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.

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Amid Growing Violence, More Churches Turn to Faith-Based Security Groups.

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SurvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Mike Williamson sent us a link to some valid criticism of a prepper ad, over at  X/Twitter. JWR’s Comments: The rust on that saw shows that it isn’t used often, or well cared for.  And seeing him make his cut between the sawbuck supports is downright laughable.  He is moments away from getting his saw pinched.

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Study: Electric Vehicle Batteries Make Cars Too Heavy to Be Stopped by Safety Guardrails.

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U.S. citizens can now renew their passports online. JWR’s Comment:  Keeping passports updated for every family member is important.  You never know when you might need to implement a “Plan C” or even a “Plan D”, for bug-out.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 24, 2024

On September 24, 1529, Sultan Suleiman and his Ottoman troops arrived in Vienna, beginning a whole series of smaller sieges in the region, culminating with the Turk’s failed Second Siege, in 1683.

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Today’s feature article is a short guest post by former congressman Dr. Ron Paul, selected by JWR. It is reposted with permission.

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We are seeking entries for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, 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 First Steps Toward a Liberty Platform, by Ron Paul

Last weekend several hundred of us gathered in Washington, DC, at the Ron Paul Institute conference to again proclaim our dedication to the cause of liberty and our opposition to constant US government assaults on that liberty. Our collaborators included old friends like Judge Andrew Napolitano, who explained that the Bill of Rights was not added to the Constitution to grant Americans liberties, but to recognize liberties already existing for all persons – regardless of nationality – by virtue of their humanity.

That is why the US government was purposely or unwittingly in the wrong when it tried to argue that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange did not have the privilege of our First Amendment protections because he is not American. He has these freedoms because he is human.

Our rights and liberties are granted to us by our nature or Creator, so how do we get the government to stop interfering with the intention of our Creator? As I told our crowd at the event, one thing we must do is educate ourselves. We must read, study, and listen to others so that we can better share the message of liberty with others. That is the reason my Institute for Peace and Prosperity puts on its regular conferences: to help people learn about these issues so that they may better pass them on. That is why even with current challenges, our movement keeps growing.

The good news, as I often say, is that it’s really not that complicated. As I told our group last weekend, one of the best ways of restoring liberty is simply to…End the Fed!

In many ways, the Federal Reserve is the greatest threat to our liberties. Politicians talk endlessly about the need to reduce inflation. They all recognize that it has become a serious problem and they each have their own plan to deal with it. But they ignore the true cause of inflation. The Fed is the engine of inflation! Ignoring this while claiming to fight inflation is just tinkering around the sidelines.

The Fed is the reason we have been able to be at war nearly constantly since 1913. Why are we constantly at war? Because the Fed was created to benefit the wealthy elites, and nothing enriches the wealthy elite more than constant war. The Fed prints the money for the wars and then its cronies pocket the money from the wars.

Does anyone really believe that the $200 billion we spent on Ukraine actually went to Ukraine? Of course not. It went to the well-connected, most of whom operate in a close radius to the DC Beltway.

The Fed creates divisions in our society. It pits the rich against the poor. Sure, the poor get food stamps, but the rich get much bigger food stamps through an evil called “corporatism.” And the poor being “helped” all those years with welfare from the Fed are now getting the bill. The bill comes in the form of inflation, which is a tax. If bread goes up 50 percent, the rich hardly notice. But the poor feel that increase very directly.

That is why adopting a “liberty platform” must first require these two important steps: understand the origin of our liberties and end the greatest threat to these liberties: the Federal Reserve!

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 another bear attack in Glacier National Park. (See the Montana section.)

Region-Wide

The AmRRON Amateur Radio Network is Streaming Live on Sunday Nights on the Internet.

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The Pacific Northwest is Among The Best U.S. Metros for Job Growth in 2024.   JWR’s Comment: To a lesser extent, the Inland Northwest is seeing the same boom.

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The end of summer brings some unexpected shake-ups to Inland Northwest restaurants.

Idaho

Results: August 2024 “Iconic Idaho” Photo Contest.

Here is a link to a brief video review of the contest: The Decade-Long Contest Bringing Idaho Photographers Together. (Overtly promotional of the leftist PBS, but still worth watching.)

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Chad Daybell’s home demolished in Fremont County.

