Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 30, 2025

On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America at Federal Hall in New York City. On April 30, 1897, English physicist J.J. Thomson announced that he had discovered the electron, which helped revolutionize the knowledge of atomic structure; he was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. April 30, 1777 was the birthday of Carl Friedrich Gauss, who is widely considered the world’s greatest mathematician. Camerone Day is celebrated on April 30th every year — the Foreign Legion’s most important holiday. Today is the birthday of sci-fi novelist Larry Niven …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our 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. — No more large power banks! Travelers Hit with New TSA Ban as Agency Forbids Common Item in Checked Luggage.  JWR’s Comments and Clarifications: The writer neglected to mention some key details. According to the TSA website, In carry-on bags only: “Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are limited to 2 grams of lithium per …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 29, 2025

On April 29, 1769, Scottish engineer James Watt‘s patent for a steam engine with a separate condenser was enrolled. (Patent 913.) — April 29, 1852:  The first edition of Peter Roget‘s Thesaurus was published in Great Britain. — On April 29, 1903, a limestone slide at Turtle Mountain dropped 30 million cubic metres (82 million tons) onto the town of Frank, Alberta, Canada, killing 70-90 residents. — And on April 29, 1905, two inches of rain fell in just 10 minutes in Taylor, Texas. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction …


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, a revised eruption risk assessment for the Yellowstone Caldera.  (See the Wyoming  section.) Idaho First glow-in-the-dark flower made commercially available to the public. o  o  o Lori Vallow Daybell reacts to guilty verdict in her first Arizona trial. (She received multiple life sentences, in July, …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 28, 2025

On April 28, 1937, the first trans-Pacific flight by a commercial passenger airliner was completed when Pan American Airways’ Martin M-130, China Clipper, arrived at Hong Kong. The flight had departed San Francisco Bay, California, on the 21st of April with seven revenue passengers and then proceeded across the Pacific Ocean by way of Hawaii, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, Macau, and finally Hong Kong. — April 28, 1965: US Marines invaded the Dominican Republic. They stayed until October 1966. — Today’s feature is by SurvivalBlog staff writer Tom Christianson. — We need more entries for Round 118 of …


Recipe of the Week: Super Easy Trail Mix

The following recipe for a fairly healthy Super Easy Trail Mix is from SurvivalBlog reader T.W..  She recommends: “I suggest you buy most of the ingredients in bulk, to cut down on the cost of the mix.” Ingredients 1 c. of your preferred low-salt nut(s), mixed (I like almonds and pecans) 1 to  1-/12 c. of chocolate chips, M&Ms, or Reese’s Pieces candy (can be omitted if you are on a diet) 1 c. of Animal Crackers (or other small crackers) and/or small pretzels. (I like cheese-flavored ones) 1 c. of your preferred dry breakfast cereal or low-moisture granola/museli. 1 …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted :  and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them ; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — April 27, 2025

The Battle of Carbisdale was fought on April 27, 1650: The Royalist army under Marquess of Montrose invaded mainland Scotland from Orkney Island. They were defeated by a Covenanter army. — On April 27, 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act. — And on April 27, 1805, US Marines attacked the shores of Tripoli. — Today’s feature article was too short for inclusion in the judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail …


A Covid Experience: Three Years Later, by Tom In Alaska 

It was October 31, 2021. I was living in Arizona with a full season of cool weather hiking on the calendar. The first (and last) walk of the season was delightful. The temperatures were on the warm side and a steady breeze was kicking up the omnipresent Arizona dust. I arrived home in the evening filled with the satisfaction of a good first day but told my wife that my throat was slightly sore from the “blowing dust” Waking on November 1st with a 102 F fever was an omen. The next day I immediately drove to the local Urgent …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: The Feds Are Deporting Members of Tren de Aragua But is The Bigger Threat Trini Le Dogua? Relevant Links: Exclusive: DOJ memo offers blueprint to Tren de Aragua deportation plan. Drummond defends Trump’s efforts to deport violent Tren De Aragua gang. More than 40 people possibly linked with Venezuelan gang taken into custody in Hays County. Wikipedia: Tren de Aragua 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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — April 26, 2025

On April 26, 1949, Transjordan was officially renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. — On April 26, 1991, 23 people were killed in Kansas and Oklahoma by tornadoes. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 118 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 …