Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest 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 JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on Hyperinflation in Venezuela. (See the Economy and Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

First off, over at Zero Hedge: Gold ETF Holdings Surge To 4-Year Highs Ahead Of Lunar New Year

Forex:

Just as I have been warning you for several years in this column: It’ll be another weak year for the US dollar, Goldman Sachs predicts. It is wise to hedge into foreign currencies. For stability over the next several years, the Swiss Franc is still my favorite.

Commodities:

Alcoa Headwinds Vs. Constellium Tailwinds

 

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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 the Tipton Ultimate Gun Vise. (See the Gear section.)

Books:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition [6 volume – Set]

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I’ve mentioned this book once before, but it deserves another strong recommendation: The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Dave Ramsey). I feel very strongly attuned to Ramsey’s guidance. To be ready for an economic depression, every family should be as close to debt free, as possible.

Movies:

Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition

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Rashomon (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

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Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – January 23, 2018

January 23rd is the birthday of John Moses Browning, born 1855. He was the brilliant designer of dozens of guns, including the M1911 pistol, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the venerable M2 .50 Caliber Machinegun. The latter is still in service in at least 95 countries, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is still in service in 2075 or even 2100.

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Life Before SHTF Was a Problem But It’s Getting Worse, by Old Bobbert

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Okay, the title about life getting worse says it all. We need newer methods, procedures, styles, and formulas– stuff about problem solving. We need new ways to look at finding workable solutions to new people problems, new situations, new limitations, new responsibilities, and new rules of survival. And we, all of us, especially need new ways to maintain our sanity in the insane world of post-SHTF, and we need it in advance and in full measure.

New Needs

Yes, it is possible that you already have all these new needs in your fully stocked and tagged kitchen pantry. But I don’t. Sure, I can wing or sling some pretty hefty prepper stuff, “Bravo Sierra”, as may be needed in polite conversation with anxious newbie preppers, but that is not gonna get the job done in the future, not even for Old Bobbert himself.

Questions

I’m sure that you know about questions. They are carried inside those sentences that start with words such as “who, why, how, where, when, or what”. They are those troublesome words that actually require serious work and corrective thinking and are often tightly, and usually painfully, connected to “please” and “thank you”.

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SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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 Blue Wolf, Inc. (See the Idaho section.)

Region-Wide

The American Redoubt States rank well, as usual: How Indebted is Your State?  Note that of the 50 States, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho all are placed at the right (low debt) end of their Per Capita list.  Of the Redoubt States, only Washington was at the wrong end of the list. This is because Washington’s legislators in Olympia apparently have Delusions of Adequacy. They spend money like their counterparts in the Taxachusetts legislature!

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Radio Free Redoubt: Episode 18-01 American Redoubt Local Issues. John Jacob Schmidt analyzes the recent spike in internal US migration to Idaho.


Idaho (Blue Wolf)

I heard about a company down in Garden City, Idaho that has a very interesting line of products. Blue Wolf, Inc. makes dimmable LED lighting that is compatible with night vision equipment. Although most of their market is in aviation (for cockpit lighting), there is a growing niche for adding this lighting to ground vehicles. The U.S. Border Patrol is one of the biggest customers.  Here at the Rawles Ranch, I’m planning to use this type of lighting in a semi-permanent LP/OP.  By using NVG-compatible lighting, you can preserve your natural night vision and help keep your position from being spotted and compromised.

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Michael Snyder (a fellow blogger and now a congressional candidate from Idaho) recently appeared on InfoWars.  Please help support his campaign!

 

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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”. All of your worries are over. The government is hear to help you with the new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division!

Conscience and Religious Freedom Division

Are you feeling persecuted and trodden upon? Do you feel that you have no friends and no one likes you anymore? Have no fear! The government is here to help. The U.S. health and Human Services has announced a new division in the Office for Civil Rights. In their own words, the new division, called “The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” has been established to restore federal enforcement of our nation’s laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious freedom. Did you feel that chill run down your spine? You thought that there couldn’t be any words worse than “Hi. I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” I wonder how long it will be before you see a high profile case of a Christian being persecuted for something by this new government agency. Will they get their own SWAT team? Thanks to DSV for the link.

