Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 3, by K.B., M.D.

(Continued from Part 2.)

STROKE, HEAT EXHAUSTION, HEAT STROKE, AND WOUNDS

Today’s presentation will cover protocols for the above topics. I hope that you have found Parts 1 and 2 interesting and helpful. Do you have at least one emergency medical notebook for quick, concise reference? If not, please consider starting one this week. There will be a few tips offered at the end of Part 4 to assist you with this project.

Remember that reliance on any information provided in this series is solely at your own risk. Always consult your own medical professional for advice and treatment. Do not, consider the following information as complete or as any attempt to advise, diagnose, treat, or manage anyone’s medical condition.

STROKE

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain decreases and cells die. What conditions predispose a person to suffering a stroke? Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, and atrial fibrillation all increase the risk of having a stroke. What are some of the symptoms? Difficulty

moving or feeling on one side of the body, loss of part of one’s vision, dizziness, or problems speaking or understanding speech are all possible symptoms. If the problems last only two hours or less, it is called a TIA (transient ischemic attack). If it lasts longer, it is a stroke and damage may be permanent or even fatal. Call 911. Time is of the essence. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely the outcome will be a positive one. Do not hesitate to call for help. It takes only a few seconds to do a quick exam.

Does the person’s face droop on one side or is the smile lopsided? Is there weakness of the arms or hands? Ask the person to squeeze your hands. Hold out your hands with two fingers on each side for him to squeeze. Is the grip equally strong or is it weak on one side? Ask him to fold his arms like a chicken and raise his elbows to the level of his shoulders. Press down simultaneously on each elbow. Is one arm weaker than the other? Finally ask the person to repeat any sentence that you choose or to say “no ifs, ands, or buts.” Is his speech slurred or does he not understand you? If yes to any of the above, call 911 immediately. Remember the popular acronym “FAST” for face, arm, speech, time to call 911.

In dire circumstances where no professional medical care is available at all, we have prayer, bed rest, and perhaps daily aspirin for treatment. About 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic which may worsen if given aspirin. Take your chances as you think best. Optimize your health before the SHTF to improve your odds.

 

STROKE MEDICAL EMERGENCY SHEET

 

  1. FACE- IS THE FACE DROOPING ON ONE SIDE? IS THE SMILE LOPSIDED?

 

  1. ARM- ASK HIM TO SQUEEZE EACH OF YOUR HANDS (2 FINGERS) SIMULTANEOUSLY.

ASK HIM TO FOLD HIS ARMS LIKE A CHICKEN AND RAISE HIS ELBOWS SHOULDER HIGH.

PRESS DOWN ON EACH ELBOW SIMULTANEOUSLY.

IS THE STRENGTH EQUAL ON EACH SIDE OF HIS BODY?

 

  1. SPEECH- REPEAT ANY SENTENCE OR HAVE HIM REPEAT “NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS”.

IS HIS SPEECH SLURRED, OR DOES HE NOT UNDERSTAND YOU?

 

  1. IF YES TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, CALL 911.

 

Continue reading“Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 3, by K.B., M.D.”

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 places with inexpensive land, and even free land. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Silver will outperform gold as inflation and economy pick up – Heraeus Precious Metals

o  o  o

I missed seeing this when it was posted at Business Insider back in January: Silver and platinum will outperform gold in 2021 as the economy recovers and industrial demand supports higher metals prices, says UBS.

Economy & Finance:

Credit Suisse execs to depart as bank details Archegos losses – sources

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: Visualizing The Plunging Purchasing Power Of The US Dollar.

o  o  o

Bond Rout Drove Japan Funds to Offload $5.8 Billion of U.S. Debt

o  o  o

At Wolf Street: Bank of Canada Now Owns 40% of Government of Canada Bonds. Fed a Saint in Comparison. Taper on the Table

o  o  o

At Global Macro Monitor: Fed Heads Talking 4 Percent Inflation

o  o  o

Office Slump Gets Ugly in Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Chicago, Washington DC
Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 15, 2021

April 15th, 1912, is the anniversary of the sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic. 1,517 people lost their lives on the maiden voyage. As research into the incident has progressed over the last 100 years, it seems as if, one way or another, the ship was just going to sink. Impact with an iceberg, raging coal fires in the fuel supply, wrong turns, locked-up binoculars, weak rivets, too few lifeboats, and more. Perhaps this whole incident was really the result of man’s hubris.

