Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 16, 2019

Today is the anniversary of the American Civil War Battle at Pound Gap Kentucky, in 1862. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical …




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 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”.  Today, we focus on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA Reports Admits Failures Reader G.P sent this:  New FEMA Report Admits Preparedness Failures.  A brief quote: “Attempts to enhance levels of preparedness among individual households, communities, and various organizations which lie outside the emergency management profession’s immediate sphere of control have shown little to no sign of improvement. Preparedness campaigns such as Ready.gov, America’s PrepareAthon, and National Preparedness Month, all aimed …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that …




Preparedness Notes for Friday — March 15, 2019

The Ides of March: I just got word of a massacre in New Zealand, by a self-described “Eco-Fascist”. This was a horrendous and reprehensible act. It will surely provoke more civilian disarmament legislation, throughout the English-speaking world. And there will also surely be a spike in demand, shortages, and higher prices for semi-auto rifles and full capacity magazines. — This is the birthday of General and President Andrew Jackson, in 1767. He was the 7th President of the United States (1829-1837.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The …




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’s focus is on Tungsten. (See both the Commodities and Tangibles Investing sections.) Precious Metals: Arkadiusz Sieroń: Palladium Price Hits Record High. JWR’s Comments: I’ve been mentioning the platinum group metals off and on in SurvivalBlog since 2007. One mention of palladium in the blog was back in …







Preparedness Notes for Thursday — March 14, 2019

This is the birthday of fighter ace Major Raoul Lufbery (born 1885). He was shot down and killed in 1918. This is also the birthday of Marlin Perkins. He is most remembered as the host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. He was born in 1905. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to …




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”.  Today, we focus on gun ownership in California. The Murderous Malware of the Middle East Reader “F.” forwarded us this from MIT Technology Review: Triton is the world’s most murderous malware, and it’s spreading. Here is the article’s teaser:  “The rogue code can disable safety systems designed to prevent catastrophic industrial accidents. It was discovered in the Middle East, but the hackers behind it are now targeting companies in North America and …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“As long as you have your wealth in the form of paper claims, you are prey to swindlers and con men, both those who work through government and those who work outside the law. Since almost all of the manipulation, subterfuge, and theft of your wealth occurs while it is in paper claims, you have a simple and obvious defense; keep your wealth in real goods instead of paper claims. The only safe, rational investment program for the average person in today’s turbulent economy is to eliminate the intermediate step. Instead of converting labor into money, money into investments, investments …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — March 13, 2019

Today is the birthday of the astronomer Percival Lowell, in 1855. His flawed “Canals of Mars” theory persisted from 1895 to 1909. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value), …




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 BedBunker Gun Vaults. (See the Gear & Grub section.) Books: Blog reader Phil J. suggested this best-selling book: The Case for Trump. o  o  o Reader C.G. recommended this book on the controversial “Q” material: QAnon: An Invitation to The Great Awakening   Movies & Television: Polycarp. Available on DVD or for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime. o  o  o Sahara. The classic Humphrey Bogart movie, made in 1943. Available on DVD or for free streaming to …




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’s focus is on Kyle Bass and the Big Yuan Short. (See the Forex & Cryptos section.) Precious Metals: Niels Christensen: Gold Has Room To Move Higher But Don’t Expect A Breakout Rally – Analysts. Here is a quote: “The rally in gold comes as the U.S. dollar …







Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – March 12, 2019

March 12th is the birthday of science fiction author Harry Harrison, who is best known for his Deathworld trilogy. (Harrison was born in 1920 and died in 2012.) On March 12, 1850 the US Mint issued the first US $20 gold piece. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite …