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. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — I read a piece that mentioned the 1973 movie Soylent Green was set in the year 2022. So, perhaps it is time to re-watch that film. I remember that seeing the bicycle-powered generator for the apartment occupied by Detective Frank Thorn (played by Charlton Heston) and that impressed me, as a budding survivalist. It makes …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — January 11, 2022

Today is the birthday of big-game hunter and writer Peter Hathaway Capstick. January 11th is also the birthday of Alexander Hamilton. (Pictured.) And today is the natal day of the late Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby, who was born in 1918. He was the most decorated hero of the Norwegian resistance under the German occupation. He died May 10, 2012. — A USB Stick Update: The waterproof/EMP-resistant 2005–2021 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks are now orderable. Deliveries will begin in mid-February, 2022. Take note that only 1,000 sticks will be made for this batch. As of Noon, Pacific Time on Tuesday, 980 …


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 Stag Arms, now headquartered in Wyoming. (See the Wyoming section.) Idaho This article about Moscow, Idaho originated in the UK Guardian, and was later syndicated: ‘Make it a Christian town’: the ultra-conservative church on the rise in Idaho. o  o  o Here is …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The young men thought it was too hot to sleep inside their kaia, Bwana,” he replied. “Also,” he said, shuffling the dirt with a big toe, “they were a little bit drunk.” He shrugged with typical African fatalism. Most Africans believe it can never happen to them, something like the attitude of front-line troops.” – Peter Hathaway Capstick, Death in the Long Grass: A Big Game Hunter’s Adventures in the African Bush


Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 10, 2022

On January 10, 1976 the song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall was the #1 song on the U.S. pop charts. This song, in part, led to huge interest in Citizen’s Band (C.B.) radio for the next year, in the United States. — January 10th, 1776 is the day that North Carolina Governor, Josiah Martin issued a proclamation calling on the king’s loyal subjects to raise an armed force to combat the “rebels”. This ultimately led to Colonel Donald McLeod leading the men on an assault on the Patriots that ended with fifty of his men dead and 880 captured. The Patriots …


Expanded SurvivalBlog Archive USB Sticks Now Available

An Update: The waterproof/EMP-resistant 2005–2021 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks are now orderable. Deliveries will begin in mid-February, 2022. Take note that only 1,000 sticks will be made for this batch, and they are selling rapidly. Why You Need It: The archive sticks emulate most of the behavior of the online edition. With this stick, you can access everything that was ever posted in SurvivalBlog up to December 31, 2021, almost as if you were online — even if you are in a remote area in a grid-down situation or otherwise don’t have access to the Internet. And you never know …


Recipe of the Week: Layered Taco Dip

The following recipe for Layered Taco Dip variants is from reader S.A. S.A.’s Introduction: We know the phrase “Beans, Bandaids, and Bullets.” While I love beans, in fact, almost any bean except for kidney beans, and can eat them everyday, some people can’t or don’t want to.  A nice alternative to a bowl of beans is Layered Taco Dip. This easy recipe has many, many variations, and is well-loved in Texas and perhaps other places, as well. It can be served as an appetizer, main dish (if you include plenty of protein), or a side dish. I prefer Frito Lay …


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 strong U.S. Mint gold sales. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: U.S. Mint sees strongest gold coin sales in 12 years, sells 1.25 million ounces in 2021. o  o o What To Expect In 2022 From The Precious Metals Sector. Economy & Finance: Ford Posts 7 Percent Fall in …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — January 9, 2022

January 9, 1943 was the birthday of gunsmith Paris Theodore, developer of the ASP modifications to the S&W M39 pistol. January 9, 1890 birthday of Karel Capek, a Czech writer who wrote the play “R.U.R.” and coined the word “robot”. On this day in 1776, writer Thomas Paine published his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries. — Today we present a guest article by author Joe Dolio.


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/C0S0j_wvAZ Meme Text: Alaska: 26″ Snow, Then 2″ Ice, Then Another 8″ Snow: “A Fair Bit of Snow, So Far, This Winter” New York City: 8″ Snow: “This is Snowmageddon” News Links:  Capitol region’s 1st major snowstorm of winter closes schools, halts flights, public transportation. Atlanta ‘snowpocalypse’ mocked after 2 inches of snow strands thousands. After spending hours trapped, drivers prepare to sleep in cars on I-95.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 8, 2022

January 8, 1783: Connecticut became the first state to pass a copyright statute. It was entitled “Act for the Encouragement of Literature and Genius” and was enacted with the help of Dr. Noah Webster. On this day, in 1835, the U.S. National Debt reached zero for the first and only time. — Good news!  The waterproof/EMP-resistant 2005–2021 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick is now orderable.  Deliveries will begin in mid-February.  It has even more bonus content than last year’s. In fact, this stick is so packed that the contents just barely fit on a 16 Gigabyte stick.  These sticks sell out …


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 …