Year: 2025

Preparedness Notes for Friday — July 25, 2025

On July 25, 1850, Gold was discovered in Oregon, on the Rogue River. — On this day in 1853, Joaquin Murrieta, the famous Californian bandit known as “Robin Hood of El Dorado”, was killed by California Rangers. — And on July 25, 1797 Horatio Nelson lost more than 300 men and his right arm during the failed conquest attempt of Tenerife, Spain. — I just heard of the passing of wrestler and actor Hulk Hogan.  He was an outspoken conservative, and in his later years, an outspoken Christian. — Just one more day! In honor of the birthday week of …


Preparedness Primer for an Uncertain Future – Part 4, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 3.) Levels of Preparedness Someday, perhaps in the 22nd Century, someone may read this and think it is comical in descriptions of what 500 dollars or 5 million dollars could buy in the first quarter of the 21st Century. This would be much the same as we look at historical books with then-catchy titles. Catherine Owen wrote “Ten Dollars Enough: Keeping House Well on Ten Dollars a Week”. That was a late 19th-century practical instructional book featuring a young couple Harry and Molly and their experiences in budgeting. Their goal back then was to “escape” a boarding …


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 GENIUS Act and what will be Fed-controlled and monetized stablecoins. (See the Forex & Cryptos: section.) Precious Metals: On Tuesday evening (July 22, 2025), spot Gold was at $3,442 per Troy ounce, and spot silver was at $39.58.  I am now fairly firmly predicting $4,000/oz. gold and $50/oz. silver by the …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — July 24, 2025

On July 24, 1824, the Harrisburg Pennsylvanian newspaper published the results of first American public opinion poll, indicating a clear lead for Andrew Jackson. — Novelist Jerry Ahern passed away on this day, in 2012. His survivalist novels created an entire genre. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: 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 Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings …


Preparedness Primer for an Uncertain Future – Part 3, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 2.) If you are counting on tax-subsidized experts to save you with a long advance warning, it will probably not materialize. Because of bureaucratic incompetence, turf wars, and other bureaucratic intransigence, it is doubtful that our tax dollars that fund the military and other emergency responses will ever actually do any good for you, on an individual level. Unlike the vast majority of the population which is lulled into complacency, you are reading this blog, trying to figure things out as to how to survive the future. If you are looking for a sign, here it is: …


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, more details on potential asteroid impacts. Tracking Earth-Crossing Asteroids Financial Times Magazine reports:  What happens once we spot the asteroid that will hit Earth? An excerpt: “Establishing whether …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 23, 2025

July 23, 1764, James Otis (pictured) published The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, in which he argued against taxation without representation. — On July 23, 1777 Polish military leader Casimir Pulaski arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry. — On July 23, 1944 Battle of Kursk (Koersk) ended. This was the largest tank battle in history. It was a defeat for the Nazis, with thousands of German tanks and self-propelled anti-tank guns destroyed. — In honor of the birthday week of Samuel Colt, we are running a special sale at Elk Creek Company. …


Preparedness Primer for an Uncertain Future – Part 2, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 1.) Sometimes, when you are lost, often the best course of action if you can is to go back to a known starting point. Trying to figure out where we are on a historical timeline if we could be going into a Third World War, you first need to know how we became embroiled in the First and Second World Wars. Without the First, you would not have the Second. Nation-states need to have certain preconditions to have a world war. The First World War — known back then as the “Great War” — was a conflict …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: 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. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — When the Whitaker family members aren’t bluewater sailing around the world, they’re in Montana, prepping for societal disruption:  Sailing Zatara: Prepping —  Learning how to survive off grid!  JWR’s Comments:  Please remember that when running a chainsaw, always wear eye and ear protection as well as Kevlar saw safety chaps. Remember one …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 22, 2025

On July 22, 1916, a timebomb was exploded by radicals at a Preparedness Day parade in San Francisco, killing 10 people and injuring 40 others. — July 22, 1298: The English defeated the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk. — And on July 22, 1489, the Treaty of Frankfurt was signed between Maximilian of Austria and King Charles VIII of France. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any …


Preparedness Primer for an Uncertain Future – Part 1, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This young man is prayerfully seeking a wife. He is offering an after-marriage gift of up to $50,000 to whoever introduces him to his bride with $18,000 after their marriage and another $16,000 to the individual who provided the introduction after the first two births of healthy children born to him and his wife, for a total potential gift of $50,000. For further details, see this link to his article posted on July 13th, 2025: My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move. — During the height of the most recent tensions in the Middle East, …


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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news about Montana’s cattle population.  (See the Montana section.) Idaho This 42-inch lake trout just broke a state record. o  o  o Inside Idaho’s only maximum security prison where Bryan Kohberger may spend the rest of his life. o  o  o Rexburg man convicted for …