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 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA an Even Bigger Disaster Than the Storms Themselves

At American Thinker: FEMA an Even Bigger Disaster Than the Storms Themselves — and How it Can Be Replaced. A quote:

“FEMA exists to help American citizens and legal residents survive and recover from emergencies, natural or man-made. FEMA was called into action after 9/11, just as they were called into action after each hurricane since the agency’s inception. Overall, with a few exceptions, they have botched each disaster recovery effort, caring more about bureaucratic red tape than they do for the human lives they are saving … or losing. Certainly, after both hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, they should have been ready.”

Patrols Hunt for Ukraine Draft-Dodgers

Reported by the biased Al Jazeera: To boost Ukraine’s army, feared patrols hunt for potential conscripts.  The article’s opening lines:

“About 1.3 million Ukrainians serve in the military.

At least 80,000 soldiers of eligible age, 25 to 60, have died since 2022, according to Western estimates.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government does not divulge the official death toll. He has said the army needs to enlist 500,000 out of about 3.7 million men of fighting age who are eligible for service.

These days, many potential recruits all over Ukraine think twice before leaving their homes. If they do, they look over their shoulder for “man-hunting” patrols.”

Our Out-of-Control Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Reader H.L. sent this, from Imprimis: Our Out-of-Control Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It tells me it’s a high priority. And the reason they have the First Amendment is because, you know, the countries people came from, if you spoke your mind, you’d be imprisoned or killed. That’s why you have it. That’s really important.

And then the right to bear arms is also really important. That’s there to protect, you know… The Second Amendment is there to protect the First Amendment. As soon as the government can disarm the people, they can do anything they want.

And we’ve seen this in one country after another. They take the guns away from the people, then they do fake elections, and then the people try to protest and they just get shot. That’s what happened in Venezuela recently. They had a fake election, [and] Maduro lost. Like, massively lost. Like, you know, 70% lost. And he’s like, ‘Oh, no, I won.: And everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you didn’t win.’

There were big protests in the street. Chavez, when he came into power, took away everyone’s guns. So now you’re facing, you know, soldiers with assault rifles. Are you going to throw some sticks at them or something? Use finger guns? It doesn’t work. So Maduro, even though he lost the election, is still in power. And that’s the kind of risk that we face.

But we’ve got to do everything possible to protect the Constitution. And I think this is, yeah. So, you know, for all those reasons, that’s why, you know, after thinking about it hard, it was very clear to me that Donald Trump has to win this election. He really does.” –  Elon Musk, speaking at the America PAC Town Hall in Pennsylvania, Oct. 17, 2024

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — October 23, 2024

On October 23, 1819, the first ship sailed through the Erie Canal from Rome, New York to Utica, New York.

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October 23, 1944 General Enver Hoxha became “interim” Prime Minister of Albania. He dictatorially retained leadership for 41 years, until his death in 1985.

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Today, we also remember the 220 Marines, 18 U.S. Navy Sailors, and three U.S. Army Soldiers who died on this day in 1983 when terrorists attacked the Beruit Barracks.

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Seed for Security, LLC has announced its Retirement Sale.

  • Electronic orders will be accepted until November 30, 2024.
  • Mail-in orders will accepted until November 15, 2024.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 115 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. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  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. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  6. 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.

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More than $925,000 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 115 ends on November 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.

Hurricane Milton After Action Review – Part 1, by Soyez Ferme

Date and Location: October 9, 2024 — West Coast of Florida, under the eye of Hurricane Milton, inland from landfall.

Hurricane winds howled outside, and the rain pelted the windows when the lights flickered for the final time and died. On the darkest of nights as Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury on our rural Florida bunker, my mom confidently stated, “I feel safe here.” After a long, and mostly sleepless night, we rose before dawn to walk the property. What follows is a breakdown of the good, the bad and the ugly of our preparedness strategy for weathering a vicious storm.

The effects of Hurricane Milton reached us on Wednesday, October 9th. Preparations for the impending event began much earlier, a full 5 days prior to its landfall about. In actuality, however, readiness for a catastrophic event commenced years or even a decade ago. For much of our preparedness, I credit Survivalblog and those of you who have contributed content over the years. Now it is my turn to provide some insight.

Born in Florida, I currently live 35 miles from where I grew up. I am a middle school Civics teacher at a military prep school on the west coast of Florida. I am 62 years old and live with my wonderful wife. Our daughter and her family live 7 miles away. As a young man I had a career as a commercial fisherman in Florida where I developed the “weather-eye,” recognizing the complications weather events can bring to our area.

Our story of riding out Hurricane Milton starts about 24 years ago when I married my wife. One of our common goals was owning a home in the country. Reading SurvivalBlog over the years helped solidify the details of that plan for our homestead.Continue reading“Hurricane Milton After Action Review – Part 1, by Soyez Ferme”

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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SurvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this: How Israel’s bulky pager fooled Hezbollah. Mike notes:

“They even set up fake sources, fake reviews, and YouTube videos with fake Chinglish descriptions. Brilliant.”

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Reader Lodge Pole wrote:

“Mr. Rawles,
Thank you for your article “Please Pray for Our Nation” published Tuesday, October 15th.  I would like to give a short insight as to what I have been witnessing in my area and what worries me as we get closer to the election.

I am employed with a local government agency and am in fairly consistent contact with the public.  For the past few years I have been employed there, I have had a great relationship with the majority of the residents I represent and communicate with.  I often get complimented when dealing with members of the public with the promptness and efficiency in which I answer questions, get results, and how I do my job.  I simply state, “I am trying to bring common sense back to the government.”  This is generally followed by a chuckle and, “Good luck.”

Recently, I have seen a complete flip in the attitudes and responses of many of these residents.  People are turning on each other.  I am noticing an uptick in complaints and anger associated with very petty things. People are turning in/on their neighbors and complaining at every opportunity. I recently took a complaint where the complainant stated, “My neighbor is smoking jerky in their garage. What are you going to do about it?!”

Not long ago, during a wildfire event, the winds shifted and with it came the thick smoke, completely smothering the Northern part of our county.  Our area is not foreign to wildfire smoke, so this was nothing out of the ordinary, especially for the time of year. When residents awakened in the morning, the complaints started rolling in to me. The majority of the complaints were placing the blame on someone.

These complainants were rabid, and each of them felt justified in their blame game. When I explained where the smoke was coming from, none of them were aware of the fire. They simply needed to complain and place blame.

I have concluded that in 2024, in the United States, our lives are too convenient. Every aspect of our life is made simpler by something or someone. Morals, good judgment, and common sense are in short supply. Because of this over-convenient lifestyle we have grown accustomed to, when the slightest inconvenience occurs, most simply cannot cope nor problem-solve. People are living their lives like their social media feed. The lack of problem-solving, good judgment, and common sense are what worry me; along with all the other divisive problems plaguing this country. I worry people are going to become more aggressive when they do not get their way.

As we get closer to election day, please stay vigilant. Go to the stores now to get what you need. For what you don’t have, get it or learn to live without it. I think (and pray to God it does not happen) we are heading for some very tough times, regardless of who wins in November.”

o  o  o

Seed for Security, LLC is running its Retirement Sale.

  • Electronic orders will be accepted until November 30, 2024.
  • Mail-in orders will accepted until November 15, 2024.

o  o  o

License Plate Readers Are Cataloguing More Than Just Plates.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.” – Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 22, 2024

On October 22, 1575, the Mexican State of Aguascalientes (one of 32 Federal Entities of Mexico) was founded. The full name of the state is Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes. Literally, Aguascalientes means: “Hot waters”. JWR Adds:  My maternal grandfather Dewitt Creveling was born December 3, 1903, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He was the son of an ex-pat American mining engineer.  He liked to say:  “I was born in hot water, and I’ve been in hot water all my life.”

On October 22, 1934, infamous criminal Charles (“Pretty Boy”) Floyd was fatally shot in a field near East Liverpool, Ohio, by FBI agents.

On October 22, 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin, an inspector in the French army who encouraged the use of balloons for military purposes, made a balloon ascent in order to give his first exhibition of parachuting, when he jumped from a height of about 3,200 feet (1,000 meters).

This is the birthday of painter and book illustrator N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945). It is also the birthday of actor Jeff Goldblum (born 1952), who had unforgettable roles in Buckaroo Banzai and in the Jurassic Park and Independence Day films.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 115 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. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  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. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  6. 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 $925,000 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 115 ends on November 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.

Our Hurricane Experience in South Carolina, by K.U.

We live in a rural county about 60 miles from Augusta, Georgia. The night of September 26th, 2024 was one we never thought we’d experience so far inland. A full-blown hurricane was upon us (winds were recorded at 80-100mph in our county).

