Preparedness Notes for Friday — June 24, 2022

June 24th the birthday of rifle-toting abolitionist pastor Henry Ward Beecher. (Born 1813, died March 8, 1887.) He and his adherents from his church smuggled so many Sharps rifles to Bleeding Kansas that the Sharps rifles picked up the nickname Beecher’s Bibles. Wikipedia states: “Several of his brothers and sisters became well-known educators and activists, most notably Harriet Beecher Stowe, who achieved worldwide fame with her abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” — Some Good News: Supreme Court Strikes Down New York Concealed-Carry Restriction.  This will force at least six liberal states to adopt “shall issue” instead of “may issue” CCW …


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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at some investing and hedging alternatives for beating inflation. (See the Precious Metals, Inflation Watch, and Tangibles Investing sections.) Precious Metals: USN&WR: How to Invest in Silver as an Inflation Hedge. o  o  o How to Increase Portfolio Performance With Precious Metals During Inflation. Economy & Finance: An aggressive Fed …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — June 23, 2022

On June 23, 1868, American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes received a patent for a typewriter. Sholes invented the QWERTY keyboard. Along with Samuel W. Soule, Carlos Glidden, and John Pratt, Sholes has been contended as one of the inventors of the first typewriter in the United States. — Today’s feature article is not an entry for Round 101 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. It was written by a SurvivalBlog advertiser, and hence it is ineligible for the writing contest judging. — More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 101 ends …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— 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. Today, we look at various viral threats on the horizon. The Emerging Viruses of the 21st Century First up, over at Medical Express: The emerging viruses of the 21st century.  (Thanks to reader C.B. …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 22, 2022

On June 22, 1633, Galileo Galilei was coerced by Pope Gregory XV to recant his belief in heliocentrism–that the Earth orbits the Sun. The Vatican did not concede that it was wrong until October 31, 1992. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 101 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 …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. — Tracy M. sent us the link to this fascinating study: Mapping a Magnetic Superstorm: March 1989 Geoelectric Hazards and Impacts on United States Power Systems. Here is a brief excerpt: “Electric fields induced in the Earth during magnetic storms can drive uncontrolled currents in electric-power systems, interfering with their operation. Geomagnetically induced currents realized …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 21, 2022

June 21st is the birthday of Rex Applegate (June 21, 1914 – July 14, 1998), author of Kill or Be Killed. He was the friend and mentor of SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio. — A Special Request from JWR:  I’m in the process of re-organizing my workshop, so I’m looking to buy several sets of used, reasonably-priced heavy-duty storage shelves with metal frames, from here in the American Redoubt. I’m willing to travel as far away as Spokane, Washington, Kalispell, Montana, Lewiston, Idaho, or Colfax, Washington, to pick them up. They can be up to 12 feet tall, …


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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, a special look at the proliferation of data centers and bitcoin mining operations that have set up shop in the American Redoubt, to take advantage of inexpensive hydropower. Idaho Latest Trends of Bitcoin Mining in Idaho. o  o  o Gov. Little signs disaster declaration for …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 20, 2022

June 20th is the birthday of Audie L. Murphy, America’s most-decorated veteran. He was born in 1925. He died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971. — The Last Day! We are ending our summer sale, at Elk Creek Company at midnight, Pacific Time, tonight. We’ve reduced the prices on all of our percussion replica guns, and nearly all of our pre-1899 cartridge guns. With the recent dip in the spot price of silver, this is a great time to buy. Note that we have our prices listed in both pre-1965 silver coinage  and in current rapidly-inflating Federal Reserve …


Recipe of the Week: Pot Roast of Veal or Pork

The following Dutch Oven or Stock Pot recipe is adapted from The Scout’s Cookbook, published in England in 1959. In England, a Stock Pot is commonly called a “Billycan” or “Billy”. This roast recipe can be cooked on a stovetop, or over an open fire, if you are careful.  A large Dutch Oven or Stock Pot with a lid is required. You’ll need about 2½ lb. of loin of veal or pork (or if you’re partial to beef about 3 lb. of topside which you must ask the butcher to roll for you). 1. Put a knob of fat into …


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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at some effects of rising interest rates. Precious Metals: Gold rises in the face of more market turmoil. o  o  o Gold hasn’t lost its luster even as the Fed continues to raise rates – State Street’s George Milling-Stanley. o  o  o Alasdair Macleod: A Perfect Storm in Banking Is …