Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 30, 2026

On April 30, 711, the Islamic conquest of Iberia began. Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad (pictured) landed at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Al-Andalus Umayyad Caliphate eventually supplanted the Visigothic Kingdom.

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April 30, 1864: New York became the first state to charge a hunting license fee.

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Today is the birthday of sci-fi novelist Larry Niven (born April 30, 1938). Along with Jerry Pournelle, he co-authored the survivalist classic Lucifer’s Hammer.

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Today’s feature is a reader-written piece that was to short to qualify as an entry for Round 124 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $984,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 124 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.

My Car Repair Adventures, by M.J.

Several months ago, I drove out to a place to hike and bike here in New Mexico. The last four miles of the trip were on a dirt road. Some parts of the road were in such bad shape that it seemed like I was driving over an old-time washboard. I slowed down for those portions of the road, but evidently I didn’t slow down enough, for my car started leaking oil and transmission fluid shortly afterwards. I didn’t hit anything in the dirt road; it was the vibrations from driving over those portions that caused the leaks. These definitely weren’t “good vibrations.”

I therefore did what everyone who was raised in the conventional suburban way did: I took my car to a local garage to repair the oil leak. It was AAA approved, and their branch I previously went to in a different part of town (when I worked in that area) did a good job, so I thought they would too. Boy, was I wrong!Continue reading“My Car Repair Adventures, by M.J.”

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 about mass media bias and censorship.

Study Finds Big Tech News Feeds Tilt Heavily Left

Over at The European Conservative: Study Finds Big Tech News Feeds Tilt Heavily Left. Here is an excerpt:

“Major news aggregators—including Google News, Apple News, Bing News, and Yahoo News—overwhelmingly favour left-leaning outlets in the content they present to users, a new media audit claims.

The study, conducted by the U.S.-based group AllSides, found that the imbalance is most pronounced in non-personalised sections of these services—such as curated homepages or trending feeds—where content is selected independently of individual user preferences.

According to the report, just 1% of articles in these sections on Google News came from right-leaning outlets, compared to 73% from left-leaning sources. Apple News showed a similar pattern, with around 2% of content from the right and roughly 50% from the left. Bing News and Yahoo News followed the same trend, with conservative sources accounting for 5% and 2% of content respectively, versus 72% and 53% from left-leaning outlets.”

JWR’s Comments: SurvivalBlog has been heavily de-ranked by Google’s search engine for the past 15 years, so this news story does not surprise me. The most effective way to fight de-ranking and news feed censorship is by word-of-mouth recommendations, and forwarding article links to friends, via e-mail. I suggest sending folks a list of links to timely articles at your favorite blogs and websites that you find interesting, at least once a week. They can’t stop the signal!

Why AI CEOs Are Building Bunkers

A “must-watch” two-hour-long Tristan Harris video Interview: Why AI CEOs Are Building Bunkers.

And, in somewhat related news: Gone in 9 Seconds: AI Coding Agent Deletes Entire Company Database and All Backups. (A hat tip to reader C.B. for the link.)

AI is Enabling Government Mass Surveillance

NBC: AI is making it very easy for the government to spy on you. Some lawmakers are worried. A pericope:

“Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows the government to collect the communications of foreigners abroad, but it also enables the government to collect messages, emails and other transmissions from Americans when they contact foreigners. The government can then perform warrantless searches on those emails, messages and other communications. Though the provision was originally passed in 2008, lawmakers must renew it every few years.“

Welcome to the New Robber Baron Era

A well-reasoned video from Patriot Nurse: NATO, The Dollar, and AI Are About to Change Everything.

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

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Many of the benefits from keeping terrorism fear levels high are obvious. Private corporations suck up massive amounts of Homeland Security cash as long as that fear persists, while government officials in the National Security and Surveillance State can claim unlimited powers and operate with unlimited secrecy and no accountability.” – Glenn Greenwald

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 29, 2026

On April 29, 1990, wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate.

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On April 29, 1992, a jury acquitted Los Angeles Police Department officers on charges of excessive force in the beating of Rodney King.  The verdict sparked massive riots in the city and smaller ones in other U.S. cities. African-Americans in Los Angeles were enraged by the acquittal of the officers. Thousands of people began rioting across the city. For six days, scenes of wanton violence, looting, arson, assault and murder convulsed the city, with incidents like the brutal assault on truck driver Reginald Denny broadcast live by news helicopters. Much of the damage was located in Koreatown, which was considered a gateway to wealthier suburbs of the city. Most of Koreatown was destroyed in the subsequent rioting, with many Korean-American residents forming armed units to protect themselves and their businesses. Gun battles were broadcast on television. In the riots, 63 people died and more than $1 billion worth of property was destroyed. The violence only came to an end with the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, California National Guard and a number of other state and federal agencies were sent into Los Angeles to bring the rioting to an end.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 124 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. 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.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Heaven’s Harvest is providing one of their Original Heirloom Seed Kits (a $139 value.)
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

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. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  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 $984,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 124 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.

Gardening and the Struggles – Part 2, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

I decided to try raised garden beds, and I’m three years into it!  When people purchase and store seeds for their apocalypse garden should they need it one day, I laugh.  You could starve before you ever get a good garden going.  Unless, you happen to be sitting on perfect and fertile soil.

Raised garden beds   

In my case, I had to hire the help to build all the beds, transport barn compost from another area of the farm to the beds, and pay for composted “top soil” to be delivered.  Some of the beds were filled part way with old wood to fill up the space; some were filled with old hay, but most of them were filled with barn compost.  If I had the ability to do that work myself, I could have saved a considerable amount of money.  However, the barn compost was sitting on the other side of the farm and had to be moved up a hill and across pasture to the garden.  A tractor, which I do not own, was needed.Continue reading“Gardening and the Struggles – Part 2, by SaraSue”

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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Tennessee Republicans Pass Bill Allowing Lethal Force for Protection of Property. (Pictured above is the  Tennessee capitol building — a public domain photo by euthman.) A quote from the article’s opening:

“WSMV noted that if Gov. Bill Lee (R) signs the legislation into law it means “property owners will be allowed to use deadly force to prevent someone from attempted or actual trespass, arson, damage to property, including damage to livestock, burglary, theft, robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals.”

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Over at our friend Commander Zero’s Notes From The Bunker blog: An observation about caching.

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Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026: AM/FM Radio Listening Hits All-Time Low as Digital Surges to 44%.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“The Enlightenment diamond-shaped society, with a huge, prosperous, socially-mobile, empowered middle class, is by far the most productive and creative system the world has ever seen.” – David Brin

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 28, 2026

On April 28, 1910 the first-ever nighttime airplane flight was made by Claude Grahame-White, in England. According to Britannica: “Educated at Bedford in engineering, Grahame-White owned one of the first gasoline-driven motorcars in England and worked at a motor-engineering business in London until he became interested in aeronautics in 1909. On Jan. 4, 1910, he gained the first English aviator’s certificate of proficiency. Also in 1910, he entered many flying races in Europe and in the United States, where he won the Gordon Bennett Cup.”

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April 28th is the birthday of Aimo Johannes Lahti. (Born in 1896.) This inventive Finn designed (or co-designed) an amazing array of weapons including the L-35 Lahti pistol, the Suomi M-31 SMG, the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG, the famous Lahti L-39 20mm anti-tank rifle, and the 20 ItK 40 (a 20 mm dual anti-aircraft cannon.)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 124 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. 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.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Heaven’s Harvest is providing one of their Original Heirloom Seed Kits (a $139 value.)
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

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. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  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 $984,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 124 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.

Gardening and the Struggles – Part 1, by SaraSue

I am going into my fifth year trying to garden here on my farm.  I have ranching and farming neighbors who have been at it for generations, and their gardens are amazing.  Mine?  Not so much.  There also exists a large Amish and Mennonite presence here in this area.  They have large and productive gardens.  I could just buy from all the neighbors!  But, I wanted to have my own garden, which gives one a sense of security and food system control.  It has been a several year struggle.

The 2025 gardening season was a positive change from previous years, and now in 2026 I am very pleased with the choices I made.  I spent the time and effort to construct, with help, 18 raised beds.  I needed them at least hip high so as to avoid the bending over, which gets more difficult with age.  The Pro of tall raised beds is that garden maintenance is less work once it’s all done.  The Con is it takes a lot of soil to fill those beds, as well as a lot of lumber to construct them.  8 of the beds were metal beds, and the rest were made with treated lumber.  The metal beds were expensive.  The lumber for the rest of the beds cost about the same as the 8 metal beds, but they are larger.Continue reading“Gardening and the Struggles – Part 1, by SaraSue”

SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media 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.

Send Your Media Links

Please send your links to media from the American Redoubt region to JWR. Any photos that are posted or re-posted must be uncopyrighted. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of Liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.” Alexis de Tocqueville

Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 27, 2026

On April 27, 1667, at age 59, blind and impoverished, English poet John Milton sold his copyright to “Paradise Lost” for just £10 Sterling.

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April 27, 1789: he crew of the British ship Bounty mutinied, setting Captain William Bligh and 18 sailors adrift in a launch in the South Pacific.

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On this day in 1861, West Virginia seceded from Virginia after Virginia had seceded from the Union.

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The last day! We have been running a two-week-long sale on all of our pre-1899 antique shotguns at Elk Creek Company, with deep discounts. This sales ends at midnight tonight, Pacific Time. (Monday, April 27th, 2026.) Please note that some of these guns have been re-sleeved and re-proofed for modern shotshells!

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Today’s feature is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.

Spartan Blades Talos Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

Spartan Blades makes some really nice knives. Unfortunately, most of them are a little pricey for plebeians like me. But beginning in 2019, Spartan Blades was purchased by KA-BAR and expanded their product line to include the more affordable Field Grade models. Spartan Elite and Pro models are manufactured in the USA, but their Field Grade line is made in Taiwan. The intent is “to provide a dependable knife or tool for anyone regardless of budget.”

The Talos Folding Knife is a good example of the Field Grade line. It has a 3.12 inch long, 0.12 inch thick, straight back blade with just a hint of drop point. The blade is flat ground with a hint of saber grind. It has a very practical tumbled finish that does an excellent job of hiding signs of wear, and is made of CTS-XHP steel. It deploys with dual thumb studs around an oil infused bronze bushing system.

The frame is composed solely of G10 except for the liner lock. The texture on the scales resembles canvas Micarta. The handle on the version that I tested is green. It is also available in black.

The knife is designed by William W. Harsey Jr., and cost $115 at spartanbladesusa.com at the time of this writing. It would be a good choice for everyday carry (EDC).Continue reading“Spartan Blades Talos Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Cashew Nut Butter Bread is from SurvivalBlog reader A.S., who writes: “This is super yummy and it is quick and easy to make if you have a food processor.”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup cashew nut butter
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. Using a food processor, pulse together cashew butter and eggs until very smooth
  2. Pulse in apple cider vinegar
  3. Pulse in baking soda and salt
  4. Transfer batter to a greased 9 x 5 inch breadloaf dish
  5. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes
  6. Cool for 2 hours
SERVING

Can be served as a side dish, or sliced for making sandwiches.

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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!