Preparedness Notes for Friday — April 26, 2024

On April 26, 1785, John James Audubon, an American ornithologist who became well known for his drawings and paintings of North American birds, was born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue, West Indies (now Haiti). — On April 26, 1986, one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents occurred at the Chernobyl plant in the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor sent radioactivity into the atmosphere; at least 31 Soviets died immediately. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


Weapons of Mass Deception – Part 4, by R.G.

(Continued from Part 3.  This concludes the article.) King David and the Threshing Floor– “But the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying You have shed much blood and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to My name…” (1Ch 22:8) King David ordered a census to be taken against God’s desires. So, Jehovah sent a plague upon Israel for three days that killed many Israelis. The plague was halted by God at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. To honor Jehovah for stopping the plague, David bought the threshing floor and built an altar there. …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at rising mortgage interest rates. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Just as I predicted, there has been some profit-taking in the gold and silver markets.  As of Thursday afternoon, spot gold was around $2,345 and silver was around $27.65 per Troy ounce.  But the markets won’t be fooled. I expect strong …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 25, 2024

On April 125, 1959, in one of the largest civil engineering feats ever undertaken, the St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes. — Today is the birthday of physicist, inventor, and entrepreneur Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937). He was known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission as well as for the development of Marconi’s Law and a radio telegraph system. He is often considered the inventor of radio. — Going, going… We are now down to just 15 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks. I’ve reduced the price on those remaining sticks …


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, a Ukranian source document on anti-drone tactics. PDF: Ukranian Military Anti-Drone Tactics Our Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us this public domain document, to house on the SurvivalBlog …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 24, 2024

On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into Earth orbit. Unhindered by the impurities and distortions of Earth’s atmosphere, the 2.4 meter (7.9 feet) aperture telescope has delivered some of the most spectacular images of the far reaches of the Universe. April 24th is the birthday of Carolyn Cole (born 1961), a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times. This is also the day that the Armenian Genocide began, in 1915. Ottoman (Turk) Muslims slaughtered 1.5 million of their Christian neighbors, intellectuals, and community leaders. The Ottoman government proceeded with multiple phases to round up …


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. — A Special Request From JWR: I’d like to ask a favor: I’m hoping that there is a SurvivalBlog reader who has a spare full carton of 25 (or perhaps two cartons) of the LONG USPS  “Game and Puzzle” Large Priority Mail boxes.  (See photo, above.) For my Elk Creek Company mailorder biz, …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 23, 2024

On April 23, 1936, singer-songwriter Roy Orbison, known for his soaring voice and for his carefully crafted ballads of loneliness and heartache, was born in Vernon, Texas. — The oldest US public institution, Boston Latin School, was founded on April 23, 1635. — “Shane”, directed by George Stevens and based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, starring Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur premiered on April 23, 1949. — There are several interesting new retreat property listings over at SurvivalRealty.com. These include: Your Own Private Idaho – Clark Fork. 221 Off-Grid Acres in Western North Carolina. Engineered Lakefront Homestead – …


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 on a wandering Grizzly. (See the Wyoming section.) Idaho Annual Sheep Crossing: Watch out, it’s a ‘Lambush’. o  o  o Tobacco companies pay Idaho in a multi-million-dollar settlement.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I mean, my friend, to let you know how deeply I am impressed with a sense of the Importance of Amendments; that the good People may clearly see the distinction, for there is a distinction, between the federal Powers vested in Congress, and the sovereign Authority belonging to the several States, which is the Palladium of the private, and personal rights of the Citizens. I freely protest to you that earnestly wish some Amendments may be judiciously and deliberately made without partial or local considerations—that there may be no uncomfortable Jarrings among the several Powers; that the whole People may …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 22, 2024

On April 22, 1889, the Oklahoma land rush began. Today is the birthday of actor Eddie Albert (born Edward Albert Heimberger April 22, 1906.) He died May 26, 2005, at age 99.) For his actions in the battle of Tarawa, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device. Today is the birthday of the late Charles Rankin Bond, Jr., who was born in Dallas on April 22, 1915. (Died, 2009.) He was one of the last of the AVG Flying Tiger pilots. — Going,  going… We are now down to just 30 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog Archive USB …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic depicts U.S. Railroads, By Ownership. (Map graphic courtesy of Reddit and U.S. Department of Transportation.) 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. Today’s graphic is   (Graphic courtesy of  SurvivalBlog reader _______) (Map 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 …