The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters ande negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the New Zealand buy back gun grab.

NZ Government Refuses to Pay Full Price for Banned Guns

Gun Owners Outraged as New Zealand Government Refuses to Pay Full Price for Banned Firearms. JWR’s Comments:  The phrase “gun buy back” is preposterous, on its face. A government cannot “buy back” something that it never owned. I believe that the phrase “Tyranny Bribe Program” would be more accurate and fitting. This is true of all buy back gun grabs. And to argue about how much the government will pay to permanently deprive someone of guns that should rightfully be passed down to their progeny is also preposterous. The real crux of this is that New Zealanders are simply getting a few of their tax dollars back, in exchange for surrendering their birthright. Once they’ve acceded to the tyrants’ demands, then they are in no position to negotiate price. Don’t allow this to happen in America!

The Perfect Sound-Blocking Baffle

Reader G.P. sent this: Researchers Have Created A Shape That Can Block All Sound.

“When it comes to sound-proofing, there are materials out there that can help dampen sound and prevent it from leaking out of a room. However, it seems that thanks to the work by a group of researchers over at the Boston University, they have managed to create a shape that can apparently block out all sound.

This shape was designed using math where it was created in such a way that certain frequencies passing through the air will actually reflect back towards their source. This works differently compared to traditional sound absorption designs, where they will take sound and turn the vibrations into heat.

However, as you can see in the video above, what makes this particular design so special and unique is the fact that it is completely open, meaning that you would think that in theory sound could pass through it, but it can’t. So what does this discovery mean? Are there any practical uses for it?”

G.P. answered that astutely, with a question of his own:  “Is this the future of 3D-printed suppressors?”

 

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 3, 2019

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On July 3, 1890, the Idaho Territory became the 43rd state in the Union.

July 3rd is also the birthday of both musician Aaron Tippin and of actor Tom Cruise.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 83  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 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. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 83 ends on July 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.

Making the Best of Powdered Milk, Part 1, by J.R.

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Editor’s Introductory Note: This article is a compilation from several articles in J.R.’s Prep School Daily blog. Because of its length, it will be posted in three parts.  It is re-posted with permission. – JWR

Introduction

I love including powdered milk in my food storage plan for my family.  I love it because nobody else does.  Nobody wants it, now or ever.  People who have had it never want it again, and people who have not had it are not that into eating healthy or storing food anyway, so there are no worries from them either.

But still, powdered milk is like the ugly stepchild of food storage.  Nobody wants it.  Just thinking about it is probably giving you the willies.

Well, let’s change that!  First off, let’s discuss nutritional needs.  Teens and adults are recommended to store 20 pounds of dry milk per year.  This is only used in baking and cooking.  There is absolutely none for pouring on cereal or drinking.  None for making yogurt or banana cream pie.

In contrast, pregnant and nursing women and children up to the ages of 12 years need 75 pounds of powdered milk each year to meet the nutritional requirements of their growing bodies. Yes, there is probably some drinking involved here.

The following table shows a comparison of the nutrients and costs for some of the major dry milk companies.  As you can see, there is a wide range of nutrients and costs per serving.  Please note that the Augason Farms Morning Moo is not milk—it is a milk drink.

 

Manufacturer Vit. A Vit. C Vit. D Calcium Cost Servings Cost/Serving
Provident Pantry 0 2 0 25 Purchased in 2008—no records of what I paid
Country Cream 0 0 10 30 Purchased in 2009—no records of what I paid
HSC no sugar or vanilla added) 10 4 25 35 Purchased in 2001, no records of what I paid
HSC (sugar and vanilla added) 15 4 40 35 Purchased in 2010, no records of what I paid
HSC 10 4 25 35 $ 4.00 29 $0.14
Country Cream 2 2 10 30 18.99 64 0.30
Augason Farms 15 2 10 20 22.99 39 0.59
Thrive 0 0 10 20 10.49 15 0.70
Emergency Essentials 10 4 25 30 18.95 45 0.42
Augason Farms Morning Moo 10 0 15 10 23.99 93 0.26
Carnation 10 2 25 30 0.99 4 0.25
Kroger 15 — 15 20 2.31 12 0.19

I’ve had a few opportunities to teach classes on using powdered milk, and one of the things I do every time is a taste test.  Most of the major long-term food storage companies offer their own dry milk lines for sale.  In my tastes tests, there has been no consensus for first place.  Some favor Country Cream or Emergency Essentials or Thrive.  But twice now I’ve had groups give two thumbs up to the milk from the Home Storage Center (HSC).Continue reading“Making the Best of Powdered Milk, Part 1, by J.R.”

