Review Of The Jøtul F 50 TL Rangeley Wood Stove, by S.T.

First let me state up front that I have heated with a wood stove for over 20 years, so I am not a novice and I understand the use of wood stoves. Additionally, as a person who worked for over 30 years in the defense industry, I also understand that there are products that are ill or poorly planned by engineers who never used the product and/or have large egos and refuse to accept any feedback from the end users of a product.

Our previous wood stove was a Regency brand, which we located in a single story home. In the more than 20 years we owned the Regency wood stove, we had zero problems with the stove.

When we purchased and moved to our new country homestead property, it was equipped with a 1940’s Warm Morning Coal Stove, which had a sheet metal housing that was just warm to the touch, so we were unable to cook on it. (This was a major preparedness issue in my mind.) We were concerned also that coal may not be available in a long-term SHTF situation. We did not want a pellet stove because it requires electricity, manufactured pellets may not be available in the future, and also we could not cook on it. So we opted to upgrade to a new, modern, air tight wood stove. Both the old coal stove and the new wood stove were located in our finished basement next to the small canning kitchen.

We purchased a new Jøtul F 50 TL Rangeley wood stove to replace the 1940’s coal stove from a local dealer in the county who sold it and installed it for us. With the new stove pipe, the final total cost was approximately $2,800. Just as an added bit of information, we paid for the stove and installation two days in advance of the installation, as the stove was in stock, and at that time the amount of stove pipe that was needed was an unknown because this is a very small Appalachian County. After installation I was told to go back to the local dealer in a couple of days to pay for the stove pipe after the installation. I must say that in our previous home in California, they would not have installed our wood stove until the check had cleared the bank much less told us to pay for the stove pipe at a later date. This was an eye opener for my husband, who was born and only lived in California prior to our retirement.

Pros:

  • Air tight.
  • Accepts large size wood through the main door but not the top door.
  • Good large flat top to hold a dutch oven or a stove top peculator or both even at the same time.
  • Lift up top to accept a Jøtul wintergrill for indoor grilling of food. (We have yet to use this option.)
  • Lift up top to accept inserting smaller wood from the top in addition to the door. (We have never used this option because we keep a cast iron teapot on the top filled with water.)

Cons:

  • This stove is equipped with a grate and ash pan. The ash pan must be emptied everyday and sometimes twice a day, depending upon the weather and how much wood is burned.
  • The legs are only 8” tall and therefore I must lay on the floor to remove and insert the ash pan at least once everyday. When you are pushing 60, laying on the floor and trying to get up just to remove and empty the ash pan in a pain in the rear end or may I say a pain in my back and shoulders. Add at 5am when the light in the walkout basement is not the best, you have problems. There have been many days where this is a real problem, and I am sure that there are and will be many more to come.
  • When trying to empty the ash pan, the lock to the door must be opened fully, and then the ash pan door opened part way. Then, the lock must be closed a few inches or it will hit the ash ledge in front of the main door and not open; the stove must be cool or the door to the ash pan will not re-lock correctly after you empty the ash pan, and the wood stove can over heat. (If you do not empty the ash pan for two days, it could overflow into the ash pan holder, which require the wood stove to be completely cold to get in there with a brush or a shop vac to clean it out. (This has happened to me a couple of times, which is not fun in weather -20 with the windchill factor.)

What will happen in 10 years when I am pushing 70 and my husband is pushing 80, we may be wheelchair bound, and not be able to bend down or lay on the floor to remove the ash pan? Will I have to pay $500 or more to have someone remove part of the stovepipe and install four solid cement blocks under the legs to increase the height of the wood stove and add a sheet metal plate over the grate and a layer or two of fire brick on the steel plate? Or will I have to pay someone to come in everyday in the wintertime to empty the ash pan?

The first year we owned the stove there were not any problems.

The second year we owned the stove, the front glass broke down the middle into two pieces. The replacement glass was an additional $180. I may have to order five additional pieces of glass if this happens again in the future. I understand the importance of preparations; however, something that once lasted us over 20 years and now only lasts two years is a problem for me.

