The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them. And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burthens, to be rid of all regulations. How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our national bill of rights.” – Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution 3:§§ 1890-91  (1833)

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — May 8, 2024

On May 8, 1792, Congress passed the second portion of the Militia Act, requiring that every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years be enrolled in the militia.

Six days before, Congress had established the president’s right to call out the militia. The outbreak of Shay’s Rebellion (pictured above) — a protest against taxation and debt prosecution in western Massachusetts in 1786-87, had first convinced many Americans that the federal government should be given the power to put down rebellions within the states. The inability of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation to respond to the crisis was a major motivation for the peaceful overthrow of the government and the drafting of a new federal Constitution.

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May 8th is the anniversary of VE Day, otherwise known as Victory in Europe Day. World War II ended in Europe after Germany signs an unconditional surrender.

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May 8th is the birthday of missionary and U.S. military intelligence officer John Birch. (Born, 1918, died August 25, 1945.) He is considered by many to be the first American casualty of the Cold War.

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This is also the birthday of Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek.

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I had been holding a reserve of 15 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks, just in case any orders were lost in the mail. With delivery confirmed on nearly all of the stick mailings, on Monday I updated the available inventory from zero to 15. At last count on Wednesday morning, there were just five of those left. So this is your final opportunity to buy a stick until January, 2025.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 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 $2,000.
  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 Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  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. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

Income, Net Worth, Inflation, and Opportunities, by K.B. M.D.

We do not like to talk about class in America. We do not like to talk about economic disparities, either. But at least in our own families and faith communities, we need to realize that the issue matters. Our times are changing rapidly, and especially for older people it is difficult to keep up with the cost of living. And I do not just mean in terms of money – the mental shift is probably greater than the changing of our economy.
Some of us are old enough to remember the days of candy bought for a penny or a nickel. Or perhaps you remember phone booth calls for a dime or a quarter? Those days are long gone. The dollar’s purchasing power is significantly reduced, and declining so quickly that official statistics are unable to keep up with it. What does it mean to be wealthy? What does it mean to be poor? What income do you need to survive? The answer might shock you.Continue reading“Income, Net Worth, Inflation, and Opportunities, by K.B. M.D.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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FCC fines America’s largest wireless carriers $200 million for selling customer location data. (Thanks to reader C.B. for the link.)

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A Florida television news report: Preppers: Whatever disaster is next, they’re ready.

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A Nanny State Update: Swiss Army Knife Now Available Without the Knife.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 7, 2024

On May 7th, 1997 1997 the science fiction film “The Fifth Element” written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich was released. At that time it was the most expensive European film ever made.

On May 7, 2020, during the COVID pandemic, US unemployment claims hit 33.3 million or 20% of the workforce, versus 3.5% unemployment two months earlier, which had been a 50-year low.

On May 7, 1915, RMS Lusitania was sunk by German submarine off the southern coast of Ireland; 1,198 lives lost.

On May 7, 1792 Captain Robert Gray was the first European to discover Grays Harbor (Washington state)

On May 7, 1946, Sony Corporation, a major Japanese manufacturer of consumer electronics products, was founded by Ibuka Masaru and Morita Akio.

And on May 7, 1867 Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel patented dynamite in England. This was the first of three patents he would receive for the explosive.

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Today, an update on a mission school project, in Thailand.

Update: A Worthy Charity in Thailand

An Update: For several years, I have been supporting and recommending a Christian mission school and orphanage in northern Thailand. One of our good friends has volunteered to work onsite there several times in the past three years, so I can vouchsafe that this is a worthy charity with genuine needs.  The orphanage/school Center is called Baan SuFan. (That is Thai for: “Home Of Destiny.”) The school and dormitories are located near Chiang Rai, Thailand, which is fairly near Thailand’s borders with Burma and Laos. This is commonly called The Golden Triangle region.

