Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 3, 2020

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Pardon the pun, but we’ve “started off with a bang.” My web-based mail order business was launched on Saturday morning, selling carefully selected pre-1899 guns. It is called Elk Creek Company. The ElkCreekCompany.net web site is up and running, and the attached credit card processing system is taking orders. Consult your state and local laws before ordering, but in most cases these Federally-exempt antiques can be mailed right to your door with no paperwork!  We started with more than 74 antique guns listed, but at least eight have already sold or are now on hold for individual customers. (A few folks prefer to pay with precious metals or with U.S. Postal Service Money Orders. The “ON HOLD” notations indicate the time lag for mailing those payments.

Some of these guns have been in my personal collection for more than 20 years. Nearly all of them are chambered in cartridges that are still factory made.  At the rate that sales began, it looks like I may have to run the business alternating “one month on, and two months off”, just to keep up a good inventory.

If you have any pre-1899 cartridge guns that you like to have me sell for you on consignment, then let me know!

—

And speaking of spin-off businesses, my #1 Son wrote to tell me about a new listing at his SurvivalRealty.com web site:  An ocean front solar powered lodge on an island in Alaska.

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It appears that DJT’s impeachment trial will soon come to an end with a not guilty verdict. But rumor has it that the Democrats are already planning a second impeachment. This time, Rep. Schiff claims that a Whistleblower found a very damaging piece of evidence in a wastebasket in Trump’s White House bedroom.

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Because I’m still sick abed with the flu, I won’t be posting my usual Economics & Investing column. But I am posting the Writing Contest judging results and a product review from the tireless Pat Cascio.

 

Ruger’s Model 57, by Pat Cascio

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As a general rule, I don’t like surprises of any kind. In my case, most of the time, a surprise wasn’t something good – at least in my eyes! But on December 31st, 2019, I was pleasantly surprised to get a press release from Ruger announcing an end-of-the-year surprise, to wit, their brand new handgun chambered in the high velocity 5.7x28mm centerfire. They sure kept a closed mouth on this one. I didn’t get any kind of a hint this gun was coming out – nor did many other gun writers hear about it.

At first glance, the Model 57 looks like a long-slide Security 9 from Ruger, but this is something truly new and special. And, as soon as you pick up the 57, the light weight will let you know this isn’t a 9mm handgun.

The 5.7mm round has been around about 30 years, but no big name handgun maker other than FN bothered to chamber anything in 5.7mm. It looks like a reduced sized 5.56mm round – no kidding. I’ve owned a couple firearms chambered in 5.7mm – both made by FN, but it was their little PS-90 carbine chambered in 5.7mm that caught my eye. Plus, with that 50-round magazine on top – what’s not to like? (They make 10-round and 30-rd mags as well.) I found a source – at that time – that was selling the 50-round magazines for $10 – needless to say, I stocked-up on a lot of them at that time. Alas, I got stupid one day and sold that handy little carbine – you see, I’m smart, just not all the time.

I think what I really like best about the 5.7mm round is that, you can easily hit man-sized targets out to 150-yards, and there was no recoil to speak of. Maybe you can’t take out any big game, but it would sure give cause for someone out there shooting at you, if you returned fire with the little 5.7mm round. They’d surely be praying they were some place else when the lead starting coming at them.Continue reading“Ruger’s Model 57, by Pat Cascio”

Writing Contest Judging Completed (Round 86)

We’ve completed the judging for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

First Prize goes to St. Funogas, for his two-part article that ran Jan. 9-10, 2020: Rocket Water Heater – Part and Part 2.  His prizes will include:

  1. A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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 (an $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 goes to JMD for: Planning Your Escape – Parts 1-5 . His prizes will include:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. 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.
  3. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  4. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  5. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  6. 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).
  7. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize goes to V.F. for Living Off The Grid – Part 1 and Part 2. Her prizes will include:

  1. Good2GoCo.com is providing a $400 purchase credit at regular prices for the prize winner’s choice of either Wise Foods or Augason long term storage foods, in stackable buckets.
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon Gift e-cards) go to the following articles:

Round 87 has already begun. Please share your knowledge, and enter the judging. You won’t know if your article will be deemed a winner, unless you try!

Recipe of the Week: Cream of Potato Soup

This week’s recipe is for a Cream of Potato Soup. It is a recipe excerpted from the scarce book Nine Hundred Successful Recipes, by Lulu Thompson Silvernail. This book, from my own book collection, was published in 1923. A recent change in U.S. copyright law now puts most pre-1925 books in the public domain.

Lulu Thompson Silvernail’s emphasis in this book was recipes that included hard red winter wheat flour. This entire recipe book is just part of the extensive bonus content that is included in this year’s SurvivalBlog archive waterproof USB stick. Note: The USB sticks are now in stock, but selling quickly, so get yours soon, before they sell out. There were just 45 left in stock, when I last checked.)

Ingredients
  • 3 medium-sized potatoes, peeled
  • 3-1/2 cups rich milk
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 
3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons grated or scraped onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped celery hearts
Directions

Boil potatoes until tender and then run through a ricer or sieve into a saucepan. Add milk to potatoes. Mix flour, butter, grated onion, salt, pepper, and celery together. Add this to the potato-milk mixture. Place over fire and cook slowly until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.
Note: Onion may be peeled, cut in two and with a spoon scraped in mush form. The celery must be very tender and chopped very fine.
This recipe can easily be doubled or quadrupled, to serve large groups. But be careful not to over-season it.

Serving

Serve hot.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man who would keep all wine out of the country, lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon a supposition he may abuse it. When he doth abuse it, judge.” – Oliver Cromwell

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 2, 2020

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February 2nd is the birthday of Ayn Rand (born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum in 1905), died March 6, 1982. She is of course remembered for her novel Atlas Shrugged, which is considered a Libertarian classic. While I sharply disagree with her views on religion (since she was an atheist), I admire both her skill as a writer and her ability to articulate some core precepts of human liberty.

—

I’m still down with the flu, so I won’t be posting anything but this top note and a quote today. Sorry!  The feature Post-TEOTWAWKI Pest Control – Part 2, by J.S.R. should be posted on Tuesday, February 4, 2020.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” – Colossians 4:1-6 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 1, 2020

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Today we remember February 1st, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.

Also today, we recognize the birthday of Christian economist Dr. Gary North. (Born, 1942.) North is a prolific writer on Christian Reconstruction and economics topics.

—

As promised, I’ve just launched my web-based mail order business, selling pre-1899 guns. It is called Elk Creek Company. The ElkCreekCompany.net web site is now up and running, and the attached credit card processing system is ready to take your orders. Consult your state and local laws before ordering. But in most cases these Federally-exempt antiques can be mailed right to your door with no paperwork!  There are more than 74 antique guns listed, that will be sold first come, first serve.  Some of these have been in my personal collection for more than 20 years. Nearly all of them are chambered in cartridges that are still factory made.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the first entry for Round 87 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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 (an $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, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  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. Good2GoCo.com is providing a $400 purchase credit at regular prices for the prize winner’s choice of either Wise Foods or Augason long term storage foods, in stackable buckets.
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,

Round 87 ends on March 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.

Post-TEOTWAWKI Pest Control – Part 1, by J.S.R.

19

Historically, guns and knives make barely a blip on the charts in their ability to kill when compared to mosquitoes, lice, and ticks. These killers trigger no motion sensors or metal detectors. They don’t need night vision goggles. They spare no one and are entirely indiscriminate in their attacks. It was true historically, and it is true now. It will continue to be true in the future. Focusing too much attention on Hollywood’s distracting scripts for doomsday scenarios where firearms do all the killing prevents people from preparing for the far more likely assassins that will find, wherever you bug out.

Fortunately, arming yourself with knowledge, skills, and supplies to defeat nature’s most lethal killers will cost less than a couple of boxes of ammo and doesn’t require any time at the gun range.

MOSQUITOES

When it comes to killing people, mosquitoes have no equal. During the summer months, they are difficult to avoid entirely. However, several measures can be taken to reduce their threat to you.

Preventing Bites

  • Use mosquito repellents. EPA-approved repellents include DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, 2-undecanone, and para-methane-diol. The higher the percentage of the active ingredient, the longer each application lasts, and the more effective. If you are going to use homemade or natural repellents, then try them out now to make sure they work on you. By the same token, some homemade repellents may work well on one species of mosquito, but not another. It’s crucial to find out this information in advance. Recently, Iowa State University research showed that catnip is more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. Unfortunately, it has to be applied much more frequently.
    • Make your own mosquito repellent using dried herbs.
      • 1 tablespoon catnip
      • 1 tablespoon peppermint or spearmint
      • 1 tablespoon lavender
      • 1 tablespoon rosemary
      • 1 tablespoon thyme
    • Fill a pint jar halfway with apple cider vinegar. Add the dried herbs, place the lid on the jar, and shake well to combine. Store in a cool, dark place and shake daily for three weeks. Strain out and discard the herbs. Pour the resulting liquid into a spray bottle and add eight ounces of water. Store in the refrigerator and use as needed.
  • Use mosquito screens and clothing. Babies should always be covered well with clothing and mosquito netting used over their cribs and strollers. Plan for screen-protected indoor play areas.
  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin. The odor alone helps repel mosquitoes. In addition, permethrin kills mosquitoes on contact and is effective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing.
  • Wear light-colored clothing (studies show that mosquitoes favor dark clothing) and cover the skin as much as possible. Tightly-woven clothing, particularly those made with synthetics, and anything with an SPF rating, are better at preventing mosquitoes from biting through your clothing.
  • Mosquito-proof the home. Keep all window and door screens in good repair, without any holes through which mosquitoes could gain access. Use a fan, if possible. Mosquitoes can’t fly well in the wind. Remove standing water and litter from around the home.

Those are the measures for preventing bites and disease. There is a vaccine against yellow fever, but it usually is only administered to those traveling to Africa and South America.Continue reading“Post-TEOTWAWKI Pest Control – Part 1, by J.S.R.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

70

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Just days before I had planned to launch my new web-based mail order business, I came down with the flu.  (No, not that flu!) This is the first significant illness that I’ve had in about three years. So forgive me if the blog posts are a bit thin for the next few days. Despite this illness, I’ve just launched Elk Creek Company, on schedule.

Avalanche Lily Reports:

Dear Readers,

Grr!  I got the bug last night, (Thursday night).  I was hoping to avoid it, but I am surrounded by it, since, Jim and Miss Eloise came down with it first, on Tuesday, closely followed by Miss Violet, on Wednesday. 🙁

However, this week in light of the threat of Corona Virus popping up, we had to run to town for appointments and last weekend we went to the Gun Show in Post Falls. (Which was probably the source of the cold/flu).

I have not had a bad cold, either, in a few years. Hopefully, this won’t be too bad.  I am making everybody drink much and eat lots of fruit and green smoothies and take supplements and take steam showers, often to keep the chest congestion junk loose.

We made two trips to Costco, over last weekend and again on Wednesday, and other stores to stock up on  fruits and vegetables and a few more items to top off our stores of items to quarantine ourselves. I bought 20 pounds of lemons and squeezed fifteen pounds of the lemons and froze them into ice cube trays and put them into gallon baggies in the freezer.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.” – Job 27  (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 31, 2020

10

Congratulations to the Citizens of the UK! Brexit will take effect at midnight tonight. It was originally scheduled for March of 2019. But there were, ahem, delays. I’m glad to see that you are finally getting out of Burger King. Next up: How and when do you get your guns back?

—

And, speaking of England: On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes was scheduled for execution for his part in the Gunpowder Plot against parliament and King James. As he was being marched up the steps to his gallows, he fell and broke his neck and died, thus depriving his executioners of any satisfaction. In recent years, Guy Fawkes masks have become a symbol of resistance to big government, worldwide.

