Preparedness Notes for Monday – January 14, 2019

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On January 14th, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Second Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence. In the document, which was known as the Second Treaty of Paris because the Treaty of Paris was also the name of the agreement that had ended the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Britain officially agreed to recognize the independence of its 13 former colonies as the new United States of America.

Springfield Armory XDm 10mm, by Pat Cascio

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The 10mm round is just one of those calibers that refuses to go away, and this latest handgun addition– the Springfield Armory XDm– which is chambered in 10mm, might just be the best handgun to come along in this hot-stepping caliber.

Some History of 10mm Caliber Handguns

Let me give you some of the history on 10mm caliber handguns. Many years ago, a company called Dornus & Dixon announced they were coming out with a handgun in the new 10mm caliber. There were many problems along the way, first of which was financing. The second issue was that, while they did come out with a few handguns chambered in 10mm, many guns didn’t even come with a magazine let alone any spare magazines.

Because of Power Pistols Didn’t Hold Up

Since that time, a number of gun makers have come out with 10mm handguns. Unfortunately, because of the power of this round, the pistols just didn’t hold up. I owned a S&W Model 1006 in 10mm, and the gun was sent back to the factory three times – twice because the rear sight shot loose and once because of accuracy problems. After the third trip back for repairs, I gave up on the gun and traded it off.

Continue reading“Springfield Armory XDm 10mm, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Biscochitos, by T.R.

This is one of our favorite holiday cookies here in northern New Mexico. The traditional shape in this area is a simple disk about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, but you can use your cookie cutters if you want to.

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbs baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups lard
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 2 tsp anise seed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 tbs ground cinnamon

Continue reading“Recipe of the Week: Biscochitos, by T.R.”

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 so-called Humanium Metal. (See the Precious Metals  section.)

Precious Metals (Humanium Metal):

Getting To $1,300: Longest U.S. Gov’t Shutdown, U.S.-China Trade Talks, Brexit Troubles

o o o

A reporter at Kitco apparently took a press release on “”Humanium Metal” at face value, and wrote this rubbish: Move Over Gold, This New Metal May Be More “Precious”.

To follow up, I wrote the following to the article’s author:
Humanium Metal is a socialist political posturing scam. Do they really expect anyone to “invest” in scrap metal, at the rate of 5,000 Euro for 4 kilograms?
The philosophy behind Humanium Metal is essentially voodoo.  If someone ascribes “evil” to inantimate objects, then that is voodoo. Here is a hypothetical: There are two anonymous old typewriters for sale on a shelf in a thrift store:  One belonged to Mother Teresa. The other belonged to Joseph Goebbels. Is one typewriter “good” and the other “evil”?  No, they are both just typewriters. The same goes for guns, or any scrap metal from melted-down guns.
Whomever wrote the Humanium Metal press release that you relied on has an agenda. And that agenda does not take into account that some of the guns seized in Central America were owned by people who owned them for legitimate self defense. Those people have now been stripped of that right. So contraprenurially “investing” in Humanium Mertal is indirectly contributing to making some citizens more vulnerable to criminals or oppressive governments.
Before echoing anything from a press release in an article, ask yourself: Cui bono? There are two sides to every story.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – January 13, 2019

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This is the birthday of actor and shooter Robert Stack (1919 -2003.)

o o o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This features 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.

“Inclusive” Strategic Planning As Part Of Everyday Environment- Part 5, by Old Bobbert

Inclusiveness in our prepper world of “after the SHTF event” is that element wherein everyone who will be involved in an activity, regardless of the nature of the activity, will be involved in the creation of the plan. This way they can thereby be more fully committed to the plans’ success.

We are currently in the midst of looking at itemized “inclusive” strategic planning considerations to apply in an event situation. Twelve points have been covered so far, and we are in the midst of the thirteenth– economics.

13. Economics– Single Most Likely Disaster Looming (continued)

Crisis Moment, Lost Confidence in Current Monetary Systems

We, as a people, are moving nearer that predictable crisis moment, when enough people will have lost confidence in the current local/global monetary systems, which are rapidly losing value and credibility as a sure and certain means of transferring value for value. That’ll be a dangerous day, when currency is no longer trusted as the intermediary means of giving payment for goods and services received.

It will be that never-to-be-forgotten day when angry people line up at the doors of banks in the early dawn and impatiently wait to go in and withdraw their savings and to close their checking account. On that final day they may find the bank doors remained locked, their money gone forever, and the police have come to keep the peace and guard the cold closed bank doors. That will be their final day of happy ignorance of the reality of not being prepared.

Unprepared Will Remember You Are Prepared and Want Help

That is the day those unprepared will remember that they used to know someone who talked just a little about preparedness. Some might remember that you are most likely to be prepared, and they will want you to help them survive their lack of preparation and ignorance. Be warned.

Continue reading““Inclusive” Strategic Planning As Part Of Everyday Environment- Part 5, by Old Bobbert”

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 “HJL”. Hollywood can’t quite understand the rule of consequences in today’s lead article.

