Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 24, 2022

October 24th is the anniversary of the firing squad execution of Norwegian traitor Vidkun Quisling, in 1945. His ignominious place in history was to have his surname become a noun. “Quisling” is now a moniker synonymous with treason and alliance with an invading army. Something tells me that the popularity of “Vidkun” as a boys’ natal name in Scandanavia dropped precipitously after about 1942. Ditto for “Adolf”, in Germany, and “Benito”, in Italy, after 1944.

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

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We are still seeking entries for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

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.

You’ll Need Air, by Pat Cascio

How many times have you found that a tire on your vehicle was flat or halfway flat, sitting in your driveway or garage? Yeah, me too – too many times over my lifetime. I hate to change a tire, especially on our SUV or pickup truck. On these rigs, the spare tire is stowed underneath the body, and a royal pain-in-the-rump to get out to put it on your vehicle. I have the tire store check the air pressure in my spare tires, every time I go in for a rotation If you neglect to have that done, then you’ll find your spare tire might just be flat – ugh! Plus, I’m just getting too old to crawl under the back of one of our vehicles to check the air pressure. Don’t let anyone tell you that your “Golden Years” are the best to come – its simply not true. In my case, my body is racked with osteoarthritis and laying down on the ground, trying to get a spare tire off your rig isn’t any fun at all.

For as long as I can remember, we have carried cans of “Fix-A-Flat” in our vehicles, and this stuff works pretty well – most of the time. If you drive a big pickup truck like I do, you’ll need to get one of the bigger cans of this stuff, on passenger cars and smaller sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), the regular-sized can will suffice. One thing you have to keep in mind is that if you get a flat tire, once you put this flat repair in a can into your tire, you need to drive immediately. If you don’t, then it won’t be able to spread around the inside of your tire – and it will go flat again. Of course, get to a tire repair shop as soon as possible, to have the tire properly repaired. This might not be as easy as your surmise, since most tire stores are closed on a Sunday.Continue reading“You’ll Need Air, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Improved Canned Soup

The following recipe is from reader S.A..  The intent of this flexible recipe is to improve the taste of a store-bought canned soup.

S.A. Asks: Are you practicing cooing with storage foods from your survival pantry? Are you serving and teaching your children and grandchildren to eat foods that may become very familiar and repetitive yet vital with essential minerals and vitamins in the coming months —  such as green salads, or rice and beans, or hot soup?Because I store cases of Campbell’s Chunky Chicken and Vegetable soup, I’ve been on a quest to improve the flavor. To me, the chicken cubes taste tinny and mechanized. The addition of some beef marrow bones totally changes the flavor. These bones also add delightful tiny beef bits to the soup.

We make this soup once a week.
Ingredients
  • 1 can of Campbell’s Chunky Soup
  • 1 soup can of water
  • 2 beef marrow bones
  • Leftover chicken piece (optional)
  • A handful of frozen green peas
  • 1/4 c of a starch such as lentils, orzo, leftover rice, leftover pinto beans, barley, or ramen noodles
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Lightly oil-coat or PAM the crockpot. Pour in one can of soup. Add the starch, bones, chicken, and peas. Cover with a can of water. You can also add a small, hard crusty bread or leftover cornbread muffin to not let it go to waste and also to thicken the soup. This adds calories and carbs.
Cook on high until the beef is falling off the bones. You will be surprised how the soup no longer tastes so “canned.” Scoop the marrow out of the bones, cut the beef bits off, and stir in.
Use your creativity to feed the family with soup. This soup is never the same twice. It’s easy, filling, nutritious, hearty, and delicious. It’s not a huge pot of soup.
SERVING

Serve hot.  Thus recipe serves 4. If you need more, then just add water.

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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!

CBDCs: From Blockchains to Tyrant’s Chains

Today, in place of my regular Economics & Investing column, I’m posting my predictions for the nascent sovereign cryptocurrencies — now commonly called Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs.)  The CBDCs will use a variant of the blockchain technology that was first created for Bitcoin. But unlike private cryptos that use a fully distributed semi-anonymous network, control of the CBDC will be centralized and monitored.

My predictions reflect my views on history, trends in governance, recognition of mankind’s sinful nature, certain chaotic variables, and some historical parallels. I may fall short in predicting some of the particulars, but I feel quite confident in predicting general trends.

Instead of attempting to predict dates and specific milestones, I’m going to describe these changes in phases. Each of these phases might take a year or more. But in the event of a world war or a global monetary crisis, the transition between phases might take just a few weeks!Continue reading“CBDCs: From Blockchains to Tyrant’s Chains”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“A tool is but the extension of a man’s hand, and a machine is but a complex tool. And he that invents a machine augments the power of a man and the well-being of mankind.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 23, 2022

Today, we 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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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.