—

Also on this day in 1872, American author Pearl Zane Grey was born. He was best know for his popular adventure western novels, including Riders of the Purple Sage, which was his best-selling book.

—

The prize winners for Round 86 of our bi-monthly writing contest will be announced on Monday, February 3rd, 2020. Thanks for your patience.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the final entry for Round 86 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from veteran-owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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 (an $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 gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. 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.
  3. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  4. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  5. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  6. 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).
  7. 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. Good2GoCo.com is providing a $400 purchase credit at regular prices for the prize winner’s choice of either Wise Foods or Augason long term storage foods, in stackable buckets.
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 87 starts tomorrow, 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 Appalachian Redoubt, by Bethany

40

Encompassing parts of 13 states from southern New York down through the northern region of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, the Appalachian mountain range offers a Redoubt alternative for those east of the Mississippi. More than just a geographical designation, Appalachia offers some unique cultural aspects that contribute to its potential viability for preparedness living. The “Appalachian Redoubt” has been referenced various survival-minded authors, who mainly focused on the Cumberland Plateau region and the more rugged mountains of North Carolina, primarily geared towards a “bug out” /retreat scenario. I’m going to address the area that I live in — Southeastern Ohio/Eastern Kentucky/Northern West Virginia, from a permanent resident/”bug in” perspective.

As with any location, there are pros and cons to the Appalachian Redoubt, which very often are one and the same. Every cloud has a silver lining.

1. Poverty and a stagnant economy head the list of potential pitfalls. While good paying jobs can still be found, they take some searching for, and an appropriate skill set. It is imperative that you either have secured employment, an independent means of support, such as an internet-based business or telecommute job, or sufficient cash on hand to purchase your property and necessary infrastructure and equipment outright, before finding your dream retreat and moving. You can’t depend on moving and then finding employment. Two of the biggest sectors are prison employment (state governments are fond of dumping their “unwanted” into rural and poorer parts of the state–out of sight, out of mind) and healthcare. Skilled trades such as mechanics, electricians, and plumbers can also find work. There are some opportunities in IT, bio research, and manufacturing, but competition is stiff in these areas. Mining and timber industry employment still exist, but they are the most precarious options for long term employment, and the majority of the jobs are filled via the “good old boy” network- the sons and friends of current employees.Continue reading“The Appalachian Redoubt, by Bethany”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

17

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 the wide-reaching economic implications of the Coronavirus outbreak in China.

Precious Metals:

News of the spread of the Wuhan Pneumonia virus put a scare into the industrial side of the precious metals market — with silver, platinum, and palladium all turning down. If the outbreak gets any worse, then nearly all commodities will suffer.

o  o  o

Gold, which is both an industrial metal and an inflation hedge, has fared better: Gold eases off six-year highs as equities regain favor for now

Economy & Finance:

Nikkei Asian Review: World braces for economic impact of Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. JWR’s Comment: If this gets more widespread, then the real economic winners will be “stay at home” and/or “at a distance”, such as: Netflix, Amazon, eBay, et cetera. Who knows? Ham radio and remote camping may become popular. The biggest losers will likely be public venues, tourism, cruise ships, team sports, movie theaters, conventions, spectator sports, concerts, and so forth. Adjust your investments, accordingly.

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: “Everything Just Changed” – CoV Contagion Sparks Massive Treasury Short Stop-Out, Stock Dealers Flip “Short Gamma”

o  o  o

How China’s Economy Is Taking a Hit From Coronavirus

o  o  o

SARS Versus Wuhan: The Difference Between Then & Now

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

3

“How could I improve on what we’ve done so far? Well, I would rather we didn’t give Fallujah back. There’s a few things I think we need to stand up to. I think we can’t just ignore terrorism, we cant just turn our back on it and expect it to go away. I mean, somebody around here seems to think if you treat them nice they’ll like you and they’ll leave you alone, but that’s not the case. But our guys are in good shape, we’re ready to go any time. Matter of fact, call me back, I’m ready to go.” – R. Lee Ermey