Guest Article: Maps and Pins Won’t Save You, Part 2, by Kit Perez

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Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article first appeared at the excellent American Partisan web site, and is re-posted with permission. This the second of two parts.  Part 1 was posted on Friday, February 1, 2019.

I recommend American Partisan as “must reading.” Be sure to bookmark it.

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Part 2: Information vs. Intelligence

In Part 1, we talked about your Area of Operations (AO) and how to figure out what your boundaries are, as well as what your actual capability is within that area. Today we’ll focus on another problem area that gets a lot of misguided attention: information vs. intelligence.

What is Information?

You might see this as a stupid question, but it’s not. Information is data; it’s the facts, photos, knowledge, and other pieces that make up the raw material you use to create intelligence. Information is not intelligence. If you take nothing from this article series, understand that. Information is just that: information. It may or may not be true; it might be old or recent, credible or not. It’s not your job to collect as much information as possible and then make decisions about it, contrary to what you might think. In fact, far too many people do that and then wonder why their decisions turned out poorly. That happens because people do not take the time to correctly analyze, process, and distill their information into actionable intelligence.

I don’t care how many maps you have on your wall, or “contacts” you have that feed you information (in many cases, gossip and rumors), if you don’t know how to process information into an actionable, exploitable intelligence product, you’re off the mark — and all of your decisions and plans will be, too.

What is Intelligence?

Intelligence is what is created from information. That creation process is structured, it’s quantifiable, it’s logical. There is a cycle and system to it, and while entire books have been written about that process, it basically comes down to five steps (four for the average prepper since you’re probably not creating intelligence reports):

  • Planning and Direction
  • Collection
  • Analysis and Production
  • Dissemination

Continue reading“Guest Article: Maps and Pins Won’t Save You, Part 2, by Kit Perez”

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!

JWR

Here at the Rawles Ranch we had some wonderful atypical sunny days this week which cheers us all up. We’re happy that the days are starting to perceptibly lengthen, but we will be very happy when the Grip Of Winter is released.

Aside from my usual writing, I did some organizing and inventorying. I concentrated on making certain that I have all of the parts needed to complete my few remaining planned M4gery and AR-10 builds. It would be embarrassing to be a few parts short. You see, ARs have a nasty habit of not functioning unless all of the requisite parts are present, sober, and ready for duty. There are a few exceptions–such as the ejection port cover parts and sling swivels–but as for most of the rest: They have to be there, or the Poodle Shooter doesn’t go “bang” reliably or accurately in a serial fashion, as it should.

Avalanche Lily Reports

Dear Readers,
To conclude the discussion of backpacking gear and food, that I began last week:

Food Issues

I spent more time in YouTube listening to videos of Through Hikers planning their meals, preparing and organizing their foods in boxes and sending it.  I wanted to know what their food choices were.  What I found were that many of these hikers live on highly processed foods: candy, freeze dried meals, nutrition bars all of which are full of additives: corn syrup, soy, MSG, salts, other flavorings, dyes, preservatives, dried milk, blueberries, bananas, nutritional yeast, maltodextrin, aspartame and other fake sugars, et cetera. Those are all things that I refuse to eat, or am intolerant to.  I have food sensitivities (the big ones are yeast, mushrooms, cane sugar, blueberries, bananas, milk and milk products, eggs, crustaceans, mollusks, and whole wheat.  (Gluten is not an issue).  If any foods contain these items, I would prefer to fast that meal than to eat it, and feel lousy, later.

For the most part, our family eats an all natural, very loose kind of Paleo-Keto diet, which is dairy free and mostly wheat and yeast free. We eat very little packaged processed food, mainly canned tuna, salmon, Kirkland plain potato and corn chips, some Premium Saltine crackers, dark chocolate, canned organic tomato sauce, paste, diced; Lara Bars, peanut and almond butters, organic ketchup, and relish.  Most everything else we buy is bought in it’s pure, single state form, or we buy fresh, or grow it ourselves, or raise it ourselves.

I am not currently milking cows, because we are mostly dairy free. Our cows are now being raised for beef. But one of them can be milked if we had long term guests who need milk. For instance if our son, his wife and the grandchildren came home, they would want milk and eggs. A similar situation has arose with the chickens: sensitivities to eggs, thus we raise them for meat and give most of the eggs away.

Well, so what do we eat? We eat lots of beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, cod, nuts and seeds of all kinds: almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds; rice, sweet and white potatoes, squash, oats, barley, some honey and maple syrup, and lots of fresh, frozen and dried fruit, veggies, olive and coconut oils and milk, and only a little bit of pure dark chocolate. We eat very little dairy, wheat, pastas, yeast, sugars, desserts, jams.  The kids do sometimes eat cheddar cheese melted on corn chips. I will eat white flour (non yeast or dairy) homemade biscuits or flatbread once in a while, but cannot make a habit of it.  I make lots of soups, chili’s, stir fries, roasts; meat, potato/rice vegetable meals, of which, I will now be sharing those recipes with you in the coming weeks.

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 where your power comes from, all mapped. Pictured is Grand Coulee Dam, in central Washington. It is America’s largest hydroelectric dam. Annually, it produces 20.2 Terawatt-Hours of electricity!

In Maps: Where Your Power Comes From

Peter sent us this fascinating article: Mapped: Every Power Plant in the United States. Do you know where your power comes from? I’d estimate that 95% of today’s Americans have no clue about where and how their local grid power is generated. (But, of course, most SurvivalBlog readers are much better informed.) If you take a look at those maps, you can clearly see one of the reasons why I recommend the American Redoubt region: Very abundant hydroelectric power.

The Yellow Vests Get it Right

Also from Peter, there was this, at Straight Line Logic: The Yellow Vests Get it Right, by Robert Gore.  The article begins:

“The mainstream media has degenerated irreparably. Here’s a reliable rule of thumb: if it’s important it’s not covered; if it’s covered it’s not important. Stories in the American mainstream press about Yellow Vest protests have been few. One aspect of the protests, transcendently important, has received scant coverage.

The Yellow Vest protestors have called for a coordinated run on French banks. Whether they realize it or not, they’re playing with nuclear warheads that could annihilate not just the French, but Europe’s and the entire world’s financial system. Because inextricably linked to the ends of contemporary governments―how much they can screw up the lives of those who must live under them—is the question of means―how do they fund their misrule? The short answer is taxes and debt.

More About Dakota Alerts

Over at American Partisan, “NC Scout” posted some confirmation on my long-standing advice: Force Multipliers: The Dakota Alert Motion Detector for Patrols and Rural Security.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.

Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.

And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.

And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

So David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him.” – 1 Chronicles 11:1-9 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday – February 1, 2019

February 1st is the anniversary of the secession of Texas from the United States in 1861. A State Convention considering secession opened in Austin on January 28th, 1861 and on February 1st, by a vote of 166-8, adopted an Ordinance of Secession from the United States. It’s important to note that not all Texans favored this act and the state Governor, Sam Houston, while being loyal to the union, refused offers from President Lincoln to keep him in office and was subsequently deposed as governor.

We also 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.

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Today we are both announcing the most recent writing contest prize winners, and posting a guest article by Kit Perez.

Round 80 Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winners Announced!

Round 80 of SurvivalBlog’s Non-Fiction Writing Contest has ended and the editors have picked the winners. If you are one of the top three winners, please make sure that you e-mail us your USPS and your UPS/FedEx addresses. Any article submitted, but not published in the December 2018-January 2019 timeframe have been automatically rolled over to Round 81 of the Contest. Our congratulations to the writing contest winners!

First Prize:

First Prize was awarded to K.B., M.D., for Medical Action Sheets (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4) which was posted December 26-29, 2018.  She will received the following prizes:

  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:

Second Prize was awarded to R.M., for A Deep Well Pump Jack: Vital Part of Water System, which was posted on January 6, 2019.  He will received the following prizes:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  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 gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  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:

Third Prize was awarded to Michelle Cooper, for Raising Chickens for Meat Part 1 and Part 2, which was posted on January 19 and 20, 2019.  She will received the following prizes:

  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.
Honorable Mention Prizes:

Five Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon gift cards) have been awarded for the following articles:

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Since 2005, our very generous prize donors have awarded more than $670,000 worth of prizes for this ongoing bi-monthly contest. You too can win, but only if you take the time to write about what you know. Please share your knowledge!

Round 81 ends on March 28th, 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. – JWR

 

Guest Article: Maps and Pins Won’t Save You, Part 1, by Kit Perez

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Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article on Intelligence first appeared at the excellent American Partisan web site, and is re-posted with permission.  Part 2 will be posted on Saturday, February 2, 2019.

I recommend American Partisan as “must reading.” Consider bookmarking it.

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Part I: Understanding Your AO

There’s a disconnect among many in the prepper community between information and intelligence. In recent years, a disturbing notion has become fashionable; namely, that in order to effectively operate in your area — whether it be due to a societal meltdown of some type or a natural disaster — you need a big map, some brightly colored pins, and a whole bunch of data. Unfortunately, it’s not actually that way, and a lot of people are deluded into thinking it is. Perhaps even more important is understanding that sometimes it’s a lot more simple than that.

This series will look at some of the things that are widely believed in the various prepper, patriot, and other communities about intelligence, terminology, and capability — when these things are even addressed at all. We’re going to talk real world scenarios, real facts, and real situational awareness. Today we’ll talk about your Area of Operations (AO).

What is Your Area?

Terms like “area of operations” and “area of influence” are often improperly defined, offering people a twisted and even overambitious view of what their own capability is. Your area of operations is not your state. If you live in Washington, it’s not the I-5 corridor or the “Northern Cascade region.” If you’re in Florida, it’s not the panhandle, and if you’re in New York City it’s not your borough. In fact, if you live in an urban area, it’s not your city at all, and may not even be as large as your neighborhood. Understanding what your actual AO is and how it fits into a bigger area is critical to understanding what you and your group are capable of affecting.

Continue reading“Guest Article: Maps and Pins Won’t Save You, Part 1, by Kit Perez”

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’s focus is on filling in your gun collection gaps. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold, Silver Investors: Strap In; It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Ride – LBMA 2019 Price Forecast

o o o

From chartist Hub Moolman: A Major Silver Breakout Ahead?

Economy & Finance:

UK consumers shun credit cards as Brexit looms. Here is a quote:

“The boom in consumer borrowing across Britain has cooled to the slowest annual growth rate in four years, according to official figures, as households rein in their spending. The Bank of England said annual consumer credit growth slowed to 6.6% in December, continuing a trend for weaker levels of household borrowing on credit cards, personal loans and car finance deals.
In a reflection of the slowdown in consumer spending over the key festive shopping period, the amount borrowed last month dipped to £700m, below the average £1bn per month for the previous six months. The Bank said credit card borrowing was particularly weak, with only £100m put on plastic last month compared with an average of about £300m per month since July…”

o o o

At Sovereign Man: Mexico is Starting to Look Like Venezuela. (Thanks to reader A.A. for the link.)

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I do love a good tree. There it stands so strong and sturdy, and yet so beautiful, a very type of the best sort of man. How proudly it lifts its bare head to the winter storms, and with what a full heart it rejoices when the spring has come again! How grand its voice is, too, when it talks with the wind: a thousand aeolian harps cannot equal the beauty of the sighing of a great tree in leaf. All day it points to the sunshine and all night to the stars, and thus passionless, and yet full of life, it endures through the centuries, come storm, come shine, drawing its sustenance from the cool bosom of its mother earth, and as the slow years roll by, learning the great mysteries of growth and of decay. And so on and on through generations, outliving individuals, customs, dynasties — all save the landscape it adorns and human nature — till the appointed day when the wind wins the long battle and rejoices over a reclaimed space, or decay puts the last stroke to his fungus-fingered work. Ah, one should always think twice before one cuts down a tree!” – H. Rider Haggard, Allan Quatermain

Preparedness Notes for Thursday – January 31, 2019

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On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for his part in the Gunpowder Plot against parliament and King James.

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.

o  o  o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the final entry for Round 80 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 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 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 gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  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 80 ends on January 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.

My Mobile Alternative Energy Experiences, by Captain Steve

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All of us who think about what we’d do if the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) spend a lot of time exploring options. What will I do if this thing or that happens? Will I bug out or hunker down? What should I buy and place in my long term storage? I expect that like me, most who are unwilling to just sit back and hope for the best have taken plenty of steps to protect and prepare themselves for many eventualities.

Over the countless hours I’ve spent researching and planning, I’ve tried to assess and make note of where I’m lacking in my preparations. That list seems endless and often, overwhelming. But I continue to tackle those shortfalls one at a time. One area where I’ve noticed a lack of first-hand information has to do with plans for alternative energy (AE), its many and varied uses, and affordable ways and means to incorporate AE into our planning. Sure, there are plenty of reliable companies out there who are willing to take lots of your hard earned money in exchange for equipment you may, or may not, need. But what about the average family though, those of us who watch every dollar we spend? What can we do?

A Jack of All Trades

I’ve always been a hands-on guy willing to tackle just about any job. Years ago, long before “prepping” became a household term, I started researching solar power, wind power, energy storage, and how to make the best use of that power. Today, a wealth of information is readily available with Internet access and networking capabilities. You can search for just about anything with search engines like Start Page or Duck Duck Go. And I’d encourage you to research alternative energy options.

For the past 38 years, I’ve made use of 12 volt DC refrigeration, 12 volt to 120 volt inverters, energy efficient lighting, deep cycle batteries, efficient insulation, and other ways to conserve for a full-time, off-grid, low energy lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle that adapts itself to any number of SHTF scenarios. I’ve done just about every bit of the work myself; the research, purchasing, installation, and maintenance of all my equipment. You name it, I think I’ve tried it.

Continue reading“My Mobile Alternative Energy Experiences, by Captain Steve”

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 are pleased to report on the release of a novel One Time Pad Generator.

