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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the rollercoaster ride in the markets since the February invasion of Ukraine.

Precious Metals:

Gold and silver inch higher.  JWR’s Comments: In my estimation, silver is now poised for a leap into the $40 per Troy ounce range.  With a market that thin, all that it would take is just one major news outlet headline mentioning silver’s upside potential to catalyze such a move.

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Video interview: Jim Rickards discusses the ‘unintended consequences’ of the sanctions the West is imposing on Russia.

Economy & Finance:

A video from Stoic Finance that describes China’s Ghost Cities and their absurd real estate bubble: China’s Collapse Just Got So Much WORSE…

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Powell says Fed will hike further and faster if necessary.

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Bullard says Fed moving too slowly to quell high inflation and putting economy at risk.

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At Wolf Street: Mayhem in the Treasury Market as Powell Adds 50-Basis-Point Rate Hikes (Plural) to Menu, QT “As Soon As” May.

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At Zero Hedge: Goldman Admits Saudi-China Oil-Trade Signals ‘Erosion’ Of Dollar Reserve Status.

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From Record Selling To Panic Buying: A Week For The Hedge Fund History Books.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — March 24, 2022

March 24th is the birthday of Dr. Arthur B. Robinson (of OISM fame) who was born in 1942.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 99 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. 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  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. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 99 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.

Inflation Will Settle Gold’s Future – Better Watch It Closely, by Arkadiusz Sieroń

Inflation continues to rise but may soon reach its peak. After that, its fate will be sealed: a gradual decline. Does the same await gold? If you like inviting people over, you’ve probably figured out that some guests just don’t want to leave, even when you’re showing subtle signs of fatigue. They don’t seem to care and keep telling you the same not-so-funny jokes. Even in the hall, they talk lively and tell stories for long minutes because they remembered something very important. Inflation is like that kind of guest – still sitting in your living room, even after you turned off the music and went to wash the dishes, yawning loudly.

Indeed, high inflation simply does not want to leave. Actually, it’s gaining momentum. As the chart below shows, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 6.0% over the past 12 months, speeding up from 5.5% in the previous month. Meanwhile, the overall CPI annual rate accelerated from 7.1% in December to 7.5% in January.Continue reading“Inflation Will Settle Gold’s Future – Better Watch It Closely, by Arkadiusz Sieroń”

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”. 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. Today, we look at panic food buying in Europe.

2.8 Million Birds Dead in New U.S. Bird Flu

Reader D.S.V. sent this: Nearly 2.8 Million Birds (Mostly Chickens & Turkeys) Have Died In The First Month Of America’s Raging New Bird Flu.

EU Supermarkets Start Rationing Foodstuffs

EU supermarkets start rationing foodstuffs amid fears of panic buying.

Europeans Hoarding Food

Europeans hoard food in panic amid conflict in Ukraine.

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — March 23, 2022

Today is the anniversary of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death” speech. It was delivered to the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention meeting at St. John’s Church, Richmond, on March 23, 1775.

This is also the birthday of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. He directed 30 films. His samurai films (many starring Toshiro Mifune) such as Yojimbo, Sanjuro, The Hidden Fortress, Rashomon, The Seven Samurai, Kagemusha, and Ran are considered legendary in the cinema world.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 99 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. 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  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. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 99 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.

One Bug Out Bag Approach – Part 2, by J. Smith

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

For a 3-season blanket, I have a Snugpak Jungle Blanket. It is a modern version of the “woobie” poncho liner that is loved by American soldiers. It is anti-bacterial, windproof, and water-resistant. If you prefer the good-old woobie, then go for it. For an emergency blanket, don’t bother with the cheapo ones. Get an SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer) emergency blanket. Its construction using metalized polyethylene instead of mylar makes it much stronger, quieter, and will not shred apart. For a poncho, I suggest the US Style Helikon-Tex poncho. It is waterproof and quick-drying, made of rip-stop polyester. Additionally, it has taped seams and grommets at the perimeter.

Clothing

A great alternative to the standard poncho for warmer temps is the Mountain Hardwear Exposure Paclite with Gore-Tex. This jacket is an expensive piece of clothing. However, a breathable, waterproof, and windproof jacket is invaluable. It seems that Mountain Hardwear changes the style of these slightly from year to year. I caught mine 50% off when they switched to the updated version. The breathability of Gore-Tex cannot be ignored when doing strenuous tasks in wet weather.

Clothing choices are very important. I think that the clothing you are wearing while bugging out is just as important as your BOB. If you have the option of changing into optimal clothes before you bug out then take this info to heart. Rule number one is to only wear wool or synthetics. Cotton is comfortable, but is terrible at getting rid of sweat or moisture. Wool coats, trousers, and socks were the top choice to keep warm in the old days. They were standard issue for winter clothing for soldiers. Today, wool is still king for certain articles of clothing especially since Merino wool is itch-free. Keep in mind, wool comes in many thicknesses and is not only for cold weather.

