Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Now those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth, and let me remind you they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyranny.” – Barry Goldwater

Notes for Tuesday – December 06, 2016

On December 6th, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ending the institution of slavery. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution.

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Don’t forget, Ready Made Resources has a very limited supply of Knight Vision AN/PVS-30 Night Vision Weapon available. These have seen action in the Gulf but are “like new” or have been refurbished. Normally over $11,000, you can get them for under $5000. What a Christmas gift!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 68 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  3. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  4. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  5. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  6. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  7. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  8. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  9. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. 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), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 67 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.

Neophyte Survival Observations and Lessons from Hurricane Matthew- Part1, by S.G. in Florida

Our family of three lives in a suburban area of Florida that was greatly impacted by Hurricane Matthew. While our home survived without damage, we were left without power for approximately a week and without city water for around three days. This article summarizes some observations and lessons, after reflecting on this experience.

Hurricane Matthew took a very unusual track in the Caribbean, threading the needle between the mountains of Cuba and Haiti to maintain its strength. After this move, Matthew took a very unusual jog to the West, threatening Florida with a severe Category 4 storm. Once Matthew made its track apparent, we purchased several cases of bottled water for drinking. The stores were way ahead of us and had pallet after pallet of bottled water ready for our dollars. As an additional measure, I filled two six-gallon water storage containers for emergency use or for car use if we needed to quickly evacuate. In hindsight, I should have also filled my pre-prepped 65-gallon bathtub water storage bag, but for some reason we did not do this.

Protecting a home from windstorm damage involves protecting exposed windows from debris impacts with boards. I had pre-prepared boards for this purpose that we nailed on the house to cover the windows. Rather than large plywood panels, I would suggest utilizing lighter weight boards that can be handled by one person. Boards that require two persons to install are a mistake. That extra person might not be available when needed, as they are preparing their own home. Boards, as opposed to large plywood cutouts, can also be easily stacked for storage or recycled for use in temporary repairs after the storm.

A few days before the hurricane struck, many gas stations sold out of gasoline. Thankfully, following the survival mentality, we had topped off all of our vehicle gas tanks. I could have also filled my extra gasoline containers, but for some reason I did not. As the storm grew closer, the escape routes quickly became jammed with traffic. Luckily, Matthew was a slow moving storm and the roadways were clear by the time it grazed the Florida coast. However, a fast moving storm could catch drivers exposed on the highways and stuck in traffic.

Before the storm, I printed out and put in my van several different escape plans, all avoiding major highways and traveling in different routes. Each plan laid in a different direction so that I could respond flexibly to any change in hurricane direction at the last minute. Also included with these plans were phone numbers for the friends on the other end who had agreed to take us in. I would also recommend an up-to-date paper road map book for quick in car rerouting. Luckily, we did not have to utilize these plans, but it was good to have them in hand in case of quick evacuation. In the event of another hurricane, I will be sure to top off the extra storage tanks so that we can drive all the way to our evacuation destination without needing to stop for gasoline.

During the storm we hunkered down and reviewed procedures if the roof should become damaged. We discussed the safest interior parts of the house. The hurricane was headed right for us, and we needed to rehearse our responses should catastrophic damage occur to our home. About six hours before the storm passed us, the power failed. At that point we were committed to our plan of remaining in our house. The hurricane could have very easily made a direct and catastrophic impact on our area, and we would have had to ride it out right where we were.

Our family does not generally participate in or support the big electronic media, and we do not have cable or most other electronic entertainments. Living a simple life allows for better judgment during crisis situations. We observed others, though, who suffered from electronic withdrawal when the power failed. I am of the firm belief that you do not need this added stress when a crisis hits. The media can be a source of sensationalist panic, and one should take care not to become obsessed with the continuous media coverage. For example, at one point just before the storm passed, a news anchor warned that our children would die if we stayed. When telephones, television, and the Internet were cut, radio was the only source of up-to-date information. This information was spotty and dependent on the whims and skills of the radio host. Remember that you do not need to be camped 24 hours a day next to your radio. Turn it off once you get the information you need and live your life. Do not let the little electronic boxes turn into continuous stress machines. Regardless, radio reports became our window into the larger world.

We had several media-focused teen family members evacuate to our house due to their media-stoked fear. Secretly, we were happy to have these family members stay with us, which happens all too rarely. The kids quickly learned the pleasures of playing cards. The adults also found that playing cards are a fine way to get your mind off of hardship, and every prepper should invest in a few quality decks.

After the storm had passed, we walked outside to assess the damage to the neighborhood. Fallen trees blocked literally every road. Many neighbors had their portable generators going within hours of the hurricane’s passage. After visiting Lowes and Home Depot, we learned that many neighbors bought their portable generators to be returned after the storm. Mostly, the generators were used to power refrigerators. Remembering that gasoline was not generally available, the long-term use of the portable generator is questionable. Without fuel, they are useless. I would suggest a multi-fuel unit and a realistic assessment of fuel consumption over time. It is also worth commenting that generators are noisy. In the event of a long-term problem, those with working generators when others are out of fuel will be a transmitting beacon broadcasting to the neighborhood who has fuel and who does not.

Our plans for food were superbly taken care of by my wife. Having a partner who is aware of the need to prepare and is on board with you in taking care of the family is a tremendous asset. She had stocked up on canned goods, which she always seemed to have a new recipe for. At first, we cooked meat that was subject to spoilage. Outdoor grilling was abundant in the neighborhood. We had two full propane cylinders and a gas grill that came in very handy for boiling water and cooking. Looking back, we should have stocked more propane cylinders. A safely designed fire pit for cooking, with appropriate gear to cook, would be a huge asset in the long term. Thankfully, we did not get to that point. We did eat some canned foods, which were surprisingly good.

Coffee is an important morale booster when the power is out. Make sure to stock plenty of coffee in your preps, as there is really nothing like it. While we were able to improvise a boil water container on my propane grill, this was not very efficient. One idea, which I had never tried, was to hook up the coffee maker to my van’s on-board power outlet to brew some coffee. A self-contained coffee maker and a supply of coffee cannot be overstated as a luxury item during a power outage.

Your vehicle is a tremendous expense on the average family budget, but it can also be an important asset in the event of long-term survival. Our family’s mini-van has several survival advantages built in. Obviously, the van can be used to escape a disaster, with drivers switching off while one sleeps in the back. The extra space can also be used to carry water, food, tools, and fuel for a long trek. A van can even serve as a emergency shelter. The on-board power outlets can be used as emergency chargers. You should factor in how you could leverage your everyday vehicle into a survival aid by considering survival uses into your car choices. Buy vehicles such as vans, four wheel drive Subarus, off road capable trucks and Jeeps, while eschewing less useful vehicles. When buying a new vehicle, think of how the addition of a few options (such as flex fuel capacity or a tow hitch) could improve its utility during emergency.

Evacuation can be rendered difficult by fallen trees. The chainsaw was the most immediate tool required for clearing out paths of escape. When trees fall throughout the city, everything is blocked and your world shrinks to a very small area. A chainsaw can also be utilized to produce firewood from fallen trees. Interestingly, while there were chainsaws available at Lowes, chainsaw lubricant was sold out and unavailable. Make sure you have this item next to your saw. After the hurricane, there was lots of firewood laying around. A chainsaw turns this problem into a solution by supplying firewood for our outdoor fire pit. Be very aware, though, that an out of control fire is an extreme danger, especially when fire departments cannot reach you.

Letter Re: Dakota Access Pipeline Update

HJL,

We went to Bismarck this weekend and had chance to get a bit more information. In talking to one of the “protesters”, he is paid $1500 per week with legal and medical costs covered. In addition, he receives a bonus each time he is arrested. Their encampment receives supplies and propane for free with multiple deliveries each week. He looks on it as a job, and this is not his first protest.

