Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 27, 2025

On May 27, 1813, American forces captured Fort George, Canada.

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Today is the birthday of American author and abolitionist lecturer Julia Ward Howe, who was best known for writing Battle Hymn of the Republic. She was born in 1819 and died in 1910.

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May 27, 1905: The Japanese fleet destroyed the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. This was the only decisive clash between modern steel battleships in history.

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I just heard some sad news: ‘Duck Dynasty’ founding father Phil Robertson dies at 79. May he rest in peace. Our condolences to his family. – JWR

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 118 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. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  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:

  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.

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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 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.

 

TEOTWAWKI Signals Intelligence – Part 1, by Mike in Alaska

There are many folks who know much more than I do about Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). A quick check at YouTube, or Internet sites will bring in tons of data if you wish to; my effort in this article is aimed at the individual who simply wants to know who is still broadcasting and know that they are not the only person(s) wondering if humanity has been wiped out.

Imagine that there has been some apocalyptic event. It might be a solar storm event on the scale of the Carrington Event of 1859 where Earth was hit with a large X-Class solar flare which caused a lot of confusion. Imagine if such a large scale event took place today in our modern world of electronic presence. Imagine the world without most forms of electronic communications. Or it might be a nuclear attack on the Continental United States (CONUS) that would have the same effect as a solar flare, and much worse could spread radioactive fallout around the northern hemisphere. Just knowing that there were others that are still alive and able to send out any form of radio signal would at the very least be a morale booster to know that there are fellow human survivors. But are your fellow survivors good people, or is there a possibility that they would be a serious threat to you and your family, to your friends?
Continue reading“TEOTWAWKI Signals Intelligence – Part 1, by Mike in Alaska”

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 another charging grizzly bear.  (See the Montana section.)

Idaho

Evidence of North America’s First Human Settlement Found in Idaho.  ( A hat tip to H.L., for the link.)

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Goats: Eco-friendly lawn care.

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Bryan Kohberger defense seeks trial delay amid alternate perpetrator claims.

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Idaho real estate demand outpaces supply as prices rise.

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Crash on 4th of July Pass cleared, traffic delays continue.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 26, 2025

On May 26, 1538, Geneva expelled John Calvin and his followers from the city. Calvin then lived in exile in Strasbourg for the next three years.

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Today is the 35th wedding anniversary of Don and Patrice Lewis. Patrice is Editrix of the excellent Rural Revolution blog.

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Today’s feature piece is a review penned by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 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.

 

Henson Shaving AL13 Razor, by Thomas Christianson

In the event of an extended grid-down situation, many men will probably choose to grow beards. But for those who currently shave their faces, continued regular shaving may help to provide them and their families with a sense of stability. That sense of stability, in turn, may help them to better cope with the transition to the new situation. This means that a comfortable, cost-effective, compact, and convenient shaving system may give significant psychological benefits during a disruptive situation. [JWR Adds: In a nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) warfare environment, having your chin closely-shaved is important for keeping a good seal on a protective mask. This is why most modern armies allow soldiers to grow mustaches, but they do not allow beards.]

The Henson Shaving AL13 Razor provides such a comfortable, cost-effective, compact and convenient shaving system. It is durable, light, reliable, and effective.Continue reading“Henson Shaving AL13 Razor, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week:  Lily’s Creamed Garden Greens Soup

The following is an updated recipe for my Creamed Garden Greens Soup.

Note that this varies from what I had previously posted in our Editors’ Prepping Progress column. I skipped the Dandelion greens this time, and used much less nutmeg. And I did not add any water. It was a super-rich and creamy greens soup.  Everybody raved about it.

Ingredients
  • Four loose cups of mixed mild garden greens.  (From my garden, I used roughly equal parts of Lamb’s Quarters, Sorrel, and Swiss Chard leaves. Also, a smaller quantity of chopped Chives.)
  • 1 Tablespoon of butter (I use my own sheep’s milk butter)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Nutmeg, to taste
  • 4 Cups Whole milk (I use fresh sheep milk)
  • 3 Tablespoons of Flour (I use hand-ground Einkorn flour)
Directions
  1. Chop all of the greens to spoon size.
  2. In a hot frying pan, sauté the greens in one Tablespoon of butter, just until they have softened.
  3. Transfer to a cold soup pan.
  4. Add a sprinkle of salt.
  5. Add a pinch of Nutmeg
  6. Stir in 4 cups of whole milk, and apply medium heat to the pan.
  7. Stir in about three tablespoons of ground flour, to thicken the soup to a creamy consistency.
  8. Simmer the soup for just a few minutes, to maintain the vitamin content of the greens.
SERVING

Prepare this soup just before your main course dish is nearly done with cooking/baking/roasting. Serve this soup hot.  We use it as a summer side dish, alongside a main course of meat. This recipe serves three adults, but it can be doubled. – AVL

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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 — May 25, 2025

On May 25th, 1720, the ship “Le Grand St. Antoine” reached Marseille, France, bringing Europe’s last major plague outbreak. The Plague of Marseille killed around 100,000 people.

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May 25, 1787: The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding. The task of the peaceful overthrow of the new American government as it had been defined by the Articles of Confederation eventually led to the United States Constitution that is so abused today.

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May 25th, 2012: A SpaceX Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock at the International Space Station.

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Today’s feature article is an essay by SurvivalBlog’s founder and Senior Editor, James Wesley, Rawles (JWR).

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We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 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.

 

 

Avoiding Those Jurisdictional Layers

Many of my consulting calls focus on the selection of retreat property locales. I always advise my clients to look first at state, county, and local laws, before they even start to look at individual real estate listings. In this essay,  I will address the issue of jurisdictional layers, when considering retreat locales. In two previous SurvivalBlog articles, I discussed the whole concept of jurisdiction:

But in this essay, I will be going over the application of jurisdiction, and most importantly how it varies, additively, by locale.

Most people reading this already realize that buying land in a State like California or New Jersey would be a mistake. That is immediately apparent just from the standpoint of taxes and gun laws, not to mention population density. But living in any State of the Union, the prospect of coming under the control of multiple jurisdictions can be unappealing.  Often, I have clients who want to buy land or homes in what I call jurisdictionally-burdened areas. Let me elaborate on this:

The Jurisdictional layer cake

If you buy property anywhere in the United States, then you’ll effectively be under Federal Laws. (Yes, I realize that even though most Federal laws are over-applied, since from a Constitutionalist perspective, Federal jurisdiction should properly only be applied to Federal property, such as Federal buildings, forts, ports, and dockyards. But try explaining that to a Federal prosecutor. You won’t get very far…)

Granted, you could expatriate, but then you’ll end up living under a foreign government, with its own set of laws and its own variety of taxes.  All national governments seem to demand their Pound Of Flesh, one way or the other. Even just a cursory bit of research will show you that there are very few countries that have more firearms freedom than the United States. The U.S. is perhaps the world’s safest haven for gun owners. Yes, there are fewer gun laws in Yemen and Somalia, but I couldn’t be persuaded to live in either of those semi-anarchic Islamic countries, for other reasons — most notably the climate, the quality of life, street crime rates, and relative religious freedom. No, thanks!

Unfortunately, the United States is one of the minority of countries that taxes worldwide income. So, if you do decide to move abroad, you’ll find the only real escape from the fell clutches of the IRS is if you give up your American citizenship.  That is not very appealing to me. I’d always like to have the option of moving back here, on short notice.

Continue reading“Avoiding Those Jurisdictional Layers”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

 

Meme Text:

The Face That A Hogg Makes When He Is Told…

That We’ll Be Able To Make Our Own Suppressors and Suppressor Parts, And Sell Used Ones At Gun Shows, Without Any Paperwork

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:

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” – Romans 11:1-19 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — May 24, 2025

On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse tapped out: “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message.

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And speaking of Samuels, on May 24, 1764, Samuel Adams wrote instructions for a Boston Town Meeting opposing the Sugar Act, laying the groundwork for colonial resistance to taxation without representation.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post that is not part of our writing contest judging. We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 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.

 

Leftist Plantation: It’s Now “Treason” For White Farmers To Leave South Africa?, by Brandon Smith

Editor’s Introductory Note: This guest article (reposted with permission) describes some recent news that might outwardly seem tangential to the focus of SurvivalBlog. But I believe that it is indeed relevant because it highlights the importance of preparedness for international migration.

The 20th Century taught us that national politics can change rapidly, and minority groups can be marginalized, exploited, disenfranchised, persecuted, imprisoned, and systematically killed. This happened again and again in places like Armenia, Russia and Ukraine (with the rise of the Bolsheviks and Soviets from the 1920s to 1950s), Greece and Turkey in the 1920s, Nazi Germany, the partition of India and Pakistan, Tibet, Cuba, Laos, Cambodia, Kurdistan (repeatedly), Rwanda, Burma, Zimbabwe, East Timor, the Darfur region of Sudan, and South Africa. Millions of people have suffered and died, but a fairly large number fled and saved their lives. As a contingency plan, every family should be ready to “Take The Gap.” If nothing else, at least keep your passports updated. – JWR

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Some people might be wondering why a backwater nation like South Africa has become a flash point in the global debate over politics and culture. It’s really not that hard to understand once you recognize the core conflict, which is in part about racial division but also about the fundamental evils of the political left and socialism.

South Africa represents a perfect petri dish, a window into the minds of progressive authoritarians. The country is near the end point of the natural socialist evolution – From “hopeful humanist endeavor” to the communist slave plantation that all socialist adventures inevitably become.

A key pillar of leftist authoritarianism is an obsessive desire to prevent people from walking away. In other words, citizens are seen as property of the collective and property of the greater progressive experiment. When citizens try to leave, this is treated as a crime beyond reckoning.

It’s a concept I’ve been writing about for many years now. Walking away from the leftist plantation brings the entire edifice into question; it is the worst thing a citizen can do.

Afrikaners who want to immigrate to the US under the refugee program put in place by the Trump Administration are being targeted by a malicious smear campaign. Recently, the South African parliament debated what should be done about these immigrants and also debated how to protect South Africa’s image on the world stage.Continue reading“Leftist Plantation: It’s Now “Treason” For White Farmers To Leave South Africa?, by Brandon Smith”