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”. JWR discovers a great sale from Palmetto State Armory on their Black Friday list. You might want to get in on this one given the current political atmosphere in congress.

Your CPAP is a Spy

Reader DSV sent in this article. Driven mostly by Insurance mandates, your CPAP machine is spying on you and reporting to the manufacturer. I can kind of understand the Insurance rules I guess. Many people who are prescribed a CPAP can’t get used to wearing the device for a number of reasons and it gets relegated to the closet. Insurance companies are now mandating that patient rent the machine for the first few months and only when the machine verifies that they are using it will the company pay for it. The problem comes in how that data is collected. Rather than have your doctor verify usage, the machine reports to the manufacturer who then shares that data with your doctor, the insurance company and often marketing companies since you have to have supplies for it.

It’s not a comforting thought as I believe the only one that should have that data is you and your doctor. I have a CPAP and had these same rules applied. Once the compliance was certified, I yanked the reporting module from the machine. Sadly, some newer machines can’t be disabled like that. Actually, once you understand how they work, you can manage your own CPAP very effectively. I recommend The Apnea Board for programming manuals and help with your machine.

Light without Power

Reader G.S. sent in this article on 11 ways to light your home when the power goes out. There are no astounding insights in this article and all of these methods are most likely familiar to most of our readers, but it’s a good primer for beginners. They pretty much cover everything from flashlights to glow sticks. Some methods are more useful than others and the intended use is also important. Having light to read by is different that having enough light to not bump into furniture in the darkness.

Personally, I value kerosene/oil lamps (and propane lamps) near the bottom of the list. They put out plenty of light, but the hassle of using them just isn’t worth it for me. I tend to favor LED flashlights and area lamps with rechargeable batteries. I’ve never been caught without a flashlight because I think we literally have a hundred of them in one form or another around here, but in a pinch Mrs. Latimer’s solar garden lamps would be enough for just about anything except reading.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – November 21, 2018

On November 21, 1916, Britannic, the sister ship to the Titanic, sank in the Aegean Sea, killing 30 people. In the wake of the Titanic disaster, the White Star line had made significant modifications to the design of the ship, but on its way to pick up wounded soldiers near the Gulf of Athens, it was rocked by an explosion causing even more damage than that which had sunk the Titanic. Many of the dead were from some of the crew who attempted to launch life boats while the Captain tried to run the ship aground. The life boats were sucked up into the propellers, killing all of those on board. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but many suspect it hit a mine.

Lex Mala, Lex Nulla and Some Drama

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The new crop of congresscritters of the 116th Congress will be seated on January 3, 2019. The Democrat Party has regained its majority, and now we can only look on with dread anticipation at their follies. Be forewarned: The whole concept of their being our elected representatives and actually harkening to the will of the electorate is something that seems quite foreign and antique to them. They no longer make even the pretense of genuine representation. They are headed to DC with an agenda. Their stated plan to topple Nancy Pelosi from her Speaker of the House position is indicative of their fervor. This, before they’ve even been through their freshman orientation! Clearly, the statists want to pass a lot of bad laws, and they will do anything and everything in their power to make that happen. If they have to cheat, lie, wheedle, posture, pontificate, cajole, prevaricate, threaten, bribe, or blackmail their peers to make it so, then surely they will. That is how 21st Century Democrats and their RINO Fifth Columnist pals operate.

We must face the sad fact that the U.S.House of Representatives once again has a Democrat majority. In addition to a long parade of contrived congressional investigations of the Trump administration, the Democrats are planning to ramrod numerous pieces of civilian disarmament legislation through committee to the House floor. They’ll start by reviving moribund pieces of legislation that had previously died in committee. Even Dianne Feinstein’s proposed “Assault Weapons” ban will probably come up for a floor vote. (Believe me: The only “assault” going on will be a an assault on our individual liberty!)

A word of warning: If they cannot pass these laws individually, then they will bundle them up into omnibus legislation packages, hoping to get them enacted by default or by inattention. Under the guise of “common sense gun control laws”, they will attempt to remove an entire class of firearms from production or importation for civilian ownership. I also expect them to bundle a national “Red Flag” gun seizure (aka Extreme Risk Protection Order) bill into an omnibus “gun control” legislation package.

Continue reading“Lex Mala, Lex Nulla and Some Drama”

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 sources for antique radios. (See the Tangibles Investing section.

Precious Metals:

Precious metals, stocks, and cryptos were ALL down today.  Apparently the institutional investors are all running for the exit doors.  Cash is presently king.

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Trade War Concerns And Higher Interest Rates Dominate Market Sentiment

 

Stocks & Bonds:

Another ugly day on Wall Street! At today’s close, the DJIA was at 24,465.64 This down -551.80 points or 2.21% for the day.  Ouch! Meanwhile, the S&P 500 dropped 49 points, closing at 2,642. That was 1.8% loss for the day.  This is becoming a fear-driven market. Beware!

