Year: 2024

Unexpected Homelessness: An AAR, by A Grateful Mechanic

Editor’s Introductory Note: This article is an After-Action Report (AAR).  At more than 6,400 words, it was long enough to serialize into three parts. But because it is in narrative form, I thought it was best to present it all in one piece. — In late 2019 into early 2020 I experienced a several month unexpected period of homelessness. This was during the incipient stages of the COVID-19 pandemic situation where there was significant “fog of war.” The severity of the situation was unclear. This was an exceptional learning opportunity that yielded significant operating experience that I am sharing here. …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, another look at computer security and cyber warfare threats. Can Prepping Be Used Against You in Court? Reader Tim J. suggested this video from the Armed Attorneys: Can …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 24, 2024

On July 24th, 1704, English and Dutch troops occupied Gibraltar. — The late Jerry Ahern passed away on this day, July 24th, 2012. His survivalist novels created an entire genre. — On July 24th, 1567, Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate. Her 1-year-old son became King James VI of Scots. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 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 …


What is Old is New Again – Part 2, by 3AD Scout

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Keeping warm will be another area where we revert back to old ways. I see lots of prepper articles and YouTube videos about sawing wood for heat. Back in the bygone days, one of the daily chores of children was picking up “sticks”. Many of us may remember the old nursery rhythm with the line “five, six pick up sticks”. These sticks were used for cooking. Heat from the daily food preparation was just an added bonus in the colder months. We may want to lower our expectations of post-TEOTWAWKI comfort. Trying …


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. — SurvivalBlog reader C.B. sent this: Microsoft-CrowdStrike outage: How a single software update was able to cause IT chaos across the globe. Here is an excerpt: “The global IT outage on 19 July serves as a stark reminder of our vulnerability to technological failures. Triggered by a single faulty software update provided by …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 23, 2024

On July 23, 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, “the Young Pretender” or Bonnie Prince Charlie, landed at Eriskay Island, Hebrides beginning the final Jacobite Rebellion. — On July 23, 1777 Polish military leader Casimir Pulaski arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry. — Also on July 23, 1777: King Louis XVI of France and his Foreign Minister clandestinely agreed to supply the United States with munitions in its war of secession from England. — On July 23, 1944 Battle of Kursk (“Koersk”) ended. This massive tank battle in the USSR was a defeat for the Nazis, with …


What is Old is New Again – Part 1, by 3AD Scout

As consumers, we are bombarded with new and improved devices and other consumer goods constantly. Buying something to make our daily work and tasks easier has been ingrained in our psyche over the centuries. As I prepare for the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI), I don’t look for the “new and improved” devices that have electronics, require power (either AC or DC), are made of plastic or that are made in China. That does not mean that I don’t have a Ham (amateur) radio, flashlights, solar panels, and plastic items made in China. What I mean …


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 again on American Redoubt general aviation flying and drone videos. Idaho Flying Idaho Backcountry – Johnson Creek to Wilson Bar.  JWR’s Comments: You’ve got to love that 330-degree-pivoting wingtip camera bar!  Remote grass strips like this are best accessed with fat tire (“Tundra …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The inexorable growth of the national debt has become The Great Unspeakable Truth. This quandary is a l’empereur sans-cullotes situation. It took 200 years for the U.S. government to accumulate a one trillion dollar national debt. But now we have a $34.9 trillion debt and are adding another $1 trillion in new debt every 100 days.  Repaying that debt is nearly impossible without the destruction of the Dollar as a currency unit. To say that our legislators are spending like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors.  At least those sailors spend money that they’ve actually earned. The congresscritters …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 22, 2024

On July 22, 1893, the poet Katharine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to “America the Beautiful”.  Inspired by the scenery of Colorado, Bates wrote the words as a poem, originally titled “Pikes Peak“. It was first published in the Fourth of July 1895 edition of the church periodical, The Congregationalist. At that time, the poem was titled “America”.   The music was earlier composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two never met. The combination of Ward’s melody and Bates’s poem was first entitled “America the Beautiful” in 1910.  The …


Ruger American Rifle Generation II in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

The Ruger American Rifle Generation II in 6.5 Creemoor is highly accurate and light, with an easily gripped and highly adjustable stock. The 20 inch spiral fluted barrel is visually striking, the bolt cycles smoothly, and the 3 position tang safety is easy to operate and intuitive. At 6.5 pounds, the rifle would be easier to carry than most on a long day in the field. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $729 at the time of this writing, and widely available for less, the rifle offers an excellent value for the money. If you are looking for a good …


Recipe of the Week:  Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Wheat Germ Muffins

The following recipe for Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Wheat Germ Muffins is from SurvivalBlog reader J.M.W. Ingredients 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour (such as King Arthur) 1 ¼ cup wheat germ (such as Kretschmer’s) 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda (necessary!) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder MIX TOGETHER THOROUGHLY, THEN ADD: 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese 12 ounces lean raw bacon, cooked crisp, cut into ½ inch pieces OPTIONAL: 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated WET INGREDIENTS 2 eggs 1 ½ cups milk, or buttermilk, or yogurt 1 stick soft butter, not melted …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map showing the Frontier Counties of the United States. To qualify as “frontier”, a county must have six or fewer people, per square mile. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) 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.