Year: 2025

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 15, 2025

July 15, 1410: The Battle of Grunwald (a.k.a. First Battle of Tannenburg and Battle of Žalgiris) was fought. It was one of Medieval Europe’s largest battles during Poland-Lithuanian Teutonic War. Polish King Władysław Jagiełło and Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas defeated Teutonic Ulrich von Junginge. — On July 15th, 1888, the Bandai Volcano erupted on the Japanese island of Honshu killing hundreds and burying many nearby villages in ash. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course …


How Do You Define an “Emergency Situation”?, by A.Y.

An emergency, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is: “…an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action, or an urgent need for assistance or relief.”  Throughout our lifetimes we may see many types of emergencies not just the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) types of emergencies such as nuclear war or economic collapse that we should be prepared for. I have found that in my life choosing the prepper lifestyle has aided me in many such emergencies.  Once, for instance, I found when I was laid off from work that my preparedness and stringently frugal …


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, news of a partial rock tower collapse in the Grand Tetons (See the Wyoming section.) Region-Wide From the left-leaning Newsweek: Idaho group calls federal intervention “necessary” to redraw state border. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog reader C.B. for the link.) o  o  o Inland Northwest faces above-normal …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 14, 2025

July 14 1962:  The borehole for the 7.2-mile long Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy was finished.  The tunnel was opened to traffic in July, 1965. Pictured is the French side of the tunnel. — July 14, 1850: The first public demonstration of ice made via refrigeration was made by Florida physician John Gorrie. — July 14, 1864: Gold was discovered in Helena, Montana. — A silver bull breakout! Spot silver jumped 3.67% in one day, to close at $38.67 per Troy ounce on Friday. (July 11, 2025.) It was up again this morning (after Asian trading) to $38.90 …


Stihl MS261C Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson

With a magnesium-alloy crankcase, captive bar-nuts, a decompression valve, and a host of other premium features, the Stihl MS261 is its various forms represents a well-designed and well-constructed professional chainsaw. But it is the light weight and the outstanding power-to-weight-ratio of the saw that secures its place as one of the most popular chainsaws in the world. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $709.99 at the time of this writing for the C-M version with a 16 inch bar, the saw represents a great value for high-volume wood cutting. If you only cut a few cord or less of firewood …


Recipe of the Week: Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken

The following recipe for Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken is from SurvivalBlog reader V.F.. Ingredients 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast halves (weighing about 6 ounces each) 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or less, to suit your taste) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2/3 cup of applesauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2/3 cup barbecue sauce 1 teaspoon chili powder (or less, to suit your taste) Directions Sprinkle the chicken breast pieces with pepper. In a large oiled skillet, brown chicken on both sides. In a small bowl, combine and thoroughly mix the other ingredients. Pour the mixture over the top and sides of …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Economic Activity in the US. This map shows the nation’s gross economic activity, split in half. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) JWR’s Comments: This map is an oversimplification. The locations of major corporate headquarters skew the map. Here are just two examples: There are McDonald’s franchises all over the country generating revenue, but the McDonald’s headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It markets packaged farm products (predominantly grains) grown in rural areas of more than a dozen states. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphics or graphics links …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 13, 2025

On July  13, 1832, the source of Mississippi River was discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft. — On July 13th, 1772 Captain James Cook began his second voyage to the South Seas aboard HMS Resolution to search for Terra Australis (a Southern continent). — And on this day in 1787, Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance structuring settlement of the Northwest Territory and creating a policy for the addition of new states to the nation. The Northwest Ordinance established the first organized US territory, set requirements for statehood – guaranteeing equal status with the original 13 states, outlawed slavery in the …


My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move, by Single Farmer

I am still looking for a wife. I have been seriously thinking and praying about how to be able to get married and came to the conclusion that moving may possibly be the key. I have also expanded my search for my future wife. I am now looking both domestically and internationally/ If you are international reader or know a young woman overseas, then please read my thoughts on a possible international quest in the last of the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this article. The following is about my search for a spouse in the United States:


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: I Swear, There Never Was An Epstein Client List And If You Falsely Remember That There Was, Then That Is Just The Mandela Effect News Links: Epstein ‘client list’ doesn’t exist, Justice Department says, walking back theory Bondi had promoted. MTG says Americans are ‘not going to accept’ there is no Epstein client list. 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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 12, 2025

On July 12, 1679, Britain’s King Charles II ratified the Habeas Corpus Act, allowing prisoners’ right to a court review of the justification for their imprisonment. — July 12, 1865: George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist whose numerous discoveries helped to improve agriculture in the South, was born. He died on Jan. 5, 1943. — And on July 12, 1948, the first jets flew across the Atlantic. This was a flight of six RAF de Havilland Vampires. — Today’s short but important guest article was written by our friend Hubert Moolman, of South Africa. — We still need entries for …


Silver is Very Close to a Mania Phase, by Hubert Moolman

Silver is getting very close to a mania phase based on signals from the Dow/gold ratio previously presented. Furthermore, since it is normal for silver to lag gold’s performance, and given that gold has performed so well over the last couple of years, it is expected that we would likely see an even better performance by silver over the coming years. Here is a long-term silver chart compared to a long-term Dow/gold ratio chart:       (Click to expand) On the silver chart (the top chart), I’ve highlighted the significant Dow/gold ratio peaks with a blue line. In every …