The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Our nation was founded on the basic idea that the people we elect run the government. That isn’t how America functions today. Most legal edicts aren’t laws enacted by Congress but “rules and regulations” promulgated by unelected bureaucrats—tens of thousands of them each year. Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures aren’t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections This is antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders’ vision. It imposes massive direct and indirect …


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — December 5, 2024

On December 5, 1408: The Golden Horde, led by Emir Edigu, reached Moscow. — December 5th,1456: An earthquake struck Naples, killing an estimated 35,000 people. — December 5, 1766: Christie’s held their first sale in their permanent saleroom in Pall Mall, London.  The firm is now the world’s largest auction house. — On December 5th, 1964, the first Medal of Honor awarded to a serviceman for action in Vietnam was presented to Captain Roger Donlon, a Special Forces officer. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for …


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, we look at the scramble in Germany to revitalize their moribund nuclear fallout shelter program. Germany’s Fallout Shelters J.S. sent this, from Euro News: Germany plans to turn …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 4, 2024

On December 4, 1619, 38 colonists from Berkeley Parish, England disembarked in Virginia and gave thanks to God. Considered by many the first Thanksgiving in the Americas. — December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and he was raised in Spokane, Washington. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The …


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 Michael R. sent this technology tip: “Here is the ‘Radioactivity Counter’ app on an old Tab A tablet just now, without and with a sample radioactive rock. Clunky and very slow but similar results to the GBC800 Geiger counter that I received from Amazon, yesterday. But the sample should be near …


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 3, 2024

December 3, 1736: Astronomer Anders Celsius took measurements that confirmed Isaac Newton’s theory that Earth was a slight ellipsoid, rather than the previously accepted perfect sphere. — On December 3, 1944, the Greek Civil War broke out in a newly-liberated Greece, between communists and royalists. — Today is “Giving Tuesday”.  Please consider some of the worthy charities linked at our Charity page. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present the first entry for Round 116 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 …


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, news of RCMP agents surveilling  Montana gun shows. (See the Montana section.) Idaho Idaho’s vet shortage remains problematic. o  o  o Another interesting backcountry Tundra Tire flying video. This one is down in the Owyhee country: Secret Backcountry Oasis in Idaho at the 45 Ranch. …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 2, 2024

On December 2, 1805, Napoleon defeated the Russians and Austrians at Austerlitz.  The painting is a romanticized rendition by French artist François Gérard, circa 1810. — December 2, 1927: The first Model A Ford sold, for $385.  In paper currency, that would be the equivalent of $6,984.52 in inflated 2024 U.S. Dollars.  But in terms of U.S. gold coins that were still circulating in 1927? $385 divided by $20.67 per ounce = 18.63 ounces of gold. The 2024 value of gold of $2,640 x 18.63 = $49,183.20. — Our Big Sale Ends at Midnight! We’ve been running a Black Friday …


Recipe of the Week: Leftover Turkey Casserole

The following recipe for Leftover Turkey Casserole is from SurvivalBlog reader Angie T..  She says:  “This mostly uses Thanksgiving dinner leftovers, but I always keep Mozzarella cheese on hand.” Ingredients Turkey Mashed potatoes Turkey gravy Stuffing Cooked Rice Carrots Peas Green beans Cranberry sauce (Whole berry or jellied type) Mozzarella Cheese (can substitute cheddar) Garlic powder (if desired) Salt and Pepper, to taste Directions Just layer the available ingredients together as a casserole.  Make some stuffing the top layer, so that it gets slightly crispy. Bake it briefly, at 300 F — just a bit more then re-heating. — Do …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“There is no provision by a bill of rights to guard against the dangerous encroachments of power in too many instances to be named: but I cannot pass over in silence the insecurity in which we are left with regard to warrants unsupported by evidence — the daring experiment of granting writs of assistance in a former arbitrary administration is not yet forgotten in the Massachusetts; nor can we be so ungrateful to the memory of the patriots who counteracted their operation, as so soon after their manly exertions to save us from such a detestable instrument of arbitrary power, …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 1, 2024

December 1, 1903: Release of “The Great Train Robbery” the first Western film, starring Justus D. Barnes and G. M. Anderson.   December 1, 1966: The radio time signal WWV was moved from Greenbelt, Maryland to Boulder, Colorado. — Today is also the birthday of gun designer Charles Cashman Kelsey, Jr. of DEVEL fame. He was born December 1,1935. He was murdered in Texas under mysterious circumstances in April, 2003. — This is also the birthday of novelist Rex Stout (1886–1975). Rex Stout was the brother of Ruth Stout, the gardener who wrote about no till, year-round mulching, organic gardening …


Writing Contest Judging Results (Round 115)

We’ve completed the judging for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The judging for this round was very difficult since there were five very informative Hurricane Helene after-action reports and several excellent technical articles. First Prize goes to Soyez Ferme, for Hurricane Milton After Action Review. See: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  It was posted on October 23-24-25, 2024. His prizes will include: 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 …