Year: 2023

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. — The latest video from Tom Grieve: New Pistol Brace Option! Final Words Before D-Day. o  o  o Video: Wagner Finds Antique Weapons In Ukraine’s Underground Weapons Cache.  JWR’s Comment:  Seeing those crates of mint condition lend-lease Thompson SMGs made my jaw drop. And seeing the two rusting Barrett .50 rifles made me …




An Arborist Training Position in Louisville, Kentucky

I just heard about a job opening for an essentially recession-proof job that might interest a SurvivalBlog reader.  I have been asked by the owner of the company to do the initial review of the resumes that come in: Arborist Training Position Job Description: Climber ISA Certified Arborist Position available as climber trainee in a growing (literally!) field in high demand.  Work one-on-one with owner of a small but successful tree company. We have a relaxed but safe work environment, with no drama.  We are servicing Louisville, Kentucky.  You will learn all aspects of tree care including planting, pruning (including …


Skynet May Soon Not Be Fiction: The Coming AI Singularity

Introductory Note:  This brief article that I wrote may take you several hours to read and digest, because it includes so many links to other articles and also a few videos. Put on a pot of coffee, and set aside some time to work your way through this. – JWR — You’ve probably read about ChatGPT, and the clever things that it writes. And you’ve most likely seen artworks created by artificial intelligence (AI). But AI isn’t all fun and games. The rapid advance of AI has some profound implications for the economy, our liberty, and even the very survival …


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 rising house and land costs.  (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide A television news segment: Booming housing prices in the Inland Northwest — Boomtown. o  o  o County secession: Local efforts to redraw political borders. o  o  o 10 States People Are Fleeing …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 29, 2023

Today, Memorial Day, is a day of solemn remembrance in the U.S. of the many who have given their all for our freedoms. We always thank those who are serving in our military and their families who have also made sacrifices, but today most of all we want to honor those who gave their lives. — Today’s feature article is a review authored by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Thomas Christianson.


Buck 110 Slim Hunter, by Tom Christianson

Back in the days of my youth, when a hunter headed out to the field, he usually carried a fixed-blade sheath knife on his belt. The one serious exception was the Buck 110 folder. Someone carrying a Buck 110 in a leather belt pouch was considered just as well equipped as someone who was carrying a fixed-blade knife. The classic Buck 110 is still available today. May it always be so. But there is also a variant of that classic design that has been updated for easier pocket carry. It has a thinner, synthetic handle and a pocket clip. It …


Recipe of the Week: Jen’s DIY Trail Snack Bars

The following cold-mix recipe for Do-It-Yourself Trail Snack Bars is from SurvivalBlog reader Jen B. She says:  “This recipe requires no heat. It sure beats paying for expensive Lara Bars or Clif Bars, and I have the comfort of knowing exactly what is in them. This recipe can be doubled.” Ingredients 1 cup pitted dates 1 cup quick-cooking oats 1¼ cups crisp rice cereal ¼ cup coarsely chopped peanuts 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon of salt (Use less or none if you are on a low-salt diet.) ½ cup creamy-style peanut butter ⅓ …


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. Most of these items are from JWR’s “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective. Today, some coverage of the turn in the real estate market. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Egon von Greyerz, over at Gold-Eagle.com: Gold’s Key Indicator. o  o  o Gold Stocks Still Undervalued. Economy & Finance: From CNBC: Mortgage demand drops again as rates cross back over 7%. o  o  o In the Market: Why …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, not to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing …



Gold, The Great Depression and the Ongoing Monetary System Bank Run, by Hubert Moolman

We are in the midst of a system bank run, which is in the greater sense really a bank run on the United States of America, the issuer of the reserve currency of the world. The nations that are providing her with credit are increasingly viewing her as a greater credit risk, and this is reflected in the increase in interest rates on her treasury bonds.