Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 31, 2025

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-31T07:04:49Z

On December 31, 406, “The Great Invasion” sent a vast mixed horde of barbarians that included Vandals, Alans, and Suebians across the Rhine River, at Mainz (pictured). Thus began the invasion of Gallia. — December 31st 1564: William I of Orange demands freedom of religious conscience for his subjects in dramatic speech to the Council of State. — December 31st is the birthday of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008). — December 31st, 1851 was the birthday of Frederick Selous. (He died on January 4th, 1917.) — The 20th Anniversary SurvivalBlog 2005-2025 Waterproof/EMP-Resistant Archive USB sticks are available for Pre-Ordering.  This year, we …

The post Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 31, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Regional and Seasonal Camouflage Clothing and Gear

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-31T07:03:17Z

As 2025 draws to a close, I’d like to revisit a topic that often comes up in SurvivalBlog: camouflage clothing and equipment. Note: To see examples and variants of the camouflage patterns that I’ll mention in this article, see the comprehensive Camopedia.org website. They are to be commended for maintaining a great reference site. I will begin with some history: Camouflage uniforms were not standard issue for all but a handful of the world’s armies until the mid-1960s.  Experimentation with modern printed camouflage fabric as we now know it began with the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, circa 1942-1945.  They …

The post Regional and Seasonal Camouflage Clothing and Gear appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-31T07:02:16Z

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. — Where Are People Moving Most in the U.S. in 2026? o  o  o CPRC’s Lott Calls Out Wall Street Journal’s Fear Mongering Over Concealed Carry. o  o  o 31 Indoor Woodworking Projects to Do This Winter. o  o  o SurvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson spotted this: Burundi: Farmer finds new technique for …

The post SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-31T07:01:13Z

“No ornament of a house can compare with books; they are constant company in a room, even when you are not reading them.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe. (The sister of Henry Ward Beecher, who was quoted yesterday. Both of them were very outspoken abolitionists.)

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Soviet Silenced “Tishina" Grenade Launcher

by Lynndon Schooler in The Firearm Blog on 2025-12-31T01:00:00Z

During the Cold War, there were requests for many specialized weapon systems, as modern armed conflicts are fundamentally different from the cataclysmic wars of the last century. Fortunately, full-scale military operations the size of Verdun or Kursk seem not to be the course of future battle. Instead, modern conflicts are often prolonged and low-intensity, with a heavy reliance on small specialized teams. Warfighting doctrines have largely adapted to this reality and configured their weapon designs to meet soldiers' needs in these modern environments. Discretion is often key to avoiding disturbing local elements and maintaining a low profile for one’s own survival. For that, next-generation silenced weapons are necessary.

30 December 1890, Wounded Knee, SD

by TPOL Nathan in The Price of Liberty on 2025-12-31T01:00:00Z

135 years ago today. A long-time friend and correspondent wrote this monologue which we are pleased to share with our readers today. He remains anonymous for many reasons. We at TPOL have edited somewhat, and his writings do not always … Continue reading
Photo Of The Day: A competitor from one of the fifteen international teams engages distant steel during the 2021 U.S. Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, back in 2021. To the best of my knowledge, the carbine is the Secret Service’s KAC SR-16 CQB MOD 2.1 , and it seems multiple targets are being engaged using the secondary red dot sight.

Small Business Spotlight: Werkz LLC

by Hrachya H in The Firearm Blog on 2025-12-31T00:00:00Z

Welcome back to TFB’s Small Business Spotlight ! In this weekly column, we take a look at small firearm-related businesses. Today’s company is Werkz LLC, a holster manufacturer from Potlatch, Idaho.

Shocking! Islamic Welfare Fraud

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T23:40:15Z

And not in Minnesota.   11/24/25 Jerusalem Post:

Over a billion Swedish kronor, or more than $100 million, in taxpayer-backed funds intended to support preschools and schools in Sweden have been siphoned off through an Islamist-affiliated network engaged in welfare fraud, an investigation by the Swedish newspaper Expressen revealed last Wednesday.

This came after police raided an apartment in Gavle, north of Stockholm, where several individuals who were connected to radical and violent Islamist extremism were staying. 

30 degrees north latitude

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T23:26:59Z

I have not been this far south in a while.  At these latitudes the Sun goes down and gets dark fast 

Paragraphs Worth Quoting

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T23:11:00Z

 12/24/25 Business Insider:

He said robots can be fitted with different weapons, like machine guns or grenade launchers, to fire at Russian positions. It means they can attack while keeping Ukrainian soldiers safer, as Russia is likely to return fire to wherever the attack comes from, and can also drive closer to Russian positions to launch the attacks.

He said ground robot systems are best when they work like Lego, with soldiers able to put the same system together in different ways to perform different functions, rather than having many different systems to use.

So Legos really are educational toys! 

  By Dave Workman Editor-in-Chief The past 12 months have witnessed a sea change for the Second Amendment, despite the fact that Blue State liberals are scrambling to destroy gun rights in their own states, and they are seething over how the second Trump administration has scrapped many of the policies of the Joe Biden […]

The post In Review: Top 2A Stories from 2025, Part II appeared first on Liberty Park Press.

I Give Up

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T20:21:30Z

I should know better. [More]

The post I Give Up first appeared on The War on Guns.

Glen Campbell plays bagpipes on "Mull of Kintyre"

by Borepatch in Borepatch on 2025-12-30T19:07:00Z

Who knew? 

Element Optics THEOS 2-10×42 MPVO

by Eric B in The Firearm Blog on 2025-12-30T19:00:00Z

The Element Optics THEOS 2–10×42 is a mid-power variable optic (MPVO) designed to support rapid target engagement across a broad range of distances. Built around an ED optical system, the scope delivers consistent image quality throughout the magnification range while maintaining a compact overall footprint.

Method to the Madness

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T18:56:09Z

Good thing none of this has anything to do with that “single issue“! [Via Michael G]

The post Method to the Madness first appeared on The War on Guns.

Adventures in Baselessness

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T18:22:29Z

They’re counting on Republicans not rioting. [Via Michael G]

The post Adventures in Baselessness first appeared on The War on Guns.

A Subject Matter Expert

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T18:17:52Z

Woke Oregon city hires MURDERER who executed teenage girl to its police review board [More] The same Democrats who demand disarming these fine folks — and you. If their actions just affected them I wouldn’t mind. [Via Michael G]

The post A Subject Matter Expert first appeared on The War on Guns.

B&T has introduced a modernized take on a historic concept with the Hush Puppy SIG P226 Silenced Pistol Kit, combining suppressed performance with contemporary optics and accessory compatibility. Unlike traditional manual-repeater suppressed pistols, the Hush Puppy system retains the semi-automatic functionality, while giving the user the option to manually lock the slide when maximum sound reduction is required.

Greene with Envy?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T17:13:14Z

Greene recounted a tense exchange with Trump after she suggested inviting the victims to the Oval Office, during which he threatened, “My friends will get hurt.” That confrontation marked the final straw in their relationship, cementing her decision to step away from Congress after two terms. [More] IF he actually said that.  And if that … Continue reading "Greene with Envy?"

The post Greene with Envy? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Privacy. Good One.

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T16:55:02Z

Google’s fine print may cost your Fourth Amendment rights — Pennsylvania Supreme Court allows authorities to access your search history without a warrant [More] Honest… I was looking for IDAK from Lost in Space… And a place to get my nails done… Good thing I’m sure they’d never abuse this… [Via Michael G]

The post Privacy. Good One. first appeared on The War on Guns.

