Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 27, 2022

July 27th is the birthday of Captain Samuel Whittemore (born in 1694, died February 3, 1793). He was an English-born American farmer and soldier. He was eighty years of age when he became the oldest known colonial combatant in the American War of Independence. Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British Grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols, killed a second grenadier and mortally wounded a third. By …




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. — In a shooting range video, attempting to recreate the 80% hit accuracy at 15 to 20 yards in 15 seconds of the Indiana Impromptu Mall Defender: The Eli Drill. (Elijah Dickens is pictured above.) I’ve read that he was armed with a compact Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol. He demonstrated commendable speed and accuracy, …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I regard free speech as a prerequisite to a civilized society, because freedom of speech means that you can have combat with words. That’s what it means. It doesn’t mean that people can happily and gently exchange opinions. It means that we can engage in combat with words, in the battleground of ideas. And the reason that that’s acceptable, and why it’s acceptable that people’s feelings get hurt during that combat, is that the combat of ideas is far preferable to actual combat” – Jordan Peterson, Maps of Meaning, 2017




Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 26, 2022

On July 26th, 1931, a swarm of grasshoppers descended on crops throughout the American heartland, devastating millions of acres. Already in the midst of a bad drought, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota suffered tremendously. The swarms were said to be so thick that they blocked out the sun and one could shovel the grasshoppers with a scoop. While America has not seen infestations on such a scale since then, North Africa and parts of the Middle East continue to experience them. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 101 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The …




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 cover a spate of Buffalo gorings, at Yellowstone park. (See the Wyoming section.) Idaho Two pilots die after firefighting helicopter crashes into Salmon River. and, Gov. Little orders flags to fly at half-staff for two fallen firefighters. and, Moose Fire near Salmon now burning …







Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 25, 2022

On this day in 1797 Horatio Nelson lost more than 300 men and his right arm during the failed conquest attempt on Tenerife (Spain). — An update on the Indiana mall shooting: Police: Armed bystander shot and killed Greenwood Park Mall shooter in just 15 seconds. JWR’s Comment: That young man, under stress, hit the bad guy 8 times out of 10, at a distance of 40 yards. I doubt that most of the “qualified” police officers could do what Elisjsha Dicken did. Great shooting! I predict two things:  1.) Elisjsha Dicken will be the recipient of numerous guns given …




Recipe of the Week: Rick’s Peanut Brittle

The following Peanut Brittle recipe is from SurvivalBlog reader Rick in Germany. Rick says: “I’ve made this twice and I will never buy this in the store ever again.” Ingredients 2 cups of sugar 1 cup of corn syrup (I use rice syrup to avoid GMOs). 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. 1 cup of water. 1 teaspoon of baking soda. 1 teaspoon of salt. 1 tablespoon of butter. 2 cups of roasted peanuts.  I use salted roasted peanuts Required Gear A large sauce pan. Cookie sheet measuring at least 9”x13”, with a lip on all four sides.  You’ll want one …




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 rising interest rates. Precious Metals: Video interview: The Fed will ‘abandon’ tightening, causing gold to soar higher – Rich Checkan. o  o  o Goldcore: When Rock Begins to Beat Paper. Economy & Finance: Europe’s central bank backs larger-than-expected rate hike. JWR’s Comments: I can foresee that the European Union …







Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 24, 2022

A decade has passed, so quickly… The late Jerry Ahern passed away on this day, July 24th, in 2012. His survivalist novels created an entire genre. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 101 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 can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a …




JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: To share this, you can find it here: https://www.kapwing.com/videos/62d99e20194b9d008fa5325c Meme Text: Up Until August 24th, We’ll Still Be 80% Free After That, Ol’ Creepy-Sniffy Joe Wants Us To Be 0% Free So, I’m Stocking Up On Plenty of Freedom News Link: https://www.80-lower.com/80-lower-blog/80lowercom-statement-regarding-atf-rule-2021r05f-definition-of-frame-or-receiver-and-identification-of-firearms/




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 23, 2022

On July 23, 1777 Polish military leader Casimir Pulaski arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry. On July 23, 1944 the Battle of Kursk ended. This massive tank battle in the USSR was a defeat for the Nazis, with 1331 German tanks destroyed. Though the Soviet tank losses were higher, most of the German tanks were irreplaceable at that stage of the war. — I just heard of the death of Milo Nordyke. He passed away on July 22nd. He was a brilliant physicist, pianist, and friend/traveling companion of the Rawles family. Milo led the DOE’s …