Economics & Investing For Preppers

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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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at investing in S&W Triple Lock revolvers. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

We”ll start out with this, from Gary Christenson: Silver – Eight Years Later.

o  o  o

Commerzbank: ‘Gold Living Up To Its Role As A Safe Haven’

Economy & Finance:

China Gears Up to Weaponize Rare Earths in Trade War

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Bank of America: We Stopped Doing Business With Gun Companies Because Our Employees Were Afraid.  JWR’s Comments: We’re really supposed to believe that? A.P. Gianini is surely rolling in his grave.

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Why Is Deutsche Bank (DB) Down 14% Since Last Earnings Report?

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret.

Psychopaths often come across as arrogant, shameless braggarts—self-assured, opinionated, domineering, and cocky. They love to have power and control over others and seem unable to believe that other people have valid opinions different from theirs. What makes psychopaths different from all others is the remarkable ease with which they lie, the pervasiveness of their deception, and the callousness with which they carry it out.

The most debilitating characteristic of even the most well-behaved psychopath is the inability to form a workable team.

The majority of people and therefore workplaces are easy prey, because we still want to believe that people are inherently good. We don’t really want to believe that such people exist. Wherever you find money, prestige and power you will find them. We are far more likely to lose our life savings to an oily-tongued swindler than our lives to a steely-eyed killer.” – Robert D. Hare, Without Conscience

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — June 2, 2019

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On June 2, 1774, Parliament renewed the Quartering Act allowing British military to stay in private homes if necessary, completing the Coercive Acts. The Quartering Act, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Boston Port Act, were known as the Coercive Acts. These Acts were Parliament’s way of asserting their control over the colonists after the Boston Tea Party and were one of the main motivations for the 3rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 83  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. 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.
  3. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 83 ends on July 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.

 

Picking a BOL by Pete Thorsen

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Many people think that there are very troubled times ahead for the United States. Some who think that realize if that comes to pass their current residence could make their very survival problematic. So what to do? Move now or if tied down, like because of a job, etc, then maybe set up a bug-out-location (BOL). Great but where would you go? And what would be the determining factors in BOL selection?

The “where” and the many deciding factors will likely be different for just about everyone. And anyone who has ever been house hunting knows that buying a house or property is always about compromise. You are almost certainly not going to find the special perfect location, so you just choose the best location out of what you do find available.

The first decision is to decide to completely relocate now or stay where you are and just buy empty land, so that you at least have your own BOL. Once you have that, perhaps plan on slowly building that empty land up to possibly live there at some later date. Or you might opt to leave it primitive. Or if you have the finances you could buy a second home. Any of  those choices can be the correct decision. If you are married, this big decision would have to be fully agreed to by both spouses. Again that might, and likely would, lead to many compromises. Not a bad thing–and with two people you could likely think of more or better ideas.Continue reading“Picking a BOL by Pete Thorsen”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

20

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”.  Today, we focus on China’s Big Brother Software.

How Safe is Tap Water?

Bruce sent us this: The US drinking water supply is mostly safe, but that’s not good enough. Here is a snippet:

“There are more than 151,000 public water systems in the United States serving residential communities, schools, office buildings, hospitals and other sites. It is especially challenging for small communities to fund infrastructure upgrades and monitor water quality. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. drinking water delivery system a D on its most recent infrastructure report card, based on the high number of leaks and the presence of both legacy contaminants like lead and new threats like PFAS.”

The Army’s ‘Google Earth On Steroids’

Reader DSV sent this: Army’s ‘Google Earth On Steroids’ Can Look Inside Buildings 

Sweden is Encouraging Prepping

Video: Why Sweden is encouraging citizens to become preppers. (Thanks to Terry H. for the link.)  A PDF pf the English edition of the booklet mentioned is available for free download here.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4: 1-8 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — June 1, 2019

1

On June 1st, 1942, seven months after the extermination of prisoners began, the Warsaw underground newspaper, the Liberty Brigade, made the public announcement of the gassing of tens of thousands of Jews at Chelmno, a Nazi-operated death camp in Poland. The story came from a young man, Emanuel Ringelblum, who had escaped the Chelmno death camp after being forced to bury bodies as they were thrown out of the asphixiation vans. The West then knew the horrific truth about the slaughter of Jews.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the first entry for Round 83  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. 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.
  3. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 83 ends on July 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.

My Experience Using Dynamite, by C.L.

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As a frequent reader of SurvivalBlog I saw your recent request for articles on the farm and ranch use of explosives.

My story may resonate with many of your readers in that I used dynamite for the projects mentioned here although I had no previous experience with explosives. These episodes occurred many years ago and though the legality issues (permitting, purchasing, etc.) may have changed the techniques of actually using dynamite are still applicable.

Before getting into the heart of the matter I offer the following summary points:

1. I am not offering advice on the use of explosives.. I am relating my experiences in the use of dynamite as an inexperienced user.

2. Dynamite is a useful tool.

3. Dynamite can be used by inexperienced persons who make the effort to learn how to safely do so.

I had no experience using dynamite when I chose a ditching project. There seemed to be no practical way to put the 100 yard ditch where I wanted it. In discussions with others about my problem someone suggested dynamite. The suggestion was partially in jest but on reflection I took it seriously. I bought a copy of the Dupont Blaster’s Handbook. I studied it and the more I did the more I became convinced that I could use dynamite for my ditching project.

After carefully studying the handbook I decided that I could blast the ditch through the low swamp where I needed it. Having made that decision the next step was to procure the dynamite. By looking up “Explosives” in the Yellow Pages” of a nearby large city (This was before an Internet), I found a vendor. This vendor was most helpful. Most importantly he told me that I would have to secure a permit for the purchase and use of the dynamite and furthermore he told me where to go to get the permit from the proper government agency. We discussed my inexperience and he took time to discuss the proper use and equipment I would need to complete my project. When I went to his facility to purchase the dynamite he also provided information on the accessories (blasting caps, fuse, crimping tool, etc.) I would need.Continue reading“My Experience Using Dynamite, by C.L.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, 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 the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This week I did a lot of writing. I’m presently in “down periscope” mode, since under contract deadline for a book manuscript. But I still found time do some chores and projects here at the Rawles Ranch. This included some slash hauling, to safe slash-burning clearings. I also did some manure hauling, for Lily’s gardens.

I had to make an extra trip to town, to mail a big pile of Priority Mail flat rate boxes. These boxes were in fulfillment of orders that I had received in my HK Magazines and Parts Extravaganza, over at The FALFiles. Sales there have been brisk. Of the 540+ HK91 magazines that I listed, I now have just a few dozen left!

I also installed a new heavy duty tube gate to replace one that had been crushed by a falling tree, last winter.

I’m keeping my report brief this week. Okay, I’m going “down periscope”.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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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”.  Today, we look at the Spokesman-Review’s Faulty Reporting.

Invasive Ticks in Tennessee

G.P. spotted this: Invasive Tick Detected in Tennessee – WBBJ TV

Foreign Land Ownership in U.S.

Reader D.S. sent a link to this NPR news article: ‘American Soil’ Is Increasingly Foreign Owned

The U.K.’s Real Minority Report

Reader G.P. sent this: Cops using ‘Minority Report’ predictive policing could see INNOCENT citizens framed

U.S. Warns of Spying Chinese-Made Drones

A hat tip to reader SOG, who sent: ‘We’re Not Being Paranoid’: U.S. Warns Of Spy Dangers Of Chinese-Made Drones. A snippet:

“…the Department of Homeland Security is warning that drones manufactured by Chinese companies could pose security risks, including that the data they gather could be stolen.

The department sent out an alert on the subject on May 20, and a video on its website notes that drones in general pose multiple threats, including ‘their potential use for terrorism, mass casualty incidents, interference with air traffic, as well as corporate espionage and invasions of privacy.'”

The Spokesman-Review’s Faulty Reporting

The feckless hacks at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane,Washington got several things wrong, once again, in this article: Liberty State supporters raise funds at event after tense ‘silent protest’ by ex-Matt Shea backers.

The article was a mix of untruths, half-truths, and smears. The newspaper staffer began the piece with this lie: “Supporters of the new Christian conservative state – which would span parts of Washington and Oregon as well as Idaho, Montana and Wyoming…”  That is a blatant falsity. It is The American Redoubt movement that encompasses those regions, not the Liberty State movement. And it is is not exclusively directed to Christians. From the beginning, we have encouraged both Christians and Jews to relocate here. The goal of the American Redoubt is not to combine several states into some sort of superstate. Rather, it is simply to encourage internal migration to make those states more conservative and closer aligned to traditional Judeo-Christian values. The Liberty State movement only seeks to partition the counties of eastern Washington into a new state of the Union. This is just how West Virginia came to exist, when it partitioned from Virginia. That process is allowed in the U.S. Constitution and has several precedents.

Next, the author of the article attempted to besmirch the proceedings by mentioning that one of the attendees was  Barry Byrd, a former racist, who leads the Marble Community Fellowship, citing a document Byrd had co-authored 31 years ago. Since then, Byrd has a had a genuine change of heart and renounced that document. What was not mentioned is that the Marble Community Fellowship now has two black pastors in residence!

That smear was immediately followed by another lie:

“At one point during her own speech Thursday, Shea’s legislative assistant, Rene’ Holaday, said supporters of the 51st state idea were bound by a common sentiment: ‘It’s either going to be bloodshed or Liberty State.’”

But this was a mis-quote, possibly deliberate. That “…bloodshed or Liberty State” was actually Rene’ Holaday reporting what she had heard several members of the Republican caucus of the Washington state legislature saying, in response to the onslaught of leftist legislation, in Olympia. (And that by the way did not include Matt Shea. It was other Republicans in the legislature who had made those statements.)

The other premise of the article was that there was somehow a deep division within the Liberty State movement. The so-called “silent protest” was led by Tanner Rowe and Jay Pounder former bodyguards of  Rep. Matt Shea. They were never leaders of the Liberty State movement.

The article ended with:  “Shea then shared screenshots of threats he had received as evidence that he and his supporters are under attack from ominous political forces.”

This seems to imply that Shea is somehow paranoid. No, these were legitimate death threats that he and his family had been sent. If a liberal Democrat State Senator had received the same threats, would The Spokesman-Review have characterized them the same way? I doubt that.

It is amazing how many lies and innuendos that the journalist managed to squeeze into a brief 708-word article.  

Anti-Gunner to Head ATF?

H.S. suggested this blog article: Fraternal Order of Police President Chuck Canterbury Picked To Head ATF

GPS Dialed Down for Red Flag Training in Alaska

A reader in Alaska wrote to mention this announcement: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FLIGHT ADVISORYGPS INTERFERENCE TESTINGJOINT FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE ALASKA (JFAK) 19-02 01 – 22 June 2019 Eielson, AK

Venezuelan Ex-Pats Arming Up

Another sent to us by Reader SOG: From Colombia, Venezuelan defectors arm themselves to ‘liberate’ their homeland

High Tech Censorship

Over at International Man: Eliminating Free Speech The Smart Way

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You can send your news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) Thanks!

 

 

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.” – Micah 4 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — May 31, 2019

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May 31st, 1895 was the birthday of George R. Stewart. Prior to his death on August 22, 1980, he was a novelist, university professor, and toponymist. In the preparedness community, he is best remembered as the author of the classic post-pandemic novel Earth Abides.

On 31 May 1970, an earthquake off the coast of Peru caused a substantial section of the north slope of Mt. Huascaran to collapse. The avalanche moved downhill at a speed estimated at 100 MPH. with a mass of roughly 80 million cubic feet of ice, mud, and rock. Teh avalanche traveled nearly 11 miles, burying the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca in up to 300 feet of rock and debris. It is estimated that this earthquake and avalanche killed more than 20,000 Peruvians. It is the deadliest avalanche in recorded history.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the final entry for Round 82  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. 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.
  3. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 83 begins tomorrow, 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.

 

Eccentricity: A Viable Solution, by Kit Law

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I watched as my 11-year-old son tightens down a sheepshank knot on a sled loaded with firewood. The two-year-old team of oxen stand ready to move forward up a 14% grade on a 1/4 mile trek toward home and the wood pile. Five feet of snow has fallen over the remaining part of February into the first week of March. A sled trail of packed snow reaches from the circular turn around of our log landing area out towards our home. This packed trail of snow facilitates the easy transfer of cut firewood to its final destination via our homemade sled. The load now readied, my son commands the oxen to move forward, and they start out at a trot. He runs alongside the sled and then hops on as the team puts their heads down and slows their pace leaning heavily into the yoke. After 100 yards the hill levels a bit, and he stops them for a short rest to catch their breath.

The day before I had felled and limbed up several dead standing trees. I had then cut logs 10 to 16 feet in length. My son, carrying his axe, had waded through the snow with a logging chain in the other hand to hook up the logs in preparation for my arrival with the ox team. Then he checked the logs over for any remaining limbs and cut them off while the team and I crossed through a creek a rod (16.7 feet) wide and weaved our way through mature timber. We moved the last short distance up a 35% hill through shallower snow still reaching at times up to the oxen’s chests.

As we reached the first log, I spun the oxen 180 degrees in place. My son then ran the other end of the logging chain through the yoke’s iron ring and attached the grab hook onto the appropriate link. With a verbal command the team moved forward down the hill following in the trail they had made coming up. They hesitated briefly at the icy water’s edge, then quickly plunged in while I stood off to one side and waited for them to cross. I followed by leaping onto a fallen log with my caulked boots, ran along it, and sprang over the remaining distance to the far bank. Trotting along behind the chained log, I followed as the oxen pulled it to the landing area to join the other logs they had skidded out earlier in the day. I stopped the team with a verbal command, backed them up, and hooked the log. The chain was left to drag behind the oxen as they trotted along behind me following the skid trail to repeat the same process a log length further up the hill.
Hardly two months earlier we had started out on this endeavor not ever having trained a team of oxen armed only with the knowledge of others’ experiences contained within a book.

Why would one resort to such an unconventional method of procuring firewood? I suggest that if necessity is the mother of invention, then surely economics drive eccentricity. Allow me to share how this concept has unfolded in our lives over the past decade.Continue reading“Eccentricity: A Viable Solution, by Kit Law”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

4

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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at investing in Bitcoin, versus genuine tangibles. (See the Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

When I last checked, spot silver was near a six-month low, at around $14.29 per Troy ounce.  I believe that this dip represents a good time to buy.

o  o  o

Metals ETFs Signal Upcoming Reversals In Gold Prices

Economy & Finance:

At Wolf Street: Suddenly US Service-Sector Growth Dives, Manufacturing Gets Even Weaker

o  o  o

Also at Wolf Street: US-Traded Chinese Stocks & ADRs Totally Crushed, Many by 50% or 60% or More

o  o  o

Reader J.L. suggested this: John Stossel: In money we trust?

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”