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 rising credit card balances and default rates. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold: The Chickens Come Home to Roost. o  o  o Mike Gleason, at Gold-Eagle.com: Fed Continues Tough Talk; Silver & Platinum Look Most Undervalued. Economy & Finance: Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Commentator Game …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 19, 2023

Today is the anniversary of the Kyle Rittenhouse “Not Guilty” Verdicts, in 2021. On this day in 1863, U.S. President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, at the dedication service for the National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. And on November 19, 1703, The man in the iron mask, a political prisoner famous in French history and legend, died in the Bastille. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 109 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. …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Joe Biden’s Secret Identity Has Been Revealed! The Man Behind The Microphone’s Real Name is John Gill News Links: Joe Biden Flubs NATO Speech in Teleprompter Fail. Joe Biden fumbles his way through Hanoi press conference. Joe Biden’s worst gaffes of all time. Two Minutes of Joe Biden Wandering Around Looking Lost. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 18, 2023

In 1952, Lieutenant Royce Williams was serving with VF-781 aboard the USS Oriskany as part of Task Force 77. From Wikipedia: “On 18 November 1952, on his second mission of the day, while on combat air patrol near Hoeryong, North Korea, his group of four pilots spotted seven MiG-15s overhead. The other three pilots had to return to the carrier and the MiGs began to fire on Williams, putting him into a one-man dogfight with seven MiG-15s that lasted 35 minutes. It is believed to be the longest dogfight in U.S. Navy history. Commanders on his carrier ordered him away, …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 17, 2023

On November 17, 1989, massive antigovernment demonstrations in Czechoslovakia were set off by police brutality at a demonstration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the suppression of a student demonstration in German-occupied Prague, and, under the leadership of Václav Havel, they continued until the communist government resigned. This became known as The Velvet Revolution. — On this day in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were submitted to the states for ratification. They differed from the Constitution in that they emphasized the primacy of the states. — After 10 years of construction, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt on November 17, 1869. …


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 unfolding commercial real estate market collapse. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Key segments of the silver market to see 42% growth through 2033 – Oxford Economics. o  o  o It bears mentioning that spot and futures silver prices have recently started going through some larger price swings. Last Tuesday, …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 16, 2023

On November 16, 1960, Actor Clark Gable, who epitomized the American ideal of masculinity for three decades and was known as the “King of Hollywood,” died of a heart attack, days after finishing work on The Misfits (1961). — November 16, 1632, Swedish King Gustav II Adolf died during the Battle of Lützen, though his forces were victorious; his cause was skillfully directed by his chief adviser, Axel Oxenstierna. — An Important Note: There are just three weeks before the December 7th, 2023 deadline for comments on ATF’s “Engaged in the business” rule.  PLEASE politely post your objections to this …


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 immigration and population growth. U.S. Population: 400 Million by 2060? Reader C.B. sent this: Census: Mass Immigration Set to Drive U.S. Population to 400 Million …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The biggest hypocrites on gun control are those who live in upscale developments with armed security guards – and who want to keep other people from having guns to defend themselves. But what about lower-income people living in high-crime, inner city neighborhoods? Should such people be kept unarmed and helpless, so that limousine liberals can ‘make a statement’ by adding to the thousands of gun laws already on the books?” – Thomas Sowell


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 15, 2023

November 15, 1315, the Swiss Confederation achieved its first great military success against the Austrian Habsburgs at the Battle of Morgarten. On November 15,1630 Johannes Kepler, the German astronomer who discovered three major laws of planetary motion, died in Regensburg, Germany. On November 15, 1904 American inventor King Camp Gillette was granted a U.S. patent for the first razor with disposable blades. — I just watched the 2023 documentary film Police State, by Dinesh D’Souza.  I highly recommend watching it! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 109 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes …


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. — To begin, SurvivalBlog reader H.L. sent this: New Report Details How the Federal Government Partnered with Universities to Censor Americans’ Speech. o  o  o 2A Victory: Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Biden ATF ‘Ghost Gun’ Limits – Rules Agencies Cannot ‘Write Laws’. o  o  o And more good Second Amendment news in …