The third year the handle latch fell off when I opened the door at 4am. The metal plate holding the handle in place came unscrewed (due to heat?). The screws used a hex screw in lieu of the U.S. standard flat head or phillips screws. It just sticks in my craw that all of my hot coals are going into an ash pan hour after hour instead of staying in the wood stove keeping the house warm.

What will happen if hot coals burns through the ash pan, which is made of very thin aluminum sheet material material? When you select the contact link at the website, you are directed to a blank page, which has no address or phone number or email to contact Jøtul. So I have no way to provide any feedback to the wood stove manufacturer. I can only assume that Jøtul does not want or value the feedback from the users of their products.

Recommendations to Jøtul

  1. Increase the height of the legs to a minimum of 12” tall and consider 18” tall.
  2. Remove the ash pan.
  3. Replace the grate with a solid steel bottom and a layer of fire brick.
  4. Use standard size fire brick in the design and manufacturing instead of the two or three different sizes this unit used.
  5. Improve the glass and provide a single piece of replacement glass with each unit sold.
  6. Improve the screws holding the door handle plate.
  7. Improve the screws holding the glass.
  8. Use United States standard flat head or phillips screws in lieu of hex style.
  9. Provide a United States contact email address and phone number.

Recommendations To Future Buyers

  1. Consider your age not now but in 10 or 20 or even 30 years in the future when purchasing or upgrading any item in your home and consider any older or disabled family members who may come to live with you in the future.
  2. Look for a future article on buying and remodeling for age.

Final Thoughts

Our previous wood stove sat atop a 20” hearth, and the coal stove loading door was a 3′ height, so it never occurred to me that there might be age-related problems of the new wood stove sitting so low to the floor. At some point in time, yes, I will find a way to elevate the wood stove to a better height. I will even add a solid plate of steel and a layer or two of fire brick to sit atop the grate to lessen the heat loss and solve the problems of the ash pan.

Would I recommend this stove to other people? The answer is “No”, due to the grate and ash pan and ash pan door issues. I hope this review has been helpful, even if you are considering a different brand of stove. I hope this review has given you some things to consider before purchasing a large ticket item, such as a wood stove.

I cook on this wood stove a couple of times every year, just to keep in practice (as I did with my previous wood stove), and I hope every other wood stove user also keeps in practice with their wood stove cooking. My wood stove cooks up the most wonderful pot roast and beef stew every year, and there is nothing better than a pot of coffee made from an old fashioned percolator on a wood stove.

Letter Re: Donkeys as Pack Animals

HJL,

Good info from B.W. We also have donkeys, miniature donkeys. They make excellent pets and fine companions on the trail. We hike and even camp with ours, as well as string them along with their packs behind our mules on trail rides. When introduced properly, they get along fine with the family/farm dogs. We have found their personalities to be very similar to dogs, and they will even lay their head in your lap for attention.

Donkeys also make excellent property alarm systems. Our little pair will begin braying at the approach of a car or truck long before I hear it coming up our long gravel drive. Their “radar” and those lovable long ears are impeccable indicators of approach or movement by wildlife. All I have to do is follow their gaze or the direction of those ears and more times than not there’s a deer sneaking down the wood line or turkeys picking their way along. They have also alerted me to unwanted visitors of the 4-legged variety after dark while our other equine silently observe. I never fail to investigate our braying mini donks after dark, and they’re yet to sound a false alarm.

One note of caution: donkeys (of any size) do not need nearly the amount of feed, hay, or grass that a horse does, and as a result they are subject to founder in the spring and summer if left out with too much access to rich grass. Donkeys are desert animals built to thrive in arid regions. Make sure you have a dry lot or a separate paddock to limit access to rich grass in the spring and summer. – W. in the Old Dominion

Economics and Investing:

Next Leg Up is Beginning (Precious Metals)

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Diverging Tops Forming In Precious Metals And Miners

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Housing affordability shows that most Americans are too broke to buy a home: The American Dream moves further out of reach.