Drive Like A Spy: Escape and Evade with an Ex-CIA Agent

by Dave Merrill in Recoil on 2025-12-30T16:36:43Z

Skills like these aren't limited to the silver screen. Even normal people can benefit from knowing how to drive like a spy!

With Republicans Like These…

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T16:27:50Z

The sole Republican candidate running for North Carolina’s 22nd state Senate district is turning heads after donning a Niqab-style face veil in her candidate photo and voting for Democrats in past elections despite her new GOP candidacy. [More] I haven’t been able to find a campaign website or social media account to nail down her … Continue reading "With Republicans Like These…"

The post With Republicans Like These… first appeared on The War on Guns.

Triggering Shirley Haters

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T16:11:01Z

“Sr. Legal Affairs Reporter, @POLITICO,” eh, Josh? A “real reporter,” not one of those “amateurs” you “Authorized Journalists” look down your noses at! As long as you’re opening that door, y’ever hear of Bill Clinton’s Rules of Engagement? [Via WiscoDave] .

The post Triggering Shirley Haters first appeared on The War on Guns.

Century Arms has expanded its AP5 series with two “Navy” models that blend classic MP5-inspired design with modern tactical readiness. The AP5-N “Navy” and AP5P-N “Navy” offer distinct form factors aimed at shooters seeking roller-delayed blowback performance and period-correct Naval styling in a ready-to-shoot configuration.

So Much for ‘Citizen’s Arrest’

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T15:53:59Z

North Carolina Man Charged With ‘HATE CRIMES and KIDNAPPING’ After Detaining Hispanic Men Who RAMMED His Truck and Tried to Flee [More] This is the reality we live in. React accordingly. [Via bondmen]

The post So Much for ‘Citizen’s Arrest’ first appeared on The War on Guns.

Forgetting Their Place

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T15:43:46Z

A father and son living in Alabama pleaded guilty in Laredo, Texas, to attempting to traffick over 500 weapons and a cache of ammunition over the border. Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in Albertville, Alabama, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, 23, also of Albertville, have now admitted to … Continue reading "Forgetting Their Place"

The post Forgetting Their Place first appeared on The War on Guns.

Ex-police chief made false claims in high-profile case, prosecutors say [More] Yeah, but look who’s accusing him. [Via bondmen]

The post We’re the Only Ones Bearing False Witness Enough? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Three Days Above 11,000 Steps

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T15:34:27Z

Speaking of Student Loan Forgiveness

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T15:31:55Z

Latest FBI Release of Covenant School Manifesto Files Appears to Confirm Trans-Identified Killer Bought Guns with Pell Grant Money [More] Government at work, funding the killers and the “gun-free zones”. [Via bondmen]

The post Speaking of Student Loan Forgiveness first appeared on The War on Guns.

A Fully Deformed Jury

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T15:27:11Z

A group linked to Democrat billionaire megadonor George Soros is holding trainings in Washington, DC on how to use jury duty to “protect our people especially those with marginalized identities.” [More] Just don’t let ’em catch us doing it… [Via bondmen]

The post A Fully Deformed Jury first appeared on The War on Guns.

Not Even in the Running?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T15:07:59Z

The Left’s Top 25 Lies Of 2025 [More] Not one word about “commonsense gun safety laws save lives”? They did it! They missed the barn! [Via bondmen]

The post Not Even in the Running? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Switch Positions

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T14:29:37Z

Instead of a stocking filled with joy, Trump’s Department of Justice dumped lumps of coal in Knife Rights’ stocking with their disappointing response brief continuing their Biden-like anti-Second Amendment stance defending the unconstitutional Federal Switchblade Act. Despite the administration’s lukewarm Second Amendment support in some firearms cases, Trump’s DOJ still hasn’t got the memo that … Continue reading "Switch Positions"

The post Switch Positions first appeared on The War on Guns.

A Post-Christmas IDPA Match

by David in Musings Over a Barrel on 2025-12-30T14:03:00Z

I’m not getting to the range nearly as often as I’d like. Even so, deciding to shoot the Cavalier IDPA match just two days after Christmas wasn’t an easy call. With family visiting for the holidays, it would have been easy to stay home — but instead I headed out early Saturday morning to spend the day shooting with friends.

Realizing I hadn’t fired a single live round since October’s IDPA match gave me some pause. A sore back, creaky knees, and “old man eyes” don’t help either. Still, the point is really the fun of the sport and the camaraderie — not the score. That was the mantra I repeated to myself during the morning drive.

Our squad was on the large side, and the match staff clearly set out to increase the round count. Four of the five stages featured multiple strings, which naturally extended the time required to complete each course of fire.

The first stage we shot was a straightforward “stand and shoot” skills test. Eight paper targets and four steel were arranged symmetrically. One string had us engage four paper and two steel on one side, followed by a second, separately timed string on the opposite side. As a twist, starting magazines for each string were downloaded to just five rounds.



The next challenge was the dreaded two-string, one-handed shooting stage. Standing in a shooting box, we completed the first string shooting strong-hand only (SHO), engaging four targets. The second string required weak-hand-only (WHO) shooting. One of the four targets was hung upside down, which caught more than a few shooters — myself included — sending rounds a bit too high for the -0 circle.

A not-quite-traditional IDPA stage followed. Six targets were positioned around barrel stacks — two on each side and two in the center — with three tables placed across the stage. All magazines were downloaded to just four rounds, with a maximum of four magazines allowed. One magazine was placed on each table, with the final table allowing an optional fourth. The firearm started empty and holstered.



This stage was also shot in two strings and felt distinctly USPSA-inspired. Starting a few feet behind the first table, we loaded at the table, engaged the associated target array, then moved to the center table to reload and engage the center targets, repeating the process at the final table. The second string reversed the direction of travel. The unconventional format brought plenty of smiles, laughter, and good-natured ribbing — especially as shooters hurriedly reloaded magazines off the clock between strings.

The next-to-last stage was a “sit and shoot” course. The loaded firearm and all magazines were placed on a table and all shots were from a seated position. A tall table and low chair made for some awkward positioning. Again shot in two strings, the first required engaging four targets with two body shots each. The second string required one head shot on each of five targets. A couple of overlaid non-threats added an extra layer of difficulty.



My final stage of the day was a full movement course. Fourteen targets were arranged along a curving path behind a mix of low and upright walls. All targets were oriented sideways, representing a pack of attacking animals. They presented varying amounts of exposed head and body, with occasional non-threats mixed in. Unfortunately, I neglected to grab a photo of the setup.

The stage brief required each target to be neutralized with either one head shot or two body shots — shooter’s choice. I opted for the body-shot option, reasoning that more rounds but faster shooting would benefit in the end, though a fair number of shooters chose the 14-shot head-only route. I really enjoyed this stage, particularly the opportunity to shoot on the move.

Overall, I was pleased with how I shot. Though I no longer consider myself competitive, I still enjoy the activity. I had a few misses, but I’ll gladly take the small victories: no non-threat hits and no procedural errors. Best of all, I got to reconnect with some old friends, including a few I hadn’t seen or chatted with in many years.

Normally, this is where I’d say I’m already looking forward to the next match. Unfortunately, the host club announced that the monthly match is moving to a different weekend, one that conflicts with another long-standing commitment. As a result, opportunities to shoot this particular match will likely be few and far between.

Though longer-than-expected, the day was thoroughly enjoyable. Despite a late-afternoon return home, there was still time for dinner, a couple of football games on the TV, and the continuation of holiday time with family. All in all, it was a good way to spend a winter Saturday.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

A BRUTAL YEAR FOR GUN MAGAZINES

by Mas in on 2025-12-30T14:00:00Z

I had known beforehand that American Rifleman, the publication of the NRA, was going to go quarterly from monthly, but it was still a bit of a shock when it happened. So was losing a couple of the NRA’s other great magazines, Shooting Illustrated and the one devoted entirely to gun owners’ civil rights issues, […]
Quote of the Day when your subconscious believes something, it will manipulate your perception of reality to reinforce your belief that you’re right vik @vikhyatkPosted on X, December 26, 2025 This is known as Confirmation Bias. This is why potential … Continue reading
As 2025 wraps up, Avery Skipalis looks back at the year as she covered GLOCK’s platform, its people and the exciting brand advancements coming in the New Year.
Ed Brown Products is marking a significant milestone with the release of the Kobra Carry 25th Anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of what the company describes as its most popular and longest-running custom 1911 model. First introduced in 2000, the Kobra Carry quickly distinguished itself by combining features that would later become widely adopted across the 1911 market, while remaining closely associated with Ed Brown’s own design language.

Ready, Fire, Aim

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T13:55:05Z

Come January 1, new Colorado gun show restrictions take effect, adding mandatory insurance, surveillance requirements, age limits, and steep penalties for violations, aiming to increase safety. [More] Is that what they told you they were aiming at, Danielle? And you believed them?

The post Ready, Fire, Aim first appeared on The War on Guns.

Automotif DCVI...

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-30T13:55:00Z


I was a big fan of the Jaguar XJS as a kid and I still kind of am. Sure, it's a lot less sporty than the E-type that preceded it, but I have a thing for long-legged grand tourers.

If I won the lottery, I wouldn't say anything, but there would be signs. (I'd have to win the lottery, because a thirty-plus year old twelve cylinder Jag is not the sort of car I'd want to keep running on a shoestring budget.)

This one was photographed with an Olympus E-5 and the Panasonic Leica 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens.

We’re the Only Ones Unswerving Enough

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T13:53:39Z

A Christmas Day police response to an aggressive raccoon in a Hopedale neighborhood has ignited online outrage, after witnesses said an officer used a cruiser to run over the animal in front of bystanders, including children…The police department issued a statement backing the officer’s decision and urged residents not to dox him. [More] Rocky, you … Continue reading "We’re the Only Ones Unswerving Enough"

The post We’re the Only Ones Unswerving Enough first appeared on The War on Guns.

Doing the Crimes Americans Won’t Do

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T13:50:12Z

It’s true that if you lump all immigrants together, relatively few of them are accused and convicted of crimes committed here in the United States. Legal immigrants commit crimes at very low rates, so combining their crime data with that of illegal immigrants masks the latter’s higher criminal activity. [More] Lies, damned lies, and statistics…

The post Doing the Crimes Americans Won’t Do first appeared on The War on Guns.

And Don’t Call Me Shirley

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T13:44:14Z

Nick Shirley Responds to Gov. Tim Walz’s Accusations of White Supremacy [More] Anything that exposes Democrats for what they are is now racist…? And would you look at that: CNN finally, just today, mentioned Nick Shirley. And it’s basically a “real reporter” grumbling that small, furry mammals are starting to eat dinosaur eggs. [Via Michael G]

The post And Don’t Call Me Shirley first appeared on The War on Guns.

In Like Flynn

by admin in The War on Guns on 2025-12-30T13:37:19Z

So, what’s the holdup? [Via Jess]

The post In Like Flynn first appeared on The War on Guns.

Big Dip

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-30T13:31:00Z

We'd had a string of unseasonably warm weather locally, culminating in a Sunday afternoon high temperature of 67°F, and then the front blew through.

It was quite the front, too. Booms of thunder, which is not typical late December weather for Indianapolis, and they even reported a tornado out in Linton, in Greene County.

After midnight the temperature had dropped below freezing and when the alarm went off here at Roseholme Cottage at 0600 on Monday morning it was down to 23°F, falling to 21°F by sunrise.

When I walked to lunch at 11 o'clock, it was only seventeen degrees out there, with a steady 20mph wind gusting to 35.

It's 14 now, with a light dusting of snow on the ground. I wish it would make up its mind.

.

The Most Beautiful Temporary Housing Ever

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T13:27:43Z

Over the last few years, our daughter has arranged vacations for all of us that were often memorably unique. This last year in Paris we stayed in a hotel in Paris which was a retrofitted fin de siecle or early 20th century building.  

The elevator was right out of a Monty Python skit. It was just big enough for my wife, myself, and one overnight bag.  (One, not two.)  

The bedroom had one meter between queen size bed and window.  Had this been that Monty Python skit, at least two of us would have rolled out the window during the night.

The bathroom was so small and odd that I became stuck in the tub.  The shower had only one door so I took a bath.  Then I discovered that I could not pull myself out.  The surface was so slippery and my upper body strength was so depleted after the double bypass surgery that I was unable pull myself up.  My daughter had the brilliant solution of me putting on my hiking boots to get enough friction to push myself out.

All memorable.   Even that Paris Monty Python skit hotel was at least well located: dominated by the Eiffel Tower, walking distance to the Seine and Notre Dame.

We are in a condo in Orange Beach, Alabama. It is 3 bedrooms on the top floor of a 15 story tower.


I wish there was an easy way in the Blogger app to change picture orientation. 

And all for $300 per night!

The beach was cold and windy (maybe 35 before windchill).  The water was in the 60s. If you got in, you were staying until summer.

Building is still underway and this pelican seemed unafraid of people. 


Image of grizzly bear  by Troy Nemitz, used with permission.   

 

In an article published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, Italian researchers mapped the genetics of European Marsican Brown bears (ursus arctos). They found evidence indicating the bears had been selected by human hunting pressure to be less aggressive. From yale.edu:

 To investigate, Italian researchers mapped the genes of Marsican bears and compared them with the genes of brown bears in Slovakia and the U.S. Their study, published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, found clear evidence that the Marsican bears had been selected for lower aggression.

The study has confirmed what naturalists, ranchers, hunters and wildlife managers  assumed to be true. Grizzly bears (ursus arctos) in the lower 48 states of the United States were known as especially aggressive since they became widely known in the Anglosphere after the Lewis and Clark expedition. Lewis and Clark first reported on ursus arctos as described to them by Indians on the Missouri river. From the Lewis and Clark Journals, Lewis, April 13, 1805:

 the Indians give a very formidable account of the strengh and ferocity of this anamal, which they never dare to attack but in parties of six eight or ten persons; and are even then frequently defeated with the loss of one or more of their party.

Lewis at first thought the "white" (ursus arctos) bears were actually wary and shy:

  tho' we continue to see many tracks of the bear we have seen but very few of them, and those are at a great distance generally runing from us; I thefore presume that they are extreemly ware and shy; the Indian account of them dose not corrispond with our experience so far.

Their experience and opinion of grizzly bears (ursus arctos) soon changed to concur with what they had heard from the Indians. From Lewis, May 11, 1805:

I must confess that I do not like the gentlemen and had reather fight two Indians than one bear; there is no other chance to conquer them by a single shot but by shooting them through the brains, and this becomes difficult in consequence of two large muscles which cover the sides of the forehead and the sharp projection of the center of the frontal bone, which is also of a pretty good thickness.  

