August 2021 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover gold’s performance, and the factors that affected gold prices.

What Did Gold Do in August?

Gold held above the $1,800 mark to start August, until an unexpectedly bullish Non-Farm Payrolls report on Friday the 6th and an orchestrated flash crash on Monday the 9th combined to send gold down almost $100. Gold prices slowly ground higher as the month went on. $1,750 was reached, then $1,780 later on.

Gold got a $25 boost on Monday the 23rd, which propelled it back above $1,800. Profit-taking on the 25th brought prices down nearly $15, setting up a battle in the $1,790–$1,800 range.

Gold ended the last full week of August with a solid $24 gain on Friday the 27th. This propelled prices to $1,819 an ounce. Silver gained 51 cents the same session, to close above $24 an ounce for the first time since the flash crash in precious metals on August 9th.

This late jump in prices was thanks to Fed Chairman Jerome POWELL indicating that they would start tapering the world’s largest monthly bond buying program by the end of the year, but that it would be a gradual process.

Factors Affecting Gold This Month


US ECONOMIC RECOVERY
A usually dull August was shaken up early, when a blowout Non-Farm Payrolls report was released on the 6th. 943,000 new jobs were created in July, and the unemployment rate fell to 5.4% from 5.9%. This was far beyond what anyone expected. The huge numbers were seen as putting heavy pressure on the Fed to taper quickly.

Consumer inflation was a big surprise to the upside once again in August. The CPI rose 0.5% over last month, and 5.4% on an annual basis. Inflation has been over the Fed’s 2% target since March, and over 5% since May.

The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index hit a 30-year high of 4.2%. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred gauge of consumer inflation. Many market watchers consider this as fulfilling Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s “above 2% for an extended time” condition for tapering QE.

Wholesale inflation as measured by the Producer Price Index hit a new high on an annual basis, showing an acceleration of 7.8% to the cost of manufacturing goods. This follows the gain of 7.3% the previous month, which was a new record high itself.Continue reading“August 2021 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

Today we are presenting a special edition of this column, highlighting woodworking companies, all around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Pictured is a set of custom cabinets by Hughes Woodworks in Huson, Montana.

Idaho

In Boise: Idaho Custom Woodwork is a custom-made furniture and full-service repair and restoration shop that specializes in “…all types of furniture repair and total antique restoration. We specialize in building outdoor and indoor furniture, Farmhouse style, live wood edge, live edge river tables and modern.”

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In Coeur d’Alene: The Joinery Custom Cabinetmakers crafts high-end custom cabinets.

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In Pocatello: Idaho Reclaimed Lumber. Tyler Jenkins founded Idaho Reclaimed Lumber (formerly Wildwood Creations) in 1999. It all started with building custom log beds and décor to help pay his way through college at Idaho State University.  He now offers all types of building materials, all from recycled lumber… and the best part is that it is all truly “Made in the U.S.A.”. With well over a decade of extensive experience in the building industry, Tyler brings a wealth of information and skills. He has completed numerous projects — both high-end residential and commercial.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 30, 2021

Farewell, Mel:  I just heard from a good friend that my old gunsmith Mel Doyle of Plummer, Idaho went home to the Lord, on Sunday. He and Hazel (his wife) both contracted COVID-19 last week and ended up in Clearwater Valley Hospital. Mel will be greatly missed. I still own several guns that Mel had blued for me. They will be treasured keepsakes that will serve as reminders of a true American Patriot.

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In 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia began — as wall as the establishment of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

August 30th is the birthday of the late Joachim Rønneberg, a hero of the Norwegian resistance during World War II. He was born in 1919. His exploits earned him the War Cross With Sword, Norway’s highest military honor. In April 2013, Rønneberg was presented with a Union Jack during a ceremony at the Special Operations Executive (SOE) monument in London to mark 70 years since the successful Gunnerside heavy water plant sabotage mission. Rønneberg died in 2018, just one year short of his 100th birthday.

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Three new listings that are in or near The American Redoubt, over at my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty.com site:

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Today we present another review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.

Some Poncho Options, by Pat Cascio

A poncho is something so simple and inexpensive, yet it can save your life. I don’t suppose anyone really knows when the poncho was invented, but it has been around for a lot of years. Prior to the poncho, at least here in the USA West, cowboys and ranchers wore a “slicker” when it was raining. It was nothing more than a long coat, usually heavy canvas duck material, that was impregnated with something like beeswax or similar waterproofing material, that repelled the rain. The only thing was, your lower body still got pretty wet when riding a horse.

In the First World War, our troops wore ponchos in the trenches in France, but they didn’t do a lot of good, when our boys were in the trenches, with mud and water up to their knees, and even higher. In Vietnam, the monsoon rains drenched our soldiers, even when they wore a poncho. So, there is no really great solution to staying dry – for the most part.

