SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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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Tracy M. sent us the link to this fascinating study: Mapping a Magnetic Superstorm: March 1989 Geoelectric Hazards and Impacts on United States Power Systems. Here is a brief excerpt:

“Electric fields induced in the Earth during magnetic storms can drive uncontrolled currents in electric-power systems, interfering with their operation. Geomagnetically induced currents realized during the magnetic storm of March 1989 caused a blackout in Québec, Canada, and, in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States, they caused operational interference for electric-power companies and damaged a high-voltage transformer. In support of projects for estimating geoelectric hazards and improving power-system resilience, maps are made of March 1989 magnetic-storm geoelectric hazards and corresponding impacts on United States power systems. Results are based on modeling geomagnetic monitoring data, geoelectromagnetic survey data, and a compilation of published reports of power-system interference. During the storm, electric-power system interference was concentrated where the lithosphere is relatively electrically resistive, and when and where the geoelectric field was of high amplitude.”

JWR’s Comment: This adds credence to my assertion that the safest places to live have low population density, and are in electric power exporting regions.

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From D.S.V.: Gun stores report record sales as Washington state prepares to enact new firearm law.  JWR  Adds: Stock up on magazines before June 30th, if you live in Washington!

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Those sneaky RINO sell-out Senators are at it again! Their “compromise” draft legislation package — 80 pages in all — has been released. It includes enhanced long gun purchase background checks for adults aged 18 to 20, Federal funding of state red flag laws, a bunch of mental health funding, and a redefinition of “engaged in the business” that would require more private party gun sellers to get an FFL for intrastate sales. Please contact both of your state’s U.S. Senators and tell them to vote NO on this unconstitutional legislation, and fillibuster it — or add “killer” amendments to it — if need be. The back door approach of the Federales funding states to enact unconstitutional red flag/ERPO laws is wicked!

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Reader L.E. sent this:

“Regarding the article on intense drought in Texas, do we know if the Texas power companies have in fact upped their game regarding potential power outages. My hypothetical scenario would be if the government actually demands that these power companies continue to provide electricity to customers regardless of whether they can make a profit or not (known as “the Biden way”), and some line in the sand gets crossed to where the CEO of the power company simply fires everyone, turns off the power, and leaves, taking one or two vitally important irreplaceable components with him as he heads to his private jet for an extended “vacation” outside the US. Let the government come in and run the show and see how well that works…”

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 21, 2022

June 21st is the birthday of Rex Applegate (June 21, 1914 – July 14, 1998), author of Kill or Be Killed. He was the friend and mentor of SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

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A Special Request from JWR:  I’m in the process of re-organizing my workshop, so I’m looking to buy several sets of used, reasonably-priced heavy-duty storage shelves with metal frames, from here in the American Redoubt. I’m willing to travel as far away as Spokane, Washington, Kalispell, Montana, Lewiston, Idaho, or Colfax, Washington, to pick them up. They can be up to 12 feet tall, but must be at least 6 feet tall. They need to be a minimum of 28 inches deep, but can be up to 48 inches deep. Long term, I will need several shelving units with a total of 160 lineal feet of width. But for now, I’m willing to travel to pick up just a few shelf units that are just 8 feet wide. Any well-made sturdy, shelf or rack design will do: RiveTier, round-post wire racks, Gorilla, Whalen, Muscle, Whirlpool-Gladiator, Xtreme Garage, Husky, or Edsal-style racks. These may be well-used, as long as they are still structurally sound and they will hold substantial weight. They don’t need to match — my workshop is not a beauty contest. Please e-mail me and let me know if you have any for sale, or know of someone who has some to sell. Thanks! – JWR

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 101 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. 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  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 LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 101 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.

 

Preparedness Planning: The Business Trip, By Mr. Zipph

From time to time, my job requires that I travel for meetings with vendors or clients and to attend conferences. Some of these trips require air travel, which brings unique challenges over automobile travel. You can’t carry many common prepping items on an airplane. Also, legal restrictions and lack of reciprocity create challenges when it comes to firearms. For a decade or so, I have carried various prepping items with me on trips, but have not spent a great deal of time planning what that kit should look like. During my most recent trip, I decided to plan better and make this trip a sort of planning dry run for a scenario in which everything went sideways.

My scenario is a three-night trip to a conference in the downtown area of a major city. I have a bias against checking baggage, so I limited myself to a wheel aboard suitcase and a briefcase, considering TSA restrictions. You can view the carry on restrictions on the TSA website. Historically, the TSA gate screeners have been sporadic in enforcing various restrictions and sometimes make up their own rules. At one point, I had been carrying a tactical pen with me on a routine basis. At the time it was not specifically listed on the prohibited list and many times it made it through the checkpoint, however after having a couple of them taken from me, I gave up on that. I now see that tactical pens are specifically listed as a prohibited item.

