Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — March 15, 2023

This is the birthday of General and President Andrew Jackson, in 1767. He was the 7th President of the United States (1829-1837.) — I’m pleased to report that the ranch caretaker position that I had announced on behalf of one of my consulting clients has now been filled. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 105 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than …


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. — SurvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson spotted this: Oregon man stranded in remote snow-covered road uses drone to signal for help. Mike’s Comment: “He was foolish for getting into that predicament, but he devised a clever way to get out.” o  o  o China Warns “There Will Surely Be Conflict And Confrontation” With …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — March 14, 2023

On March 14, 1951, United Nations forces recaptured Seoul during the Korean War. This is the birthday of fighter ace Major Raoul Lufbery (born 1885). He was shot down and killed in 1918. This is the birthday of Marlin Perkins. He was a well-known television host (Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom). He was born in 1905 in Carthage. Missouri. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 105 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. …


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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, in a departure from the usual news coverage, we will briefly focus on the increasingly conservative politics in The American Redoubt. Idaho What kind of political beliefs are newcomers bringing to Idaho? Survey says… o  o  o Written by a liberal, back in 2021: Explaining …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The people I represent are more independent—they want to feel empowered to make decisions that they think are best for themselves and for their families. They don’t like the federal government or the state government interfering with their ability to make those decisions and so they get offended sometimes when the people who live in the greater Seattle area enforce their values on those of us who live in eastern Washington.” – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers


Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 13, 2023

Editor’s Update:  Don’t miss reading today’s Economics & Investing column. It is important! — Today is the anniversary of The Great Quebec Blackout. On March 13, 1989, the Hydro-Québec power grid failed after a solar storm, as a coronal mass ejection (CME) struck the Earth’s magnetosphere. The blackout lasted nine hours. Dr. David Boteler, head of the Space Weather Group at Natural Resources Canada described the event: “It was the biggest geomagnetic storm of the Space Age. March 1989 has become the archetypal disturbance for understanding how solar activity can cause blackouts.” — I noticed that Sawyer Mini Filters in …


Recipe of the Week: Survival Spread

The following Survival Spread recipe is from SurvivalBlog reader L.E.. She notes: “You may have to overcome a visual “ick” factor, since this mixture resembles baby poop. Along with plenty of water, two heaping spoonfuls per day will keep an adult alive for a week if nothing else is eaten. DO NOT attempt to add nuts or fruit or oatmeal, the goal here is to have a mixture that can be easily consumed and digested by babies, licked off a spoon by starving children, bedridden injured, and toothless old people.” Ingredients One 16-ounce jar of store-brand peanut butter Two cups …


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. Most of these items are from JWR’s “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective. Today, some more details on the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse, and the closure of Signature Bank. (See the Economy & Finance section, the Derivatives section, and the Forex & Cryptos section.) Important Note: If you have any exposure to a regional bank or one that is heavily into CDS derivatives or tied to a crypto …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 12, 2023

On March 12, 2009, hedge-fund investment manager Bernie Madoff pled guilty to various crimes related to his operation of a Ponzi scheme that was one of the largest in the world; he was sentenced to 150 years in prison. — Today is the birthday of science fiction author Harry Harrison, who is best known for his Deathworld trilogy. (He was born in 1920 and died in 2012.) — On March 12, 1850 the first US $20 gold piece was issued. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 105 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 11, 2023

135 years ago today, on March 11, 1888, the Great Blizzard of ’88 struck the northeastern United States. Today is the birthday of author Douglas Adams (born 1952). He is the author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. March 11th is the birthday of the late actor Anton Yelchin (born 1989, died June 19, 2016). He is remembered for his portrayal of Kyle Reese in Terminator: Salvation, and as Ensign Pavel Checkov, the most recent Star Trek movie series. He died in a freak accident wherein his parked Jeep Grand Cherokee unexpectedly rolled forward on an incline, pinning him to …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n …