We awoke early on the 27th to no power and 1 bar of very spotty cell service. We built our house on a hill and made sure that no trees were nearby, so our house had minimal damage. We had some water come in and down a wall from the chimney, but plan to fix that with a different kind of deflector that moves and protects water intrusion from wind.

We were finally able to reach family by standing in the field to obtain a cell phone signal. Our daughter, her husband, their kids and our son all moved out to stay here. They were in Augusta and the devastation was apocalyptic. They had no power, no internet and no water. Around 50% of the homes had very large trees on them. Sadly, our rental house and our daughter’s rental house included. We are actively dealing with insurance claims and contractors so our renters can have a safe place to live.Continue reading“Our Hurricane Experience in South Carolina, by K.U.”

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, a look at fall colors, throughout the American Redoubt region.

Idaho

Clip – Idaho Falls fall foliage! (Scroll forward to 1:40.)

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An injured hunter rescued by helicopter.

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Video: Driving a Beautiful, Unknown Road into the Idaho Mountains.

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Man leads wild police chase through Silver Valley yards.

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ISDA continues to battle Quagga Mussels in the Snake River, hot-wash stations here to stay.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 21, 2024

October 21st, 1805: In one of the most decisive naval battles in history, a British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain. At sea, Lord Nelson and the Royal Navy consistently thwarted Napoleon Bonaparte, who led France to preeminence on the European mainland. Nelson’s last and greatest victory against the French was the Battle of Trafalgar, which began after Nelson caught sight of a Franco-Spanish force of 33 ships. Preparing to engage the enemy force on October 21, Nelson divided his 27 ships into two divisions and signaled a famous message from the flagship Victory: “England expects that every man will do his duty.”

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Seed for Security, LLC has announced its Retirement Sale.

  • Electronic orders will be accepted until November 30, 2024.
  • Mail-in orders will accepted until November 15, 2024.

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We are running a 2-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 28th, 2024, all of our pre-1899 shotguns have their prices deeply discounted. Most of these can fire modern 12 gauge 2-1/2″ or 2-3/4″ shotgun shells. Take a look!

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Today’s feature article is a review that was written by blog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

 

Rock River Arms LAR-BT3 in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

The Rock River Arms LAR-BT3 in 6.5 Creedmoor provides an accurate, well-crafted, and robust firearm with moderate recoil and a generous magazine capacity chambered for a versatile and highly effective cartridge.

If you are looking for a semi-automatic rifle with more power than one chambered in 5.56 NATO, less recoil than one chambered in .308 Winchester, and a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds, the LAR-BT3 in 6.5 Creedmoor might just hit the sweet spot for you.Continue reading“Rock River Arms LAR-BT3 in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Stew with Kale and Butternut Squash

The following recipe for Chicken Stew with Kale and Butternut Squash is from SurvivalBlog reader D.G.. It serves four adults. This is a tasty stew with a distinctly smoky flavor.

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 ounces (2 links) spicy chicken sausage, diced
  • ½ Spanish onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2½ teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
  • One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (I like to use fire-roasted tomatoes if available for extra smoky flavor.)
  • ½ bunch of kale with center ribs removed, chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 3 cups cubed butternut squash (cut to ½-inch cubes)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt
Directions
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chicken sausage and cook for about 5 minutes until lightly browned.
  2. Add the onion and garlic to the sausage and sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent and the garlic smell is apparent.
  3. Add the smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, ground cinnamon, and cayenne (if used) and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
  4. Add the tomatoes, butternut squash, kale, and chicken broth to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the chicken thighs, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 25 minutes.
  5. After 25 minutes, carefully remove the chicken thighs from the saucepan to a plate or cutting board. Using two forks, shred the meat into small pieces.
  6. Scoop about 1 cup of butternut squash from the pot and mash it with a fork. Note: Don’t panic if there’s some tomatoes and kale in the mash, it’s all going back in the pot, anyway.
  7. Return the shredded chicken and mashed squash to the saucepan and simmer, uncovered for another 10 minutes. Taste and add salt if needed, to suit your taste.
SERVING

Ladle the stew into bowls and serve hot.

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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

Today’s graphic: Map showing Personal Income From Government Transfers (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

Note that this includes government employee paychecks, military pensions, and Social Security.

The thumbnail 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.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”  – John 10: 14-18 (KJV)