In other news, we are expecting a killer cold front this week and the state of North Dakota has plans in place to shelter and feed the “protesters” at state expense. Law enforcement has bent over backwards to treat them with respect while being spit on, shot at, bombarded with nuts/bolts from slingshots and had molotov cocktails thrown at them. Vehicles and machinery have been set on fire or destroyed, livestock killed, grass fires set, and IEDs planted, but we aren’t going to let them freeze to death. They have cost the ND taxpayers millions, but we are expected to pony up more.

It should also be noted that when the blizzard hit last week (18″ of snow), the Standing Rock Tribe’s casino refused to rent rooms to “protesters”, closed all public rest rooms in the casino, and disabled all electrical outlets in public areas. Evidently they didn’t want this rabble, even though they are “supporting” the tribe. – R.B.

Notes for Monday – December 05, 2016

On December 5th, 1964, the first Medal of Honor awarded to a serviceman for action in Vietnam was presented to Capt. Roger Donlon of Saugerties, New York. Captain Donlon and his Special Forces team were manning Camp Nam Dong, a mountain outpost near the borders of Laos and North Vietnam. Just before two o’clock in the morning on July 6, 1964, hordes of Viet Cong attacked the camp. He was shot in the stomach, but Donlon stuffed a handkerchief into the wound, cinched up his belt, and kept fighting. He was wounded three more times, but he continued fighting–manning a mortar, throwing grenades at the enemy, and refusing medical attention.

Firefield Nightfall-2 Night Vision Scope, by Pat Cascio

We all know, or at should know, that there are certain pieces of kit that we should have if we are truly preparing for a SHTF scenario of any type. We always discuss firearms, and that is first on most lists. We then have to add food and water, as well as shelter of some type, because we never know what the emergency might be that brings us to a scenario where we might have to bug out or are left to our own devices to survive as best we can. To many of us, this is an excuse to purchase more guns and ammo, and if that is your number one goal you aren’t really a Prepper, in my humble opinion. There is a lot more involved in surviving whatever may come our way than just owning a lot of firearms. As stated, food and water are a must. Without both of these preps, you will die in short order with your pile of guns and ammo at your side.

As a former Paramedic in another life, I hold first-aid and medical supplies high on my list of things to have on hand. Truth be told, we probably have more medical supplies than some small hospital ERs. This is for several reasons; number one, of course, is the health of my family. Number two is that I can barter my medical training and supplies in a SHTF scenario.

One thing that many Preppers simply don’t think of is night vision. Odds are good that in a really bad situation we may not have power, and this is especially true in the country as well as in the city. Without electricity, the street lights don’t work, and you can’t see danger coming your way. I live out in the boonies, and we don’t have street lighting of any kind. When the sun goes down, it gets very dark at my small homestead, if there isn’t a full moon out. Sure, flashlights help; however, you might want to see, without being seen, and a flashlight will give away your location. So, to my way of thinking, some kind of night vision scope is in order. I own several different types of night vision scope. Remember, one is none and two is one. If one breaks, you have none; if you have two and one breaks, you still have one!

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I recently ran across the Firefield Nightfall 2, 5X50 night vision scope, and it is advertised as a Gen 1 scope. (I have more on this shortly.) I don’t like to give away costs on many products until the end of my articles; however, in this case, I paid about $150 for my Nightfall scope, but it can be found for about ten bucks less if you shop around. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve had occasion to test and play with a lot of Gen 1 night vision scopes, and to be sure some were about as useless as not having one. They didn’t really allow you to see very far, and it was hard to make out anything. This was especially true with the flood of Russian military surplus night vision scopes back in the early 1990s that flooded the USA.

Over the years, I’ve played with Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, and Gen 3+ night vision scopes, and the higher the Generation, the better you can see things. They get much sharper and clearer in the viewer. Some Gen 3+ night vision scopes cost more than five grand. Are they worth it? It depends on your checking account, I guess. I will say that there is usually a big difference when you look through the different Generation night vision scopes, and you readily get spoiled when you look through a Gen 1 and then a Gen 3 scope. After that, you don’t want a Gen 1 scope, but what can you afford?