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on our advertiser BattlBox. (See the Gear & Grub section.)

Books:

Illustrated Cabinetmaking: How to Design and Construct Furniture That Works (Fox Chapel Publishing) Over 1300 Drawings & Diagrams for Drawers, Tables, Beds, Bookcases, Cabinets, Joints & Subassemblies

o  o  o

Serious bayonet collectors and investors find themselves a copy of this book: Bayonets from Janzen’s Notebook. (Used copies can sometimes be found on eBay for less than $75.)

o  o  o

I was not surprised to see that Mark Levin’s Unfreedom of the Press is still in Amazon.com’s top 10 sellers list.

o  o  o

Straw Bale Building Details: An Illustrated Guide for Design and Construction

o  o  o

Bug Out Bag: The Ultimate Bug Out Bag – How to Make a Flawless 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit that WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE

Continue reading“JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 2, 2019

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On July 2nd, 1937 aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator.

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I just signed up for affiliate advertising with EMPShield.com. Please take a minute to look at their web site. They sell effective EMP-protective circuitry for your vehicles and your home–whether you are on-grid or off-grid.

The Other Transceiver Import Ban: Hytera

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You’ll probably recall that last week I mentioned the upcoming import ban on Baofeng UV-5 series handi-talkies. This was because of a 2018 FCC ruling that banned sales of transceivers that can transmit in both the FRS band and in ham bands. That ban goes into effect on September 30th. But you may not have heard about the other transceiver import ban: This one is on Hytera brand encrypted Digital Mobile Radios (DMRs). DMR is an open digital radio standard that combines voice and data together–often with 128-bit or 256-bit encryption features. The reason for the import ban? Some of the Hytera DMR radio models were ruled patent infringing. A few months ago, CQ Amateur Radio magazine reported a summary:

“The U.S. International Trade Commission has banned the import of several DMR radio models manufactured by the Chinese company Hytera. According to Newsline, the ITC ruled that the radios infringe on numerous Motorola patents.

Models include the MD652, MD872, BD302, BD362 and BD502, as well as two repeater models, the RD622 and RD892.

Hytera says it is replacing those models with its new “i-Series” products, which it insists do not infringe on any patents.”

Since Hytera’s new “i-Series” models are more expensive, I recommend stocking up on the now import-banned “pre-i” models, while there are a few still available.

All of the now import-banned models (that lack an “i” tagged on the end of the model numbers) are still available from a variety of Internet vendors and on eBay, but supplies of the “pre-i” models are getting spotty.

I should also mention that slightly-used Hytera encrypted DMRs (both “i” and pre-i”) can sometimes be found on eBay and at hamfests, at bargain prices. Their Bluetooth adapters and other accessories are available via Amazon.com.

It is noteworthy that the Trump Administration’s new electronics tariffs on China will also raise the prices on the replacement models of both the Hytera and the Baofeng transceivers, so there is even more reason to stock up, soon! – JWR

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. Today, we focus on plans to create a 12th Circuit Court. (See the Region-Wide section.)

Region-Wide

Crapo Seeks to Create 12th Circuit Court. JWR’s Comments: This will at least palliate the situation, and hopefully even allow President DJT to appoint additional conservatives to the bench of this new appellate court!

o o o

Reader Mitch X. wrote to ask:

“I was in Grangeville [Idaho] a few weeks ago and paid $10 for a can of mixed nuts at the only [grocery] store in town. I am looking at relocating to Idaho County in a year or so and was wondering if there is a more economical source for buying food?”

I replied: “Most of The American Redoubt is included in the Azure Standard delivery area. Grangeville, Idaho is on one of their routes for “drop points.” I buy many staple foods including nuts (such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts) in big 20-pound or 25-pound boxes from them, and then repack them in jars, and freeze most of them. Their prices are quite economical.  For example they sell perfect shelled walnut halves for less than the price that COSTCO sells broken walnut pieces. You will have to make you schedule line up with their delivery schedule, but the time taken to meet their truck is time well spent. You are also very likely to meet like-minded survivalists waiting at the drop point for their Azure deliveries, and make some great friendships.”

o o o

In The New York Times: Who Gets to Own the West?: A new group of billionaires is shaking up the landscape. An excerpt:

“In the last decade, private land in the United States has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. Today, just 100 families own about 42 million acres across the country, a 65,000-square-mile expanse, according to the Land Report, a magazine that tracks large purchases. Researchers at the magazine have found that the amount of land owned by those 100 families has jumped 50 percent since 2007.