The majority of the Baan SuFan students are orphans or are from broken homes from Hmong and Mien refugees. These are minority highland tribes that have undergone decades of massive repression that has been genocidal in scale, especially in Burma (Myanmar). There is currently a civil war raging in Burma. Not surprisingly, there are now large numbers of Hmong and Mien refugees in northern Thailand.  Though the Thai government has shown them great compassion, these are still stateless people who live on the margins of society, living a hardscrabble hand-to-mouth existence. Legally, as “non-resident” refugees, they cannot seek employment in Thailand.

Genuine Needs

The Baan SuFan school operates on a shoestring annual budget.  Many of the school’s facilities dating from the 1960s are worn out. For example, four of their six aging washing machines are broken, so the children and staff have mostly been washing their clothes by hand.  To keep their costs low, they have developed gardens, poultry pens, and beehives to provide vegetables, eggs, meat, and honey to help feed the students and staff. The school also sells some of their extra honey and some handmade Hmong needlecrafts to generate cash for the school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The school has recently expanded to nearly double the number of dormitory residents. This necessitated buying many new bunk beds.  Thanks to SurvivalBlog readers, all of that bed purchase expense has now been paid off.

 

 

 

Other recently completed work:

1. A new roof was built to expand a parking area for ministry vehicles. (Locally funded.)
2. Garden nets were put up to provide 50% sunlight cover to reduce the effects of excess heat on the crops.
3. New garden beds were built to expand the amount of food produced at the Center.
4. New waste bins were built to keep the Center neat and tidy.

 

 

 

They also had to replace their burned-out water pump. That was paid for by a generous SurvivalBlog reader in Upstate New York:

 

 

 

 

But then the pump shed roof was recently damaged by a basketball that went in an unexpected direction.

 

 

 

A lot of the infrastructure at the Center is now 40+ years old:

 

 

 

According to the Center Director, Inkhian Chanthima, here are their current needs that are above and beyond their normal monthly budget:

  • The Purchase of four replacement washing machines to make things easier and free up more time for the students to focus on homework and getting a good education. (They are still washing most of their clothes by hand.)
  • Paint for the outside of the buildings, to tidy things up.
  • Hardware and labor costs for building repairs.
  • The water pump shed needs a new roof.

Total:  $4,012 USD.

Please prayerfully consider making regular donations and perhaps a special donation to cover some of their current needs through the Baan SuFan donation page, with multiple donation options.

A Renewed Prayer Request

Note: Even if you cannot afford to help, then please pray!  I am making these prayer requests:

1.) Please pray that the financial needs of Baan SuFan Center are met, internationally.

2.) Please pray for peace, reconciliation, freedom, and a true Christian revival throughout the Golden Triangle region.

Thanks!  – JWR

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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, coverage of the state-level pushback against the ATF’s new “Engaged In The Business” FFL Rulemaking.

Idaho

Idaho joins 21-state lawsuit opposing new ATF firearm sale regulations.

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La Grande Hotshot firefighters safe after tree hit fire truck at Little Yamsay Fire.

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Charm, shovel, pick from Chad Daybell’s property shown to jurors.

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Caldwell man, linked to 2022 gang-related murder, arraigned on felony charges.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“In our desire to have government become our benefactor and sustainer, we have allowed it to become our taskmaster and overlord. As a result, we have become little more than well-fed, well-entertained slaves to the state. Freedom, as envisioned by our forefathers, is gone.” – Pastor Chuck Baldwin

Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 6, 2024

This is the birthday of Maximilien Robespierre, born May 6, 1758. After rising to prominence in the radical Jacobin Club, he dominated the French Republic during the Reign of Terror, overseeing the executions of counter-revolutionary suspects. He was overthrown and executed on July 28, 1794.

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On May 6, 1954, English athlete Roger Bannister became the first man to run a sub-4 minute mile, recording 3:59:4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford.

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

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I had been holding a reserve of 15 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks, just in case any orders were lost in the mail. Since nearly all of the stick mailings have now had their delivery confirmed, I’ve updated the available inventory from zero to 15.  This is your final opportunity to buy a stick until January, 2025.

