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 stock market prospects in 2022. (See the Equities section.) Precious Metals: The Key Factor In Silver Is A “Concentrated Short Position On Comex”. JWR’s Comment: This shorting-selling cannot go on forever. When interest rates spike, it will trigger a breakout in spot and futures silver prices. The shorts will …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — January 16, 2022

On January 16, 1920, one year after it was ratified, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution went into effect, for the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 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 …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 15, 2022

Today is the birthday of Dr. Edward Teller, who co-invented the H-bomb and worked on the Manhattan Project. In his later years at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, he was often so deep in thought strolling through the Berkeley hills that he would become confused and disoriented. His assistants would have to go out looking for him. — Today is also the anniversary of the 2009 “Miracle On The Hudson” engines-out emergency water landing. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 14, 2022

On January 14th, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Second Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence. In the document, which was known as the Second Treaty of Paris because the Treaty of Paris was also the name of the agreement that had ended the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Britain officially agreed to recognize the independence of its 13 former colonies as the new United States of America. — Today, we mark the milestone of 6,000 days of SurvivalBlog posts. (We’ve missed posting on just a few days since August of 2005.) SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Today, in place of my normal Friday column of economics and investing news items, I’m instead posting a collection of links related to the nascent Parallel Economy. — First, In case you missed it, here is a link to my recent essay on what I dubbed Parallel Economy Groups (PEGs): PEGs: The Parallel Economy for Traditionalist Americans. o o o Dan Bongino set up this site: ParallelEconomies.com. o o o What is a Parallel Economy? [A Road Map] o o o The Beginnings of a New Parallel Economy On Gab. o o o The Hidden Dominion had one of the first …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — January 13, 2022

This is the birthday of actor and shooter Robert Stack (1919-2003.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 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 (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day …


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 relate some retirement news from Dr. Gary North. Dr. Gary North Signs Off, With His Final Book Reader D.Z.  alerted me to this sad news from prolific economics writer and prepper Dr. …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“In urban America today, there exists an entire class of mayors and council members who believe they can control thieves, muggers, rapists, and murderers by surrendering to them. Truth be told, some of these politicians are only concerned about their careers and couldn’t care less about the real victims of these crimes and the productive, tax-paying residents who are forced to live in these violent hellholes. Regardless of their meaningless rhetoric, they are obviously not alarmed as their cities crumble and their policies make it impossible for law-abiding residents to live in peace. As their stupidity and weakness continues to …


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 12, 2022

January 12 1879, the British-Zulu War began. British troops, under Lieutenant General Frederic Augustus, invaded Zululand from the southern African Republic of Natal. On this day in 1737: John Hancock was born. He was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. — A USB Stick Update: The first batch of 1,000 waterproof/EMP-resistant 2005–2021 SurvivalBlog Archive USB sticks sold out in just four days! We are now taking backorders on a second batch of 500 sticks. Deliveries of the first batch will begin in mid-February. Deliveries of the second batch will begin on or around March 1st. — SurvivalBlog Writing …