Every Friday, get an exclusive look at how one of the week’s biggest news stories on “The Daily” podcast came together.

Much of that land stretches from the Rocky Mountains down into Texas, where, for some, commercial forests and retired ranches have become an increasingly attractive investment.

Battles over private and public land have been a defining part of the West since the 1800s, when the federal government began doling out free acres to encourage expansion. For years, fights have played out between private individuals and the federal government, which owns more than half of the region.”

Idaho

Another great Idaho flying video with a “forced landing”:  FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD! HOT SPRING HOP / Flight Vlog (Part 2).  JWR’s Comment: You’ve gotta love the ending, with the sheriff’s deputy nonchalantly zipping by their parked bush plane, without even slowing down. Idaho is SOOOO casual, and freedom-loving!

o o o

State of 208: Idaho Broadband Task Force

o o o

As Boise grows, bed bugs become more frequent in the Treasure Valley

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

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we delve even further into the growing threat of internet surveillance and censorship.

Fed Up With YouTube Censorship?

If you are fed up with YouTube censorship and content steering, then I recommend getting the LBRY app. The app (spoken “Library”) also includes its own cryptocurrency. So I’ve found that getting someone started viewing videos on LBRY is a good way to teach them the fundamentals of how crypto coins operate. And it is also a great way to poke our collective finger in the eye of the censorious eye of YouTube. The app just takes a minute to download. The interface is fairly intuitive. To build your list of “Channels”, just type names or topics into the LBRY search box. The developers have just released a web-based (HTTP) version (at LBRY.com) , but I strongly suggest that you download the app, so that you have the full feature set. LBRY is the wave of the future. By now, it should have YouTube’s management quaking in their boots. Since LBRY is a fully distributed peer-to-peer app, they can’t stop the signal!

SurvivalBlog Archive USB Stick Sale Update

Our small remaining supply of waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks is currently on close-out sale, at just $19.95 each.  This is just until we exhaust the annual supply. This is your chance to order some extras, for gifts. When I last checked, we had only 95 sticks remaining, and they’ve been selling at a rate of more than 20 per day.  Order yours soon–before they are all sold out!

Washington D.C. Has 10,000 Spies

Reader G.P. spotted this: City of Secrets: Estimated 10,000 people in DC are spies.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 1, 2019

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July 1st, 1863 is the anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.

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We’d like to welcome our newest advertiser, Harvest Guard. Their re-usable canning lids are made here in the United States. They are offering us a special 5% discount coupon code:  “SURVIVALBLOG“. Thanks!

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Palmetto State Armory — one of our affiliates advertisers — just started their big annual Fourth of July sale. Their advertised sale prices last until July 8th. One noteworthy item on sale is a complete M4 upper and parts kit with 16″ barrel, a mid-length gas system, Picatinny rail, and M-LOK forend, for just $329, with free shipping. The only other part that you will need to complete your build is a stripped AR-15 lower. So here is your chance to have a good quality AR for right around $360! They are also selling “mix and match” complete AR-15 and AR-10 uppers and lowers, so you can assemble a rifle or carbine in the configuration you want, at a great price. This would be a “two piece build” with no gunsmithing skill required. Please use our Palmetto State Armory link when you start your order, so that we’ll get our little piece of the action. Thanks!

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Today we present a product review by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio. We are also posting a recipe and a special edition of the Economics & Investing Column.

SIG-Sauer P365 9mm, by Pat Cascio

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It is not often that a gun company will first build a magazine for a handgun, and then design the handgun around that magazine. However, that is exactly what SIG-Sauer did with their new 10+1 shot P365 9mm pistol.

Many gun makers will build new handgun designs, and then slightly alter the magazine design it takes, from a very similar handgun. This is done on purpose, I believe, so gun owners have to go out and purchase more spare magazines for the newly-designed handgun, instead of being able to use magazines from a very similar handgun that the company makes, or that is made by other companies. I understand profit and loss, that all companies must abide by, however, when they build newer handgun designs, and then make sure that none of the magazines from other similar handgun designs, won’t fit. I believe that is taking advantage of the consumer.

Look, if I already own a Super Whiz 9mm from the ABC company, and they build a World Wide 9mm handgun from the same ABC company – and they are so similar, why don’t they use the same magazine? It saves money in having different magazines made.  If I already owned a Super Whiz 9mm, and then bought the World Wide 9mm from the same company, and it took the same magazine as the Super Whiz does, I’d still purchase more spare magazines. And I don’t know of many firearm makers that manufactures their own magazines. Typically, they are made by subcontractors such as Mec-Gar, that specialize in only making magazines.

I’m long past carrying a full-sized 1911, like I used to carry. Then I went to the Lightweight Commander-sized 1911, and eventually, went to the Officer’s-sized 1911 – and even went from one chambered in .45 ACP to some of the newer 9mm chambered Officer’s-sized 1911s. Still, it was/is more gun than I need to carry. I’m not in law enforcement any longer, and I don’t need to carry all the hardware I used to carry. So, these days, I can usually be caught carrying a sub-compact semi-auto handgun of some sort, with one spare magazine. I find it hard to justify carrying a sub-compact handgun that hold a mere 5-6 rounds, when I can pack a similar sub-compact that is about the same size, as the one only holding 5-6 rounds, and this one will hold 10+ rounds or even more. So, why carry similar-sized handguns, with one holding lesser number of rounds, when I can carry a handgun that is almost identical, and in some cases, even smaller, that hold about double the ammo? I’d like to think that, I’m getting smarter in my old age.

It has been a lot of years, since I had to draw a handgun on anyone, or any suspect. Back in the day – we’re talking the early 1970s, I worked for an alarm company – during the day, we installed alarms, and on the night shift, we answered alarms. To be sure, on average, I would arrest at least one or two burglary felons each night – sometime more often – and they would be arrested at gun point. I probably made more felony arrests in the short time period I worked for that company, than most police officers make in a lifetime. This is not bragging, just a fact.Continue reading“SIG-Sauer P365 9mm, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: M.N.’s Oatmeal Pancakes

Reader M.N. sent us this recipe that is a good way to use your stored rolled oats, your stored wheat (or whole wheat flour), your stored powdered eggs, and your stored powdered milk.  Of course, fresh ingredients taste best, but long term storage ingredients are still palatable.

This recipe serves four people, or two teenage boys. (About 12 pancakes).

Note: Doubling the recipe is too much for the capacity of a blender, so make separate recipes.

Ingredients
  • 2 Cups rolled oats (oatmeal)
  • 1 Cup of whole wheat flour (can be hand-ground, but if so, grind it twice)
  • 2 1/2 Cups milk (separately reconstituted powdered milk can be substituted)
  • 1/3 Cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs (or equivalent quantity of separately reconstituted powdered eggs)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
Directions
  1. Put all ingredients in a blender, or in a large mixing bowl, and use a hand mixer. Blend smoothly into a batter.
  2. Let the batter stand for three minutes, to thicken.
  3. Bake on a hot, oiled griddle or large cast iron skillet.
SERVING

Serve this as you would any regular pancakes with butter, maple syrup, sorghum, or jam.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, in a special issue of this column I’m foregoing the regular news column items to look at investing in rare modern Colt 1911 variants.

Tangibles Investing (Rare Modern Colt 1911 Variants):

Today I’m focusing my attention on the fairly arcane specialty of investing in fairly rare modern Colt 1911 variants. These are limited production original Colts–not to be confused with “Commemorative Editions” and “Tribute Editions” produced by third parties, using re-worked Colts. The variant models I’m discussing here are/were actually produced in small numbers by Colt’s Custom Shop.

The serious Colt collectors only buy these in unfired condition–or at least “minty” condition–with their original boxes and paperwork.

Some of these had special cases or zippered logo pouches inscribed with the special model name.

Full details on current production and the more recently-discontinued variants can found at the Colt factory’s Pistols web page. Once there, you will need to “drill down” through the menus to find the limited editions.

A side note: Colt’s recently announced M1903 pocket pistol “re-issue” series is actually produced by US Armament Corp, under licensed. So I have my doubts about their long term collector’s interest.Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”