In 100 years of settlement and intense hunting, ursos arctos in the Americas had been selected so only those who fled from humans survived. The last 50 of those years included the development and wide spread use of cartridge firearms. One of the last redoubts of the grizzly population in the lower 48 states was in the mountains of the New Mexico/Arizona border. Montague Stevens spent years actively hunting grizzly bears in the area, from 1889 to 1901. In his book, Meet Mr. Grizzly, he says, on page 251:

 He will seldom attack a man unless the latter first molests him. As a matter of fact, he would rather run away than fight.

Stephen Herrero believed selection by hunting was the reason black bears seldom attack people. The same logic applies to grizzly bears. From his paper:

It is well known among dog breeders that it is possible to selectively breed for or against aggression. It is highly likely that this selection would also be possible for bears.

The reverse is also true. If humans do not select out aggressive bears, bears which are willing to be aggressive are favored, because they have access to human related food supplies. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are much more aggressive than grizzly bears in Alaska, where hunting of ursus arctos is commonly allowed. It only takes a few generations for bears to learn to be aggressive and to reinforce aggression as a viable selection force. In the lower 48 states the federal government has enforced a ban on hunting for roughly 10 generations of grizzly bears (at about 5 years per generation). At the beginning of this vast experiment, the State of Montana Department of Fish and Game submitted a statement pleading for regulated hunting. From the federal register,  FR-1975-07-28, p. 31735:

 By contrast, a regulated sport hunt, will create an adequate fear of man. In a seasonal sport hunt, bears are exposed to relatively large numbers of humans for a limited time, and consequently learn to avoid all areas where humans are encountered. It is this avoidance of man which will reduce numerous depredations and threats to human safety. 

In 1975, the Montana wildlife managers believed a hunting take of 25 bears a year would be sufficient to maintain an aversion to humans by grizzly bears.

The relatively small population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states now kill more people than 20 times their population does in Alaska. From 1975 to present, 24 people have been killed by wild ursus arctos in the lower 48 states. During the same period, 20 people were killed by wild ursus arctos in Alaska.

©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch
 

 

 

 


MI: Detroit - Disarm? Home Invader Shot, Steals Gun

by Dean Weingarten in GUN WATCH on 2025-12-30T12:30:00Z

Shooting: #DetroitPolice 9th Precinct to Fairport & Collingham on reports of a shooting. 911 caller reports shooting a home invader. #DetroitFire's Engine 50 & DEMS Medic 1 also responding. No GSW victim at the location, The home invaders fled the scene after stealing the victims gun according to dispatch audio. No victim has shown up at local hospitals, so far. The person with a GSW is reportedly a B/M with a GSW to the leg. He and another B/M fled the scene in a 2012 black Jeep Cherokee according to dispatch audio. NE #Detroit
Update: A GSW victim has apparently shown up at a hospital outside the city, MCSO notified DPD according to dispatch audio.


More Here


Meme Dump!

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-30T12:10:00Z




Are You Living in the Margins?

by SLG in pistol-training.com on 2025-12-30T12:00:00Z

A lot of talk in the shooting community revolves around tiny differences in performance. This is natural and in some ways helpful. In most ways and for most shooters though, it is detrimental. Our interest here is in shooting and the only way to get good at shooting is to go out and train. Training […]

So… they’re stuck at home?

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2025-12-30T11:30:00Z

India is pitching a hissy because a large number of their citizens who returned home to renew their H-1B visas are having their appointments canceled and so are stuck at home. Of course the Indian government is referring to this as ‘stranded’. How one can be stranded at home is truly beyond me, however. The […]

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 30, 2025

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-30T07:04:35Z

On December 30, 1861, Associated Banks in New York City — innovators in credit clearing circles (pictured above) — halted gold payments to government and investors, to disrupt Abraham Lincoln‘s US bank reform program. — December 30, 1865 was the birthday of Rudyard Kipling. — Today’s feature article is a product review, written by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We need more entries for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, 2026, so get busy writing and …

The post Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 30, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

FrogLube Gun Care Products, by Thomas Christianson

by Thomas Christianson in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-30T07:03:11Z

I recently tested a number of FrogLube products for effectiveness for firearms cleaning, lubrication, and corrosion resistance. I tested FrogLube Lubricant-Protectant and FrogLube Extreme Lubricant and Preservative for corrosion resistance. I tested FrogLube Super Degreaser and FrogLube Solvent for cleaning. I tested FrogLube Extreme Lubricant and Preservative for its effectiveness as a lubricant. My standard gun care products are kerosene for cleaning and Breakfree CLP for lubrication and corrosion resistance. I found the performance of FrogLube products to be roughly comparable to my standards under temperate conditions. In my limited testing, I felt that FrogLube Extreme Lubricant and Preservative was …

The post FrogLube Gun Care Products, by Thomas Christianson appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-30T07:02:40Z

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. News Video: Montana rancher begins to excavate potentially record-setting T-Rex. (Pictured above is a smaller T. Rex that was found in Alberta.) In north Idaho, two new Destination Rove videos: New roof before winter hits?, and  Bonus: Yamaha vs. Arctic Cat ATV. Fascinating video: Montana Predator Trail Camera Videos. Send Your Media Links Please send your links to media from the American Redoubt region to JWR. Any photos …

The post SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-30T07:01:24Z

“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” – Henry Ward Beecher

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T03:47:06Z

I mentioned a couple days ago about Australia deciding that not only they need even stricter gun control laws that do not work but free speech also needed some restrictions.

12/23/25 Telegraph quoting the New South Wales premier:
I acknowledge that we don’t have the same free speech rules that they have in the United States and I make no apologies for that, we have got a responsibility to knit together our community, that comes from different races and religions.”

As the article points out, America is pretty multicultural and still has free speech.

We Left New Orleans Today

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-30T03:47:06Z

On our way along the Gulf Coast we saw a sign for the Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library.  I thought it odd that there was a Ppresidential library for a traitor.  Only after paying admission did I notice it was not the government that operated it but the Sons of Confederate Veterans.   If you are thinking of the scene at the (Klaus) Barbie Museum in the incredibly funny Rat Race, good.  Not that odd or funny but the gift shop had stuff that would appeal to Lost Causers.

The tour of Davis' home (after his release from prison) was well done and not offensive to history.   (One minor error: Library of Congress has never used Dewey Decimal system numbering.  This is a pretty deep in the weeds tangent to the docent's presentation. 

The house sits right on the Gulf Coast and became for several decades a Veterans home.

Best Smith & Wesson 9mm Pistols

by WesKL in The Firearm Blog on 2025-12-30T01:00:00Z

Specs
Let us see if we can understand this during the gap between Christmas and New Years, when every agency and many news organizations are either on vacation or have their third-string people struggling through. Look, a lot of Americans don’t … Continue reading

Remembering

by Pawpaw in PawPaw's House on 2025-12-30T00:39:00Z

 If you were an Armor of Caverly Officer in the70s or 80s, there were three places woven into the knowledge base of those who served.  Grafenwoehr in Germany, Camp Casey in Korea, and Area 5 North at Fort Knox.

I didn't know Belle when I was a soldier.  We met after I had retired.  I was reminiscing tonight about the times I spent at Knox and she commented that the next time we were in Kentucky, we needed to take an extra day and visit the post.  Knox is no longer the home of Armor and Cavalry, it is now some sort of Finance Center.  I pulled up Google Maps and started looking for places that were instrumental during my younger years.