Hollywood Put to the Test

Those famous and influential people (though know one quite know why they are) who always advocate that you give your money to the government to manage homelessness are now being put to the test. Los Angeles is now grappling with a homeless epidemic. The city has budgeted over $100 million for affordable housing, addiction treatment, job placement and mental health services and can’t seem to understand why the homeless population is increasing instead of decreasing. Of course the average home price is $1.9 million and the residents are showing exasperation and sometimes outright disdain for the transient population. It is almost humorous to see how poorly these rich and famous people can think through consequences. Thanks to reader P. for the link.

Founding Fathers and Gun Control

Reader T.J. sent in this video on why our fathers were against gun control and why you should be too. Prior to the late 1800s there just wasn’t any attempts at gun control on a large scale. As Henrichs points out, the founding fathers understood the saying regarding gun control laws: “Good men don’t need them and bad men won’t follow them.” They had a vision of a free, stable society that was predicated on freedom. Gun control, by it’s very nature, is government limiting your options. That basically means that when the government passes laws that limit your choice, government power increases and individual liberty decreases – the exact opposite of what they wanted.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” – 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday – January 12, 2019

On January 12, 1888, the “Schoolchildren’s Blizzard” killed 235 people, many of whom were children on their way home from school, across the Northwest Plains region of the United States. The storm came with no warning and some accounts say that the temperature fell nearly 100 degrees in just 24 hours. There were many instances of teachers keeping or rescuing children who would have been caught in the storm while walking home.

o o o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This features 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.

“Inclusive” Strategic Planning As Part Of Everyday Environment- Part 4, by Old Bobbert

Inclusiveness in our prepper world of “after the SHTF event” is that element wherein everyone who will be involved in an activity, regardless of the nature of the activity, will be involved in the creation of the plan. This way they can thereby be more fully committed to the plans’ success.

We are currently in the midst of looking at itemized “inclusive” strategic planning considerations to apply in an event situation. Ten points have been covered so far.

11. Applied Knowledge

We have often heard that ”knowledge has value”, or “knowledge is power.” While these simple and well-worn sayings do sound right, they are both actually very incomplete.

Only “applied knowledge” has value or is power. While unused knowledge does have value potential, until it is used it is without value. Application is the path to the value of our knowledge. Knowledge never loses its potential value. Sadly, idle knowledge is always totally useless.

A Little Knowledge Can Carry You A Long Way

Even a little knowledge can carry you a long way in the right direction. Additionally, a little knowledge will soon attract more knowledge and others to further your efforts and to help you gain additional skills and abilities. Knowledge seeks community and enlargement. That’s the best part.

Today’s Customer May Be “Provisional” Group Member Tomorrow

Today’s customer, worker, or student may be a new “provisional” group member tomorrow. In our previous example of providing a barter arrangement for reloading primers and services, your customer or student will go home enlightened and/or very happy with 250-275 shiny reloads. We, who provided the reloading services, will therein be able to supply our group with additional 25-50 finished rounds of ammo from every sale and possibly build up a silver coin nest egg for future growth needs. Ammo will always be used as money. In the event that we may need to enlarge our site defense force, our ammo customers may well want to help protect our business, which is their ammo source. Some of us still follow old time thinking and may well live to regret it.

Continue reading““Inclusive” Strategic Planning As Part Of Everyday Environment- Part 4, by Old Bobbert”

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

Winter finally arrived in earnest here, with night-time snowfalls of 10″, 4″, and 5″, spaced a few days apart. Thankfully, we can reliably get one radio station during daylight hours in our valley, so I had something to listen to, whilst plowing.

There was a respite in the weather on Thursday and Friday, but there is more snow in the forecast. Just another slice of life at the ranch.

Avalanche Lily Reports:

On Thursday, we as a family sat together opening up the many envelopes that came through Snail Mail that we received for the Ten Cent Challenge.  Many of you readers wrote to us how the Blog has blessed you and has helped you on your Prepping Journey and told us about your lives.  We took turns reading the notes of encouragement aloud to each other.  It was a real pleasure to get to know you. We very much wish we could meet you all, shake your hands and give you all hugs.  We thank you all for your prayers and support of SurvivalBlog.  May the Lord Bless you all.

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 “HJL”. Here it comes… The Second Amendment is now under major anti-gun assault from the Democrats.

Stocking Up

Palmetto State Armory–one of our Affiliate advertisers–is having a special $39.99 special on their PSA AR-15 “Stealth” Stripped Lower Receivers. If you have an FFL or a local friend with one, then stock up! I recently bought more than a dozen of these as gifts for my grandkids. If there is Federal ban legislation passed in the now Democrat-ruled House of Representatives, even if it doesn’t pass in the Senate, I expect to see stripped AR-15 lowers jump back up to $200 apiece.

Financial Assault on 2A

Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large pointed out that that crazy person Maxine Waters will now head the House Financial Services Committee. You can expect more attacks on gun owners along the lines of “Operation Choke Point” where financial entities are pressured to drop firearms related businesses despite the legality of the business.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” – Exodus 10:1-2 (NASB)