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”.

Constitution Day

Reid Henrichs outlines some important things to remember about the Constitution on his September 17th vlog. On the 231st anniversary of the U.S. Constitution he reviewed the reasons the Constitution was put in place in the first place. It is not a document that gives the government power, but instead it limits what the government can do. This is a good review of why we have the constitution, but sadly, it is also a reminder of how far astray we have allowed the government to stray. thanks to reader T.J. for the link.

Flu Scare

As we move into what is traditionally called the flu season, reader H.L. sent in this link with an interesting take on the actions of the CDC and the media when it comes to flu vaccines. The vaccines are notorious in the ineffectiveness, yet the drum beat about getting your flu shot beats louder than ever. Only about 45% of the population actually gets one and every year we hear that that the vaccine isn’t really working, but you need to get one anyways. It’s tough for the average person to get through the marketing hype. This article presents some statistics that suggest you may not need one at all.

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CRKT M16-04KS Folder, by Pat Cascio

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The M-16 line of knives has been in the CRKT lineup longer than most other knife designs, and this is for good reason. They are great knives, with that certain tactical look about them. Today, we look at one of the newest in this stable of folders– the CRKT M16-04KS.

CRKT Folders

I still remember sitting in the Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) offices during one of my visits to their operation in the USA and spying some new folding knives that weren’t meant for public viewing. I was sitting on the desk of Rod Bremer, the (now) sole owner of CRKT. I think I caught Bremer by surprise with my keen eye and started to ask him about those new folders. Immediately I saw some potential in those folders for a few changes. I suggested that they offer these folders in different handle colors– red for fire/rescue personnel, OD green for military, blue for law enforcement, and also other colors. While it took two years for those changes to come about, they did. As I’ve learned, nothing moves fast in the cutlery industry. As a disclaimer, CRKT produces my own OC3 fixed blade fighting knife design. It took two years for this design to reach the market place. Did I mention that nothing moves fast in the cutlery industry? Yeah, I thought I did.

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Recipe of the Week: Mac and Cheese, by B.I.

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This is one of the kids favorites (Including the big kids over 40)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups rotelle pasta
  • 4 tbs butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 3 tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 1 cup smooth melting shredded cheese (We like pepper jack)
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup croutons
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest 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 long term prospects for Bitcoin. (See the Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

Bullish Or Bearish: Gold’s Next Trend Is Up To The Fed

o o o

Gold Speculators Added To Their Bets, Now Bearish For Six Straight Weeks

 

Stocks:

Dow hits another all-time high on mixed day for US stocks

o o o

Should Amazon Split in Two?

 

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“For more than six hundred years—that is, since the Magna Carta in 1215—there has been no clearer principle of English or American constitutional law, than that, in criminal cases, it is not only the right and duty of juries to judge, what are the facts, what is the law, and what was the moral intent of the accused; but that it is also their right, and their primary and paramount duty, to judge the justice of the law, and to hold all laws invalid, that are, in their opinion, unjust, oppressive, and all persons guiltless in violating, or resisting the execution of, such laws.” – Lysander Spooner, An Essay on the Trial by Jury (1852)

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – September 23, 2018

September 23, 1800 is the birthday of William McGuffey, a college president who is best known for writing the McGuffey Readers, the first widely used series of textbooks. It is estimated that at least 122 million copies of McGuffey Readers were sold between 1836 and 1960, placing its sales in a category with the Bible and Webster’s Dictionary.

Small Things Can Be Biggest Problems, by S.F.

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Several years ago, I used to be a regular contributor on SurvivalBlog. Then in 2011, I bought my dream property and began prepping in earnest.

It is completely off grid with spring-fed water, solar panels and propane generator for power, wood stove for heat, composting toilets, and satellite for Internet and phone. In that time I found that it was the small things that were the biggest problems.

Tick Season

During tick season, I’d have five ticks on me just from a moment in the garden. One bite got infected. My whole arm swelled up. If it were not for antibiotics, who knows what would have happened. Now, I wear white tickproof clothing into the garden during tick season and have plenty of tick tweezers handy.

