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”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 11, 2022

On December 11, 1994, Russian troops invaded Chechnya to suppress the rebel Chechen government led by Dzhokhar Dudayev. This began what is commonly called the First Chechen War.

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I just got word of the passing of Colonel Joe Kittinger.  What an amazing man! He will be missed.  My condolences to his family.

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We are seeking 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.

 

Major Economic Contraction Coming In 2023 – Followed By Even More Inflation, by Brandon Smith

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article was first published by the Birch Gold Group and is reposted with permission.

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The signs are already present and obvious, but the overall economic picture probably won’t be acknowledged in the mainstream until the situation becomes much worse (as if it’s not bad enough). It’s a problem that arises at the onset of every historic financial crisis – Mainstream economists and commentators lie to the public about the chances of recovery, constantly giving false reassurances and lulling people back to sleep. Even now with price inflation pummeling the average consumer they tell us that there is nothing to worry about. The Federal Reserve’s “soft landing” is on the way.

I remember in 2007 right before the epic derivatives collapse when media pundits were applauding the US housing market and predicting even greater highs in sales and in valuations. I had only been writing economic analysis for about a year, but I remember thinking that the overt display of optimism felt like compensation for something. It seemed as if they were trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public in the hopes that if people just believed hard enough that all was well then the fantasy could be manifested into reality. Unfortunately, that’s not how economics works.

Supply and demand, debt and deficit, money velocity and inflation; these things cannot be ignored. If the system is out of balance, collapse will set its ugly foot down somewhere and there’s nothing anyone including central banks can do about it. In fact, there are times when they deliberately ENGINEER collapse.

This is the situation we are currently in today as 2022 comes to a close. The Fed is in the midst of a rather aggressive rate hike program in a “fight” against the stagflationary crisis that they created through years of fiat stimulus measures. The problem is that the higher interest rates are not bringing prices down, nor are they really slowing stock market speculation. Easy money has been too entrenched for far too long, which means a hard landing is the most likely scenario.Continue reading“Major Economic Contraction Coming In 2023 – Followed By Even More Inflation, by Brandon Smith”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Biden’s Brilliant Diplomatic Deal: Trading a Low-Level Drug Criminal for a Global Terror Logistician Who Enabled the Deaths of Thousands

News Links:

Lawmakers rip Biden leaving Paul Whelan behind in Brittney Griner prisoner swap: ‘It’s shameful’.

Viktor Bout: Russian arms dealer known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ swapped for Brittney Griner.

There Were 17 Americans in Russian Prisons. Only 1 Mattered to the Left.

A Matt Christiansen video essay: Griner or Whelan: Did Biden Have a Choice? | NBC’s Stealth Edit Strikes Again.

Video: Russian TV Mocks Biden for Choosing ‘Black Lesbian Hooked on Drugs’ Over Marine Paul Whelan in Swap.

Blog reader G.F. sent this comment:  “Biden needs to pick up a copy of The Art of the Deal.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” – Mark 7:1-23 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 10, 2022

On December 10, 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict that had demanded that he recant or face ex-communication.

And on this day in 1942, my great uncle Lt. Robert I. Kinsella was killed when his B-24 bomber (part of the 90th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 320th Bomber Squadron), flying from the Iron Range Airfield in Northern Queensland, Australia went down in the South Pacific. There were no survivors.

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

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We are in great need of entrries 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.