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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Our Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson mentioned some “less lethal” solid aluminum projectiles for paintball guns. He notes: “They are also available less expensively on Amazon, but this way you support a smaller business.”

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Mike Williamson also mentioned:

“The UK has demanded access to the Apple Cloud, and Apple has complied. Note that any info in there that is NOT from UK [users] is still accessible, and can be furnished to other nations’ intel or LEO (including the US) without any warrant or process required, since it would be willingly furnished, not subpoenaed. Remember: The term “Cloud” is merely a name for SOMEONE ELSE’S COMPUTER OR SERVER.  People should make every effort to avoid using cloud storage for anything personal, private, or financial. Companies storing massive records is one thing, though that is still subject to hacks of personal data. Individuals should never use cloud storage if at all possible. For data security: Hard copy is the best. The second best is isolated (disconnected or air-gapped) hard drives or USB sticks. A less secure (but still relatively secure) third choice is to have PCs or mobile devices that are no connected to the Internet.”

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Terry in Southern Idaho forwarded this news link of interest: Currently, All U.S. Phones Can Connect to Starlink Satellites for Free. This Will Change in July.

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Reader Gary H. wrote this query:

“I recently opened a bag of oatmeal that had been stored for 5 years in a food-grade mylar bag in a food-grade 5-gallon bucket.  I immediately smelled a metallic odor.  When the oatmeal is prepared it definitely has a metallic taste.  Clearly, that mylar bag which I purchased on Amazon and was advertised as food-grade was not a quality product.  I searched your website for information about this issue and for suggestions for a proven mylar product that does not leach.  However, I did not find any info on this topic.  Do you (or any of your readers) have any suggestions for manufacturers that are proven not to have this problem?  I did seal this and other bags with an iron.  Is it possible that in heating the bag to seal it, that I caused this issue?”

JWR Replies:  This is something that I haven’t ever encountered, so I’m polling the readers for their observations.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual liberty and primacy of citizen over government. Everybody who came here, that’s what drew them.” – Rush Limbaugh

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 25, 2025

February 25, 1814: Australia’s first currency – the “holey dollar” introduced, made of Spanish ‘pieces of eight’  (8 Reales) with the centers stamped out and overstamped with a date and “NEW SOUTH WALES”, for the colony of New South Wales.

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

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We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 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.

Granberg G-1012XT 12-Volt Chain Grinder, by Thomas Christianson

The ability to effectively sharpen a chain is one of the most basic foundations for productive chainsaw use. Cutting with a well-sharpened chain is a joy. Trying to cut with a dull chain is a frustrating and soul-rending ordeal.

In Greek mythology, a man named Sisyphus was punished in the afterlife for his wickedness. He was eternally compelled to roll a large bolder up a steep hill. Every time he neared the top of the hill, the bolder would slip away and roll back down to the bottom of the hill. His punishment was the frustration of being forever engaged in a difficult job without ever being able to complete it.

If the ancient Greeks had any experience with chainsaws, I think they would have forced Sisyphus to eternally harvest firewood with a dull chain instead. There are few tasks in the known universe that are more joyless exercises in futility.

The Granberg G-1012 12V Precision Grinder is an outstanding tool for sharpening chainsaw chains to factory-new effectiveness. The use of a 12-volt direct current power supply makes the batteries of most motor vehicles into a convenient source of power for the grinder.Continue reading“Granberg G-1012XT 12-Volt Chain Grinder, by Thomas Christianson”

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 news story that described the use of thermal imaging.  (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

Thermal imaging drone helps police locate suspect hiding in darkness by riverbank.

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The future of the death penalty hangs in the balance in Idaho.

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Einkorn.com has announced that they are moving their operations to Sugar City, Idaho. The company is a source for ancient Einkorn wheat and nt Einkorn wheat flour.  Einkorn is much easier to digest, for folks with sensitivity to modern wheat varieties. From their website: “Einkorn is the most primitive form of wheat on Earth. It contains only 14 chromosomes, whereas modern wheat contains 42. Einkorn does not have the D chromosome, which seems to be connected with wheat intolerance in many humans.”

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This made national news: Idaho woman forcibly dragged from local Republican town hall by private security.

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Idaho school choice tax bill heads to governor’s desk.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 24, 2025

The artist Winslow Homer was born on March 24, 1836 in Boston, Massachusetts. The illustration above is a detail from Homer’s 1865 painting: “The Veteran in a New Field.” It hangs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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On February 24, 1905, the Simplon railroad tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland achieved breakthrough after 7-1/2 years of construction.

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February 24, 1971:  Algeria nationalized 51 percent of French oil concessions.

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Today’s feature is a guest post that is not part of the writing contest. (On Mondays, we normally post a review penned by our Field Gear Editor, Tom Christianson.)

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We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 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, by Single Farmer

I am still looking for a wife. I am offering up to $50,000 to be given as a gift after marriage to the person who introduces me to my spouse and if my wife and I become the parents of two healthy children. This gift is in up to three parts: $18,000 will be given after marriage to you if you provided the introduction and two payments of $16,000 given after the birth of each healthy child up to two. Thus, if I get married because of your introduction and we have two healthy children, then you would receive the full $50,000.

That is the largest potential gift that I have ever seen anywhere for helping anyone to find their spouse. I am sure you will have lots of interesting questions and I thought of the answers to plenty of them including giving you some “tips” to help you to find the young woman I have been praying to find.