On Patrol

Allow me to digress a little bit: Back in 1979, I worked as a K-9 handler, and our job was to patrol around a nuke plant – no longer there. We patrolled from sunset, until sunrise – usually a good 12-hour shift, not counting the drive there and back home – which was about an hour each way. And, of course, kenneling our dogs and caring for them at the end of the day. I took this job in early Fall, and that’s about the time the heavy rains would begin. Newly married, we didn’t have a lot of money, however, back then, I was getting paid $10.00 per hour – that was triple the minimum wage. After a few nights of getting drenched and shivering, I bought a rain suit, to go over my insulated coveralls. Thought I had the rains beat. Nope!

The rain suit – pants and hooded jacket – kept me dry – on the outside. However, my body would sweat, causing me to get drenched on the inside – it was a no-win situation – even my feet got wet on the inside of my government issue rubber boots. Plus, to top it off, we had Dobermans as our partners, and they are short-haired dogs, and about halfway through the night’s shift, they would start shivering and there was no way to keep them warm and dry. I felt bad for my dog. They couldn’t wait to get kenneled, so they could eat, drink and crawl into their protected enclosure and get dry.

For some stupid reason, I never thought about buying a US military poncho, even though I used one heavily, when stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington for my Infantry school in 1969 – and anyone knows it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, your lower legs and feet would get wet – when not wearing overshoes, but the rest of your body mostly stayed dry if you didn’t do a klutzy tumble.Continue reading“Some Poncho Options, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Dill Zucchini Relish

The following recipe for Dill Zucchini Relish is from reader “Sis”:  Dill Zucchini Relish.

Ingredients
  • 9 lbs Zucchini (or Cucumbers), diced
  • 1/2 cup pickling salt (I use sea salt)
  • 2 tsp. Tumeric
  • 4 cups water
  • 3 cups white vinegar
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 white onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 Tbl. Sugar
  • 2 Tbl. Dill Seed
  • 1/4 cup fresh red pepper (finely chopped)
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large kettle.
  2. Bring to a boil
  3. Simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Put in canning jars
  5. Process in water bath canner for 15 minutes.
SERVING

I use these relishes with my canned meats to make sandwich spreads as well as deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches. And of course, potato salad.

STORAGE

Stores for 2+ years, if water bath canned.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Today, in lieu of our regular column of Economics & Investing news items, I’m posting my retrospective on the long-term legacy of currency debasement in the United States. I chose to do so this week because Richard M. Nixon’s Day of Perfidy was 50 years ago, earlier this month.

The U.S.: 50 Years in Currency Fantasyland

It was 50 years ago, in August of 1971, that the United States finally severed its last vestige of a gold standard. This came when President Nixon announced that the Treasury “temporarily” ceased redemption in gold of U.S. Dollars presented by foreign governments. He blamed this move on “currency speculators”, but the real culprits were the over-spenders in the U.S. Congress.

Ever since August of 1971, the U.S. Dollar has been entirely free-floating, backed by nothing! So, for the past 50 years in America, we’ve been living in a currency fantasyland. Congress, the U.S Treasury, the Federal Reserve private banking cartel, and the U.S. Mint have all ignored all seven of the money clauses in the U.S. Constitution. For the past 56 years (since 1965) we haven’t had real “Dollars” or “money” as defined by the Constitution. Instead, we’ve had fiat currency. Many people use the terms money and currency interchangeably. But they really mean two quite different things. The free-floating so-called “Dollar” (Federal Reserve Note) has triggered massive waves of inflation.

No More Silver Dollars

Long before the last straw in 1971, our government began withdrawing from its bi-metallic currency system. In 1935, the U.S. Mint ceased minting any new 90% silver dollars for public circulation. (The Eisenhower “silver” dollar was minted from 1971 to 1974, but except for a few 90% silver ones made for special noncirculating proof sets, the “Ikes” were all 75% copper and 25% nickel.)Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The socialist ideal eventually goes viral, and the majority learns to game the system. Everyone is trying to live at the expense of everyone else. In the terminal phase, the failure of the system is disguised under a mountain of lies, hollow promises, and debts. When the stream of other people’s money runs out, the system collapses.” – Kevin Brekke

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 29, 2021

August 29th is a mournful day, as we remember the anniversary of the death of “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” – Isaiah 40:3. John, the Baptist, who heralded the first coming of our Lord and stood true to his belief in the face of death, was beheaded on this day in 29AD.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 96 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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  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. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.

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. Siege Stoves is generously donating a SIEGE® STOVE kit, including a Titanium Gen 3 Flat-Pack Stove with titanium Cross-Members and a variety of bonus items including a Large Folding Grill, a pair of Side Toasters, a Compact Fire Poker, and an extra set of stainless steel universal Cross-Members. (In all, a $200 value.)
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 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!

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Round 96 ends on September 30th, 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.

