Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 27, 2023

Through the will drawn up by Alfred Bernhard Nobel—the Swedish chemist, engineer, and industrialist who invented dynamite and other, more powerful explosives—the Nobel Prizes were established on this day in 1895.

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On November 27, 1942, the French navy scuttled 73 ships at Toulon in order to avoid German seizure during World War II.

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A piece of property at SurvivalRealty.com (that is pictured above) in Manitoba, Canada caught my eye: Riverfront Off-Grid Timber Frame Home on 95 Acres in Canada.  Click on the map and zoom out a bit.  From a retreat security standpoint, there are very few places that can rival a property that sits inside an oxbow of a large river.  I’d call that ultra-defendable. at least from a ground attack!

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Today is also the birthday of both SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio, and sci-fi novelist L. Sprague de Camp (1907 – 2000).

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Today’s feature is a review that was penned by SurvivalBlog Filed Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

 

ESEE Zancudo Framelock Folder in D2, by Thomas Christianson

Imagine that you are in the jungle of Peru. It is 1997. You are tired. You are hungry. You are dirty. You are wet. You are a client of Randall’s Adventure & Training School of Survival. They are working with the Peruvian Air Force’s School of Jungle Survival to prepare you for situations you might face if you are ever stranded in the jungle.

During the ensuing decades, Randall’s Adventure & Training has continued to train outdoorsmen, law enforcement officers, military contractors, search and rescue personnel, and a host of others in survival skills. Along the way, they have designed a number of dandy knifes. Their early designs were manufactured in cooperation with the Ontario Knife Company and TOPS Knives. Later, Randall’s Adventure & Training established their own knife brand, ESEE. RAT knives have a reputation for highly-functional, no-frills designs at reasonable prices.

I recently ran across a folding RAT design with a blade made out of D2, which is one of my favorite knife steels. I ordered one of the knives online. A few days later the package arrived.Continue reading“ESEE Zancudo Framelock Folder in D2, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Stuffed Pepper Soup

The following recipe for Stuffed Pepper Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader “Sis”.  She writes:

“This is another great recipe that can be made from your food storage and then freezes well or could be canned. Quite a few people have some good storage but I’m thinking that most just store it and don’t cook from it. So the recipes that I’m sending to SirvivalBlog use food storage items.”

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds of browned hamburger
  • 2 cans (11oz) tomato soup
  • 1 large onion ( diced and sauteed)
  • 1 can (4oz) mushrooms (or use dehydrated ones)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 3 large bell peppers (diced) (You may use dehydrated or freeze-dried ones)
  • 2 cans (11 oz) beef broth (can use bullion but make sure that it’s not too salty)
  • 1 can ( 28 oz.) Crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper — or to taste
  • 1 1/2 cup cooked rice
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic (optional)
Directions
  1. Bring all ingredients except the rice to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  3. Add the rice, warm it until the rice has softened, and then serve.
  4. The amount of seasonings can be adjusted to your taste.

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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 look at a possible rise in the Argentine Peso. (See the Forex and Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

Both silver and gold appear to be building a base for a price breakout in the new year.  I’m also bullish on platinum, although the more “industrial” price of platinum may dip as we slip into the Biden Recession. But, then again, if a regional war or World War, The Third(TM) breaks out, then the price of platinum will surely zoom up to stratospheric heights.  I’m so confident in the prospects for silver that I increased the pricing divisor to 20.5 times face value for anyone who wishes to pay with pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage when they buy a gun or knife from my Elk Creek Company business.

o  o  o

Jim Curry, over at Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Forecast: Gold Cycles Higher into Spring of 2024.

Economy & Finance:

From Fox Business: IRS delays tax-reporting rule on Venmo, PayPal payments over $600.

o  o  o

Economic Slowdown Looms: Companies Expected to Cut Back as Indicators Signal Decline, JPMorgan Forecasts Challenges Ahead.

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Skyrocketing Governmental Debt Threatens Financial Collapse.

o  o  o

At Wolf Street: Money Market Funds, Large CDs, Small CDs All Surged: Americans Figured it Out.

o  o  o

Mises Wire: Fed Rate Cuts Will Not Save The Economy.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 26, 2023

Casablanca premiered this day in 1942 and became one of Hollywood‘s most-revered films. Set in occupied Morocco during World War II, it was directed by Michael Curtiz. Casablanca starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid.

November 26th is the birthday of gun inventor Eugene Reising (born 1884, died February 21, 1967).

This is also the birthday Barton Biggs (born 1932, died July 14, 2012). Biggs was a money manager known for his pro-preparedness stance.

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Just a few days left!  We are still seeking entries for Round 109 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. 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 109 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

A Piece of Model Gun Rights Legislation

I recently spent some time pondering the myriad of so-called “gun control” laws and other weapons laws extant in the United States in light of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) Inc. v. Bruen decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. The Bruen decision was a landmark case with a brilliant ruling written primarily by Justice Clarence Thomas. However, I recognized that the process of challenging unconstitutional gun and knife laws might take years or even decades to work their way through the courts. This led me to realize that what is needed is model legislation to create State and Federal processes to streamline and expedite legal challenges to any unconstitutional “arms” laws.

The following is my initial amateur attempt to create a piece of model legislation that would help restore a ley part of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA). I’m hopeful that someone with greater legal acumen and a proper Juris Doctor degree can revise and perfect this rough draft. I’m also hopeful that gun rights organizations such as the GOA, FPC, NAGR, and NRA will promote this corrective legislation, at both the State and Federal level.

Note that wherever I use the word “State”, the words “County” or “Parish” could be substituted, or it could be rewritten to create a Federal law.

Here is my draft of the model law:

WHEREAS all laws in the United States and the laws of << Insert State name >> have their foundation in the phrase “We, The People…” to wit, the root of legislative power devolves from the Consent of the Governed.

AND WHEREAS it is implicit in all spheres of government — legislative, executive, and judicial — that the Consent of the Governed can be withdrawn.

AND WHEREAS the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly reserves rights, as stated:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

AND WHEREAS the various Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are mutually supporting.

AND WHEREAS the force of arms owned by our citizenry, as protected by the 2nd Amendment, is the linchpin that guarantees all of our other enumerated rights.

AND WHEREAS the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. (2022), (henceforth abbreviated Bruen) decision makes it clear that all laws concerning “arms” must match the history, text, and tradition of arms laws that predate the 1791 ratification of the Bill of Rights.  Any arms laws that do not have an analogous pre-1791 law are deemed to be unconstitutional.

AND RECOGNIZING that per Marbury v. Madison all unconstitutional laws are null and void. (“Lex Mala, Lex Nulla.”)

AND UNDERSTANDING that when an issue of an unconstitutional law is raised, any adult citizen can be considered an injured party and thus have legal standing, solely by the recognition and claim of the diminishment of a fundamental right. This is regardless of whether or not they have been personally charged with a crime or have been convicted of a violation of the law in question.

AND WHEREAS legal counsel is not required to file a lawsuit. (Thus, a pro se litigant.)

AND RECOGNIZING that overturning or nullifying an unconstitutional law is a grave and urgent matter that requires an expeditious process.

AND WHEREAS our highest duties are to uphold and defend the Constitution of << Insert State name >> and the Constitution of the United States.

THEREFORE, we hereby enact a provision for a simple one-page petition with no stringent format to the appropriate court that may be filed by any adult citizen of << Insert State name >> that includes a phrase that reads (or that is similar to): “I hereby challenge the constitutionality of << Insert Bill name, Bill number, Statute name, or State Code Number>> based on the NYSRPA v. Bruen test of the history, text, and tradition of arms laws that predate the 1791 ratification of the Bill of Rights.”

AND THENCE, the courts of << Insert State name >> are compelled to expeditiously apply the Bruen history, text, and tradition test. And, if failing that test, the courts are assuredly bound to overturn or nullify that law, post haste.

AND FURTHERMORE, if the courts fail to take action on any such filing by a citizen of << Insert State name >> within 180 days, it is then the responsibility of this legislative body to independently apply the Bruen history, text, and tradition test to any “arms” law that comes into question. And, if the majority of this legislative body finds that the law in question fails the Bruen test, it is therefore our responsibility to immediately pass appropriate legislation to overturn or nullify that law.

