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. Most of these items are from JWR’s “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the commercial real estate market. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Fitch: Platinum And Palladium: High Risk Of Future Supply Disruption.

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At Kitco.com: Gold prices treading water around $2,000 an ounce as U.S. GPD grows 1.1% in Q1.

Economy & Finance:

First Republic Bank continues to crumble: First Republic advisers have lined up potential purchasers of bank’s new stock – CNBC.

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This piece from Fortune was linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: First Republic Bank lost more than $72 billion in deposits during the first quarter—and plans to lay off up to 25% of its workforce.

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And CBS reports: First Republic shares continue their free fall amid mounting worries.

JWR’s Comments:  In early February, First Republic stock was selling at around $147 per share. Yesterday morning (Thursday, April 27), the shares were at $5.81. That’s a massive and probably unrecoverable drop. There are dozens of smaller banks — with similar levels of capitalization — standing by as the next possible dominoes. These banks are continuing to lose deposits. Their shareholders must be feeling nervous. As I’ve mentioned before, the banking crisis was caused by the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates too low for too long. Years too long. This crisis is far from being over.

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David Stockman on Why Decades of Inflationary Finance Are Finally Coming Home to Roost.

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Jobless Claims Hover Near 17-Month Highs, Flash Recession Signal.

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US Discusses Ending Trade with Russia as Economic Sanctions Fail to Halt Aggression in Ukraine.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“There is no such thing as an achieved liberty; like electricity, there can be no substantial storage and it must be generated as it is enjoyed, or the lights go out.” – Supreme Court Justice Robert Houghwout Jackson, 1953

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 27, 2023

On April 27, 1865, the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history occurred when the overloaded steamship SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River, killing some 1,800 people, many of whom were former Union POWs returning home from the Civil War.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 106 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 $2000.
  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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. 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. EBL is providing an EBL Voyager 500-Watt Power Station with deep cycle lithium batteries, providing reliable 120 Volt AC and DC (12 Volt and USB) power for emergencies or outdoor use. (A $399 value.)
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  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.

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More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 106 ends on May 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.

Pest Control for Keeping a Bug-Free Home – Part 2, by G.F.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Flies of all types spread disease, something that will be very problematic if medical care is difficult to come by. Most store-bought solutions are inadequate. Zappers offer only partial control and explode the fly, spreading any disease it may have. Sticky traps offer little help, except in confined spaces (like a closet). Sanitation and exclusion are everything. The best value pesticide for controlling flies is the classic fly swatter. Fly swatters are very cheap. Keep one around for each room. Hand them out to your kids. There is no better way to decimate fly populations in your home.

Cloth-destroying insects, like silverfish, firebrats, and clothing moths can be difficult to control. Keeping clothes and books off the ground and away from contact with walls helps. Better yet, keep them in bags and totes when not in use. Cedar works well as a repellent, but only for a few years, though you can always replace or supplement with new wood, if you have a ready source. Pyrethrid dusts and oils work well, but are toxic and expensive and, therefore, should only be applied in cracks and joints to keep insects out. Diatomaceous earth is safer and cheaper and can be applied in large amounts, though it’s not quite as effective.

Spiders are best killed with a vacuum cleaner or a rolled-up newspaper. They can also be removed using the cup and piece of paper method. Do not use poisons for spiders. They do not provide long-term control and anything that will kill a spider is quite toxic.Continue reading“Pest Control for Keeping a Bug-Free Home – Part 2, by G.F.”

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, we look at the risk of tsunamis, on American coastlines.

Tsunami: Could It Happen Here?

A quite informative background piece, posted over at the USGS site: Could It Happen Here?

Florida Is Packed With “Survivalists,” Survey Claims

Published by The New Times of Miami: Preppin’ in Paradise: Florida Is Packed With “Survivalists,” Survey Claims.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” – James Madison, Federalist Paper 10

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 26, 2023

On April 26, 1986, one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents occurred at the Chernobyl plant in the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor sent radioactivity into the atmosphere. At least 31 Soviets died immediately.

I had the misfortune of being downwind of the accident, at the time. I was posted TDY in southern West Germany, with the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion, in Stuttgart.  Someday, the details of the COMINT traffic for that time period may be declassified. But all that I can say now is that late April and early May of 1986 represented an amazing time for me to be working a live intelligence-gathering mission against the Group Of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG or “G-SOF-G”), conducting analysis, and writing reports. – JWR

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 106 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 $2000.
  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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. 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. EBL is providing an EBL Voyager 500-Watt Power Station with deep cycle lithium batteries, providing reliable 120 Volt AC and DC (12 Volt and USB) power for emergencies or outdoor use. (A $399 value.)
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  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.

—

More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 106 ends on May 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.

Pest Control for Keeping a Bug-Free Home – Part 1, by G.F.

I have, at various times, held different agricultural pest control licenses in California, including a Private Applicator Certificate, Qualified Applicator License, and Pest Control Business License. I do all my own pest control on my little homestead, for both my home and farm. This article focuses on how to provide the most protection against arthropod pests for your home on a modest budget and in a way you can keep up after TEOTWAWKI. Before going into detail, let’s talk safety, gear and sourcing of materials.

