Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 3, 2024

On January 3rd, 1959, the territory of Alaska became the 49th U.S. state.

On January 3, 1892, English author and scholar J.R.R. Tolkien, who was perhaps best known for his richly inventive epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings, was born in South Africa.

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Seed for Security is running a 20%-off sale on their Colossal Security Pack and their Super Survival Security pack.

Their Colossal Security Pack features approximately 76,895 heirloom vegetable, herb, and grain seeds. Their Super Survival Pack contains approximately 5,500 heirloom vegetable and grain seeds.

All of their seeds are open-pollinated and non-GMO. This sale is just for a limited time, so order yours, soon!

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Here is an interesting new listing in Montana, at SurvivalRealty: Amish Built Farmstead — $1,395,000 — 32423 Allison Road, St Ignatius, Montana, USA.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 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. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. 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 Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $305 value),
  2. 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.
  3. 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)
  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 110 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.

Overcoming Starvation — Food for Thought, by M.M.

Introductory Disclaimer: What follows are my personal experiences and observations.  This information is for educational purposes only.  Although I am a physician, I am not your physician.  I am not providing you medical advice.  I am not a dietitian or nutritionist.  Before you consider taking any course of action similar to mine, consult with your physician.

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Recently I completed a fast lasting 11 days, during which time I consumed zero calories.  I drank water and black coffee but took in no nourishment.  Notably, I never experienced hunger or a significant decline in function.  I lost approximately 25 pounds during the fast, but continued to work and do some wood splitting and manual labor during the period.  In truth, it was easy and I could have certainly extended the fast duration had I wished.

Why convey this information?  In a survival situation where food is scarce or absent, it may be helpful to be able to have the capability to function normally during an extended fast.

How is this possible?  How does a predator go for extended periods between successful hunts?  I would suggest the term “Metabolic Conditioning”.  Would you consider running a marathon if you never went for a run?  Of course not.  Similarly, you can prepare your body to adjust to a lack of food for prolonged periods with minimal disruption to your level of function.Continue reading“Overcoming Starvation — Food for Thought, by M.M.”

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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The Trifectacation of American Politics.  JWR’s Comments:  The process of “The Great Sort” is continuing, as Americans vote with their feet.  This political migration is making “Red” states darker red and “Blue” states darker blue. The illustration at the top of this column shows the 2016 presidential election tally.  More and more people are Pushing The Red Button, to improve their lives.

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An interesting new Sharp Pointy Things video from SurvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson:  Switchblades.

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Video: How Long Would Society Last During a Total Grid Collapse?  And here is his follow-up video: Black Starts.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — January 2, 2024

On January 2nd, 1492, Granada, home of the Alhambra palace and the seat and final stronghold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain, was surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, ending the Reconquest.

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On January 2, 1999, a major snowstorm struck the Midwest, leaving 14 inches of snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 19 inches in Chicago, Illinois, where temperatures plunged to -13 °F (-25 °C); 68 deaths were reported.

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January 2nd, 1776 is the anniversary of the first revolutionary flag to be displayed.

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Also on this date in 1936, the first night vision electron tube was revealed in St. Louis, Missouri.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. But first, an  important reminder:

2024 Annual Appeal: The Ten Cent Challenge

I hope that you get at least 10 cents worth of knowledge, entertainment, and motivation each day from SurvivalBlog. It has been posted with fresh content daily, since 2005. In all these years I’ve only missed posting on a few days — most notably in the week after my first wife passed away.

I do my best to mention the Ten Cent Challenge editorially only once each year — and this post is it, for 2024.

Unlike PBS, we don’t run agonizingly endless pledge drives. But we do depend on voluntary subscriptions to pay the blog’s bills. These expenses include: paying our staff writers, the local ISP monthly bill, our web hosting server, domain registrations, news service subscriptions, payments for stock photos, phone bills, liability insurance, legal expenses (we were threatened with lawsuits three times by stock photography scam lawyers in 2023), maintaining our remote backup server, post office box rental, and providing a small portion of the writing contest prizes. With inflation, nearly all of our costs are escalating. But we still ask for only 10 cents per day. That is just $36.50, per year.

The PayPal Exodus

Back in September and October of 2022, there was an understandable mass exodus from PayPal. That cost us, because of subscription cancellations. About 30% of our subscriptions vanished, soon after PayPal’s censorious intentions were revealed publicly. I do not blame anyone for quitting PayPal. Our readers were fully justified in doing so. But losing those subscriptions hurt our cash flow quite badly. And, as I’m sure you recall, three years ago, we quit the Amazon.com Associates program. Previously, the Amazon commissions had covered most of our expenses.

I greatly appreciate the 2.5% of readers who do choose to subscribe. Subscriptions are entirely voluntary. If you’ve never subscribed before, then please become a subscriber. And if you are one of the many folks that quit PayPal and thus had your SurvivalBlog subscription lapse, then please “re-up”, through the following methods:

  • Sending us a check, money order, cash, “forever” postage stamps, or silver, by mail.
  • Via GabPay. That is now our preferred payment method.  My GabPay “@” address is: JamesWesleyRawles

If paying for your subscription via mail, then please use this address:

SurvivalBlog
P.O. Box 303
Moyie Springs, Idaho 83845

And if you still have a PayPal account, our PayPal address is unchanged. It is: james@rawles.to

A New Contingency PlaN: SurvivalBlog Old School (S.O.S.)

I don’t need to remind you that we are living in perilous times. The Biden regime has gone to war against conservatives, libertarians, Christians, and homeschoolers. They have weaponized the FBI, DOJ, and ATF to harass and prosecute us.

As I mentioned in early December of 2023, we are developing the infrastructure to produce an “Old School” hardcopy mailed newsletter, starting in 2024. We plan to be ready to revert to distributing a paper newsletter that is sent out by traditional mail, for if and when SurvivalBlog is expunged from the Internet’s World Wide Web. (“Taken down.”) I’ve dubbed this contingency project: SurvivalBlog – Old School (S.O.S.)

For security, the only copies of the mailing list (with subscriber USPS addresses) will be kept on a pair of tiny Micro-SD cards, and both of those will be very well hidden.  We will also keep our burn barrel and plenty of diesel fuel handy, for the event that we ever need to do a “full burn” — including not only those Micro-SD cards, but also our hard drives.

We should have everything we need for the newsletter project on hand by the end of February. The S.O.S. Newsletter subscribers will most likely receive just ONE newsletter in March of each year, as confirmation that they are on the contingency mailing list. The snail mail envelopes that you receive will have your address on an adhesive label, with an identical label in the upper-left corner. If we get booted off of the Internet and must go “Old School”, then you will be mailed hardcopy S.O.S. Newsletter issues more often – probably 3 to 6 issues per year, as circumstances dictate.

If you want to be on the S.O.S. Newsletter contingency mailing list, then please add $50 to your annual subscription payment. If you send $86.50 or more and you make any mention of “Newsletter” “303” “SOS”, or “505” inside your payment envelope or on your check, then I will add your address to our Micro USB stick for the S.O.S. Newsletter mailing list. Thanks!

Other Ways To Help

You can also support the blog indirectly, by patronizing our loyal banner advertisers and our affiliate advertisers. By the way, if you operate a business that sells goods or services that would appeal to SurvivalBlog readers, then please consider becoming a SurvivalBlog advertiser, or donating prizes for our ongoing writing contest.

Note: If you are on a tight budget, then please support our publication only with prayer.

A Request for Bequests

And I have one other request: Please remember SurvivalBlog in your will. The next time that you update your will, please consider designating a modest dollar figure or a small percentage of your estate for your will’s executor to send to SurvivalBlog. I’m confident that those small bequests will keep the blog going, multi-generationally. You won’t live forever, and I won’t live forever. But I’m confident that one of my sons or a trusted friend will step up and continue to post SurvivalBlog uninterruptedly, with the same style, substance, and unswerving editorial focus.

May God grant that SurvivalBlog continues to be a beacon of truth!

With Many Thanks, and Wishing You God’s Blessings,

– Jim Rawles

SAR Lessons for Preppers, by H.F.K.

In this article, I will relate some key lessons for preppers that I have learned as a Search And Rescue (SAR) worker and volunteer.  I tell people that we live in a wonderful and fun place, as long as you never forget that the wilderness is always trying to kill you. They think I’m being funny. But s a member of both a county sheriff’s SAR Team and a Mountain Rescue Association-affiliated team, I can tell you that I am being completely serious.

Any prepper should approach life very similarly to how they would approach a backcountry hiking trip. The wild country doesn’t care about why you’re there, and it will kill a prepper as easily as it kills a newbie  recreator. Brendan Leonard wrote a great poem in 2021 called “The Avalanche Doesn’t Care”, which describes the complete indifference of the wintertime backcountry threat, but in terms of the indifference of nature, the poem’s lessons are applicable year-round.Continue reading“SAR Lessons for Preppers, by H.F.K.”

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, we focus on the North Idaho Republicans group. (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

The Idaho GOP’s recent changes, as reported by the liberal Idaho Statesman newspaper: Former GOP heads say party needs ‘course correction’ after divisive changes. JWR’s Comments: The truth is that a few disgruntled RINOs are tasting sour grapes, after being pushed out by genuine conservatives. In North Idaho, some RINOs have tried to raise funds to weasel themselves a new branch of the Republican Party, calling themselves “North Idaho Republicans”.  But that group was quickly and definitively censured by the GOP.  Don’t be fooled by their rhetoric and their feel-good website. They want to push the Republican party politics in Idaho back toward centrist and “bipartisan” acccomodation/capitulation to the liberal agenda. Beware! The “North Idaho Republicans” group is in alignment with the Liz Cheney school of Republican party politics.