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Letter Re: The New Urban Fortress, by M.H.

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The author of the “Urban Fortress – Part 1 & 2” wanted feedback:

Septic

Residential septic tanks are available in 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 gallon sizes. Builders routinely install a 1,000-gallon tank. Two 2,000 gallon tanks are better: one connected only to toilets for sanitary material, and the other connected to everything else for “gray water,” each with independent leach fields, each leach field having 50-100% greater capacity than required for the projected load. (Research “septic system distribution boxes”.) Building plumbing should be designed to allow sanitary-only piping to be easily reconnected to the gray water piping in the event of sanitary system leach field failure.

Toilets should be cleaned only with isopropyl alcohol, not commercially available toilet cleaners, and the alcohol burned in the toilet rather than flushed. The only thing going into the sanitary septic tank should be liquid and solid sanitary waste, no soaps, detergents, or chemicals of any kind; all of that will kill the bacteria that digests the solid waste, resulting in faster accumulation of solid waste and shortening the time between pumpings. Periodic infusions of brewer’s yeast will aid in digestion of waste material in the tank. Tank should still be pumped out periodically, because digestion process is not 100% effective. The pump-out cycle will be dependent on sanitary system usage volume.

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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”. Hacking target real estate in the latest round.

Smartphones

One might think that the very tech gurus who’s job it is to place these little devices in the hands of every person would have the most tech savvy kids in the world. You would be Wrong. Reader H.L. sent in this article that shows just how leery of this tech they are. While you struggle with your child’s addiction to the little screen, their children don’t even have one. Of those that do allow their older children to have one, you find the same lament that normal parents have. The little screen is bad for your child’s development and they know it. In the words of my own mother: “go play outside!”

Preparedness Idiocracy

Reader G.P. sent in this example of why the vast majority of the U.S. can’t survive even a mild crises without government intervention. Wired magazine ran this article claiming that the science behind preparedness is flawed and not based on reality. You’ll note a constant drumbeat throughout the article of “The government we’ll get there on time to help.” They just don’t get it. My well recently went out due to a lightning strike. If I hadn’t had a backup source of water, I would have been dependent on the generosity of others just to wash my hands before dinner. When people are struggling to survive, they don’t feel so generous anymore. Preparedness is more than just being ready for an unlikely disaster. It’s a lifestyle of independence and being the one ready to help others.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” – Romans 10:13-15 (KJV)

Survival Notes from Canada – September 22, 2018:

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Hi, folks. Clint Ekert here, your trusty reporter from Canada, reporting on the nations hot topics.

Hot Topics

First off on our hot topics list is Quebec CAQ is poised to win the Quebec election. One of the laws they plan on putting in place is that newly arrived immigrants must pass a test to pass basic knowledge within a period of three years or be deported to their home country.

Our prime minister, a former drama school teacher, has recently commissioned a “study” to ban handguns and assault weapons ahead of the election. As Clint sits here, I need to wake up. We all do. The world is going to change in a very big way, perhaps very soon enough.

I hope all you realize now that the main persecuted under attack in the world are Christians. Let’s side with people like us. Stop associating with people of other faith. It’s a waste of time.

I have a Christian friend who lives in South Africa. He is a real good man. You can trust your kids with him. Violence inhabits were he lives. All around him there is murder, rape, and beatings. It never lets up on the people that built the country. He says, “Every Christian should own a gun.”

If you don’t own one now, you need to have at least one in your house, for many reasons. If you are here now, then you believe in the tribulation. Tough times require tough, ready people– tough Christians.

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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:

There have been some more rain showers here at the ranch. We can definitely feel the seasonal change. Weather permitting, in two weeks we plan to begin burning slash piles that we accumulated over the summer.

The leaves are starting to turn color. Winter weather is fast approaching!

I had to reinforce the tubular fence panels that face the front of our hay barn, using T-posts. You see, our resident Equine and Bovine Delinquents were pushing the panels inward, in an attempt to get to the freshly-stacked hay bales. The fence is now “bull strong”, so they’ll have no more opportunities for such mischief.

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