After The SHTF, What Will Be Your Role?, by B.H.

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After the SHTF, will you contribute to rebuilding or just surviving? Let’s first assume you and yours have survived and are relatively safe on a homestead with enough water, fuel, food and shelter during the major event. Think Puerto Rico! You’ve gone months, not days and not weeks, without electricity. Also consider you are in a rural location. Government agencies will direct all and any major resources to heavy populated areas once the “event” is over.

I view this time after as the most challenging. Most books on surviving the event suggest being self sufficient and living in a rural area away from the Golden Hordes. We have made that jump from the suburbs and are working on becoming self sufficient in a rural location.

Many times in SurvivalBlog, there are recommendations for Preppers to earn income/barter abilities via skills when the grid goes down and the trucks stop running. I have reviewed numerous suggestions and find many that require a lot of training. Examples listed are being able to weld, mechanical knowledge to fix machinery, electrical, and plumbing trades. I do not believe I could master most of those skills. Also as a woman, I have not been exposed to a lot of physical hands-on experience mentioned in those areas. Stockpiling items for barter is another suggestion.

Continue reading“After The SHTF, What Will Be Your Role?, by B.H.”

Letter: Preparing for SHTF

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JWR,

How do I prepare for a SHTF event I see ahead but also deal with being unemployed due to serious illness the last four years? My wife works, but the money gets eaten up by just getting by, and we own no property. Hence, we have no ability to get ahead. Any ideas, please? I find that so frustrating and maddening. I don’t know how to tackle this. Surely others are in the same boat as me. – S.A.

JWR’s Comment:

Right. You aren’t the only one in that sort of situation. I think the best bet would be to either form a retreat group, or integrate yourself into an existing one. Pray hard, and choose your friends wisely.

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”. Lethal autonomous weapons are a reality today. We already have the technology and some are leaning towards these as the next weapons. Slaughterbots or Skynet could be closer than you realize.

Slaughterbots

Reader G.P. sent in this video on Slaughterbots. It is fictitious, of course, but the principle is sound. Do we really want Artificial Intelligence making a life or death decision for humans? While all of the technology used in the video can be used for good, it can also be used for bad. You cannot program ethics into artificial intelligence.

Parental Rights

A proposed constitutional amendment for parental rights has been introduced into both the House and the Senate. This proposed amendment would protect the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children, including the right to homeschool. The supporting organization, ParentalRights.org is asking for help, both financial and in urging your representatives to support such an amendment. They are looking for grassroots support as they ramp up and increase their public reach and prepare for the House and Senate committees.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” – Romans 9:14-15 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday – November 18, 2017

On this day in 1978, Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones led hundreds of his followers in a mass murder-suicide at their agricultural commune in a remote part of the South American nation of Guyana. This incredibly tragic occurrence introduce the term “…drink the Kool-Aid” into our parlance, since poison-laced punch was the vehicle behind most of the deaths. This serves as a stark warning and reminder to those in the prepping/survivalist community who would join with like-minded friends under the leadership of a charismatic leader. Always know who you are following!

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A Stitch in Time- Part 2, by a Florida Mom

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Recycle and Redesign!

Fabric

With the cost of fabric today, few women continue to sew clothing. Sewing has become more of a craft hobby. With this cost in mind, it pays to look for other options for fabric. Yard sales, consignment shops, and thrift stores provide an additional source, either fabric pieces or larger size clothing in good condition. If you shop at a fabric store, make sure you look for sales and use coupons.

Repaired or Restyled Man’s Button Front Shirt

A man’s button front shirt can be recycled by adding a new collar and cuffs from similar or contrasting fabric, using the worn ones for the pattern. To re-cut a shirt with a smaller size pattern, take the larger shirt apart at the seams and cut pieces with the smaller pattern. It might be possible to utilize the shirt front placket with buttons and buttonholes without redoing them but additional buttonholes are usually required and the collar and cuffs would have an additional seam in the back.

Man’s Shirt Recycled Into A Girls or Ladies Skirt

A men’s large long-sleeved shirt (or two) can also become a girl’s or ladies’ skirt. Cut off the sleeves, and re-cut and piece them together for the waistband. Cut off the collar and rip the shirt open at the shoulders. Press the fabric. Consider utilizing the front buttons down the front of the skirt for your closure (or stitch it closed most of the way). Re-cut using your favorite skirt pattern. (Make sure to line up the “straight of grain” markings on the pattern with the grainline of the shirt; no cheating on this or your skirt won’t hang straight!) Add pockets, if desired, and then stitch the side seams. Add a waistband or add extra buttonholes and buttons as needed. Group them differently to add styling.

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The Editors’ Preps for the Week

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

JWR

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers,
This week I was busy with both writing and a home gunsmithing project. Because this smithing was specific to one part of my collection, for OPSEC reasons I can’t go into any detail about it. There wasn’t much time available for hunting.  The weather has improved. Most of the snow accumulation from 10+ days ago has now melted.

