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 looming layoffs. (See the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold at $3,000 by 2025? Citi Analysts Don’t Rule it Out.

o  o  o

Chinese Wholesale Gold Demand Sets January Record.

Economy & Finance:

Layoffs are looming: Former Home Depot CEO sounds alarm on ‘tremendous shift’ in labor market.

o  o  o

Over at Business Insider: The full list of major US companies slashing staff this year, from Paramount to Google and Microsoft. Here is a quote:

“A slew of companies across the tech, media, finance, and retail industries made significant cuts to staff in 2023. Tech titans like Google and Meta, finance giants like Goldman Sachs, and manufacturers like Dow all announced layoffs.

2024 is already looking grim. And it’s only February.

Thirty-eight percent of business leaders surveyed by ResumeBuilder think layoffs are likely at their companies this year, and around half say their companies will implement a hiring freeze.”

o  o  o

Video: U.S. Senators arguing the impact of the Basel III capital requirements: “Like Taking Gun Safety Advice from Alec Baldwin!” Senator Kennedy Makes Everyone Laugh!

o  o  o

Over at American Thinker: Federal Reserve records massive losses, makes up fictitious value called ‘deferred assets’ to compensate.

o  o  o

Can Fractional Reserve Banking Survive the Twenty-First Century?

o  o  o

Michael Burry Adds to China Big Tech Wager as Stock Rout Deepens.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain.” – Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 22, 2024

On February 22, 1847,  U.S. General Zachary Taylor led troops against a Mexican force commanded by General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista.

February 22, 1857 was the birthday of Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist who was the first to broadcast and receive radio waves and helped to invent radar technology

On this day in 1943, Sophie Scholl was executed by beheading for organizing the White Rose group–a student resistance to the Hitler regime. She had been convicted of high treason, after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich (LMU) with her brother, Hans. She was 21 years old.

On this day in 1732, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the second son from the second marriage of a colonial plantation owner. An initially loyal British subject, Washington eventually led the Continental Army in the American Revolution and became known as the father of the United States.

—

We are pleased to welcome our newest affiliate advertiser: Battlehawk Armory. Check out their extensive line of guns, accessories, ammo, and suppressors. As with our other affiliate advertisers, we get a little piece of the action when you place an order if you follow our links. That helps us keep the lights on.

—

Only about 200 left! We are running low on our inventory of SurvivalBlog 2005-2023 Archive USB sticks. Get your order in soon. Many blog readers are ordering 2, 3, or 4 sticks. There won’t be another batch produced until January of 2025.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 111 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2,000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 111 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Homebrewing Benefits for a Prepper – Part 1, by Joseph R.

I’m a young man who considers himself a prepper. I love to pore over survival manuals and guides, stock up on resources, and prepare for an apocalypse. It grants me peace of mind in a crazy world. One day while reading a book on self-reliance, I came across a recipe for brewing amber American ale. I thought it would be a fun and simple thing to try, and when finished I could store some for an emergency and give some away to family and neighbors, potentially earning goodwill. When I did a bit of research however, I ended up going down the homebrewing rabbit hole, checking out many books from the library, buying loads of equipment and ingredients, and eventually brewing my first successful batch.

Now, why would a prepper want to homebrew? How could this benefit a survivalist? Something that stood out to me in my research is that alcohol can be used in emergencies to extend the life of the gasoline in your car. Oddly, there are some similarities between beer and gasoline, the most important being ethanol. Ethanol is used as an additive in gasoline, and more ethanol in gas contributes to better performance. You should only put alcohol in your tank as a last resort, as it is bad for your engine. The ratio for alcohol and gasoline should roughly be 1:4. [And of course it can only be used in cars that are rated to burn E85 (or more) ethanol.  That rating is marked right next to the gas cap on any recent-production gasoline engine cars and trucks.]Continue reading“Homebrewing Benefits for a Prepper – Part 1, by Joseph R.”

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 further look at artificial intelligence (AI).

AI and the New Kind of Propaganda

Over at Off-Guardian: AI and the new kind of propaganda. Here is a pericope:

“They want to control the formation and reproduction of “social imaginaries”.

So the idea is to use massive data collection and AI pattern recognition to preemptively disrupt the formation of behaviourally significant narratives, discourses or patterns of information.

With these tools of “early diagnosis” of information that potentially could disrupt the power structure and its objectives, it then becomes possible to nip it in the bud incredibly early on, way before such information has even coalesced into something like coherent narratives or meaningful models for explanation or further (precarious) conclusions.”

Gen Zers Trust ChatGPT for Career Guidance

H.L. sent this: Does ChatGPT give better career advice than your boss? Nearly half of Gen Z says yes.

How AI Deepfakes Threaten the 2024 Elections

Rehan Mirza of the Harvard Kenndey School: How AI deepfakes threaten the 2024 elections. An excerpt:

“Deepfakes already have affected other elections around the globe. In recent elections in Slovakia, for example, AI-generated audio recordings circulated on Facebook, impersonating a liberal candidate discussing plans to raise alcohol prices and rig the election. During the February 2023 Nigerian elections, an AI-manipulated audio clip falsely implicated a presidential candidate in plans to manipulate ballots. With elections this year in over 50 countries involving half the globe’s population, there are fears deepfakes could seriously undermine their integrity.”

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 21, 2024

On February 21, 1947, Edwin Land (pictured) presented his Polaroid photo product, the world’s first instant photos, in New York City.

On February 21, 1972, Richard Nixon became the first US President to visit China, normalizing relations between the countries in a meeting with Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Beijing.

On February 21, 1995, American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. It was the first of his many aviation records.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 111 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2,000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 111 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

Why I Bought a Pluggable Hybrid EV Car, by R.G.

