A Recent Power Outage Experience – Part 1, by Big D.

INTRODUCTION

I am writing this within a few days after a power outage on June 18, 2023, so that I will remember the details. I am a 74-year-old and somewhat handicapped grandpa who lives alone in the country. I still get around okay but a lot of physical effort wears me out rather quickly. Sometimes I think that I still have the physical capabilities of the athlete that I was as a younger man. Mentally, yes. Physically, not so much!

I was awakened just after midnight on Sunday morning by the sounds of a storm with very high winds buffeting the house. Within minutes the electric power in the entire house went off. No digital clock displays, no bug lights, no electric power bar switch pilot lights, and no outdoor security lights shining through the edges of the drapes and curtains. Complete black darkness. Makes me think of what Moses’ Egyptian plague of darkness might have looked like.

I reached over and grabbed the flashlight off of my bedside table. I walked cautiously through the house. I looked out the front window and could see a very heavy wind blowing horizontally. I could see tops of narrow 20’ tall decorative trees yielding to the wind and bending over maybe 30 degrees from the vertical.

At that moment I looked and saw a 30’+ high cottonwood tree next to my driveway uproot and blow down into the yard taking out the main electric service wires running from the street pole to the first security light pole in my side yard close to the garage. The wires to the second security light and electric meter pole in the back yard remained intact. They feed the house from there.Continue reading“A Recent Power Outage Experience – Part 1, by Big D.”

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, a follow-up report on the Great Falls, Montana gun shop raid. (See the Montana section.)

Idaho

Idaho set to add 248 bills into law on July 1st.

o  o  o

Community calls for justice following police killing of 22-year-old man.

o  o  o

Boise Police arrest unregistered sex offender for assault and registration violations.

o  o  o

Kayaking to Shoshone Falls is a bucket list Idaho summer adventure.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should. Happy Fourth of July.” – Ronald Reagan, 1981

Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 3, 2023

On July 3, 1890, the Idaho Territory became the 43rd state in the Union.

July 3rd is also the birthday of both musician Aaron Tippin and actor Tom Cruise.

—

Today’s feature article is a review written by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio. He has been in ill health, so please keep him in your prayers.

—

We are in great need of articles to round out Round 107 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. It ends on July 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.

 

Springfield Armory Saint 9mm Carbine, by Pat Cascio

It seems like it was a lifetime ago, when I shot a Colt 9mm submachinegun, I do remember how much fun it was. I was determined to get the civilian-legal semiauto version, someday.  Well, at long last, that someday finally rolled around, in the guise of the new Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm AR. Springfield Armory always seems to have their finger on the pulse of what consumers want. However, at times they are overwhelmed with demand for many of their products. Such is the case with their brand-new 9mm AR-style pistol carbine that recently came on the scene. I waited forever to get my sample in hand – but it was well worth the wait.

What we have in the 9mm Saint series carbine is a 16-inch barrel little shooter that has all the bells and whistles you could ask for. The 16-inch barrel is Melonite coated, that will handle any and all types of 9mm fodder, with very little recoil. The gun weighs in at 6 lbs 15 ozs.  It is a bit top-heavy due to the 15-inch MLOK handguard…I would like to see a version with a shorter handguard — thus a lighter version — at some point. However, the MLOK offers you a seeming endless number of attaching points, for various “toys” you might wish to hang on the gun. I prefer to keep the profiles of my AR-types of guns fairly clean, so the only thing I installed on my sample, is a Riton small red dot sight on my sample. More about that sight, later.Continue reading“Springfield Armory Saint 9mm Carbine, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Easy Soft Cheeses

The following recipe for Easy Cheeses is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska.

Soft cheeses can be easy.

Below is a beginner’s recipe that requires only milk, salt, and vinegar (or lemon juice).  Without additional herbs, the result will be very bland, like Indian paneer, or Italian ricotta, or Mexican cojillo. But once you have made this easy cheese, you may feel emboldened to branch out.
One gallon of milk (or dried milk plus water to equal one gallon)  (I have done this with non fat milk and it works, but is blander).
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice (or some other acid, I suppose?)
1 TBS salt.
Gently heat the milk to just below boiling (smoking).  Stir occasionally.  DO NOT SCALD the bottom of the milk or you will have to throw out the whole batch.
Turn off the heat.  Stir in the vinegar (up, down, around) for one minute). Curds (thick globs of milk) should start to form immediately)  Cover the pot and leave it unattended for 10 -15 minutes.
If, when you check it, the milk is still liquid, warm it up. For example, put the pot in the bottom of a propane powered oven over the pilot light. But if the milk is coagulated, like yogurt, move to the next step.
Set up a big bowl, with a colander over it and a cheese cloth or stocking or loosely sewn T shirt over the colander.  Gently pour the curds (the yogurt like solids) and the whey (the greenish clear liquid) through the fabric.

You will end up with about 2/3 liquid and 1/3 solid.

Do not toss the liquid.  The whey is a great water replacement in bread or rice or pancakes and animals lap it up, too.
Gently squeeze the curds in the cloth to reduce the liquid.
You can eat this as is, as cottage cheese.  You can hand mix in (like kneading dough) salt and other flavorings.  For example, if you want a sweet cheese for a breakfast danish, add sugar or honey.  Or for a savory cheese, add herbs, spices, onions, garlic. To save the cheese for a week or more, tighten the cloth around the cheese by twisting it over a bowl to collect the whey, and let it drain overnight.
The next day, your cheese will be crumbly.  Full-fat milk cheese will be creamier than low-fat cheese. Either way, the flavors you added will intensify over several days.
Refrigerate the cheese.  It will remain edible for up to a week, otherwise, you should freeze it.

—

This article first appeared at Mrs. Alaska’s informative blog.  It is re-posted with permission.

—

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, we look at base metals prices signaling a recession. (See the Commodities section.)

Precious Metals:

First up, from Matthew Piepenburg: Solid Gold In a Broken World.

o  o  o

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: The apocalyptic 8000-tonne gold miscalculation.

o  o  o

Something for the chartists out there, at Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Forecast – Bullish Price Chart Supports $3000 Target in 2024.

o  o  o

Moscow Exchange to launch perpetual gold futures in July.

o  o  o

I heard that Gainesville Coins is now running a sale on silver rounds. They have them for as little as $1.79 over spot, if you pay by check or bank wire.

Economy & Finance:

Federal debt to soar, CBO predicts, despite GOP-led spending standoff.

o  o  o

Federal Reserve focuses monetary policy on fighting inflation.

o  o  o

From Zero Hedge: Largest Discrepancy Between GDP And GDI In 20 Years.

o  o  o

But of course the Perpetual Cheering Section at CNN says: The case for a 2023 US recession is crumbling.

o  o  o

Apple stock closes above $3 trillion valuation for the first time ever.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 2, 2023

On July 2nd, 2002 American adventurer Steve Fossett became the first balloonist to circumnavigate the world alone. And in 2005 he completed the first nonstop solo global flight in an airplane.

And on July 2nd, 1937 aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator.

—

We are still seeking entries for Round 107 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $825,000 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 107 ends on July 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.

The Long View of a Brewing Conservative Backlash

America has been on the path of self-destruction for four generations. Since the end of the Second World War, feminized socialists have gradually gained sociopolitical control of the United States.  The left-wing radicals of the 1960s and 1970s are now in their senior years and they hold the reins of power in our society.  Those hippies who said:  “Never trust anyone over 30” and who complained about “The Man”, now are The Man. They control academia, the mass media, both major political parties, urban law enforcement, labor unions, most Fortune 1,000 corporate Boards of Directors, and some mainline church hierarchies.

The rise of feminism, women entering the workforce, and the advent of birth control have had disastrous effects on the birth rate. To a lesser extent, lesbianism has also removed women from the potential marriage pool. (Perhaps 2.5% of young women in urban areas and 1% in rural areas.) Because of all of these factors, a large percentage of men under 30 now have no real prospect of marrying and fathering children. Many of them will end up as involuntary celibates (“incels”.) And even those of them who do marry face the prospect of divorce initiated by their wives and a court system that favors wives over husbands in most divorce cases, especially if they have children.Continue reading“The Long View of a Brewing Conservative Backlash”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

 

Meme Text:

The Rationality Venn Diagram: Kamala Harris Outside of Reason, Logic, and Observable Truth

News Links:

NBC News poll: Kamala Harris hits record low for VP net favorability.

SkyNews Australia:  Kamala Harris’ laugh is the ‘biggest, destructive, negative force’ in American politics ever.

Kamala Harris doesn’t even understand why she is unpopular.

Harris bashed for bragging that Biden has lowered electricity and heating bills: ‘Alternate reality’.

Kamala Harris Just Can’t Stop Laughing (And Scaring People)

The most awkward and embarrassing Kamala Harris ‘word salads’ of 2022.

—

Note 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!

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” – 1 Timothy 2 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 1, 2023

On July 1st, 1997, the crown colony of Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule. There have been sporadic protests by locals there, ever since.

July 1st, 1535, Sir Thomas More went on trial for treason for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.

And on July 1st, 1863 is the anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.

—

Several of our affiliate advertisers, including Brownells, Ready Made Resources, GunMag Warehouse, Palmetto State Armory, and Federal Premium are running Independence Day sales, until July 4th or 5th. Stock up on things that go bang!

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 107 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. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. 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. 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.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $825,000 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 107 ends on July 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.

Bugging Out: Some Realities, by Mr. Zipph

I recently relocated from a rural suburb in a purple state to a much smaller community in a very red state. I had long-term plans to make this move, but an unexpected career change enabled me to move sooner than expected. While my new home is not a compound deep in the woods, it does provide me with more security, more privacy, the ability to expand my gardening efforts, the option of raising some chickens and/or rabbits in the future, abundant wildlife, and a smaller community where people go to church and value their freedom.

When making our relocation decision, my wife and I decided that we wanted a location that would be our final home. This was an extremely important decision, so we visited the general area on many occasions, getting to know the area, visiting many towns, and looking at a large number of properties and houses. This was a multi-year research effort. One of our considerations was the proximity to hospitals and doctors. The area we were considering was rural and mountainous. Some of the specific locations that we considered were ruled out as we believed them to be too far from appropriate medical treatment if one of us had a dire health emergency. We settled on a location that was rural and private but was an acceptable distance from a good hospital.

We purchased our red state home several months ago and only recently sold our purple state home and moved to our new location. During that interim period during which we owned both houses, we moved some of our materials and belongings so that we could sort of camp out in the new home during many trips there to make repairs and updates on the new house.Continue reading“Bugging Out: Some Realities, by Mr. Zipph”

June 2023 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover gold’s performance and the factors that affect gold prices.

What Did Gold Do in June?

Central banks, inflation, and diverging economies around the world magnified the usual summer weakness in gold for June. COMEX gold futures topped out early, hitting $1,995.50 on June 1st. Prices oscillated lower through the rest of the month, bottoming $78 lower at $1,917.90 on the 29th.

Spot gold followed much the same trajectory in June, notching a monthly high of $1,977.40 on the 1st, then taking a rollercoaster ride downward. Spot gold hit its nadir for the month early on the 29th when first quarter GDP came in far higher than expected. The news trashed gold prices, temporarily pushing gold below the $1,900 mark to $1,892 before bargain hunters leaped in and brought prices back to unchanged.Continue reading“June 2023 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran”