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, more news of nuclear war brinksmanship.

Russia’s Terrifying ‘Dead Hand’ Threat

Over at The UK Daily Mail: Russia’s terrifying ‘DEAD HAND’ threat as spiraling nuclear rhetoric leaves world on the brink.

And in related news: Trump moves nuclear subs closer to Russia after Kremlin threat.

Poland Readies Itself Against a Possible Russian Invasion

Poland prepares to defend itself against potential Russian invasion — ABC NEWS (Australia).

Taiwanese Civilians Training for a Chinese Invasion

Meanwhile, in Taiwan: The Taiwanese civilians training for a Chinese invasion.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“We are called the nation of inventors. And we are. We could still claim that title and wear its loftiest honors if we had stopped with the first thing we ever invented, which was human liberty.” – Mark Twain

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 6, 2025

We are now celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the founding of SurvivalBlog. My first blog post was on August 5, 2005. That was just three weeks before the first report that Hurricane Katrina had formed. There are now 40,836 archived SurvivalBlog posts. That includes 7,296 quotes, with Bible verses on every Saturday and Sunday. All of the blog archives will remain freely available. Thanks for spreading the word and making the blog such a great success. Our special thanks to the 2% of readers who voluntarily subscribe. I hope that more folks will recognize the usefulness of SurvivalBlog as a reference. I also hope that folks appreciate that we’ve posted daily, almost without fail, for all these years. Today, when more than half of what you see on the Internet is A.I. and bot-generated schlock, SurvivalBlog abides as one of the last of the old school human-written daily blogs, with integrity and a consistent editorial voice. Lord willing, I hope to continue the blog for another 20 years. Thanks again, and I wish you and your families God’s Providential Blessings, – JWR

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On August 6, 1819: Norwich University was founded in Vermont as the first private military school in the United States.

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On August 6, 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook military helicopter operating with the call sign Extortion 17 (spoken “one-seven”) was shot down while transporting an Immediate Reaction Force attempting to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board.

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Today’s short feature article is a guest post by Mrs. Alaska.

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We are now in need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 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. 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.

Meat and Vegetable Broths, by Mrs. Alaska

Almost any savory dish you cook with water will be tastier if cooked with a vegetable broth or meat broth.  So throughout a week of cooking (and harvesting), I set aside less desirable parts of vegetables and bones to make broth when I have accumulated enough to make a pot or two.  I often time the cooking in advance of making rice, or beans so I can cook those carbohydrates in the broth.

Making Vegetable Broth

The vegetables for broths can be any and all.  For example, this week, I harvested broccoli heads.  For the broth, I cut up the leaves and part of the tough stalk.  I tossed in the tops and bottoms of onions, zucchini, and tomatoes from prior meals, as well as celery that I grow.I flavored the broth with salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme and let it boil gently for an hour.

Then, I strained it into a pot and cooked the pasta in that broth, after which I saved the broth to re-use to flavor rice in a few days.

I pureed the soft vegetables with parmesan cheese, butter, and more garlic for a sauce for the pasta. I love repurposing!!!
Continue reading“Meat and Vegetable Broths, by Mrs. Alaska”

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.

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I found this great documentary linked over at my buddy Commander Zero’s Notes From The Bunker blog: Exploring the Paranoid Country with 374,142 Bunkers to Hide Everyone (how is this possible?)  Pictured above is a fortified Swiss artillery emplacement, camouflaged to look like a house.

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Reader C.B. sent this news from across the pond: UK Police Arrest Gardener in His Own Garden For Carrying Trowel, Sickle.

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U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors. The NRA-ILA article begins:

“On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which included a provision that eliminated the tax stamp fee of $200, but did not deregulate suppressors under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). The fee elimination will not take effect until January 1, 2026, and suppressors will still have to be registered under the NFA, with the standard government overreach of forms, fingerprinting and government approval. In the meantime, the NRA and other gun rights advocates have announced plans to file “a new strategic lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the NFA in Federal Court.”