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Why the Feds Should Legalize Interstate Commerce in Healthcare

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

When you think your city has high crime… A TALE OF TWO CITIES Rio Carnival 2017 sees millions of revellers take to the streets – as cops clash with drug users in notorious ‘crackland’ district of Sao Paulo (Warning: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro in particular, is very vulgar. You have been warned before viewing these pictures.)

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A solid take on the radiation detected in Europe: Some Numbers on the European Radioactive Iodine Story

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A SurvivalBlog reader wrote in asking if anyone knew how to obtain these adjustable glasses. They might be handy to have in a TEOTWAWKI situation.

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SurvivalBlog reader “Bronco” suggested this site for license plate scanner OPSEC. Apparently LLCs in New Mexico do not require the names and addresses of the principles and do not require any annual reports or annual fees. This might be worth researching.

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Hackers can steal data through LED lights on your computer

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” – Matthew 5:38-42 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – February 24, 2017

On February 24, 1840, former President John Quincy Adams began to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer, member of the House of Representatives, and son of America’s second president who was an avowed abolitionist. Though John Quincy Adams downplayed his abolitionist stance, he also viewed the practice as contrary to the nation’s core principles of freedom and equality. In the arguments, Adams attacked Van Buren’s abuse of executive power. In a dramatic moment, Adams faced the judges, pointed to a copy of the Declaration of Independence hanging on the courtroom wall, and said “[I know] no law, statute or constitution, no code, no treaty, except that law…which [is] forever before the eyes of your Honors.” Adams’ skillful arguments convinced the court to rule in favor of returning the Africans to their native country.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 69 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 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 that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 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 with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel 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, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  6. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  7. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $2,400 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 transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. A selection of canned meats containing a 10 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Beef and a 5 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Pork from Wertz’s Farm Market (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  4. 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,
  5. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. 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), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 69 ends on March 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.

Total City WTSHTF Survival- Part 2, by NDT

Public Transportation

Learn how public transportation works in your area and utilize it, as it could be an asset one day. Also, learn about anything that is public, from restrooms and shelters to tornado shelters. Timing could be an issue, and it could become the closest shelter for a variety of situations. Parks also have water supplies. Know where the water fill ups are. I personally know of some local spots that have hand pumps, which while it is not a secret, few people will think of immediately during a loss of utilities.

Memberships

Having a few memberships can be a huge asset should you become displaced. The YMCA, for instance, has showers you could use without any trouble simply by having an affordable membership. You could also utilize that membership to enhance your strength. A library membership can get you easy access to shelter and information. A self-storage unit can be utilized as a cache, although it’s expensive.

Medical

Basic first aid is a must, and in the city we should be more cognizant of airborne threats. Considering the case example of the Bhopal disaster and also addressing tear, chlorine, mustard, nerve gas, and sternutators, here are some guidelines to survive a gas attack:

  • Stay calm. During mask training in the army in the gas chamber, I took slow breaths while the guy in front of me panicked, yelling, and generally accelerating his heart rate. He suffered much worse than I did.
  • Climb. Gases are heavy, so if you cannot quickly clear the area by way of vehicle or because of congestion, get as high as possible; climb a tree, stairs, bus, or hill. Gasses will be most concentrated in low areas and ditches. Also, you will have more air flow higher up.
  • Cover your face with a wet cloth. Wet a cloth with water or use your own urine but do not expose any skin to the gas to do it, as your clothing will provide a barrier. Once the area is clear cut clothing away carefully, and as with many chemical exposures (including poison ivy) take a COLD shower as this will close your pores and reduce exposure to the chemical.

Many people in the Bhopal Disaster had much worse symptoms because they panicked in the streets and tried to run away. Had they simply gone to a higher floor in a building they would have greatly reduced exposure without attempting to flee. If you understand the topographical layout of your community, you will also understand where the valleys are. Avoid these in the situation of a gas disaster. This also illustrates a reason to avoid subway systems, because they are ideal targets of gas attacks (and nearly every other type of terrorist attack). While speaking on this subject, there is another airborne threat– CO, or carbon monoxide.

CO is unburnt carbon caused by a variety of heating sources and generators. Having a generator is a little like owning a gun; if you don’t use it properly and respect it, it can kill you. Hundreds of people die from CO poisoning every year. It takes minutes of use for a generator to produce lethal levels of CO, which is again heavier than air. So, if you use one, try to keep it 12 feet away from your buildings, down wind and downhill, and utilize CO detectors. You spent the money to purchase the generator, so be sure to read about recent deaths caused by generators with CO poisoning.

Phone Book

I’m amazed how I never hear about owning a phone book as a prep item. This big yellow book has an absolute wealth of information inside of it, and it is completely EMP proof. The next time you get a free phone book, absolutely do not throw it away. Make your own book and your own pamphlet for yourself and your loved ones. Keep critical information in this pamphlet, like the number 185.8.177.142 (SurvivalBlog’s IP address), Ham radio frequencies, the steps to reprogram your handheld, which you should be able to do yourself along with adding additional frequencies. You might have other things in this pamphlet, like problem-solving steps. Don’t be afraid of adding the very basics, because in a situation where your adrenaline is pumping and let’s say you just lost a loved one, your mental capacity and memory is going to be deficient. If you decide you must have a password or security code in this, be sure to encrypt it with a simple key or add nulls to it. You should have a physical phone list and address book of all your friends and family.

Legal Information

I have had the unfortunate need for a lawyer more than once recently. Because I had a lawyer, the individuals who threatened legal action against me backed off. I’ve discovered in my area the retainer for a lawyer is between $1,000-2,500 dollars, and so far I’ve gotten 80% of that back. In these instances, I lost access to my bank and lost income, so I had to have a separate plan to deal with the legal situation. Keep some legal minded phone numbers in your wallet, and understand some of the legal specifics behind the activities you participate in. Marriage, parenting, driving, sailing, shooting, or panhandling, everything is governed by laws. Understand how laws work in your area with the understanding that the law and ethics are not the same. You can behave ethically and still have legal problems.

Lock Picking

I’m going from the law straight into lock picking. In generalized research for this article, I read instances of Jews defeating handcuffs and escaping. Also, there are other legal reasons to use lock picking. Learn the law of your area, and make your own decision. Having a kit can be useful, and practicing is certainly something you’ll want to do. Once you understand how locks work, you’ll have a useful skill, even without having a lock pick kit. Further, understanding how locks work will help you utilize them in a more effective manner.

Encryption

Let’s say your garage door key code is 3456, you can offset the numbers by two, so it becomes 25678; the number two helps you remember the offset. Or, you could just add some numbers like, 134561. Use a code as well. Don’t label it as garage PIN; label it as safety deposit box. Then store this inside your wallet. I’ve known people who forgot their garage code because they never used it, until they needed to. I have a combination lock at work, where I have engraved an encrypted solution to the lock. Remember, nothing is uncrackable; somebody could figure out my encryption, but it’s a combination lock, which are easily defeated anyway. In this manner, you can store keys that to the casual observer would not reveal too much information. Never write down a password or PIN without encryption.

Every Day Carry

If you do not have it on you, it will not help you in the situation you’re in. Most people have seen the Austin Powers carry list before he leaves. I go through a similar routine– keys, wallet, phone. Regarding keys, on your key set do you have two dozen keys you don’t use? Get rid of them; replace them with a FOB of sorts. If you have a prescription, you could carry a dose right on your keychain. I carry two pain relievers. Also, a little compass for days where the sun is not shining is great. A little penknife on your keychain and a light source is a bonus item. At this point you haven’t added any weight or bulk; you’ve simply made your keychain more useful. Use the same method with your wallet, which you want to keep slim. Pull out those extra credit cards. Yes, drop them in the shredder. Now you have made some space to put a laminated card with contact information on it. If you get arrested, they take your phone, so put some numbers on this card of people who could bail you out, like your lawyer, who you already have on retainer. Perhaps include a number to return the wallet should you lose it with a reward amount to sweeten the pot for somebody to return all those IDs and credit cards, which are no longer in there. Want to get crazy? Put a little map in your wallet, just one page of a critical area you could be lost in. This is an especially good idea if you are visiting a new area. You also might have random information, like the number 185.8.177.142 (SurvivalBlog’s IP address), local Ham frequencies, emergency numbers, and perhaps a basic encryption card.

