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”. The Rumble of C-46 and C-47 Engines Fans of old radial engine WWII-vintage transport planes will want to subscribe to this, from Canada: Plane Savers. You may remember this as the same “air cargo and passengers” airline featured in the popular Ice Pilots television show. JWR is Accepting Bitcoin I’m in need of some Bitcoin for an upcoming purchase. Therefore, for at least the next few days, I’m willing to accept Bitcoin …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his …







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 the pinprick of the real estate bubble. Precious Metals: Tickets Please For The Gold Roller Coaster o o o Arkadiusz Sieroń: A Weakening Global Expansion Amid Growing Risks. Will Gold Price Benefit? o o o JWR was recently a guest on the Kennedy Financial podcast.  …







Preparedness Notes for Thursday – January 24, 2019

January 24th is the birthday of René Barjavel (born 1911, died November 24, 1985). This prescient French science fiction author wrote several books with survivalist themes, including Ravage, which was titled Ashes, Ashes in its English translation. Today is also the birthday of Tamara K., the editor of the excellent View From The Porch blog.




Preparing for a Private Gun Transfer Ban

There is some bad news from the halls of the U.S. Congress: H.R. 8 has been introduced by Representative Mike Thompson–Democrat of California. Dubbed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, this is horrible piece of legislation that is likely to become law! The word from the District of Criminals is that this Private Gun Transfer Ban bill is on the fast-track through committee, for passage. Ominously, it quickly gained 225 co-sponsors. And President Trump has given mixed messages about whether or not he would sign such a bill. Uh-oh! A Private Transfer Ban, But it Sounds So Reasonable The …




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 have a special piece on Google and YouTube Spying. How Much Do Google and YouTube Spy on You? SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson wrote to describe a first-hand experience with Google and YouTube spying: “My daughter was watching YouTube videos. Her YouTube browsing history also shows on my computer, when I go to YouTube. As you know, YouTube is now owned by Google. Yesterday, I referenced that people …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“We still proclaim the old ideals of liberty but we cannot voice them without anxiety in our hearts. The question is no longer one of establishing democratic institutions but of preserving them. … The arch enemies of society are those who know better but by indirection, misstatement, understatement, and slander, seek to accomplish their concealed purposes or to gain profit of some sort by misleading the public. The antidote for these poisons must be found in the sincere and courageous efforts of those who would preserve their cherished freedom by a wise and responsible use of it. Freedom of expression …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – January 23, 2019

January 23, 1855 was the birthday of John Moses Browning. He was the brilliant designer of dozens of guns, including the M1911 pistol, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the venerable M2 .50 Caliber Machinegun. This is also the birthday of my #2 Grandson. His coincidental birthday will ensure that he will inherit a disproportionately large portion of my guns that are Browning designs.




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 Snow Camouflage. (See the Books and Gear sections.) Books (Snow Camouflage): Soldier’s Handbook For Individual Operations Survival In Cold Weather Areas, U.S. Defense Department (2009) Paperback o  o  o Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow: How to Identify and Decipher Those Mysterious Winter Trails o  o  o The Snowshoe Experience: Gear Up & Discover the Wonders of Winter on Snowshoes   Movies: Ken Burns: The Civil War 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray o  o  o Building Your …




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 the importance of buying home vaults. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Gold Stocks Remain In A Downtrend o o o Bubba Horwitz: Gold and Silver 2019 – What to Expect   Investor & Consumer Psychology: Here is an interesting recent piece over …







Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – January 22, 2019

Congratulations to Michael Cargill (the owner of Central Texas Gun Works) for his success in this lawsuit: District Court Fines Austin, TX, $9,000 for Refusing Carry of Handguns at City Hall. Cargill is an upstanding, liberty-minded gentleman. He also runs one of the few gun stores in the country that accepts Bitcoin, in payment. Oh, and he sells Ghostgunner milling machines and 80% receiver blanks. He is quite a guy! — On January 22 , 1944 Allied forces began their successful landing at Anzio, Italy.