A Year in Central America- Part 2, by G.P.

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A Preview of a Local or National Slide Into Poverty

We are taking a look at Central American countries, primarily Honduras, for a preview of some of what our own experience might be following a local or national slide into poverty. What might the United States look like? How do ordinary people cope with this situation? We are looking for lessons. However, some readers may also be looking at another country suitable for establishing self sufficiency and simple living. We’ll continue to take a look at Honduras with these two objectives in mind.

More Stories of Crime

A retired American living in a small Honduran village told of the hamlet’s problems with a young robber. The robber and a confederate had tried to rob his wife one evening and fired after her truck when she wouldn’t stop. The tailgate still had several bullet strikes. Eventually, the villain beat up a teenage boy and stole his cell phone.

The boy and his older brother came to the robber’s house. His brother told the man’s parents to stay out of it, walked back to the room where the thief was sitting in a hammock, and confronted him. “This is the guy that hit you?” “Yes.” “This is your phone?” “Yes.” At the second answer, the older brother drew a pistol and shot the robber. Then, he turned and left the house. Nothing came of it; everyone knew what had happened and knew that the bandit had to be dealt with.

Continue reading“A Year in Central America- Part 2, by G.P.”

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 JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on the current stock market turmoil.  (See the Stocks section.)

Precious Metals:

A Certain Precious Metals’ Perspective

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Gold Is Still The More Stable Safe Haven Asset For 2019 – Phil Streible

Economy & Finance:

A BBC reporter asks: Is the US heading for a recession?

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U.S. Recession Risk Now 39%

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Fed points to December rate hike but is worried about tariffs and debt

 

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday – December 13, 2018

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After spending nine months on the run, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. During his 24 years in office, Saddam’s secret police, charged with protecting his power, terrorized the public, ignoring the human rights of the nation’s citizens. While many of his people faced poverty, he lived in incredible luxury, building more than 20 lavish palaces throughout the country. It was fitting that, in the end, he was hiding in nothing more than a hole in the ground covered by plywood.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This has been 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.

A Year in Central America- Part 1, by G.P.

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Honduras

Let’s learn from Honduras. Honduras is a Central American country about the size and population of Tennessee.

Geography and Topography

Here’s the geography and topography. The northern coast borders the Caribbean Sea. The east coast, called the Mosquito Coast, is where Columbus first landed on the North American mainland. The southwest corner of the country borders the Pacific at the Gulf of Fonseca, then turns north along the El Salvadoran border to Guatemala. The eastern region is an area of broad plains that resemble the African savannah. Most of the country is hilly or mountainous, with some broad valleys dedicated to agriculture. Off the coast to the north are several islands that are increasingly popular tourist destinations.

The Central Valley, with Tegucigalpa in the middle, is the highland core of the nation and its central corridor. Some long, spectacular valleys branch out to the east. Continuing east, low mountains covered in jungle bring the roads to an end. After traveling about 40 miles across this mountain barrier, one reaches the notorious Mosquito Coast, dotted with isolated communities of various sizes strung across the plains. The coast is made up of long, lovely beaches and wide lagoons.

Continue reading“A Year in Central America- Part 1, by G.P.”

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”. A scary conference on global migration is taking place in Marrakesh.

Grid Down Report

G.P. sent in this article talking about the new report from the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council published by the Department of Homeland Security. The report warns that the power grid is now the prime target of terrorists and suggests that Americans need to prepare for a power outage of up to six months. The report also recognizes that most Americans do not keep enough essentials in their home to sustain themselves during such an extended, prolonged outage. While the report recognizes the potential length of such an attack due to the destruction of hard-to-replace equipment, it only suggests that people keep a minimum of 14 days of supplies. This seems like a strange political decision- recognizing the potential severity yet only recommending minimal preparedness. Of note is the suggestion that civil unrest would probably start within hours of the attack.

Global Migration

This article talks about the UN conference in Marrakesh, Morocco where the world’s nations are being asked to sign away their sovereignty, their freedoms and their identity by signing the infamous UN Global Compact for Migration. Thankfully, there are countries that have preemptively stated that they will not sign the agreement. Among those countries are the U.S., Poland, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Israel, Bulgaria, and Australia. Sadly there are many countries that will be agreeing to it such as Ireland, Canada and the U.K. The intent of the agreement is to make it easier for migrants to move and settle pretty much anywhere in the world that they desire. Remember that caravan that hits the southern border pretty much every year? Part of the agreement would be to make it illegal to even talk about such events. Thanks to F.W. for the link.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I wonder often whether any other generation has seen such astounding revolutions of data and values as those through which we have lived. Scarcely anything, material or established, which I was brought up to believe was permanent and vital, has lasted. Everything I was sure, or was taught to be sure, was impossible has happened.” – Winston Churchill, in his first memoir, My Early Life

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – December 12, 2018

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On December 12, 1989, the Queen of Mean was sentenced to four years in prison, 750 hours of community service, and a $7.1 million tax fraud fine in New York. Leona Helmsley, nicknamed the “Queen of Mean” by the press, became the object of loathing and disgust when she quipped that “only the little people pay taxes.” Helmsley died in August 2007 at age 87. She famously left $12 million to her dog, Trouble.

o o o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This has been 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.

Get Your Children Ready- Part 2, by Save Your Ace

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There are plenty of books on pregnancy, the birthing process, parenting, and raising healthy and well adjusted children. But how do you get your toddler or young children ready for an extended evacuation? With millions of families forced to flee their homes due to a variety of disasters, both natural and man-made, children in these situations are left confused, scared, and unprepared for the evacuation.

As a reader of this website, you don’t need me to lay out all of the many ways the Shumer could hit the fan in your personal life. You have probably thought through different disasters that could affect you personally, and you have planned for them. However, most Americans have not.

In part 1, I went over the first step to getting your children ready for a disaster or evacuation, which is acknowledging that it could happen. Mental preparation requires planning and practice. Part of your practice may involve your child grabbing or carrying his/her pre-prepared bug-out-bag (BoB) or evacuation pack (Evac Pack).

Continue reading“Get Your Children Ready- Part 2, by Save Your Ace”

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 JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on crude oil supplies and prices. (See the Commodities section.)

 

Precious Metals:

Silver Playing Catch-up As Prices Outperform Gold Prices

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Jim Willie: Gold And Global Financial Crisis Redux

 

Economy & Finance:

Michael Pento – Fed Will Pursue Radical Inflation

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Foreign investors spurn U.S. Treasuries as curve threatens to invert

 

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on some recommended Christmas gifts. (See the Books, Movies, and Gear sections.)

Books:

As our greenhouse production just hit its annual low ebb, I’m again referring to this book: Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 Days

o  o  o

The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan

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Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House Revised & Updated

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Here is a great travel book that makes a great gift: 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

 

 

Movies:

Alfred Hitchcock: The Legend Begins – 20 Movie Classics

o  o  o

Humphrey Bogart:  Sahara

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Akira Kurosawa: Four Samurai Classics (Seven Samurai / The Hidden Fortress / Yojimbo / Sanjuro) (The Criterion Collection)

 

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer. Yet so is the fact; and this fact points strongly to the necessity of our being healed, or restored, or regenerated by a power more energetic than any of those which properly belong to the human mind.
We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored. For this purpose only one adequate plan has ever appeared in the world, and that is the Christian dispensation. In this plan I have full faith. Man, in his present state, appears to be a degraded creature; his best gold is mixed with dross, and his best motives are very far from being pure and free from earth and impurity.” – John Jay, Letter to Lindley Murray, 22 August 1774

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – December 11, 2018

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Happy birthday to actress Teri Garr (born 1944.) She was unforgettable in Young Frankenstein.

o o o

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today 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.

Get Your Children Ready- Part 1, by Save Your Ace

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You have your bug-out-bag packed and ready. You have read all the books, fiction and non-fiction, on the subject of TEOTWAWKI. In addition, you are a dutiful daily reader of survivalblog.com, and you’re mentally prepared for whatever may come when the SHTF. Then you have kids.

How Do You Prepare a Toddler For An Evacuation?

There are plenty of books on pregnancy, the birthing process, parenting, and raising healthy and well adjusted children. But how do you prepare a toddler or young child for an extended evacuation?

Millions of Families Are Forced to Flee Their Home

Every year, millions of families are forced to flee their homes due to a variety of disasters, both natural and man-made. In America this is especially true for Californians dealing with wildfires (both in the southern and northern portions of the state), as well as East and Gulf coasters battling (or running from) hurricanes.

As a reader of this website, you don’t need me to lay out all of the many ways the Shumer could hit the fan in your personal life. You have probably thought through different disasters that could affect you personally, and you have planned for them. However, most Americans have not.

Continue reading“Get Your Children Ready- Part 1, by Save Your Ace”

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. This column’s featured photo is of the Grand Tetons.  The emphasis this week is on Wyoming Car Trunk Captives. (See the Wyoming section.)

 

Region-Wide

First, this comes as a relief to citizens of several northwestern states: Washington regulators shut down $5.3 billion Avista sale to Ontario’s Hydro One

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2018-2019 Long Range Weather Forecast for Intermountain West

 

Idaho

Boise: Planned Parenthood Affiliate Ends Basic Healthcare, Continues Abortions.  JWR’s Comment: This certainly makes it clear where there priority is! (Namely, murdering babies.)

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Robber who used caution tape to hide identity sentenced

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Boise TSA spots 3 loaded firearms in carry-ons in 3 days

 

Montana

ACLU sues Montana sheriff for denying illegal alien bond and honoring ICE detainer. JWR’s Comment: Kudos to Sheriff Bowe for standing firm!

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Report on impact of declining timber harvest on Bitterroot economy released

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Hearing to determine if man charged in Montana deputy’s death can be medicated for trial

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