—

Inventory is getting low at my Elk Creek Company side business. Federal gun legislation is looming, so get your order in soon. The current sale will end at 9 PM Pacific Time TOMORROW. (Friday, April 16th, 2021.) – JWR

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 94 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  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. An Israeli CBRN Gas Mask with Hydration Straw and two Extra 40mm NATO Filter s – Manufactured in 2020 (a $229.99 value), courtesy of McGuire Army-Navy.
  5. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  6. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 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!

Round 94 ends on May 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.

Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 2, by K.B., M.D.

(Continued from Part 1.)

HEART ATTACK, FRACTURE, AND HEAD INJURY

Today, we will cover these topics. The author has had an unpleasant experience with the latter two, more than once! As mentioned previously, having a prepared summary to turn to for *initial* information during a medical emergency can be helpful. Further reading of other sources can then occur after the immediate emergency if necessary. If at all possible, see a medical expert ASAP! Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk. Do not, consider the following information as complete or as any attempt to advise, diagnose, treat, or manage anyone’s medical condition.

HEART ATTACK

We all know at least a little about chest pain and the importance of calling 911 in the event of a heart attack. Do not delay. The more time elapses, the more cardiac muscle dies. Also review how to administer CPR. Is the pain, a heart attack or not? If it’s not your usual indigestion symptoms responsive to antacids, call 911! There are many different types of chest pain and even the experts

require EKG’s and other tests to make an accurate diagnosis. In a dire emergency without *any* chance of medical help, take an aspirin daily, use oxygen if available, and stay in bed completely for 3 days, and perform no physical exertion for 6 weeks. (Complete bed rest means no bathroom privileges.) Also note that females suffering heart attack often have an atypical presentation such as extreme fatigue, faintness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Make sure that your family members know where this Medical Emergency Sheet is located so they can refer to it if you are in trouble. While waiting for the ambulance, have the patient rest with his back supported from behind and his knees bent if possible. Some also suggest taking 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a cup of warm water. I doubt, however, that I would be able to ingest that if in severe pain and nauseated.

 

HEART ATTACK MEDICAL EMERGENCY SHEET

 

PAIN LASTING 5 MINUTES OR MORE-

SITE- CENTER OR LEFT SIDE OF CHEST, MAY RADIANT INTO SHOULDERS,

LEFT SIDE OF NECK OR JAW, OR FOCUS IN BACK, OR STOMACH

 

OTHER POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS-

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

COLD SWEAT

NAUSEA

LIGHTHEADEDNESS

FATIGUE

PALE OR BLUE-GREY TINGED SKIN

CALL 911

 

ASAP- TAKE ONE REGULAR ASPRIN. CHEW 30 SECONDS THEN SWALLOW IT.

 

REST IN “W” POSITION (BACK SUPPORTED, KNEES BENT). TRY TO RELAX AND

STAY CALM. HELP IS COMING.

Continue reading“Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 2, by K.B., M.D.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— 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. Today, we look at a potential tyrannical expansion of the No Fly List.

DHS May Add “Domestic Extremists” to No-Fly List

Over at NBC News:  DHS weighing major changes to fight domestic violent extremism, say officials. JWR’s Comments: If the Biden regime has its way, then anyone who is deemed Politically Incorrect, an Enemy of the State, or otherwise Unreliable will soon see their ability to travel, serve in the military, own a gun, work, or use an Internet media platform sharply curtailed. Beware. This is how 21st Century tyranny could be established. (A hat tip to SaraSue for the article suggestion.)