 

Advanced Field Telephone Techniques – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

Remotely Operating Transceivers Via Field Phones

If one could potentially be DFed, then we should operate a transceiver remotely, and should do for this purpose at a distance of no less than 500 meters away from a base station. 500 meters was once the standard for an adequately small enough area that was considered as a good ‘fix’ on a location identified by using radio direction-finding techniques in the 1990s. It was an area size small enough for an effective artillery bombardment.  Drones can be used to pinpoint a location, yet there can be user error.  There are ways to confuse drones, and drone operators using unconventional low-tech electronic warfare techniques.

The EE-8, and the popular TA-312 (pictured), or most any other field phone operated by two D batteries could operate a transceiver from many miles away.  If not 5 miles away, the further away, the better.  And we could use a low-power transmitter on a directional antenna to link to a repeater on a directional or omnidirectional antenna to further reduce the risk.  This demonstration shows us just how easily it can be done using most field phones, and a common, inexpensive transceiver:

FIELD PHONE OPS: Remoting a VOX Radio Using a TA-312

Remote Transmission Using VOX and Voice ‘Receiver’ Interface

Field phones can also be used to operate a radio remotely by using the VOX function of the transceiver without using a plug, or jack. We can also use some commercial phones for this task as well. If the buzzer or commercial phone receiver is placed directly on the surface of the transceiver in front of the microphone, the VOX function can operate and cause the transceiver to transmit, because when the PTT switch on the field phone handset is depressed, the piezoelectric buzzer acts as a tiny speaker. Polarity does not matter, just connect the buzzer to a wire pair.  The transceiver hears the voice signal and transmits if the VOX setting is appropriately set to be sensitive enough to hear the tiny speaker.

Vintage commercial phone handset earpieces can also be used, and these are best as they have a much better audio quality that could greatly improve the quality of the transmission. However, the piezoelectric buzzer, used as a tiny speaker, is the lowest in price.  However, we can not hear the reply over the field phone, but must listen to the reply over a receiver at our location. This is not ideal, yet it can be useful in some situations.Continue reading“Advanced Field Telephone Techniques – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

The Founding Fathers Who Wrote the 2nd Amendment Hadn’t Just Been on a Hunting Trip

They Had Just Trounced a Tyrant’s Army

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” –  Galatians 5: 1-14 (KJV)

Advanced Field Telephone Techniques – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

The odds of survival for those attempting to defend themselves in a Mad Max kind of world, or less dangerous environment, are higher if we have a solid communications plan.  The amount of time and effort applied to establishing easy-to-use, and redundant communications is a critical investment that could pay dividends in many ways. As always, I’d rather have too much of a critically essential, rather than not enough. And surprisingly, the cost could be less than that of an HF transceiver.  I could do without an HF transceiver as those whom are closest in proximity will be far more important than those only a few miles away, let alone a hundred, or thousands of miles away.

First, consider that without communications, we’ve got nothing.  Communications of various types are central to any security plan.  In other words, all of our efforts to prepare could be meaningless if we are unable to coordinate a strong defense that enables us to keep what we have. It is better to have a stronger defense than needed, than a lack of it.  When we are developing a commo plan, we are sculpting a future battlefield to our favor. It is not only an electronic battlefield. We should not strive for parity, but for an advantage over potential future attackers — such as roving gangs.  If we examine the capabilities of Mexican drug cartels, and the potential warloads that may have serious military experience, we could be faced with a very capable ‘gang’.

An ability to thwart current high-tech SIGINT efforts could be the difference between success or failure. Fortunately, there is an affordable low-tech option.  As the threat goes high tech, we could go low tech with good old-fashioned military surplus field telephones. Using those as a primary means of communication, with transceivers as a supplemental means, we would have a tiered and redundant system that attains a much higher level of COMSEC. And there are many other advantages as well.
Continue reading“Advanced Field Telephone Techniques – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”

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:

I had my plans for the week put in slow motion, because of a sprained ankle. That always provides a refresher lesson in humility. But despite that injury, I still managed to help a friend ready his cabin for winter. I also picked up a load of dimensional lumber and plywood– enough to complete my workshop renovation. I hope to wrap up that work after there is snow on the ground. And we are expecting snow, soon.

Now, over to Lily…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” – Psalm 36 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — October 21, 2022

Today is the birthday of the late R.J. Rummel. October 21, 1932 – March 2, 2014. He was was professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii. He spent his career assembling data on collective violence and war with a view toward helping their resolution or elimination. Rummel coined the term democide for murder by government (compare genocide), and his research suggests that six times as many people died of democide during the 20th century than in all that century’s wars combined. He is best known as the author of: Death by Government: A History of Mass Murder and Genocide Since 1900.

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Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog’s founder, James Wesley, Rawles (JWR).

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W eare seeking entries for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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.