Car Repair Kit

On my recent camping trip out of state, I drove an un-tested 94 Forerunner. I learned quickly why they call it a slowrunner or “6.slow”, and I ended up having to use the kit I brought with me. The already slow vehicle had a spark wire come loose from a broken clip. Five cylinders of slowness, no available Internet, and 80-degree weather demonstrated the need for preparation and forethought. Finding a car shop only to discover they closed in 45 minutes and would not even look at the car, I eventually applied my own limited knowledge of the car and peeked under the hood and checked the wires when I discovered the loose wire. Upon the advice of a friend in discussing the trip, I had added a length of plain insulated wire to my car kit, which I used to lash the loose wire into place. It remained attached for the remaining 5-hour trip home. So, in your car repair kit, start with tire repair/maintenance and build from there. I recommend the following:

Tire Repair/Maintenance Items –

For Your Car’s Electrical System –

For the Mechanical and Miscellaneous-

Other Items to Think About-

City dwellers certainly have a lot to consider during a Schumer event. Knowing basic survival skills could be what separates you from misery or even death. I really hope this article gives you some creative ideas on what skills you can practice that could both entertain and enlighten. Thank you for reading SurvivalBlog and contributing to our community.

Guest Article: The Tyranny Of A Cashless Society Coming?

After governments abolish cash in useful denominations, then governments will likely focus upon eliminating personal and commercial commerce through the use of compact high-value commodities, such as gold and silver. This is a natural progression if $100 bills are taken out of circulation in the United States. People today, who are living in the legacy of the Obama economy, already need a fist-full of $20 bills just to buy a week’s supply of groceries, and it’s easy to spend $400 per week on fresh groceries for two people, especially if you buy premium products and organic.

Consider the increasing trend, where banks, institutions, and big retailers are regularly hacked, combined with identity theft, digital commerce, and credit cards that aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and in reality are posing an ever-increasing level of liability on all levels through their use.

Like many people, I am a careful person when it comes to digital commerce, yet nonetheless had two of my credit cards hacked (twice in the last four years). One time was by a supposedly reliable online retail company and another time when I rented a trailer. Both times, it required an incredible amount of time, police reports, phone calls, et cetera just to get back to square one and get my money back. However, my own experience was just one of nearly 18 million Americans who suffered from some form of I.D. theft in 2014 alone. “Digital commerce” is very problematic and is not the panacea that companies and government want the public to believe. The relatively few people who may ultimately control all of the digital wealth of Americans will virtually have control of all the people in a cashless society. This results in a definite loss of freedom and liberty. There are many, many other ways for law enforcement to hammer criminals and curtail their enterprises, if that is truly the goal. Any method that inhibits or erodes the freedoms of Americans in any way, including limiting or infringing upon person-to-person commerce and personal privacy in any manner, is to be shunned and recognized as counter to the intents and spirit of our beloved U.S. Constitution.

Digital currency transactions in lieu of cash would allow virtually 100% tracking of all Americans, including law-abiding citizens and all that we do. We have already learned over the past eight years of the Obama-led government that governments don’t necessarily work for or even represent the will of the people. So how can anyone justify giving the government this much power over Americans? There is no such justification. The vast majority of Americans are not criminals, and therefore any action by government that affects or targets the vast majority of people in order to deal with a small factional percentage of criminals in the population is manifestly unfair. Politicians simply need to do the jobs they are being paid to do and come up with anti-criminal tactics that strictly focus upon the bad actors, not the majority of law-abiding Americans, instead of suggesting that the removal of cash is necessary to deal with criminals. It is just a convenient lie. If the minds behind a cashless society are allowed to have their way, America would become little more than a monumental ant farm, where the elitist class studies Americans to a much greater extent than ever before, including how we move around and what we do, use, eat, watch, and listen to, and then using this deeply insightful personal information to potentially plot how to control everyone. Things, like if we’re allowed to be born (abortions already control this to some extent), how long we get to live, and what we are allowed to do in between could be controlled. Orwellian? Yes, but it’s true nonetheless.

