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. — Reader C.B. mentioned this, published by the leftist USA Today: Will humans cut down trees that have been alive for thousands of years? New rules say no.  JWR’s Comments:  Throwing in mention and photos of 2,000-year-old trees is just a sympathy-inducing tactic. Those trees have long been protected.  The new rules will …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 26, 2023

December 26, 1791 was the birthday of English mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, who is credited with having conceived the first automatic digital computer. — On December 26th, 1776, after crossing the Delaware River, Washington led his men against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans, significantly boosting their flagging morale. SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are …


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, a special look at touring destinations in the region. I often have consulting clients from the eastern United States ask me “What is it like”?” questions. You really need to come and see for yourself.  Schedule a lengthy trip! – JWR (The photo above was …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Political freedom includes in it every other blessing. All the pleasures of riches, science, virtue, and even religion itself derive their value from liberty alone. No wonder therefore wise and prudent legislators have in all ages been held in such great veneration; and no wonder too those illustrious souls who have employed their pens and sacrificed their lives in defense of liberty have met with such universal applause. Their reputations, like some majestic river which enlarges and widens as it approaches its parent ocean, shall become greater and greater through every age and outlive the ruins of the world itself.” …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 25, 2023

To those who are celebrating the Advent of our Lord and Savior, our little team at SurvivalBlog wishes you a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. For those who choose to celebrate our Lord through the biblical feasts, stay safe out there during this holiday season. Our prayer is that each and every one of you enjoy the family time. Be safe on the roads. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are seeking entries for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $850,000 worth of prizes have been …


Recipe of the Week: Baked Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal

The following recipe for Baked Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal is from SurvivalBlog reader M.M..  She writes: “This is a great ‘throw together’ recipe that uses what you have on hand. The key here is to be flexible. If you do not have a fresh apple, dried would work or even apple sauce. While I did not use nutmeg in this batch, that would make a nice addition, as would some raisins. Or you can swap pecans for walnuts, if that’s what’s in your pantry. You can even substitute part or all of the brown sugar with some maple syrup or …


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 the risk of a recession or an economic depression, in 2024. Precious Metals: The gold-to-platinum ratio continues to further escape reality. When I last checked (Thursday, December 21, 2023), with spot gold at $2,057.80 and spot platinum at $982.90, the ratio stood at 2.093-to-1.  Historically, platinum has sold at a premium above …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 24, 2023

December 24, 1905 was the birthday of American manufacturer, aviator, and film producer Howard Hughes. He was known for his reclusiveness and for the uses to which he put his vast wealth. — On this day in 1814, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium, ending the War of 1812, marking a decline of American dependence on Europe, and stimulating a sense of U.S. nationalism. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: What Kind Of American Are You? So, Are You More of a Tucker Carlson American, or a Stephen Colbert American? News Links: America is a fallen empire in chilling trailer for Alex Garland’s Civil War. Wait, Why Are Texas and California on the Same Side in A24’s ‘Civil War’? Alex Garland Imagines an Even More Divided America in the Trailer for Civil War 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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 23, 2023

On December 23, 1912, the first Keystone Kops film, directed by Mack Sennett entitled “Hoffmeyer’s Legacy” was released. — December 23rd is the birthday of Founding Father and Supreme Court Justice John Jay. (Born 1745, died May 17, 1829.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 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 $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 22, 2023

On December  22, 1944, Germans demanded the surrender of American troops at Bastogne, Belgium. The 101st Airborne’s commanding general, Anthony McAuliffe, gave the famous one-word reply: “Nuts.” (Above, a U.S. Army photo, by Pfc. Donald R. Ornitz, 166th Signal Photo Company.) — December 22nd is the anniversary of the death of SP4 James T. Davis, the first uniformed American combat casualty of the Vietnam War, in 1961. This ASA soldier (of the 3rd Radio Research Unit) was killed in a Viet Cong ambush on a road outside Saigon. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 …