A Long Shot: Looking for Information on 2nd MI Bn. Project Alpine Cactus

The following information request on Project Alpine Cactus is a long shot, but given SurvivalBlog’s large and diverse readership, it is worth a try: As a young Lieutenant back in 1986 I was posted TDY to the U.S. Army 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion (AE), at Echterdingen, West Germany.  That unit was part of the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade, under VII Corps, at the Stuttgart Army Airfield kasserne. While there, I worked a Guardrail live mission. While working at the Integrated Processing Facility (IPF), I read a classified report on an mission that had been conducted a few years earlier. As …




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 National Digital Currencies. Precious Metals (National Digital Currencies): To start, there is this at Barron’s: Is gold on the verge of breaking out? o  o  o Anyone serious about precious metals investing should consider the impact of the upcoming advent of national digital currencies. Some …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The first man who, having enclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying This is mine, and found people simple enough to believe him, was the real founder of civil society.  From how many crimes, wars and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not anyone have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows, “Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.”  – Jean Jacques Rousseau, A …







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 Hyperinflation in Venezuela. (See the Economy and Finance section.) Precious Metals: First off, over at Zero Hedge: Gold ETF Holdings Surge To 4-Year Highs Ahead Of Lunar New Year Forex: Just as I have been warning you for several years in this column: It’ll be …




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 the Tipton Ultimate Gun Vise. (See the Gear section.) Books: Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition [6 volume – Set] o o o I’ve mentioned this book once before, but it deserves another strong recommendation: The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Dave Ramsey). I feel very strongly attuned to Ramsey’s guidance. To be ready for an economic depression, every family should be as close to debt free, as …







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 Blue Wolf, Inc. (See the Idaho section.) Region-Wide The American Redoubt States rank well, as usual: How Indebted is Your State?  Note that of the 50 States, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho all are placed at the right (low debt) end of their Per Capita list.  Of the Redoubt States, only Washington was at the wrong end of the …







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 the recent “Crypto Collapse”. Precious Metals: Egon von Greyerz: Gold Will Surge As The World Hits A Rock Or A Hard Place. It is noteworthy that a lot of his advice is in very close alignment to what you’ve reading from me in SurvivalBlog for …







The Editors’ Preps for the Week

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! …




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 U.S. Creditworthiness. (See the Economy and Finance section.) Precious Metals: First off, there is this, at Seeking Alpha: Gold Weekly: Too Late To Ride The Wave? o  o  o Also there, Scot MacDonald asks: Is Silver Ready For Takeoff? Stock Markets: Reader Diane C. suggested …







The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Where wilderness can still be found, the ancientness of the land and the nobility of man’s struggle emerge. Wilderness is vastly different from the clutter and clatter of much of our civilized world. In wilderness one experiences exhilaration and joy. In freedom and simplicity, in its vitality and immense variety, happiness may not only be pursued; it is ofttimes found.” – Harvey Broome, Out Under Sky Of Great Smokies: A Personal Journal