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The Government Is Attempting To Seize All Water Rights For All Bodies Of Water On American’s Property in Idaho.

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One real estate agent’s view, from North Idaho: Why You Won’t Be Able To Buy A House In 2024. (With some nationwide implications.) JWR’s Comment:  There will likely be some large swings in interest rates in the next few years. So avoid variable interest rate mortgages!

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Hundreds of bald eagles featured on Lake Coeur d’Alene’s eagle watching cruises.

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Get ready for the ultimate Scottish celebration in Idaho Falls.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” –  Thomas Jefferson

Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 1, 2024

On January 1, 2002  the monetary unit of the European Union, the Euro, was introduced with the issuance of both currency and coins, and by March 2002 it was the sole legal tender of participating member states.

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A last-minute news update (posted 6:30 PM Pacific Time, Sunday, December 31, 2023): MAJOR X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a major X5-class solar flare. It is the strongest flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far) and the most powerful eruption the sun has produced since the great storms of Sept. 2017. The underlying sunspot is a giant, and it is turning toward Earth with more flares in the offing. Follow this story @ Spaceweather.com. Perhaps it is time to throw most of your crucial electronics in Faraday cans?

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

Stihl MSE250C Corded Electric Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson

The Bottom Line, Up Front

The Stihl MSE250C corded electric chainsaw is a rugged workhorse of a saw that is well suited for professional or for farm and ranch-level work. Although the unit that I own has an 18 inch bar and chain, I agree with Stihl’s recommendation that this saw is best suited for a 16 inch bar and chain. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $629.99 it is relatively expensive for a corded electric chainsaw, but it has the high quality and extreme durability that is worthy of its high price. If you are as hard on corded electric chainsaws as I am, then this may be the saw for you.

The Backstory

My wife, “Kari” and I were cleaning out the garage at my in-laws house about 14 years ago. Kari’s parents had recently moved into assisted living. Now we were emptying and cleaning the house so that it could be put on the market.

As we sorted through a variety of trash and treasures, I ran across a no-name-brand corded electric chainsaw. I thought it might come in handy, so I put it into our car to take home.Continue reading“Stihl MSE250C Corded Electric Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Crock Pot Venison Roast

The following recipe for Crock Pot Venison Roast is from SurvivalBlog reader Ray J.

Ingredients
  • 3 pounds venison roast, de-boned
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
  • 1 (10.75-ounce) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
Directions
  1. Rise a deboned venison roast and place in a crock pot slow cooker.
  2. Cover with onion slices.
  3. Sprinkle with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce
  4. Add garlic salt and pepper, to suit your taste.
  5. Stir the onion soup mix and condensed soup together in a small bowl. Pour that mixture over the venison.
  6. Cover and cook on your crock pot’s “Low” setting, for six hours.

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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 some economics and investing predictions for 2024.

Precious Metals:

The Silver Surge: Anticipating Big Moves in 2024 and 2025.

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Gold Is Going To Reach New ALL Time Highs! Will Silver Follow?

Economy & Finance:

From the biased Biden boosters at Fitch: World Growth to Fall Sharply in 2024 but US Recession Avoided.

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From The Motley Fool: This Widely Followed Metric Is Flirting With Danger. Does It Mean a Stock Market Crash Is Imminent in 2024?  An excerpt:

“Q1 2023-current: The S&P 500 Shiller P/E sat above 32 at the closing bell on Dec. 20.

All five previous instances with a Shiller P/E ratio north of 30 have eventually (keyword!) resulted in the S&P 500 losing at least 20% of its value, which is traditionally the line-in-the-sand definition for a bear market.”

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J.P. Morgan: 2024 economic outlook: 10 considerations for the US economy.

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USN&WR: Will the Stock Market Crash in 2024? 7 Risk Factors.

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At Zero Hedge: IRS Rakes In Record $4.9 Trillion In Taxes From Americans Amid Enforcement Crackdown.

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Fortune: 2024 economy and stock market predictions: Expect subpar returns in a new ‘age of austerity’ says a top analyst at Research Affiliates.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 31, 2023

December 31, 1862, the U.S.S. Monitor sank, in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Just nine months earlier, the ship had been part of a revolution in naval warfare when the ironclad dueled to a standstill with the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) off Hampton Roads, Virginia, in one of the most famous naval battles in American history—the first time two ironclads faced each other in a naval engagement.

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I just heard that sci-fi novelist David Drake passed away. Drake was best known as the author of the 10-book Hammer’s Slammers series. He will be greatly missed.

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Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog’s Senior Editor, James Wesley, Rawles (JWR).

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We are seeking entries for Round 110 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 110 ends on January 31st, 2024, 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.