Year: 2025

Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 2, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 1.) Some U.S. states and municipalities still practice anarcho-tyranny, with the state of California being a standout example. Homeless people and illegal aliens are largely ignored, while minor infractions by taxpaying residents are zealously enforced. Professor Victor Davis Hanson—affectionately known as “VDH”—is a classicist, author, and podcaster. VDH has written and spoken extensively about the situation in California. Comedian, filmmaker, and podcaster Adam Carolla has similarly spoken about the differential treatment between groups of people in California. He sees the reason that mountains of red tape are heaped onto taxpayers and homeowners is that they’re capable of …


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, we take a special look at trends in preparedness tactical training. A New York Times Reporter Heads to The Range Lily alerted me to this New York Times …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 16, 2025

On April 16, 73 AD, the Masada fortress fell to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the Jewish Revolt.  From the InfoGalactic Wiki: “The siege of Masada was one of the final events in the First Jewish–Roman War, occurring from 72 to 73 CE on and around a hilltop in present-day Israel. The siege is known to history via a single source, Flavius Josephus, a Jewish rebel leader captured by the Romans, in whose service he became a historian. According to Josephus the long siege by the troops of the Roman Empire led to the mass suicide of …


Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 1, by M.B.

Author’s Introductory Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. Although there are references to the legal system in this essay, no part of this essay should not be construed as legal advice. This essay is for informational purposes only. INTRODUCTION On April 11, 1986, near Miami, Florida, eight Federal Bureau of Investigation agents engaged in a four-minute gunfight against two suspected bank and armored car robbers. The shootout took place in front of a home in a residential neighborhood. When it was over, two FBI agents—Special Agent Ben Grogan and Special Agent Jerry Dove—were dead. Five agents were wounded—three seriously. Only …


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. — Glock May Be Discontinuing .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 GAP Pistols o  o  o Three Decades Wiped from Life Expectancy of Covid-Vaxxed. o  o  o Randy in S.C. mentioned this article: We moved to a farm in rural Maine because we thought homesteading would save us money. It didn’t.  Randy’s Comment:  “This …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 15, 2025

The Battle of Rain was fought on April 15, 1632. Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus defeated Count Tilly of the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years’ War. — Today is guitarist Roy Clark‘s birthday. He was born April 15, 1933. — On April 15th, 1912, the “unsinkable” Titanic sank. 1,517 people lost their lives on that maiden voyage. As research into the incident has progressed over the last 100 years, it seems as if, one way or another, the ship was just going to sink. Impact with an iceberg, raging coal fires in the fuel supply, wrong turns, locked-up binoculars, …


The Illegitimate 16th and 17th Amendments, by M.A.

The 16th and 17th amendments failed ratification for a number of reasons which include lack of ratification by several states, several states that changed the wording of the amendment and sent back an amendment that was different from that which congress sent forth, and one oddity: Ohio. Ohio was not admitted into the union until the 1950s since they never sent their formal acceptance of statehood until then; it seems somehow the paperwork was lost in the process and never sent to Congress. Therefore, it was not possible for Ohio to vote since it was actually still a territory at …


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 about Idaho’s Vaccine Freedom Law.  (See the Idaho section.) Idaho Idaho Governor Signs Bill Banning Businesses, Schools From Requiring Medical Procedures, Including Vaccines. An excerpt: “Republican Governor Brad Little has signed legislation, the Idaho Medical Freedom Act, that bans businesses and schools from requiring customers, …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 14, 2025

On April 14, 1471, in the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Barnet was fought.  In this battle, Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians and killed the Earl of Warwick. — April 14, 1775: The first abolitionist society in US was organized in Philadelphia. — On this day in 1865, just after the effective end of the American Civil War, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a production at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and died the next morning. Also on April 14, 1865, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and his family were …


Makers and Riders Pants, by Thomas Christianson

Two friends and I each recently had the opportunity to test several pair of Makers and Riders Pants. We each tested their “Traveler” softshell jeans and their 3 season “Dispatch Rider” jeans. We found the Traveler jeans to be extremely comfortable for everyday wear during cool weather. They cost $109 at the time of this writing at www.makersandriders.com . The Dispatch Rider jeans were outstanding for everyday and field wear during cold weather. They are water resistant and fleece lined. They cost $118 at the time of this writing. The owner of Makers and Riders got caught up in supply …


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Pioneer Skillet Cornbread is from SurvivalBlog reader J.A.. This is intended to be baked in an oven in a cast iron skillet, but you could substitute an uncovered cast iron Dutch Oven. Ingredients 1/2 cup flour 2 1/2 cups cornmeal 1/4 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 2 eggs (beaten) 2 1/4 cups milk 6 Tablespoons melted shortening (or bacon grease) for the batter 2 Tablespoons hot shortening (or bacon grease) in your skillet. Directions Set your oven to 450 F. Heat a cast iron skillet in the oven with the shortening or …