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Tech’s ‘FAANG’ stocks have lost more than $1 trillion and counting from highs amid tech rout

 

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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 URGI rifles. (See both the Instructional Videos section and the Gear section.)

Books:

Gunsmithing the AR-15, The Bench Manual

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Gunsmithing (Stackpole Classic Gun Books).  A reprint of the classic Roy Dunlap book.

 

 

Instructional Videos (URGI Rifles):

This new video by Garand Thumb is interesting: Geissele URGI: The New Army Special Forces Rifle.

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Hickok45: How NOT To Carry a Colt Single Action Army

 

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“How divinely full of glory and pleasure shall that hour be when all the millions of mankind that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God shall meet together and stand around Him, with every tongue and every heart full of joy and praise! How astonishing will be the glory and the joy of that day when all the saints shall join together in one common song of gratitude and love, and of everlasting thankfulness to this Redeemer! With that unknown delight, and inexpressible satisfaction, shall all that are saved from the ruins of sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain, and rejoice in His presence!” – Isaac Watts

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – November 20, 2018

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On November 20th, 1945, the Nuremberg Trials began, placing 24 high-ranking Nazis on trial for atrocities committed during World War II. The trials lasted 10 months and 12 were condemned to death with one committing suicide in prison. The trials of lesser war criminals continued in the 1950s and resulted in the conviction of 5,025 other defendants and 806 executions.

Black Friday (and Pre-Black Friday) Sales Have Begun!

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SurvivalBlog Advertisers

These SurvivalBlog advertisers have already started their pre-Black Friday sales and you can pick up some great deals on their products. Avoid the crowds and get a head start on your Christmas and Hanukkah shopping. Check these deals out!

JRH Enterprises

JRH Enterprises has already started their holiday week/Black Friday sales with huge savings on things like brand new ACH ballistic helmets with NV mount (over $200 off!) and Photonis PVS14 ECHO SPEC White Phosphor night vision devices as low as $2,799, with 10 year warranty included. Make sure you get on the e-mail list to get updates on more sales!

Ready Made Resources

Ready Made Resources has several specials on Night Vision Devices gear. Note that Ready Made Resources also offers financing to those who need it.

Their premium white phosphor unit is only $2,798. This unit has the Photonis 4G “Onyx” P-45 spec tube and comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of either 5 or 10 years (your choice). This is Night Vision Devices’ most advanced monocular.

Their premium green phosphor unit is only $2,999 and comes with a free bump helmet. This device is autogated and has it’s own kit which includes a soft case, head mount, head mount adapter, operator’s manual and several other necessities. This unit is powered by one AA battery for 40 to 50 hours of operation.

For those who want the full binocular night vision experience, the Photonis PVS Echo Onyx-45 tube binocular is only $6,999. The tubes are hand selected for the best match and come with up to a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Valley Food Storage

Valley Food Storage is offering a 15% discount off of your entire order at checkout. For those hard core survivalists, they have proteins like freeze dried Meat or their meat and cheese bucket. You can use their freeze dried Chicken A La King, Fettuccini Alfredo, or even their Enchilada Beans and Rice for the main course. My personal favorite is their Mac and Cheese as a side dish. And, of course, don’t forget about your vegtables like their freeze dried broccoli and their dried sweet corn.

Use the code “HOLIDAY15” at checkout to get the 15% off.

Repackbox

Repackbox has some great specials for those who reload or who want to properly store ammo that they buy in bulk. If you buy five 30-box kits (any caliber) you get two more 30-box kits for free (any caliber). That equals a 40% off discount. Use the code “BLACK FRIDAY” at checkout to get the discount. You’ll put seven in your cart and will only be charged for five.

Continue reading“Black Friday (and Pre-Black Friday) Sales Have Begun!”

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. The emphasis this week is on Pocket NC, a small, innovative company in Bozeman, Montana.

 

Region-Wide

Here is a must-watch video to send to any of your conservative friends who feel the need to get out of the liberal coastal states, but can’t decide where to go: What is the American Redoubt?

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On Yellowstone Grizzly Hunting, Politics and Making Sure to Use Enough Gun

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Over at The Inlander tabloid’s web site: Growing Communities: Where the next booms are about to blow up, plus housing and transportation in 2018

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At another quaint little leftist tabloid: Montana Grizzly Bears Roaming Far Afield: Grizzlies from the Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk ranges spotted in Washington and Idaho.

 

Idaho

Idahoans have cheapest average utility bill in U.S.. JWR’s Comment: Thanks to abundant hydroelectric power, the other American Redoubt states have rates that are nearly as low.

