Month: December 2021

Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 31, 2021

December 31st, 1851 was the birthday of Frederick Selous. He died on January 4th, 1917. And this is also the birthday of Alexander Solzhenitsyn. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. 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), …


Readying Your Family: Count The Costs

As I’ve mentioned in previous essays, I believe that We Are Living In The Age of Deception and Betrayal (WALITAODAB). Looking back on the trauma and drama of 2020 and 2021, please consider some of the questions that you must ask yourself and the choices that you may have to make in the next few years: 1.) First and foremost, are you right with God? If not, then repent and commit your life to Christ Jesus. (Yeshua, the Messiah.) Salvation in Christ is there for the asking, but you must be saved. 2.) Are you living in a truly safe …


December 2021 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover gold’s performance and the factors that affected gold prices. What Did Gold Do in December? Gold prices continued having difficulty in moving higher when they should have in December, but ended the month and the year back above $1,800. $1,780 proved to be the big support level this month. It was a seesaw month for gold, as prices would negate big losses a day or two later. Part of this was “good news is bad …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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 global economic and credit market forecasts for 2022. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Silver Reverses to Long, Gold still struggles. o  o  o Strong 2021 Demand For Physical Precious Metals, Despite Paper Prices. Economy & Finance: Fitch: Global Economic Outlook – December 2021. o  o  o …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — December 30, 2021

December 30, 1865 was the birthday of Rudyard Kipling. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. 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), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, …


Gasoline Types and Long Term Storage, by Tunnel Rabbit

I started wrenching in 1976, and have several decades of experience in this field. Diesel is the best fuel for TEOTWAWKI, but I cannot afford to switch, and I do not have diesel chainsaw.  I store aviation gasoline (Avgas) “100LL” for my chainsaws and generators.  This pure form of gasoline does not separate, nor degrade as rapidly as modern gasoline sold are regular gas stations. It is much like gasoline was in the 1960s that contain lead, and has few additives. You can buy it at most airports that cater to general aviation private pilots. If stored in air-tight metal …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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 look at the aftermath of the recent tornadoes. In Rural Kentucky: The Tornado Aftermath First up, at CNN: ‘It gets harder every day.’ For many in rural Kentucky, their Christmas gift is …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — December 29, 2021

I just heard of the death of the highly-decorated CMDR Richard Marcinko, at age 81. He was the first commander of SEAL Team 6. He had an amazing career, and he surely will be missed. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for …


Gear Review: Axil GS Extreme Earbuds, by The Novice

Axil GS Extreme Earbuds transmit and even amplify ambient noises while filtering out the dangerously loud sounds that can result in hearing loss. I found the earbuds to work well in setting like the range, running a chainsaw outdoors, running a circular saw inside, or driving while a dog is baying near my ear. These earbuds have become my preferred method of hearing protection. The Backstory I have noticed that ear muffs and rifle stocks do not always play well together. The muffs and the stock somehow seem to get in each other’s way, with the stock banging the muffs, …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Here is some cause for concern: Man finds Apple AirTag tracker on his Dodge Charger.  Note that these could be used by would-be thieves, would-be burglars, would-be rapists, stalkers, assorted psycopaths, or out-of-control government officials–with or without a warrant. The cost of an Apple AirTag is expected to drop below $25 in the next two years. …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 28, 2021

Today, Tuesday, December 28, 2021 is the 80th birthday of Jerry Wigutow — the founder (and still the owner and operator) of Wiggy’s. It is one of the last American sleeping bag manufacturers. All of his company’s outstanding products sold under their brand name are still made by hand in Colorado. Happy Birthday, Jerry! — December 28, 1793 is the day that Thomas Paine was arrested in France for treason. The charges against him were never fully detailed, but he was tried in absentia on December 26 and convicted. Best known as the author of Common Sense, he moved to …


Off-Grid PV Power for an O2 Concentrator or CPAP, by Tunnel Rabbit

With the advent of new variants of Coronavirus in mind, and other diseases that will be present in a collapse when no doctor can be found, we may be faced with the long-term care of loved ones. The production of oxygen, and/or running a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine could be necessary. What follows is my ‘notes on the back of an envelope’ attempt — a starting point that goes toward a solution. I am merely offering the reader my estimation of what it would take to get this done. This is the minimum PV power generation and storage …