Month: August 2020

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the rising price of silver. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: The shortage of physical silver in the U.S. has been continuing since market demand turned sharply in March. Consequently, dealer premiums have been high, and the available selection of coins has been pitifully small. Today’s market is …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — August 27, 2020

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My latest nonfiction book, titled: The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide was scheduled to be on the shelf in Costco stores beginning yesterday:  Wednesday, August 26th. But I didn’t see any when I stopped by my nearest Costco. Did any SurvivalBlog readers find any on the shelf?  If so, in what cities?  Please let me know in the comments to this post. Thanks! The book will be exclusive to Costco club stores until October 20th, when the general release (worldwide, including all Internet vendors) will be made. — August 27, 1917 was the birthday of American gun designer Robert Hillberg, best …


A Physician’s Perspective on COVID-19 – Part 2, by Doctor Dan, M.D.

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(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) It could be argued that investing in some form of telehealth communication device is now a valuable part of a family’s medical preps, especially if a member of your family suffers from chronic serious medical conditions. iPad/iPhones seem to be the most used platforms in telehealth, but often any computer or tablet/phone can also work. Reliable internet or data plan access may be required to make the video component of this work. So that you may be prepared to stay on top of your chronic diseases if in-person visits are restricted again, …


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”. 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. Today, we take another look at the urban exodus. U.S. Housing Market Is ‘Booming’, Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: U.S. Housing Market Is ‘Booming’, Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels.  JWR’s Comment: …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Yea, Buddy! We know how successful them public-private partnerships are! Think on the public-private mortgage creation motors, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mack. Both belly-upped in 2008, but not before they had glutted the mortgage market with zillions in soggy, sorry, worthless mortgages. Been under federal government receivership ever since. Or what about another public-private partnership success, the Federal Reserve System? Now in fact it ain’t federal, and it hath no reserve, and there ain’t even much system about it. But like putting lipstick on a sow, they gussied it up in 1913 with a Board of Governors that the president …


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 26, 2020

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August 26, 1946 was the official release date of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” — On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote was formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 90 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course …


A Physician’s Perspective on COVID-19 – Part 1, by Doctor Dan, M.D.

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Was the Threat Real? I’ve been asked by skeptical friends whether COVID-19 was a hoax/conspiracy, or if this was a real threat. Based on what I saw firsthand practicing in the frontline medical specialty of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, the threat of this disease is very real. People indeed died, and the deaths were often particularly unpleasant. The health, psychological, and economic impacts of this virus will be felt for years to come, and may impact the 2020 elections (with all of the subsequent consequences this will carry). However serious the disease may be, it feels that we have now …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, books, and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how-to” self-sufficiency videos. There are also links to sources for both storage food and storage containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This week the focus is on some unusual MRE components and MRE replacements. (See the Gear & Grub section.) Books: Edible Wild …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 25, 2020

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August 25th is a birthday shared by novelist Frederick Forsyth (born 1938), humorist Bret Harte (born 1836), and the late American humorist Patrick F. McManus (born 1933). Forsyth (pictured) was the author of The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil’s Alternative, and many others. McManus was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, so his books could be classified as American Redoubt humor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 90 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A gift …


Maximizing the Homestead Apple Orchard, by Eric K.

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“Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits” – Henry David Thoreau American homesteaders and gardeners have a high degree of familiarity with eating and growing apples.  Who hasn’t enjoyed biting into a fresh, crunchy apple on a cool fall morning?  Most homesteaders plant an apple tree or two early on in the process of establishing their property.  This makes sense – the apple is deeply connected to American pioneering history and culture.  Johnny Appleseed traveled the Ohio River Valley and parts of Appalachia planting apple seeds.  Oregon Trail settlers carried seeds and seedlings with them when they came west …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on efforts to stop wolf depredation of cattle. (See the Eastern Washington section.) Region-Wide The current wildfires in California are so huge that they’ve generated a smoky haze that extended to Idaho, Montana, and even Wyoming. This televised map tells the story. o  …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Even though I have a dozen or so stripped AR lowers sitting around, I still check pricing and availability. Gotta say…now is the second-worst time to be buying guns, first worst is gonna be November. Even if early-onset dementia victim Biden doesn’t get elected you can still expect gun prices and availability to be wildly unpredictable. What I can predict is that there will be no Trump Slump this time around. Even if Trump wins, the natives are still restless over COVID, race ‘discussions’, and other uncertainties. Now is not the time for complacency.” – Commander Zero, in his Notes …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 24, 2020

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My latest nonfiction book, titled: The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide should be available in Costco stores beginning on Wednesday, August 26th. That book will be exclusive to Costco club stores until October 20th, when the general release (worldwide, including all Internet vendors) will be made. Note that the editions will vary slightly. They will all be 240 pages and hardcover, but for example, the U.S/Canada edition ($24.99) will measure 10-1/2″ x 11-1/4″, with an interior wire-o binding–so that the pages will lay flat. But the UK/EU edition (£19.12) will measure 7-1/2″ x 9-5/8″ with a more traditional binding. The second …