Preparedness Notes for Thursday — May 2, 2024

On May 2, 1780, William Herschel discovered the first binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris.

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On May 2nd, 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France at a cost of four cents per acre for 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square km), which soon proved to be a tremendous bargain.

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On May 2, 1945, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin and the Allies announced the surrender of Nazi troops in Italy and parts of Austria.

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On May 2nd, 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that high-accuarcy GPS would be made available to the public; the satellite signals had previously been degraded for nonmilitary use.

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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.

Unification Of CBDCs? The End Of The Dollar System Is Near, by Brandon Smith

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article was originally published at the Birch Gold Group website and is reposted with permission.  Pictured above is the headquarters building of the Bank For International Settlements (BIS), in Basel, Switzerland.

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World reserve status allows for amazing latitude in terms of monetary policy. The Federal Reserve understands that there is constant demand for dollars overseas as a means to more easily import and export goods. The dollar’s petro-status also makes it essential for trading oil globally. This means that the central bank of the US has been able to create fiat currency from thin air to a far higher degree than any other central bank on the planet while avoiding the immediate effects of hyperinflation.

Much of that cash as well as dollar-denominated debt (physical and digital) ends up in the coffers of foreign central banks, international banks and investment firms where it is held as a hedge or used to adjust the exchange rates of other currencies for trade advantage. As much as one-half of the value of all U.S. currency is estimated to be circulating abroad.

World reserve status along with various debt instruments allowed the US government and the Fed to create tens of trillions of dollars in new currency after the 2008 credit crash, all while keeping inflation under control (sort of). The problem is that this system of stowing dollars overseas only lasts so long and eventually the consequences of overprinting come home to roost.Continue reading“Unification Of CBDCs? The End Of The Dollar System Is Near, by Brandon Smith”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is 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. In today’s column, we look at the reported spread of an Avian Influenza strain detected in cow milk.

WHO Demonizes America’s Cattle Herds for ‘Bird Flu’

By way of the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site, there is this, over at SLAY: WHO Demonizes America’s Cattle Herds, Claims ‘Bird Flu’ Could Spread to Cows Outside U.S.

The Rise of the “Lifestyle Prepper”

Over at The Gateway Pundit: The Rise of the “Lifestyle Prepper”. The article begins:

“They’ve been called “casual survivalists” and “prepper-lite.” Now, a phrase has started popping up around the preparedness industry highlighting the rise of the “Lifestyle Prepper,” particularly in American cities. Unlike “Doomsday Preppers,” those who can be classified as lifestyle preppers aren’t building bunkers or living off-grid. They don’t can their leftovers for long-term storage and they probably don’t own a freeze dryer. But they’re concerned about potential future emergency scenarios and they do not trust government agencies to do more than give them beans and rice during sustained supply chain disruptions.”

Flamethrower-Equipped Robot Dog

Reader C.H. sent us this: Watch: Fire-breathing robot dog that can torch anything in its path.

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — May 1, 2024

On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building in New York City officially opened. For four decades it was the tallest building in the world, and it is considered a U.S. landmark.

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On May 1, 2004, The European Union was enlarged to include the new member states of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia

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Today we present a product review and field test by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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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.

NightBuddy 230° LED Headlamp, by Thomas Christianson

The NightBuddy 230° LED headlamp uses an LED lightbar that bends around the forehead at the front of the lamp. This provides an even flood of illumination that is excellent for working outdoors in the dark. It is reliable, lightweight, compact, rechargeable, water-resistant, and easy to use.

Battery life is somewhat less than advertised. I must also admit to being somewhat disgruntled by the fact that it is made in China. I feel that NightBuddy Customer Support was not 100% forthright when I inquired about its place of manufacture.

The NightBuddy cost $34.95 from www.nightbuddy.com at the time of this writing.Continue reading“NightBuddy 230° LED Headlamp, by Thomas Christianson”

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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An American came back from Europe with a $143,000 phone bill after failing to set up international roaming.

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Reader J.R.G. wrote:

“I read the recent review by Mr. Christianson. I own the same knife model that was reviewed.  I was attracted to it by its leaf-bladed resemblance to the various knives manufactured by Grohmann knife line. And I too  have done business with L.T. Wright in the past, via their old company Blind Horse Knives.  I have nothing but good to say about them.  I wonder if the JRE knife sheaths are manufactured by Amish craftsmen.  Whoever they are, they do a fine job.

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‘That Was a First’: Zebras Run Wild After Escaping Trailer in Washington State.

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Reader C.B. mentioned this MSN article: How to Escape Your Car If the Electronic Door Handle Fails.
Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Summing up: Correctly interpreted, the simple economic model specifically predicts that people will be less selfish as voters than as consumers. Indeed, like diners at an all-you-can-eat buffet, we should expect voters to “stuff themselves” with moral rectitude. Once again, analogies between voting and shopping are deeply misleading.” – Bryan Caplan, The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 30, 2024

On April 30, 1897, English physicist J.J. Thomson announced that he had discovered the electron, which helped revolutionize the knowledge of atomic structure; he later was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.

April 30, 1777 was the birthday of Carl Friedrich Gauss, who is widely is considered the world’s greatest mathematician.