New AMRRON One Time Pad Generator and Printer

Alex Barron (aka The Bard of the American Redoubt) has posted a video blog review of the ADL-1 One Time Pad Field Generator and Printer. JWR’s Comments: Finally, someone has come up with a truly secure, stand-alone one time pad device with a printer! It all fits in a small waterproof Pelican-style carrying case. This development of this unit is credited to an anonymous group of Redoubters in the AMRRON radio network. I really, really like the approach of having an air-gapped stand-alone device. Beware of any OTP generator that is Internet connected. Those are an invitation to prying eyes, malicious intrusion, and untold mischief. Granted, you can get away with using a OTP generator on a USB device, attached to a laptop. But that had better be a dedicated spare laptop of yours with NO hard wire or wireless Internet connection! I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Partisan Labs ADL-1 One Time Pad Generator-Printer sells for under $160. Alex Barron also posted some operating instructions. Congrats to the guys and gals of Dark Labs and AMRRON!

Recipe for More Venezuela Chaos: Just Add Russians

Reader Gregg P. sent us this: Maduro Urges Supporters To Hit Streets As Russian “Security Contractors” Arrive In Venezuela. The included geopolitical map showing the disparity of support for the two “dueling presidents” is quite illuminating.

Strasser Evolution Multi-Barrel Rifle

SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson suggested this video product review: IFC debuts the innovative Strasser Evolution rifle. That rifle has a very clever design execution. These days, with a good scope costing as much as a rifle, this approach –albeit costly up front — is actually cost effective. But it is only apropos if you need just one rifle to handle everything from varmint shooting to big game hunting and a long range counter-sniper role.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“[I]f we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” – Daniel Webster

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – January 30, 2019

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This year’s new 2005-2018 edition of our waterproof archive USB stick has been selling rapidly. This new edition has a lot more bonus books than before, one more year of the blog posts, and it is now housed on a 16 GB stick. Last year’s was an 8 GB stick. That leaves you 7 GB of free space on the stick to store scans of your personal documents, any of your favorite reference PDFs, et cetera. When I last checked, we had already sold 700 sticks and just 300 were still available. Don’t miss out!  Order one for yourself, and perhaps a few extras to set aside as gifts for your preparedness-minded friends and relatives.

o  o  o

January 30th is the anniversary of the 1945 Great Raid on Cabanatuan Prison Camp where US Army Rangers and Filipino Guerrillas liberated Allied prisoners. The book Rescue At Los Baños, by historian and bestselling author Bruce Henderson is fascinating reading. And the movie The Great Raid is worth watching.  It was loosely based on this event.

This is also the birthday of historian Barbara Tuchman (born 1912, died February 6, 1989). She wrote some very engaging history books.

o  o  o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 80 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 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 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 gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  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 80 ends on January 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.

I Survived an Economic Collapse – Part 2, by Siempre Listo

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Editor’s Introductory Note:  Part 1 of this article on the Mexico currency devaluation was posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.  Today, Part 2 concludes this article.

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In Part 1, I described how, while I was living and teaching in Mexico in 1982, there was a nearly 50% devaluation of the Mexican Peso, resulting in major economic hardship for the average citizen. In this installment, I would like to share a few lessons I learned from experiencing a currency devaluation –essentially an economic collapse– and how these lessons can help us prepare for a similar, or much worse collapse in the future.

I would like to start by re-visiting my Lesson #1: Rules can be broken. I thought I was safe by having my money deposited in a Mexican bank in Dollars instead of Pesos. Wrong. As I mentioned in Part 1, I was shocked to learn that in order to withdraw my dollars, according to the new rules, those dollars first had to be converted to pesos at the new exchange rate and then, I would get my Dollars. So, figuring I might as well get something instead of possibly seeing the bank closing and getting nothing, I went ahead and withdrew my money.

The Shocks Will Come in Waves

Before the Mexico currency devaluation, the exchange rate was 27 Pesos to the Dollar. After the first of two devaluations, the rate skyrocketed to 45 Pesos to the Dollar. Six months later, there was a SECOND devaluation, sending the rate to 69 pesos to the dollar. So, suppose you have $1,000 in the bank. Pre-devaluation, those dollars are equal to 27,000 Pesos. (Yes, it was common back then to carry 500 or 1,000 Peso bills around). So, in that initial devaluation, we all lost nearly 50% or our buying power, and in the later devaluation, another 20% or so. So, since rules can be, and in fact, have been broken, who do we really believe? If you have your money deposited in a bank, remember, even though you have been told your money is safe, is it really? From past experience, I would say “no.” But what about certificates of deposit (CDs) for example? So what if you can earn 2.8% interest on a six month CD? If the bank closes down, or institutes capital controls, how “safe” are you then?

Continue reading“I Survived an Economic Collapse – Part 2, by Siempre Listo”