Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 29, 2023

On August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina made its 2nd and 3rd landfall as a category 3 hurricane, devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. The storm killed more than 1,836 people and caused over $115 billion in damage.

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On August 29, 1949, the USSR performed its first nuclear test at Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 108 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 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 $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.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 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 $840,000 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 108 ends on September 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.

Vintage Car Repair – Part 1, by Reelfisherman

I’ve been reading SurvivalBlog for more than 10 years. God willing, I hope to continue for another 10 years. I’m not sure how I found this blogsite, but this is the first site I go to every day. I have always wanted to write an article for SurvivalBlog. From this blog I have gained some valuable information over the years such as getting out of debt, saving my nickels, buying gold and silver, and numerous how-to articles.

This article describes how to select and keep older vehicles running. With so many concerns today about an  EMP attack from another country or solar flares knocking out electronics it would be nice to have an alternative means of transportation if the SHTF. Bicycles and horses are great alternatives, but you can’t beat the utility of a motorized vehicle.

Most cars today come with stainless steel exhaust, engines than can run 200,000 plus miles, and need very little maintenance. Modern vehicles can drive down the highway at 75 to 80 MPH with no problems and have all the comforts of home. The only problem in my opinion is they are loaded with electronics. Some of these are unnecessary. Sensors can fail and make your vehicle not run right. Without a computer and the right training, it can be impossible to repair it on your own.

This is where older vehicles from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s shine. If you have the mechanical ability, you can repair them on your own. Brakes, exhaust, tune-ups, starter, water pump, alternator replacement to complete engine replacements can all be performed at home with some basic mechanic tools. I have replaced an engine from a 1960s Chevy using a come-along off a large tree limb. Most of the older vehicles had very little stuff under the hood. You could sit on the fender and replace the spark plugs. Ah, to be young again. High School kids could spend a weekend working under the hood and feel good about the repairs they made.Continue reading“Vintage Car Repair – Part 1, by Reelfisherman”

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 focus on reduced wolf take quotas in Montana. (See the Montana section.)

Idaho

A horribly overblown and biased UK Guardian article, with references to Idaho: US businessman is wannabe ‘warlord’ of secretive far-right men’s network.

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Blog reader Tim J. sent this: Another Diesel Tuner Nailed With $1M Fine for Emissions Tampering.

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Idaho Senators Risch, Crapo Advocate for Female Athletes.

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Idaho murder victim’s family asks for prayers, fears delay in Kohberger trial.

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Risch: 2023 Farm Bill Is an Opportunity to Properly Manage Forests & Disrupt Endless Wildfires.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 28, 2023

On August 28, 1793, the Siege of Toulon in the French Revolutionary wars began.

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A reminder: Jonathan Rawles, who operates SurvivalRealty.com, has produced a free mini e-book intended for people contemplating a move to a rural area. This short e-book is available as a free PDF download.  Take note that SurvivalRealty is just an advertising site, not an agency or brokerage.  There are no commissions charged on the completion of property sales.

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

 

 

LogOX A2 GenOX Bushcraft Knife, by Thomas Christianson

The LogOX A2 GenOX Bushcraft Knife is a razor sharp, 4.25 inch, full-tang, fixed-blade, Scandi-grind knife made of A2 steel with a Micarta handle. At the time of this writing, it cost $287 at www.thelogox.com. The price includes the knife, a finely crafted leather sheath, and a matching ferrocerium rod. This compares favorably with other high-quality, hand-crafted, American-made knives.

The knife and accessories provide a beautiful, well-crafted, highly-durable tool set for wood harvesting, hunting, camping, survival and other field use.

The Backstory

I like LogOX products for wood harvesting. My favorite LogOX product is their Hauler. A pair of Haulers, one in each hand, is a great help for picking up rounds and moving them over rough terrain. I also really like their WoodOX Sling. Its brilliant ergonomic design makes it surprisingly easy to haul firewood from the wood shed to the wood box in the house.

So when I heard that LogOX also offered a knife, I was immediately interested. The appearance of the GenOX knife reminded me of the classic Village Blacksmith ST113, which is a long-time favorite of mine that is no longer in production. I contacted LogOX to see if they could provide me with a sample for testing and evaluation, and they were kind enough to agree. A few days later the knife arrived via USPS Priority Mail.Continue reading“LogOX A2 GenOX Bushcraft Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Simple Pumpkin Soup

The following recipe for Simple Pumpkin Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader G.C.  She said that she adapted it from one that she found years ago in Country Living.

Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 peeled and chopped potato
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 4 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound of cooked pumpkin (or one 15-ounce can of pumpkin, if you don’t have fresh pumpkins available.)
  • Salt and pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ pint heavy cream
Directions
  1. Melt the butter in a large pot and cook the potato and the onion for about 8 minutes.
  2. Add the chicken broth, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot.
  3. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
  4. Add the pumpkin and purée with a hand blender or an electric immersion blender until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Add the nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste.
  6. Increase the heat and boil the soup.
  7. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  8. Add the cream and stir well.
  9. Reheat and season with salt and pepper.

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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!

The BRICS Alliance is All About Gold

Today, in place of my usual Monday column on economics and investing, I’d like to briefly delve into some of the implications of the recently announced expansion of the BRICS trading alliance.

The acronym “BRIC” was first coined in 2001 by Terence James O’Neill — then of Goldman Sachs — in describing the fast-growing economies that would dominate the global economy by 2050: Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  Over time, South Africa was added to the acronym, making it BRICS. Oddly, O’Neill’s term of art eventually morphed into an actual multi-national organization.  In recent years, primarily under mainland Chinese leadership, the BRICS group has worked on developing trade agreements and credit-clearing circles.

