Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 12, 2024

On October 12, 1879, in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, British troops occupied Kabul, Afghanistan. — On October 12, 2000, the U.S.S. Cole was attacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 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 …


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 …


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 — October 11, 2024

October 11, 1923, under the Weimar government, the value of the hyperinflated German Mark fell to 10 billion per British Pound and 4 billion per US Dollar. — Today is the 74th birthday of novelist William R. Forstchen (born, 1950.) He is best known for his survivalist novel One Second After. — The last day! The big sale at Elk Creek Company ends tonight!  We’ve been running a 3-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Today, October 11th, 2024, is the last day for sale pricing on all of our blackpowder revolvers, all of our M1891 Argentine Mauser rifles, and all …


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 higher mortgage interest rates. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: JPMorgan: Gold Getting a Boost from the “Debasement Trade”. o  o  o Frank Holmes: Gold SWOT: Hungary has raised its gold reserves, citing the precious metal’s role as a haven.  JWR’s Comment: Part of the recent slip in the U.S. gold price …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.” – John Adams


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — October 10, 2024

On October 10, 1902, Tom Horn‘s murder trial began. He was eventually found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged in 1903. — Today is the birthday of composer Giuseppe Verdi. (Born 1813, died 1901.) — On October 10th, 1913, the Panama Canal officially linked the Atlantic to the Pacific when the Gamboa dike was demolished with dynamite charges. — The big sale at Elk Creek Company ends tomorrow!  We have been running a 3-week-long sale at Elk Creek Company.  Until October 11th, 2024, all of our blackpowder revolvers, all of our M1891 Argentine Mauser rifles, and all of …


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 gradually increasing interest in homeschooling by families in the United States. Homeschooling Increases Across the US, Post-Pandemic Over at The Christian Post: Homeschooling continues to …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — October 9, 2024

On October 9, 768, Charlemagne and his brother Carloman I were crowned Kings of The Franks. — On October 9, 1000, Leif Ericson discovered “Vinland” (possibly at what was later named L’Anse aux Meadows, Canada) reputedly becoming the first European to reach North America. — And on October 9, 1865, the first US underground pipeline for carrying oil was laid in Pennsylvania. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 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 …


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. — SurvivalBlog Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this, from X/Twitter:  Generator Disparity: How dare this man continue to live his life? o  o  o Several readers sent us this: Farmers Turn Agricultural Drones into Lifelines in Hurricane Helene Aftermath. o  o  o Martin Armstong: CDC Changes Child Developmental Milestone Guidelines. (A hat tip to …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — October 8, 2024

On October 8, 1690 in the Siege of Belgrade, Ottoman troops captured Belgrade. — October 8,1860, the first telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Francisco was activated. — And October 8th is the birthday of economist and libertarian commentator J. Orlin Grabbe. (Born, 1947, died March 15, 2008.) — Oral arguments are scheduled to begin today before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Vanderstock “Frames and Receivers” case. Please pray that the court affirmatively and decisively defends our long-standing right to make our own guns without government intrusiveness and “Mother May I?” paperwork nonsense! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today …


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, JWR’s #1 Son discusses Idaho’s upcoming Proposition 1 vote. (See the Idaho section.) Idaho Posted at Redoubt News: Prop 1, A Return To The Good Old Days??? Jonathan Rawles. o  o  o Friday dust storm causes 60 car pileup on US 95. o  o  o …