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 recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian bomber bases.

Details on Ukrainian Attack on Russian Bomber Bases

Operation Spider’s Web: How Russians Were Tricked Into Bombing Themselves. Here is a Fair Use pericope:

“The drones were assembled in Chelyabinsk, inside a rented warehouse. Ukrainian operatives—likely supported by embedded agents or sympathetic locals—built First Person View (FPV) drones using materials sourced from within Russia. These strike platforms were hidden inside wooden modular cabins constructed to look like prefabricated houses. Beneath the roof panels, drone bays were concealed between structural beams, with remotely operated opening mechanisms to allow launch on command.

Once sealed, the cabins were loaded onto civilian trucks. The vehicles were then handed over to unwitting Russian drivers, recruited by Artyom, a 37-year-old ethnic Ukrainian who coordinated logistics under the cover of a private construction job.

The drivers were told they were transporting portable homes to regions like Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo. Each was given a delivery plan, a route, and a schedule. During transit, a mysterious intermediary would call and issue final location instructions—always near military infrastructure.“

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.” Translated: Let him who desires peace, prepare for war.” – Publius Vegetius Renatus, commonly known as Vegetius, a Roman writer of the 4th Century, A.D.. (This quote is usually cited in the form: Si vis pacem, para bellum — “If you want peace, prepare for war”)  From: ‘De Rei Militari’ 3, prologue.

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 4, 2025

Today is the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, in 1989.

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Today is the anniversary of the June 4, 2004, Granby, Colorado armored bulldozer incident, where Marvin Heemeyer knocked down several buildings in the town. A documentary titled Tread details what happened that day, and the events leading to the rampage. Though often called the “Killdozer” incident, the only one who died that day was Marvin Heemeyer, from a self-inflicted gunshot.

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A Reminder: We are running a two-week-long sale on all of the pre-1899 Mauser rifles in our inventory at Elk Creek Company.  There is no paperwork required to order these, in most States.  They are mailed right to your door or your P.O. Box address. The sale ends on Monday, June 16th. Take a look!  Also, take note with the recent spike in spot and futures silver prices, we have dropped our silver divisor to an unprecedented 25.5! (Take the listed price and divide by 25.5, if you want to pay in pre-1965 U.S. “junk” silver.)

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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. 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 $2,000.
  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 $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.

For Want of a Nail: A Preps Inventory System – Part 2, by J.M.

(Continued from Part 1,)

The Obsidian UI

The User Interface (UI) for Obsidian can appear somewhat complicated, but it’s actually laid out pretty well. Here’s a picture of the basic interface:

 

 

 

 

Starting on the left is the Ribbon, which contains a series of icon buttons that you can press to perform different actions. There are a couple of different core functions, and many of the additional capabilities you can add via Plugins (more on that later) will add additional action buttons here.

Next is the Left Sidebar, which can display a number of different views, but for the purposes of the inventory we’re only concerned with the default vault folder hierarchy view. As you can see in the image above it looks a lot like the file explorer on your desktop and shows the folder hierarchy in the vault and all the notes in each folder. You can expand and collapse folders and click on notes to view them in the main window. Above the Left Sidebar is the Command Bar for the sidebar, which lets you change between different views in the sidebar. The icon of a folder on the Command Bar brings up the folder hierarchy view, which is what we’re using.Continue reading“For Want of a Nail: A Preps Inventory System – Part 2, by J.M.”

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 Tim J. sent this news: Army To Retire All Of Its Turboprop Surveillance Planes By The End Of The Year. JWR’s Comments: I predict that the Army will be forced to extend the life of its existing Guardrail turboprop (Beechcraft Super King Air) platforms, until a significant number of the new Bombardier Global 6500 jets are delivered, and all of the SEMA bugs are worked out. I worked live missions at the Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) ground segment of a Guardrail unit, back in the late 1980s. That was the 2nd M.I. Brigade in Stuttgart, West Germany. We had mission tasking at both the tactical and strategic levels. More than half of our aircraft were the Improved Guardrail V (IGR-V, a.k.a. RC-12D) iteration of Guardrail (similar to the plane pictured above), when Guardrail Common Sensor was still in the planning stages. These are very complex systems, and their delivery and acceptance schedules are notorious for slipping. The trusty Beechcraft turboprop birds will probably have to soldier on for a few more years. It would be a huge mistake to leave a gap in our nation’s air-breathing platform SIGINT/ELINT capabilities.

