The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— 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. Today, we look at a fusion power breakthrough.

At Lawrence Livermore: U.S. to Announce Fusion Breakthrough

H.L. sent this news from my hometown, Livermore, California: U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’. The article begins:

“The Department of Energy plans to announce Tuesday that scientists have been able for the first time to produce a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain — a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology that provides unlimited, cheap, clean power.”

There are a few more details in an article published by Forbes. (Thanks to Tracy M., for that link.)

JWR’s Comments: Not quite “Mr. Fusion”, but they’re getting closer…

The consistent yield of reactions, containment, continuity of an ongoing string of reactions, and conversion of that energy into something useful are the next steps. Mastering those steps will be a slow process to reach the stage where they have something that is commercially reliable for generating megawatts of power.

I should mention that back in the mid-1970s, when I was a teenager, I visited the Shiva Laser Fusion Project prototype — at that time, it was just a huge white-painted metal framework, with no lasers yet installed — just some fixtures for alignment tests. As a guest on that Lawrence Lab “Family Day”, I discussed the fusion power research programs with my father, Donald Rawles, who worked in a different group in B Division (now called the Physics Division). In his group, they experimented with the lab’s particle accelerators. And in the late 1970s, his “baby” was the second-generation rotating target neutron source (RTNS-II), at Building 292.  An aside: The 48-ton containment door of that building is seen briefly in the movie Tron — and so was the Shiva laser framework. As we walked through the massive Shiva building, my father opined: “It may be 40 or 50 years before these guys get beyond unity, and perhaps 70 years or longer before they make a practical system that can be small and affordable enough for generating utility power.” By “beyond unity”, he of course meant a fusion reaction with more power coming out than power going in. That key milestone was what was just announced.

New California Laws, Starting in 2023

More reasons to move out of The Land of Fruits and Nuts: New California laws in 2023: Minimum wage increase, legal jaywalking and more. Don’t miss the “Firearms” section near the end of the article, which includes this zinger:

“Restraining Orders: AB 2870 strengthens California’s so-called “red flag” law which authorizes a court to issue a restraining order to prohibit a person from purchasing or possessing a firearm if that person poses a danger to themselves or others. The law now allows roommates, dating partners and an individual with a child in common to request a firearm restraining order. Previously, only law enforcement, immediate family members, employers, coworkers, or teachers could make such a request.”

JWR’s Comment: Californians beware… Don’t disagree with a roommate or coworker when talking about politics or religion — or the police may come and confiscate your guns.

How Much Do Off-Grid Solar Systems Cost In 2022?

Forbes asks: How Much Do Off-Grid Solar Systems Cost In 2022?

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Power and those in control concede nothing … without a demand. They never have and never will… Each and every one of us must keep demanding, must keep fighting, must keep thundering, must keep plowing, must keep on keeping things struggling, must speak out and speak up until justice is served because where there is no justice there is no peace.” – Frederick Douglass

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 14, 2022

December 14th is the birthday of the late John Warren Wadleigh (born 1927, died September 24, 2013.) Wadleigh was better known to many SurvivalBlog readers by his pen name: Oliver Lange. He was the author of the best-selling resistance warfare novel Vandenberg.

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Today’s feature article is a guest piece written by SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. Because it was first published in her blog, Alaska Bush Life, Off-Road, Off-Grid, it is not eligible for judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

We are in need of articles to post for Round 104 of the writing contest.  More than $775,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Estimating Your Off-Grid Power Needs, by Mrs. Alaska

The European energy lobbying group 2000WATTS.org proposes that 2,000 watts is the amount of power that would be available to humans if each one of the 7.9 billion people on the planet had access to the same amount. Their concern is that our power resources are dwindling.

Whether you agree or disagree with their assumptions, it is interesting to consider how much power our frequently used appliances require.  When I lived in a city, I never thought about this.  I just flipped switches and paid utility bills.  However, with so many parts of the country suffering power outages, I imagine that more people are now wondering, “If the power goes out, what do I do?”  What could I run with a generator of this or that size?  How much fuel would that require?”

Here in remote Alaska, we built our own power supply so we are alert to power hogs and power sippers that we decided to buy or do without.  And since the generator we use as a backup to our solar panels and wind turbine is a Honda 2000 (producing 2,000 watts), we know how much our various appliances and tools require and which ones we can or cannot use simultaneously without tripping a circuit breaker.Continue reading“Estimating Your Off-Grid Power Needs, by Mrs. Alaska”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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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A video recommended by our Editor-At-Large, Michael Z. Williamson: The .22 LR “Pinball” Skull Shot Theory, Is It True?

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The latest YouTube essay from Lauren Southern: Hunting Rifle Ban Announced in Canada.

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Avalanche Lily spotted this: Why Do So Many Christians Deny The Deadly Intent Behind The Globalists’ Agenda?

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Bankrupt Front Sight firearms training school is now owned by PrairieFire.

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Andre in Belgium recommended this software developed in Germany: AntiRansomware.

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Reader C.B. mentioned this new attempt at land-grabbing: Strategic reserves in Oregon’s forests to prevent biodiversity losses, protect water, and mitigate climate change.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The country life is to be preferred, for there we see the works of God, but in cities little else but the works of men. And the one makes a better subject for contemplation than the other.” – William Penn

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 13, 2022

After spending nine months on the run, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. During his 24 years in office, Saddam’s secret police, charged with protecting his power, terrorized the public, ignoring the human rights of the nation’s citizens. While many of his people faced poverty, he lived in incredible luxury, building more than 20 lavish palaces throughout the country. It was fitting that, in the end, he was hiding in nothing more than a hole in the ground covered by plywood.

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December 13th is also the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 104 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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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).
  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 firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. 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 $775,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Gas Station Economics, by SwampFox

Fuel prices have been rising for a couple of years, and this past summer’s high cost was frustrating for almost everybody. Who profits, and why is the price so high? How does a gas station make money? How many steps are involved in getting oil from the ground, turning it into fuel, and putting it in your tank? It is more complicated than you might think.

First, oil has to be found and removed from the earth. Drills, pipes, pumps, lots of metal, and heavy labor. Every part of that carries a very high cost that is passed along to the customer. After the oil is pumped from underground, it is transported by ship, rail, or pipeline to a refinery. Crude oil is typically not useful on its own, except perhaps as a marine fuel for oil-burning turbine engines. Oil must be refined into something useful, so it gets heated in fractional distillation towers and separated into various grades and viscosities. This is just one step in how gaseous fuels, liquid fuels, lubricants, and asphalt base are created. In one of life’s ironies, it takes a lot of fuel to heat the fractional distillation process. It takes fuel to make fuel, so it takes money to make money.Continue reading“Gas Station Economics, by SwampFox”

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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, some news about a Mountain Lion that was seen wandering the streets of Pocatello. See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

Mountain lion spotted in Pocatello.

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Moscow Police seeking information on white Hyundai Elantra seen near quadruple homicide crime scene.

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Idaho murders: Police receive ‘amazing’ number of tips related to mystery car spotted near crime scene.

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A recent update from Moscow Police Captain Lanier: Idaho murders: Quadruple homicide investigation update for Monday, Dec. 12th.

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New trial date set for Daybells, defendants appear in courtroom together for first time.

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The American Redoubt movement has been bad-mouthed, yet again.  Retired Idaho Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones recently posted this: Idaho must once again send the hate mongers packing. While I applaud his service to our country in Vietnam, I was miffed by an unfounded statement that he included in his column. So I sent him the following comment:

Your recent column included this:

“Recent years have witnessed the growth of white nationalist sentiment in northern Idaho, due in significant part to the promotion of this beautiful area as part of the American Redoubt, a refuge for the so-called “white race.””

That is a libelous slur. The American Redoubt movement is distinctly anti-racist. If you had taken just a few minutes to do some research instead of just shooting from the lip, you would have quickly learned that the American Redoubt political migration movement is directed toward encouraging conservatives of all races to relocate to the region.

I originated the movement. I suggest that you read this:

Lest Any Man Should Boast: A Christian Survivalist Perspective on Race, Religion, and Reason.

I must insist that you retract your unfounded statement.

Sincerely,

James Wesley, Rawles

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us to restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wildlife and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 12, 2022

On December 12, 2019, the British General Election was won by Boris Johnson‘s Conservative Party in a landslide win with 80-seat majority. Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland.

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Today’s feature article was penned by SurvvalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We are in need of entries for Round 104 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $775,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 104 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

Crosman P1377 Air Pistol, by Thomas Christianson

In April of 2022, due to continued high ammo prices, I decided to try out the Crosman P1377 Air Pistol as a training tool. It has a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $72.30. The one I purchased online cost just $49.99, with free shipping.

Pleasant Memories

I have fond memories of the Crosman 760 air rifle that introduced me to shooting. I shot more BBs and pellets through that rifle than I can count. I enjoyed target shooting in the basement of my parent’s home with just two pumps, or hunting birds, squirrels, and even possum in the woods and fields — with 10 pumps.

The Crosman 760 taught me a lot about shot placement. For example, shooting a possum in the body with a BB gun only irritated it. It usually didn’t even break the skin. But a hit in the eye socket would penetrate the brain and kill the possum. This is important to remember if you ever find yourself with a BB gun pointed at your face.Continue reading“Crosman P1377 Air Pistol, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Asian Chicken Fried Rice

The following Asian Chicken Fried Rice recipe is from reader Helen O.  She notes that it is an ideal way to use some of your long-term storage foods.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups cooked white rice, cooled
  • ½ cup finely diced onions (you may substitute rehydrated dried onion)
  • ¼ cup rehydrated freeze-dried or air-dried green peas
  • 1 cup rehydrated shredded carrots (or fresh)
  • ¼ cup oil or shortening
  • 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
  • ½ cup chopped cooked chicken. (Canned chicken will suffice)
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 eggs, or equivalent in dehydrated egg powder
  • Spices to suit your taste, including garlic, tumeric, dried hot pepper.
Directions
  1. In a large, heavy frying pan, heat oil.
  2. Add rice, onions, chicken, and carrots.
  3. Stir frequently with spatula until rice begins to lightly brown.
  4. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, peas, and spices.
  5. Continue stirring to blend in the flavors.
  6. As soon as the rice mixture appears to be done, quickly add beaten egg mixture.
  7. Continue stirring with a spatula until the egg is cooked.
SERVING

Serve while still hot with soy sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or hot mustard sauce.

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Do you have a favorite 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 and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we focus on full-capacity magazines as a tangible investment. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold/Silver: Are you positioned for another Silver squeeze?

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India ATM Now Dispenses Gold Coins.

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Kelsey: Demand For Gold – No New Highs.

Economy & Finance:

Brace for a recession in 2023 as job losses top 2 million, Citi says.

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Amazon Layoffs Just Got Way Worse – Fresh Batch of Workers Getting Bezos’ Nasty Christmas Present: Report.  JWR’s Comments:  This is the largest layoff in the history of the company. Read between the lines, folks.  Obviously, a recession is coming soon.

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Yellen Directs IRS to Audit Everyone for $600 Transactions Anyway.

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At American Thinker: How Debt Policies Are Provoking an Unavoidable Crash.

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The Supply Chain Trends Shaking Up 2023.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”