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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Reader John P. wrote this query:

“What is your opinion on the new service T-Moble is offering? I know that at this time it is only text, but the future? No Sat phones? No need for ham radio? When the towers are down? My Dad trained me that there is always a weak link, what could it be? My thought is that it could be the Starlink system, but?”

JWR Replies: The T-Mobile system that will become available on July 23rd will have limited capability. I suggest waiting about a year, until Starlink/Tesla releases their planned satellite phone/Internet handheld “Pi Phone”.  This will make all other satellite phone offerings obsolete.  And in the present-day huge “no cell coverage” swaths of the western U.S., it will make most cellular phones obsolete. It is rumored that the mid-2026 version of the Starlink Pi Phone will have a port (or Bluetooth?) to allow your laptop (with browser and e-mail) low-latency satellite Internet connectivity at very high speed. That will be a true game-changer.

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Guilty: Republican Election Observer Convicted of Felony After Refusing to Wear a Mask. JWR’s Comments:  Our society has become so over-regulated that some absurd mala prohibita crimes have been reclassified as felonies. This trend needs to be reversed!  Keep in mind that in most cases, a felony conviction means forfeiture of the right to vote and the right to own any post-1898 firearms for life.

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A SurvivalBlog reader in Belgium sent this: “Otroverts” and why nonconformists often see what others can’t.

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Over at the Rural Revolution blog: Buried in blueberries.

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Texas death toll rises to 129 with at least 150 still missing.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 15, 2025

July 15, 1410: The Battle of Grunwald (a.k.a. First Battle of Tannenburg and Battle of Žalgiris) was fought. It was one of Medieval Europe’s largest battles during Poland-Lithuanian Teutonic War. Polish King Władysław Jagiełło and Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas defeated Teutonic Ulrich von Junginge.

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On July 15th, 1888, the Bandai Volcano erupted on the Japanese island of Honshu killing hundreds and burying many nearby villages in ash.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  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:

  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:

  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.

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More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 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. 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.

How Do You Define an “Emergency Situation”?, by A.Y.

An emergency, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is: “…an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action, or an urgent need for assistance or relief.”  Throughout our lifetimes we may see many types of emergencies not just the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) types of emergencies such as nuclear war or economic collapse that we should be prepared for.

I have found that in my life choosing the prepper lifestyle has aided me in many such emergencies.  Once, for instance, I found when I was laid off from work that my preparedness and stringently frugal rationing kept my family fed.Continue reading“How Do You Define an “Emergency Situation”?, by A.Y.”

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 a partial rock tower collapse in the Grand Tetons (See the Wyoming section.)

Region-Wide

From the left-leaning Newsweek: Idaho group calls federal intervention “necessary” to redraw state border. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog reader C.B. for the link.)

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Inland Northwest faces above-normal wildfire risk this summer.

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Trump administration pulls US out of agreement to help restore salmon in the Columbia River.

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Hundreds gather for memorial ride from Coeur d’Alene to Spokane to honor fallen firefighters.

Idaho

Lake Pend Oreille walleye fishing has no limits this summer.

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Ancient Artifacts Uncovered In Idaho May Be Evidence Of North America’s First Human Settlement.

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Search for Travis Decker called off in Sawtooth National Forest after mistaken identity, U.S. Marshals say.

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Suspended Idaho attorney ruled ‘Vexatious litigant’ in ongoing battle over mother’s estate.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It is curious to look back and realize upon what trivial and apparently coincidental circumstances great events frequently turn as easily and naturally as a door on its hinges.” – H. Rider Haggard

Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 14, 2025

July 14 1962:  The borehole for the 7.2-mile long Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy was finished.  The tunnel was opened to traffic in July, 1965. Pictured is the French side of the tunnel.

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July 14, 1850: The first public demonstration of ice made via refrigeration was made by Florida physician John Gorrie.

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July 14, 1864: Gold was discovered in Helena, Montana.

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A silver bull breakout! Spot silver jumped 3.67% in one day, to close at $38.67 per Troy ounce on Friday. (July 11, 2025.) It was up again this morning (after Asian trading) to $38.90 per Troy ounce. That is a 14-year high for silver, in U.S. Dollar terms. The short sellers may give it one last try, but I expect them to soon capitulate.  $1,000 face value bag of pre-1965 circulated (“junk”) silver now sells for around $28,830. So I’ve correspondingly raised my pre-1965 divisor to an unprecedented 28.8 times face value at Elk Creek Company.  If you want to parlay a portion of your silver holdings into antique guns, then this is a very advantageous time to do so.

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Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

Stihl MS261C Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson

With a magnesium-alloy crankcase, captive bar-nuts, a decompression valve, and a host of other premium features, the Stihl MS261 is its various forms represents a well-designed and well-constructed professional chainsaw. But it is the light weight and the outstanding power-to-weight-ratio of the saw that secures its place as one of the most popular chainsaws in the world.

With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $709.99 at the time of this writing for the C-M version with a 16 inch bar, the saw represents a great value for high-volume wood cutting. If you only cut a few cord or less of firewood each year, a less expensive consumer or farm-and-ranch level saw will probably be sufficient. But if you regularly process ten or more cord of firewood a year, fatigue is reduced and time is saved by using a lighter and more powerful saw will likely be worth the extra investment.Continue reading“Stihl MS261C Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken

The following recipe for Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken is from SurvivalBlog reader V.F..

Ingredients
  • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast halves (weighing about 6 ounces each)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or less, to suit your taste)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2/3 cup of applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (or less, to suit your taste)
Directions
  1. Sprinkle the chicken breast pieces with pepper.
  2. In a large oiled skillet, brown chicken on both sides.
  3. In a small bowl, combine and thoroughly mix the other ingredients.
  4. Pour the mixture over the top and sides of the chicken breast pieces, as a heavy glaze.
  5. Cover and cook on a hot stove until cooked through (a thermometer reads 165°)  — about 7-10 minutes. Do not turn the pieces while cooking.
SERVING

“Serve hot, with your choice of a side dish. I usually serve this with corn on the cob.”

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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: Economic Activity in the US. This map shows the nation’s gross economic activity, split in half. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

JWR’s Comments: This map is an oversimplification. The locations of major corporate headquarters skew the map. Here are just two examples: There are McDonald’s franchises all over the country generating revenue, but the McDonald’s headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It markets packaged farm products (predominantly grains) grown in rural areas of more than a dozen states.

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.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The great object of my fear is the federal judiciary. That body, like gravity, ever acting, with noiseless foot, and unalarming advance, gaining ground step by step, and holding what it gains, is engulfing insidiously the special governments into the jaws of that which feeds them.” – Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Judge Spencer Roane, March 9, 1821

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 13, 2025

On July  13, 1832, the source of Mississippi River was discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft.

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On July 13th, 1772 Captain James Cook began his second voyage to the South Seas aboard HMS Resolution to search for Terra Australis (a Southern continent).

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And on this day in 1787, Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance structuring settlement of the Northwest Territory and creating a policy for the addition of new states to the nation. The Northwest Ordinance established the first organized US territory, set requirements for statehood – guaranteeing equal status with the original 13 states, outlawed slavery in the new lands, and protected civil liberties. The members of Congress knew that if their new confederation were to survive intact, it had to resolve the states’ competing claims to western territory.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  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:

  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:

  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.

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More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 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. 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.

My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move, by Single Farmer

I am still looking for a wife. I have been seriously thinking and praying about how to be able to get married and came to the conclusion that moving may possibly be the key. I have also expanded my search for my future wife. I am now looking both domestically and internationally/ If you are international reader or know a young woman overseas, then please read my thoughts on a possible international quest in the last of the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this article.

The following is about my search for a spouse in the United States:Continue reading“My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move, by Single Farmer”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

I Swear, There Never Was An Epstein Client List

And If You Falsely Remember That There Was, Then That Is Just The Mandela Effect

News Links:

Epstein ‘client list’ doesn’t exist, Justice Department says, walking back theory Bondi had promoted.

MTG says Americans are ‘not going to accept’ there is no Epstein client list.

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:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

Despise not prophesyings.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us.

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” – 1 Thessalonians 5 (KJV)