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

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers:

Another week raced by at the Rawles Ranch. This is always a busy time of year for us.  Not only is it deer and elk season, but we are usually wrapping up the preservation of our fall garden harvest.  We’ve had a lot of rain in the past week. Thankfully, I had completed all of my fall slash burning before the heavy rains arrived.  If the current Jet Stream path continues and all this rain transitions to snow, then we will be in for a very snowy winter!

Avalanche Lily Reports:

This week in the American Redoubt, the weather was all about rain.  The weather has definitely shifted into fall rains and high mountain snows which will soon to descend to our valley, perhaps during this upcoming week.

For me, most of the week’s activities were inside: organizing, cooking, and schooling.

I spent the early part of the week going through our homeschooling books, culling out our double copies. That was either the fault of Amazon (very slow delivery) or me not remembering well what we’ve already got when at book sales. There were also texts we no longer need or will not use. I’ve already placed them into our new Classified Ads. While searching for un-needed books, our bookshelves were reorganized.  We have boatloads of books!  I found about thirty books that I still want to read.  I wish there was more time in the day.

The chickens that were down in the Annex garden for two weeks suffered a predatory loss of two from their population by what we suspect was a raccoon, so they were brought back up to the hen house.  We need to butcher many of the remaining birds.

On Thursday, I harvested more broccoli, carrots, and cabbage in the main garden. Now that we’ve had about eight days of rain, our night time temperatures are back above freezing, for now, thus the broccoli has begun to produce tiny flowerets again.  Broccoli’s hardiness is amazing!

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”. The UK proves yet again the futility of banning weapons. Even after their recent knife bans, the knife violence continues to escalate.

.22 Long Rifle vs .223 and .40

Reader W.W. sent in this article on a domestic dispute that escalated to a gunfight. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything extraordinary. One guy doesn’t like his girlfriend hanging out with the other guy’s wife. He finds his girlfriend over there and brings a rifle to take her home. The scene escalates and he ends up killing the other guy. Of course Alcohol is involved. But then you start getting into the details. The first guy shows up with a single shot .22LR rifle.

In the firefight, he gets off that single round and kills the other guy. However, the other guy has an AR-15 and and a .40 pistol. He gets of at least 15 rounds from the rifle and 12 rounds from the pistol and never touches the first guy. While the first guy is held 55 days on a $500,000 bond, the grand jury rules it self defense. The comments are as interesting to read as the article too.

Change Your Default Password!

Yet again, we have a story of a family that didn’t change their default password on their video home monitoring system and it got hacked. Apparently, the five year old son came running out of his room to the mother stating that someone was talking to him and it wasn’t his daddy. The hacker then addressed her when she entered the room. She called the police, but of course they couldn’t do anything. The mother is now left with that sinking feeling of violation and wondering how long her family had been monitored. It’s a good reminder for everyone else. Change that default password to your web cams and security system! Thanks to DSV for the link.

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

Guest Article: Six People You Do Want In Your Group, by Kit Perez

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Editor’s Introductory Note: This article is a follow-up to Seven People You Don’t Want in Your Group.

We’ve talked a lot lately about who you don’t want in your group, and the general consensus when I teach these concepts is usually that the list of undesirables leaves out 90% of people who otherwise would have been included. The bottom line response to this is, “yes, and?”

You don’t want undesirables in your group; it’s that simple. It’s about risk — you decide how much you’re willing to take on, and if you decide to bring on someone on the “should not have” list, then you better have a plan for mitigating that risk.

There is, however, a pretty solid list of people you should be on the lookout for. If through your long-game recruiting process you come across one of these, snag them up, because they’ll be assets to your group and your cause. Many of these are merely the opposite of the “who you do not want” list, but they are worth specifically talking about. Keep in mind that you won’t generally find these guys from an internet forum or comment pool; then again, you shouldn’t be recruiting from the internet anyway, right?