Gun control groups like Everytown and Giffords, however, maintain that the “NFA has kept silencers out of criminal hands for over eighty years,” and that suppressors “are inherently dangerous devices” that “present a serious public safety concern” and “should not be widely available to civilians.” Suppressors, they allege, do not protect a shooter’s hearing, and the “real reason the gun lobby wants to deregulate silencers is so that the industry can profit off their sale.”

Such claims would lead one to expect that the United Kingdom, as rabidly weapon-adverse and anti-gun as Giffords and Everytown and their supporters could ever wish, would likewise maintain draconian legislative controls on these “inherently dangerous devices that criminals may use to suppress the sound of gunfire and mask muzzle flash.”

Yet, in fact, the opposite appears to be happening.

In 2024, the U.K. government published a public consultation paper seeking input regarding its proposal to remove “sound moderators” from firearm licensing laws. Sound moderators, a.k.a. suppressors or silencers, are controlled under section 57(1)(d) of the Firearms Act 1968, which (much like the U.S. Gun Control Act and NFA) defines “firearm” to include “an accessory to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon where the accessory is designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon.”

The consultation document explained the background.”

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Sam Altman’s doomsday ‘bunker’ confession as OpenAI CEO fears ‘bombs dropping’.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I simply cannot stand by and watch a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States come under attack from those who either can’t understand it, don’t like the sound of it, or find themselves too philosophically squeamish to see why it remains the first among equals: Because it is the right we turn to when all else fails. That’s why the Second Amendment is America’s first freedom.” – Charlton Heston

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 5, 2025

August 5, 1716: Battle of Petrovaradin [aka Peterwardein]: The Habsburgs under Eugene of Savoy defeated the Ottomans in a decisive victory.

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On this day in 1763: Battle of Bushy Run, Pontiac’s War. Forces led by Swiss mercenary Henry Bouquet defeated Chief Pontiac’s Indians at Bushy Run.

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August 5, 1917: The entire US National Guard is taken into national service, subject to presidential rather than state control.

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August 5th is also the sad anniversary of the Mann Gulch Fire in Montana that took the lives of 13 firefighters (including 12 smokejumpers and one former smokejumper), in 1949. The intense, fast-moving forest fire took place in what later became the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. The events of that fire were chronicled in the book Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean and immortalized in the haunting lyrics of the ballad Cold Missouri Waters by James Keelaghan.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post.

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We are in need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 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. 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.

Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 119

We’ve announced the winners of Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

Note to the top three prize winners: Please contact me and let me know your UPS and USPS address(es), for your prizes. Thanks. – JWR

The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 119 are…

First Prize Winner:

First Prize goes to A.F. for Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families. See: Part 1 and Part 2. It was posted July 8-9, 2025. He will receive as prizes:

  1. 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),
  2. 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),
  3. 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.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
Second Prize Winner:

Second Prize goes to N.C. for Preparing To Go To Gunsite.  See: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It was posted July 1-3, 2025.  He will receive:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels, plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com.
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  4. 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 Winner:

Third Prize goes to R.H. for A Primer on Backup Power. See: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It was posted June 18-20, 2025. He will receive:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  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.
Honorable Mention Prizes

The writers of the Round 119 Honorable Mention articles will each receive a transferable $100 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 in most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

There were 10 Honorable Mention prize-winning articles in Round 119. They are:

Get Busy Writing!

Round 120 began on August 1st and runs for two months, so please get busy writing and e-mail us your entry soon. More than $960,000 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. 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. Thanks, – JWR

Commonality Across Your Preps, by A.C.

Let’s face it, the world we live in is defined by the staggering variety of choices we have. A that is why the simple concept of standardization (the deliberate choice to use common platforms and equipment) might seem like a limitation. However, as large government organizations and individual preppers alike have learned a strategic commitment to commonality offers immeasurable benefits in efficiency, cost, and safety.

