Month: March 2024

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 24, 2024

March 24th is the birthday of Dr. Art Robinson, who was born in 1942. Robinson was recently made ineligible for re-election to the Oregon legislature by the Oregon courts, as punishment for his principled stand in denying the state assembly a quorum. Now that those who denied a quorum have been drummed out, the democrat supermajority in Oregon’s senate, assembly, and governor’s mansion can run roughshod over the electorate.  This is just one more reason why Oregon’s central, eastern, and southwestern counties should either seek separate statehood or shift their state lines, to become part of Idaho. — On this …


Update: A 21st Century Tangibles Investing Rationale

Introductory Note:  This is an update and substantial expansion to an article that I posted to SurvivalBlog back in 2018. — I often have people ask me: “Why do you stress tangibles investing, Mr. Rawles?” In my estimation, tangibles always trump intangibles. I have three primary reasons why I distrust intangibles: First: Nearly all intangible investments are denominated in fiat currencies. Because of this there is an underlying currency inflation, revaluation, or repudiation risk. Even when buying stock in the safest, most secure and impeccably-managed company it still has some risk when the investment is denominated in Dollars. Ditto for …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Why Is It That The “Majority” of People Who Live in Urban Hellholes Like Portland Think That They Can Dictate “Environmental Safety” On The “Minority” of People Who Live and Farm in the Larger Rural Land Areas? News Links: Public weighs in on industrial farm moratorium proposal. A group of small dairy farmers sues Oregon over new regulations they see as too burdensome. New significant dairy regulation takes effect with governor’s signature in Oregon. As Oregon enforces its water use requirements, small farmers face the consequences. Video from Pinball Preparedness: Oregon Orders …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 23, 2024

In a nationwide television address on March 23, 1983, U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, a proposed strategic defensive system against potential nuclear attacks. — Today is the anniversary of Patrick Henry’s famous Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death speech. It was delivered to the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention meeting at St. John’s Church, Richmond, on March 23, 1775. (2025 will be the 250th anniversary of the speech.) — This is also the birthday of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. He directed 30 films. His samurai films (many starring Toshiro Mifune) such as Yojimbo, Sanjuro, The Hidden …


Favorite Purchases Under $50 for Our Remote Home, by Mrs. Alaska

Introductory Note: I have received no compensation for any of the following recommendations, all of which we have used for many years. Living far from any store means that any rural or remote property owner relies on supplies on hand. Some of our least expensive purchases have been worth their weight in gold because we use them over and over, or in a variety of ways, or because they specialize in a way that no other item can do as well. I have purposely not included obviously important items, like matches or an axe, that anyone should know. Here, I …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both 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 the Odds ‘n …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — March 22, 2024

On March 22, 1820, U.S. Navy Commissioner Stephen Decatur was killed in a duel. — Today is the birthday of Benjamin Tyler Henry. (March 22, 1821–December 29, 1898) was an American gunsmith and manufacturer. On October 16, 1860, he received a patent on the Henry .44 caliber repeating rifle. The first Henry rifles were not produced for army use until mid-1862. — This is also the birthday of Louis L’Amour. (Born 1908, died 1988.) Some of his novels have survival themes. One of particular interest to survivalists is Last of the Breed. — The sale ends tonight.  In honor of …


Silver Stacking: Patience and Persistence Pays Off

I have been a “silver stacker” for many years. With money earned mowing lawns, at age 16 I started buying pre-1965 mint-date “junk”  U.S. silver dimes and quarters in 1976 at a small local coin shop in Livermore, California. It was called Bob’s Coin Corner. Bob was patient in explaining silver coins to me.  In 1979 I sold nearly half of my silver coins just after silver peaked, when spot silver was at $47.75 per Troy ounce. I started buying some silver and gold again in June of 1987, when silver was at $8.98 per ounce. A practical silver investor …


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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the planned European CBDC. (See the Forex & Cryptos section.) Precious Metals: At John Rubino’s substack: Accidentally Funny CNBC Grapples With Costco Gold Sales. o  o  o At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Stocks Strongly Outperform After Gold Breakouts. JWRs Comment: Since starting SurvivalBlog in 2005, I’ve refrained from touting gold mining stocks. In my estimation …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — March 21, 2024

On March 21, 1685, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who is generally considered the greatest composer of all time, was born. — March 21st, 1778: Just three days after Hessian mercenary forces assaulted the local New Jersey militia at Quinton’s Bridge, the same contingent surprised the colonial militia at Hancock’s Bridge five miles from Salem. In what became known as the Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge, at least 20 members of the militia lost their live — some after attempting to surrender. The Loyalists reputedly exclaimed “Spare no one! Give no quarter!” as they stormed the occupied house. Judge Hancock and …


Shortages? Why?, by Patrice Lewis

Introductory Note From JWR: This article was first posted in the excellent Rural Revolution homesteading blog.  It is reposted with permission. — I have a friend in Maine. Last week she e-mailed and said, “I noticed in the past few weeks big gaps on shelves in the grocery store in next town. In two areas today, all the shelves – top, middle, and bottom, for 1/4 length of the aisle – were completely empty! To be honest, I don’t know what was there, but it’s not there now. And the prices!!!!!!! Eggs are $4.59, a can of SPAM is $4.39. …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is 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. In today’s column, we look at the loss of arable farmland in the United States. Tennessee is Rapidly Losing Farmland ‘Where will we get our food?’ Tennessee on track to lose …