Year: 2022


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 18, 2022

The 18th of September is Chilean Independence Day. On this day, in 1810, Chile declared independence from Spain. — Today we present a guest article by Kelsey Williams, the editor of the highly-recommended Kelsey’s Gold Facts website. The article was selected by JWR. It is reposted with permission. We are seeking entries for Round 102 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 102 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that …


Default – Deflation – Depression, by Kelsey Williams

Inflation is the primary game plan of governments and central banks. Its effects have left their mark on societies throughout history. As the effects of inflation continue to dominate headlines, financial and economic activity is scrutinized and analyzed with the intent of planning, projecting, and predicting it. Most people think they understand inflation – they don’t – but for now, let’s look the other way. There is a triple-decker bus coming straight at us. DEFAULT Default can happen three different ways: 1) Credit default 2) Bank failures 3) Asset price collapse Universal credit default happens when individuals, corporations, and countries …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 17, 2022

Today, September 17th, we celebrate Constitution Day in these United States. — I noticed a nice retreat-worthy property listing, over at my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty.com site: Montana Homestead on the Creek. — Today’s feature article was written by James Wesley, Rawles (JWR). — Just two weeks left!  We are seeking entries for Round 102 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 102 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles …


Preparing For The ATF’s Planned Arm Brace Amnesty

I recently had a consulting client ask me about the recent inadvertent “pre-announcement” of an ATF amnesty registration of arm-brace-equipped pistols. The following is a more detailed and updated version of the information that I provided that client: There are somewhere between 3 and 5 million arm-braced pistols in circulation in the United States. Compare that to the just 300,000 to 400,000 bumpfire stocks that were ordered to be turned in or destroyed, during the Trump administration. (Without compensation.) Arm braces were formerly blessed by the ATF as perfectly legal, but they later changed their minds, and they are soon …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, 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 your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 16, 2022

Today is the prepper’s holiday, Paratus. It was originated by my buddy, Commander Zero. He is the Editor of the great Notes From The Bunker blog. Happy Paratus, Y’all! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 …


A Vehicle to Help Adjust Your Thinking, by R.V.

We bought a travel trailer. Our first trip took us from Georgia to North Dakota and back. The unit is built to handle changing sources of energy and limited sources of energy. It is designed to leave no trace other than tire prints. My primary motivation was to be able to join our family together on outings and make camping easier on my wife. I encourage camping and hiking. God will find you and/or you will find God in the wilderness. Our trailer was built by Grand Design. It is a 30-foot model, without slide-out extensions. (I am disclosing the …


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 the overhang of European energy derivatives. (See the Derivatives section.) Precious Metals: Silver prices see short squeeze, testing resistance near $20, up 6% on weak dollar. o  o  o As expected, the silver-to-gold ratio is reversing. When I last checked (on Thursday, September 15, 2022) the ratio was down …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — September 15, 2022

On this day in 1944, the U.S. 1st Marine Division landed on the island of Peleliu, one of the Palau Islands in the Pacific, as part of a larger operation to provide support for Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was preparing to invade the Philippines. Within one week of the invasion, the Marines lost 4,000 men. By the time it was all over, that number would surpass 9,000. The Japanese lost more than 13,000 men. Flamethrowers and bombs finally subdued the island for the Americans, but it all proved pointless. MacArthur invaded the Philippines without the need of Army or Marine …


Are You Ready For Societal Winter?

Many of you reading this are ready for winter, both literally and figuratively. Your firewood is stacked and your kindling is split. Your barn is stacked full of hay. Your larder is crammed full of food. Your fuel tanks are topped off. And your home armory is “dialed-in”, with its walls comfortably stacked with ammo cans.  But some of you reading this are not nearly so well prepared. Whether by lack of resolve or lack of resources, you aren’t ready for the manifold challenges of the 21st Century. Winter is coming. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that the winter of …