Painkillers and TEOTWAWKI – Part 2, by Anonymous

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

I don’t pop pills to feel better. I rest. I have adjusted my surroundings to work for me. I have no problems turning down social offers if I know I can’t do them. I used to say “No, I can’t” and mumble an excuse, and now I simply say “No thank you!”, with a smile, and not feel the slightest guilt, nor do I have to explain myself to anyone. When the pain feels unbearable, I go into a reclining position and rest for as long as it takes for the pain to subside. You know the old saying, “unless you’ve walked in my moccasins…”. While I wish I was 100% drug free, I still take allergy medicine and OTC naproxen sodium. I carry with me an emergency inhaler should I ever need it.

DISCLAIMER: I do realize there are injuries, illnesses, and disabilities that require pain medications. I, in no way, begrudge anyone, nor do I advocate for withholding, pain medications from people who really need them. Deep, abiding, pain is something I don’t wish on even my enemies. I pray that those of us who can go without will extend grace, kindness, and assistance to those who need our help.

GETTING TO THE RIGHT DOCTORS

There are many illnesses that can be managed by diet, exercise, and environment, however there are some illnesses that absolutely require a traditional medical intervention. In my case, I researched all that I could by reading medical studies, not just articles about medical studies. It took me a long time to do this, but I kept at it until I understood as much as possible about my various bodily failures. I studied my blood test results and followed every detail until I understood what they meant. When I met with my doctors, I had a list of questions and concerns. Some doctors were better than others with their “bedside manners”. I had a particularly horrible experience with one doctor and would leave her office in tears, every time.

I joined a support group of people who had my particular kind of cancer and found the name of an expert who was highly appreciated by her patients. She was a literal lifesaver for me. I finally found an arthritis doctor who specialized in the type of debilitating arthritis I have. I even went to see the “psycho” therapists/psychiatrists that I was recommended to see. I’m sure they have helped people, but they weren’t helpful to me. The doctors always like to rule out “psychosis” when someone is experiencing multiple illnesses, just to make sure you aren’t making anything up! LOL. Actually, they’re there to help you navigate your emotional and intellectual way through serious illness. I didn’t find them helpful, personally. I just wanted answers. Not having answers was more frustrating to me than anything else.Continue reading“Painkillers and TEOTWAWKI – Part 2, by Anonymous”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/gbyNjcklkb

Meme Text:

Joe Biden: Making Talibanistan Great Again.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13: 47-50 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 28, 2021

August 28, 1833: Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 96 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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  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. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.

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. Siege Stoves is generously donating a SIEGE® STOVE kit, including a Titanium Gen 3 Flat-Pack Stove with titanium Cross-Members and a variety of bonus items including a Large Folding Grill, a pair of Side Toasters, a Compact Fire Poker, and an extra set of stainless steel universal Cross-Members. (In all, a $200 value.)
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 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!

—

Round 96 ends on September 30th, 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.

Painkillers and TEOTWAWKI – Part 1, by Anonymous

Through a series of unfortunate health mishaps, I became quite disabled. I am better now (mostly emotionally), but it’s been a long, slow, slog, through the medical community seeking help, and relief. I will most likely never again be that bouncing bunny of energy I used to be. My daily routine is about managing my energy and pain levels. The better I get at that, the more likely it is that you will not even know of my suffering when you meet me. Hopefully, you will be greeted with a big smile, an encouraging word, and a warm hug. I don’t want the conversation to be about Me – how terribly boring. I want it to be about whatever wonderful things we can discuss or do together. In this article, I will share with you my journey to get off the pain meds and stay off them.

There are two reasons I think this is an important topic. Firstly, what happens when you can’t get the drugs your body has become dependent upon in order to function? Secondly, while the drugs mask the pain, their side effects include severe brain fog and loss of some bodily control functions. The pain killers sure feel like miracle drugs until you can’t get your prescription filled, or you find yourself shopping for Depends.

I’m not going to spend time here describing my various illnesses, but let’s just say “The old gray mare just ain’t what she used to be”, and leave it at that. I also want to state upfront, that I am not against traditional medicine – traditional medicine saved my life, at least twice. It’s very difficult to find the right team of doctors, and especially when you can’t think straight and are in a lot of pain with no energy and tolerance left. May God bless all of you who have been down that path! It works best when you have one or more Advocates, who have your best interest at heart, and who help you maneuver through “the system”. And best when a few of them stick by you for the long haul. I was very blessed to have several family members who basically took over my life for a period of time, got me to doctors’ offices, the infusion center, picked up prescriptions, kept track of the paperwork and insurance billing, shopped, and cooked for me, helped me bathe and brush my hair, and listened to me even when nothing I said made sense. I am forever grateful for them.Continue reading“Painkillers and TEOTWAWKI – Part 1, by Anonymous”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, 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 your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This past week I did quite a bit of wood cross-cutting and splitting. Our daughters helped me with toting and stacking the firewood in our main woodshed.  By the way, the photo is of me splitting firewood, way back in 1995. That was while I was building my first ranch house on 40 acres near Orofino, Idaho. I was 35 years old then. I’m now 60 — and a lot more gray — but I thankfully haven’t accumulated a gut. Now, over to Lily…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”