Meanwhile, my wife (Avalanche Lily) reports:
We are experiencing typical November weather: clouds, rain and snow showers day after day with temperatures in the low thirties at night and upper thirties to low forties during the day. It is very damp and cold. This weather is very conducive for relaxing and homeschool study indoors near our warm and cozy wood stove.

Continue reading“The Editors’ Preps for the Week”

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”. Our media has no shame. It would appear that Paramount Pictures is releasing what may be the fiction of the year as a documentary on Waco.

#LeavePublicSchool

There are a number of stories where young female teachers are seducing underage boys. I recognize that in high school, a young man’s hormones are raging and while I believe it is morally reprehensible, I understand why they might engage in this behavior. What I have a hard time understanding is why these female teachers would engage in this behavior. Once caught, your career is over even if you avoid jail time. How can they consider the risks worth it? Speaking as a teacher, this sort of behavior is never a secret in the student body. It’s just a matter of time before you get caught. In any case, as a parent, I will never expose my children (or grandchildren now) to this moral cesspool.

Married teacher and JV cheerleading coach, 23, arrested for sex affair with teen boy student

Married science teacher, 22, arrested for sex romp with teen boy student

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And showing that the men are every bit as depraved as the women who violate the public trust with your children, an IT employee with a Washington state school district has been arrested on suspicion of sexual voyeurism after he taped an electronic device to a campus urinal. In this case, the IT employee targeted a young male student, but the student found the device and recieved notes of a non-sexual nature addressed specifically to him which he turned over to school authorities. Thanks to reader F.M. for the link.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you”” – Malachi 1:6 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday – November 17, 2017

On this day in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were submitted to the states for ratification. They differed from the Constitution in that they emphasized the primacy of the states. This brings to mind the dangers of convening a Constitutional Convention, because the last time this happened the Articles of Confederation were thrown out and totally replaced by the Constitution. Do you honestly believe that our politicians today could craft a document that so thoroughly protects the rights of the individual as they did then?

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SurvivalRealty.com is giving away an autographed copy of Survivors by James Wesley, Rawles on their Facebook page. If you have a social media presence, you can go to their Facebook page and sign up by sharing the post with your friends and leaving a comment. (Survivors is HJL’s favorite novel in the Patriots series.)

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A Stitch in Time- Part 1, by a Florida Mom

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On a practical note, are you including a basic sewing repair kit in your preparations? Whether you’re aiming towards self-sufficiency or a large scale disaster, there are some basic tools that you need to keep on hand. I’m talking about more than a few pre-threaded needles, a button, and two safety pins! I keep a basic sewing repair kit with the above items in my emergency bag, but my supplies at home provide a multi-purpose repair kit, as well as supplying what will be needed to make and repair clothing and pack items. Are you ready to repair, reuse, recycle, and re-design?

Basic Repairs

What needs repairs?

  • Backpacks and straps
  • Tents and tarps
  • Leather items- belts, shoes
  • Clothing- patches, buttons, zippers, rips and tears

Backpacks and Straps

Depending on the construction, this could require carpet or nylon thread and a heavy duty needle; or, if a nylon webbing strap pulled through, you’ll need a butane lighter (or a candle) and pliers to melt and crimp the end before re-stitching. You can re-stitch through the same holes if they haven’t pulled through.

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Letter: EMP Proofing a 1988 F250 Diesel

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JWR,

In the book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” a device for $20 is mentioned. Where can I get it? – H.P.

JWR’s Comment:

Go to your local Ford dealership’s parts department. Ask them for a spare “glow plug controller” for your truck (model and year.). If they have one on hand, ask them to see it. If they ask an exorbitant price, then look for the same part at you local car and truck wrecking yard.

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 investing in tax lien properties. (See the Tangibles Investing section, near the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

First up, Two-Thirds Of The Top Primary Silver Miners Suffered Production Declines In 2017 – SRSrocco Report

o  o  o

Metals Focus: PV, Auto Demand For Silver Rising

 

Stock Markets:

It is surprising to see at article like this posted at the CNBC Perpetual Cheering Section: There’s something weird going on that’s worrying the markets

Commodities:

I generally shy away from posting links to “sponsored” posts, but this one has some merit: Cobalt Prices To Rocket As Tech Giants Scramble For Supplies

o  o  o

Next, it is noteworthy that there has been a 31% gain in the past year: ICE Brent Crude Oil Front Month

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday – November 16, 2017

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November 16th is the birthday of Michael D. Echanis (born 1950, died September 1978), a former United States Army Special Forces and 75th Ranger Battalion enlisted man. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with “V” device as a LRRP in the Vietnam War. He was born and raised in eastern Oregon. Echanis was killed while working for the CIA in Nicaragua in 1978 in a plane crash along with his colleague Charles Sanders and members of the Nicaraguan armed forces. There was conjecture that the plane was destroyed in flight by a saboteur’s bomb. JWR’s novel Survivors includes a minor character from Oregon with the surname Echanis, as a small homage to Mike Echanis.

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There are only two more weeks left in Round 73 of the SurvivalBlog writing contest. If you are planning on getting an article in on this round, please send it in to us as soon as possible.

Continue reading“Preparedness Notes for Thursday – November 16, 2017”