The Teachable Guy

People who want to learn are worth something, because they WILL learn if taught. They’re hungry for knowledge, and they don’t allow their ego to get in the way of their training. If you know more than they do on a subject, they’ll want you to show them what they don’t know, regardless of who you are. You won’t hear their arrogance drowning out the mission; instead, you’ll see someone who is humble and willing to work. Even someone with no skills, who is eager to put in the work and learn is better than someone with a skill who refuses to learn anything new. The flip side of that is someone who brings better skills than you have to the table in a certain area. If they’re willing to teach you, be willing to learn yourself as well.

Continue reading“Guest Article: Six People You Do Want In Your Group, by Kit Perez”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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 Swiss Watches. (See the Economy & Finance section.)

 

Precious Metals:

I just did a quick calculation and found that the spot silver-to-spot gold ratio just hit 86.6-to-1. This is an ideal time to ratio trade out of gold, into silver. And if you haven’t already done so, I suggest getting shed of any “paper”/ETF  metals, and parlay that into physical metals, in your own possession. With more market mayhem on the horizon, it is time to hunker down.

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Radomski: Gold’s Strength Relative To The USDX Is Over

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Coeur Mining Posts Loss During Third Quarter

Economy & Finance:

It appears that the Federal Reserve will continue its credit tightening campaign. Higher rates are bound to come in the coming months. At this juncture, I must repeat this advice: If you have any variable rate debt, then do your best to transfer that into fixed rate debt, soon!  Variable rate mortgages and credit card rates will be absolute killers, when interest rates spike.  Make the switch now, while it is relatively painless. Trust me: You will sleep much better in 2019 and 2020.

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The WSJ reports: Treasury Department to Increase Size of Debt Auctions

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Mortgage rates slide as echoes of 2006 haunt the housing market

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“We all experience many freakish and unexpected events – you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how out of the randomness, there is an apparent intention in the fate of an individual that can be glimpsed later on. When you are an old guy, you can look back, and maybe this rambling life has some through-line. Others can see it better sometimes. But when you glimpse it yourself, you see it more clearly than anyone.” – Viggo Mortensen, actor and author of Coincidence of Memory

Preparedness Notes for Thursday – November 01, 2018

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November 1st is also the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was a prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven years in prison without a trial, the longest Federal incarceration for contempt in American history, Armstrong was finally put on trial in a proceeding that was branded as a sham. He was convicted on securities fraud charges based upon some marginal testimony and given a five year sentence. He was released from prison in September of 2011. Notably, Armstrong continued to write his economics newsletter while in prison, producing most of the issues on a prison library typewriter.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This has been another entry for Round 79 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. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  6. 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).

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 79 ends on November 30th, 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.

The End of “Free Will” to Lovers of Truth and Freedom, by FW

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Many of us have lived our lives and used our free will to determine the course of our lives. And during that time, we easily recognize that many have benefited greatly from their choices while others have made choices that have not benefited their lives at all. Why have some failed while others have succeeded?

The Concept of Free Will

I don’t know about you, but I find that I am troubled by the concept of free will, because I wonder if it still exists. In order to use our free will, we must have alternatives from which to choose. Is it possible to make a choice if we are only presented with one side of an argument, position, or direction and there is no other? If there is only one apple on a tree, what choice do you have if you need an apple?

We have been told that we have free will by prophets that have spoken to us since Biblical times. However, if we are to exercise this gift of free will to choose, it means that we must have the ability to choose among different alternatives. Without choice, there is absolutely no opportunity to use free will.

Media’s Efforts To Control What We Know

At this time, this coming election is bringing the concept of free will to mind because of the media’s efforts to control what we know. For the most part, the mass media that is readily available to us through news reports is attempting to indoctrinate us into their way of thinking.

Continue reading“The End of “Free Will” to Lovers of Truth and Freedom, by FW”

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”. Armed civilians (militia) are gearing up for the impending arrival of the migrant caravan.

Armed Civilians

This week Texas border residents have been warned of “Armed Civilians” along the border as the South American caravan approaches the border. The caravan is about 1,000 miles south of the border and has been reduced in number to about 4,000 as many of them either accepted Mexico’s offer of asylum or turned around. Fox News has reported that Mexico has commandeered buses and trucks to transport the caravan as quickly as possible to their next stop at the U.S. border as well. While President Trump has been vocal about not letting them into the U.S., they will be arriving right around the mid-term voting and I would expect whoever is funding them to withdraw support right about then.