I ask for your prayers for me to find a quality Christian young woman who is seeking to be married. Next, I ask you to sincerely consider any single young woman that you know who matches the criteria I list and talk to her or her parents. As Christians, we walk by faith, so I am sending this “message in a bottle” again to the readers of SurvivalBlog with the hope that one reader can introduce me to my future spouse.

I know in my heart that there are many young women out there who truly want to be wives and mothers and I only need to find one. My future wife is out there somewhere, so I am trying to find the people who know her among their family or friends.

Since this is a fairly unusual way to find a spouse, I will tell you more about myself and the basic qualities that I am looking for in a potential spouse and answer a few questions that you might have.

Here is the basic criteria that I seek to find in a young woman:

  • Christian
  • Mid 20s to early 30s in age
  • Conservative
  • Wants to be married and have children
  • Single, never married, and does not have children
  • Physically and mentally healthy
  • Average height and normal weight range
  • Non-smoker
  • Good personality
  • Domestic skills such as cooking, or has an interest in learning
  • Lives in the United States

If you know of a young woman, have spoken with her or her family, and they will also be writing in, be sure to also write in, so we know who recommended the young woman first as I suppose that there could be multiple readers who write to us about the same young woman who know her and her family. So, whoever writes me about her first, will be the one who receives my gift.

If you think you might be the young woman I have been praying to find, or you know her in your family or among your friends, could you please tell her so she or her family could e-mail Mr. Rawles writing an introduction? Please write in detail about yourself and your family including your religious beliefs and other interests including hobbies. His address is jamesATrawles.to (Change “AT” to an @ sign) and he will personally handle the initial correspondence.

Here are some “frequently asked questions” that should address any concerns. Please fully read this article and then write to us!Continue reading“My Quest For a Wife, by Single Farmer”

Recipe of the Week: Simple Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

The following recipe for Simple Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies is from SurvivalBlog reader Carol in Delaware.

Ingredients
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, very soft — room temperature)
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats (not instant or quick cook type)
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips,
  • 1/8 cup more semi-sweet chocolate chips to add after baking (or substitute with raisins, walnuts, etc.)
Directions
  1. Fully preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line a baking sheet with a silicone mat (SILPAT) or spray with cooking spray like Pam; and set aside.
  2. To a large mixing bowl, add the egg, butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla. With some vigorous effort, mix with a large spoon for about 90 seconds, or until smooth and slightly fluffed.
  3. Add the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine for about 30 seconds.
  4. Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine for about 30 seconds.
  5. Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, measure the dough and form tapered mounds. Place them on a prepared baking sheet spaced about 2 inches apart. (About a dozen on a large cookie sheet,)
  6. Bake for about 10 to 13 minutes (10 mins for super soft cookies, or longer for more well-done cookies), or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don’t overbake — the cookies firm up as they cool.
  7. Immediately after taking the baking sheet out of the oven, add about 5 additional chocolate chips per cookie. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving.
SERVING

Serve with a glass of cold whole milk, of course!

Storage

Baked  cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Ot they will keep in the freezer for up to six months.

Unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, or in the freezer for up to four months.

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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:  Geography of the Continental United States. (A “cstats1” graphic, courtesy of Reddit.)  This exaggerated view helps to illustrate why The American Redoubt is so redoubtable.

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

<<<Insert Thumbnail Image >>

Map: CONUS Geography

 

 

 

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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.

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 23, 2025

On February 23, 1921 the first US transcontinental air mail flight arrived in New York City from San Francisco.

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On February 23, 1945, six Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima.

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Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836).

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February 23rd is also the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle of Concord.

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I just noticed that we’ve now archived more than 40,000 SurvivalBlog articles, columns, and quotes, since 2005. Please let your friends know that the entire SurvivalBlog archives are searchable and available free of charge.  The archives can be accessed by category, by date, or via our search box at the top of the right-hand bar. And, as always, blog subscriptions are entirely voluntary.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by fellow blogger and American Redoubt resident Brandon Smith.

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We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 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.

Conspiracy Theorists Were Right About Everything, by Brandon Smith

For many years alternative economists and “conspiracy theorists” have argued that, according to the evidence, there has been an organized criminal cabal operating a long-running agenda to exploit and eventually destroy western culture. We have suggested that much of this agenda was being funded with our own tax dollar while using government institutions and NGOs as vehicles for social engineering.

In the 20 years since I started work in the liberty movement (or patriot movement), I have seen corruption beyond imagining and it all culminated in 2020-2023 when many of us battled against the imposition of total medical tyranny and mass woke indoctrination. Even after that startling Orwellian period we were still called conspiracy theorists, but public awareness is changing rapidly.

I’ve seen enough to know that what is happening today is truly unprecedented. We have entered a crossroads; a time when reality is no longer discarded for the sake of collective comfort and “conspiracy” becomes historic fact. It’s an exciting time to be alive, but also potentially hazardous.

My running theory has always been that once the house of cards came crashing down and the truth was revealed to the wider public, a whole lot of skeptics that used to call us “fringe crazies” and “tinfoil hatters” would suddenly claim they “saw it coming all along”. Yes, the conspiracy theorists were right, about everything. The truth is coming to light in a big way, but what does this mean for the future?

Continue reading“Conspiracy Theorists Were Right About Everything, by Brandon Smith”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

So, Explain This to Me In Simple Shiba Doge Terms:

How Does a Two-Term Congressmember

With a Salary of $174,000 Per Year…

Suddenly Have a Net Worth of More Than $9 Million?

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:

“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:6-21 (KJV)