My basic training barracks is gone.  The place where I billeted the company I commanded is gone. The housing area where I lived has been bulldozed. The one place that the Army could not bulldoze is still there.  Area 5 North, a maneuver area thoroughly revied by everyone who spent miserable weeks on that piece of ground.  The scars are still there and can be seen from space.

That is one small portion of it.  A platoon-sized maneuver area where I spent many a miserable day learning the trade.  About four grid squares in total, Big enough for a young officer to screw up, mire his tank, learn to recover it.  a joyous place of mud and cold and diesel fumes. Did I mention mudholes? Fond memories.

This was only one small portion of the training area, which encompassed several dozen square miles.  Still it seemed that this portion is the one I recall most vividly.
Winter conditions and a steady wind set the stage for today’s Photo of the Day, featuring the Schmeisser Pro Hunter  with its 18-inch barrel, chambered in .223 Remington and finished in FDE. Topped with the brand-new Schmidt & Bender 3–18×42 META riflescope , this setup represents a modern, precision-focused hunting and crossover rifle configuration. The META optic, equipped with the new SBX reticle in the first focal plane, was put straight to work under less-than-forgiving conditions.

The Rimfire Report: Round 2 With the KR-22

by Luke C. in The Firearm Blog on 2025-12-30T00:00:00Z

About 3 months ago, I had just finished my first two-range sessions with the TriStar Arms (Kral Arms) KR-22 rifle . This 10/22 magazine-compatible Turkish plinker didn’t really impress me after my first couple of outings with it, and now, three months down the road, I’ve put another 1,000 rounds through the rifle, and I was actually able to get a little bit better performance out of it the more I shot it. Today, I’ll share my updated results with you, as we take a second look at this quite peculiar Turkish rimfire rifle that has a ton of great factory features, takes Ruger mags, and is still only about $250 .

French Quarter Road Signs

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-29T23:44:25Z

French Quarter street signs not up where you would expect but in the sidewalk 

My wife pointed out that if you sitting atop a carriage, looking down at the sidewalk makes sense.


"I Am So Trained!'

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-29T23:06:22Z

12/27/25 Los Angeles Times:

An hour after midnight Jan. 1, as a small brush fire blazed across Topanga State Park, a California State Parks employee texted the Los Angeles Fire Department’s heavy equipment supervisor to find out if they were sending in bulldozers.

“Heck no that area is full of endangered plants,” Capt. Richard Diede replied at 9:52 a.m, five hours after LAFD declared the fire contained.

“I would be a real idiot to ever put a dozer in that area,” he wrote. “I’m so trained.”


 

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a home in the 2000 block of Anjali Way, near AMC Showplace 14, around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 26th.

A victim reported that he interrupted a burglary at his home. According to police, the victim struggled with King and a shot was fired.

King fled the scene, but later showed up at a Rockford hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.

More Here


Tattered Flags

by Unknown in Home on the Range on 2025-12-29T19:35:00Z

After some unforecast snow overnight, the walk with the dog was quiet.  Down the street, a Village vehicle, someone marking gas lines as part of some upcoming work, based on the detailed markings, likely a needed excavation.  They'd been doing a lot of that in the last few months, so it wasn't a surprise.

What WAS a surprise was that the technician was spray painting the colored markings for the gas line work ON THE SNOW, which was already melting.

Yes, every Village has an idiot.  We just have more than one.

When did common sense go out the window?  Is it something I just noticed once I got to the "Get Off my Lawn" age, when it's so easy to forget the dreams and illusions of youth in the cynicism that creeps in as we pass 60?   I was reading a fairy tale to my youngest grandchild once, and I suddenly thought, "Look, A pumpkin turns into a fully-outfitted, gilded coach, and Cinderella just blindly gets in it and rides away.  Who in their right mind would DO that?  Apparently, Cinderella did and found her Prince and a happy ever after. The rest of us?  We usually get a sharp dose of reality and glass slippers that REALLY hurt to wear.  

Some of what might be considered common sense is innate intelligence, and that's all relative.  I always thought I was pretty clever, then one day I went to the U of Pennsylvania, where my former father-in-law, a robotics pioneer, was professor of computer information science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. In his lab, there was a robotic arm that would play ping pong with you and win.  It was built by a freshman.  At that moment, I felt incredibly stupid. I muttered "beer, donut" and quietly left to liberally sprinkle some chicken and myself with some white wine as I made dinner with my mother-in-law.

Some of my aerial adventures certainly decry any semblance of good sense.  But even on my worst day, I didn't imagine some of the things I encountered over the course of my later career in the aviation equivalent of "hold my beer".  Most survived, and with a legal slap on the wrist or just a stern talking-to, never did such things again.  But there were just some fools who seemed to dare us to come out to be the witnesses and guarantors of the outcome of the very act we spent so much time trying to prevent. But some just didn't listen or learn, and the day inevitably came when I ended up at a front door. I know I'm supposed to start with “I'm sorry for your loss,” but I couldn't. I merely stood there as someone who had just aged before my eyes, grabbed onto me like a lifeline, breaking into tears. I remember one woman on a small drought-ravaged farm.  She couldn't have been much more than a hundred pounds and felt like a bundle of sticks against my muscled form as she cried, sticks that had weathered so much for many years, only to be tossed upon a fire, for which I could offer no healing rain. You don't forget that.

Somewhere in the Good Book it says know thyself, and though my interpretation of that was likely well out of context, I learned early on about limitations and tried not to exceed them, or red line.  Looking in the mirror this morning, I note the scar where I got whacked hard by the bungee cord of a CF700 engine cover standing out in relief on alabaster skin that shows every worry, every tear.  I realize that I, too, made mistakes that changed a life, often mine, in ways other than good, and that it was only through fate, luck, or a God who factored in my own stupidity when putting a calling on my life, that I am still here.

I do understand the lure of doing something without really thinking it through. As a child, I once used my dad's soldering gun to try to give Barbie a tattoo (to impress GI Joe), only to melt her whole arm off.  Another Barbie lost her leg being launched in a potato gun across the fence.  Then there was the time my brother got me to eat a dog treat shaped like a Hershey's kiss. When I bit into it and made a face, he said, "It's a dog treat, it's made out of sawdust and cow poop."  (Not true, VITAMIN FORTIFIED sawdust and cow poop).  Of course, I ran crying to my mother, who simply said, "If you're stupid enough to do something just because your brother tells you, don't come to me for sympathy."

I didn't learn immediately; there was something about the unknown, the unexplored, the "what if?" in life. I was the kid that even though I got straight A's, fidgeted in class, couldn't sit still, looking at the whole "classroom" aspect of life as a waste of time which drove me half-consciously, out into the world as soon as that bell rang away from a comfortable berth, from the menace of the mundane, to the wonders of a world beyond walls.  Even as a child, I understood the ancient human instinct of the chase, and I rushed out to claim what I thought was lacking in my structured upbringing: wisdom to acquire, adventures to behold, and fun to have.  

Which again was quickly quashed by my mom, who was a former Deputy Sheriff for Multnomah County in Oregon.  She had seen too many ways to end up in a body bag and passed on some of that wisdom.   The lessons took; I attempted to daydream less and listen more, and later in life, as airmen say, to keep the pointy end forward and the rubber side down.   

