JWR’s Recommendations of the Week

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on restoring hand saws. (See the Vlogs and Instructional Videos section.) Books: A new book by Dr. Mark Hyman was just released on February 27th: Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?  Since Hyman has long been an advocate of a nutritious low-sugar diet, I expect his new book to be full of good advice. o o o The Survival Medicine Handbook: The essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way Movies: I found a documentary …







SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on some prospects for buying a business in the American Redoubt. Region-Wide (Buying a Business): I recently had consulting client ask me for suggestions on “how to make the break” and move to American Redoubt.  He mentioned that he found there were very few Redoubt region job listings in his current technical occupation. Next, he asked about starting …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Tragedy has been and will always be with us. Somewhere right now, evil people are planning evil things. All of us will do everything meaningful, everything we can do to prevent it, but each horrible act can’t become an axe for opportunists to cleave the very Bill of Rights that binds us. America must stop this predictable pattern of reaction. When an isolated terrible event occurs, our phones ring demanding that the NRA explain the inexplicable. Why us? Because their story needs a villain. … That is not our role in American society and we will not be forced to …




Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on investing in antique musical instruments. Precious Metals: How Palladium’s Rally is Setting Platinum Up for a Comeback o  o  o Next, at Seeking Alpha: Top Five Silver Stocks For 2018 Stocks: I noticed that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is now back above 25,000. …










Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, 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 the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!  …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?  Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth …




Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on South Africa’s new President, Cyril Ramaphosa. Precious Metals: Forget the Stock Market. Investors Are Trading in Gold for Bitcoin Stocks: European shares recoup losses as miners, financials rise   Commodities: Offshore Oil Is Poised For Significant Growth   Global Economy (President Cyril Ramaphosa): South Africa’s …










Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on Bitcoin taxes.

 

Precious Metals:

Mike Maloney’s Update On the Gold/Silver Ratio

 

Stocks:

At Reuters: Dow, S&P snap winning streak as Walmart weighs

 

Taxes (Bitcoin Taxes):

SurvivalBlog reader Janet X. sent us a scary little snippet from Martin W. Armstrong: Cryptocurrency Maybe Become a Tax Nightmare. JWR’s Comments: While there could indeed be accurate tax tracking of Bitcoin purchases (or sales) through exchanges, what about Bitcoin fractions that are gifts, trades, or personally mined?  Can you imagine what a tax audit would be like for someone who trades, gifts, or sells such BTC at a later date? Imagine this series of questions:  “What was the US Dollar value when you mined it?” “And what was the US Dollar value on the day that you received it?”  “And what was the US Dollar value on the day that you spent or traded it?” Yikes!

With Bitcoin prices all over map in a wild rollercoaster ride for the past three years, who is to say what this crypto’s relative Dollar value was at those precise “taxable event” days or hours?  This would be especially confusing for Bitcoin mining, which is often done very gradually. When is the taxable event Dollar-value benchmark for miners?

Consider that from 2014 to 2017 the Dollar value of a Bitcoin ranged from $4 to as high as $20,000. Then In January 2018 it was back down to $6,000. Now (as of February 20th, 2018) it is back up over $10,800. Those tax calculations might be almost impossible to make accurately!

 

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JWR’s Recommendations of the Week

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on a course for military surplus waterproof Hardigg and Pelican cases  (See the Gear section.) Books: Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan o o o Guerrilla Camping: Getting Off the Beaten Path Movies: I found a documentary on economics that is definitely worth watching. It is: End of the Road: How Money Became Worthless. (Available on DVD, also available free streaming to those with an Amazon Prime membership.)  SurvivalBlog readers will recognize …