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, after news of gold’s winning streak, we look at classic car restoration. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Gold has gained 22% in 2024. Gold prices have been very strong since August 7th, repeatedly setting new record highs in U.S. Dollar terms. I noticed that spot gold touched $2,544.20 USD per troy ounce, on …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — August 22, 2024

On August 22, 1770, British explorer James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for the British crown and named it New South Wales. — Today is the anniversary of the founding of the London Armoury Company, in 1851. It was founded by Robert Adams (1810–1870). He patented the first successful double-action revolver in 1851. His revolvers were used during the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, the U.S. Civil War, and the Anglo-Zulu War. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


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 the political shifts that in states where conservative refugees from Blue States are arriving. Swing States See Newcomers Moving From Blue To Red As reported …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty — and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies. It is, indeed, only the exceptional man who can even stand it. The average man doesn’t want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.” – H.L. Mencken


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 21, 2024

On August 21, 1968, Warsaw Pact forces completed their invasion of Czechoslovakia and arrested the Czech leader Alexander Dubček. They forced him to sign the Moscow Protocols. — August 21, 1949: Canada’s largest earthquake since 1700 struck the Queen Charlotte Fault below the Haida Gwaii. (The Haida Gwaii is a group of islands off the north coast of British Columbia.) At 8.1 magnitude it knocked cows off their hooves. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at …


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. — We’ll start out today’s column with a great video blog by Pastor Doug Wilson: On Shooting Your Way Out — Blog & Mablog. o  o  o From the statist/alarmist L.A. Times: A new global mpox emergency: Where are the outbreaks and what is the WHO doing? o  o  o As the new …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 20, 2024

August 20, 1908: America’s Great White Fleet arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia, and was greeted with a tremendous series of welcome celebrations, lasting a week. Some romances ensued and 221 American sailors deserted to remain in Australia. — On or about August 20, 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae. In one of history’s most famous last stands, 7,000 warriors from an alliance of Greek states led by Leonidas I blocked the pass of Thermopylae for a week against an invading Persian army under Xerxes I that was an estimated at 120,000-300,000 strong. — August 20, 1935 was the birthday …


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, two updates on the Greater Idaho movement. (See Central & Eastern Oregon section.) Idaho Idaho Department of Lands reports over 389,000 acres burned this year. o  o  o Active-duty troops assist in fighting Boise and Payette forest fires. o  o  o Video: Best Motorcycle Roads …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“All around my hat I will wear the green willow And all around my hat for a twelve month and a day And if anyone should ask me the reason why I’m wearing it It’s all for my true love who’s far, far away It’s a quarter pound of reasons and a half a pound of sense A small sprig of time and as much of prudence You mix them all together and you will plainly see He’s a false deluding young man, let him go, farewell he and All around my hat I will wear the green willow And …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 19, 2024

On August 19, 1561, Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Leith, Scotland to assume the throne after spending 13 years in France. — On August 19, 2020: Apple became the first US company to be valued at $2 trillion, just two years after it reached $1 trillion valuation. — UPDATE:  SOLD OUT — We have sold out of a batch of 10 antique Swiss Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifles. We had them here at the ranch for just a week. An importer kindly hand-picked all antique (1898 or earlier) ones for me. There were only 10 antique ones out of about …


Recipe of the Week: R.J.’s Canned Meat Patties

The following recipe for Canned Meat Patties is from SurvivalBlog reader R.J.  It works well in combination with other storage foods. Ingredients Canned chicken, salmon, or almost any type of canned meat or seafood will suffice. Bread crumbs, or cornmeal, or ground-up crackers Eggs (fresh, or you can use reconstituted powdered eggs.) Directions Combine canned meat, bread crumbs, and eggs in a mixing bowl. Combine it all together thoroughly and start making individual patties of desired size. Pour a bit of cooking oil into a pan and turn heat on to medium-high, be sure to let the oil heat up …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic shows Stand Your Ground (aka “Castle Doctrine”) Laws and legal precedents in the United States. Note that this data ironically comes from The Giffords Center, a rabidly anti-gun legislative pressure group. This map shows how out-of-touch the gun grabbers are with the majority of Americans and our long-standing legal traditions. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit and Statista.) 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.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Oh Napolean Bonaparte, You’re the cause of my woe Since my bonny light horseman to the wars he did go Broken hearted I wander, broken hearted I remain Since my bonny light horseman in the wars he was slain When Bonny commanded his armies to stand And proudly to his banners all gaily and grand He leveled his cannons right over the plain Andy my bonny lgith horseman in the wars he was slain And if I was a small bird and had wings and could fly I would fly over the salt sea where my true love does lie …