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. — Reader H.B. suggested a Facebook reel on how to make your own local topo maps. o  o  o At our friend Jack Lawson’s website: Do It Yourself! Building a 3500-Watt Portable Battery Bank Solar Power Unit. o  o  o Here is a free short story based rooted in an ancient legend, with …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 3, 2026

On February 3, 1863 Samuel Clemens first used the pen name Mark Twain in a Virginia City newspaper, the “Territorial Enterprise“. — And on February 3, 1931, New Zealand’s worst natural disaster, the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, which killed 256 and injurds thousands, devastating Napier and the Hawke’s Bay regio. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 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), American Gunsmithing Institute …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media 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.  Today, a photo of Stanley Lake and McGown Peak, Idaho, in the heart of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.  (A 2009 public domain photo by Frank Kovalchek.) American Redoubt News Links Idaho Speaker calls Utah’s proposed refinery tax ‘bull manure’, costing Idaho drivers more at the pump. Does BLM Pulling Montana Grazing Leases For Bison Reclassify Them As Wildlife? Past Convictions Catch Up to Cheyenne Man During Traffic Stop. …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 2, 2026

On February 2, 1892, the bottle cap for beverages was patented by US inventor William Painter and is still used today. — On this day in 1974: The F-16 Fighting Falcon flew for the first time. — Today’s feature piece is by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Chistianson. — We are now seeking entries for Round 123 of our nonfiction writing contest. Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we …


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipes for Jam Pie and a requisite Rich Pie Crust are from SurvivalBlog reader and fellow blogger Jennifer Rader. Jam Pie Ingredients 1 rich single-crust pie shell (see included recipe, below) 1 pint of jelly or jam 1 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Spread jam on the hot pie crust.  Let cool completely. In a small, chilled bowl, combine cream, sugar, and vanilla.  Whip until stiff peaks form.  Spread onto cooled jam. Refrigerate the pie for 3 hours before serving. Rich Pie Crust Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon baking powder …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: The United States total fertility rate (# of children per woman) in the year 2025, by state. (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 think that what we need to do is examine the entire Federal Reserve Institution and whether they have been successful…   ..You know, if this were the FAA and we were having this many mistakes, we would go back and look at, why has this happened? …So, you know, I think this idea of them not being able to break out of a certain mindset…   …all these PhDs over there, I don’t know what they do. I don’t know what they do. This is like Universal Basic Income for academic economists.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, from a July …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 1, 2026

On February 1st, we recognize the 1942 birthday of the late Dr. Gary North. North was a prolific writer on Christian Reconstruction and economics topics. He passed away on February 24, 2022. His more than 50 published books are a lasting legacy. He also assembled a free online library of books by other godly writers, through his Institute for Christian Economics (ICE). Those free books, totaling 38,000 pages, are all still available online, They are a great resource for homeschoolers and economics students. We also remember February 1st, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana as …


Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 122

We’ve announced the winners of Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Note to the top three prize winners: Please contact me and let me know your UPS and USPS address(es), for your prizes. Thanks. – JWR The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 122 are… First Prize Winner: First Prize goes to A.F., for Introducing Your Community to Emergency Preparedness. It was posted January 8-10, 2026. See:  Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.) He will receive as prizes: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: There are Some Differences Between “Homely” Pretti, and “Pretty” Pretti  News Links: It appears MSNBC gave Alex Pretti a tan, a stronger jawline, better teeth, shorter forehead, and a nose job. AI-altered pic of Alex Pretti is being widely circulated after his killing by Border Patrol. 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 is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is …


The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 31, 2026

On January 31, 1905, the first automobile to exceed 100 mph (161 kph), a Napier six-cylinder racing car named ‘Samson’. It was driven by British daredevil Arthur Macdonald, at Daytona Beach, Florida. A top speed of 104 miles per hour was recorded. — On January 31, 1934, President FDR devalued the US dollar in relation to gold at $35 per ounce. This came just months after FDR’s administration had confiscated all privately-held gold bullion and non-numismatic gold coins. — Today, we present a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader. Because it is partially promotional for a published book, it is …


Are You Emotionally Ready for the Coming Collapse? – Part 5, by Peter Cannon

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.) In Part 4 of this series, we reviewed the Merchants of the Earth, the Persecution of the Saints, and the Harvests of the Righteous and of the Unrighteous) In this concluding installment, we will study the Bowl Judgments, Earthquakes on the Rise, and the Second Coming of Jesus. The Bowl Judgments The Seal and Trumpet Judgments have passed. Now God pours out His wrath on the unbelievers with the Bowl Judgments: “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is …