Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 15, 2019

Today is birthday of David Stirling. (15 November 1915  – 4 November 1990.)  He was a Scottish officer in the British Army, mountaineer, and the founder of the Special Air Service (SAS). He saw active service during the Second World War. — On this day, Charles Dickens published the final installment of A Tale of Two Cities in Dickens’ circular.




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 investing in silver. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: Jim Wyckoff: Gold, silver slip to 3-month lows at chart-based sellers emboldened. JWR’s Comment:  Buy on dips like these! o  o  o Commander Zero of the great Notes From The Bunker blog had this terse but pointed commentary:  Silver. …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“My Creed:  I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 14, 2019

On November 14th, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted in Colombia, killing more than 20,000 as nearby towns are buried in mud, ice and lava. Scientist studying the volcano believed an eruption was imminent and had recommended an evacuation of the area which was largely ignored, resulting in the high number of casualties. — Today, we present another product review by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.  This is one of the unusual weeks where we have two articles written by him. — Some uncivil words were used in a string of off-topic comments, on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I …




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 blackouts in the socialist dictatorship of Venezuela. Demographics History & Predictions Over at Unz Review: Top 25 Cool Demographics Facts. The tables and maps are fascinating. Radio Free Redoubt: Our …







Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 13, 2019

Here is a Hong Kong protest update, courtesy of our Editor-at-Large, Michael Z. Williamson, quoting his friend Marc Adkins, who in turn was quoting a local friend “on the ground”, in the city: “Hong Kong Chinese University (HKCU) is under Siege by the Hong Kong Police Force. The reason behind this is if they managed to take over HKCU, they will have access to Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX), which is located within HKCU. The HKIX serves as a hub to 99% messages that [are] sent and received through Internet within Hong Kong. If HKCU is fallen, every Hong Kongers’ …




JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, books and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how to” self-sufficiency videos. There are also links to sources for both storage food and storage containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This week the focus is on a simple way to split kindling, as recommended by Cody, aka Wranglerstar. (See the Instructional …







Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — November 12, 2019

November 12th, 1950 was the birthday of RLI Corporal John Alan Coey (died 19 July 1975). He was the first American volunteer soldier killed in Rhodesia. — Today is the birthday of USMC Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph “Dan” Daly (born 1873, died April 27, 1937). He was one of only nineteen men (including seven Marines) to twice receive the Medal of Honor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark …




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, we focus on the vlogger who produces North Country Off Grid. (See the Idaho section.) Idaho Citizen Alert: Meeting on a Proposed Prison in Kootenai County o o o Reader J.L.P. wrote to mention: “There is a YouTuber in North Idaho who has been having …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“How to succeed: First, labor. Nothing can be had for nothing; whatever a man achieves, he must pay for it; and no favor of fortune can absolve him from duty. Secondly, patience and forbearance, which is simply dependent upon the slow justice of time. Thirdly, and important, faith. Unless a man believes in something far higher than himself, something infinitely purer and grander than he can ever become—unless he has an  instinct of an order beyond his dreams, of laws beyond his comprehension, of beauty and good and justice, beside which his own ideals are dark, he will fail in …




Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 11, 2019

Today is the birthday of General George S. Patton, Jr. (born 1885, died December 21, 1945). — November 11th is of course Veteran’s Day. If you value your freedom, then thank a veteran. — Today is the birthday of Hugh Everett (born 1930, died July 19, 1982), the American physicist who first proposed the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum physics, which he termed his “relative state” formulation. — November 11th also marks Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), in 1965. Remember Rhodesia. — Ready Made Resources is running a big Veteran’s Day sale on White Phosphor AN/PVS-14 night vision monoculars. …




Recipe of the Week: K.M’s Sausage-Apple-Walnut Stuffing

Reader K.M. kindly sent us a recipe for a Thanksgiving sausage-apple-walnut stuffing. This can be cooked entirely as a side dish, or stuffed in your turkey, or both.  If cooked inside the turkey, then the sausage and onions must be sautéed, first. Note: If baked as a side dish, then this should be started just 90 to 120 minutes before the expected serving time for your turkey. Ingredients 3/4 lb. mild ground sausage. 1 medium sweet onion, peeled and chopped 2 medium apples, cored and chopped 1 c. celery, chopped. 2 large garlic cloves, minced. (More or less, to taste) …




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 how The Fed is diving in to the Repo market feet first. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Interview: The reasons for gold price to test the $3,000 range; rally isn’t over yet o  o  o Gold Falls 3% In Week To One-Month Low At $1,464/oz As Banks …