Year: 2024

Field Intelligence Collection – Part 2, by J.M.

(Continued from Part 1.) There are also a variety of different types of image collection devices that the lenses sit in front of to view and process the light coming through the lens: Mark I eyeball – Many types of lens devices like binoculars are designed to be held directly up to your eyes, typically to allow you to view things at a distance. Digital Single Lens Reflex (DLSR) cameras – These are large-body cameras that have interchangeable lenses and lots of advanced bells and whistles. Compact digital camera – Smaller digital cameras with built-in lenses. Cell phone camera – …


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. — We’ll start out today’s column with a great video blog by Pastor Doug Wilson: On Shooting Your Way Out — Blog & Mablog. o  o  o From the statist/alarmist L.A. Times: A new global mpox emergency: Where are the outbreaks and what is the WHO doing? o  o  o As the new …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 20, 2024

August 20, 1908: America’s Great White Fleet arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia, and was greeted with a tremendous series of welcome celebrations, lasting a week. Some romances ensued and 221 American sailors deserted to remain in Australia. — On or about August 20, 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae. In one of history’s most famous last stands, 7,000 warriors from an alliance of Greek states led by Leonidas I blocked the pass of Thermopylae for a week against an invading Persian army under Xerxes I that was an estimated at 120,000-300,000 strong. — August 20, 1935 was the birthday …


Field Intelligence Collection – Part 1, by J.M.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War In a post-disaster scenario, your survival and the survival of those you care about is going to depend heavily on several factors: Skills and experience – Knowing how to perform tasks that are critical to survival Mindset – The ability to face reality and take appropriate actions Resources – Having the right equipment, tools, and supplies Information – Knowing what’s going on around you and how it impacts you While the first three have been …


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, two updates on the Greater Idaho movement. (See Central & Eastern Oregon section.) Idaho Idaho Department of Lands reports over 389,000 acres burned this year. o  o  o Active-duty troops assist in fighting Boise and Payette forest fires. o  o  o Video: Best Motorcycle Roads …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“All around my hat I will wear the green willow And all around my hat for a twelve month and a day And if anyone should ask me the reason why I’m wearing it It’s all for my true love who’s far, far away It’s a quarter pound of reasons and a half a pound of sense A small sprig of time and as much of prudence You mix them all together and you will plainly see He’s a false deluding young man, let him go, farewell he and All around my hat I will wear the green willow And …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 19, 2024

On August 19, 1561, Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Leith, Scotland to assume the throne after spending 13 years in France. — On August 19, 2020: Apple became the first US company to be valued at $2 trillion, just two years after it reached $1 trillion valuation. — UPDATE:  SOLD OUT — We have sold out of a batch of 10 antique Swiss Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifles. We had them here at the ranch for just a week. An importer kindly hand-picked all antique (1898 or earlier) ones for me. There were only 10 antique ones out of about …


Log Home Repair, by Thomas Christianson

One of the major drawbacks of owning a log home is the amount of maintenance that such homes require. Logs decay if they are not properly maintained. To keep a log home from decaying, a log home owner must constantly inspect, stain, and repair the logs. My wife, “Kari”, and I have lived in a log home for the past 11 years. The home was built about 36 years ago. Kari and I have worked hard to maintain the home, but not all of the previous owners were as diligent as we are. At least one previous owner neglected to …


Recipe of the Week: R.J.’s Canned Meat Patties

The following recipe for Canned Meat Patties is from SurvivalBlog reader R.J.  It works well in combination with other storage foods. Ingredients Canned chicken, salmon, or almost any type of canned meat or seafood will suffice. Bread crumbs, or cornmeal, or ground-up crackers Eggs (fresh, or you can use reconstituted powdered eggs.) Directions Combine canned meat, bread crumbs, and eggs in a mixing bowl. Combine it all together thoroughly and start making individual patties of desired size. Pour a bit of cooking oil into a pan and turn heat on to medium-high, be sure to let the oil heat up …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic shows Stand Your Ground (aka “Castle Doctrine”) Laws and legal precedents in the United States. Note that this data ironically comes from The Giffords Center, a rabidly anti-gun legislative pressure group. This map shows how out-of-touch the gun grabbers are with the majority of Americans and our long-standing legal traditions. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit and Statista.) The thumbnail image 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.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Oh Napolean Bonaparte, You’re the cause of my woe Since my bonny light horseman to the wars he did go Broken hearted I wander, broken hearted I remain Since my bonny light horseman in the wars he was slain When Bonny commanded his armies to stand And proudly to his banners all gaily and grand He leveled his cannons right over the plain Andy my bonny lgith horseman in the wars he was slain And if I was a small bird and had wings and could fly I would fly over the salt sea where my true love does lie …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 18, 2024

On August 18, 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward issued the first “catalog” for his mail-order business, it was one sheet listing 163 available items. — August 18th is the birthday of Meriwether Lewis, an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator who was best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. — 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 …


Observations on an Attempted Assassination, by R.G.

What a world we live in when we are given evidence that we cannot believe our government institutions. This assassination attempt keeps getting crazier and crazier. This is proof before our eyes that we are currently living in a world of disinformation and subterfuge. In the days of Kennedy and Reagan, the alphabet agencies could get away with something like this. But with smartphones and social media of today, it becomes infinitely harder to attempt an assassination and then get away with it. I am a retired quality assurance manager who in my past life specialized in determining what went …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: These Are The People Who Characterize J.D. Vance as “Weird” News Link:  JD Vance Blames His ‘Weird’ Label On ’24-Year-Old Social Media Interns’. 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.