The advantage of wool is that it helps wick moisture away from the body and helps maintain your body temperature. Additionally, wool retains its insulating properties even when wet or moist. Merino wool socks are a must. They wick moisture away from your feet and still keep them warm, without being itchy. Choose a sock weight that is appropriate for the temperature outside and your level of activity. Make sure that your shoes fit correctly while wearing your socks. Always have extra pairs of socks in your bag.Continue reading“One Bug Out Bag Approach – Part 2, by J. Smith”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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First up: With some web-wandering, I found this video, by Jon Gadget: ALL Victorinox Swiss Cards compared – wallet EDC perfection?

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Seeing the mass media and the Democrats rallying for Ukraine is quite amazing.  Nancy Pelosi is now chanting “СЛАВА УКРАЙНА” (“Slava Ukrania“), along with all of ABC/CBS/NBC crowd.  Something tells me that if the Russian invasion had begun during Trump’s term in office, their reaction would have been substantially different. We need to recognize that most of what we are seeing is propaganda. Granted, what the Russians are doing in Ukraine is horrible. But please don’t fall for the left-wing cheerleading that could escalate us into a Third World War — a potentially nuclear Third World War.

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There are some great observations and commentary on macro-level trends, from S2 Underground: Foreseen Consequences: Lessons Learned.

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From Mrs. Alaska:

“If you have never bought seeds and potting supplies, here is an easy way to start growing food.  Many types of store-bought produce can be used to grow your own.  If a potato sprouting?  Cut the spud into several pieces, each with one of the sprouting eyes.  Bury them a few inches deep in soil.

Cut the root end of an onion or celery or the top inch off a carrot.  Put the root side down in a shallow bowl of water.  Soon, it will grow fresh roots into the water and then start to grow green shoots upward.  If you buy fresh herbs that have roots, they, too, will grow more roots if you store them in room temperature water. Even the seeds of some vegetables (I have tried squash and peppers) will germinate.”

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Reader H.L. spotted this: San Andreas Fault’s creeping section could unleash large earthquakes.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — March 22, 2022

Today is the birthday of Benjamin Tyler Henry. (March 22, 1821–December 29, 1898) He was an American gunsmith and manufacturer. On October 16, 1860, he received a patent on the Henry .44 caliber repeating rifle. The first Henry rifles were not produced for U.S. Army use until mid-1862.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 99 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. 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. 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).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  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. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 99 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.

One Bug Out Bag Approach – Part 1, by J. Smith

I would like to share my thoughts on the creation of a Bug Out Bag. (Or “BOB” for short.) I have refined my BOB based on my own camping experience, and the experience of others, especially survivalists and wilderness campers on Youtube. (The real ones, not phony Bear Grills types, LOL.) I will give credit for their ideas where it is due. A BOB is a personal thing, it should fulfill your short-term needs and, if you can spare the weight, a couple luxury wants.

Additionally, you also have to consider the people you are bugging out with, such as your family, and potentially share items across your bags. However, the essentials should be present in each person’s bag. My BOB is most likely too heavy for my current physical conditioning if I have to bug out on foot. However, I know in my head which items I are more of a luxury than a need and would ditch items accordingly. If I had to go on foot, then I would also carry more food than what is in my pack right now.

Keep in mind, if you attempt to build the BOB that I’m describing in this article it will be very expensive. Do not get discouraged. Start with simpler items and upgrade to better/higher quality items as you can. Your best bet is to make a monthly budget for all prepping and then prioritize what you will buy.

One of the first things that most people do when creating a BOB is to buy the bag. Instead, I would recommend you buy the bag towards the end. You should see how many things you need to put into the bag first. To start off, you can put items in something as simple as a school book bag. I think that picking the bag is a very personal choice. “Gray Man” blending in doesn’t really apply to a BOB in my opinion due to the size of bag needed to carry your gear. The main thing you have to decide is whether you want to get a bag with every possible “tacticool” pocket and zipper or go with a bag that has less compartments and organize with smaller pouches like the Rothco tactical breakaway pouch. Personally, I don’t like digging in zippered compartments so I like bag option number 2. There are many ways to expand a simpler bag.Continue reading“One Bug Out Bag Approach – Part 1, by J. Smith”

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 a new Wyoming app that lets residents claim roadkill.   (See the Wyoming section.)

Idaho

‘Surprised and disappointed’ Sandpoint mayor running for governor will not appear on primary ballot.

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Video from state representative candidate Chad Catron: Kicked out of my election| this is what they said…

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I just stumbled into this video clip: Meteor Fireball over Eagle, Idaho – 7/3/21

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Military aircraft training exercises being conducted at Coeur d’Alene Airport.

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Rathdrum man sentenced to 30 years in prison for lewd conduct with a minor.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 21, 2022

March 21st, 1778: Just three days after Hessian mercenary forces assaulted the local New Jersey militia at Quinton’s Bridge, the same contingent surprised the colonial militia at Hancock’s Bridge five miles from Salem. In what became known as the Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge, at least 20 members of the militia lost their lives, some after attempting to surrender. The Loyalists reputedly exclaimed “Spare no one! Give no quarter!” as they stormed the occupied house. Judge Hancock and his brother (both Loyalists) were bayoneted in the melee by the attackers even though they were both staunch supporters of the crown and were themselves non-violent Quakers.

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Today another product review, penned by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.