Today’s graphic: A map showing forest cover density across the continental U.S.. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)
The thumbnail below is click-expandable.
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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.
“For a man’s house is his castle, et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium [and each man’s
home is his safest refuge].” – Sir Edward Coke, The Third Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England (1628) Chapter 73, p. 162
May 18, 1291: After 100 years of Crusader control, the last Crusader stronghold of Acre (now known as Akko, Israel) was reconquered and destroyed by the Mamluks under Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil.
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May 18th, 1825 was the birthday of Daniel Baird Wesson, of Smith and Wesson fame.
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On May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, causing a massive avalanche and killing 57 people. Ash from the volcanic eruption fell as far away as Minnesota.
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Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 118 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.
(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)
This method can to be used if the layout of LP/OPs is favorable. This method of connecting phones is referred to as the Platoon Hot Loop, yet the connection can be made to string the phones together, not in a circle but all along a singe line be it straight or in a circular shape that resembles a perimeter.
The ‘loop’ is actually the electrical path created the connections made in a series in the same way Christmas tree lights were once supplied with power. And we know what happens when one of the bulbs burns out: The whole string goes out. The technique uses a single wire pair that can connect many phones in series. The limit of phones is actually determined by the ringing power that can be supplied by any one of the phones that are on the line. Too many phones will require more power than is available from the weakest magneto that generates up to 90 VAC with sufficient amperage to ring a few other phones without assistance from a switchboard.Continue reading“Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit”
The latest meme created by JWR:
Meme Text:
Punster Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s Fame (Creator of The “Cherry Garcia” Flavor) Was Arrested for Disrupting the Senate
But He Faces No Charges For His Crimes Against Hugh Manatee
Hugh Had No Comment
News Link:
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder arrested after disrupting Senate hearing with pro-Gaza protest
Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!
Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.
“And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.” – Mark 4:21-34 (KJV)
On May 17, 1756, Britain declared war on France. This was later known as the Seven Years’ War or the French & Indian War.
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On this day in 1769, George Washington launched a legislative salvo at Great Britain’s fiscal and judicial attempts to maintain its control over the American colonies. He brought a package of non-importation resolutions, drafted by George Mason, before the Virginia House of Burgesses. This initiated a chain of events that led to Britain’s House of Lords demanding that men involved in the extra-legal Massachusetts convention of towns be tried in England. Britain’s plan backfired and created an American identity where before there had been none.
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And on May 17, 1884, Alaska became a US territory.
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Please pray for the folks that were in the path of the recent tornadoes. At least 23 people were killed.
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Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 118 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.
(Continued from Part 4.)
The Swedish M37 field telephone is an example of a good middle-of-the-road approach that is relatively lightweight, affordable, adequately durable, and mostly found to be in good operational condition. These are not as sophisticated and suitable for silent operation as either the TA-312 or the TA-1, yet they can be fitted with a 12 VDC grain of wheat sized red LED that pulses when an incoming call is made to the phone or a peizo buzzer that softly chirps and closely duplicates the TA-312 reduced volume ‘ringer’ merely by connect either to the terminals. Disconnect the mechanical ringer after installing the LED or piezo buzzer, or use cotton balls stuffed inside the bells to greatly muffle the sound to an almost inaudible level.
For the to common man, a single set of two field phones, one at the base station and the other at the primary lookout site could prove to be invaluable. If all other communications are inappropriate or to risky to use under a future threat situation, and when all other communication means and methods fail, the field phones will continue to operate.Continue reading“Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit”
To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!
Lily and I cleaned out the sheep shed. That mixed sheep manure and hay bedding was hauled via wheelbarrow to one of our compost piles near the main garden.
I helped an ailing neighbor, by cutting and stacking most of his annual firewood supply.
The lambing season for our fiber flock has been complete for more than a month. But lambing has just begun with our other sheep flock — the one with a larger breed, dedicated to milk and meat. Lily will give you the details in her part of the weekly report…
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” – Zechariah 4 (KJV)
On May 16th, 1527, the city-state of Florence was declared a republic.
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On May 16, 1997, Zaire’s president, Mobutu Sese Seko, ended 32 years of dictatorial rule, giving control of the country to rebel forces.
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May 16, 1903: The first transcontinental motorcycle trip began in San Francisco by George A. Wyman. He arrived in New York on July 6, 1903.
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Today is the birthday of clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader Woody Herman. (Born 1913, died Oct. 29, 1987.)
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Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 118 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.
(Continued from Part 3.)
For every communication requirement, always have an alternative or substitute option to accomplish the same task. For example, hand and light signals and whistles are appropriate alternatives for a security operation.
As a last resort, a signal fire, fog horn, or air raid siren could be for emergency communications. However, I should let the user make the final decision. Stay off the beaten path as much as possible and increasingly so as the threat conditions escalate. As threats learn and evolve, so should we. Continually improve your security operation and commo plan that is an essential adjunct to your primary job, security.
How one uses their communications equipment is more important than the equipment itself. For example, I can use directional antennas on two scanners or suitable receivers on both sides of a communications circuit to listen to very low-powered 1/4 to 1/2 watt FRS radios at either station as far apart as 5 miles away. Low Level Voice Intercept (LLVI) attempts would be mostly defeated. Only a drone directly overhead could DF the signal. The cost of this equipment would be minimal.Continue reading“Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit”
Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the American mortgage debt burden. (See the Economy & Finance section.)
The bull markets in precious metals is being driven by two factors: 1.) Central bank accumulation of physical metals and 2.) The insatiable demand at all levels in China (and elsewhere in Asia), because of gut-level distrust in The System. In India, for example, the Reserve Bank of India has doubled their physical gold holdings in just the past 30 months, to nearly 880 metric tons. That was not a decision that came out of the blue. It is a carefully calculated hedge against debt paper, and it required a quite substantial investment. That level of commitment (seen replicated around the world) tells me that we are at the beginning of a secular bull market in precious metals that will last at least a decade. So, keep stacking folks, especially silver, platinum, and palladium. Those metals are the relative bargains, in today’s market. – JWR
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Ian Salisbury, at Barron’s: that may show up behind a paywall for some readers: Gold Prices Are Crushing Silver. Why That Could Change Soon.
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I’ve never been a chartist, but here is some very interesting chartistry, over at Gold-Eagle.com: Bullish Blueprint: Precious Metals Surge – How Strong is the Trend?
Reader H.L. recommended this article: National Mortgage Debt Tops $12.6 Trillion Amid Rising Rates and Costs. Here are the article’s opening lines:
“A new WalletHub report indicates that total national mortgage debt is now over $12.6 trillion, with the average American household currently owing $105,000 on their mortgages. The report blames rising interest rates and housing costs for making home ownership more challenging.”
JWR Asks: Cui bono? Oh, the banksters, again. Funny how that keeps happening, with such regularity.
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The Fed Is Wrong… And It’s Going to Cost Investors a Fortune.
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Reported on Tuesday: S&P 500 closes higher Tuesday, wiping out 2025 loss, as Nvidia surges.
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The Whatfinger.com news aggregation site cross-posted this from Zero Hedge: US Treasury Shocks With Second Biggest Budget Surplus In History.
“When the people contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything by their victory but new
masters.” – George Savile, Marquis of Halifax 1633-1695, from Political, Moral, and Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections
On May 15th, 1252, Pope Innocent IV issued the papal bull ad exstirpanda, which authorized, but also limited, the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition. The 1835 painting above, by Francesco Hayez, is titled: Valenza Gradenigo Before the Inquisition.
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May 15, 1841: The first emigrant wagon train to make it to California left Independence, Missouri on a 1,730 mile journey over the Sierra Nevada mountain range. In Idaho, the group divided and 32 people and nine wagons followed John Bidwell and John Bartleson southwest from the Oregon Trail into uncharted territory that the group hoped would lead to California. JWR Adds: The Bidwell-Bartleson party was indeed successful. The trail that they blazed became one of the major wagon train routes to California, although it was later supplanted by the more direct California Emigrant Trail. The Bidwell Mansion State Park in Chico, California is well worth visiting, even after the recent fire.
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Today is the birthday of Evelyn Ernest Owen (15 May 1915 – 1 April 1949.) He was an Australian who developed the Owen submachine gun which was used by the Australian Army in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
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On May 15th, 1942, gasoline rationing began in 17 Eastern states as an attempt to help the American war effort during World War II. The main concern behind the rationing scheme was conserving scarce imported rubber, rather than fuel. By the end of the year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ensured that mandatory gasoline rationing was in effect in all 48 states.
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Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 118 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.
