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. — We’ll start today with a note that Mike in Alaska sent, with the photo above: “Today I modified the power connectors for my SDR rig using all Anderson power pole connectors and built a BNC cable for the AX1 antenna for 20-meter and 17-meter use. The radio works great for digital applications. …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 9, 2024

Today is the anniversary of three famous battles: On July 9, 1386, in the Battle of Sempach: the pike-armed militias of the Old Swiss Confederacy defeated the Habsburg army of Duke Leopold III of Austria. — On July 8, 1401, the Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane (Timur) destroyed Baghdad, killing 20,000 people. — On July 9th, 1755: Battle of the Wilderness. This was also known as the Battle of The Monongahela. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at …


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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, the emphasis is on firearms and ammunition companies in the American Redoubt. Idaho Some sad news, from Sandpoint, on July 4th: Army Surplus destroyed in fire. This was the iconic store that was the inspiration for “Grogan’s War Surplus” in the humorous books written by …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 8, 2024

On July 8, 1283, the Battle of Malta occurred during the War of the Sicilian Vespers.  From the Infogalactic wiki: “The War of the Sicilian Vespers, also shortened to the War of the Vespers, was a conflict waged by several medieval European kingdoms over control of Sicily from 1282 to 1302. The war, which started with the revolt of the Sicilian Vespers, was fought over competing dynastic claims to the throne of Sicily and grew to involve the Crown of Aragon, Angevin Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of France, and the papacy.” — Just four more days! Because of a change …


Recipe of the Week: Mom’s Baked Beans

The following recipe for Mom’s Baked Beans is from SurvivalBlog reader “Sis.” Ingredients 2 Small (15 oz.) cans or 1 large can of Pork and Beans. 1 tsp. Dried mustard 3/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of catsup 5-7 slices of bacon (fried up, drained and then crumbled) Directions Mix all of the ingredients in a cast iron pan. (ideally cast iron, but you can use a regular baking pan.) Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for around 1 hour. Chef’s Notes “I like for it to get a little crusty around the edges so if you do you might …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

The term “America” is used differently, depending on the context. Today’s graphic shows the different “Americas”, from the perspective of ethnic populations and geographic boundaries. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 7, 2024

On July 7, 1807, French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte and Russian Tsar Alexander I met on a raft in the middle of the Neman River and signed the first Treaty of Tilsit. — On July 7, 1520, Battle of Otumba, Mexico: Hernán Cortés and the Tlaxcalans defeated a numerically superior Aztec force. — July 7th, 1907 was the birthday of science fiction novelist Robert A. Heinlein. He passed away on May 8, 1988, at age 80. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Sleepy Joe’s Incoherent Mumbling at the Debate Showed Us… Kamala’s Nose Is Under The Tent News Links: Analysis: Biden’s incoherent debate performance heightens fears over his age. CNN: Biden’s disastrous debate pitches his reelection bid into crisis. Watch: A shaky and mumbling Biden freezes in first debate. The Atlantic: Biden Must Resign. CNN: Biden tries but fails to turn back rising tide threatening to swamp his reelection bid. ABC: If Biden drops out, who could replace him? A look at possible candidates. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 6, 2024

Today is the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Storm King Mountain wildfire that took the lives of 14 firefighters. Weather changes, resulting in 45 mph wind gusts, caused a modest wildfire to erupt into a blazing inferno, which threatened homes in and around the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Firefighters from around the country were called to assist in fighting this wildfire. We will never forget the young men and women who lost their lives battling this fire: Prineville, Oregon Hotshots: Kathi Beck, Tamera Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Douglas Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso Missoula …


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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, …