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 offshore tax havens and digital nomad visas. (See the Offshore Havens section.) Precious Metals: Could the Silver Price Really Hit US$100 per Ounce? o  o  o At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Investors Still MIA Economy & Finance: Reader H.L. sent this: Retirees lost 23% of their 401(k) savings in 2022, Fidelity says. o  o  …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God’s adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by. – Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), in a letter to Orion Clemens, 23 March, 1878


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 26, 2023

After being forced to abdicate as French emperor in 1814, Napoleon escaped from exile on the island of Elba this day in 1815. Then, gathering support en route, retook power on his return to Paris on March 20, ushering in the Hundred Days. — Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog’s founder, James Wesley, Rawles (JWR). — We are in need of entries for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 105 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 25, 2023

On February 25, 1948, communists seized control of the government of Czechoslovakia. Two decades later, in August 1968, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was jointly invaded by four Warsaw Pact countries: the Soviet Union, the Polish People’s Republic, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria and the Hungarian People’s Republic. The invasion stopped Alexander Dubček‘s Prague Spring liberalization reforms and strengthened the authoritarian wing of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ). The bloodless Velvet Revolution (17 November – 28 November 1989) finaly led to the end of the rule of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. On December 31, 1992, the dissolution of Czechoslovakia took …


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:

“Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. When I heard, my belly trembled; …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 24, 2023

On February 24, 1803, in the landmark Marbury v. Madison decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review. In Marbury, Chief Justice Marshall famously wrote:  “A Law repugnant to the Constitution is void.” — 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 …


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, the market fallout from the recent  Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes. Precious Metals: Price pressure on gold, silver amid rising U.S. bond yields. o  o  o Chinese Gold Imports Hit Highest Level Since 2018. o  o  o Robert Kiyosaki says that gold and silver are ‘real’ and ‘global’ money, the dollar is ‘fake’ …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 23, 2023

February 23 1685 was the birthday of composer George Frideric Handel, a leading figure of late Baroque music. February 23 is the day that six Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836). February 23rd is also the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle of Concord.


Reader Poll Results: Suggested SurvivalBlog Feature Topics

The results are in. Recently, I asked our readers: What topics would you like to see covered in SurvivalBlog feature articles, in the coming months? The intent was to give folks ideas for SurvivalBlog writing contest topics. None of the following listed topics are in any way reserved. Anyone can plunge in and share their experience on any of them. Update: As articles are submitted, I will mark up the following list with strikethroughs for topics that are addressed. We started with this brainstorming list: Herbs — Medicinal and Cooking Wildcrafting with plants and trees Foraging and recipes with wild …


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, news of more saber-rattling over the Ukraine War. Putin Abandons Nuclear Arms Treaty Over at WorldNetDaily: Putin abandons landmark nuclear arms treaty with U.S. after Biden visits Ukraine. …