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.

RKBA

President Donald Trump’s full remarks at NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Atlanta. While his speech was not specific on particular gun law policies, it was encouraging. He previously mentioned that he is in favor of the Hearing Protection Act.

Columnist who defended NRA quits after being suspended. JWR’s Comment: I’m confident that a conservative network like Fox would benefit from hiring Stacy Washington!

Tactical Training

Fort Bragg released a video of a team engaged in an active shooter drill. The video underscores the importance of training. As the writer points out, the reason we train is so foolish (and costly) accidents don’t happen. I like his saying: “Remember, amateurs train until they get it right, professionals train until they don’t remember how to do it wrong.” (Warning: The second video is graphic.)

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The Editors’ Quote Of The Day

“We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, ‘Oh, nothing!’ Pride helps; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our hurts— not to hurt others.” – George Eliot, Middlemarch

Notes for Monday – May 08, 2017

May 8th is the birthday of missionary and U.S. military intelligence officer John Birch. (Born, 1918, died August 25, 1945.) Many considered him to be the first American casualty of the Cold War.

o o o

SurvivalBlog is introducing a new column this week. We intend  to let our readership know that we are not “armchair preppers”.  We actually live the life that we write about! Each week, we will share a bit of what our plans for the week are to further our preps and we invite you to do so as well. Be prepared, because we all know that no plan survives contact with the enemy. This weekend, we’re going to ask you how you did with your plan.

A couple of things to note:

  1. As you share, please be mindful of good OPSEC and don’t post personally identifying information.
  2. Visit our bookshelf if you need some ideas or search our archives for help.
  3. Remember that SurvivalBlog readers encompass those of all different stages in prepping – From begining to advanced.
  4. If you’re a beginner, don’t be afraid to post or even ask for help on how to do things.
  5. If your advanced, don’t be afraid to chime in and help keep others from making the same mistakes you made.
  6. Have fun!

Bushnell Equinox Night Vision Scope, by Pat Cascio

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This week, I will be reviewing The Bushnell Equinox Night Vision Scope.

Most SurvivalBlog.com readers readily know that I’m a bargain hunting hound. I have to be. I simply don’t have enough income to purchase all the “toys” I want. It’s been this way my entire life, too. Several of my are amazed at my bartering skills and survival mindset, but I have to be this way. Now that I’m semi-retired and collecting my very meager social security benefits each month, I once again am forced by life to make do with what we have.

I know that many people believe that all writers make millions of dollars a year. If only that were the case! Most gun writers I know hold down a second regular job. They can’t live on what they are paid for their articles. What we do is akin to a “ministry”, if you will. Our hearts are in it. We love to pass along information to our readers. When testing various products, we all hope we get it right most of the time.

The local gun shop knows that I love a bargain. It has to be a bargain before I’ll even look at a firearm and consider purchasing it. Every now and then, the gun shop will set a firearm aside for me. They seem to know that I’ll probably buy it some how! I know I’m in trouble when I walk in the front door and someone starts waving a gun in the air to get my attention. Grrrr!!

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Recipe of the Week: Basic Bread, by P.B.

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I have been using this recipe for about 20 years and continue to experiment with different ingredients and techniques. My favorite is still using the basic ingredients, letting it cool overnight, and slicing it for toast the next morning. My neighbors like it also.

Ingredients

  • 4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons of granular yeast
  • about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of warm water[2]

May also use the following items (examples):

  • 1/4 cup of wheat germ;
  • 1/4 cup of oatmeal;
  • 1/4 cup of rye flour;
  • 1/4 cup of cornmeal;
  • crushed caraway seeds; Italian seasoning; rosemary; basil; hot peppers; grated cheese; black or green olives; raisins.

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The Editors’ Preps for the Week – May 8th, 2017

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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 will share their planned prep activities for the coming week, ranging from healthcare and purchases to property improvements and food storage. We also welcome you to share your planned activities for increasing personal preparedness in the coming week in the comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

JWR:

The Rawles Ranch is abuzz with activity as the snow has melted and life has begun to spring forth. This is the time of year that we prepare our firewood for next winter, so we are actively cutting wood. We like to manage similar projects at the same time, so this is an excellent time to a little bit of wildfire risk mitigation. We are clearing underbrush and stacking it in piles to burn this week. These slash piles are still slightly damp so they take a while to burn, but that is certainly better than a raging conflagration of completely dry wood.

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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 to watch, investing opportunities, hedges, derivatives, and the precious metals markets. These are all from the quirky “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR:

Precious Metals:

The Outlook for Asian Gold Demand in 2017. Hmmmm… Note the recent spike in Swiss exports to China.

Commodities Economics:

Consider the source of this press release, but this sounds promising: Industrial Commodity Prices to Rise in 2017: World Bank.

Forex:

It is quite obvious that the US Dollar (USD) and the Swiss Franc (CHF) are still bouncing around parity. Hold tight, if you are hold CHF, because the long term trend is for a weakening USD.