By examining the lessons from military programs I have been personally involved with and applying them to our own lives, we can see how thinking about standardization is a powerful way to enhance our readiness, whether for daily routines or for unforeseen events. As a defense contractor, I’ve worked on many programs and have seen governments all over the world waste money with reckless abandon, but I’ve also witnessed some simple, pragmatic tools the military has used as a true force multiplier; one of those is standardization and I want to show you how to apply that to your path through preparedness.Continue reading“Commonality Across Your Preps, by A.C.”

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 about the manhunt for an Anaconda, Montana quadruple murder suspect. (See the Montana section.)

Idaho

Throwing Away The Key: Bryan Kohberger transferred to long-term isolation in ‘restrictive housing block’.

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Sun Valley Tour de Force survivors heal and inspire. “What started as a charity car race in Sun Valley turned into a fight for survival for two Idaho friends, Ron Martinez and Zach Alder.”

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Emergency road closures in place for wildfire near Hope, Idaho.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 4, 2025

On August 4, 1735, a jury acquitted John Zenger of the New York Weekly Journal. (A sample issue from the previous year is pictured.) He had been charged with seditious libel by the royal governor of New York. This was a key victory and legal precedent for freedom of press.

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August 4, 1900:  An allied expeditionary force, made up of Japanese, Russian, British, French, and American troops, set off from Tientsin for Peking, China, to put down the Boxer rebellion.

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And on August 4, 1961 Spokane, Washington reached an August record high temperature of 108° F.

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Today’s feature article is a review authored by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christainson.

Jase Medical Antibiotic Kit, by Thomas Christianson

Editor’s Introductory Note:  In January 2025, about a month after Tom sent in this article, Jase became a SurvivalBlog advertiser.  We do our best to keep advertising and editorial as separate spheres. – JWR

Author’s Note: I am not a medical professional. The information included in this article is not intended as medical advice. It is just an account of my own personal experiences. Please seek competent medical advice as you formulate your own emergency medical plans.

A number of years ago, the area where I was living was swept by a Category 5 blizzard. All of the roads in the area were closed by the State Police for five days. Drifts more than six feet deep accumulated across roads in many locations. Civil Defense workers had to risk their lives to bring people needed medications.

More recently, the Covid scare resulted in supply chain disruptions. Some people were unable to obtain needed medications.

In light of the fact that similar future emergencies may disrupt access to life-saving medications, it seems prudent to obtain a supply of some of the more commonly used medications ahead of time.

Jase Medical offers antibiotic kits “to be better prepared medically for purposes of future travel, residing in an underserved medical area, to protect myself against potential supply issues, or due to mobility issues.”

The “Jase Case” consists of five commonly used antibiotics that can be used to treat over 50 different kinds of infection. It was priced at $269.95 at the time of this writing at Jasemedical.com . That cost compared favorably at the time of this writing with the cost of using www.GoodRX.com to purchase the same medications at the local pharmacy.Continue reading“Jase Medical Antibiotic Kit, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Crockpot Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is from SurvivalBlog reader P.K..

Ingredients
  • 1 can of Evaporated Milk. (Note: Use evaporated milk and not “sweetened condensed milk”. They are not the same!)
  • Vanilla Extract (enough to suit your taste.)
  • Raisins (optional, up to a large handful)
  • Long Grain White Rice – First, cook the rice according to package directions before adding it to the slow cooker. Measure 3 cups of cooked rice.
  • Brown Sugar and Cinnamon– to sprinkle on top.
Directions
  1. Mix the first four ingredients to a large crock pot slow cooker.
  2. Cook on your crockpot’s high setting for 2.5 to 3 hours. There is no need to stir it unless you notice some brown around the edges.
SERVING

Mix together a few spoonfuls of brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle that on top of the pudding just 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!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic:  Map of the Largest Metropolitan Areas in the United States. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)  Note that only one of them touches the edge of the American Redoubt region.

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

 

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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.