Camerone Day is celebrated on April 30th every year — the Foreign Legion’s most important holiday. On the 30 of April 1863 the French Foreign Legion fought for over 10 hours with a vastly-larger Mexican Army contingent. This battle is still celebrated by the Foreign Legion as the Battle of Camarone. (Veracruz, Mexico) A small infantry unit of only 65 men was attacked and besieged by a force that eventually reached 3,000 Mexican infantry and cavalry. The conduct of the Legion, who overwhelmingly outnumbered, refused to surrender, killing and injuring hundreds of enemy troops before finally succumbing, led to a certain mystique, and the battle of Camarone (Camarón) became synonymous with bravery and a fight-to-the-death attitude.

Today is the birthday of sci-fi novelist Larry Niven (born April 30, 1938). Along with Jerry Pournelle, he co-authored the survivalist classic Lucifer’s Hammer.

April 30th is also the birthday of software engineer Ed Yourdon, who was born in 1944. He passed away in 2016.

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There are several interesting new listings over at SurvivalRealty:

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.

—

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.

The Year of the Snakes: 2025 Possibilities, by SwampFox

[Image Credit: A still from the 1959 Stanley Kramer/United Artists film On The Beach.]

Blame it on a Chinese buffet restaurant. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the “Year of the Snake.” It seems appropriate, as a number of insidious things are coming together. Will 2025 be a year of treachery and disaster? Will the economy collapse? I am not a prophet, but I can put together some interesting recent facts.

Most obviously, 2024 is an election year. Whatever your hopes about the upcoming election, I can almost guarantee that Trump will not be re-elected. The last election was rigged, so this one will be too. With all the charges being filed against Trump, I believe it is more likely that he will see the inside of a prison cell than the Oval Office. That means a second-term Democrat figurehead, and an administration with nothing to lose. Bad news! But they must wait until they have “won” the election. As controlled as the American media is, nobody will believe that a Herbert Hoover-equivalent president remains in office after an economic crisis. The powers-that-be will do everything they can this year to keep the house of cards standing, and every item in the national outhouse polished to a shine. My prediction is that for the next eight or nine months, we have a limited window of opportunity where we can expect relative stability.‘Continue reading“The Year of the Snakes: 2025 Possibilities, by SwampFox”

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, some driving tour videos that will give folks an appreciation of just how light the population density is, in most of The American Redoubt.

Pictured above is Salmon, Idaho, sometime before 1950.

Region-Wide

On May 21st, there will be an advisory vote in Crook County, Oregon on the Greater Idaho proposal.

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2014 Road Trip – US 93 through Idaho and Montana.

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Best Drive in the USA: Beartooth Highway – Montana/Wyoming Travel Documentary.

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US Highway 20 – driving from Bend, Oregon to Boise, Idaho – spectacular U.S. Route 20.

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THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP: Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains to Glacier National Park.

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Driving across Eastern Montana on Highway 212 – one of the most remote areas in the U.S.

Idaho

Ghost Towns and More — Episode 24 | Idaho City, Idaho.

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North Central Idaho Timewarp Drive. The route follows the Clearwater River, and then up to Grangeville Idaho, and down to Riggins. (Note: This is more pleasant to watch when you set the YouTube player to 1/4 speed.

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Riding Idaho’s DEADLIEST Motorcycle Trail — Part 1.

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Riding the Tour of Idaho.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 29, 2024

On April 29, 1770, British explorer James Cook made his first landing in Australia, at Botany Bay.

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This is the birthday of actor Daniel Day-Lewis (born 1957), often remembered for his starring roles in Last of the Mohicians and in Lincoln.

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

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Gone!  We are now out of stock of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks. There may be just 10 that we held in reserve for replacements that will be offered for sale in a few days, but otherwise there won’t be any more until late January 2025, when the next edition should become available. There will be no more produced this year!

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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.

L.T. Wright Large Northern Hunter, by Thomas Christianson

Inspired by the traditional Canadian Belt Knife, the L.T. Wright Large Northern Hunter is a versatile, effective, well-balanced, and attractive example of the knife-maker’s art. It is well suited to either chopping carrots in the kitchen or skinning a deer in the field. As such, it will effectively serve both a man of the field like Esau while hunting or a homebody like Jacob while making pottage (Genesis 25:27).

The sturdy 3.87-inch high-saber-grind blade is made of 1/8 inch thick AEB-L stainless steel and comes razor sharp. The nicely rounded Micarta handle fits the hand extremely well. With a price from ltwrightknives.com at the time of this writing of $171 including the sheath, the knife represents a good value for a high-quality, American made knife.Continue reading“L.T. Wright Large Northern Hunter, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week:  Simple Mac and Cheese Supreme

The following recipe for Simple Mac & Cheese Supreme is from SurvivalBlog reader G.E.. He recommends this as a recipe for camping and backpacking. This recipe can be doubled or tripled, if you have a large enough pot.

Ingredients
  • 1 Box of store-bought Macaroni & Cheese. (Such as Velveeta, Kraft, or Annie’s.)
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of Dehydrated Vegetables
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of dried beef bits, or real bacon bits, or shredded mild jerky,  or a retort packet of tuna or salmon.
  • A small shaker with a snap closure filled with your favorite seasoning — such as Cajun Spices, Curry Powder, Chili powder, or Taco Seasoning.
  • A canteen or Nalgene bottle of filtered water or any other source of safe, potable water.
Directions
  1. Place all the ingredients into a pot and add water to nearly cover it.
  2. Bring it to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer it, stirring frequently until all ingredients have cooked through.
  3. Add more water — only as needed.
  4. Judiciously flavor with your seasoning of choice and stir that in thoroughly before serving.

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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!