SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. We are due to get our first snow, around October 23rd.  A bit earlier than usual. I trust that all our readers are ready for winter. Let it snow! — Reader C.B. sent us this: How harsh will winter be? Six organizations issue forecasts. o  o  o Imagine a 19-year-old from the Midwest starting …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The American dream is about achieving happiness. When you become a firefighter, a police officer or a teacher or a nurse, you know you’re not going to become a billionaire. And what my parents achieved working as a bartender and a maid at a hotel after arriving here with nothing, no education, no money. The first words my dad learned in English were: ‘I’m looking for a job.’ You know what my parents achieved? They owned a home in a safe and stable neighborhood. They retired with dignity and they left all four of their children better off than themselves.” …


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 18, 2022

October 18th, 1662 was the birthday of Matthew Henry (died 22 June 1714). He was a Presbyterian minister who lived primarily in Chester, England. Matthew Henry’s six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called Matthew Henry’s Commentary) is a must for the bookshelf of any serious Bible scholar. — An update for those readers who are quitting PayPal: My GabPay account is now set up and working! The “@” address for that is “JamesWesleyRawles“, to send me Ten Cent Challenge funds (or other payments) via GabPay. Please note that GabPay is now our preferred payment method. — SurvivalBlog …


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 the filming of 1923 — a Yellowstone television series prequel. (See the Montana section.) Idaho Idaho, The Place to Go: The moveBuddha 2021-2022 Idaho Migration Report. The report notes that Idaho’s population growth is slowing. o  o  o Nat wrote to mention …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 17, 2022

On this day in 1835, Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers– a corps of armed and mounted lawmen designed to “range and guard the frontier between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers”. After winning their revolutionary war with Mexico the following year, Texans decided to keep the Rangers, both to defend against Indian and Mexican raiders and to serve as the principal law enforcement authority along the sparsely populated Texan frontier. — My #1 Son (Jonathan Rawles) was recently interviewed by Mike Adams, on Brighteon: Jonathan Rawles of SurvivalRealty.com interviewed by Mike Adams about off-grid retreats, bunkers, and …


Recipe of the Week: JWR’s Cran-Bran Cold Cereal

The following super-simple dry recipe is for my current favorite home-mixed breakfast cereal. Yes, I know that Cranberry Bran cereal is also commercially made. But since I have some Scottish blood, I tend toward frugality. Hence, I buy the inexpensive generic store brand bran flakes from the “nearby” supermarket. That is a little over 50 miles away. We buy our cranberries and almonds in bulk from Azure Standard. Thus, they cost us only half as much as buying name-brand froed cranberries — such as Ocean Spray. I make this “Cran-Bran” cereal up in quantity, and keep it in our pantry …


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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the sagging fortunes of Credit Suisse. (See the Derivatives section.) Precious Metals: It appears that the currently atypical gold-to-platinum ratio is starting to revert. When I last checked, gold was down to around $1,675.50 per Troy ounce and platinum was up to $919.20 per Troy ounce. So we can …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 16, 2022

October 16th, 1859 was the second day of abolitionist John Brown’s raid against the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election. Brown’s raid helped make any further accommodation between North and South nearly impossible and thus became an important impetus of the Civil War. — An update for those readers who are quitting PayPal: My GabPay account is now set up and working! The address for …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: One Billion Dollars! Alex Jones Reached a Wrong Conclusion, and Then Repeated it in Broadcasts. So, Let’s Sue Him for $965 Million. That’s Not Quite One Billion Dollars — But Close Enough News Link: Alex Jones must pay $965 million in damages to families of 8 Sandy Hook victims.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 15, 2022

Herbert W. McBride, the author of A Rifleman Went To War, was born in Waterloo, Indiana October 15, 1873. He died in Indianapolis of a heart attack on March 17, 1933, shortly after finishing writing A Rifleman Went To War. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 103 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. …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence …