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, war drums and police chases. 10-Year Anniversary Prepper Camp 2023 The 10-year anniversary gathering for Prepper Camp 2023 will be held September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2023, in …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — September 6, 2023

On September 6th 1901,  Republican William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States (1897–1901), was shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, and died eight days later. — September 6th, 1757 is the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette (often known simply as Lafayette), a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. (Sept. 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834) came to America at age 19 and served meritoriously in the American Revolution at his own expense. He was also instrumental in convincing the French king and his ministers …


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. — I heard from SurvivalBlog reader T.D.H. about a nifty and inexpensive way to efficiently store 30-round AR-15 rifle magazines. By coincidence, the dimensions of small, stackable Sterlite plastic storage crates are perfect to fit 12 of the 30-round PMAGs. These fit tightly in these crates if the magazines are left in their …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 5, 2023

On September 5th, 1836, Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas. — Ready Made Resources is running a Labor Day Sale on a L3 Commercial Grade with PVS-14 Night Vision Monocular/Weapon sight package with a 10-Year Warranty for $4,299.  In this package, you will get: One L3 Unfilmed White Phosphor Commercial Grade (Unit and Spec Sheet Only), One Wilcox G24 Lite with Dovetail J-Arm, One Bump Helmet, and On Pelican case. You’ll save $310 by buying this package.  Take note that USSOCOM and JSOC have chosen white phosphor tubes as their new standard and are now taking …


Opportunity for Retreat Group Membership in a Secure Bug Out Location

I currently have a consulting client who lives full-time with his family on a highly productive farm in Kansas. He has asked me to use SurvivalBlog to add a family to his retreat group. Unlike the caretaker position (which was a salaried position) posted earlier this year, this is not a paying job, but if you have the qualifications think of your response as the first step toward a potential space for you and your family in a lifeboat which in a collapse scenario could be very important. Imagine if the collapse has occurred and instead of being stuck in …


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 a charging bear incident.  (See the Montana section.) Region-Wide CBS video: The movement to shrink Oregon and expand Idaho. o  o  o ‘Unusually snowy’: Farmers’ Almanac predicts snowy, wet winter for region. o  o  o An un-narrated three-minute CBS video: Nature: The …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 4, 2023

On September 4th, 2006 Australian wildlife conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin, who achieved worldwide fame as the exuberant and risk-taking host of The Crocodile Hunter (1992–2006) television series and related documentaries, was killed by a venomous bull stingray. — I noticed several new listings of interest, over at SurvivalRealty.com.  For example: Epic Remote Off-grid Mountain Property — $185,000, Seligman, Arizona 73 Acre Off-Grid Homestead In Santa, Idaho — $1,777,000 — Santa, Idaho Fully off-grid! Easy access! Perfect for self-sufficiency! — $395,000 — Concho, Arizona 30 Acres of Serene Farm and Wooded Hunting Land — $149,999 — Brazil, Indiana Creekside …


Recipe of the Week: Peanut Butter and Jelly Oat Balls

The following recipe for Peanut Butter and Jelly Oat Balls is from SurvivalBlog reader A.S..  It requires no cooking. A.S. notes:  “If you substitute Nutella for the jelly, then you get something that tastes a bit like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.” Ingredients 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats, divided 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 6 teaspoons of jam, jelly, or Nutella chocolate cream Directions Combine 1 cup oats, peanut butter, and confectioners’ sugar until well blended. Shape dough into 1-1/4-inch diameter balls. Flatten the balls into 1/4-inch thick discs. Place 1/2 teaspoon of jam in center of …


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, we look at expected crashes in commercial and residential real estate. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: What To Expect For Gold If We Enter A Deflationary Period. o  o  o Another, at Gold-Eagle.com: Piepenburg, Rule and Rickards Agree: Gold’s Role Rises as Dollar Hegemony Falls. Economy & Finance: Billions of dollars are flowing out …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us to restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wildlife and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method.” – Theodore Roosevelt


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 3, 2023

On September 3rd, 1609, English navigator Henry Hudson, in a quest for a passage to India on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, sailed into the harbor of present-day New York City and up the river that now bears his name. — I just heard that singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet passed away, at age 76. He was a great musician and a true American “Character”, in the good sense of the word. Our condolences to his family. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: How Can the ATF Take the 73-Word Definition of “Engaged In The Business” Established in Law By Congress in 1968 And Expand it to 34,000 Words and Claim that it is Just a “Rulemaking Clarification” Under Chevron Deference? News Links: White House Announcement ATF Proposed Rulemaking Announcement The ATF’s 108-Page Long Proposed Rule 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 …