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. — Remote Work Can Thrive in Remote Places.  JWR’s Comment: It is interesting seeing that article posted at a website where the stock answers to nearly every question are either: “More government”, or “We should create a [taxpayer-funded] program to…” o  o  o Over at WND: Tesla won’t start after driving in rain, …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would be if they were stationed in Texas. We would not stand for it here, but we have had a globe-straddling empire and a very intrusive foreign policy for decades that incites a lot of hatred and resentment toward us.” – Ron Paul


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 24, 2023

On October 24, 1648, the Peace of Westphalia ended the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and the German phase of the Thirty Years’ War. On October 24, 1861, the first transcontinental telegram was sent via the telegraph in the United States, effectively bringing to an end the Pony Express. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 109 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 …


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, an update on the Greater Idaho movement. (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide Which States Are People Moving To? Led By Idaho, Mountain West States Outpace The Rest In Newcomers Per Capita. o  o  o Oregon legislator meets with Idaho leaders about ‘Greater Idaho’ movement. Here …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 23, 2023

On October 23, 1956, the Hungarian Revolution began with a massive demonstration in Budapest. JWR’s Comment: The days of trenchcoats and Tokarevs… Too bad that they didn’t have access to more effective ant–tank weapons, or they could have pushed the communists out of power, permanently. — Today we remember the 220 Marines, 18 U.S. Navy Sailors, and three U.S. Army Soldiers who died on this day in 1983 when terrorists attacked the Beruit Barracks. 58 French soldiers also died in the attack. JWR’s Comments: It seems like yesterday, but 40 years have transpired. In October of ’83, I had just …


Recipe of the Week: Pork In a Pot

The following recipe for Pork In a Pot was sent to us by SurvivalBlog reader Richard T. Special note from Richard:  “You will need a Lodge 3-quart combo cooker, or something similar. Any cast iron pot will work, but this pot has a handled flat lid that can serve as a skillet on which the ribs can be browned while preparing the other ingredients.” Ingredients 1 large white onion 2 white Russet potatoes 1 tomato (contains an insignificant amount of acid to affect the cast iron) 1 pint of drained sauerkraut Cayenne Pepper Paprika Cooking Oil Directions Begin with heating …


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 price of silver. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: After seeing highs above $25 in July and August, spot silver has been pushed down by the short sellers in recent weeks. When I last checked, spot silver had rebounded a bit, to $23.60. I expect to see a trend reversion …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 22, 2023

On October 22, 1934, infamous criminal Charles (“Pretty Boy”) Floyd was fatally shot in a field near East Liverpool, Ohio, by FBI agents. On October 22, 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin, an inspector in the French army who encouraged the use of balloons for military purposes, made a balloon ascent in order to give his first exhibition of parachuting, when he jumped from a height of about 3,200 feet (1,000 meters). This is the birthday of painter and book illustrator N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945). This is also the birthday of actor Jeff Goldblum (born 1952), who had unforgettable roles in Buckaroo Banzai, The …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: “Hey, Abdullah… I Heard That Our Best Intel Comes From Our Drones” “Nah, Muhammed, Our Best Intel Comes From The Mossad” 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.  


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 21, 2023

On this day in 1805, a fleet of 33 ships (18 French and 15 Spanish) under Admiral Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve fought and was defeated by a British fleet of 27 ships under Admiral Horatio Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar (combat was waged west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain). Today is also the birthday of late R.J. Rummel. (October 21, 1932 – March 2, 2014.) He was was professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii. He spent his career assembling data on collective violence and war with a view toward helping their resolution or elimination. Rummel coined the …


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:

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro …