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 focus on covert body armor.

Going Gray Man, Step By Step

This is well worth reading: How to be a Gray Man Step by Step.

Mike Williamson on Covert Body Armor

Our Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson sent along this link: Wonder Hoodie: The Bulletproof Hoodie That Can Stop a .44 Magnum. Mike’s Comments: “These are worth considering. Also, the standard US military issue armor groin protector is the perfect size for a child’s school backpack, and rated to stop all standard pistol threats. These can be acquired inexpensively.  For adults, a Level 3+ plate plus a groin or deltoid soft armor backing (to meet full Level IV standard) will fit in most laptop compartments of a backpack. It is also legal to fly with body armor–even in the passenger compartment–though you should take a printout of the relevant TSA rules just in case, and arrive a bit early in case you are denied and need to mail it.”

NASA Warns of Solar Storms

Reader G.P. sent us this: NASA warns spectacular ‘beauty and the beast’ aurora could wreak havoc on Earth.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The police can’t stop an intruder, mugger, or stalker from hurting you. They can pursue him only after he has hurt or killed you. Protecting yourself from harm is your responsibility, and you are far less likely to be hurt in a neighborhood of gun-owners than in one of disarmed citizens – even if you don’t own a gun yourself.” – Harry Browne

CRKT Provoke Knife, by Pat Cascio

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Just when I think I’ve seen it all in folding knives, someone throws me a curve ball. This time around, it is CRKT with their “Provoke” model by custom knife maker Joe Caswell. And, to be sure, this isn’t quite what most folks picture as a folding knife, when it comes down to it.

As a knife designer myself, I’ve designed quite a few fixed blade knives over the years, and most were made for me, by custom knife makers. I now have one folding knife design, and I’m trying to tweak the design specs, and that is no easy task. Fixed blade knives are much easier to design and to produce.

I can easily say I’ve had thousands of knives pass through my hands over the years, as a gun and knife writer. Some were really great designs, others were okay, and some were junk knives. The latter went in the trash. I wouldn’t waste my time, or my readers’ times writing about junk. I’m not easily impressed with most knives and guns these days. There’s only so much anyone can do to make these designs a little different from another design. And, in my case it is even harder finding the right words to describe some new features, when writing my articles. I oftentimes, depend on some of the guys at my local gun shop to toss some words of wisdom my way for my articles. However, most of the time I get “oh cool”, or “suh-weet”, or “nice” from them.

Continue reading“CRKT Provoke Knife, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Helen J.’s San Juan Island Salad

Helen J.’s San Juan Island Salad

This is a salad recipe from an old family friend who was a practiced gardener. A local on the island butchered pigs each year and cured bacon. Thus, nearly all of the ingredients were local.

Note that the ingredients are listed without measurements. The ratio of ingredients is intended to be fine-tuned to suit your family’s taste preferences. Lamb bacon, Turkey bacon, or Tofurkey Bacon can be substituted if you refrain from pork.

Ingredients
  • Red table grapes, halved
  • Bacon, cooked and diced
  • Broccoli crown pieces, briefly steamed (firm)
  • Diced Celery
  • Diced Onion
  • Slivered almonds
Directions

Separately prepare and measure each ingredient, to taste. Combine and toss. Then mix in dressing (below). This is best done immediately before serving. This salad is best served cold. Any left-overs are to be refrigerated immediately and should be consumed within 36 hours.

DreSSING

Mix together:

  • 1 Cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 2 TBS Vinegar

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, we look at investing in discontinued Colt Python Revolvers. (See the Tangibles Investing section at the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

Why Is Gold Up When The U.S. Economy Grew 3.2%? Dive Deeper, Say Analysts

o  o  o

Washington State Politicians Drop Cynical Attempt to Impose Taxes on Gold & Silver

Economy & Finance:

Distressed Nation: Each American Would Owe $700,000 To Eliminate Worsening Debt Situation

o  o  o

List of 24 Points Pressing Hard Toward Recession

o  o  o

Avi Gilburt: Higher Rates Are Likely Over The Next Few Months

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Through the ages, the principle of financial leverage has been both used by many and abused by the wealthy and powerful in society. The seduction of leverage is strong, in that it makes the difficult appear easy and the impossible seem within reach. It brings the illusion of equality between the wealthy man and the common laborer in the land of finance. You can think of leverage a drug, and an addictive one at that.” – Karl Denninger, from Leverage: How Cheap Money Will Destroy the World

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — April 28, 2019

April 28th is the birthday of Aimo Johannes Lahti. (Born in 1896.) This clever Finn designed (or co-designed) an amazing array of weapons including the L-35 Lahti pistol, the Suomi M-31 SMG, the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG, the famous Lahti L-39 20mm anti-tank rifle, and even the 20 ItK 40 (a 20 mm dual anti-aircraft cannon.)

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 82  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 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 Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  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. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  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 82 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.

Our Path Towards Preparation, by SBC

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On our curious and sometimes convoluted path towards being prepared for TEOTWAWKI, I have sometimes impressed, often confounded and occasionally amused myself and family with our brilliance and stupidity. Here follows the outline of the story of our adventure in the hope that it will inspire or amuse or warn you and help your own journey be a bit easier and the load a bit lighter.

We began our journey after Hurricane Katrina when FEMA so effectively demonstrated how inadequate the federal support system was dealing with large scale disasters. So what began as a ah-ha moment of “perhaps we should be prepared to take care of ourselves if the lights go out,” turned into the beginning of this continuing adventure. It started with a search for information on how to be prepared for disasters. The ensuing internet search led to all kinds of official and non-official sites, books, groups and stores. The government sites are so basic it should embarrass them. Thank God I stumbled across SurvivalBlog with all the references and links. Thank you SurvivalBlog and to all you contributing authors.

We are outside of Austin, Texas city limits in a “country” suburban neighborhood. The homes are on a couple to a few lightly wooded acres and mostly open with no fencing. The neighbors are friendly and stubbornly independent. Being close to Austin, the state capital, a tech and education center, we expect if the end comes in the form of a nuclear war we will be some of the first to know and go. Some type of pandemic, economic or power collapse we should survive and is really what we are preparing for.

Continue reading“Our Path Towards Preparation, by SBC”

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 focus on the Wild Bee Crash.

Wild Bee Population Collapses by 90% in New England

We’ll start out today with this from reader H.L.: Wild Bee Population Collapses By 90% In New England, Study Warns. A snippet:

“Researchers from the University of New Hampshire conducted a study to document declines in about 100 wild bee species critical to pollinating crops throughout New England. What they discovered, according to the study, was a collapse in the wild bee population across the state, reported AP.

Researchers analyzed 119 species in the state from a museum collection at the college dating back more than a century. Sandra Rehan and Minna Mathiasson published the study in the peer-reviewed journal called Insect and Conservation Diversity this month. They concluded 14 species found across New England were on the decline by as much as 90%. Several of the species include leafcutter and mining bees.”

Patriots Day Remembered

Reader Tim J. recommended this video by Reid Heinrichs: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World: Lessons for today from Lexington and Concord. Hee also recommend this great essay on teh same theme, by Bill Buppert: Because Private Weapons Prohibition, That’s Why.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” – Matthew 28:1-9 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — April 27, 2019

On this day in 1789, the crew of the British ship Bounty mutinied, setting Captain William Bligh and 18 sailors adrift in a launch in the South Pacific.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 82  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 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 Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  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. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  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 82 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.

Sauna and Survival by D.F.D.

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Let’s get the first thing out of the way: Sauna is pronounced SOWnuh, not SAWnuh. The incorrect pronunciation is sure to “trigger” any Finn you meet, so beware!

The sauna, or banya in Russia, used to fill incredibly important functions in remote areas, and is a fine example of an older technology that we should all be familiar with. Nowadays saunas are seen more as a luxury, at least in America, but in Finland are considered a necessity. Once you learn some of the properties of saunas I think you’ll see why you should at very least know how to build one. I’ll also go through a few tips for how to properly construct a sauna, although no 2 saunas are alike. Throughout this article, I’ll be talking specifically about wood fired saunas, as obviously an electric or gas sauna isn’t viable for post-TEOTWAWKI.

The old saying is: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. we’ve all probably heard this. But how long can one go without bathing? I don’t know there is any right answer to that question, but what I do know is that without washing properly you are at much greater risk from sickness or having a fellow group member smother you do death with a pillow because you smell so bad. In fact, it is theorized that the Black Plague largely passed over Russia due to their fondness for banya baths. Bathing is going to be a longer term survival issue, and there’s no point of saving yourself from the cannibal bikers if you die later of a compromised immune system. Don’t think of cleanliness as a luxury, but as a necessity.

Continue reading“Sauna and Survival by D.F.D.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, 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 the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

I was on the road for more than two weeks, helping an ailing elderly relative. I just returned to the Rawles Ranch yesterday. The only progress that I made toward our prepping was returning with a couple of boxes of citrus that I picked. We’ll eat some of that fresh and juice the rest, and freeze it.

Oh, and I also stopped by a gun shop on my return trip and bought a complete Bravo Company AR upper with a stainless 18″ barrel. I intend to mate that with a spare Palmetto lower. That completed AR will be set aside for the grand-kids. With AR parts prices presently quite low, I consider this the ideal time to complete some gun builds and “stack them deep.”

Avalanche Lily Reports

Dear Readers,
Yahoo, Jim is home! Hallelujah!  It was a very long two plus weeks without him.  I am super glad that you’re back home, Jim!  My beloved hubby!!

This week, I re-rototilled the garden.  I planted the 25 yellow raspberries, 154 potato halves/about 50 pounds of Kennebec potatoes, and over 800 onion bulbs of various types. I still have about forty pounds of red potatoes to plant.  I’m playing that hurry-up and wait on the weather game for planting the rest of the garden.  We had two frosts this past week.  The second frost was really hard. When I saw the truck covered with frost early in that morning, I dashed outside to the garden to hose down the strawberry leaves, rhubarb, and raspberry buds, to melt the frost before the sun hit them.  I think I saved them.  A few more days will tell us the story. I wasn’t expecting the second harder freeze.  This coming weekend we are supposed to get a weather system that could give us snow, and afterwards, drop our temperatures into the high twenties at night.  So it’s been wise that I haven’t planted any thing else out there, but the root crops. The colder temperatures are supposed to last until the end of the first week of May.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

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 focus on Venezuela’s plight.

Venezuela Plunged Into Anarchy

Peter sent this video link: Venezuela plunged into anarchy. JWR’s Comments: The bottom line for survival: Who is armed, and who is not.  Watching news reports like these underscore why we emphasize firearms ownership and training so much in SurvivalBlog.

A Man Who Fled Cuba Derides Oregon Gun Control

Also from Peter: Man Who Fled Cuba Won’t Stand For Oregon Gun Control Measures.

Iron Edison’s New Lithium Batteries

Iron Edison has announced a new line of Lithium-Iron (LiFe) batteries, available as direct replacements for lead acid batteries. These new “4LiFe ” batteries have an expected cycle life of 7,500+ cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

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