The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?” – J. B. Priestley

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — October 25, 2023

40 years ago today, the U.S. military, under President Ronald Reagan, invaded the tiny island country of Grenada.

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On this day in 1415, the English army, led by Henry V, scored a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War, paving the way for further English conquests and successes.

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This is the birthday of explorer and pilot Admiral Richard Byrd (1888–1957). His autobiography titled Alone is a must-read.

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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.

12 Basic Actions To Make It Through the First 12 Weeks of TEOTWAWKI – Part 2, by Michael X.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Heat

We have a super-efficient wood stove in our basement that can heat our entire cabin. We can vent heat into various parts of the house. We have two propane fireplaces that do not use any electricity. I put all these in when we built the cabin as our electricity as always spotty and my belief is that electricity is going to be a problem in almost every society fail scenario.

I have a wood lot and prepare enough wood to stay warm all winter. I have several chain saws and can split small wood by hand. For larger pieces I borrow from a good friend who lives nearby. I know that this it is not a long term solution at this time.

Our stovetop is propane so it can cook our preserved food as well as provide some heat on a limited basis. I have backup camp stoves and LP gas to extend the use of indoor cooking. My grill also can take some of the load. And I can cook on the wood stove if necessary.

Wood heat will be the most likely answer for heating, but procuring wood for wood heat for the long term, in northern Wisconsin, will be a hard life.

Electricity

Electricity will eventually stop, in almost every major scenario. As discussed in another article in December 2023, our power was out for a few days last winter. I had redundant generators, and eventually got one to work well. However, it is not practical to have to run a generator 24/7, and gas will eventually be gone or go stale, so it cannot be a long-term solution to keeping modern processes going.

After the outage I bought a solar-chargeable portable power station. We use it to keep a CPAP going. I should have purchased a larger one, but I wanted to “test drive” one before getting too deep into it. So far I have been very impressed. I may buy another. It can power our radios and charge other key electrical items we need on a limited basis. I have a few portable solar chargers to keep the phones/radios going for use in emergencies and to get the news, such as it is.

To back up day-to-day activities that currently use electricity, I try to keep as many manual, non-electric hand tools as possible for backup.

Use electricity until you can’t. Plan on it going out. Make sure you can function without it.Continue reading“12 Basic Actions To Make It Through the First 12 Weeks of TEOTWAWKI – Part 2, by Michael X.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Remote Work Can Thrive in Remote Places.  JWR’s Comment: It is interesting seeing that article posted at a website where the stock answers to nearly every question are either: “More government”, or “We should create a [taxpayer-funded] program to…”

o  o  o

Over at WND: Tesla won’t start after driving in rain, owner speechless when stuck with $21,000 bill.

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Video from Mark Dice: We’re Being ManipuIated in Ways Most People Can’t Even Imagine!   JWR’s Comments: Watch this, and you’ll understand one of the reasons why we discontinued the Reader Comments on posts at SurvivalBlog. (Yes, we DID detect comments being posted by sockpuppets.)

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would be if they were stationed in Texas. We would not stand for it here, but we have had a globe-straddling empire and a very intrusive foreign policy for decades that incites a lot of hatred and resentment toward us.” – Ron Paul

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 24, 2023

On October 24, 1648, the Peace of Westphalia ended the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and the German phase of the Thirty Years’ War.

On October 24, 1861, the first transcontinental telegram was sent via the telegraph in the United States, effectively bringing to an end the Pony Express.

—

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.

12 Basic Actions To Make It Through The First 12 Weeks of TEOTWAWKI – Part 1, by Michael X.

Is TEOTWAWKI imminent? I do not know. But things are slipping toward it happening soon. Will it be a violent, giant crash, like one involving many cars on the turnpike, or will it be a quiet breakdown along the side of a deserted country road?

For myself, at this point, I am not thinking it will be a catastrophic, instantaneous crash caused by nuclear war, an EMP, asteroids, or alien invasion. More likely, I think it could be a slow slide that will catch people off guard until it is finally too late to get the basics in place.

This could be caused by the slow boil of recession, inflation, unchecked illegal immigration, government oppression of freedom to buy what you want when you want, to go where you want, and own what you want. Your currently untraceable money replaced by electronic “money” that the government will monitor the use of. Cash could be useless. Use of barter will be outlawed to ensure that taxes are collected “for the greater good”. After a few weeks or month, many people could wake up and realize they are living as if they exist in the world described in the novel 1984. And the flexibility to control the situation will be gone. Many will panic.Continue reading“12 Basic Actions To Make It Through The First 12 Weeks of TEOTWAWKI – Part 1, by Michael X.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, an update on the Greater Idaho movement. (See the Region-Wide section.)

Region-Wide

Which States Are People Moving To? Led By Idaho, Mountain West States Outpace The Rest In Newcomers Per Capita.

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Oregon legislator meets with Idaho leaders about ‘Greater Idaho’ movement. Here is a quote:

“Oregon Rep. Iverson said she had a ‘duty and responsibility’ to show up at the conversation.

“It is clear: people in central and eastern Oregon do not align with all the values of those in Portland and Eugene,” Rep. Iverson said. ‘Is Greater Idaho the answer? I am not sure but I am willing to turn over all the rocks possible, for the land and people I love.’”

o  o  o

And some more reporting on the same, from a slightly different perspective: ‘Let’s have that conversation’: Idaho lawmakers go to Oregon to discuss Greater Idaho.

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Hydropower generation drops in Montana, Pacific NW due to drought.

Idaho

Video from Caldwell, Idaho: Rob Schneider visits Nemo Arms and builds his new Nemo Battle Light.

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Idaho State Police Pursuit of Murderer in Coeur d’Alene — Trooper Shoots Suspect’s Tires With Rifle.

o  o  o

Idaho man arrested after low-speed tractor chase.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 23, 2023

On October 23, 1956, the Hungarian Revolution began with a massive demonstration in Budapest. JWR’s Comment: The days of trenchcoats and Tokarevs… Too bad that they didn’t have access to more effective ant–tank weapons, or they could have pushed the communists out of power, permanently.

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Today we remember the 220 Marines, 18 U.S. Navy Sailors, and three U.S. Army Soldiers who died on this day in 1983 when terrorists attacked the Beruit Barracks. 58 French soldiers also died in the attack. JWR’s Comments: It seems like yesterday, but 40 years have transpired. In October of ’83, I had just recently joined an Army Reserve Intelligence unit, and I remember reading after-action summaries of the event, soon after I got my TS/SBI clearance.

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Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

 

Ruger Single-Ten Stainless, by Thomas Christianson

The very first handgun that I ever fired was a Ruger Single-Six chambered in .22 Long Rifle (“.22LR”). I was then in junior high school. Our church had a group for boys my age. The men who led that group took us on an outing one time in a nearby state forest area. One of the men took along his Single-Six. When we came to a sandbank that could be used as a backstop, he placed a soda can on a stick stuck into the ground. Then he let us take turns shooting at the can. My major takeaway from that experience was that it is much harder to fire a handgun accurately in real life than it is in the movies.

About a year ago, I became nostalgic about the memory of firing that Single-Six. I went to the Ruger website, and learned that they make a Single-Ten stainless in .22LR with fiber optic sights. It looked like a nice step up from the Single-Six, so I contacted Ruger and asked to borrow one. They were kind enough to agree, and placed one on order for me. Eight months later, I received notification that the Single-Ten had been shipped to my FFL.Continue reading“Ruger Single-Ten Stainless, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Pork In a Pot

The following recipe for Pork In a Pot was sent to us by SurvivalBlog reader Richard T.

Special note from Richard:  “You will need a Lodge 3-quart combo cooker, or something similar. Any cast iron pot will work, but this pot has a handled flat lid that can serve as a skillet on which the ribs can be browned while preparing the other ingredients.”

Ingredients
  • 1 large white onion
  • 2 white Russet potatoes
  • 1 tomato (contains an insignificant amount of acid to affect the cast iron)
  • 1 pint of drained sauerkraut
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Cooking Oil
Directions

Begin with heating up the pot & lid (or skillet) on a medium heat for several minutes. Cut the pork rack in four bone sections and brown them on the oiled skillet for straighter ribs like the St. Louis cut, or in the oven on the broiler setting if using the curved baby back ribs.

Onions are sliced and layered on the oiled bottom of the pot, next add sauerkraut and finally the sliced tomato. After browned, the ribs are seasoned and layered in the pot over the onions and tomatoes. Sliced potatoes are filled in on top wherever they fit. It is not necessary to add any liquid as the ingredients will provide that. Sauce, spices, and stripping the membrane is not necessary either. Turn the heat down to a low setting for 2.5 hours. Resist the temptation to turn up the heat; lower and slower is better.

SERVING

With cast iron cooking you don’t have to be in a hurry to dish it out, it will keep hot for quite some time in the pot.

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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 the price of silver. (See the Precious Metals section.)

Precious Metals:

After seeing highs above $25 in July and August, spot silver has been pushed down by the short sellers in recent weeks. When I last checked, spot silver had rebounded a bit, to $23.60. I expect to see a trend reversion to at least the $27 USD per Troy ounce level, by mid-December. And, as always: Buy low, sell high.

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Five Signs that Gold Will Increasingly Flow to the East.

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A podcast from veteran analyst Jim Puplava: Big Picture: Unsustainable.

Economy & Finance:

H.L. spotted this: Is the Great U.S. Debt Crisis About to Begin?

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Electric Slowdown: Tesla, General Motors, Ford Hit the Brakes on EV Production. JWR’s Comments: The key message is hidden near the end of the article: Higher interest rates are the real killer of car sales.  Most EV buyers use borrowed money to purchase their vehicles. Just as with the housing market: Higher interest rates mean fewer qualified buyers.

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Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Dow closes nearly 300 points lower after 10-year Treasury yield tops 5% for the first time since 2007.

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Amazon will start testing drones that will drop prescriptions on your doorstep, literally.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 22, 2023

On October 22, 1934, infamous criminal Charles (“Pretty Boy”) Floyd was fatally shot in a field near East Liverpool, Ohio, by FBI agents.

On October 22, 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin, an inspector in the French army who encouraged the use of balloons for military purposes, made a balloon ascent in order to give his first exhibition of parachuting, when he jumped from a height of about 3,200 feet (1,000 meters).

This is the birthday of painter and book illustrator N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945).

This is also the birthday of actor Jeff Goldblum (born 1952), who had unforgettable roles in Buckaroo Banzai, The Fly, and in the Jurassic Park and Independence Day franchise films.

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Today’s feature article was too short to qualify as an entry 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.