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. — Americans Panic Search “Live Off Grid” As Housing Crisis Worsens And Democrat Cities Implode. o  o  o This basic level of preparedness is some sort of novelty for the mainstream press: Personal emergency kits are a growing market in an uncertain world. Our thanks to Paul B., for sending the link. o  …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 29, 2023

On August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina made its 2nd and 3rd landfall as a category 3 hurricane, devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. The storm killed more than 1,836 people and caused over $115 billion in damage. — On August 29, 1949, the USSR performed its first nuclear test at Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 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, we focus on reduced wolf take quotas in Montana. (See the Montana section.) Idaho A horribly overblown and biased UK Guardian article, with references to Idaho: US businessman is wannabe ‘warlord’ of secretive far-right men’s network. o  o  o Blog reader Tim J. sent this: …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 28, 2023

On August 28, 1793, the Siege of Toulon in the French Revolutionary wars began. — A reminder: Jonathan Rawles, who operates SurvivalRealty.com, has produced a free mini e-book intended for people contemplating a move to a rural area. This short e-book is available as a free PDF download.  Take note that SurvivalRealty is just an advertising site, not an agency or brokerage.  There are no commissions charged on the completion of property sales. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.    


Recipe of the Week: Simple Pumpkin Soup

The following recipe for Simple Pumpkin Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader G.C.  She said that she adapted it from one that she found years ago in Country Living. Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1 peeled and chopped potato 1 chopped onion 4 ½ cups chicken broth 1 pound of cooked pumpkin (or one 15-ounce can of pumpkin, if you don’t have fresh pumpkins available.) Salt and pepper ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ pint heavy cream Directions Melt the butter in a large pot and cook the potato and the onion for about 8 minutes. Add the chicken broth, bring it to …


The BRICS Alliance is All About Gold

Today, in place of my usual Monday column on economics and investing, I’d like to briefly delve into some of the implications of the recently announced expansion of the BRICS trading alliance. The acronym “BRIC” was first coined in 2001 by Terence James O’Neill — then of Goldman Sachs — in describing the fast-growing economies that would dominate the global economy by 2050: Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  Over time, South Africa was added to the acronym, making it BRICS. Oddly, O’Neill’s term of art eventually morphed into an actual multi-national organization.  In recent years, primarily under mainland Chinese leadership, …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 27, 2023

On August 27, 2011, after causing extensive damage to various Caribbean islands, Hurricane Irene made landfall in the United States, striking North Carolina’s Outer Banks before moving along the Eastern Seaboard; property damage in the United States exceeded $7 billion, making Irene one of the most expensive Atlantic hurricanes in the country’s history. August 27th was the birthday of Emory Upton (August 27, 1839 – March 15, 1881). He was a United States Army General and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: That Face You Make When… Your Arrest Was 99% Political News Links: 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, provide that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 26, 2023

August 26, 1946 was the official release date of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” — Today we present the fifth and last installment of SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Emeritus Pat Cascio’s autobiography. — We are in great need of entries for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $840,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 108 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. …


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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, …