Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 4, 2023

On December 4, 1679, English philosopher and political theorist Thomas Hobbes, who was perhaps best known for his political philosophy, died at age 91.

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December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington.

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A Reminder: Jonathan Rawles — my #1 Son who operates SurvivalRealty.com — has mentioned that they have recently revamped their Agent Directory, making it easier to find a local survival property specialist to buy or sell with.

Along with this, they are running several special offers for real estate agents and “For Sale By Owner” property owners:

Keep in mind that SurvivalRealty.com is a property advertising site rather than a brokerage, so they charge NO sales commissions!

Therma Max Waffle Base Layer, by Thomas Christianson

Recently, I have been testing a Therma Max Waffle Base Layer. I have found it to be warm and comfortable for everyday wear during cold weather. It is one of many excellent modern base layer options.

Rodney Dangerfield, The Great Escape, and The Maquis

For a couple of hundred years or more, base-layer-like garments in cotton or wool were popular among people who actually had to work outside during cold weather. Of course, they weren’t called a “base layer.” They were called “long johns” or “long underwear.”

People wealthy enough to stay inside near the fire were less enthused about the garments, leading to an association of “long johns” with the lower classes. As a result, “long johns” became the Rodney Dangerfield of the garment world. They didn’t get no respect.

The type of garments that could be afforded by the lower classes were not necessarily particularly comfortable, especially when secured for conscripts to the armed forces by bureaucratic bean counters from the lowest bidder. This led to military long johns having a particularly vile reputation for many years.

I remember in middle school reading the book The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill. The book chronicles the mass escape of 76 Allied prisoners from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III during World War II. Brickhill described how the prisoners at Stalag Luft III made devices out of long underwear bottoms to surreptitiously dispose of the dirt they were excavating from the tunnels they were digging. If I remember correctly, Brickhill said that they “gleefully” cut up the “hated garments” in order to make the devices.Continue reading“Therma Max Waffle Base Layer, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Southern California Biscuits

The following recipe for Southern California Biscuits is from one of the 11 bonus books that will be included in the upcoming edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick:  GOOD HOUSEKEEPING’S BOOK of MENUS, RECIPES, and, HOUSEHOLD DISCOVERIES. (Copyright 1923). This 255-page book has hundreds of recipes.

The 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick should be orderable by January 25, 2024.  These sell out quickly each year, so mark your calendar.

Ingredients
  • 2 cupfuls bread flour
  • 4 teaspoonfuls baking-powder
  • 3 tablespoonfuls shortening
  • 1 teaspoonful salt
  • 8 cupfuls milk
  • 2 tablespoonfuls butter or margarine
  • Orange marmalade (for filling)
Directions
  1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. ‘Work in the shortening with two knives or the tips of the fingers until well blended.
  3. Add the milk gradually and turn out on a well-floured board.
  4. Roll to one-fourth inch in thickness.
  5. Cut into small rounds and brush over one-half of the rounds with the butter melted, placing the other rounds on top.
  6. Bake in well-greased pans from twelve to fifteen minutes at 450 Degrees F.
  7. Immediately after removing from the oven, lift off the top of each biscuit and put one teaspoonful of orange marmalade in the center of each bottom round.
  8. Replace the tops and serve at once.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we examine the recent rally in the gold and silver markets. (See the Precious Metals section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold prices ignore Powell’s hawkish stance as prices surge to session highs above $2,050.  JWR’s Comment:  Yes, the metals are indeed looking bullish!  I noted these figures, from after-hours trading on Friday evening (December 1st, 2023):

  • Gold was up $34.70 to $2,085.60 per Troy ounce (a 1.67% gain.)
  • Silver was up 23 cents to $25.71 per Troy ounce (a 0.88% gain.)

I expect to see some profit-taking today, but this could be the beginning of a secular bull market.

o  o  o

A Dave Kranzler video, at Gold-Eagle.com: Can The Rally In Gold and Silver Continue?

o  o  o

Nasdaq 100, Gold Price Forecast: Has the Fed Greenlighted a Santa Claus Rally?

A quote:

“For context, the Nasdaq 100 and gold prices have risen sharply in November, with the former surging nearly 11% and the latter rising around 3.80% since the beginning of the month. Their rally has been underpinned by falling U.S. Treasury yields and a dovish repricing of interest rate expectations, on the assumption that the Fed has finished its tightening campaign and will move into an easing cycle in 2024.

While policymakers have attempted to keep the door open to additional hikes and pushed back against rate cut bets earlier this year, recent communication has taken a turn toward a slightly more dovish tone.”

o  o  o

Reuter’s: Soft China and India may undermine gold’s rally hopes.

Economy & Finance:

At Barron’s: Opinion: The Fed Is Tightening More Than It Says..

o  o  o

Democrats introduce ‘billionaires tax’ on unrealized capital gains.

o  o  o

Reader C.B. sent this: Chinese Wealth Giant Crumbles: ZEG’s Insolvency Shakes Shadow Banking.

o  o  o

JPMorgan Chase to Shut Down Nearly 160 Bank Branches Across the U.S..

o  o  o

And D.S.V. sent us this: 64 US Bank Branches File To Shut Down In A Single Week; Are You Affected?