I live in the high desert in the Southwest on a 20 acre homestead within a small farm/ranch community of 200 hardy souls. My homestead includes all the typical accouterments of a homestead including wells, septic, gardens, greenhouse, tractor, barn, and animals. I recently installed a 8,000 watt off-grid solar system.

A good-sized county seat town is 20 miles away with WalMart, drug stores, grocery stores, local hardware store, courthouse, and regional hospital within that 20 mile range. An extra five road miles gets me to a Costco and big-box hardware stores. A major city is 100 miles away with all the amenities you can imagine.

My driving habits include around two trips to the county town a week. I used to live in the major city and still have financial interests there that require I go there two times a month. In addition, my kids and grandkids live 1,500 miles away in the southeast and I try to drive there once or twice a year.

With the advent of my new solar system, I thought this would be the best time to invest in an Electric Vehicle (EV) and get all that free fuel. I have not had a new car in over 30 years so this was a big decision for me. Problem: Pure EVs have a limited range between charges, charging can take a long time, and you have to know where all the charging stations are if taking a long trip. Hybrid EVs can go long distances but you can’t charge them except with their gas engine. Solution: The new Pluggable Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) give you the best of both worlds. You can charge them at home for about 40 miles of electric travel or use a combination of electric motor and gas engine to travel long distances at a very good miles per gallon rate. Continue reading“Why I Bought a Pluggable Hybrid EV Car, by R.G.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This 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.

—

Avalanche Lily tracked this down: Sweden’s New War/Terrorism Emergency Preparedness Brochure, in English.

o  o  o

Reader Thomas M. wrote to ask:

“Mr. Rawles, do you have a recommendation for a tablet that one can use for viewing the materials on the SurvivalBlog archives [waterproof USB sticks] that are put out every year?  With all of the possibilities for real trouble, I am wondering if there is a brand or style of tablet that will work should the Internet go down or other problems.”

JWR Replies:

“A ruggedized tablet — such as a Panasonic Toughbook A3 — would probably be best.  But any recent brand-name tablet with wireless connectivity, the Firefox browser installed, and a USB port will suffice.  (You can get one with the smaller USB-C jack, and easily use a USB 3.0 adapter to mate it with a traditional USB stick.)

In my experience, for long-term reliability, the power adapter cords are always the weak link.  So get two AC power adapter cords and three 12 Volt DC (automobile) adapters. Oh, and, if needed, buy at least two of the USB 3.0 cord adapters. With all of those, you will have a tablet that will be serviceable for more than a decade — perhaps even a lifetime.

For Faraday protection from EMP/CME events, store your tablet and all removable memory media in a steel can with a tight-fitting steel lid.  A holiday gift popcorn tin works fine, for that.”

o o o

A new video from backcountry pilot Jonas Marcinko: The Apocalypse… Stealth Snow Bike OR Modified Army Truck?

o  o  o

Reader Ray  K. had this response to SaraSue recent snippet:

“I had milk fever show up in my goats years ago.  The solution is a calcium gel that you dose orally to everyone at kidding (or calving) to prevent milk fever.  It was OTC then and should be now.  It won’t hurt a thing if she doesn’t need it, but it will save her life if she does.  It comes in a tube and you dose it like you are applying caulk.  The gun is smaller in diameter than a caulk gun, and is designed to give the dose based on [the number of] trigger pulls.

I think I got mine at TSC, but you should be able to find it at most farm stores or online.  You will need to buy the [dosing] gun to go with the tube of gel.”

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 20, 2024

On February 20, 1962, John H. Glenn, Jr., the oldest of seven astronauts selected by NASA for Project Mercury spaceflight training (and later a U.S. senator), became on this day in 1962 the first American to orbit Earth, doing so three times.

—

On February 20, 1902, Ansel Adams, the most important landscape photographer of the 20th century, was born in San Francisco.

—

Today is also the birthday of novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (1926–2013). He wrote many sci-fi television scripts. His novella I Am Legend later was adapted into three different movies over the course of five decades, and his story Bid Time Return became the charming movie Somewhere In Time.

—

Today we present a short guest article by a SurvivalBlog reader.  It was too short to qualify for the writing contest judging.

We are now seeking entries for Round 111 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 111 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Caveat Emptor – “Let the Buyer Beware”, by Steve M.

As you make prepping related purchases, bear in mind that there are transactional risks that should be considered and mitigated. Two recent incidents have served as a reminder that business practices have changed, for the worse in my experience. Business accountability that we once took for granted, can no longer be assumed. A common saying of old was “the customer is always right”, but I’m afraid that Biblical principles are increasingly ignored and negative societal trends have permeated the business world, changing the focus away from a customer-first.

Let me first summarize two recent transactions. I am of course withholding the names of these small companies:Continue reading“Caveat Emptor – “Let the Buyer Beware”, by Steve M.”

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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, another look at an Idaho videoblogging family. (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

An update from the North Idaho vlogging Souza family: We Finally Finished It! Now Comes the FUN Part – Building Our Own Home.

o  o  o

This made international news: Idaho teen, 19, hung by her broken leg on power line for an hour after being thrown from her car in horror crash.

o  o  o

A central Idaho travel video: Salmon River Road.

o  o  o

Armed school staff: Guns and Safety in Garden Valley School District.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” –  Charles H. Spurgeon

Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 19, 2024

On February 19, 1942, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

—

Several readers mentioned this news: Most lethal sniper in Marine Corps history, Chuck Mawhinney, dead at 75.

—

On February 19, 1878, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.

—

A reminder: SurvivalRealty.com is running a February Book Bundle Giveaway.  By signing up to receive his weekly e-newsletter, you’ll be entered to win this drawing for four great books. This special promotion ends at midnight, tonight, February 19, 2024.

—

Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.