I believe that many western economic and political analysts are missing the “Big Picture” of BRICS and the planned BRICS+ expansion. The mass media is presently abuzz about the combined oil production and population figures of the BRICS bloc. Yes, it is more than half of the world’s population. And yes, they collectively produce a quite substantial amount of oil. But what they are missing is that the BRICS alliance is all about gold.  In my estimation, it might as well be called The Gold Bricks Alliance. To wit:Continue reading“The BRICS Alliance is All About Gold”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 27, 2023

On August 27, 2011, after causing extensive damage to various Caribbean islands, Hurricane Irene made landfall in the United States, striking North Carolina’s Outer Banks before moving along the Eastern Seaboard; property damage in the United States exceeded $7 billion, making Irene one of the most expensive Atlantic hurricanes in the country’s history.

August 27th was the birthday of Emory Upton (August 27, 1839 – March 15, 1881). He was a United States Army General and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments. His work, The Military Policy of the United States, which analyzed American military policies and practices and presented the first systematic examination of the nation’s military history, had a tremendous effect on the organization and modernization of the U.S. Army when it was published posthumously in 1904. He has rightly been called “The father of the modern U.S. Army.”

And August 27, 1917 was the birthday of American gun designer Robert Hillberg, best known as the designer of the C.O.P. four-barrel derringer, Winchester’s Liberator shotguns, the graceful Whitney Wolverine, and the Wildey .44 Magnum gas-operated pistol. He died in 2012.

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Today’s reader-written feature article is too short to qualify for the judging for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We are now seeking entries for Round 108. More than $840,000 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 108 ends on September 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.

Long Term Storage of Household Batteries, by OhioGalt

Several years ago, I began purchasing Lithium Batteries in AA and AAA sizes for long-term storage in case of some event where batteries were not readily available. I was also using them in several trail cams around the property because they would last roughly 10-to-12 months before replacement. I recently went to buy another couple of 48-packs and found the price had significantly increased. The cellular cameras I use offer a rechargeable lithium pack and comparing to lithium AA I found I could pay for the rechargeable pack in less then two sets of AA lithium batteries. Unfortunately, you cannot safely charge AA or AAA lithium batteries as they are designed as single-use items.

Since I also kept a supply of Lithium batteries on hand for household uses (radios, flashlights, range finders) I began looking at other options for batteries. Several years ago my wife had bought me a set of Eneloop batteries and charger in a case.

They are Ni-MH ‘Low Self Discharge’ and claim to be good for up to 2100 recharges. They provide a nice storage case , charger, several AA and AAA batteries with adapters for C and D size that hold a AA battery inside. They have been great and we use them at the cabin but I wanted to replenish my Lithium supply and found them the Eneloop batteries a little pricey as well. The other issue I had with the Eneloop charger is it was only 120 volt powered and I wanted something I could also charge on 12 volt DC system if need be.

Researching other Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries and charges I found another well-rated battery by “Geilenergy” AA, 600 mAh, 1.2 volt. To be fair, the Eneloop claims to hold up to 2000 mAh and I did not do any battery tests to compare the two brands. There is probably some truth in you get what you pay for here but I was not looking for high-performance batteries for my flashlights and AM FM radios. Possibly at a later date I will run a capacity test on the Eneloop and Geilenergy and compare values. I also noted that my charger is only rated for 1000 mAh so I will have to include the chargers in the test as well.

My Ni-MH charger has the option of running on standard 120 (100-240) volt household power or 12 volt DC for charging. I’ve had this charger a few years and a quick search I could no longer find a reseller for the unit. A search on Amazon did reveal several manufacturers of chargers with dual AC and DC voltage inputs.

I store my charged batteries in a small plastic container and label the lid the last recharge date, usually about once a year.

Important Safety Note: I do not store 9-volt batteries loose in the container unless they have a band of electric tape over the terminals to prevent them from shorting and potentially starting a fire.

There are some fancy battery organizers available with included testers for those who desire more organization. Hopefully, this brief article will give others some thoughts and ideas on keeping extra batteries on hand for safekeeping at minimal cost.

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

That Face You Make When…

Your Arrest Was 99% Political

News Links:

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provide that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” – Hebrews 9:11-28 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 26, 2023

August 26, 1946 was the official release date of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”

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Today we present the fifth and last installment of SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Emeritus Pat Cascio’s autobiography.

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We are in great need of entries for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $840,000 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 108 ends on September 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.

Making It Count – Part 5, by Pat Cascio

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

My first meeting with Colonel Applegate

As I’ve mentioned before in SurvivalBlog, from 1990 to 1993 I worked for the late Colonel Rex Applegate as his assistant, on numerous projects. I also maintained his gun collection. He had more than 850 guns – many were prototypes and one-of-a-kind. It was a great honor working for the good Colonel. He taught me a lot about a lot of things, especially when he served in WWII for the military. He told me a lot of things that he said that he’d never mentioned to anyone else. He also taught me a lot about point shooting and knife fighting.

(l. to r.) John Taffin, Rex Applegate, and Pat Cascio

 

It was Applegate who introduced me to my favorite gun writer, Chuck Karwan. Chuck used to help Applegate with some projects. Chuck and I became close friends. Chuck helped me with my magazine articles and I helped him with several of his books and magazine articles. Whenever Chuck had a question about combat shooting he would call me, and when I needed help with military weapons, then I’d call him.  Applegate and I also worked with gun writer John Taffin.Continue reading“Making It Count – Part 5, by Pat Cascio”