Month: September 2024

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. — Navy warship commander relieved of duty after viral photo gaffe. JWR’s Comment:  The long delay in relieving him seems odd.  It would have been less embarrassing to our Senior Service if they’d done so, immediately. o  o  o 8-Year-Old Skillfully Drives Tractors and Helps With Farm Chores, Says He’s Going to Take …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 10, 2024

On September 10, 1910 the Great Idaho Fire (a.k.a. “The Big Burn”) began.  It destroyed more than 3 million acres of timber in Idaho and adjoining Montana. — We just heard that the legendary actor James Earl Jones passed away. Most people associate him with his role voicing Darth Vader or perhaps his great role in Field Of Dreams, but I’ll always remember him as Lt. Lothar Zogg, in Dr. Strangelove. That was his first feature film role. Our condolences to his family. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …


Thoughts on Camp of the Saints, by SaraSue

The following are my thoughts on the novel Camp of the Saints. It was written by Jean Raspail, and published in 1973: I recently read the English translation of Camp of the Saints. It was horrifying, but a good study in how people act and respond in terrifying situations. I wonder if this book is banned for being “racist” in a lot of places or in people’s minds. It addresses that concept. Its main theme, in my mind, is the hypocrisy of the church, of those who want to “save humanity”, of the do-gooders, etc., and then, how they react …


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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, we focus on crypto miners and other cryptocurrency and blockchain-based ventures in the American Redoubt. Idaho Idaho Republicans oppose central bank digital currency, advocate for Bitcoin.  Here is an excerpt: “The Republican Party of Idaho has vehemently opposed the creation of a Central Bank Digital …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 9, 2024

On September 9, 1839, English scientist and astronomer John Herschel (Sir John Frederick William Herschel) took the first glass plate photograph. — American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is one of the long-time prize sponsors of our writing contest. They’ve announced a new course on DVD (or online) that should be of great interest to SurvivalBlog readers: Survival Gunsmithing. This course has more than 10 hours of instruction. It will be priced at $397. But for just a limited time, it is being sold at 50% off. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog …


G9 Defense 9mm EHP Ammo, by Thomas Christianson

G9 Defense 9mm External Hollow Point (EHP) Personal Defense Ammo offers a powerful self-defense round in a standard pressure loading (1480 FPS), or in a more powerful +P loading (1520 FPS). The flutes on the outside of the solid copper bullet create cavitation in liquids and soft tissue, thus transferring energy laterally upon impact. They do not create cavitation in solids, thus allowing the bullet to effectively penetrate barriers like drywall, glass, or sheet metal with minimal deflection or projectile deformation. At the time of this writing a 20-round box of either load cost $36.99 from www.g9defense.com . That is …


Recipe of the Week: Patty’s Salad Dressing Bundt Cake

The following simple recipe for Salad Dressing Bundt Cake is from SurvivalBlog reader Patty in Vermont. Note that nearly any mayonnaise-based salad dressing can be used. Ingredients 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 6 tsp Cocoa Powder 1 cup White Sugar 1 cup Salad Dressing 1 cup Water 1 tsp Vanilla Extract Directions Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour batter into a greased Bundt pan. Bake at 375 F. for about one hour. Test with a toothpick, to be sure that the cake is sufficiently baked. SERVING Serve hot or cold. …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic shows Continental U.S Railroad Lines, by ownership. (The graphic courtesy of Reddit.  The “ownereship” typo included in the graphic is not ours!) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 8, 2024

September 8th, 1966, Star Trek made its television debut on NBC. — On September 8, 1565, the first permanent settlement in what would become the United States of America was formed. (St Augustine, Florida) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: 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. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any …


Hunting in Desperate Times – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.) In the ballistic charts that follow, the best zero for each type of ammunition is determined and we can see how much to our advantage it is to determine the actual trajectory of the ammunition and find the zero that makes the best use of it’s flat trajectory. I used the JBM ballistics calculator and the manufacturers data to find out what the true maximum point black range is when using a 24 inch barrel. The following data (and much more) can also be found at the highly-recommended  JBM Ballistic Calculator website. …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: How Can You Tell When You’ve Crossed The Little Oklahoma Gap Between KANSAS and ARKANSAS?  There’s A Lot More AR In ARKANSAS, Toto! Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.  


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to …