Like my mom, I later learned the ramifications of physics too well. I'd like to say I retired without ever having to burn my clothes at the end of the workday, but I can't.  I'd also like to think I could take in all that the world dished out at me like a trooper, but I can't.  Sometimes late in the night, I'll wake from a dream, one I have often of an actual event, a crash where the aircraft broke apart as it hit trees and terrain, a fireball erupting from a fuel tank.  Two were killed immediately, but another onboard wasn't at the scene.  A grid was walked; there were footsteps in the snow and pieces of soot and burned fabric.  The body was surprisingly far from the wreckage. He'd run clear, then walked, then crawled, already dead, just not realizing it yet as he strove to flee.  I stood there and cried so hard that I had to don new PPE.  It's an image I will take to my grave. 

I wake up today to my mortality in a world that's full of those still wandering in happy denial.  I can't change them; I can only change myself.  I gave up alcohol years ago, I eat extra veggies and apparently when I was a kid and said, "I can't wait to grow up so I can stay up as late as I want", as late as I want apparently is 9:30.  I can't undo past excesses, poor choices (never order the seafood at that restaurant in the terminal with little foot traffic at SFO International), and questionable taste in automobiles (seriously, I owned a Dodge Shadow??)  But I can live with where it brought me.  Moments of the loss of sense or self are nothing more than fate's little footnote, already fading, a scent, the sound of a voice, a flower pressed between pages, never to be opened again.  Those regrets don't drive my day; they are a shade, a shadow, a whispered warning, perhaps, but a quiet one.

Outside, there is snow. I'm going to go out in footwear that is not suitable, fueled by a bowl of Frosted Flakes and too much caffeine, and seize the day.  I have my lessons, years of patience, and extreme care that got me through broken clouds, turbulent air, and unforecast change, where the senses of my command brought me out to safety. How slow had been those flights of passage, and how quickly they were over.  

So, for today, I'm just going to explore, laugh, and wonder in the world. The snow is melting, and the laundry will hold. For what is one day? A short space before the light too soon, and the echo of an owl's wings brushes against the windowsill. Just a brief interlude in the sun's dance. 

My past may have brought high winds, bent trees, and fire; a helter-skelter of responsibility, fear, danger, and the occasional fractured heart.  Such is what I did, and such is what I am. But for today, I'll embrace what comes my way: the trees, a refuge of familiar order; the few remaining leaves; a brace of tattered flags against ancient wood, not knowing yet that they are dead.

I watch as a leaf flutters down from above, resting on the ground immobile, stilled forever, as it were, until the breeze picks it up and spins it aloft towards the sun which breaches the perimeter.  For now, I have the light, some of the sense my mom instilled in me, and a snowball the size of a small planet in my hand, just waiting for my husband to leave the house.    

A new day awaits.  

Free Open Source3 software without Linux

by Borepatch in Borepatch on 2025-12-29T19:15:00Z

For years I've touted (and recommended) Linux, the Free Open Source Software (FOSS) that is the heart of Internet servers, Internet routing nodes, and Android.  I have a lot of experience with Linux, having run it since kernel version 0.99 back in 1994 or so.  Slackware on 25 pounds of 3.5" floppy disks FTW.

One question that comes up regularly is what non-technical people can do.  While Linux has become a lot easier to install and run, there are still the occasional weirdnesses that some up, link the Brave Browser's refusal to print to anything other than PDF.  This means that if you live in a Linux world, you regularly have to come figure out workarounds.

And thus, the questions.  It's pretty easy for someone like me with 30 years of Linux experience* (good Lord, can it really be that long???), but for everyday folks who don't dig kernel versions and package dependencies, it's a daunting prospect.

As it turns out, there is a ton of high quality FOSS software for Windows and Mac users, and as your current computer ages and falls out of support, these can be a great way to extend the life of your computer.

I highly recommend this article from The Register on where to find high quality, non-malware FOSS packages.  It's very long and information-rich, so if you have an aging computer and you really don't want to load Linux on it, it's worth 10 minutes of your time.

Strongly recommended for normal computer users. Techie users will stay with sudo apt-get install foo but that just sort of proves my point.

About the only thing you won't get for your old Windows or Mac computer are security updates once the OS is end of life.  That's a big issue these days, and while it is possible to lock down a (say) old Windows OS to minimize your risk, it probably takes more tech savvy that installing Linux.  But if you are still getting security patches, FOSS can help you adapt to your apps demanding you upgrade the OS.  

* Interestingly, each year for the last 20 years has been "This is the year of Linux", and it really hasn't because the workarounds haven't ever gone away.  I'd argue that the only place where Linux is truly easy to use is Android, because Google invested a ton of money smoothing it out.

Taran Tactical Innovations has unveiled the latest evolution of its Sand & Pit Viper line: a compact 4.5" island barrel version designed for shooters who demand race-gun performance in a carry-friendly package. The shorter island barrel reduces reciprocating slide mass, allowing for faster follow-up shots, tighter control of recoil, and improved accuracy, traits long associated with TTI’s full-size Viper series.
The Pistollo 77° is officially heading to the U.S. civilian market, with Deluxe Imports (Boerne, Texas) now confirmed as the exclusive American distributor. Following the completion of the ATF import approval process, the innovative semi-automatic pistol is scheduled to make its U.S. debut in the first half of 2026, beginning with a highly limited Launch Edition created specifically for American buyers.

Stop Taking the Poison

by Joe in The View From North Central Idaho on 2025-12-29T17:05:22Z

Quote of the Day Children. I’d rather live in a low-income trailer park in the US than in a luxury high rise in Europe. Much of the same problems, but in the US there would be a pathway up and … Continue reading

I may as well admit it…

by Joel in The Ultimate Answer to Kings on 2025-12-29T16:56:46Z

This blogging thing has come to a middle. Several years ago I mused that it was probably time to retire the blog because it wasn’t about the adventure of roughing it in the boonies anymore, but the sedate adventures of … Continue reading

Winter is Back

by Pawpaw in PawPaw's House on 2025-12-29T16:10:00Z

 Awoke this morning to a chilly north breeze, requiring that I break out the flannel.  Yesterday, the high was close to the 80s.  Today, the high will stretch to make 50.  Belle has turned off the AC in the house and has lit the heater. We're expecting a frost tonight.

I know that up north, the Midwest is facing a severe winter storm.  My thoughts are with y'all.

We're in the slack time between Christmas and the New Year. 2026 is going to jump off busy, and I'm enjoying the down time. It's time to consider the piddling projects that are best done in the wintertime.

HTI traces its roots back to 1906, when Luigi Passoni began working at the Falk steel factory in Milan, Italy. During his time there, Passoni was involved in developing specialty steels intended for barrel manufacturing, laying an early foundation for what would eventually become a family legacy in precision firearms engineering. When Falk ceased production in 1995, the next generation carried that legacy forward as Carlo Guido Passoni founded HTI, transforming decades of metallurgical knowledge into a modern rifle manufacturer.
The other M4 is finally available in the feature set it was meant to have! Full 7+1 capacity, and no compromises.

By Adam Kraut SAF Executive Director Special to TGM As 2025 comes to an end, I wanted to share something remarkable with you: This has been one of the most significant years in Second Amendment litigation history. Major Victories in 2025 Reese v. ATF – The Fifth Circuit ruled that federal restrictions on handgun sales […]

The post In Review: Top 2A Stories from 2025, Part I appeared first on Liberty Park Press.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 168! We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.
Lanny Barnes takes the Taurus Expedition rifle to New Mexico for a Coues deer hunt. Find out why she plans to keep this one in her hunting arsenal for the future.

