireworks display was spotted as the cause of the blaze.

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Advantage Arms is an Idaho company that is worth mentioning. I already own two of their subcaliber kits and plan to buy at least one more. From their website:

“Advantage Arms was founded in 1997 by Army Veteran Steve Jennings of Valencia, California, who discovered the niche market of .22 conversion kits and set out to make the best functioning kit at an affordable price. Over time, the product line grew to twenty-five variations of conversion kits for Glocks, 1911s, and XD pistols.

After many successful years, Steve passed the torch to his son, Brandon, who brought the business up to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Brandon has been a central figure in the company since the early 2000s, managing day-to-day operations and engineering new products.”

Take a look at their product offerings. They will soon be offering .22 kits for some SIG 9mm pistols! Because their subcaliber kits do not include frames, they can be bought via mailorder, without any Federal paperwork.

o  o  o

Freedom Munitions in Lewiston keeps doubling their production. Their X-DEF hollowpoints are awesome.

o  o  o

Buffalo Bore Ammunition in Salmon, Idaho, has expanded their product line.

o  o  o

This Boise-based company is building some premium hunting rifles: Allterra Arms.

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Seekins Precision (of Lewiston, Idaho) has expanded their line of bolt action rifles.

o  o  o

Ammo maker’s new Lewiston facility hits the mark.

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Speer/CCI in Lewiston is one of America’s largest ammunition makers.

o  o  o

Idaho Ordnance Factory in Dalton Gardens, Ido is a small but fast-growing maker of ammunition and components for handloaders.

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Hells Canyon Armory is known for its carbon fiber barrels.

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Vector Bullets is located in the little town of Clearwater, Idaho. They make .223 jacketed bullets and will soon be offering .30 caliber bullets.

o  o  o

SCOTUS turns down river dredge mining in Idaho without permit.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The first quarter-century of your life was doubtless lived under the cloud of being too young for things, while the last quarter-century would normally be shadowed by the still darker cloud of being too old for them; and between those two clouds, what small and narrow sunlight illumines a human lifetime!” – James Hilton, Lost Horizon

Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 8, 2024

On July 8, 1283, the Battle of Malta occurred during the War of the Sicilian Vespers.  From the Infogalactic wiki:

“The War of the Sicilian Vespers, also shortened to the War of the Vespers, was a conflict waged by several medieval European kingdoms over control of Sicily from 1282 to 1302. The war, which started with the revolt of the Sicilian Vespers, was fought over competing dynastic claims to the throne of Sicily and grew to involve the Crown of Aragon, Angevin Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of France, and the papacy.”

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Just four more days! Because of a change in direction at Trident Media Group (my partner publisher) my novel Land Of Promise will only be published a short while longer in trade paperback by Amazon.com, at just $11.99 per copy. The last day of the sale (and of Amazon Print on Demand ordering capability) will be Friday, July 12, 2024. Thereafter, it may only be available as an e-book. I will try to get it back in print within a few months, but I can’t make any promises.  So order your copy (or copies) soon!

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Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear editor, Tom Christianson.

Warwood Tool Perfect Axe, by Thomas Christianson

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article was written in February 2024. That was several months before I contacted Warwood Tool, to set up an affiliate advertising contract.  Full disclosure:  We earn a modest commission on the sales of any Wawood Tools that are derived from visits to the Warwood Tool site, from clicks on the affiliate ad at SurvivalBlog.

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The Warwood Tool Perfect Axe is a contemporary version of a classic and highly effective American axe design. The Kelly Perfect Axe was first patented in 1885, and remained in production until about 2016. The most notable features of a Perfect Axe are the distinctively shaped bevels near the edge that help to keep the blade from becoming stuck in the split or cut made by the axe.

The new Warwood Tool Perfect Axe comes as either a house axe with a 19-inch handle or as a boy’s axe with a 28-inch handle. The head weighs 2.25 pounds.

The boy’s axe version that I tested would make an outstanding camp axe, and would also serve as an excellent splitting axe for a smaller-framed person. A larger-framed person will likely prefer something with a longer handle and a heavier head. Fortunately, Warwood Tool plans to release up to three different versions of the Perfect Axe in varying sizes. I hope that one of them has a 36-inch handle and a roughly 4 pound head, since that combination seems to be the sweet spot for a wood-splitting axe for me.Continue reading“Warwood Tool Perfect Axe, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Mom’s Baked Beans

The following recipe for Mom’s Baked Beans is from SurvivalBlog reader “Sis.”

Ingredients
  • 2 Small (15 oz.) cans or 1 large can of Pork and Beans.
  • 1 tsp. Dried mustard
  • 3/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup of catsup
  • 5-7 slices of bacon (fried up, drained and then crumbled)
Directions
  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a cast iron pan. (ideally cast iron, but you can use a regular baking pan.)
  2. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for around 1 hour.
Chef’s Notes

“I like for it to get a little crusty around the edges so if you do you might need to bake it a bit longer.  I’m quite sure you could use real bacon bits if cooking from your pantry supplies.  This dish goes really well with barbequed food.

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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!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

The term “America” is used differently, depending on the context. Today’s graphic shows the different “Americas”, from the perspective of ethnic populations and geographic boundaries. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

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Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 7, 2024

On July 7, 1807, French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte and Russian Tsar Alexander I met on a raft in the middle of the Neman River and signed the first Treaty of Tilsit.

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On July 7, 1520, Battle of Otumba, Mexico: Hernán Cortés and the Tlaxcalans defeated a numerically superior Aztec force.

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July 7th, 1907 was the birthday of science fiction novelist Robert A. Heinlein. He passed away on May 8, 1988, at age 80.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 113 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 $2,000.
  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 $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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 Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. 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 firearms 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. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 113 ends on July 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.

 

Results of a Prepper Investment Model Portfolio, by PrepperDoc

DISCLAIMERS: I am not an investment professional and not licensed to handle investments for others. This article and these statements are not your investing advice, nor your tax advice. The results determined in this 9-year period will almost certainly not apply to other periods! This is just what happened; it does not predict the future. Your mileage may vary! The opinions presented in the discussion are mine and may or may not be correct.

INTRODUCTION

In 2015, I proposed a model prepper investment portfolio attempting to follow Solomon’s investing advice, from the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon stated that humans can not even know what misfortune may come upon the land, and as a result should “divide their portion to seven or eight.” (In other words, diversify your investing.)

Back then, I suggested eleven areas for “prepper” style investments, including one’s home, rental housing, precious metals, firearms, ammunition and “paper” investment in domestic and foreign (stocks of ) companies. The best result would likely occur from re-balancing these investments at approximately yearly intervals — but I have not invested the time to do so. Thus, the returns listed here are not as great as they normally would be for a prudent and responsible investor.

Note that the model portfolio was more for learning and education, than for any real investing. My wife and I do not enjoy the benefits of any pension, so to supplement our Social Security income, we are dependent on my wits as an investor, and my investments follow the general outlines of the Christian investing teachers at soundmindinvesting.com — a diversified mix of large, small, foreign and bond/money market funds and ETFs. God has blessed us far beyond our expectations and we are able to thrive and serve others through teaching and giving as a result of my investment returns.Continue reading“Results of a Prepper Investment Model Portfolio, by PrepperDoc”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Sleepy Joe’s Incoherent Mumbling at the Debate Showed Us...
Kamala’s Nose Is Under The Tent

News Links:

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:

“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.” – Mark 9:1-10 (KJV)