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The Editors’ Quote Of The Day

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“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them — words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they’re brought out. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That’s the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.” – Stephen King, Different Seasons

Notes for Sunday – May 07, 2017

This is the birthday of two notable men: Senator Rand Paul (born 1963); and Bent Faurschou-Hviid, known as The Flame (born 1921, died October 18, 1944). The red-haired Danish resistance fighter fought the occupying Germans with the Holger Danske Group during World War II. His exploits were dramatized in the movie Flame and Citron.

Rand Paul

Rand Paul describes himself as a Constitutional conservative and supporter of the Tea party movement. He advocates for a balanced budget amendment, term limits, and privacy reform. Rand Paul has been serving as the junior senator from Kentucky since 2011.

Bent Faurschou Hviid

Bent Faurschou Hvidd was a member of the Danish resistance group Holger Danske during World War II. According to several of his colleagues, “The Germans hated him and sought after him more than any other resistance fighter. The bounty placed on his head by the Germans was the highest that they offered for any resistance fighter. He is credited with 22 executions. Bent committed sucide via  cyanide capsule. The Germans surrounded the house he was staying in and no escape was possible.

 

Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 3, by Sarah Latimer

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The Core Lessons For Survival (continued)

2. Know who you are. Know your identity as a women within God’s framework of His Kingdom, within your family, and within society.

There are many things that can create uncertainty, fear, division, and hate. When these emotions take control, they lead to actions that can spiral the world toward a violent TEOTWAWKI situation. A single bit of news can generate everything from extreme stock market volatility and terrorist attacks. The news may or may not be accurate.

However, if you confidently embrace your role within your family, you will be able to work together in unity. You can confront whatever challenges you face most efficiently and effectively. In the meantime, you will know joy and contentment. Your cooperative work on preparations and projects of all kinds will come together. Life will be rich and fulfilling if you respect one another and look to serve one another. Give rather than fight each other for your share.

There are many examples of couples in the Bible.  The husbands and wives looked out for the well-being of one another. They even submitted and sacrificed for each other. It just works! But you must guard against the deceptions within our culture. These are targeting women’s minds and drawing you away from your husband and your family.

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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.

Jobs (or is that Immigration)

Two GOP RINOs are getting ready to introduce legislation to allow the states to legally import 500,000 blue-collar workers and white-collar professionals to replace lost American workers. They blame depressed workers turning to drugs (through Medicaid) but rather than fix the problem, the’ll just import cheap labor and keep doing the same old things. Thanks to M.G. for the link.

Essential Field Gear

Reader H.L. sent in this post over at Activist Post on what they feel are the top 10 critical items you need for survival. If you are down to 10 items, it’s a decent list. A firearm is conspicuously missing though. I’d consider that a necessity in SHTF. You might want to take a look at the SurvivalBlog article “Armed To The Teeth: Essential Survival Contingency” by Michael S for a more comprehensive look at some basics that are missed.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. – 1 Peter 1:13-21 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – May 06, 2017

Today is the birthday of bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, (1924-2012) and British comic actor Rowan Atkinson (born 1955).

Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs was an American musician who popularized a three-finger banjo picking style, now called “Scruggs style”. This style is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His radically different three-finger style of playing the five-string banjo is radically different. Previously, the banjo was typically played with a frailing or clawhammer technique. He  also popularized the instrument in several genres of music and elevated the banjo from its role as a background rhythm instrument, or a comedian’s prop, into featured solo status.

On his 80th birthday, singer Porter Wagoner said “Earl is to the five-string banjo what Babe Ruth was to baseball. He is the best there ever was and the best there ever will be.”

At age 88, Earl Scruggs died from natural causes on the morning of March 28, 2012, in a Nashville hospital

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Nurse’s Perspective for Survival, by L.S.

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As a nurse who believes in making preparations for long-term survival, it has come to my attention that there are a few simple preventive healthcare measures that everyone should consider. However, obtaining important preventive healthcare and taking general measures related to maintaining general health is often overlooked or delayed. The focused attention to the more obvious important prepping activities often wins out. Having enough food, water, or a safe, sheltered environment are examples

Tetanus Vaccine

My favorite approach to staying healthy is a more naturopathic way. I must admit that I am not a strong advocate of most vaccines in general. This is due to a variety of chemicals that are added into vaccines. This has recorded side effects in some vaccines after administration. However, there is one particular vaccination that I do believe is important to obtain in emergency preparation. This is the tetanus vaccination.

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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.

Social Unrest

Continuing on the antifa subject of last time, reader T.J. sent in the link to a propaganda film by the agitators. I couldn’t make it very far into the piece without feeling sick to my stomach, but an anonymous person posted these notes:

  • Notice the high-quality, professional production value of the piece.
  • Aiming at young people – effectiveness unknown; try it on some test subjects.
  • Uniforms look stupid 99% of the time and are tactically unwise almost as often.
  • The odds of a Team Freedom “Only Good Red Is Dead” counter prop is near zero at this time.

I would add that it is amazing that it is the antifa movement that seeks to hide its identity. (Usually that is a mark of those who are ashamed or pursue terrorist goals.) It is also equally amazing to me that these people are trying to portray their “enemies” as fascists while using fascist tactics and goals themselves.

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