Year: 2019

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – February 10, 2019

February 10th is the birthday of Zvi Zvika Greengold (born 1952), a Centurion tank commander who was one of Israel’s most notable heroes of the Yom Kippur War. He was awarded the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Valor — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three …


New Zealand: Thoughts After Seven Years, Part 4, by Nivek

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Part 4   Taxes, everybody’s favorite topic New Zealand has a top tax rate of 33%. Okay, you think that’s not bad, the U.S. is right up there also. Well the trouble is you get to the 33% much faster as there are only three tax brackets. Making over $65,000 NZ Dollars per year will get you into the top bracket. That’s around $50,000 US Dollars. There are no deductions for a private person and you don’t get credit for kids or being married. The way around this seems to involve having a business and taking deductions through the business. …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on a 4GW Reading List. Another Ninth Circuit Farcical Finding This report was troubling: Appeals Court: Police Do Not Need A Reason To Place Americans On A Suspicious Person List.  It seems the statist Ninth Circuit Court has fully abandoned the spirit of the Fourth Amendment. Presumption of Innocence is one of the main bulwarks of American jurisprudence. Hopefully, this will be appealed to the supreme court. If it is …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday – February 9, 2019

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February 9th is the birthday of Major George Charles Nonte Jr. (Born 1926, died June 30, 1978.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint …


New Zealand: Thoughts After Seven Years, Part 3, by Nivek

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Part 3   Weather Weather in New Zealand is widely varied with the north island getting much more rain than the south island. An exception on the south island is the far south-western tip called the Fiordlands. It’s a very rugged place with thousands of waterfalls. It is worth seeing. The north island has higher temperatures and higher humidity. I chose a location on the top of the south island that would have the most sunshine and dryer weather. I am a desert person and it takes a lot of getting used to the humid conditions. Take a look at …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready! …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on how the Queen of England Has a Bug Out Plan. Pictured is Balmoral Castle, in a vintage photo. The Earth’s Fast-Moving Magnetic North Pole This is some food for thought: Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Was Moving So Fast, Geophysicists Had to Update the Map Why We Need Standard Capacity Magazines Reader D.S. sent us this article link: Houston Gunfight, Deadly as OK Corral; Home Owner Uses AK47 in Self …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou …


Preparedness Notes for Friday – February 8, 2019

On February 8th, 1963 the Kennedy administration issued an order prohibiting travel to Cuba and banned financial transactions and commerce with Cuba, by U.S. citizens. — Our shipping department is being inundated with the same question: If you received an e-mail stating that your SurvivalBlog.com order is now complete, it means that the shipping department has finished packaging it and it is either in the mail, or in a bin on it’s way to the Post Office. SurvivalBlog’s part in the order is now complete. It still might take as long as a week for the USPS to get your …


New Zealand: Thoughts After Seven Years, Part 2, by Nivek

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Part 2 I’ll begin Part 2 with some random thoughts. I am just going to comment on various items from daily life. A Small Country One really important thing is the size of the market here in New Zealand. The population is something over 4.5 million spread out over an area about the size of California, and then split into two islands. The U.S. has well over 350 million people. This makes world products to be priced high here because the market share is low and the logistics are difficult to get things down here. Another factor is that almost …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on investing in AR-15 family rifles and lower receivers. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Central Banks Haven’t Bought This Much Gold Since Nixon Closed The Gold Window o o o ETF Gold Holdings Hit Highest Level Since 2013 In January: WGC   Economy …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday – February 7, 2019

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February 7th, 1867, was the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder. (She died February 10, 1957). SurvivalBlog highly recommends the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as well as her biography. On this day in 1775 in London, Benjamin Franklin published An Imaginary Speech in defense of American courage. The speech was intended to counter an unnamed officer’s comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because “Americans are unequal to the People of this Country [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in courage and worse than all, they are religious.” Franklin’s response included his usual wit and acuity. …


New Zealand: Thoughts After Seven Years, Part 1, by Nivek

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Part 1 Many of you have probably wondered about “bugging out” to another country. I would like to share with you what I have learned after living in New Zealand for seven years. I will try to organize my thoughts in different categories to help you get some answers. The first part will cover why and how I made the leap. Part 2 of the article will discuss various experiences. Part 3 will cover weather, gun laws, cars, car insurance, and shopping. And in Part 4 I will finish by covering taxes, telecommunications costs, and post a “points system” locales …