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Idaho transportation workers find two explosives under bridge

 

Montana (Pocket NC)

Pocket NC is a small company in Bozeman, Montana that has been getting some press. Leveraging off of developments in 3D printing, they’ve developed a five-axis desktop milling machine that allows amazing milling flexibility without the traditional shifting of a workpiece. From their web site: “Upon launch of the campaign, the $70,000 goal was met within the first hour and was sold out within the first week raising a total of $355,000 from 280 backers making it the most successful Kickstarter campaign in Montana history. ”

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Montana Hunter Attacked by Bear Northwest of Columbia Falls

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

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Can a Christian practice martial arts? One reader asks that question today. Perhaps a better question is “Can a Christian protect his family?”

Wildfire Survivors

We already ran an article last week on Brad Weldon who stayed to fight the wildfire in Paradise, California and was able to save his home. Now he says he will not vacate even with a mandatory notice. He is among a small group of fire survivors who have defied orders to leave and decided to stick it out in the blackened and smoldering landscape. Butte County Sheriff has stated that he doesn’t know how many people were living in the evacuation zones but that they won’t force them to leave. If deputies encounter someone, they confirm that they live in the area, but won’t take any other action. Several of these survivors have stated that they feared that deputies would draw weapons on them when they refused orders to leave, even after the fire danger was over. This one is an interesting article profiling many of these survivors.

Is the 2A Obsolete?

I’m sure you’ve heard the argument that the Second Amendment is obsolete, either from a friend or a politician. Reader C.H. sent in this article that is a brutally honest essay on why this is not a correct assessment. History has shown that every genocide has been preceded by the disarmament of the people. This time around would be no different. (Note: a language warning must be placed on this article.)

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“People must understand that the funding for so much of what goes on today comes, at least in the United States, from our great tax-exempt foundations, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation and the Pew Foundation. They have fabulous amounts of money – hundreds of billions of dollars – which they then disseminate to religious, political and cultural organizations. Their priority is to change the message of the Christian churches. They’ve certainly infiltrated the Catholic Church and her seminaries; indeed their agents are working at the highest levels of the Catholic Church today, which is why that Church has protected the pedophile priests who have been molesting boys here in America. In the Protestant churches they’ve done similar things; they’ve changed the message there too. People who want to be ministers go to seminaries, and there they learn what they think is the truth. But they don’t understand this: If you want to change the message of the Protestant faith, you must infiltrate the seminaries with people who will subtly change the message while merely professing to believe in Christianity.” – Dr. Stan Monteith, author of Brotherhood of Darkness

 

 

 

Preparedness Notes for Monday – November 19, 2018

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In an unprecedented move, Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat traveled to Jerusalem on November 19th, 1977, to seek a permanent peace settlement with Israel after decades of conflict. Despite heavy criticism from Egypt’s regional allies, Sadat continued, eventually reaching a peace agreement with Israel at the Camp David accords in Maryland. While Sadat and Begin were jointly awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace prize for their efforts, the peace accord was not admired by the Arabs, eventually leading to Sadat’s assassination. Despite this, the Egyptian-Israeli peace continues today.

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Don’t forget that classified ads without pictures are now free on SurvivalBlog! This is a great way to get a jump on your spring cleaning and make a little money on the side.

Ruger EC9s, by Pat Cascio

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve carried a second (or backup) handgun to my main handgun, and these days we have quite a selection of small, compact handguns to pick from. We’re looking at the new Ruger EC9s 9mm handgun today. It is one super, little, concealed carry piece.

Ruger- Affordable Handguns

I’ve stated this before, but I will say it again; for the most part, Ruger www.ruger.com is producing guns that are for us blue collar workers. Now that’s not to say that they aren’t producing some outstanding upper-end firearms, because they are. However, many of the handguns produced by Ruger are in the very “affordable” price range, if you ask me, and that’s a good thing. I’ve been a fan of Ruger for more years that I can remember, easily more than 40 years.

I don’t believe that you have to spend a lot of your hard-earned money to get a lot of handgun from Ruger, far from it. Many of Ruger’s semiauto pistols are rather “plain Jane” looking, if you ask me. Then again, who really cares, so long as the gun is accurate and goes “bang” when you pull the trigger? I know, I know; save the hate mail.

Continue reading“Ruger EC9s, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Leftovers Shepard’s Pie, by G.B.

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Traditionally, this recipe is made with mashed potatoes and ground beef, but we like our Sunday Pot Roast. We almost always make this meal with the leftovers from that meal and will often make a much larger pot roast than needed, just to have enough to make this dish the following day.

Ingredients:

  • Roast beef – cooked, trimmed of fat, and shredded.
  • Baked potatoes, sliced about 1/2” thick
  • Carrots, cubed about 1/2”
  • Peas and/or Green Beans. If using green beans, cut about 1/2” long.
  • Any other savory leftover from that Pot Roast that you want.
  • Sliced Swiss Cheese
  • Ground Pepper

Continue reading“Recipe of the Week: Leftovers Shepard’s Pie, by G.B.”