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, another look at the U.S. Nickel 5-cent piece. (See the Precious and Base Metals section.) Precious and Base Metals: RBI moves 1 lakh kg of gold from UK back to India, the first such move of this quantum since 1991.  JWR’s Comments:  That is 100 tons of gold!  Perhaps this is more evidence that the …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day

“To live his life in his own way, to call his house his castle, to enjoy the fruits of his own labour, to educate his children as his conscience directs, to save for their prosperity after his death — these are wishes deeply ingrained in civilised man. Their realization is almost as necessary to our virtues as to our happiness. From their total frustration disastrous results both moral and psychological might follow.” – C.S. Lewis


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — June 20, 2024

On June 20, 1840, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse patented his telegraph. — Today marks the Summer Solstice, here in the Northern Hemisphere. — On June 20, 1867, US President Andrew Johnson announced the Alaska Purchase. — On June 20, 1921, there was 11.5″  of rainfall the town of Circle, Montana (a state record.) — June 20th is the birthday of Audie L. Murphy. He was born in 1925. He died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for …


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 ancient wheat. Genetic Treasure: Historic Wheat Collection Reader C.B. spotted this: Finding hidden genetic treasure: Study uncovers untapped diversity in historic wheat collection. The article …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 19, 2024

On June 19, 1991, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar surrendered to police. — June 19, 1778: Continental Army troops finally left their winter encampment at Valley Forge. — June 19, 1834 was the birthday of Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon, who died on 31 January, 1892. He was a British Particular Baptist preacher. — On June 19, 1914, the Hillcrest Mine Disaster: An explosion at Hillcrest mine, Alberta, killed 189 men in Canada’s worst mining disaster. — On June 19, 1917, the British Royal Family, which had strong German ties since George I, renounced its German names and titles and adopted …


D-Words: Countering American Decadence

It is abundantly clear that we are living in a decadent society.  Though I may sound like a dystopian taxonomist, I’ll add some more “Ds” to the list, to encapsulate America in the early 21st Century: Degenerate Disaffected Democratic (founded as a Republic, but now we hear that it is “our Democracy.”) Despotic Demagogic Depressed/Depressing Debased (especially our currency) Deluded/Delusional Defrauded Decrepit Disenfranchised (our votes are now either not counted or ignored) Despicable Disillusioned Drifting Devaluation (of human life) Dissident Divergent Decomposing/Decomposed Disagreeable Dastardly Dissolute Depleted Distorted Deplorable (a term that is misapplied by statists to describe honorable, traditional people) …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This 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. — I’ll start today’s column with a video about our kind of guy, serving as a representative, in Washington, DC.: Off the Grid with Thomas Massie. o  o  o A Practical Tip From JWR:  To avoid confusion with your family’s pairs of mud boots, use a quick blast of spray paint on the …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 18, 2024

On June 18, 1682, English-born Quaker William Penn founded Philadelphia, in the Pennsylvania Colony. — On June 18, 1767 English sea captain Samuel Wallis sighted Tahiti. He is considered the first European to reach the island. — June 18th is birthday of Pastor Douglas Wilson. Born in 1953, he is the pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and a prodigious author of books and articles on Reformed theology. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at …


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, the emphasis is on some recent bear news. Region-Wide: Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones and Estimated Range. o  o  o This writer obviously didn’t solicit any opposing opinions: Wildlife Activists Urge Continued Grizzly Bear Protections. Idaho: Island Park man shoots grizzly in defense-of-life. o  o  o …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 17, 2024

On June 17, 1579, English navigator Francis Drake landed on the coast of California at Drakes Bay, and named it “New Albion”. Sad News: I just heard of the untimely passing of George “GEO” Cox.  You may know of him by way of his very informative YouTube videos, posted under “Iridium242“.  Many folks in Nevada knew GEO as a founding member of the Nevada Shooters Forum. What a great loss to both the prepping and shooting communities. He will be missed! Today is the birthday of Dean Charles Ing (June 17, 1931 – July 21, 2020). He was an American …


Recipe of the Week: Schwabisch Potato Salad

The following recipe for Schwabisch Potato Salad is from SurvivalBlog reader Kurt W. Kurt says:  “This recipe comes from the border region between Germany and France.  It uses vinegar rather than mayonnaise, so it makes it safer to bring for summertime picnics and church luncheons.” Ingredients 2 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice 3/4 cup finely minced yellow onion (about 1 small) 1/3 cup white vinegar 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic depicts Persistent Poverty, by county. Sadly, there is a high correlation with Indian Reservation lands and former plantation lands with depleted soils. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.