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SurvivalBlog reader C.B. sent this: How California’s National Park Item Ban Is Impacting Visitor Safety. JWR’s Comment:  We visit our nearby National Parks (Yellowstone and Glacier), and both have plenty of grizzlies. When we do, we usually carry both pepper spray and lead spray.  Pity the poor disarmed Californians. They now have nary but harsh language available, to discourage the bears.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though for but one year, can never willingly abandon it.” – Edmund Burke (1729-1797), from ‘Letter to a Member of the National Assembly’ (1791)

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 3, 2025

On June 3, 1781, Jack Jouett (pictured, in a later imagining) rode to warn Thomas Jefferson of an impending British attack.

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June 3rd can also be considered the “birthday” of the U.S. Army. (It was established by Congress on June 3rd, 1784.)

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A fan of SurvivalBlog is one of the organizers of a real estate raffle for a 32-acre parcel of waterfront land in northwest Montana that looks quite retreat-worthy.  I generally shy away from raffles and any sort of games of chance.  But because this raffle will benefit a good cause (an animal shelter in that part of Montana), and because the property would be quite suitable for building a retreat, I decided to give this fundraiser some publicity in SurvivalBlog. The raffle ends on July 31, 2025. For details, see: DreamPropertyRaffle.org.

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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. 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 $2,000.
  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 $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.

For Want of a Nail: A Preps Inventory System – Part 1, by J.M.

If you’re a regular reader of SurvivalBlog.com you’ve probably collected at least a few things as part of your preps – canned food, radios, firearms, ammunition, medical supplies, etc. When you first start prepping, knowing what you have and where it’s located isn’t that difficult – you can probably remember the contents of your bug-out bag, the canned food in the basement, a medical kit, etc. But as your preps continue to expand it becomes harder and harder to keep track of what you have, where it is and what you need to do to take care of it. Not knowing exactly where things are can slow you down in an emergency such as having to evacuate during a major disaster, and not regularly reviewing and maintaining your preps can mean something critical isn’t available or working correctly when you need it most.

Like many folks I started keeping track of my preps using paper in a three-ring binder. As my preps grew this method became really cumbersome, so I switched to a Rolodex-style system, with each item written on a separate card and organized by storage location. The issues I ran into with any hardcopy system was that they lacked the ability to search for specific items, and when I re-organized my prep storage I had to spend hours updating the inventory documentation. Next I moved to a spreadsheet inventory system, which also eventually became a mess. I’ve also tried various databases and other software inventory tools, but nothing really worked well for me.Continue reading“For Want of a Nail: A Preps Inventory System – Part 1, by J.M.”

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, a round-up of fence, corral, cattle guard, and gate installation companies in the American Redoubt.

Idaho

In North Idaho: American Fence Company.

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In Boise: Anvil Fence Company.

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In Bonners Ferry:  T&L Fencing.

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In Lewiston: Clearwater Fence Company.

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In the Coeur d’Alene area:  Lake City Fence & Fabrication.

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And in Rexburg: Western Fence.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 2, 2025

Please keep the pressure on your state’s two U.S. Senators, starting today (the Senate recess just ended) with at least two phone calls and an e-mail each week, insisting that they vote in favor of both the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) and the SHORT Act, as part of the Continuing Resolution budget bill.  Please phone the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Also, remind both your Senator and Elizabeth MacDonough (the unelected Senate Parliamentarian) that The Byrd Rule (limiting Continuing Resolution amendments to only budget-related and tax-related bills) DOES NOT apply. This is because the previously expected $1.7 Billion in suppressor registrations (at $200 per suppressor) over the next 10 years are taxes that will directly impact the Federal budget.  Ditto, for about $500,000 worth of SBR/SBS $200 tax stamp registrations. After all, the NFA is a tax scheme that is codified in the Tax Code regulations. The HPA bill — already passed in the House — will remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act.  The SHORT Act (if added in the Senate version) will remove the SBR and SBS categories from the National Firearms Act. Please keep calling and e-mailing your state’s U.S. Senators! Thanks! – JWR

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On June 2, 1774, Parliament renewed the Quartering Act, allowing British military to stay in private homes if necessary, completing the Coercive Acts. The Quartering Act, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Boston Port Act, were known as The Coercive Acts. These Acts were Parliament’s way of asserting their control over the colonists after the Boston Tea Party. The wicked Quartering Act was the main motivation for the 3rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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June 2, 1986: Regular television coverage of US Senate sessions began.

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Take note that Ready Made Resources is running a special bonus offer for purchasers of LifeSaver Jerrycan 20,000-gallon filters. (All colors In stock.) If you mention “SurvivalBlog” in the comment section of your order, you will get a free replacement filter. The jerrycan filter systems themselves are already discounted, and you’ll be getting a spare filter that is normally priced at $129.

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We’ve just started a two-week-long sale on all of the pre-1899 Mauser rifles in our inventory at Elk Creek Company.  There is no paperwork required to order these, in most States.  They are mailed right to your door or P.O. Box address. Take a look!

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Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.  But first, the results of the writing contest judging.

Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 118

We’ve announced the winners of Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 118 are…

First Prize Winner:

First Prize goes to R.T. for: The Repair Teardown. See Part 1 and Part 2. It was posted April 12-13, 2025.  He will receive as prizes:

  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 Winner:

Second Prize goes to St. Funogas for: Post-SHTF Lighting: Portable Power Stations, posted May 7-9, 2025.  See: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  Also, see the previous more general article by the same author: Post-SHTF Lighting, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  St. Funogas 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. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock
  3. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  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 Tunnel Rabbit for Communications Options for the Common Man, posted May 13-18, 2025.  See: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6. He will receive:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail 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.
Honorable Mention Prizes

The writers of the Round 118 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 eight Honorable Mention prize-winning articles in Round 118. They are:

Get Busy Writing!

Round 119 began yesterday 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

Coolfab Flaretop Rocket Stove, by Thomas Christianson

Coolfab is a custom metal-fabrication shop in Zeeland, Michigan. They are putting out some of the most innovative rocket stove designs that I have seen anywhere, at quite reasonable prices.

I recently had a chance to test one of Coolfab’s Flaretop stoves. It is a real beast of a rocket stove, with its cooking surface standing 27.5 inches above the ground and weighing in at 52 pounds. The flaring at the top of the stove allows for a respectable 12 by 12-inch cooking surface. This larger surface area enabled me to simultaneously roast hot dogs and boil a half gallon of water. I found that using the stove was a lot of fun. My wife, “Kari” went so far as to express interest in similar cookouts every week.Continue reading“Coolfab Flaretop Rocket Stove, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Chicken-Pasta Salad

The following recipe for Chicken-Pasta Salad is from SurvivalBlog reader Joanna E.

Ingredients
  • 3 cups cooked, cubed chicken
  • 16 ounces pasta  (I usually use farfale or rotini.)
  • 1 pound asparagus or green beans
  • 3⁄4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1⁄4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 4 ounces ounces mozzarella pearls
  • 1⁄4 cup cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1⁄3 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
  1. Cook and cube (or shred) the chicken.  This can be leftover chicken from the previous night’s dinner.)
  2. Prepare an ice bath and set it near the stove. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the asparagus. Cook until the asparagus is crisp-tender and bright green, about 2 to 3 minutes (green beans may need a minute longer). With a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to the ice bath to stop its cooking (do not drain the boiling liquid). Let the asparagus cool for 2 to 3 minutes, then with the slotted spoon, transfer it to towels and pat dry.
  3. Return the water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain into a colander, then rinse with cool water to stop the cooking. Shake the colander several times, then set the colander on towels or a plate and allow the water to continue to drain. You can also set it in the sink to drain.
  4. In a very large bowl, place the onion. Add the 2 tablespoons of the vinegar. Add the asparagus, bell pepper, artichokes, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and chicken.  (There is no need to stir again just yet.)
  5. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup with a spout, briskly whisk together the oil, mustard, garlic, oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar until the ingredients all come together into a smooth dressing.
  6. Shake the pasta in the colander once more to remove any remaining water, then add it to the bowl with the vegetable mixture.
  7. Pour in about 2/3 of the dressing, then stir to coat.
  8. Stir in the basil.
  9. Taste, and then add additional dressing, and season with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes, if desired.
SERVING

Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

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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 Graphics of the Week

Today’s graphics:  Light Pollution, Around the World. (Graphics courtesy of Reddit.)

The thumbnails below are click-expandable.  We usually post just one graphic each week, but this set of color images was so fascinating that we chose to post the full set. In the image of East Asia, note the dark spot, for North Korea. Truly, a picture tells a thousand words. – JWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.