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We are in need of entries for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

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Military Surplus LLC is continuing their sale on a new batch of U.S.G.I. .50 ammo cans. These are genuine M2A1 U.S. military issue, in near-new condition. They are selling packs of 4 of these cans for $80.00 shipped to CONUS. Given the present-day shipping costs, that is a bargain! The supply of these cans is limited, so order yours soon.

Sentry Tuf-Cloth Cleaner/Dry Lubricant/Protectant, by Thomas Christianson

Sentry Tuf-Cloth provides a conveniently-packaged, non-toxic, lint-free cloth for cleaning, lubricating, and protecting cutlery, firearms, tools, and other metal objects.

It is made in the USA, and is available in vapor barrier foil pouches or in plastic jars in either a standard version or in a marine version that is designed for more corrosive environments. The Tuf-Glide CDLP (clean, dry-lube, protectant) solutions that impregnate the cloth are also available without the cloth in pen applicators or in spray bottles of various sizes.

At the time of this writing, the standard and marine Tuf-Cloths in the foil pouch were priced at $11.99 from www.sentrytactical.com . The standard Tuf-Cloth in a jar was also priced at $11.99, with the marine version in the jar being priced at $12.99.

After testing the standard version in the foil pouch and the marine solution in an 8 ounce spray bottle, I would recommend either product for cutlery such as hunting knives or EDC knives which may occasionally come into contact with food. I do not recommend the products for firearms or for other items that need significant protection from corrosion or for cutlery that comes into regular daily contact with food. Under extremely dry and dusty conditions, Tuf-Cloth may provide superior lubrication performance in comparison with oils that may attract grit. My testing did not include the aforementioned dry and dusty conditions.Continue reading“Sentry Tuf-Cloth Cleaner/Dry Lubricant/Protectant, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Butter Pecan Pound Cake

The following recipe for Butter Pecan Pound Cake is from SurvivalBlog reader V.F..  To make this properly, you will need a Bundt cake pan.

Ingredients For The Cake
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
Ingredients For The Butter Pecan Filling
  •  1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  •  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Ingredients For The Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 325 F.
  2. Grease and flour a bundt cake pan.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the sour cream. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  7. In a small bowl, mix together the chopped pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon to create the filling.
  8. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Sprinkle the pecan filling evenly over the batter.
  9. Top with the remaining batter.
  10. Use a knife to gently swirl the batter and pecan filling together to create a marbled effect.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  12. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  13. For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
SERVING

Slice and enjoy your delicious Butter Pecan Pound Cake!

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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 Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Liberty means to exercise human rights in any manner a person chooses so long as it does not interfere with the exercise of the rights of others. This means, above all else, keeping government out of our lives. Only this path leads to the unleashing of human energies that build civilization, provide security, generate wealth, and protect the people from systematic rights violations. In this sense, only liberty can truly ward off tyranny, the great and eternal foe of mankind.” – Dr. Ron Paul

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — May 5, 2024

On May 5, 1893, The Panic of 1893 caused a large crash on the New York Stock Exchange.

May 5th is the birthday of Adrian Carton de Wiart, known as Britain’s “Unstoppable Soldier.” This eccentric Belgian-born soldier served in the Boer War, First World War, and Second World War; was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; survived two plane crashes; tunneled out of a prisoner-of-war camp; and bit off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them.

This is also the birthday of Pat Frank (1908-1964). This was the pen name of newspaper journalist Harry Hart Frank. His 1959 novel Alas, Babylon is a survivalist classic. His personal life was marred by alcoholism, but his writing is admired and still surprisingly popular, today. (Alas, Babylon is still in print, after 65 years!) As an homage to Pat Frank, one of the settings in my novel Expatriates is Mt. Dora, Florida, which was fictionalized by Pat Frank as Fort Repose in Alas, Babylon.

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Today’s feature article was too short to qualify as an entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.