LMG-25: The Swiss Toggle-Locked Light Machine Gun

by Ian McCollum in Forgotten Weapons on 2025-12-29T13:27:07Z

The LMG-25 was designed by Adolph Furrer at Waffenfabrik Bern in the 1920s. Furrer was a devoted fan of the toggle locking system, and also designed a toggle-locked submachine gun that Switzerland (unwisely) adopted in [...]

The post LMG-25: The Swiss Toggle-Locked Light Machine Gun first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.

Writing Elsewhere...

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-29T11:55:00Z

.

Around the Web

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-29T11:33:00Z

.

True journalism along with a pair of brass ones

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2025-12-29T11:30:00Z

Showing true journalism as well as doing what the state of Minnesota should have done, Nick Shirley went to some of the addresses of taxpayer funded Somali ‘daycares’ and other offices and found…. nothing. Just offices with similar names sucking taxpayer dollars to then be funneled out of the country. Watch the whole thing, but […]
In This Episode: Weer’d, Erin, Oddball, Xander and David all sit down for some holiday gifts and merriment before discussing some relevant Second Amendment news. Did you know that we have a Patreon? Join now for the low, low cost … Continue reading

Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 29, 2025

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:06:56Z

December 29, 1812: The USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captured the HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle. — This is also the birthday of inventor Charles Goodyear (1800–1860.) — The 20th Anniversary SurvivalBlog 2005-2025 Waterproof/EMP-Resistant Archive USB sticks are now available for Pre-Ordering!  This year, we are also offering a limited number of them in steel keepsake tins, with keychains.  Orders should start to be mailed in the third week of January.  To be sure that you get yours, order soon! — With the exceptionally large moves in the silver market, …

The post Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 29, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The 20th Anniversary SurvivalBlog Archive USB Sticks

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:05:53Z

I have some great news: The new batch of 32-gigabyte waterproof SurvivalBlog archive USB sticks is now available for pre-ordering. To order, see the 2005-2025 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick ordering pages: Standard Edition Keepsake Edition in a custom steel tin, packaged with a keychain Many folks have asked about what is included in the new 20th Anniversary  2005-2025 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. There certainly is a lot! Of course, these sticks will have everything that has ever been posted in SurvivalBlog, dating back to its launch in August, 2005, and up to December 31, 2025. In my humble opinion, the …

The post The 20th Anniversary SurvivalBlog Archive USB Sticks appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

How Long Will The Silver Bull’s Rampage Continue?

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:04:08Z

Spot silver jumped 10.35% to $79.59 per troy ounce in just one day, on Friday, December 26, 2025. On that day, there were new all-time highs set for silver, platinum, and gold. Spot silver has gained a phenomenal 166% in value in 2025. And now, amazingly, a $1,000 face value bag of pre-1965 non-numismatic “junk” 90% U.S. silver coins now sells for $56,840. Though prices vary, that effectively means that the melt value of one U.S. pre-1965 silver dime (10-cent piece) is now $5.68. And today? In Monday morning trading in China, (that was early Sunday evening, in the United …

The post How Long Will The Silver Bull’s Rampage Continue? appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Recipe of the Week:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:03:56Z

The following recipe for Senator Dan Sullivan’s Alaska Seafood Newburg comes to us by way of SurvivalBlog reader Mike in Alaska. Mike writes: “I got this in an e-mail from my friend U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. He has given permission for publication. We used some Copper River Silver Salmon we caught fresh from the river, one very large fillet in our recipe. It was absolutely wonderful. My wife made the sauce, baked the salmon in the oven and then poured the sauce over the salmon. Fresh caught salmon has a taste that is impossible to beat.” Ingredients 2/3 …

The post Recipe of the Week: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:02:55Z

Today’s graphic: Weapons and Camouflage Patterns in Europe. (Graphic by “Ausspanner”, courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.         — 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 post SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2025-12-29T07:01:39Z

“For all being Kings as much as he, every Man his Equal and the greater Part no strict Observers of Equity and Justice, the enjoyment of the Property he has in this State, is very unsafe, very unsecure. This makes him willing to quit this Condition, which however free, is full of Fears and continual Dangers: And ’tis not without Reason, that he seeks out, and is willing to join in Society with others, who are already united, or have a Mind to unite, for the mutual Preservation of their Lives, Liberties, and Estates, which I call by the general …

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Not Quite Interview With The Vampire

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2025-12-29T01:57:48Z

But still quite ancient house retrofitllted as hotel.

He was making so much bank by being the high guy in the commercials, that his rapping had taken a back seat. But he brought it at the halftime show at the Detroit Lion’s game on Christmas day. YMMV, but to me this was true entertainment and a fantastic halftime show with something for everyone. […]

Christmas Shopping Dilemma

by Glenn B in BALLSEYE'S BOOMERS on 2025-12-28T16:11:00Z

   I decided to get one more gift for my grandson, even though I had already completed all of my Christmas shopping save my tradition of doing in store shopping on Christmas Eve.
 
I was in the process of ordering him a gift card. They have fairly generic one, one with the Carvel logo, ones for celebrations of things like birthdays, and seasonal cards among the ones they offer for sale. They had a nice one for Channukah that said Happy Hannukah and had a picture of a mennorah on it. I thought thag was appropriate especially as it reflects as a religious theme. The Christmas themed gift card however had no indication of a religious theme. It showed Santa and had two words on it, "Happy Ho (or maybe ot said hos). That struck a nerve. I readily admit, I am far from being very religious but I do celebrate Christmas. I think Christmas is ALL about the gifts. On the first Christmas, God gave mankind the gift of his only begotten son who was born in a manger, that lodging was essentialy gift from the landlord, then the wise men gave Jesus gifts of gold, silver and muir. Over and over again, in the New Testament are examples of gift giving, many given to others by Jesus. A few of the most notable were the wine from water, loaves of bread and fish to feed the multitudes, the gift of life to Lazarus and fimally the ultimate gift of Jesus giving his own life to save us from sin. How wonderful would life be if we all, each and everyone of us  gave more gifts to one another. 
 
All the best,
Glenn B 

Vegans Aren’t Normal

by Weerd Beard in Weer'd World on 2025-12-28T14:51:48Z

Now first up, I mean this in the simplest sense. Veganism is a VERY recent social construct. Vegetarianism has existed for thousands of years, but the idea that one would not consume or use ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS, is something that … Continue reading

Probably Just a Joke

by Joe in The View From North Central Idaho on 2025-12-28T14:00:00Z

Quote of the Day Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) introduced a bill this month ahead of the 2026 legislative session that would instruct the director of the Department of Health Services to “conduct or support research to advance the … Continue reading
Quote of the Day Things like this end up in third world wars. And I told that the other day, I said, ‘You know, everybody keeps playing games like this, you’ll end up in a third world war.’ And we … Continue reading

A Bit of Classic Prose and a Classic Firearm

by Unknown in Home on the Range on 2025-12-28T13:39:30Z

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;

Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon;
let the brow o'erwhelm it
.
As fearfully as doth a galled rock

-William Shakespeare - King Henry V

Print Gun Magazines are Dead (or are they?)

by Ian McCollum in Forgotten Weapons on 2025-12-28T13:27:59Z

Print gun magazines used to be the standard way to stay tuned to the new scholarship in the world of collectible firearms. Then we got the internet. Today, researchers paid to write articles for print [...]

