JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Why Is It That The Bidenistas Belatedly Shot Down A Chinese Spy Balloon, But They’ve Left The Chinese TikTok Spy App Snooping On Americans, For Years News Links TikTok admits to spying on U.S. users as effort to ban the app heats up. TikTok Caught Planning to Spy on the Locations of Specific American Citizens. TikTok admits using its app to spy on reporters in effort to track leaks.




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of …




Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 11, 2023

I just heard that pop music composer Burt Bacharach passed away, at age 94.  For many years, he teamed with lyricist Hal David, who passed away in 2012. They are gone now, but their music lives on. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 105 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 …




My Swedish Death Cleaning Experience – Part 2, by St. Funogas

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Financial Death Cleaning A neighbor recently received a large portion of her financial inheritance from her mother even though she’s still alive and well. I’ve often thought the idea of leaving our wealth to our children when we die is an inefficient system now that people live so much longer than they did a century ago. Typically when older people die nowadays, they pass their wealth on to their children who themselves are already “old,” well-established in life, and who oftentimes have no practical use for the money. I think of how …




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:

“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 10, 2023

On February 10, 1939, the classic western film Stagecoach premiered. It starred John Wayne, and was directed by John Ford. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 105 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), Two cases of Mountain …




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. Most of these items are from JWR’s “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective. Today, we look at Lebanon’s ongoing banking crisis. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Wyoming Senate Votes to Hold, Invest, and Receive Tax Payments in Gold and Silver. o  o  o Central Bank Gold Reserves Chart Second-Highest Increase Since 1950 In 2022. Economy & Finance: Reader Joe M. sent this: Lebanese banks close doors to …







Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 9, 2023

February 9th is the birthday of Major George Charles Nonte Jr. (Born 1926, died June 30, 1978.) He was quite the pistolero. — We are now sold out of the 2005-2022 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks. Note that if you have purchased through the automated ordering system and stated that you would pay by check, we have your stick(s) reserved, waiting on your check or money order. For all others, the ordering window is closed. We hope to see your order next January for the 2005-2023 edition of the SurvivalBlog Archive. Thanks! — We are seeking entries for Round 105 of …




Some Stark Realities of the 2020s are Pushing Us Off-Grid

There are a number of societal changes that have accelerated our plans to fully go off the grid. The day may soon come when we decide to lock our gate at the county road, and hunker down. Our only regular contact would then be with our contiguous neighbors. For many years, I thought that the only circumstance that might necessitate such a move would be a societal collapse. But now, I have many other concerns. The most prominent motivators for taking on the mode of self-isolation include: Currency inflation The surveillance state Increasing regulation Forced vaccination schemes Supply chain disruption …




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 some threats posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thieves Drive Through Mall In Stolen Car, Rob Electronics Store Shades of The Blues Brothers: Watch: Thieves Drive …







Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 8, 2023

On February 8th, 1963 the Kennedy administration issued an order prohibiting travel to Cuba and banned financial transactions and commerce with Cuba, by U.S. citizens.  Remnants of that order remain in place today, 60 years later.  Evidence of the U.S. commerce embargo can be seen in the large number of sturdy 1950s American cars that have been kept running, in Cuba. February 8th, 1828 was the birthday of Jules Verne, the French writer who wrote From the Earth to the Moon. He is considered the father of science fiction. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round …




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. — Where is the western bumblebee? The super-pollinator declined 57% in 2 decades, study said. o  o  o I just heard about a new, inexpensive piece of courseware called the Family Prep Plan that was published by an old friend of mine. He is a Christian and a former Marine Corps officer. Like …