Lightning Strike Fire Starter, by Thomas Christianson

The ability to start fires is foundational to survival. Fire provides warmth, light, hot food, the ability to signal, and a host of other practical and psychological benefits in the field. As a result, I recommend that an individual carry at least three fire-starting tools in their bugout bag, survival kit, or on their person while out in the field. These fire-starting tools may consist of things like matches in a waterproof case, a lighter (butane, liquid fuel, or plasma), a permanent metal match, a magnifying glass, or a ferrocerium rod. Because of its durability, stability under storage, and reliability …


Recipe of the Week: Potato, Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Soup

The following recipe for Potato, Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader D.G.. Ingredients 1/4 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips 1 large onion, chopped 3 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 4 1/2 cups water 1 teaspoon kosher salt 6 ounces of block cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 cups) 1/4 cup chopped chives or scallion tops, for serving Directions In a large saucepan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. P Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: The “Stickiest” States: Showing the share of people born in each state who were still living there, as of 2021. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit. Based on Dallas Federal Reserve Bank statistics, via the U.S. Census Bureau.  Map created by Kavya Beheraj/Axios.) JWR’s Comment: The low numbers in Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii say a lot about differences in both climate and job opportunities. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 2, 2025

On March 2, 1458, the Hussite revolution leader George of Poděbrady was chosen as the 16th King of Bohemia. On March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Today is coincidentally also the birthday of Sam Houston. Today is also the birthday of Moe Berg, American baseball player and clandestine agent. (He died in 1972). His biography The Catcher Was a Spy is fascinating reading. And this is the birthday of libertarian economist Murray Rothbard (born 1926, died 1995.) His book For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto is highly recommended. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another …


The Savvy Barterer: References, Skills, and Tools for TEOTWAWKI Barter

JWR’s Introductory Note:  This is an update and substantial expansion to an article that I wrote for SurvivalBlog back in 2008. — One of my long-standing Precepts is that every prepared individual should be ready for both barter and dispensing charity. Today, I’ll be briefly discussing barter. Being ready to barter is not just a matter of having a pile of “stuff” to barter. While barter and charity logistics are important, what is even more important is what is between your ears. A Bazaar Experience Bartering takes practice. Dickering is an acquired skill. Short of buying yourself a plane ticket …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Donald Trump Is Such A Fascist! How Dare He Do So Many Fascist Things? Reducing The Size Of Government, Firing Career Federal Employees, Reducing Regulations, Privatizing Education, and Promoting Nationwide Permitless Concealed Carry For Private Citizens. Straight Out Of The Fascist Playbook. 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 to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.  


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 1, 2025

On March 1, 1516, printing was completed of “Novum Instrumentum Omne”, the first published New Testament in Greek. The preparation for publishing was done by Erasmus. Here is a description from the InfoGalactic Wiki: “Novum Instrumentum Omne, later titled Novum Testamentum Omne, was a series of bilingual Latin-Greek New Testaments with substantial scholarly annotations, and the first printed New Testament of the Greek to be published. They were prepared by Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) in consultation with leading scholars, and printed by Johann Froben (1460–1527) of Basel.” — On March 1, 1869, US Postage stamps showing scenes were issued for the …


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, …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 28, 2025

Today is the birthday of William Ewart Fairbairn  (28 February 1885 – 20 June 1960).  He was a British soldier and police officer. He developed hand-to-hand combat methods for the Shanghai Police during the interwar period, as well as for the Allied special forces during World War II. He created his own fighting system known as Defendu. Notably, this included innovative pistol shooting techniques and the development of the famed Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (pictured.) — Some sad news: Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, wife found dead in Santa Fe home. Those in the prepper community will of course remember Hackman best …


The Wit and Wisdom of Ol’ Remus

The legendary blogger and social commentator “Ol’ Remus” of the Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report passed away in July, 2020.  His wife had passed away just a few weeks earlier. Now that nearly five years have elapsed, I think that it is high time to post a proper acknowledgment and requiem. This is especially for the benefit of SurvivalBlog’s newcomers, who may not have heard of him. “Ol’ Remus” was of course a nom de plume.  Among other things, he was preparedness-minded.  On that topic, he had these terse and oft-quoted words: “Stay away from crowds.”  With operational security (OPSEC) in …


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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, some interesting news of a planned Fort Knox audit. America needs to return to genuine money! Precious Metals: We’ve been promised an audit of the Fort Knox gold depository by the DOGE Boys and Senator Rand Paul. JWR’s Comments:  I suggest that they bring a drill motor to check the cores of several gold ingots …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 27, 2025

February 27, 1919: the first public performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” symphony. — On February 27th, 1900: Felix Hoffman patented acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin. — And on February 27th, 1902 Harry ‘Breaker’ Harbord Morant was executed in Pretoria. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 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 …