The Firefield Nightfall 2 is a Gen 1 night vision scope, and it is a monocular, as are many night vision scopes. You have one lens to look through, unlike binoculars, where you have two lenses to look through. This helps keep costs down, as well as allow you to keep one eye accustomed to the darkness, when you turn off your scope. Firefield advertises that this scope has “high quality image and resolution…” hype you might say… I say, “Not so fast!” The power is 5X magnification. Some scopes have 1X; many have 2X magnification. It depends on how far you need to see, as to how much magnification you might need. I live out in the country, so I want to see as far as I can at night. The objective lens– the front lens in 50mm– allows a lot of light in as well as gives you a more distant field of view for longer distances.

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The Nightfall 2 has a minimum focus distance of a mere 1-meter. That’s nice, real nice! Diopter adjustment is +-5, which is good enough for my corrected vision. This scope also has an IR light that is invisible to the naked eye but when switched on is like a flashlight, lighting things up in total darkness. Night vision scopes depend on light from the stars and the moon to allow you to see. The more stars you can see and the brighter the moon, the more the scope magnifies the light, allowing you to see. However, an IR illuminator is sure nice to have. All electronics have operation temperatures that give the best performance. This Nightfall 2 says it will operate from minus 10 Celsius to plus 40 Celsius, so you have a good range of temps to work in.

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Here’s one of the things I really appreciate about this scope; it operates on a mere two AA batteries rather than the CR123 batteries that are very expensive. I know, I have a couple scopes that use CR123 batteries. Firefield says that the scope will operate for 72 hours without using the IR light and 20-hours with it. Some of my other scopes operate for 20 hours, period. With them, it doesn’t matter if the IR is turned on or not. So, this is an added attraction to the Firefield Nightfall 2 scope. The only “bad” thing is that batteries are not included. However, this isn’t a deal breaker at all. You can buy a 24-pack of AA batteries for about $12, if you shop around. Plus, I keep on hand a lot of AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. It’s the way to go. I also keep some one-hour battery chargers and a generator, so I can recharge those batteries.

The Nightfall 2 only weighs 15.2 oz empty, and only a couple more ounces with two batteries inside of it. The scope is eight inches long and four inches wide, so it is pretty compact. It also comes in a padded carrying case. You should keep your scope in this carrying case to help prevent it from getting banged up and abused. There is a one year warrant on the scope, too. There is a lanyard on the scope, and you really should wrap it on your wrist when using the scope so you can’t accidentally drop it. The front lens has a cover on it with a pin-hole so you can test the scope in the daylight hours; just don’t ever point it at the sun, even with the lens cap on, or you can burn out the intensifier tube inside the scope rendering it useless. The scope operates easily with one hand. There are only a couple of buttons you need to press– the on/off button and the IR button to turn it on and off. One thing you will notice with most Gen 1 night vision scopes is that when you turn them off, there is still a green glow in the view finder; it takes a few minutes for it to fully shut-down when you turn it off.

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Alright, remember Firefield says that this scope has “high quality image and resolution…”. Well, it does! I have tested Gen 2 night vision scopes that didn’t have this type of quality image and resolution. I kid you not! My other night vision scopes that I currently have are Gen 1, and they don’t come close to the resolution and image quality that this scope has! I am totally blown away with the quality of this Gen 1 scope. Living in the country, I have ample opportunity to watch wildlife after the sun goes down. We have deer that feed in our front yard all of the time– day and night. I can go on my front deck and talk to my deer. They know my voice and don’t run. They get very close to me because they know they are safe in my front yard. After dark, they oftentimes bed down in the front yard, where you can’t see them without night vision. It’s fun to watch them, when they think they can’t be seen.

With the 5X lens, you have to adjust the scope for varying distances, and it only takes a second to turn the lens so you can clearly see things close up or farther away. The IR illuminator is good out to about 100 yards, and that’s a fair distance if you ask me. Most of the time, there is ambient light in the sky, and I don’t have to use the IR. However, if I want to really brighten things up, I turn it on, and the wildlife can’t see it.

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I am more than a little impressed with the Firefield Nightfall 2 Gen 1 night vision scope. It is one of the best bargains out there, and to my eyes it is equal to many Gen 2 or Gen 2+ scopes at a fraction of the cost. If you believe you have everything you need in your bug out bag, or your preps, think again. Give some serious thought to adding the Firefield night vision scope to your supplies, along with a good supply of AA batteries. I promise, it will come in handy when the sun goes down.

Note: The pics through the night vision scope don’t do justice to the clarity. (It is difficult shooting through the camera lens into the night scope’s lens.)

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Bird Seed Bars (“Power Trail Bars”) by C.J.

Bird Seed Bars (“Power Trail Bars”), by C.J.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup *pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 cup *sunflower seeds
  • 8 Tbsp butter
  • 6 Tbsp honey
  • 1/2 cup raw sugar (or just brown sugar)
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup dried fruit, such as apricots, cranberries, or raisins

Directions:

  1. Mix oats with seeds, spread out on tray and bake 15 minutes at 180 degrees.
  2. To make the “glue” that holds these together, melt and simmer butter, honey, sugar, and peanut butter together for 5 minutes.
  3. In large mixing bowl combine your wet into dry ingredients; mix well, then stir in dried fruit.
  4. Spread out quickly onto a sheet pan, use your hands to press into your desired thickness as it will begin to cool and harden fast.
  5. Cut into long bars or your choice of shape and size. (You may choose to refrigerate them to set up first before cutting up.)

These will store in an airtight container for several weeks.

Variations:

For a nut free bar: In place of peanut butter use sweetened condensed milk. Substitute some chia seeds for an equal amount of sesame seeds

Experiment! I’ve made this recipe with dried pineapple and shredded coconut, chocolate bits, a variety of nuts, and another favorite is with bits of dehydrated apples and cinnamon.

* If you are using home grown seeds, they need to already be prepared.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: SARs and CTRs

Hugh,

Regarding L.O.’s letter and “don’t act suspicious and you won’t be suspected”, SARs and CTRs are required by federal law. CTRs for any cash transaction for $10,000 or more are required. This is also true of a cash transaction at a jeweler, car dealer, et cetera. Also, in high crime areas (drug areas), the bank may be required to report any cash transaction over any amount set by a federal agency. For a time, in Eastern KY, all transactions over $3000 required a CTR. These are done without the customer’s knowledge or permission, usually after the transaction is completed, though with today’s automation, the CTR may be generated automatically without teller input. SARs are required for ANY “gut feeling” of improper financial activity; the report is then reviewed by an internal bank officer, who reviews the customer’s activity, and then the report is sent to a federal agency. Again this is done without customer’s knowledge or permission. The PATRIOT Act, while riddled with problems, was and is very effective to the banking industry in the pursuit of money laundering. – T.B.

Economics and Investing:

The Wider Ramifications Of The OPEC Deal – The OPEC deal has had an immediate impact on markets, sending oil prices soaring, but the long-term ramifications of the deal are less clear.

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This has an all-too-familiar ring: Venezuela to issue larger bill as currency continues to melt

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Great Timing Award: Wolfgang Schäuble Says “Greece Must Reform or Leave Eurozone”

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Swiss Economy Unexpectedly Stalls on Weak Domestic Demand

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

From the desk of Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at large: Antique cannon repurposed in Syria

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Houston homeowner brutally beaten by fake UPS driver & 3 other youths with pistols – T.P.

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Earthquakes sequence animation for the last 15 years – J.H.

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Yes, this is a real police recruitment ad…At a minimum, it is inappropriate and in bad taste: Inside FWPD – T.P. (It’s on Facebook, but you do not need a facebook account to see it.)

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This forgotten WWI antiseptic could be the key to fighting antibiotic resistance – G.G.