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, Finland readies itself for possible attacks. Finland Holds a Large Civil Defense Exercise AP reporter Emma Burrows: Finland runs Europe’s biggest civil defense exercise since the end of …


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. — US Army declares ’42 is the new 35′ but millennials are outraged as enlistment age changed. JWR’s Comments: For someone who is in a stable civilian career that allows time off for annual training, enlisting (or seeking a commission) in the National Guard or Army Reserve represents a way to secure “double …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

REDOUBT NEWS LINKS 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. Washington Attorney Bill Kirk: The Untold Consequence of Assault Weapon Bans. Montana FWP encourages caution after Columbia Falls bear attack. Emergency rescue planned for 499 wild horses in Oregon as water sources vanish. Two interesting backcountry flying videos: Soldier Bar 85U Idaho – Badlands Traveler, and, Cabin Creek Idaho in a Badlands Traveler Bushplane. Kennewick Police looking for third suspect in deadly shooting. Indian Relay …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: I Think We Can All Agree That The Pilot Did Not Choose… A Prime Landing Location 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 included.



Preparedness Notes — September 1, 2026

This Week in History: On September 1, 1255, Königsberg (modern day Kaliningrad) was founded by Teutonic Knights. It was named in honor of the Bohemian King Ottokar II. Pictured is Kaliningrad’s Brandenburg Gate. (Public domain photo by Jan Pešula.) — The 1859 Carrington Event — the largest geomagnetic storm in recorded history began on this day. Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson made the first observation of a large solar flare. — On September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London began at 2 am in Pudding Lane. An estimated 80% of London was destroyed. — And on September 4, 1950: …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map that shows the courses of the 7,000 tributary rivers that feed into the Mississippi. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.     — If any SurvivalBlog readers have personally taken or otherwise hold the copyright to a particularly nice landscape photo or other photo of particular interest to preppers that is in a wide horizontal format (to match our blog template) then please send it in as an e-mail attachment, and I will consider posting it as a Graphic of the Week, or as a Top Note photo. I can of …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Here is an interesting map: Average daily long-haul truck traffic across US highways. The thumbnail below is click-expandable. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest Bessent’s Former Mentor Druckenmiller Slams Treasury Bond Buyback Plan. Nvidia Has Become a Banker to the AI Boom, Putting It on Dangerous Ground. US Tungsten Scrap Export Ban Takes Effect As Global Supply Crisis Deepens. Hub Moolman: Silver and the Dow: What is Happening? From the market analyst who …


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 the emphasis is on China’s latest military technology developments. China’s New Hypersonic Glide Missile At The Telegraph: China’s new hypersonic missile puts US on notice. Here is a …


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 Dale R. mentioned this news: Army Armaments Center Unveils New Ammo Packaging System.  From the Army news release: “Blending lightweight polymers with a rugged steel shell, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center’s new SixPAC system marks a groundbreaking leap in small-caliber ammunition packaging, one intended to reshape how soldiers …


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. REDOUBT NEWS LINKS Help Wanted: Idaho Ranch Jobs. ‘All the nation hates me’; Man accused of starting Old Trails fire in Spokane competent to stand trial. Another Ambition Strikes video: Our Abandoned Mansion Is a Complete Disaster.  (This one includes a brief crossover with Andy from Expedition Rove.) Spokane Public Schools launches 149 new buses with seatbelts. Buford, Wyoming, Population Reduced To None. Idaho angler catches record 44-inch …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

JWR’s latest meme, based on a suggestion by SurvivalBlog staff member Thomas Christianson: Meme Text: A lesson in past tense versus present tense: The Biden-era “Woke” agenda was Crazy Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is Crazy 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 included.


Editors’ Quote

“Many Americans who say that we should learn from other people, especially Europeans, mean that we should imitate what they did. That may make those who talk this way feel superior to other Americans. But let us never forget that the most disastrous ideologies of the 20th century — Communism, Fascism and Nazism — all originated in Europe. So did both World Wars. More recently, Europe has been belatedly discovering how unbelievably stupid it was to import millions of people from cultures that despise Western values, and which often promote hatred toward Western people.” – Thomas Sowell


Preparedness Notes — August 25, 2026

This Week in History: On August 25, 1537, The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior, was formed. Pictured is the Honourable Artillery Company Band at Balboa Park, while on a visit to San Diego, California. — August 25, 1898: 700 Greeks and 15 Englishmen were massacred by the Turks in Heraklion, Crete. — August 26, 1789: The National Constituent Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen at the beginning of the French Revolution. — August 26,1859: A geomagnetic storm caused the Aurora Borealis to …


Recipe of the Week: RUTF

Reader Becky B. in California wrote to ask about a do-it-yourself recipe for the shelf-stable peanut-butter based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) that was developed in Africa in the 1990s. It has saved many thousands of lives in starvation zones. It is sold commercially packaged in sachets under the brand name Plumpy’Nut.  Note: For the best nutrition its is best to buy the commercially-made product. I found a Public Domain practical home-style recipe. It is approximate and for household use only.  It is is as follows: