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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at shifts in the silver-to-gold price ratio. Precious Metals: Gold and silver are still looking quite bullish, despite some recent profit-taking that pushed gold down to the $3,330 range.  Presently, I strongly recommend buying silver rather than gold. I expect the silver to see greater percentage gains than gold, in the next few …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 24, 2025

On April 24, 1459, Fra Mauro completed his Map of the World in Venice for King Alfonso V of Portugal – largest known world map from Medieval Europe and the first to show Africa as a free-standing continent. According to the InfoGalactic Wiki: “[Fra Mauro’s map] is “considered the greatest memorial of medieval cartography.” It is a circular planisphere drawn on parchment and set in a wooden frame that measures over two by two meters. Including Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic, it is orientated with south at the top. The map is usually on display in …


A Simplified Disaster Network – Part 2 by J.M.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Synchronizing The second useful capability I wanted this solution to support is the ability for various applications I use to synchronize their data with a single ‘master’ copy. That allows multiple individuals to read, edit and update information and ensure everyone has easy access to the latest version. For example, in my article on setting up a laptop for use after a disaster I mentioned the use of tools like Obsidian and/or Joplin for managing things like intelligence information, basic note-taking, inventory management, etc. Both of these applications support the ability to …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, a warning on upcoming solar storrms. Experts Warn of Decades of Solar Storms and Global Disruptions One of my consulting clients forwarded this: The Sun Just Hit a …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 23, 2025

Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775 – 19 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, or by his initials J.M.W. Turner. From the Infogalactic Wiki: “He was an English Romantic painter, printmaker, and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbulent, often violent marine paintings. He left behind more than 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolours, and 30,000 works on paper. He was championed by the leading English art critic John Ruskin from 1840, and is today regarded as having elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting. Turner was born in Maiden …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader D.S.V.  forwarded this: French court orders windfarm to cease operations for a year because the turbines caused the death of a golden eagle.  JWRs Comments: Conservative estimates indicate that wind turbines kill hundreds of raptors and hundreds of thousands of other birds each year here in the United States, and there …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges’ views of fairness, reasonableness, or justice. I have no fear of constitutional amendments properly adopted, but I do fear the rewriting of the Constitution by judges under the guise of interpretation.” – Hugo L. Black


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 22, 2025

On April 22, 1864, the US Treasury began minting a 2-cent coin. This was the first appearance of the “In God We Trust” motto. — Today is the birthday of actor Eddie Albert (born Edward Albert Heimberger April 22, 1906.) He died May 26, 2005, at age 99.) For his actions in the battle of Tarawa, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device. — This is also the birthday of the late Charles Rankin Bond, Jr., who was born in Dallas on April 22, 1915. (Died, 2009.) He was one of the last of the AVG Flying Tiger …


Your Last Day, by SaraSue

On Monday I seemed extra tired while trying to get morning chores done, and it took longer than normal.  I struggled milking the cow and carrying the milk in.  I felt dizzy, a little short of breath, like walking underwater.  I tried to shake it off, but it wasn’t shakin’.  After morning farm chores were slowly finished, I sat in a lounge chair and put my feet up.  I pretty much stayed there all day.  At least, until, it was time for afternoon chores, and I didn’t milk the cow.  Just couldn’t do it.  Went to bed early and slept …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news about over-reliance on GPS vehicle navigation.  (See the Central & Eastern Oregon section.) Idaho From the left-leaning Idaho Statesman: It’s a dire time’: Bernie Sanders, AOC draw 12,000-plus to Idaho rally. JWR’s Comments:  From their fawning description, you would think that Idaho has a …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 21, 2025

April 21st, 1820: Danish scientist Hans Christian Ørsted was the first to identify electromagnetism, when he observed compass needle movement. — On April 21st, 1828, Noah Webster published the first American dictionary. — And April 21st is Aggie Muster, for all Texas A&M graduates. — Today’s feature piece is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.


Recipe of the Week: Berry-Pecan Platter

The following recipe from SurvivalBlog reader Granny M. is for her Berry-Pecan Platter. Ingredients  3 cups granulated sugar 1 cup rough-chopped pecans 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup of heavy cream 1 1/2 cups each of chopped fresh strawberries, whole blueberries, and whole raspberries 1 tablespoon lemon zest Mint garnish Directions Place berries in a bowl and fold in one cup of sugar and lemon zest. Refrigerate until well chilled. In a medium saucepan, add butter and 2 cups of sugar over medium high heat. Stir constantly until butter turns a caramel color. The pan will be very hot — be …