Whenever dealing with pesticides, you must take safety seriously. In this article, I will recommend products that are relatively safe, but that does not mean they are innocuous. You should always wear personal protective equipment and know what you are doing. I don’t have the space here for a full lesson, but would encourage you to purchase the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources Publications 3383 and 3324 and keep them on your bookshelf. It’s geared toward agriculture, but many of the principles apply to home applications, too. And of course read labels fully and in detail.

You also need a way to properly apply bulk chemicals. On a small scale, you can use a hand-pump applicator, either handheld or a backpack. You will make your life much easier if, instead, you get a motorized backpack sprayer. I have a strong preference for the Stihl brand and I also keep smaller, handheld mechanical options around. You should also get a small hand dust applicator (less than $10).Continue reading“Pest Control for Keeping a Bug-Free Home – Part 1, by G.F.”

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.

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26 States, and counting: Another Red State Passes Constitutional Carry Bill.

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AI-generated spam may soon be flooding your inbox—and it will be personalized to be especially persuasive.

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Reader A.P. sent this in respoinse to my recent posts on crime rate maps:

“An interesting factoid: In Canada there is a medium sized town in Ontario. Smiths Falls. It used to be a railroad hub with both national carriers passing through. It is located at the edge of the Canadian shield and the glacial till land. Some decent farms but a lot of hard scrabble land around it. So not particularly prosperous and very rough citizens. A population of around 9,000 people. For years it was the murder capital of Canada on a per capita basis.”

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And reader M.P. had these comments:

“The article on mapping US gun ownership does, indeed, show some surprises. Living in NH, I was amazed at how low the rates of gun ownership are here, though I suspect the heavily left-leaning and densely populated southeast corner of the state skews things.

It would be very interesting to see this data mapped against the rate of crimes committed with guns by state. Even more so if we could see that data by county. I suspect there is a strong inverse correlation between gun ownership rate and ‘gun crime’ (though I despise that term). I have only ever seen the comparison of such crime rates and anti-gun laws.”

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In The WSJ: The iPhone Setting Thieves Use to Lock You Out of Your Apple Account.

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Reader J.R.G. had this response to a recent knife review:

“I wanted to commend Mr. Christianson on his review of the TOPS 4.0 Folding knife in April 24 issue.  I agree with his assertion that a multitool often has more day-to-day use than a knife.  Modern life has many more fasteners than it had in yesteryear.  My most often used tool is the keychain SAK – a blade and scissors in the office environment is often called for.

I own a very similar TOPS fixed blade MSK2.5 U-942 knife which I find very satisfactory as a minimal bulk kit knife.  About 7 5/8” in overall length.   TOPS certainly has some innovative ideas.”

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The next stage of the war in Ukraine: Analyzing Kyiv’s strategy — DW News.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 25, 2023

On April 25, 1901, New York became the first U.S. state to mandate license plates when Governor Benjamin Odell signed a law ordering automobiles and motorcycles to display “the separate initials of the owner’s name placed upon the back thereof in a conspicuous place.”

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I noticed an interesting new listing in North Carolina at my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty site: Sustainable Mountain Farm — Perfect SHTF Haven.

Also at the site, an amazing property for someone with a larger budget: Geothermal Wyoming property.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 106 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 $2000.
  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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. 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. EBL is providing an EBL Voyager 500-Watt Power Station with deep cycle lithium batteries, providing reliable 120 Volt AC and DC (12 Volt and USB) power for emergencies or outdoor use. (A $399 value.)
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  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.

—

More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 106 ends on May 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.

Our Experience in Raising Meat Rabbits, by K.B.

For the past 8 years, we have been raising rabbits as a source of meat and have had an “interesting” learning curve that we would like to share with you so that you might have an easier time of it and learn from some of our mistakes. Why raise meat rabbits? They are quiet, can be raised in compact surroundings, and provide a secret source of untainted protein as inflation worsens.

People in the city of Paris even raised them during WWII. Do you have a garage? If so, then you can raise rabbits.

Do you have a small hobby farm or big farm? You also can raise rabbits on a small area of your land.
At the end of each section, I will list informative online sources that should prove helpful. Disclaimer:
I am in no way guaranteeing any results nor am responsible for anything that you choose to do. I receive nothing for mentioning any business source for supplies.Continue reading“Our Experience in Raising Meat Rabbits, by K.B.”

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, we focus on Washington’s pending ban on many semi-auto rifles. (See the Washington section.)

Region-Wide

April snow in the Inland Northwest.

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‘Hard to imagine why someone would leave Idaho for Washington’ — Gov. Little responds to Inslee’s request to veto abortion trafficking bill.

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There’s no more plastic bags at Walmart stores in Oregon, Washington.

Idaho

Car theft suspect shot, killed in Silver Lake Plaza parking lot in Coeur d’Alene. JWR’s Comment:  Many citizens pack guns in Idaho, so that makes crime a dangerous proposition for any evildoers.

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Idaho teacher and LGBT activist arrested on charges of raping 16-year-old boy.

A follow-up news report:

Some parents to withdraw students, new information revealed about arrested teacher.

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Idaho man passes 20-pound weight between his hands for Guinness World Record.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.” – George Washington

Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 24, 2023

On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the United States.

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Today we present a feature review article by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We are still seeking entries for Round 106 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 106 ends on May 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.