The La Soufriere Volcanic Eruption

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Sky Turned Black:  La Soufriere eruption – Pics show 20,000ft ash cloud spew from St Vincent volcano as thousands flee and flights grounded. An excerpt:

“Thousands of people on the Caribbean island of St Vincent were forced to evacuate their homes on Friday following the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano.

Officials ordered locals to leave as experts said the ash column rose over 20,000 feet high, with most of the burning hot smoke heading into the Atlantic Ocean.

Heavy ashfalls was also reported in communities around the volcano, with authorities saying some of the evacuations were called due to poor visibility.

Flights into the island nation were canceled, as well as those for the nearby islands of Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, which are all prepared for light ashfall.”

Higher Extreme‐Event Magnetic Storm Risk

D.S.V. sent this space weather news: Extreme‐event magnetic storm probabilities derived from rank statistics of historical Dst intensities for solar cycles 14‐24

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Programs like these make it clear that the internet has not loosened the grip of authoritarian regimes. Instead, it has become a new tool for maintaining their power. Sometimes, this occurs through visible controls on physical hardware or the people using it. Other times, it happens through sophisticated social engineering behind the scenes. Both build toward the same result: controlling the information and controlling the people.” – Singer, P. W.; Brooking, Emerson T., LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 14, 2021

Today marks the birthday of actor Adrien Brody (born 1973). He played the lead role in the Holocaust survival movie The Pianist.

—

We are pleased to announce that a new prize has been added to Second Prize package, of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest, for at least the next year:  An Israeli CBRN Gas Mask with Hydration Straw and two Extra 40mm NATO Filter s – Manufactured in 2020 (a $229.99 value.)  These are being kindly donated by the fine folks at McGuire Army-Navy.  McGuire will also soon be advertising at SurvivalBlog again. Be sure to check out their broad line of survival and outdoor gear: Clothing, footwear, hats, water filters, NBC/CBRN gear, eyewear, pouches, backpacks, sleeping bags, PT clothing, first aid gear, and more.

—

Inventory is getting low at my Elk Creek Company side business. Federal gun legislation is looming, so get your order in soon. The current sale will end at 9 PM Pacific Time on Friday, April 16th, 2021. – JWR

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 94 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  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. An Israeli CBRN Gas Mask with Hydration Straw and two Extra 40mm NATO Filter s – Manufactured in 2020 (a $229.99 value), courtesy of McGuire Army-Navy.
  5. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  6. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 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!

Round 94 ends on May 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.

Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 1, by K.B., M.D.

Today begins a four-part article series called “Medical Emergency Sheets” in an effort to assist fellow readers who may face certain emergencies. Why? During an emergency, people panic and may forget what to do or may never have had any medical training whatsoever. Circumstances may also require immediate action which won’t allow time to peruse medical articles or books. While we still have it, call 911 first and always get help from medical professionals! I do, however, encourage you to make a notebook with dividers for certain categories (various body parts, diseases) and place these Medical Emergency Sheets as the first page in the appropriate sections. Read, review, and practice what you would do in different emergencies. I also hope that you will obtain some of the fine medical reference materials available and print off many of the excellent medical articles from SurvivalBlog. Consider making notebooks for your grown children or other relatives and have them readily available in each residence or cabin along with a medical treatment bag.

To review, the article series Medical Action Sheets was published in SurvivalBlog December 26-29, 2018. I am a M.D., now retired disabled, previously educated at a prestigious U.S. medical school with five years additional specialization and years of medical experience. I strongly encourage anyone with medical concerns to seek assistance from a certificated medical professional. Do not, repeat, do not, consider the following information as complete or as any attempt to advise, diagnose, treat, or manage anyone’s medical condition. As readers of SurvivalBlog, we are all aware of the possibility of TEOTWAWKI or, at the least, of a serious emergency where we may find ourselves alone and without professional medical help. During those times, having a prepared summary to turn to for *initial* information can be of assistance. Further reading in other sources can then occur after the immediate emergency and preferably the seeking out of medical experts as soon as possible! Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. Ask your own medical professional for advice and treatment.

Note: Please do not be offended by the use of all capitals in the Medical Emergency Sheets. Capitals are utilized here for easy readability. Some of us are older or have visual limitations. Give thought to storing a pair of reading glasses on top of each emergency notebook. Larger print is helpful when reading under emotional stress or in reduced lighting. These sheets could even be laminated and put in an emergency treatment bag.   I will be covering fourteen subjects in this four-part series. How did I make my selection of topics? I chose ones that not only happen frequently, but also have occurred among my family and friends. Maybe I can help you.

 

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction which can quickly result in death. The first episode is a

very frightening event for all. I speak from personal experience. My beloved husband picked some

flowers and a few minutes later noted symptoms of itching which progressed to whole body weakness with near collapse. I gave him diphenhydramine (generic Benadryl) and called 911. While waiting, his mouth and lips swelled, his skin developed hives and his entire body became as red as a hot dog. In the ambulance, his blood pressure dropped therefore epinephrine was administered followed by steroids at the hospital. He now carries an epipen and had a second less severe episode a year later with a different plant. Fortunately, we were able to treat him at home without resorting to the use of epinephrine. What can trigger anaphylaxis? The answer is anything that your body has become sensitized to such as a bee or wasp sting, a particular plant, food, or medication. Symptoms can include itching, hives, swelling of lips, tongue, and airway with possible death in as little as 5 minutes. I encourage you to read more about anaphylaxis as this brief summary is by no means complete. Please find below your Medical Emergency Sheet. I am well aware that some of the suggestions are beyond the capability of untrained individuals, but we can all do something to help. Note that liquid diphenhydramine will act a little faster than the pill form but has a shorter shelf-life. Not all steps are appropriate for all cases. H2 blocking acid reducers such as cimetidine are available over the counter. Also note that hives do not necessarily indicate that you will go into anaphylaxis. Please do not be intimidated by the complexity of this protocol as this is the most complicated one that I will present. Easier ones will follow, rest assured. Always check with your medical practitioner in advance as to the safety of any of these medications for your personal use.Continue reading“Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 1, by K.B., M.D.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Despite the best guesses of participants, and movement profiles in newspapers of record, no one knows how many individuals should be identified with the migration. But if millions of hits on survivalblog.com are any indication, or if the achievement of New York TImes bestseller status is any kind of clue, the widespread consumption of the very idea of the Redoubt, and its representation in popular culture, may be as significant as its lived experience. The media of the Redoubt creates a virtual ‘imagined community’ that large numbers of its participants find compelling.” – Crawford Gribben, Survival and Resistance in Evangelical America, p. 18

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 13, 2021

April 13, 1743  was the birthday of Thomas Jefferson. (He died on July 4, 1826 just a few hours before the death of John Adams. How patriotic of both of them to pass away on the Fourth of July.)

—

Today, I’m posting an article written by my #1 Son, Jonathan Edwards Rawles, who owns and operates SurvivalRealty.com.

 

 

An Update on the Redoubt Land Rush, by Jonathan Rawles

A Year for Relocation

The events of 2020 were enough to motivate many to relocate out of cities and towards a more sustainable rural lifestyle. At SurvivalRealty.com, we’ve seen a marked increase in inquiries from patriots relocating to rural areas across the United States. This is driven by a multitude of reasons, but a few headlines will be illustrative:

This movement is also matched by high rates of inbound moves to the southeast and southwest, while California and the northeast have the highest rates of outbound moves, as documented by North American Moving Services 2020 Migration Report. This cannot simply be reduced to political and cultural factors, although they are certainly significant. Also relevant to many choosing to relocate are lower cost of living, more favorable tax rate, or better job markets, climate, and lifestyle.

A Challenging Market

We are also in the midst of a very challenging real estate market, in the form of a very strong seller’s market. Demand and prices for rural property are high, but the availability has remained low. This has made finding a home in the Redoubt and similar areas increasingly challenging. As the Wall Street Journal described it in an April 3 article title “The Housing Market Is Crazier Than It’s Been Since 2006“:

The past year has been the hottest for sales activity in 14 years. Home values are rising in practically every corner of the U.S., and median sale prices in dozens of metro areas have posted double-digit percentage increases from a year ago, according to Zillow Group Inc. In Boise, Idaho, the median sale price rose almost 25% in January from a year earlier, while in Stamford, Conn., it rose 19%.

