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”. A real life Mad Max scenario is occurring right on the United States’ Southern border.

Politics

The FISA memo has been leaked, though it is heavily redacted. Still it’s quite interesting and a good peek at how the process works. It is also worth mentioning that Senators Feinstein and Schumer are working to get Twitter and Facebook to censor the memo. Though I feel that this is a dog and pony show. President Trump has the ability to declassify the entire FISA application, if he so chooses. Thanks to H.L. for the link.

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It is difficult to enjoy a good cigar or pipe now with all the restrictions on tobacco, especially in states like California where nearly everything that is sold carries a label that it can cause cancer. Now coffee is next in line. There is a court case pending that may result in every cup of coffee sold carrying the “may cause cancer” warning. If only the Senators and Representatives of this state were required to wear that label on their foreheads. Perhaps a “Here’s your sign” label instead?

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” – Gen. Colin Powell

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – January 24, 2018

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January 24 is the birthday of Tamara K., the editor of the View From The Porch blog. This is also the birthday of René Barjavel (born 1911, died November 24, 1985). This prescient French science fiction author wrote several books with survivalist themes, including Ravage, which was titled Ashes, Ashes in its English translation.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today features another entry for Round 74 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. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value), and
  8. 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 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. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

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, 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).

Round 74 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.

Clarity of Mind and Survival- Part 1, by The Recovering Feminist

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Survival and a Clear Mind

Survival necessitates recognition of both outer and inner realities, both material and immaterial truth. We tend to think externally about survival. For instance, we think of addressing food storage, first-aid, efficiency, self defense, physical preparations, et cetera, but we fail to realize that all of these decisions are influenced first by a clear and sharp mind. We all have an inner life. Whether we acknowledge it or not, the inner life affects every decision we make. Harboring bitterness over past scorn or wallowing in the life experience of betrayal influences a person’s clarity of mind. Likewise, the mind of an offender consumed with guilt and refusing to yield to the mercy of forgiveness is equally affected.

A clear conscience and a sharp mind produce the best decisions. When pressures mount and survival is at stake, these two (clear conscience and sharp thinking) are crucial. A good way to assess your own conscience is to evaluate the health of your closest relationships– spouse, children, co-workers, neighbors, et cetera. Where do you stand with those who are closest to you?

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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 Hyperinflation in Venezuela. (See the Economy and Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

First off, over at Zero Hedge: Gold ETF Holdings Surge To 4-Year Highs Ahead Of Lunar New Year

Forex:

Just as I have been warning you for several years in this column: It’ll be another weak year for the US dollar, Goldman Sachs predicts. It is wise to hedge into foreign currencies. For stability over the next several years, the Swiss Franc is still my favorite.

Commodities:

Alcoa Headwinds Vs. Constellium Tailwinds

 

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JWR’s Recommendations of the Week

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on the Tipton Ultimate Gun Vise. (See the Gear section.)

Books:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition [6 volume – Set]

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I’ve mentioned this book once before, but it deserves another strong recommendation: The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Dave Ramsey). I feel very strongly attuned to Ramsey’s guidance. To be ready for an economic depression, every family should be as close to debt free, as possible.

Movies:

Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition

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Rashomon (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

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Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – January 23, 2018

January 23rd is the birthday of John Moses Browning, born 1855. He was the brilliant designer of dozens of guns, including the M1911 pistol, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the venerable M2 .50 Caliber Machinegun. The latter is still in service in at least 95 countries, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is still in service in 2075 or even 2100.

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Life Before SHTF Was a Problem But It’s Getting Worse, by Old Bobbert

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Okay, the title about life getting worse says it all. We need newer methods, procedures, styles, and formulas– stuff about problem solving. We need new ways to look at finding workable solutions to new people problems, new situations, new limitations, new responsibilities, and new rules of survival. And we, all of us, especially need new ways to maintain our sanity in the insane world of post-SHTF, and we need it in advance and in full measure.

New Needs

Yes, it is possible that you already have all these new needs in your fully stocked and tagged kitchen pantry. But I don’t. Sure, I can wing or sling some pretty hefty prepper stuff, “Bravo Sierra”, as may be needed in polite conversation with anxious newbie preppers, but that is not gonna get the job done in the future, not even for Old Bobbert himself.

Questions

I’m sure that you know about questions. They are carried inside those sentences that start with words such as “who, why, how, where, when, or what”. They are those troublesome words that actually require serious work and corrective thinking and are often tightly, and usually painfully, connected to “please” and “thank you”.

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SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on Blue Wolf, Inc. (See the Idaho section.)

Region-Wide

The American Redoubt States rank well, as usual: How Indebted is Your State?  Note that of the 50 States, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho all are placed at the right (low debt) end of their Per Capita list.  Of the Redoubt States, only Washington was at the wrong end of the list. This is because Washington’s legislators in Olympia apparently have Delusions of Adequacy. They spend money like their counterparts in the Taxachusetts legislature!

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Radio Free Redoubt: Episode 18-01 American Redoubt Local Issues. John Jacob Schmidt analyzes the recent spike in internal US migration to Idaho.


Idaho (Blue Wolf)

I heard about a company down in Garden City, Idaho that has a very interesting line of products. Blue Wolf, Inc. makes dimmable LED lighting that is compatible with night vision equipment. Although most of their market is in aviation (for cockpit lighting), there is a growing niche for adding this lighting to ground vehicles. The U.S. Border Patrol is one of the biggest customers.  Here at the Rawles Ranch, I’m planning to use this type of lighting in a semi-permanent LP/OP.  By using NVG-compatible lighting, you can preserve your natural night vision and help keep your position from being spotted and compromised.

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Michael Snyder (a fellow blogger and now a congressional candidate from Idaho) recently appeared on InfoWars.  Please help support his campaign!

 

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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”. All of your worries are over. The government is hear to help you with the new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division!

Conscience and Religious Freedom Division

Are you feeling persecuted and trodden upon? Do you feel that you have no friends and no one likes you anymore? Have no fear! The government is here to help. The U.S. health and Human Services has announced a new division in the Office for Civil Rights. In their own words, the new division, called “The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” has been established to restore federal enforcement of our nation’s laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious freedom. Did you feel that chill run down your spine? You thought that there couldn’t be any words worse than “Hi. I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” I wonder how long it will be before you see a high profile case of a Christian being persecuted for something by this new government agency. Will they get their own SWAT team? Thanks to DSV for the link.

Deer to Human Disease Transmission

Reader G.P. sent in this article showing there is concern that the mysterious “zombie” killing disease that is killing deer across North America will make the leap across species and affect humans. The disease gradually destroys the hosts nervous system and in some herds, nearly half of the population carries the disease. There have been no reported illnesses in humans from the disease but monkeys who have been fed infected deer meat have contracted the disease. The fear is that the inter-species boundary might not be as robust as once thought regarding it.

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Preparedness Notes for Monday – January 22, 2018

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Between 1861 and 1865, more than 50,000 civilians died as a direct result of the American Civil War. In the years between 1914 and 1918, more than 7,000,000 innocent civilians died as a direct result of World War I. From 1939 to 1945, more than 23,000,000 innocents died as a direct result of World War II. (This number includes the 11 million deliberately killed in concentration camps.) Between 1922 and 1952, Stalin purged Russia of anyone whom he considered a threat or disloyal, murdering somewhere over 25,000,000 innocent people. Mao Tse-tung murdered more than 45,000,000 people from his own country in his rise to power. But on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision that has resulted in the legalized murder of over 56,000,000 of the most innocent persons that could exist in the place that should be the safest place on earth. Roe vs. Wade is a horrible black mark on our country that we will be called to account for before God. The video “180” produced in 2011 is one that I highly encourage everyone to watch (both pro-life and pro-choice). It will change your life. -HJL

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If you feel that binary triggers and bump fire stocks should remain legal, please contact the BATFE and post a public comment in the current rule-making period. Here is what I posted: “Please use common sense and a plain reading of the current law, and continue to interpret the NFA exemption for bump fire stocks or other parts for semi-autos, based upon the literal meaning of the words “a single function of the trigger.” Bump fire stocks and binary triggers meet the test of the current law and the intent of Congress when they wrote that law. You cannot expand the definition of the law by decree. The law is the law.” Please consider consider posting something similar, here.

Glock Model 35, Gen 4, by Pat Cascio

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An outstanding “end of the world” handgun is under review today, the Glock 35. This one deserves a close look.

Glock Handguns

Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of Glock handguns for a number of reasons. First off, I haven’t run across anyone who says that the Glock line of handguns actually fit their hand perfectly. Secondly, I don’t know why Glock still insists on installing plastic sights, front and rear, on their handguns. What I do love about the Glocks is that they always go “bang” if you give them just the smallest amount of care. That’s important to me, and they are more than accurate, too. However, Glock is rapidly losing their grip on first place as the handgun of choice for law enforcement in the United States, giving way to more updated handgun designs that fit the hand better and do the job just as well as the Glock can do it. Many others cost less than a Glock, too.

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