The media will then have a heyday reporting on starving women and children. The armed militia showing up has reported that it intends to support the National Guard and Border Patrol to prevent the illegal migrants from crossing into the U.S. Thanks to DSV for the link.

Caravan Sponsor

Reader D.S. sent in this article that claims that leaked documents prove George Soros has been working with the UN supporting the illegal migrant crises. While the link to Soros is tenuous at best, I have no doubt that the UN has its hand in supporting the caravan. I also suspect that since branded aid bags have been spotted among the caravan that there are U.S. citizens involved as well. I do find the timing of the caravan highly suspicious. When the caravan fell behind schedule, the addition of trucks and buses in Mexico only adds to that suspicion. Given that the UN so readily works contrary to the National Sovereignty of the U.S., it’s past time to re-home them.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Cartridge firearms are compact vehicles for change that have shaped modern history. The righteousness of their use is entirely up to their users, since like any other tool they can be used both for good or for ill. A firearm is just a tool with no volition. A rifle is no different than a claw hammer. To wit: A hammer can be used to build a house, or it can be used to bash in someone’s skull—the choice of uses is entirely up to the owner. A bulldozer can be used to build roads, or to destroy houses. A rifle can be used to drill holes in paper targets, or to dispatch a marauding bear, or to murder your fellow man. Again, the choice of uses is entirely up to the user. ” – James Wesley, Rawles, in  Tools For Survival

The Thin Veneer

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Editor’s Introductory Note: This is a re-post from the early days of SurvivalBlog, back in August, 2005. Blog Years are like Dog Years. To explain: SurvivalBlog has been published since before most people had even heard the word “blog” for the first time. A piece this old has probably never been read by 90% of the current SurvivalBlog readership. So we feel fairly safe in re-posting it. BTW, we recommend that any new readers take a look through the archives of SurvivalBlog’s first year, to come up to speed on our jargon, core beliefs, and unique acronyms. – JWR

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In my lectures on survival topics I often mention that there is just a thin veneer of civilization on our society. What is underneath is not pretty, and it does take much to peel away that veneer. You take your average urbanite or suburbanite and get him excessively cold, wet, tired, hungry and/or thirsty and take away his television, beer, drugs, and other pacifiers, and you will soon seen the savage within. It is like peeling the skin of an onion—remove a couple of layers and it gets very smelly. As a Christian, I attribute this to man’s inherently sinful nature.

Here is a mental exercise: Put yourself in the mind set of Mr. Joe Sixpack, Suburbanite. (Visualize him in or near a big city near where you live.) He is unprepared. He has less than one week’s food on hand, he has a 12 gauge pump action shotgun that he hasn’t fired in years, and just half a tank of gas in his minivan and maybe a gallon or two in a can that he keeps on hand for his lawn mower. Then TEOTWAWKI hits. The power grid is down, his job is history, the toilet doesn’t flush, and water no longer magically comes cascading from the tap. There are riots beginning in his city. The local service stations have run out of gas. The banks have closed. Now he is suddenly desperate. Where will he go? What will he do?

Continue reading“The Thin Veneer”

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 Barn Find Cars. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

First up, at Gold-Eagle: Money Managers Left Gold Shorts At A Record Pace

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At the Silver & Gold Summit: Gold’s Rally Had Nothing To Do With Stocks Falling – Rick Rule

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This Metal Is Your Best Bet Right Now Says Commodities Trader

 

 

Economy & Finance:

CNBC: Fed indicates it’s staying the course on rate hikes despite growing criticism from Trump

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WEF on record job openings: There’s ‘one of the biggest mismatches in history’ in the US economy at the moment

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Evidence is now clear: Operation Choke Point hurt lawful businesses

 

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JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on buying an arm-braced Remington Tac-14 shotgun. (See the Gear section.)

Books:

Idaho for the Curious: A Guide

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Never Cry Halibut: and Other Alaska Hunting and Fishing Tales

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The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure

 

Movies & Television:

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party. This fascinating Dinesh d’Souza documentary is available on DVD, or for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.

 

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