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 further examine the risk of solar flares and extreme solar storms.

A Timely Update, Thursday PM:

MAJOR X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: The sun just unleashed the strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far), an X2.8-class explosion from unstable sunspot AR3514. The blast caused a deep shortwave radio blackout over the Americas and may have hurled a fast CME toward Earth. Follow this developing story @ Spaceweather.com

Extreme Solar Storms More Frequent Than Had Been Thought?

Over at Forbes: Extreme Solar Storms May Be More Frequent Than Previously Thought.  This article begins:

“An international team consisting of scientists from nine countries has published a detailed study on a lesser-known solar storm—named Chapman-Silverman event after two astronomers who collected the first data—that hit Earth in February 1872. Their findings confirm that solar storms powerful enough to directly impact our infrastructure are more common than previously thought.

Coronal mass ejections or flares are powerful outbursts of charged particles traveling towards Earth. When such a flare hits Earth, it can cause a solar storm disrupting the planet’s magnetic field.”

Solar Storm From 1977 Reveals How Unprepared We Are

Solar storm from 1977 reveals how unprepared we are for the next ‘big one’.

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 13, 2023

On this day in 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sighted South Island, New Zealand, and later, mistaking the strait north of the island for a bay, believed he had found the west coast of a hypothetical southern continent.  Tasman was the greatest of the Dutch navigators and explorers. He was the first European to sight Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Fiji Islands.

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December 13th is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York.

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Wow!  GunMag Warehouse (One of our affiliate advertisers) is running a pre-Christmas special: ETS GEN 2 9mm 32-Round Magazines for Glock Pistols (Black only) for just $6.49 each! (Normally $14.99 each.)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 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. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  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. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $305 value)
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. 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)
  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 $850,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 110 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.

Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 2, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 1.)

My first cow and calf 

I spent the next few months getting to know my cow.  I was terribly intimidated by her size.  In fact, I was afraid to go into her pasture.  I would cut up apples and feed them to her over the gate.  She would eat them out of my hand while I called her by the name I had given her, and I would tell her what a sweet cow she was.  I’m convinced this is what endeared her to me.  When my excited grandchildren visited, they would also feed her cut-up apples through the gate.  They got to feel the rough tongue of a cow, see how large she was, and learn her name.  The cow got used to a bunch of excited kids shrieking near her.

Once a week I would call her over, feed bucket in hand, to the milking area.  I would give her a little grain, lock her head in the head gate, and let her know that I could touch her all over without her being afraid.  I was told to not overfeed her while pregnant, and that a fat cow will have difficulties birthing.  I could only give her one quart of dairy ration, once a week.  She had plenty of grass, but she found the stash of hay in the barn, figured out how to open the gate to it, and buried her nose in that fresh hay often.  So, that’s how it went for a few months.Continue reading“Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 2, by SaraSue”

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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First up, at WND: Young Americans lead population in prepping for disaster. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.)

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Tucker Carlson interviews Alex Jones in a lengthy (1.5-hour), wide-ranging, and insightful conversation, on X-Twitter.  It is good to see that Elon Musk subsequently reinstated Alex Jones to Twitter.

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Reader C.B. mentioned this new video from Texas contractor Matt Risinger: Building in the Country – Everything you need to know.

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Pentagon may let AI drones kill humans autonomously: Report.

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To follow up on my previous mention of his passing, here is a link to an obituary for my brother in Christ, Bob Griswold.  Rest in Peace, my friend!

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Mr. President, the small progress we have made after four or five weeks’ close attendance and continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes—is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. And we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark, to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time, and, the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed, in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and by-word down to future ages. And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.” – Benjamin Franklin, from Volume 5 of The Debates in the Several State Conventions.

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 12, 2023

On December 12, 1915 popular singer Frank Sinatra, who also achieved wide success as a film actor, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey.

And on December 12, 2019, the British General Election was won by Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party in a landslide win with an 80-seat majority. The same day, the Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 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. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  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. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $305 value)
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. 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)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $850,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 110 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.

Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 1, by SaraSue

Trends in Homesteading

It’s become very popular to have a homestead milk cow.  I can see why!  No running to the store for milk.  When my children were little, milk was the item we were always running out of.  I love being able to open the “milk fridge” and see gallons of milk sitting there.  I love being able to make cream cheese, or ice cream, or whipped cream, or yogurt without having to run to the store.  Chocolate milk is a treat and is easily made when there’s plenty of milk.  In years past, I would have never drank “raw milk” as I was told it was dirty and full of bacteria.  Now I know better.  Raw milk doesn’t go bad like pasteurized milk does, unless it becomes contaminated by something outside of itself.  It just changes into a cheese like substance (which is, believe it or not, fully edible).  Raw milk would have to sit for a really long time to actually go putrid.  After having milk cows for a couple of years, I can see why the family milk cow was considered an asset.

I have a neighbor who comes to my house every week to pick up milk.  He is an older gentleman who likes to tell me the stories of how he grew up, and even gave me a tour of his property.  Oh to have a barn like they have!!  He said that the milk truck would come through the countryside picking up milk from various farms for the “city folk”.  They would set out large cans of milk for the milk truck and would get paid for their milk.  It was a small source of income for their farm.  When I had work done on my property, one of the gentlemen stopped to discuss my dairy cows after he had finished working.  He told me that he had worked in a dairy long ago and that his granny had a milk cow.  I sent milk home with him.  I have discovered that many people in this area had milk cows a generation or two ago and remember the fresh, delicious, taste of raw milk.  I can tell you that a Jersey cow’s milk can taste like a vanilla milkshake.  It’s that good.  A Guernsey cow’s milk, often called Golden Milk, is sweet, rich, and buttery.  A Brown Swiss cow’s milk is crisp and refreshing.  Seriously, the milk is that good.  I don’t think I can drink store-bought milk again, even if you paid me.Continue reading“Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 1, by SaraSue”

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, we mention the touristy town of Leavenworth, Washington as well as some more about political migration in general, and the Greater Idaho movement, in particular. (See the Central & Eastern Washington section and the Region-Wide section.)

Region-Wide

Video: What’s Driving Greater Idaho? — December 1, 2023 — Idaho Reports. JWR’s Comments:  This was a pleasant surprise.  A discussion hosted by a PBS affiliate — between three liberals — that was remarkably well-balanced and treated the Move Oregon’s Borders position seriously. Usually, when liberals say that they want “a discussion”, they really mean that they want to give you a lecture, to chide you for any political incorrectness. But in this case, they treated the topic fairly. Kudos.

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‘Escape liberal hell’: Republicans really are fleeing Washington.

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From USN&WR: Conservatives Go to Red States and Liberals Go to Blue as the Country Grows More Polarized.

Idaho

Escape to Idaho: GOP state says two thirds of the 119,000 people who’ve relocated there in recent years are Republican, as conservatives flee nearby Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. JWR’s Comments: That British headline writer needs a little geography lesson… Seattle and Portland are both at least a six-hour drive from Idaho. And San Francisco is certainly not “nearby” Idaho. It is at least a 9-hour drive. (For comparison: The distance from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland is about 400 miles by car, and the drive time is around 8 hours.)

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An arrest made related to double-homicide in Twin Falls. JWR’s Comment: Gosh, if they want to solve a murder case, then it would be helpful to post photos of the suspects, or at least their names.

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Lightning Creek Road near Clark Fork temporarily closed due to flooding.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It is said that Congress should not possess the power of calling out the militia, to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions; nor the President have the command of them when called out for such purposes.

I believe any gentleman, who possesses military experience, will inform you that men without a uniformity of arms, accoutrements, and discipline, are no more than a mob in a camp; that, in the field, instead of assisting, they interfere with one another. If a soldier drops his musket, and his companion, unfurnished with one, takes it up, it is of no service, because his cartridges do not fit it. By means of this system, a uniformity of arms and discipline will prevail throughout the United States.

I really expected that, for this part of the system at least, the framers of it would have received plaudits instead of censures, as they here discover a strong anxiety to have this body put upon an effective footing, and thereby, in a great measure, to supersede the necessity of raising or keeping up standing armies.

The militia formed under this system, and trained by the several states, will be such a bulwark of internal strength, as to prevent the attacks of foreign enemies. I have been told that, about the year 1744, an attack was intended by France upon Massachusetts Bay, but was given up on reading the militia law of the province.

If a single state could deter an enemy from such attempts, what influence will the proposed arrangement have upon the different powers of Europe?

In every point of view, this regulation is calculated to produce good effects. How powerful and respectable must the body of militia appear under general and uniform regulations! How disjointed, weak, and inefficient are they at present! I appeal to military experience for the truth of my observations.” – James Wilson of Massachusetts, The Debates in the Several State Conventions

Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 11, 2023

On December 11, 1994, Russian troops invaded Chechnya to suppress a rebel Chechen government led by Dzhokhar Dudayev.

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SurvivalRealty.com is running a special promotion: The book Survival Retreats & Relocation (co-authored by Jonathan Rawles and James Wesley, Rawles is on sale for $29, with free shipping! (It is normally priced at $34.) Get your guide to establishing a secure and sustainable home in time for Christmas.

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Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

Tapix Mil-Spec Green Sandbags, by Thomas Christianson

I have a makeshift shooting range behind my pole barn. In the backstop behind the target stand, I had used a sloping wall of sand to absorb the energy of the bullets entering the backstop.

The major problem with a sloping wall of sand is that it is thinner at the top than it is at the bottom. This leaves the top of the wall of sand weaker than the bottom. With that in mind, I usually only used the targets near the bottom of the target stand when I was shooting a more powerful firearm, like a centerfire rifle.

During a recent range session, I was shooting a rifle chambered in 6.5x55mm Swedish. I forgot my own guideline about only shooting at targets near the bottom of the target stand, and used the top row of targets. As a result, several bullets scattered the top of the sloping wall of sand and penetrated beyond the rear wall of the backstop. Fortunately, I have a sand hill behind the backstop. That hill stopped the errant bullets.

Having a backstop that does not stop bullets is not particularly helpful. I decided that I needed some sandbags to hold a thicker layer of sand in place near the top of the backstop.Continue reading“Tapix Mil-Spec Green Sandbags, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Amish Apple Fritters

The following recipe for Amish Apple Fritters is from SurvivalBlog reader Mike in Alaska.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups finely chopped apples
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined.
  3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  4. Fold in the chopped apples.
  5. Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
  6. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop the batter by the tablespoonful into the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet.
  7. Fry the fritters for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  8. Remove the fritters from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  9. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil as needed.
  10. Dust the fritters with powdered sugar.
SERVING

These are best served while they are still warm from the oven.

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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!

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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today,  another look at the Swiss Watch market. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Radomski: The Most Important Analogy for the Markets, Including Gold.

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Neils Christensen: The gold market has a big hill to climb as prices lose 3% after hitting all-time highs.

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The world’s largest silver producers in Q3 2023 – report.

Economy & Finance:

At Zero Hedge: US Bank Deposit Outflows Continue To Surge As Regional ‘Stress’ Accelerates.

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Broadcom cuts at least 2,800 VMware jobs following $69 billion acquisition. JWR’s Comments: Broadcom is reportedly demoting lots of VMWare vice presidents to “Manager” level (with corresponding 20% or more pay cuts), and seems intent on laying off everyone but the company’s Brain Trust. Morale is in the dumpster. I’ve read that 60% of VMWare’s Austin, Texas office employees were laid off.  According to a VMWare employee forum, their headcount is expected to shrink from 35,000 to around 16,000 by 2025. More analysis of the acquisition has been published here: VMware layoffs (and other cuts) start as Broadcom takes over. Also, see the interesting comments at TheLayoff.com.

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Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Jobs numbers “implode” as job openings plunge 800,000 on the month. Wall Street Journal thinks it’s bad.

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Mortgage Rates Forecast For 2024: When Will Rates Finally Come Down?

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Congress, by the power of taxation, by that of raising an army, and by their control over the militia, have the sword in one hand, and the purse in the other. Shall we be safe without either? Congress have an unlimited power over both: they are entirely given up by us. Let him candidly tell me, where and when did freedom exist, when the sword and purse were given up from the people? Unless a miracle in human affairs interposed, no nation ever retained its liberty after the loss of the sword and purse. Can you prove, by any argumentative deduction, that it is possible to be safe without retaining one of these? If you give them up, you are gone.” – Patrick Henry, from Volume 3 of The Debates in the Several State Conventions