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Bannock: Community is Encouraged to Sign Up for Emergency Alert Notifications.

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First U of I murders hearing in Ada County scheduled.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 23, 2024

On September 23, 1779 John Paul Jones aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard defeated the British frigate HMS Serepis and became the first well-known naval hero of the United States.  He answered a call to surrender from his English counterpart with the famous quotation, “I have not yet begun to fight!”

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We are running a 3-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 11th, 2024, all of our Pietta brand blackpowder revolvers and all of our M1891 Argentine Mauser rifles have their prices deeply discounted.  Take a look!

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Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

Stoeger STR-9F, by Thomas Christianson

If I had to describe the Stoeger STR-9F in as few words as possible, I would say that it reminds me of a Glock 17 with a good trigger.

It is roughly the same general shape as a Glock 17, holds 17 rounds like a Glock 17, weighs about the same as a Glock 17, and field strips in the same way as a Glock 17 into the same component parts as a Glock 17.

I found the trigger to be better than any Glock 17 I have ever fired, and I was able to shoot it more accurately than any Glock 17 that I have ever fired.Continue reading“Stoeger STR-9F, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Callie’s Baked Ham and Cheese

The following recipe for Callie’s Baked Ham and Cheese is from SurvivalBlog reader Callie B.

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 6 cups of bread cubes
  • 1 cup deli ham, shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 1½ cups of milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
Directions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add in the butter to melt, and then add the onions and coat them in the butter. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until the onions are golden brown.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of water, and continue cooking for 10 more minutes. Set aside.
  5. Mix the bread cubes in a bowl with the ham and cheese. Add the onions.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, mustard powder, parsley, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  7. Pour over the bread mixture, and stir gently.
  8. Pour mixture into a greased 9” x 9” baking dish, and bake for 45 minutes, or until set and lightly browned.
SERVING

Let this dish sit for 10 minutes before serving.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 22, 2024

On this day in 1499, Switzerland became an independent state.  Here is a quote from a scholarly paper on the 1499 Swabian War:

“At the end of the fifteenth century, Emperor Maximilian I of the Germany Empire was trying to unite his country. He also tried to force the Swiss Confederation to become closer members of the empire. This led to the Swabian War of 1499. In a series of battles and campaigns, the Swiss were successful in defeating the famous Swabian Landsknechte who had learned to fight in the Swiss manner. As an outcome of the war, the Swiss Confederation was even more independent of the German Empire.”

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September 22, 1598, Playwright and poet Ben Jonson was arrested and jailed for manslaughter as the result of a duel where he killed actor Gabriel Spenser.

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September 22, 1735, Robert Walpole became the first British “Prime Minister” (actually First Lord of the Treasury) to live at 10 Downing Street.

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September 22nd is the birthday of survivalist writer Joel Skousen. (Born, 1946.) Skousen authored the excellent books Strategic Relocation and The High Security Shelter – How to Implement a Multi-Purpose Safe Room in the Home.

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September 22nd is the birthday of the late Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Reid-Daly, who founded and commanded the Rhodesian Selous Scouts. He was born 1928, and he died August 9, 2010. His history of the Selous Scouts, titled Pamwe Chete, is fascinating to read, but it is a very hard-to-find book.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the final installment of a six-part article for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  6. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, 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.

A Rifle is Not Enough – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)

The AKM Rifle

If the rifleman is not well trained or is in no way mechanically inclined, this my favorite rifle that I know very well and will use exclusively in extreme cold weather. It is a rifle I can recommend to any one who would not be able to maintain the AR-15 rifle or any rifle. It is representative of the Cold War weapons and mentality.

Again, the military spends about a week to train new recruits about how to maintain the AR-15 platform. The AKM (a modernized, stamped receiver AK-47) should only require perhaps one day, or just a few hours to train a new shooter to maintain. It is that simple and easy to keep this rifle reliable, a veritable battle axe that can run when rusty and can use rusty steel-cased ammunition.Continue reading“A Rifle is Not Enough – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

A Safety Tip for Kackling Kamala: You Can Accept Dick Cheney’s Election Endorsement

But Don’t Accept His Pheasant Hunting Trip Invitation

News Links:

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:

“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” – Matthew 9:1-15 (KJV)