I took a ride share from the airport rather than renting a car because my travel was limited to the hotel and convention center which are very close to each other. The daily car rental and the hotel parking fee would have been unnecessary expenses which my employer would not appreciate.

In addition to accumulating prepping stuff and learning how to use it, I believe that it is extremely important to hone your resourcefulness skills to learn how to think quickly and clearly to develop strategies for situations and events for which you haven’t previously considered.

When all the Covid stuff started to happen, I was in an airport and overheard a couple of bankers from different institutions say that their companies were implementing a travel ban for their employees. This was before the shutdowns and other draconian measures that the local, state and federal governments would later implement. I knew something very weird was about to happen. I was traveling to California the following week, so I started to make alternative return travel plans, in case I couldn’t get home by air. I determined it would be a long trip, but I could travel home by rental car or train if needed. Luckily, those alternative plans were not needed.Continue reading“Preparedness Planning: The Business Trip, By Mr. Zipph”

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 special look at the proliferation of data centers and bitcoin mining operations that have set up shop in the American Redoubt, to take advantage of inexpensive hydropower.

Idaho

Latest Trends of Bitcoin Mining in Idaho.

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Gov. Little signs disaster declaration for two counties due to spring flooding

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I recently made a repeat visit to Redoubt Surplus & Tactical at their new location, just north of Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. I stopped there to pick up some more ammo cans and other assorted surplus items from among their big selection of gear. While I was there, I learned that they recently acquired more than a dozen used Polish army surplus commo wire spool deployment backpacks, complete with 1/4-mile-long spools of green heavy-duty two-conductor insulated field telephone wire. These, of course, pay out the wire behind you, as you walk. Due to their weight, Redoubt Surplus & Tactical is selling these only in their store — not by mail order. They are offering used packs, each with one full spool of continuity-checked wire, priced at less than $120!

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The boots of a missing young man have been found and his mother is speaking about his disappearance.

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Idaho National Guardsman among those arrested for Conspiracy to Riot in CDA.  JWR’s Comments: Not mentioned in the news story is that 29 of the other 30 individuals had no connection to Idaho. One is a former Idahoan, now living in Texas. This incident appears to have been the work of an out-of-state agitprop Rent-A-Mob!  Such racists should be shunned.

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Global Warming File: June snow falls on Schweitzer Mountain.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 20, 2022

June 20th is the birthday of Audie L. Murphy, America’s most-decorated veteran. He was born in 1925. He died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971.

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The Last Day! We are ending our summer sale, at Elk Creek Company at midnight, Pacific Time, tonight. We’ve reduced the prices on all of our percussion replica guns, and nearly all of our pre-1899 cartridge guns. With the recent dip in the spot price of silver, this is a great time to buy. Note that we have our prices listed in both pre-1965 silver coinage  and in current rapidly-inflating Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs.) Order soon!

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Today we present a review written by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

CRKT Assisted Opening M16 Folders, by Pat Cascio

I have followed CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) since they first came on the cutlery scene many years ago. CRKT was actually formed by a couple of former executives from another knife company. It is now solely owned by Rod Bremer. We’ve been great friends ever since I first met him. Rod is now mostly retired. However he has an outstanding management team who runs CRKT and I’ve met most of them – all great folks to work with. As a disclaimer of sorts, CRKT produced my OC-3 double edge fixed blade fighting knife that I did as a collaboration with custom knife maker Brian Wagner. The OC3 was discontinued a few years ago. But folks still contact me, wanting to purchase one. The best that I can do is direct them to the Internet, to see if they can find one for sale.

Origin of The M16 Folders

The late Kit Carson was a custom knife designer/maker in his own right. He passed away in 2014. However, he left CRKT with a good number of knife designs, and his best work was his M16 lineup. Those have been in production for as long as I can remember. A really good knife design, usually lasts about 2-3 years on the market, and then it is discontinued. The M16 line is still going strong, with different versions and designs – a credit to the creative mind of Kit Carson – he knew what he was doing when he designed these knives.

I sure won’t take credit for anything Carson did with the M16 design. However, during one of my visits to CRKT, I was shown some of Carson’s designs, long before they came out. I immediately saw a few changes that could easily be done by CRKT. I thought they could produce these folders with different colored handles, to wit: Olive Drab green for military destined folders, orange for rescue personnel, and blue for law enforcement. It took CRKT a year or two, but they started producing some of the M16 line in those colors.