Here’s a video that should be alarming.

Brazil played around in past decades on many occasions with re-issuing, devaluing, and recalling currency to limit amounts of currency in circulation, and the Marxists paid close attention to that exercise.

However, India’s currency games are more immediate and could have a sinister effect, since they are already a socialist state, and we know how fond socialists and communists are of controlling all aspects of their populations. One might assume that India is merely executing a plan similar to what may soon be in the works for Americans?

I have to say, that it’s looking like living in the countryside on a piece of land that provides sustainable sustenance and provides a firewall from a population that may recoil and strike-out in anger sometime soon is the only viable path to surviving past what may be an ugly and austere potential future. Anyone who cares to look at the news these days will see riots, murders, and unrest all around inside the United States, a result of numerous factors, not the least of which is the rise of the “Deep State”.

Even as much as most Americans admire and respect President Trump, the Marxist-socialist momentum that has already metastasized in America might be too much for him and his team to overcome? Our new President definitely needs our continued strong support more than ever.

Smile and pray for the best, but adequately prepare for the worst.

– Capt. William E. Simpson II

Economics and Investing:

IRS Audit Rate Of Individuals (0.7%), Businesses (0.5%) Falls To 10+ Year Lows Due To Budget Cuts

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The US stock market is highly overvalued. Here’s why…

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Statoil Sues Researcher For Allegedly Stealing Secret Frack Tech. Statoil is suing a former researcher for allegedly stealing trade secrets in the race to develop the next big fracking breakthrough.

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States Treating Gold and Silver as Real Money Now – DSV

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Infinite Product Solutions (the makers of versatile solvent trap threaded muzzle adapters—all NFA rules apply) has updated their gun show calendar, showing the events where their sales reps will have booths. Because they are controversial, I recommend buying such adapters only face to face, with cash. – JWR

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Brandon Smith: In A Battle Between Trump And The Federal Reserve, Who Really Wins?

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California schemin’: Dam crisis spotlights split Right-leaning north seeks new state, left moves to exit U.S.

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The folks at LockPickWorld put together this handy list of links: Top 75 Survival Sites to Prepare You for the End of the World

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Gander Mountain filing bankruptcy. You might want to keep an eye out for closeout sales there. – W.W.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Contrary to popular opinion, the Constitution was not – and is not – a grant of rights to the citizenry. Instead, the Constitution is a “barbed-wire entanglement” designed to interfere with, restrict, and impede government officials in the exercise of political power.” – Jacob Hornberger

Notes for Thursday – February 23, 2017

February 23rd is the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle of Concord.

Today is also the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836).

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Today, we present another entry for Round 69 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 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 that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 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 with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel 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, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  6. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  7. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $2,400 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 transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. A selection of canned meats containing a 10 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Beef and a 5 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Pork from Wertz’s Farm Market (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  4. 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,
  5. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. 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), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 69 ends on March 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.

Total City WTSHTF Survival- Part 1, by NDT

I’ve been a SurvivalBlog reader for years and grew up prepping. My parents were preppers in the 90’s, so I’ve been through the full spectrum. I love the articles and especially all the news to be found on SurvivalBlog. I appreciate the hard work all the authors have put into their articles over the years and recognize that most individual skills and ideas have been put to ink. I’m going to attempt the 10,000-aerial view in this approach to city survival. My military background taught me to do a risk assessment for everything, and I practice this today. The million-dollar question is, “What do I need to prepare for?”. We cannot predict the future, but we can consider the past and see trends and patterns and learn from those. Consider this.

Create a Risk Assessment

The earth has been hit with many asteroids over its existence, and per a map that I found the location seems random. The frequency of these impacts is rare and typically minor.

Looking at a risk assessment matrix regarding risk with earth space impacts, I conclude that it is an “improbable” event with “catastrophic” to “negligible” severity. The threats seen from an earth space impact are fire, dust, impact, loss of power, social services, et cetera. You can use the risk assessment matrix to evaluate types of events that could be likely in your local areas. I live near Dayton, Ohio, so I will use this as the case example.