Many families are currently finding themselves priced out of the market, and put their purchase plans on hold, hoping to wait out the market and hoping for a downturn. This excess demand seems to indicate that it will take a major national correction to see prices fall significantly.

On the upside for those selling their current property, it’s not just rural areas that have seen rising prices. Outside of some metro areas like San Francisco, urban and suburban markets are still active, perhaps propped up by former renters taking advantage of low interest rates.

Decreased Buying Power

These high prices nationwide have contributed to push up prices in what were once affordable rural areas. The gap between big city and small town prices has shrunk significantly over the last decade. This comes as a major shock to many arriving in the American Redoubt and elsewhere.

For some illustration, we will look at the property listings on the Coeur d’Alene MLS in Idaho’s northern panhandle. A search for 3 bedroom homes on 5 acres in North Idaho returns 7 active listings, priced from $650,000 to $1,200,000, with a median asking price of $775,000. For a 3 bedroom home on 40 acres there is only one result priced below $1.2 million. A search for 10 acre bare land parcels in North Idaho returns 30 active listings, priced between $92,500 to $695,000. (Bear in mind that the lower end of this price range is for the most rugged and inaccessible acreage.) The median price for these 10 acre parcels is $25,000 per acre.

First, we will grant that north Idaho is an extremely desirable area. There are other portions of the Redoubt and of the U.S. that are more affordable. However, the example is illustrative of the increasing cost of rural land and the reduced gap between urban, suburban, and rural land prices. Also notable, prices for remote and offgrid properties are not markedly lower than for more accessible properties with full amenities. With the increasing percentage of telecommuters, faster rural Internet infrastructure, and increasing commute distances, the price influence of small cities has affected rural property prices within a one-hour driving radius or more.

How You Can Help

The number of available listings on our retreat property marketplace is currently dwarfed by the demand, and we’re receiving numerous daily inquiries from folks looking to relocate. We are now working to build a network of patriotic real estate agents across the U.S. to help meet this need. Our goal is to refer these relocatees to experienced and like-minded agents who can support their real estate needs.

We need your recommendations for real estate agents and brokers who are:

  • experienced in rural and remote real estate
  • hard-working and professional
  • eager to work with preparedness-minded and patriotic clients

If you know of someone that fits this description (or are an agent yourself) please let us know at info@survivalrealty.com. We have an immediate need for brokers in Wyoming, eastern Oregon and Washington, Tennessee, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas, but appreciate contacts in any rural area of the U.S.

Starve-The-Beast Recommendations, by Bear

Here are some recommendations sent to us by SurvivalBlog reader “Bear” on some smaller businesses to patronize, to help Starve The Amazon Beast.  They include:

The Darn Tough brand socks are great. Pricey but made in the USA by a family-owned company and come with a literal lifetime guarantee. I have a scientist relative who purchased a couple of pairs a decade-plus ago for field work, and only recently has she had to return them for an exchange. I live in mine (these and my Carhartts), and I recently purchased another 30 pair for my children to wear now and to grow into later. Plus, the company gives a TWENTY percent discount to active duty, veterans, first responders, medical personnel, and teachers!

Culture of Life clothing promotes and supports the pro-life mission. I have not personally purchased from them, because I wouldn’t know “fashion” if it hit me upside the head with a Chanel handbag, and I prefer practical over decorative. But others may wish to check them out, for themselves or for gift-giving.

City Threads kids’ clothes, made in the USA. The company is based in LA and seems a bit mask-obsessed (which is lucrative right now I guess), but they make a solid product. We have some items from them and they are soft and sturdy. I’ll probably purchase more, especially for the child who has trouble manipulating most fasteners due to his CP.