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: Why Milei Must Shut Down The Argentina Central Bank.

o  o  o

Bumpy Inflation Says There’s More Rate Volatility To Come.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I believe that a man — a healthy, walking, talking human being — is the ultimate viral biological weapon. A man with strong convictions can spread those convictions to others, in a geometric progression, much like a virus. All that it takes is just one man, one driven man, to awaken a hundred men, and they in turn recruit a thousand, who recruit ten thousand, and then an entire nation. What is needed is awakening to the fact that the people vastly outnumber their oppressors and that they can quickly overthrow them. Once it begins to spread, a truthful idea cannot be imprisoned. It cannot be silenced. It cannot be killed. And if that idea is a grand notion like liberty for a nation, then I believe that it is predestined to reach its logical end.” – James Wesley, Rawles, from the unpublished Piece of Resistance novel manuscript.

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 3, 2023

December 2, 1857 English writer Joseph Conrad, whose notable works included the novel Lord Jim (1900) and the novella Heart of Darkness (1902), was born.

On December 3,1775, the first official US flag (the Grand Union Flag) was raised aboard naval vessel USS Alfred.

On December 3, 1944, the Greek Civil War broke out in a newly-liberated Greece, between communists and royalists.

On December 3,1967, Christiaan Barnard of South Africa performed the first human heart transplant, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

Today is also the birthday of actor Brendan Fraser (born, 1968.) He often plays “fish out of water” roles. Preppers of course remember him from Blast From The Past.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $850,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 110 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.

The Watchman – Part 3, by James Durham

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.)

The Prepper Plan

I just finished what I think is a solid 5-year prepper plan. I also then wrote a 5-year prepper supply / equipment plan to support the plan.

The 5-year plan is a list of projects that I can think of that needs to be done, and in the order that makes the most sense to me. You can’t do everything in one year. At least I can’t… There is a normal, panic reaction to panic buy and do once it truly dawns on you that there is danger coming and there is something you are supposed to do to be best prepared for it. We panic shop and buy things we regret later because it spoils or is unnecessary. I have made some mistakes. During Covid, I bought cases of canned chicken and Spam. This week, I went up to the homestead and brought them back to throw out. Expired by one year already… A few hundred $ to the land fill… Oh well, could be worse. So, I write this book to help with that portion.
I also write this to help you pace yourself and think big picture and everything in its proper time. Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed with all you and yours need to do in order to be ‘off grid’
The plan I put together is only partially completed by me and mine at the time of this writing. I too feel overwhelmed because we have a Lot of work to do. Full disclosure, I work full time as does my wife. We spend weekends at the homestead and get as much done as possible without going crazy with the work.Continue reading“The Watchman – Part 3, by James Durham”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Most Presidential First Ladies Have Had a Pet Project or Cause…

Ladybird Johnson: Highway Beautification

Betty Ford: Breast Cancer

Rosalynn Carter: Drugs Abuse Prevention

Nancy Reagan: Just Say No To Drugs

Barbara Bush: Literacy

Michelle Obama: Regular Prostate Exams

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:1-14 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 2, 2023

On December 2, 2001, following revelations of massive accounting fraud, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection; the energy-trading company was once the seventh largest corporation in the United States.

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On December 2nd, 1823, what became known as the Monroe Doctrine was declared by President James Monroe to Congress outlining a foreign policy initiative that forbade European interference in the American hemisphere but also asserted U.S. neutrality in regard to future European conflicts.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $850,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 110 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.

 

The Watchman – Part 2, by James Durham

(Continued from Part 1.)

Daniel 12
6 “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

How do we know that we Really have to go through the Tribulation?
Trust me, I wish I could prove that the “Pre-Tribulational Rapture” is true.
But… It is not what the Bible says, and it does not follow the principles of Bible history.Continue reading“The Watchman – Part 2, by James Durham”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, 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 your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Consistently sub-freezing temperatures are now with us for the next few months, so I set up a couple of stock tank heaters this week.

I also had to make a trip back to Spokane to retrieve our snow plow from the shop. That was a costly repair,  but having a plow is a must at any elevation in this corner of the American Redoubt. We got our first significant snow of the year on Thursday night and Friday morning.

I also assembled a small set of rivet shelves, out in the shop.

Otherwise, I’ve mainly been busy with writing and editing. Novel manuscripts take a lot of time and very close attention to detail. If any of you are wondering: Flag of Freedom (Volume Two of The Counter-Caliphate Chronicles) should be published in early 2025. Sorry about the delay, but the Plandemic and the concurrent health decline and then the death of my mother complicated my life for a couple of years.

Now, Lily’s report…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.

And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.

But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.

And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the Lord.” – Ezekiel 30:20-26 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 1, 2023

On December 1st, 1913, the world’s first moving assembly line debuted, used in manufacturing Model Ts at a Ford factory in Highland Park, Michigan; the innovation was the idea of owner Henry Ford, and it revolutionized the auto industry.

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Today is the birthday of gun designer Charles Cashman Kelsey, Jr., of DEVEL firearms fame. He was born December 1,1935.  He was murdered in Texas under mysterious circumstances in April, 2003.

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This is also the birthday of novelist Rex Stout (1886–1975). Rex Stout was the brother of Ruth Stout, the gardener who wrote about no-till, year-round mulching, organic gardening in her book Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy, and the Indolent.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

But first, an announcement of the most recent writing contest prize winners.