You should know some history of your city/county and natural disasters that are prevalent. Dayton is in what is known as the Miami Valley, which houses the Miami River, which is a tributary of the Ohio River. The Ohio River flows west then south and empties out into the Mississippi, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Dayton has five dams, which were built in response to the great Dayton flood in 1914. Dayton is not known for earthquakes or fires, and flooding has been reduced since 1914. We have a variety of wind directions, and sometimes tornados can touch down. We also have the Wright-Patterson Airforce base, which is a high value strategic U.S. asset. Ohio falls under Region 5 of Homeland Security, and our Statewide Interoperability Coordinator is Richard Schmahl, who is responsible for coordinating emergency communications. Ohio has 11.59 million people, and 1.6 million of those receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). We have the intersection of I-70 and I-75 interstates, which assists us in being a manufacturing hub. Every bit of this information is important in a survival situation. You will personally want to know where your city water comes from and if a city wide power failure will result in raw sewage emptying into your home. Threats that we face here, rated by the risk assessment chart, per the likelihood and damage level are discussed here. I will follow with threat types, remembering that this brain storming session will require some creativity.

Asteroid Hit

  • Dust
  • Fire
  • Loss of power, et cetera

Forest Fire

  • Dust
  • Fire
  • Loss of power, et cetera

Car Accident

  • Abrasions
  • Fire, et cetera

Looking at the sub threats, we see fire and dust are common threats, so an economical solution could be to have some fire-resistant clothing on or accessible. Once you have a large list, you can start grouping the threats together and decide on the most practical course of negating threats. Fire-resistant clothing for instances is not terribly expensive, and you buy clothing anyway. Some of the stuff looks casual.

Top ten normal routine threats we face per the National Safety Council are:

  • Heart Disease and Cancer 1 in 7
  • Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease 1 in 27
  • Intentional Self-harm 1 in 97
  • Unintentional Poisoning by and Exposure to Noxious Substances 1 in 103
  • Motor Vehicle Crash 1 in 113
  • Fall (Gravity not season) 1 in 133
  • Assault by Firearm (Firearms don’t assault people) 1 in 358
  • Pedestrian Incident 1 in 672
  • Motorcycle Rider Incident 1 in 948
  • Unintentional Drowning and Submersion 1 in 1,183

Why, When, and How Do We Prep?

So, do we prep to prevent death? I would argue, “No.” Obviously, when we look at a prepper’s list against these two subjects, we realize we do not prep to extend our life. Preparation for me has three goals:

  1. Greater independence realizing my full potential to make decisions based off my own ethics and morality, not being dictated by the trends in society.
  2. To increase the quality of life within my household during routine disasters.
  3. To train my children for the above, plus to enhance the skills and ability to live in a radically different culture due to a cultural paradigm shift.

Those goals are addressed with three categories:

  • Skills
  • Practices
  • Equipment

Let us say, predominately we prepare for paradigm shifts and we prepare all the time. Well, I know the countryside is a better place to live, but you are probably like me, living in the city and in an apartment. It’s the worst place to be during Schumer events. So, let’s get to work! What skills do you need? If the Schumer hits the fan, city folks can use these skills. Each have their own perspective equipment and practices.

Map Reading

Topographical maps are wonderful in the country but in the city I wonder. Just get a street map and get to know it! Give yourself extra time, and turn off GPS; take alternative routes to work. In Cultural Neuroscience: Cultural Influences on Brain Function, it states that taxi cab drivers have greater hippocampal brain volume based on studies of London taxi cab drivers. The increased brain function is due to spatial mapping. Engaging in spatial mapping will increase brain function, even if it is during game play. Practice thinking about like a spy; they never take the same route to and from a place, and military folk try to avoid that as well.

Music

In that same peer reviewed paper, they mention the benefits of music playing on the brain, so grab an instrument and start to learn. If you are on the run and hiding in the streets, nothing is better than hiding in plain view. Beaten and battered, pull out your harmonica, put a hat on the ground, and start to play. You’ll get well needed rest and possibly bring in some dough for your next meal. (The Arshanskaya sisters are two examples of Jews using music to sustain their safety.)