Carhartt workwear, most made in the USA. I recently purchased a bunch of different socks and some double-front work pants (and a phone holster as a gift for my husband, but he hasn’t used it yet). The socks are very sturdy and comfortable and I liked the pants so much I went back and ordered two additional pair. I would caution to check the details on EACH specific product page though, and maybe be cautious if a product is listed as “imported”: when all of my socks arrived, I saw that the steel-toed boot ones were made in China. Bummer.

USALovelist.com — A collection of lists of companies and their products, made in the USA.

Lehman’s has been mentioned in SurvivalBlog (an  blog comments) before, which is how I found out about it. Many items made in the USA. Recently made a purchase and was very satisfied with their service. (Have not yet assembled and used the washing machine so cannot comment specifically on that yet, although the reviews on the site are excellent.) Of particular note, in their books section, are the little Storey Country Wisdom Bulletins, which are a mere $2.95 apiece if 5 or more are purchased. Full of invaluable information, especially for us newbies, that is clear and direct to read. I have only looked at some of mine so far because I can’t pry them away from the 7yo’s fascinated eyeballs!

Pleasant Hill Grain — storage food, endless kitchen gear and tools for processing food of all kinds, seeds, emergency supplies, books. I have received one of my buckets so far (the rest are on back order), and two fascinating cookbooks (Flour Water Salt Yeast and Bean by Bean). Before ordering, I asked the Homesteading group I belong to about people’s experiences with them, and everyone who had purchased there was pleased. The site notes, “All of Pleasant Hill Grain’s grain products are natural (non-GMO). Also, PHG does not sell any grains, beans, lentils, pulses or seeds sourced from China.” For example:  https://pleasanthillgrain.com/buy-organic-pearl-barley-grain-for-sale-bulk

FreezeDryingSupplies.com — A family-owned company. Recently purchased tray corner stackers, an anti-siphon kit for the drain hose, and some oxygen absorbers, and was pleased. Also has a YouTube channel where I have learned about things such as how to use the “test” feature of the freeze dryer to vacuum seal Ball jars!

Solar Low Tech Magazine  — Fascinating site, lots of “low-tech” solutions and completely self-hosted on solar power! (Not sure where exactly I first heard about it so my apologies for the duplication if it was already a recent link from SB.)

HymnSite.com — for spiritual encouragement. I think this is a great ministry for musicians and music-lovers. The site host has gone through the old Methodist hymnal, selected the ones that are no longer subject to copyright, and personally arranged them to make both audio and printed versions available in many different formats, completely free! I have been using them several times a month, when I prepare my music for the worship service that I accompany.

One anti-recommendation:

Sadly, Home Depot appears to have gone full woke.

I also clicked through to the “resource hub” to see for myself and it wasn’t long before my eyes were bleeding. Good grief, great googly-wokespeak-moogly Batman.

And, just for fun…

1) I first learned from Claire Wolfe about a satire news site out of Colorado called Rocky Mountain Oyster. You might already know it. The articles are longer and decidedly…umm, sharper…than the Babylon Bee. For example:

Denver Dog Mom Regrets Voting for Wolf Reintroduction

and,

Confusion Over Drag Race at Bandimere Speedway

2) If I had been of a mind to play an April Fool’s prank on your readers, you could have linked to this utter ridiculousness: 18 best face mask accessories of 2021.  A faux-pearl “mask chain” — are they kidding me?! The only item on here worth “adding to [my] arsenal” is the 3M command hooks, but NOT to hold my face mask accessories! – Bear

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. Don’t miss today’s link to Paul Joseph Watson’s piece on vaccine passports.

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Wagstaff sent this: Biden stimulus checks spark historic surge in gun sales, especially AR-15s.

Wagstaff’s Comment: “I find this ironic and amusing… in my case, I used my stimulus check to buy parts, lowers, uppers, mags, bullet molds, etc.”

