The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Little more can reasonably be aimed at, with respect to the people at large, than to have them properly armed and equipped; and in order to see that this be not neglected, it will be necessary to assemble them once or twice in the course of a year.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 29 January 9, 1788

Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 28, 2022

On November 28th, 1520, Magellan finally reached the Pacific Ocean after navigating the dangerous straits on the southern tip of South America that now bear his name. He became the first European explorer to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic.

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Today’s feature article was authored by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

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This is Cyber Monday — known as a day for deep discounts. Be sure to look for special pricing from our advertisers.  Please patronize our paid banner advertisers first. But if they don’t have what you are looking for, then see our lengthy list of affiliate advertisers.

Pistol Magazine Loaders — A Must For Some Shooters, by Pat Cascio

Getting old is no fun! Back in the day, I was able to load any type of magazines, with thumb power only. Sadly, along with old age, comes certain disabilities. To wit: I have terrible osteoarthritis in various parts of my body – not the least is lower back pain, that at times is debilitating to say the least. Next are my hands, and especially my right hand and fingers – they are misshapen. My trigger finger is the worst. But thankfuily, I can still pull a trigger!

Over the years, there have been efforts to produce manual magazine loaders, that are supposed to make loading some magazines a lot easier. Most of these were junk, but they still sell for some reason. Some years back, I tested and reviewed a magazine loader that was pretty impressive – it was similar to a reloading press, however it was a bit too big to lug around, especially out to the range.

Glock provides a simple plastic magazine loader with their double-column magazines, and it works fairly well. Whenever I get a new Glock, I load up the magazines that come with the gun, and let them sit for a couple weeks, after that, the magazines are a lot easier to load to capacity. As well-made as the Glock magazine loaders are, they tend to break if you apply too much pressure trying to get the rounds loaded.Continue reading“Pistol Magazine Loaders — A Must For Some Shooters, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Roasted Squash Seeds

The following recipe for Roasted Squash Seeds is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. She writes:

“Why throw out the seeds of winter squash like butternut, acorn, spaghetti, and pumpkin?  You can roast them for a tasty seasonal snack. Or you feed them to poultry or save them to sow, next year.

For personal eating, I consider pumpkin seeds too woody a texture to be palatable (but I love pepitas, which are hulled pumpkin seeds).

The smaller, thinner seeds of other squash have a better texture and good flavor.  Here is how to roast squash seeds.

1)      Scoop out the seeds.

2)      Dump them into a tepid/warm salt water solution.  1 tsp per two cups of water is fine.

Note: The salinity slightly flavors the seeds but more importantly, breaks down the phytic acid (that preserves seeds until germination) so that the nutrients in the roasted seeds will be more bio-available to humans.  The soak also helps separate some of the slimy pulp from the seeds.

3)      Several hours later or the next day, pour the seeds into a colander.   Rinse, to help remove more pulp and to remove salt if you do not want that as a flavoring agent.

4)      Let the seeds dry out overnight.  You can’t roast wet seeds.  (I leave them in the colander in a cold oven). Do not dry them on a paper towel.  They will stick to the fabric.

COOKING:

In The Oven:

  1. Spread the dry seeds in a pan with sides (because some may pop and jump when hot).  Drizzle LIGHTLY with oil (olive, sesame, other) and sprinkle with flavoring agents of choice, such as salt, cayenne, Italian herbs, curry, cumin, etc.  Mix well.  Spread out in a single layer.
  2. I have read recipes that suggest roasting at 350 or 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes. However, this is too hot and too long for seeds more delicate than pumpkin.  I prefer a slower oven – about 325 degrees.  Stir/check color and scent about every 10 minutes.  Since I dry them overnight, I cook them in the oven while I am making breakfast.

On Your Stovetop:

  1. Same as above: single layer, drizzled with oil and flavorings, stirred occasionally, monitor timing and temperature.  I do not do this anymore because of the occasional seeds that pop out of the pan.  Not a big deal.  Just my preference.
  2. The roasted seeds will crisp up more when cool.

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Mrs. Alaska blogs at: Alaskauu1.blogspot.com

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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 look at multi-trillion-dollar losses for tech stock and cryptocurrency investors. (See the Forex & Cryptos section and the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold Passes the First Bullish Test.

o  o  o

Silver Demand On Pace For Record Year.

Economy & Finance:

Tech’s reality check: How the industry lost $7.4 trillion in one year.

o  o  o

Der Spiegel: Star Economist Nouriel Roubini on the Global Crises “World War III Has Already Effectively Begun”.

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: Two Largest Railroad Unions Split Over Labor Deal As Christmas Strike Looms.

o  o  o

Fed minutes show most policymakers want to slow the pace of interest rate rises ‘soon’.

o  o  o

At Marketwatch: The U.S. economy is losing speed, S&P surveys show.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.” – Henry Clay

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 27, 2022

Today is the birthday of SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio. (Pictured.) He is now home from the hospital. Please pray for full restoration of his health.

November 27th is also the birthday of Ludwig Loewe (November 27, 1837 – September 11, 1886) was a merchant, manufacturer, philanthropist, and a member of the German Reichstag. Loewe’s companies became involved in the production of armaments, employing famous designers and creating many notable guns. Ludwig Loewe Company of Berlin produced large numbers of Mauser bolt action rifles, most famously used in the Second Boer War. Since Loewe was Jewish, many Loewe-made guns are stamped with a Star of David. The Loewe Company became part of the DWM conglomerate in 1897. Hence, all “Loewe” maker-marked guns are Federally-exempt pre-1899 antiques.

And this is also the birthday of sci-fi novelist L. Sprague de Camp (1907-2000).

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 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 $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 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.

21st Century Life: Controlling and Redirecting Anger, by SaraSue

I’m sure quite a lot of us, tens of millions for sure, maybe a couple hundred million, were slapped across the face a little while ago by the highest officeholder in our land. Anyone who disagrees with the gub’mint is a domestic terrorist, apparently. Also, the “Red Wave” that wasn’t? Or, if you don’t fix the root of the problem, you will get the same result. Sometimes throwing mud against the wall, wishing some of it will stick, is an ineffective use of your time and energy. I’m not saying that voting is a useless exercise. I’m just saying that the problems we are facing are going to need more than voting. In the meantime, don’t let your rage rule you. I’m not telling anyone what to do with their anger, but I’ll tell you what I do.

First, I always turn to humor and enjoy sharing a couple of choice memes that explode across the Internet after something obviously unjust occurs. Mocking the absurd fulfills the useful purpose of blowing off steam. Secondly, I pray for God’s intervention regarding the direction our country is headed. The anger remains, so thirdly, I get moving. I don’t drink it out. I don’t yell it out. I don’t hang out on the Internet and discuss it ad nauseum. I don’t pick fights or go on a rampage or “join a militia”. Those of us who are students of history are well aware that genocide often follows demonizing groups of people. We’ve been through years of being demonized – for our faith, for our choices, for demanding our rights. We must be prepared – via calm, methodical, deliberate, serious actions on our part so that we can survive what is coming. I have a unique ability to laugh in the middle of doing serious tasks. The work seems lighter that way.Continue reading“21st Century Life: Controlling and Redirecting Anger, by SaraSue”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text: 

Sam Bankman Fried Was Biden’s Second Largest Election Campaign Contributor

This Explains Why This Ponzi Schemer Will be a Guest Of Honor at The New York Times DealBook Summit, Instead of Locked Up In Jail

News Links:

The New York Times to Host Annual DealBook Summit on Nov. 30.

DealBook Summit (Event details, and $2,499 ticket sales)

Howls Of Outrage After New York Times Confirms SBF To Speak Alongside Zelenskyy, Yellen

Some Background Sam Bankman Fried’s financial recordkeeping, fund co-mingling, breach of fiduciary trust, and larcenous wrongdoings: FTX Disaster – 7 Unbelievable Bankruptcy Discoveries.

JWR’s Comment: I suppose that they’ll have to be careful about not being photographed shaking hands with this crook.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” – 1 Timothy 6:1-19(KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 26, 2022

November 26th is the birthday of both gun inventor Eugene Reising (born 1884, died February 21, 1967) and the late Barton Biggs (born 1932, died July 14, 2012). Biggs was a money manager known for his pro-preparedness stance.

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Siege Stoves and Siege Belts are both featured in a Black Friday Sale, for just the next few days. Order yours, soon!

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Midland Radio (one of our affiliates) is starting its annual Cyber Monday sale today (and running through Monday), with 30% off all of its LXT and GXT products. Use coupon code: CYBERSALE 

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 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.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 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.

No Ammo, No Primers, No Problem! – Part 5, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.)

LOADING MUZZLELOADING MUSKETS & SHOTGUNS

How Much Powder and Shot?sh

Short Lane, the makers of black powder adapters for shotguns, recommend the following amounts. I have followed their recommendations in my 20 gauge single shot.

209 Adapter in .410 Pistol/Derringer
25-35 grains black powder or black powder substitute
40 grains lead shot

209 Adapter in .410 Shotgun
50-60 grains black powder or black powder substitute
50 grains lead shot

209 Adapter in 12 Ga., 16 Ga., & 20 Ga. Shotguns
75-85 grains black powder or black powder substitute
80 grains lead shot

This sounds like a good starting point. Bear in mind that your best patterns may be with a lighter load of powder. In general, more powder and/or less shot will widen the pattern, while less powder and/or more shot should give a tighter pattern. Different waddings may also make a significant difference in developing a load that will pattern well enough for bird hunting.Continue reading“No Ammo, No Primers, No Problem! – Part 5, by M.B.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This week, I did some more work on building partitions and decking a second story in our workshop.  It will feel great to finally get our shop properly organized, after all these years! On Friday, a kindly neighbor and friend came over to help me with the “heavy lifting” part of the job: Tilting up a 2×6 partition wall that I had built, positioning the 6×6 posts that I had pre-cut, lifting some 2×10 beams (that I had also built in advance), and then lifting and attaching some 24-foot long wood I-Beam TGI engineered joists.  I’ll assemble a staircase and lay the 4×8 sheets of plywood decking over the joists by myself, next week. Adding a second story inside the shop will give us a lot more useful storage space.

I had to do just a bit of snowplowing, on Thursday. That was just the second “Plow Day”, so far this fall. Looking at the long-range weather forecast, I’ll have to do some frequent plowing, all through December. I find that plowing is more of a time sink than it is drudgery. And since I do most of the work from inside the heated cab of our pickup truck, I don’t even feel the cold very much. The most strenuous part is hand-shoveling snow from around our gates. And even that falls in the category of “Good Exercise!”

My thanks to the readers who have kindly mailed me license plates for my collection. I’m gradually hanging those up in the shop as I complete each panel of pegboard. One reader recently sent me two yellow vintage plates with differing prefixes from The Netherlands. Those will surely be conversation pieces.

Thanks again, folks!  Now, over to Lily…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” – Genesis 9:1-17 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 25, 2022

November 25th was the birthday of economist and comedian Ben Stein. His unscripted monologue on economics from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of the most memorable scenes in American cinema. Stein spends part of each year at his second home in Sandpoint, Idaho, so he is an honorary Redoubter.

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An important alert video for our Canadian readers: Warning: Stock Up Now. They Are Coming for All Centerfire Sem-Auto Rifles With Detachable Magazines.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 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.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 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.