Languages

If Canada is your target location to split, French would be a decent option while also used in Europe. If Mexico is your target location, learn Spanish. To learn a language, there are many techniques. Listen to the music, choose a song, listen to it over and over until you are proficient in it, while also reading the lyrics in that language. Once you can recite the song, from beginning to end without the music playing and can spell it, then you should translate the song to English. The worst case scenario is at least you can hum and sing the song under your breath to convince others you are speaking that language, which may not fool the natives of that language but could fool somebody into thinking you cannot understand them and then avoid any questioning altogether. If you want to become proficient in a language, the quickest method is to immerse yourself in the language and culture, cooking your favorite SurvivalBlog recipe after you have translated it into French. Another note about culture has to do with table etiquette, which can reveal where you are from, especially in Europe.

Morse Code

Morse code is an ancient, barely used dialect. As I’m writing this, my daughter distracts me while she is playing on my smart phone, which starts beeping. She is playing with one of my Morse Code applications, which teaches morse code in a fun way. Morse code also has international codes, making it versatile.

Driving

When I was stationed in Afghanistan, we had civilian vehicles. What was weird was the fact that the driver wheel was on the right-hand side of the vehicle. Oh, yes, and it was stick shift. I already could drive a stick shift, so I was a lucky one who got to drive the vehicles instead of hoofing it. The key here, is that I could drive a stick shift.

Sailing

I’m here in the Mid-west and have always loved ship adventure books, but I thought that sailing was something I could never learn. Enter CLSA, Cowan Lake Sailing Association, and twenty dollars. Now I have several sailing hours under my belt from an entry class. I was amazed how inexpensive it was and how much experience I got from it. Sailing ships are used everywhere, and having this skill could help you charter passageway for work if you already have some experience. Also, many coast cities have harbors where you can find lots of handy work to do working on boats. I’ve spent hours on this subject realizing there is a plethora of skills that can be leaned heavily upon. Rigging is something you learn a lot with sailing, which is multi-functional. As seen in the national safety council chart, “falling” is a common cause of death. So, learn how to tie a Swiss Seat; you could even keep one for the car with some basic carabiners. Learn some rigging skills and practice them. Rigging is one of the most under taught skills of city dwellers; so, learn rigging for trucking, climbing, boating, and anything else you can get a hold of.

Networking

If you had to go to another country, who would you visit? You should have a few contacts in the areas of interest of your “bug out location” that you could contact for help, or at least can claim you were visiting for the sake of legitimacy. Having a small list of some names and locations in your wallet; this list could assist you in remembering who these people are. So, if you intended to go to Winnipeg, Canada, meet some people online that have like interest, perhaps hockey. Build a list of people and keep in contact with them. Then, if something comes up where you must for whatever reason bug out, you then have a list of people you could contact who already know who you are and an excuse, such as a hockey game or music, et cetera. These people should not know anything about you beyond that you love the Winnipeg Jets. You should know about hockey and keep some literature on hand should you need to refresh the details of hockey and the Jets.

Passport

Have one, and use it. Create a routine of visiting different locations, so it is not out of the ordinary, both for yourself and as far as your paperwork goes. Being familiar with a process, such as a border crossing, can turn something from a mountain to a mole hill. Also, you can become familiar with practices and routines and so can identify unusual security precautions that could threaten your personal mission.

Two Letters Re: License Plate Readers

HJL,

Depending on the police to find your stolen vehicle is fine, but I would rather have the ability to speed up the process myself by having a GPS tracker in my vehicle. I’ve been watching the kickstarters and fundraising campaigns of several bluetooth and GPS trackers. It seems like there is finally one that works the way I want it to.

I intend to use this for my kids, vehicle, RV, and outbuildings at my BOL. I hate the idea of being helpless to recover my property or find my child if the worst happens and they are kidnapped. – Redoubt Renee

o o o

Hi,

I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but it is illegal in most states (probably all) to block or deface a license plate. – Uncle Mike