The post Print Gun Magazines are Dead (or are they?) first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.

According to the Barnesville Police Department (BPD), officers were sent to the home on Kate Ct. at around 1:50 a.m. Thursday, when they spoke with a woman who said 35-year-old Gregory Young, her ex-boyfriend and children's father, kicked in the door of her home.

She told police an argument began, leading to a shooting between Young and another man inside the home. BPD said the 31-year-old man was shot in the abdomen, and Young fled the scene.

Police now have warrants out for Young's arrest for two counts of aggravated assault, reckless conduct, 2nd degree home invasion, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. BPD said he has not been apprehended and is last known to be traveling north in a 2006 Chevrolet 3500 Pickup truck with a North Carolina license plate tag.


More Here


GA: Atlanta - Physical Altergation Leads to Shooting

by Dean Weingarten in GUN WATCH on 2025-12-28T12:24:00Z

12/24/25: Aggravated Assault: 2924 Ridgeview Dr SW

Post Date:12/24/2025 9:36 AM
253580172
Preliminary Information: On 12/24/25, around 1:37am, officers responded to 2924 Ridgeview Dr SW in reference to a person shot. Upon arrival, officers located a male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the buttocks. He was alert, conscious and breathing and transported to Grady in stable condition. Officers made contact with a male suspect who remained on scene. He was briefly detained to be interviewed by officers. 
 
Preliminary investigation indicates the suspect and victim both rent at the location and have been involved in an ongoing dispute.  On 12/24, both the suspect and victim were involved in an altercation that turned physical. The suspect stated the victim revealed a firearm during the dispute which led to a physical struggle over the firearm. The suspect stated he then revealed his own firearm and discharged it towards the ground, striking the victim in the buttocks. The shooting took place inside of the residence. The investigation remains ongoing at this time, and additional charges may be pending depending on the outcome of the victim's interview. 
 
Please keep in mind the above information is preliminary in nature and can change as the investigation progresses and new information comes to light.

Link to Source


Last Sunday Meme Dump of 2025!

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2025-12-28T12:21:00Z




Sunday Meme Drop

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2025-12-28T11:32:00Z

Feeds

FeedRSSLast fetched
Gunbot! XML 2025-04-14T03:02:32Z
Hobbit@Law XML 2014-09-09T14:35:05Z
The Gun Writer XML 2025-12-31T10:14:45Z
Tech, Guns, and Food Blog XML 2013-02-13T07:12:09Z
Guns & Coffee XML 2025-12-15T04:05:55Z
The Price of Liberty XML 2025-12-31T00:59:39Z
357 Magnum Archive XML 2020-10-24T14:31:19Z
Cowboy Blob's Saloon and Shootin Gallery XML 2025-12-19T16:25:58Z
Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership XML 2025-12-16T18:45:31Z
bubbleheadgunnut XML 2014-05-17T01:39:08Z
PawPaw's House XML 2025-12-31T01:25:42Z
FreeThinker XML 2025-12-16T02:31:47Z
Assorted Meanderings XML 2025-12-31T06:53:42Z
GUN WATCH XML 2025-12-31T02:16:26Z
Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog XML 2025-12-15T20:01:34Z
Sipsey Street Irregulars XML 2025-12-22T14:05:55Z
The Displaced Louisiana Guy XML 2025-05-24T07:00:44Z
To Which I Replied... XML 2025-04-07T15:02:00Z
Blog O'Stuff XML 2025-12-27T18:15:23Z
Borepatch XML 2025-12-30T22:06:36Z
Mr. Completely XML 2025-10-12T18:29:46Z
Of Arms and the Law XML 2025-10-03T20:33:01Z
Laptop and a Rifle XML 2022-04-21T18:15:01Z
John Lott's Website XML 2025-12-29T08:03:58Z
The New Rifleman XML 2025-01-29T01:07:11Z
The Clue Meter XML 2025-12-16T02:31:44Z
Mindless Bit Spew XML 2025-06-13T05:52:50Z
Gun Blogger Rendezvous XML 2025-07-12T23:34:51Z
Midwest Chick's Place XML 2025-12-29T03:00:06Z
Lagniappe's Lair XML 2025-12-05T13:44:36Z
BALLSEYE'S BOOMERS XML 2025-12-30T22:29:24Z
Non-Original Rants XML 2025-08-24T03:09:58Z
Cogito Ergo Geek XML 2025-12-27T15:33:51Z
The Michael Bane Blog XML 2025-12-31T07:26:06Z
View From The Porch XML 2025-12-30T13:55:04Z
BLACKFORK XML 2025-11-20T09:23:17Z
The Arms Room XML 2025-11-29T15:14:40Z
Recoil XML 2025-12-30T16:36:44Z
Irons in the Fire XML 2025-12-31T07:53:03Z
Rifleman Savant XML 2025-07-06T19:27:17Z
The Minuteman XML 2021-02-06T19:56:46Z
Musings Over a Barrel XML 2025-12-30T20:50:52Z
Home on the Range XML 2025-12-31T01:25:49Z
She's a Garand Gal XML 2025-03-12T13:34:25Z
XML 2025-12-24T19:30:14Z
pistol-training.com XML 2025-12-30T01:40:44Z
New Jovian Thunderbolt XML 2025-12-25T08:12:49Z
The Freeholder XML 2025-05-24T06:59:32Z
The War on Guns XML 2025-12-30T20:21:33Z
Shakey Pete's Shootin' Shack XML 2025-12-16T02:31:33Z
The Ultimate Answer to Kings XML 2025-12-29T16:56:46Z
Monster Hunter Nation XML 2025-12-18T17:25:16Z
The Firearm Blog XML 2025-12-31T10:53:01Z
Weer'd World XML 2025-12-29T14:20:30Z
Gun Culture 2.0 XML 2025-05-30T20:15:23Z
Active Response Training XML 2025-12-26T07:23:25Z
SayUncle XML 2024-07-08T18:19:27Z
Home XML 2025-12-31T10:53:01Z
The Smallest Minority XML 2025-08-08T14:18:08Z
Clayton Cramer. XML 2025-12-31T01:25:32Z
The Smallest Minority XML 2025-12-16T01:34:13Z
A Girl and Her Gun XML 2017-02-02T03:09:10Z
Shall Not Be Questioned XML 2022-07-21T14:04:39Z
Never Yet Melted XML 2025-11-06T20:04:08Z
DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news. XML 2025-07-29T07:12:11Z
SurvivalBlog.com XML 2025-12-31T02:09:06Z
Gun Nuts Media XML 2024-10-01T14:11:18Z
Day At The Range XML 2025-12-24T16:34:04Z
Joy of Shooting XML 2025-11-13T23:34:30Z
The View From North Central Idaho XML 2025-12-30T04:01:35Z
Cornered Cat XML 2021-01-31T13:25:27Z
Blog – Julie Golob XML 2025-12-05T19:30:46Z
2nd Amendment Archives - Liberty Park Press XML 2025-12-30T21:11:07Z
Forgotten Weapons XML 2025-12-27T22:15:57Z
The Zelman Partisans XML 2025-12-23T10:10:05Z
Oleg Volk XML 2020-04-15T05:45:13Z
Hunting, shooting, fishing and adventure for women by women XML 2025-12-30T15:39:09Z