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S.F. in Oregon had this comment for Serena (the author of the recent SurvivalBlog feature article Demonetizing Precious Metals):

“Serena, great history lesson and good points…
Bottom line, EVERYTHING is, or seems FAKE today! Fake fiat, fake health, fake news, fake elections, fake emotions, fake genders, fake religions, fake CGI movies, fake plastic bodies and hormones, fake websites, fake politicians, fake emojis, fake weather, fake laws and fake economics…so, are we the “weird ones” for holding, storing and appreciating REAL MONEY and PMs?! Not! They are tangible, lasting and beautiful!”

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The latest video from Paul Joseph Watson: The Truth About ‘Vaccine Passports’.

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Another comment on Serena’s article, from Just-A-Dad:

“Serena is correct with her take on the monetary situation currently in play. While as she says, her take is brief, it is one of the most honest ones I have seen in close to a decade.

Even as a relatively “poor” person, my strategy to combat this is quite simple.
Food / 3 stages / short term or fresh is 2 weeks to a month (self grow an added 50-60% intake) – medium term or canned and frozen is 3 -4 months – long term is 3-4 months
Monetary is even simpler / cash on hand between 20 and 200 at all times (again poor) – silver on hand, 10-20 ounces always – and lastly, some credit available but not used unless absolutely needed
Again, this article was amazing!”

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SaraSue sent this suggestion:

“Although I don’t agree with the philosophies, giving/charities, or Amazon affiliation of this company, it’s a starting point to find products NOT MADE IN CHINA:  China Never.  I wouldn’t follow the links on this site, per se, but make note of the lists of products.”

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

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 the rapidly-growing Second Amendment (2A) Sanctuary Movement. Note that here is model legislation widely available to recommend to your own county commissioners.

Region-Wide

Somehow, a link to the racist Northwest Territorial Imperative wiki page keeps getting added to the “Related Pages”  list at the bottom of The American Redoubt Wikipedia page. This keeps happening even though there is NO CONNECTION between the two movements, and despite the fact that The American Redoubt movement is quite anti-racist. So I’d appreciate it if someone who watches Wikipedia could zap that Northwest Territorial Imperative link, and keep zapping it, whenever it pops up again. Thanks!

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By way of Redoubt News, here is John Jacob Schmidt on Radio Free Redoubt: The Coming War in America.

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The new book Survival And Resistance In Evangelical America: Christian Reconstruction In The Pacific Northwest seems to have some popularity. It is ranked in the Top 100 in the History of Religion & Politics category at Amazon.com. But please don’t feed the Amazon beast! Instead, please order all your books from BooksAMillion (BAM). Thanks!

Idaho

Idaho 2A Sanctuary Counties Map Update

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News Update From Idaho Rep. Heather Scott: The Coming Avalanche

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Idaho Republican leadership raises questions about state collection of vaccine data

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Parents and students protest CDA schools mask requirements

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Police: Suspect in early-morning stabbing at Boise apartment complex found dead by ‘self-inflicted wounds’

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Reader D.M. sent us an Idaho legislative update:

“Idaho gun owners may soon receive additional protections against unconstitutional federal executive orders. A bill called H. 300 The Small Arms Protection Act has been introduced in the Idaho legislature. H. 300 would prohibit any “official, agent, or employee of the state of Idaho, or a political subdivision thereof” from assisting in federal firearm-related confiscation or other enforcement actions that are contrary to Idaho law or the state constitution.

The idea behind the Small Arms Protection Act is that the Second Amendment sets only a lower limit on our freedoms, and that Idaho (or any other state) can provide greater protections. Other states have enacted additional protections for free speech, searches and seizures, and (after the Supreme Court’s Kelo decision) private property rights. Enacting additional protections for firearm owners is the next step in the Second Amendment sanctuary movement.

The Small Arms Protection Act has not yet been introduced in the Idaho Senate, but three senators reportedly are interested. There’s not much time to get it enacted. Idaho’s legislative session ends April 24th. Remember, the White House’s press release last week said, ominously, that these were only “initial actions.” We should expect more soon.

Idaho residents should contact their legislators and urge them to support the Small Arms Protection Act. Here’s a link to determine who your state legislator is.”

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