Economics & Investing For Preppers

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This is a special edition of my thrice-weekly column.  Many global markets have been closed for the past two days. With the December 31st deadline for making tax-deductible charitable contributions looming, today I’m listing some charities that I consider worthy and truly deserving.

Be advised that many large charitable organizations have high overhead, bloated staffs, and spend up to 30% of their proceeds on advertising, in the quest for even more money. Do not support those!  Instead, send your donations to organizations with low overhead costs, and no over-paid staff and management. That is a responsible and God-honoring way to be charitable.

Some Worthy Charities

Anchor of Hope. This group was my late wife’s personal favorite. They support a mission school in rural Zambia  (the former Northern Rhodesia.) They are entirely volunteer staffed, so that 100% of what you donate actually ends up in the hands of the needy recipients. Most notably, they have distributed new shoes to more than one million children in Zambia.

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JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on documentary films and books about National Parks in the American Redoubt. (See the Books and Movies sections.)

Books (National Parks in the American Redoubt):

All National Parks, including those in the Redoubt were closed, under the Federal Government shut-down. Here, I should mention that the whole concept of “closing” the Grand Tetons is ludicrous. It would take an awfully large curtain to close off that view!

Here are some fine books about National Parks inside the Redoubt that are worth owning:

Day Hikes of Glacier National Park Map-Guide

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Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Travel Guide)

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Yellowstone: A Journey Through America’s Wild Heart

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Grand Teton National Park Wild and Beautiful

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When Paladin Press went out of business, I was afraid that a very useful book might become unavailable. Fortunately, another publisher now offers it: Total Resistance.

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Speaking of Paladin Press, when this book went out of print, a wise bookseller bought up a lot of the available  inventory.  Jump on a copy, while they are still available at a reasonable price: The Ultimate Sniper (Updated Edition).   This book will probably be selling for $75 a copy in another year, unless it goes back into print with a different publisher.

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VideoHound’s Golden Movie Retriever 2019: The Complete Guide to Movies on VHS, DVD, and Hi-Def Formats

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This book by Charley Hogwood is published by the same company that produces my novel Patriots, and umpteen travel books, Ulysses Press: Prepper’s Survival Retreats: Your Strategic Relocation Plan for an Uncertain Future

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Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – December 25, 2018

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To those who are celebrating the Advent of our Lord and Savior, the team at SurvivalBlog wishes you a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. For those who choose to celebrate our Lord through the biblical feasts, stay safe out there during this holiday season. Our prayer is that each and every one of you enjoy the family time and stay safe on the roads.

A Manifoldly Unconstitutional Bill

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I have a legislative alert for SurvivalBlog readers: H.R. 7115, the “3D Firearms Prohibitions Act” is on its face perhaps one of the most unconstitutional laws ever written. It is sponsored by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., Democrat, of New Jersey. It will most likely be reintroduced in the 116th Congress. This proposed law, introduced on November 2, 2018, is purported to ban 3D printed guns. But it is actually about milling (subtractive) technology rather than 3D printing (additive) technology. I have news for Mr. Pallone: All guns are “3D”, once they are off the drawing board!

Pallone’s bill goes far beyond milling machine processes. It would ban firearms parts kits, ban electronic publishing about 80% receivers offered for sale, require the owners of receiver blanks to beg the issuance of a serial number before then can be milled, and even retroactively bans unserialized receivers that have been made since 1968. It also arbitrarily sets a 90 day limit for number stamping/engraving and completion of the receiver. You can read the full text of the bill, here.

The summary preamble to H.R. 7115 reads: “To prohibit the sale, acquisition, distribution in commerce, or import into the United States of certain firearm receiver castings or blanks, assault weapon parts kits, and machinegun parts kits and the marketing or advertising of such castings or blanks and kits on any medium of electronic communications, to require homemade firearms to have serial numbers, and for other purposes.” But even a cursory reading of Pallone’s bill shows that it is blatantly unconstitutional, in many ways. Here are a few:

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SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on a proposed Year-Round Daylight Savings Time for Wyoming. (See the Wyoming section.)

Region-Wide

You may have missed this CBC News report from two years back:  American Redoubt

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Spokane developer Ron Wells accused of insurance fraud

 

Idaho

Investigation of trooper involved shooting is still going

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Weapons at school. Livestreaming arrests. These Idaho bounty hunters’ questionable practices (still) aren’t regulated.

 

Montana

Business leaders consider potential impact of sales tax in Montana

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Huge cargo plane touches down in Billings

 

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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 “HJL”.

Remembering Reagan’s Christmas Address

Reader DSV sent in this YouTube of President Reagan’s 1981 Christmas address. Reagan may not have been the most conservative or libertarian president we ever had, but he sure had a way with words. This is a very inspiring address that encourages us to be strong and gentle. I highly encourage everyone, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, to view this message.

The Dark Side of Gift Cards

Thinking of giving a gift card to someone this year as a gift? We often resort to this because we don’t want to take the time to know or understand what a person really needs or wants. But this lazy form of giving has a dark side. While the gift card industry is over $130 billion dollars, over $1 billion simply goes to waste. Many cards expire or have fees when they are unused and the money eventually disappears. Some card balances have to be turned over to the state at the end of a waiting period when they are unused, but most simply revert funds back to the company that owns the card. Make sure that if you use this form of giving that you are actually giving a card to a store that the person will actually shop at.

Anti-Semitism

The women’s marches movement seems to be self-imploding as accusations of anti-Semitism fly. It would appear that the original founders did not have such political leanings, but that soon after organizing the movement was infiltrated and taken over by those with strong anti-Semitic values. There was an initial power struggle as the original founders and the new leadership vied for power, but true to left leaning/progressive causes, evil won out. Now that a left-leaning news organization has finally picked up the story, the movement is struggling to maintain influence. Many of the organizations branches throughout the states are backing off from the core or even dissolving. I have to admit, it’s nice to see such evilness implode. Thanks to T.Z. for the link.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The birches, waving in the wind, looked as full of life as in summer and as wondrously beautiful. Where the sun shone, everything glittered and sparkled as if diamond dust had been strewn about; and the snowy carpet of the earth seemed covered with diamonds from which gleamed countless lights, whiter even than the snow itself.” – Hans Christian Andersen, The Snowman

Preparedness Notes for Monday – December 24, 2018

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December 24 is the Anniversary of when John Joe Gray’s legal troubles began. He and his family had been self-sufficiently holed up in their Texas ranch for nearly 15 years, in defiance of a warrant for his arrest, before the district attorney dropped the charges. This was the longest standoff in American history, in which he has faced the administrations of four different county sheriffs.

Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Operator 1911, by Pat Cascio

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Once again, another new and very exciting 1911 from Springfield Armory is under review today. This one is a winner and a bargain as well.

Range Officer 1911 From Several Years Ago

Several years ago, Springfield Armory came out with the Range Officer 1911. It was meant to be all set up so the user could enter various shooting competitions, and it worked quite well in that regard. However, it wasn’t 100% suitable for street carry, if you ask me; it needed to be refined, updated, or “something” needed to be done.

The All-New SA Range Officer Elite Operator 1911 Name

Enter the all-new SA Range Officer Elite Operator 1911. This baby has everything you’ll ever need and nothing you don’t need on a carry gun, or one for shooting competitions. So, I have to ask myself, why didn’t Springfield Armory just give it a completely new name instead of using the “Range Officer” designation in the title of the gun? No one asked me.

The all-new Springfield Armory RO Elite Operator 1911 in .45 ACP, which is the caliber I requested to test, is really a new model and not any part of the RO that was released several years ago. Guess I would have called it the 1911 Elite Operator and left the RO out of the name of the gun so there wouldn’t be any confusion about which gun is which.

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Recipe of the Week: Chili Con Queso, by L.P.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pasteurized process cheese spread
  • 1 (1-lb) can of chili without beans
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 1 (4oz) can of chopped green chili peppers

Directions:

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a CrockPot® or other slow-cooking pot.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours.
  3. Serve hot from the pot.
  4. Use as a dip for corn ships or as a sauce over Mexican food.

Makes about 4 cups.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Today’s photo is from the Netherlands Archives, titled “Kerstviering Mijnwerkers in Zoutmijn” — Mineworkers in a salt mine, celebrating Christmas. It looks like those candles are sitting atop drilled salt pillars.

With most of the world’s markets, businesses, miners, and manufacturers taking a Christmas holiday today, I will forego my usual economics ramblings. I’m just posting three links to “must read” articles on the tumbling stock market:

Top Trump official calls bankers, will convene ‘Plunge Protection Team’

and,

What if the Dow fell another 4,000-plus points — would you be prepared?

and,

How Bad Was Last Week In Historical Context?

Yes, with just three links I’m slacking just a bit, on Christmas Eve. However, I’ve also been busy writing some items to round out the year:

On Wednesday (December 26th, 2018) I will be posting a special list of recommended charities in this column.

On Friday (December 28th, 2018) I will post my usual Economics & Investing For Preppers column.  But it will also include some predictions for precious metals in 2019, by other analysts.

And next Monday (December 31st, 2018) I will post my economic predictions for 2019. – JWR

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – December 23, 2018

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December 23 is the 105th anniversary of the exclusive private banking cartel known as The Federal Reserve. I recommend the book The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

This has been another entry for Round 80 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 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 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,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  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 80 ends on January 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.

Some Thoughts About Lying- Part 2, by ShepherdFarmerGeek

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[Editor’s Note: It is the position of the editor’s of SurvivalBlog that the end does not justify the means. Deuteronomy 16:20 states “That which is altogether just shalt thou follow” (KJV), though a more accurate word-for-word translation would be “Righteous justice you shall pursue.” We believe that we are to model our Lord and Savior who did not lie.]

We are considering some thoughts about lying, based upon Paul Copan’s Enrichment Journal article called “Is It Ever Morally Permissible To Deceive?…”

As an introduction, in Ephesians, the apostle Paul says to “put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts” (4:22). Then he says, “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors” (4:25).

Judging from these verses (and others) and the many shallow “Christian” articles online, a Christian may never, ever lie; it is a sin condemned by God. But that is not only a simplistic conclusion, it’s not Biblical in any way. The truth is more complicated.

We have been reading an excerpt from Paul Copan’s article called “Is It Ever Morally Permissible to Deceive?…” In Part 1, we read about the three main conditions under which deception is morally permissible– inconsequential social arrangements, war, and opposing criminals. Let’s move on with the excerpt from Mr. Copan’s article:

Continue reading“Some Thoughts About Lying- Part 2, by ShepherdFarmerGeek”