Preparedness Notes for Saturday — June 1, 2019

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On June 1st, 1942, seven months after the extermination of prisoners began, the Warsaw underground newspaper, the Liberty Brigade, made the public announcement of the gassing of tens of thousands of Jews at Chelmno, a Nazi-operated death camp in Poland. The story came from a young man, Emanuel Ringelblum, who had escaped the Chelmno death camp after being forced to bury bodies as they were thrown out of the asphixiation vans. The West then knew the horrific truth about the slaughter of Jews. SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present the first entry for Round 83  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

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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 Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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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”.  Today, we look at the Spokesman-Review’s Faulty Reporting. Invasive Ticks in Tennessee G.P. spotted this: Invasive Tick Detected in Tennessee – WBBJ TV Foreign Land Ownership in U.S. Reader D.S. sent a link to this NPR news article: ‘American Soil’ Is Increasingly Foreign Owned The U.K.’s Real Minority Report Reader G.P. sent this: Cops using ‘Minority Report’ predictive policing could see INNOCENT citizens framed U.S. Warns of Spying Chinese-Made Drones A hat …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — May 31, 2019

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May 31st, 1895 was the birthday of George R. Stewart. Prior to his death on August 22, 1980, he was a novelist, university professor, and toponymist. In the preparedness community, he is best remembered as the author of the classic post-pandemic novel Earth Abides. On 31 May 1970, an earthquake off the coast of Peru caused a substantial section of the north slope of Mt. Huascaran to collapse. The avalanche moved downhill at a speed estimated at 100 MPH. with a mass of roughly 80 million cubic feet of ice, mud, and rock. Teh avalanche traveled nearly 11 miles, burying the towns …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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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. And it bears mention that 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 Bitcoin, versus genuine tangibles. (See the Cryptos section.) Precious Metals: When I last checked, spot silver was near a six-month low, at around $14.29 per Troy ounce.  I believe that this dip represents a good time to buy. o  o  o Metals …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — May 30, 2019

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By proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, the first major Memorial Day observance was held on May 30th, 1868 to honor those who died “in defense of their country”. Known to some as “Decoration Day,” mourners honored the Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. The 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances that …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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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”.  Today, we look at the history of the Winchester M1907. New Israeli SMASH Scopes The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has procured SMASH electronic scopes: Weapons: Computerized Scopes Evolve. These scopes use software similar to that used with the U.S. TrackingPoint family of smart scopes. (Thanks to Reader Charles B. for the link.) Post-Disaster Gun Carry Approved in Texas Reader Tim J. sent this: Texas Senate approves bill allowing Texans to carry guns …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — May 29, 2019

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On this day in 1780, the treatment of Patriot prisoners by British Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Loyalist troops led to the coining of a phrase that defined British brutality for the rest of the War for Independence: “Tarleton’s Quarter.” Tarleton and his Torries proceeded to shoot any an all Patriots that had surrendered after the fall of Charleston. The Patriots lost 113 men. The slaughter of the surrendered troops became a propaganda victory for the Continentals and Carolina civilians who had been terrified of Tarleton and their loyalist neighbors now rallied to the Patriot cause. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on magazine storage. (See the Gear & Grub section.) Books: How to Diagnose and Repair Automotive Electrical Systems (Motorbooks Workshop) o  o  o Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations, by Admiral William H. McRaven o  o  o Woodstove Cookery: At Home on the Range o  o  o TC 31-29 Special Forces Operational Techniques: September, 1988.


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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at buying and reselling vintage luggage. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Theresa May Quits As PM – Gold In British Pounds Reaches £1,015 Per Ounce. o  o  o Doyon’s vast Tintina Gold Belt potential Economy & Finance: At Zero Hedge: Italian Bond Yields …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 28, 2019

George Washington, a young lieutenant colonel in the British Army and future president of the United States, led an attack on French forces at Jumonville Glen on this day in 1754. This battle was later credited with being the opening salvo in the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763). In the biography His Excellency: George Washington, historian Joseph Ellis recounts Washington’s first combat experience. Washington and 40 colonial troops had been encamped near the French garrison at Fort Duquesne when he received an urgent message to rescue Indian allies in the area who were threatened by French forces. In …