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Again, I hope that someone with more experience in the law can perfect my draft legislation. – JWR

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text: 

Is It Too Late To Add Argentina

To The American Redoubt?

News Link:

Argentine libertarian Milei pledges new political era after election win.

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:

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:13-21(KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 25, 2023

On November 25, 1950 the Storm Of The Century — also known as the Appalachian Storm — reached blizzard conditions and dumped nearly 60 inches of snow in the Appalachian area. It brought unseasonal temperatures to the region and caused widespread damage to property. About 150 people were thought to have been killed as a result of it.

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On this day in 1970, Japanese novelist Mishima Yukio and four members of his Shield Society, a private army formed to preserve Japan‘s martial spirit, seized a military headquarters in Tokyo, and he later committed seppuku.

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November 25th was the birthday of economist and comedian Ben Stein. His unscripted monologue on economics from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of the most memorable scenes in American cinema. By the way, Stein spends part of each year at his second home in Sandpoint, Idaho, so he is an honorary Redoubter.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 109 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. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. 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.

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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 109 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Subtle Changes in Rural America, by Hollyberry

My husband and I first moved to Maine eighteen years ago from New Jersey. What a breath of fresh air and change from a crowded, polluted environment. We moved to a small town that was the county seat for an area that is approximately 4,300 square miles and has a very low population. Most folks were really nice but there is a “your from away” mentality with some of the more stubborn folks. I gently reminded some of the more hardcore folks that although I may be “from away”, New Jersey is still part of the United States. I understand that they didn’t want “city ideas and values” foisted on them. We had no intention of doing that anyway and were seeking the quieter, more laid-back way of life. The only people really moving into the town area were people with kids who were tired of one-hour round trips dropping kids off at school for various sporting programs or play dates. You can burn up a lot of gas driving back and forth to town.

You sit back in rural America and watch the news and think we are safe and away from all the chaos in the cities. Well, guess what folks? What happens when you step in dog poop? It spreads everywhere and the poop you see in the news is spreading out to the country.Continue reading“Subtle Changes in Rural America, by Hollyberry”

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:

We had a fairly quiet week at the ranch. Hearing a forecast of a possible ice storm on Wednesday, I scrambled on Tuesday, logging almost 200 road miles, running errands, and buying hardware and plumbing supplies for a couple of ranch projects. The fall colors were still gorgeous, and there was snow on all of the peaks. On these driving days, I also often do some “personal shopper” duties for a couple of my Secret Squirrel consulting clients who live in my region. To maintain a low profile, these are all cash transactions.

We had some family members visit for a Thanksgiving dinner, here at the ranch. It is always great fun to see them.

Now, Lily’s report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” – Psalm 95 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 24, 2023

On November 22, 1718, the pirate who went by the name Blackbeard was killed off the coast of North Carolina.

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Today is also remembered as the birthday of the late Eugene M. Stoner. (Born 1922, died April 24, 1997.) He was the designer of the AR-7, AR-10, AR-15, AR-180, the Stoner 63, and several other firearms. (The AR-10 was the basis of the AR-15 which in turn spawned the very widely used M16 and all of its variants including the M4 Carbine.) It has been estimated that as 17 million rifles from the AR-15 family are owned by civilians in the United States, and military production M16 variants worldwide exceeds eight million rifles. As of 2021, it was estimated that 20% of all new guns sold in the US are AR-15 variants.

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An important Reminder:  December 7th, 2023 is the deadline for comments on ATF’s “Engaged in the business” rule.  PLEASE politely post your objections to this unconstitutional rule.  In your comment, make two points very clear:  There is NO valid jurisdiction (“Federal Nexus”) for ATF to regulate private party INTRAState sales of used guns that are no longer in INTERstate commerce. Private party sales of guns from personal collections that are sold to fellow private party residents of the same state are NOT “interstate commerce.” Furthermore, per the Bruen decision, there is NO pre-1791 analogous gun law that anyone can cite. (Bruen‘s “History, text, and tradition.”)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 109 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. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. 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 109 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.