On to the current M16 lineup: These are, in my opinion the best they have produced. Oh, to be sure, these are still the famous and most sought-after designs. However, they all have a couple things in common. They are assisted opening, and one of the best assisted opening folders that I’ve seen. This assisted opening was designed by world-famous knife maker/designer Ken Onion, in Hawaii. Then, we have the Dead Bolt locking design, and this came from Flavio Ikoma – also of Hawaii and then throw in the IKBS pivoting ball bearing – also from Ikoma, and we have some of the slickest opening folders ever, That Dead Bolt locking system – just might be the strongest lock on a folder ever! And, I’ve tried my best to defeat this lock – couldn’t do it. You can destroy the knife, before the Dead Bolt lock will give way.Continue reading“CRKT Assisted Opening M16 Folders, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Pot Roast of Veal or Pork

The following Dutch Oven or Stock Pot recipe is adapted from The Scout’s Cookbook, published in England in 1959. In England, a Stock Pot is commonly called a “Billycan” or “Billy”.

This roast recipe can be cooked on a stovetop, or over an open fire, if you are careful.  A large Dutch Oven or Stock Pot with a lid is required.

You’ll need about 2½ lb. of loin of veal or pork (or if you’re partial to beef about 3 lb. of topside which you must ask the butcher to roll for you).

1. Put a knob of fat into your big billy and melt it.
2. Put the meat in this for a few minutes to brown it and then pour the fat away and take out the meat.
3. Put in your desired chopped vegetables – such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips and half cover them with water.
4. Now add the meat which will “sit” on the vegetables and cook slowly, covered with a lid, for about 2 hours. The meat should then be fully cooked.
5. Have a hot dish or plates on which to put the meat and vegetables before serving, and while you make the gravy by adding a little Bovril or Marmite to the liquid in the billy.

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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 look at some effects of rising interest rates.

Precious Metals:

Gold rises in the face of more market turmoil.

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Gold hasn’t lost its luster even as the Fed continues to raise rates – State Street’s George Milling-Stanley.

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Alasdair Macleod: A Perfect Storm in Banking Is Brewing.

Economy & Finance:

CBS News: MoneyWatch: Stock market drops as mortgage rate climbs.

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Transcript: Interview With Hayman Capital’s Kyle Bass.  Therein, Bass discusses the China-Taiwan situation, the chip shortage, interest rates, and global oil supply/demand.

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Over at the leftist The Hill: Five ways the Fed’s interest rate hikes will impact Americans.

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Fed hikes its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage point, the biggest increase since 1994.

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At Wolf Street: Morning After J-Pow, Second Time in a Row.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“There’s not much you can do about the bias of the media other than try to counteract it by putting the truth out best you can, and the Internet has been a great weapon for holding the media accountable.” – Dr. Ron Paul

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — June 19, 2022

June 19, 1834 was the birthday of Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon, who died 31 January 1892. He was a British Particular Baptist preacher.

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Today’s feature article is by our Field Gear Editor, Thomas Christianson.

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We are in need of entries for  Round 101 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 101 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.

A Log Home in the Woods, By Thomas Christianson

More than eight years ago now, my wife and I fled suburbia for a log home in the woods. A log home in the woods sounds very idyllic, but the reality may not be as charming as the concept. Based on our limited experience, I have some advice for people who may be considering a similar flight.

Not Necessarily a Log Home

If you own enough timber and have enough time to fell, prepare and season the timber from your own property, a log home may be a good option. But if you are buying the materials from someone else, there may be better options.

Solid log walls simply require more board feet of wood than other forms of construction. Since wood is expensive, a home built with solid log walls may be more expensive than other alternatives.

Solid log walls also have a lower R-value than insulated walls of similar thickness. This may make it more difficult to heat a log home than other alternatives.

Log homes require a great deal of maintenance. In succession, I stain one of the outside walls of my home each year, so that each of the walls is stained once every four years. That is quite a bit more labor-intensive than the maintenance required for most other types of siding.

My wife and I chose a log home for aesthetic reasons. We wanted to provide an attractive setting to host pastors and missionaries who needed a quiet place to rest. Based on our experience with solid log walls, I would choose cement faux-log siding instead if I had the option. It is virtually maintenance-free, has a longer life span, allows for a wall with a higher R-value, and is more fire-resistant than solid log walls.Continue reading“A Log Home in the Woods, By Thomas Christianson”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

And when ye come into an house, salute it.

And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” – Matthew 10:1-25 (KJV)