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. — The hollow-point ban: New Jersey bans safe, effective ammunition.  JWR’s Comments:  The illogic of this legislation is stupendous. New Jersey is largely urbanized, with a high population density, overall. So why are they banning ammo with expanding bullets that rarely penetrate residential and business walls, in favor of FMJ bullets that can …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. In our Governments, the real power lies in the majority of the Community, and the invasion of private rights is chiefly to be apprehended, not from the acts of Government contrary to the sense of its constituents, but from acts in which the Government is the mere instrument of the major number of the constituents.” – James Madison, Letters and Other Writings of James Madison, Volume 3


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 18, 2025

Today is the birthday of astronaut Theodore Cordy “Ted” Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964.)  He is pictured above with Buzz Aldrin. Ted Freeman and his wife Faith were friends of my mother and father.  Both my father (Donald Robert Rawles) and Ted Freeman were stationed at Bryan Air Force Base in the early 1950s, and they rented houses three blocks apart, in College Station, Texas. Both Ted and my father were born in the same year. The two families often played the card game Bridge together, and Faith and my mother were in a play production together. …


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. In today’s column: Tren de Aragua gang members arrested in Bozeman, Montana. Region-Wide Oregon’s Battle for Ideological Identity Heats Up as Eastern Counties Push for Secession. o  o  o Take note that Redoubt News has switched to Substack format. o  o  o California seems to be getting …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 17, 2025

On February 17, 1621, Myles Standish was elected as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony. — February 17, 1776, the first volume of Edward Gibbon‘s seminal work “The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire” was published. — USB STICKS UPDATE:  We have nearly completed mailing out all of the SurvivalBlog 205-2025 Waterproof Archive USB sticks. We are taking no more orders this year.  The only stick orders still waiting are a few that were designated in our ordering system as being paid by check. All of those in CONUS paid by PayPal or by credit card have been mailed …


Recipe of the Week: Turkey Chili with Black Beans and Vegetables

The following recipe for Turkey Chili with Black Beans and Vegetables is from SurvivalBlog reader H.N.. She says: “The exact proportions of the major ingredients are not important. Use your judgment, to suit your taste.” Ingredients Ground Turkey –  Can substitute chicken, beef or other ground meat. Bell pepper Onion Garlic Zucchini or summer squash Whole corn – fresh or frozen Canned black beans – You may substitute most other beans, except Lima Beans Canned crushed tomatoes Chicken broth – Can substitute beef broth, vegetable broth, or just water Spices: chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. …


Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Mapping U.S. rivers in proportion to their flow rate. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) 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 creation or uncopyrighted.



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 16, 2025

On February 16, 1659, the first known cheque was written, for £400. It is now on display at Westminster Abbey. — February 16,1838: The Weenen Massacre. Hundreds of Voortrekkers were killed by Zulu warriors along the Blaukraans River, Natal. — 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 Certificate. This …


JWR’s Memes Of The Week:

Two of the latest memes created by JWR: Meme Text: Take A Chill Pill, Pocahontas Zeroing The USAID Budget Will Not Cause a Constitutional Crisis News Links: ‘We are here to fight back’: hundreds protest suspension of US financial watchdog. Elizabeth Warren roasted over ‘temper tantrum’ on Senate floor. Sen. Warren slams Trump for ‘cutting the parts of government that help bring down costs’   Meme Text: The DOGE Witness Channeling Roy Orbison “There Goes My Budget, There Goes My Heart…” News Links: MAGA cruelly mocks DOGE committee hearing witness just because he’s blind Notes From JWR: Do you have …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 15, 2025

On February 15, 1867, Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz premiered in Vienna. — Today’s feature article is a guest piece from our friend Brandon Smith. It is not part of the writing contest judging. — We are seeking entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 14, 2025

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on February 14, 1797: The British fleet commanded by Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated the larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Captain Horatio Nelson distinguished himself in this naval battle. — February 14, 1803: Writing the majority opinion in the landmark Marbury V. Madison decision, Chief Justice John Marshall declared that any act of U.S. Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is null and void. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …