The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — May 10, 2024

On May 19, 1960, the US atomic submarine USS Triton (SSRN-586) completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe, code-named Operation Sandblast, following the same track as the first circumnavigation led by Ferdinand Magellan. Triton was then under the command of Captain Edward L. Beach. On May 10, 1972, Top Gun Graduate Randall “Duke” Cunningham and his backseater Wally “Irish” Driscoll shot down three MiGs in a dogfight and became the first Ace of the Vietnam War. He later commanded the Top Gun school when they came to make the first movie. His Vice Commander was John McCain. May 10th …


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 continuing bull markets in physical gold and silver. Precious Metals: The editors of The New York Times have apparently awakened and are now smelling the coffee: China Is Buying Gold Like There’s No Tomorrow. o  o  o The silver-to-gold ratio is shifting again. As of Wednesday, it took 84.19 ounces of …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — May 9, 2024

On May 9, 1754, the first cartoon was published in America depicting a divided snake with the motto: “Join or Die”. It was published by Benjamin Franklin, the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette. — On May 9th, 1945, Herman Goering– commander in chief of the Luftwaffe, president of the Reichstag, head of the Gestapo, prime minister of Prussia, and Hitler’s designated successor– was taken prisoner by the U.S. Seventh Army in Bavaria. Goering, who was addicted to painkillers due to a wound, was instrumental in creating concentration camps for political enemies. It was Goering who ordered the purging of German …


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 planned Highland Rim developments. Highland Rim Project in Kentucky and Tennessee This biased article ran in a collegiate newspaper, back in February: Highland Rim …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right …


Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — May 8, 2024

On May 8, 1792, Congress passed the second portion of the Militia Act, requiring that every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years be enrolled in the militia. Six days before, Congress had established the president’s right to call out the militia. The outbreak of Shay’s Rebellion (pictured above) — a protest against taxation and debt prosecution in western Massachusetts in 1786-87, had first convinced many Americans that the federal government should be given the power to put down rebellions …


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. — FCC fines America’s largest wireless carriers $200 million for selling customer location data. (Thanks to reader C.B. for the link.) o  o  o A Florida television news report: Preppers: Whatever disaster is next, they’re ready. o  o  o A Nanny State Update: Swiss Army Knife Now Available Without the Knife.



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 7, 2024

On May 7th, 1997 1997 the science fiction film “The Fifth Element” written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich was released. At that time it was the most expensive European film ever made. On May 7, 2020, during the COVID pandemic, US unemployment claims hit 33.3 million or 20% of the workforce, versus 3.5% unemployment two months earlier, which had been a 50-year low. On May 7, 1915, RMS Lusitania was sunk by German submarine off the southern coast of Ireland; 1,198 lives lost. On May 7, 1792 Captain Robert Gray was the first European …


Update: A Worthy Charity in Thailand

An Update: For several years, I have been supporting and recommending a Christian mission school and orphanage in northern Thailand. One of our good friends has volunteered to work onsite there several times in the past three years, so I can vouchsafe that this is a worthy charity with genuine needs.  The orphanage/school Center is called Baan SuFan. (That is Thai for: “Home Of Destiny.”) The school and dormitories are located near Chiang Rai, Thailand, which is fairly near Thailand’s borders with Burma and Laos. This is commonly called The Golden Triangle region. The majority of the Baan SuFan students …


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, coverage of the state-level pushback against the ATF’s new “Engaged In The Business” FFL Rulemaking. Idaho Idaho joins 21-state lawsuit opposing new ATF firearm sale regulations. o  o  o La Grande Hotshot firefighters safe after tree hit fire truck at Little Yamsay Fire. o  o  …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 6, 2024

This is the birthday of Maximilien Robespierre, born May 6, 1758. After rising to prominence in the radical Jacobin Club, he dominated the French Republic during the Reign of Terror, overseeing the executions of counter-revolutionary suspects. He was overthrown and executed on July 28, 1794. — On May 6, 1954, English athlete Roger Bannister became the first man to run a sub-4 minute mile, recording 3:59:4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford. — Today’s feature article is a review written by  SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — I had been holding a reserve of 15 of the waterproof 2005-2023 SurvivalBlog …