Preparedness Notes for Thursday — October 17, 2024

On October 17, 1777, British General John Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. — On this day in 1835, Texans approved 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 Texas frontier. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, more war drums… 80% of Americans Fear WWIII is Imminent Reader H.L. spotted this: 80% of Americans fear World War III is imminent. An excerpt: “The survey, which …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — October 16, 2024

On October 16, 1950, the first edition of C.S. Lewis‘ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was released in London. — October 16, 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis began as President Kennedy was shown photos confirming the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. — We are running a 2-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 28th, 2024, all of our pre-1899 shotguns have their prices deeply discounted. Most of these can fire modern 12 gauge 2-1/2″ or 2-3/4″ shotgun shells. Take a look! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog …


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. — Reader B.G. in Oregon sent us a news item: Washington Woman’s Home Mobbed by 100 Raccoons. o  o  o A video review of interest to Van Lifers, as well as off-grid preppers: Starlink Mini In-Depth Setup and Review.  JWR’s Comment: He mentioned that a shorter 12 VDC power cable will soon be …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 15, 2024

October 15, 1522: King of Spain Charles V named Hernán Cortés governor of Mexico. — On October 15, 1529, the Ottoman armies under Suleiman ended their siege of Vienna and turned back to Belgrade. — On October 15, 1764, Edward Gibbon observed a group of friars singing in the ruined Temple of Jupiter in Rome, which inspired him to begin work on writing The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. — 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 …


Please Pray For Our Nation

There are now just 20 days to the November U.S. presidential election. The next three weeks should be a time of concerted prayer — personally, and with your family and fellow church congregants. Blog reader L.B. suggested this prayer list published by Turning Point Academy: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” – Isaiah 55:6 Pray our nation will seek God in Repentance, Humility, and Prayer. Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and …


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, we focus on the continuing conservative political shifts in Idaho and Montana. (See the Idaho and Montana sections.) Idaho Idaho one of the fastest growing states, Boundary among fastest growing counties.  Here is an excerpt: “These days if you ask what brought a new neighbor …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 14, 2024

On October 14,1899, Morning Post reporter Winston Churchill departed to South Africa, toting a Model 1896 Broomhandle Mauser pistol.  His goal was to report on the Second Boer War. He was later taken prisoner of war, but escaped. He recounted his exploits in an autobiography titled My Early Life. — On this day in 1066: The Battle of Hastings: William, Duke of Normandy and his Norman army defeated the English forces of Harold II, who was killed in the battle. — We are beginning a 2-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 28th, 2024, all of our pre-1899 shotguns …


Recipe of the Week: Potato Skordalia 

The following recipe for Skordalia potato dip is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. She writes: “In honor of potato harvesting season:  Skordalia. Potatoes are so versatile, filling, and easy to grow, that a bountiful potato crop is a no-brainer for most gardens from USDA zones 3 – 10!  You can even grow potatoes from store-bought ones that sprout in your kitchen!  Give it a try! Skordalia is a Greek dip. The texture is like chickpea hummus.  If you ask people to guess the ingredients, they are likely to guess that the main ingredient is a white bean paste.” Ingredients 2 …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“In December 1880 the Boers rose. Every farmhouse sent out its riflemen, and the trysting-place was the outside of the nearest British fort. All through the country small detachments were surrounded and besieged by the farmers. Standerton, Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Lydenburg, Wakkerstroom, Rustenberg, and Marabastad were all invested and all held out until the end of the war. In the open country we were less fortunate. At Bronkhorst Spruit a small British force was taken by surprise and shot down without harm to their antagonists. The surgeon who treated them has left it on record that the average number of wounds …