Month: August 2025

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 20, 2025

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 estimated at 120,000-300,000 strong, led by Xerxes I. — August 20, 1935 was the birthday of former Congressman Ron Paul. Dr. Paul is to be commended for fighting the good fight for many years. Happy 90th Birthday! — August 20th, 1866 was the day that President Andrew Johnson formally declared the end of the Civil War. …


The “Come as You Are” Collapse–Have the Right Tools and Skills

Introductory Note From JWR: This article is an update and small expansion to a succinct post that I made back in February, 2008. When the Second World War broke out in September, 1939, the United States had nearly two full years to ramp up military training and production before decisively confronting the Axis powers. In the mid-1970s, looking at the recent experience of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the Pentagon’s strategic planners came to the realization that the next major war that the US military would wage would not be like the Second World War. There would not be the luxury …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our 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. — Mark J. in Oregon wrote: “I run honey bees. I have 16 hives going. Russian bee genetics. I get the queens from Foley in Iowa.   They don’t get the mites… they fly in 45 degree weather — snow and rain…. They don’t have hive collapse. The first queen I got was pure …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 19, 2025

On August 19, 1561, Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Leith, Scotland to assume the throne after spending 13 years in France. — August 19th is the birthday of Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906-1971). Farnsworth was an American inventor who is best known for his image pickup device that formed the basis for the fully functional and complete all-electronic television system. Among his many other inventions was the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor, a small nuclear fusion device that remains a viable source of neutrons. At his death, he held over 300 patents, mostly in radio and television. — Today’s feature article is by …


A 2025 Assessment: The Emerging Artificial Intelligence Threat

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been alarmingly rapid since 2022. Before then, AI was considered little more than a plaything or a novelty.  But now it is transforming businesses, wiping out entire categories of office jobs, and threatening human liberty. The first practical release of the Claude AI code-writing tool just by itself has completely transformed the global software industry. I’m talking about a Buggy Whips level of industry transformation. As a personal illustration, I should mention that my youngest son is now in his third year at a university here in The American Redoubt, studying for a …


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, I’m offering an eclectic assortment of videos from inside the American Redoubt region. These describe and show geography, historical tidbits, amazing scenery, wildlife, and some genuine characters. Pictured above is Salmon, Idaho, circa 1940. Idaho A video of a visit to Salmon, Idaho by some …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 18, 2025

On August 18, 1564, Spanish King Philip II joined the Council of Trent. — August 18, 1769: A lightning strike on the Bastion of San Nazaro in Brescia, Italy, ignited 90 tons of gunpowder. The resulting explosion killed 3,000 people. — August 18th is also the birthday of Meriwether Lewis, an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator who is best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. — Today’s feature piece was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are seeking entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. …


Mossberg 590RM Pump Shotgun, by Thomas Christianson

Mossberg continues to innovate tactical shotgun design with their new 590RM Pump Shotgun. The “R” in the name refers to the ambidextrous rotary safety that gives the shotgun more AR-like ergonomics and handling features. The “M” refers to the 10-round detachable magazine that allows faster reloads. Other key features include a Magpul pistol grip with a storage compartment in the grip, a buttstock adjustable for LOP, a recoil pad, and a heat shield over the barrel. The model that I tested also features a Picatinny rail for mounting optics, adjustable Magpul MBUS3 two-piece pop-up sights, and a front M-Lok adapter …


Recipe of the Week: 

The following recipe for Raisin-Walnut Cookies is from SurvivalBlog reader R.E.. This recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies. Ingredients 1 cup water 2 cups raisins 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup vegetable shortening 2 cups white granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 large eggs 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon table salt 1.5 cups chopped walnuts Directions In a small saucepan, combine water and raisins, bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. While the raisin mixture is cooling, stir together flour, …


Graphic of the Week:

Today’s graphic:  A map showing that 95% of ocean plastic originates from 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.     — Please send your graphics or graphics links 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:

“I prefer to analogize the global currency milieu as a Leper Colony. The fiat currencies are all lepers. They are all dying slow, painful deaths. Some of them are just dying more slowly than others. The Swiss Franc and the U.S. Dollar are two of the healthier lepers, with a few more fingers and toes than their neighbors. But inevitably they will also die.” – James Wesley, Rawles


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 17, 2025

On this day in 1870, Hazard Stevens and P. B. Van Trump made the first ascent of Mount Rainier, Washington. — August 14, 1952: The word “fallout,” referring to radioactive particles carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion, was first used in The New York Times. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), A Peak Refuel “Wasatch …


Soft Cheeses Made Without Rennet, by M.J.E.

There are nearly endless kinds of cheeses. Among the variables that result in so much diversity are the mammal that the milk is from (most commonly cattle, sheep, goats, reindeer, yaks, and water buffaloes), what these animals were eating at the time they were milked, and how the milk is processed. Some people swear by raw milk rather than pasteurized, but raw milk may contain harmful organisms, and organisms that might adversely affect the cheese-making process. On the other hand, raw milk has a slightly different battery of enzymes that can affect the final cheese. Ultra-pasteurized milk, while shelf-stable, does …