Deer to Human Disease Transmission

Reader G.P. sent in this article showing there is concern that the mysterious “zombie” killing disease that is killing deer across North America will make the leap across species and affect humans. The disease gradually destroys the hosts nervous system and in some herds, nearly half of the population carries the disease. There have been no reported illnesses in humans from the disease but monkeys who have been fed infected deer meat have contracted the disease. The fear is that the inter-species boundary might not be as robust as once thought regarding it.

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Preparedness Notes for Monday – January 22, 2018

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Between 1861 and 1865, more than 50,000 civilians died as a direct result of the American Civil War. In the years between 1914 and 1918, more than 7,000,000 innocent civilians died as a direct result of World War I. From 1939 to 1945, more than 23,000,000 innocents died as a direct result of World War II. (This number includes the 11 million deliberately killed in concentration camps.) Between 1922 and 1952, Stalin purged Russia of anyone whom he considered a threat or disloyal, murdering somewhere over 25,000,000 innocent people. Mao Tse-tung murdered more than 45,000,000 people from his own country in his rise to power. But on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision that has resulted in the legalized murder of over 56,000,000 of the most innocent persons that could exist in the place that should be the safest place on earth. Roe vs. Wade is a horrible black mark on our country that we will be called to account for before God. The video “180” produced in 2011 is one that I highly encourage everyone to watch (both pro-life and pro-choice). It will change your life. -HJL

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If you feel that binary triggers and bump fire stocks should remain legal, please contact the BATFE and post a public comment in the current rule-making period. Here is what I posted: “Please use common sense and a plain reading of the current law, and continue to interpret the NFA exemption for bump fire stocks or other parts for semi-autos, based upon the literal meaning of the words “a single function of the trigger.” Bump fire stocks and binary triggers meet the test of the current law and the intent of Congress when they wrote that law. You cannot expand the definition of the law by decree. The law is the law.” Please consider consider posting something similar, here.

Glock Model 35, Gen 4, by Pat Cascio

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An outstanding “end of the world” handgun is under review today, the Glock 35. This one deserves a close look.

Glock Handguns

Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of Glock handguns for a number of reasons. First off, I haven’t run across anyone who says that the Glock line of handguns actually fit their hand perfectly. Secondly, I don’t know why Glock still insists on installing plastic sights, front and rear, on their handguns. What I do love about the Glocks is that they always go “bang” if you give them just the smallest amount of care. That’s important to me, and they are more than accurate, too. However, Glock is rapidly losing their grip on first place as the handgun of choice for law enforcement in the United States, giving way to more updated handgun designs that fit the hand better and do the job just as well as the Glock can do it. Many others cost less than a Glock, too.

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest 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 JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on the recent “Crypto Collapse”.

Precious Metals:

Egon von Greyerz: Gold Will Surge As The World Hits A Rock Or A Hard Place. It is noteworthy that a lot of his advice is in very close alignment to what you’ve reading from me in SurvivalBlog for more than a dozen years. Here is a quote from that essay:

Critical Steps To Take

So what can we all do in the meantime. Here are a few tips:

Get out of the stock market on the coming final rally

Get out of the bond market

Get out of debt

Get out of investment property

Don’t depend on a pension system which is likely to fail

Don’t expect the government to look after you

If you lose your job, plan how you can survive. There are lots of services that are in demand in a depression.

If you have savings, don’t keep them in the banking system

Hold gold and silver outside the banking system

Family and friends are extremely important in difficult times. Create a circle of mutual dependence and trust.

 

Forex:

Video from FX Empire: AUD/USD Technical Analysis

 

Cryptocurrencies (Crypto Collapse):

My warning about wide price swings in the cryptocurrencies has now been realized. Fortune reports: Bitcoin Plunges to $10,000, Half Its Peak Price, as Investor Fears Blossom

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At least one Bitcoin pundit  has claimed that there are annual crashes in Bitcoin, every year, in January. Back in November, he fairly accurately predicted a January 2018 crash.

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Investor CryptosRUs led and interesting half hour Google Hangouts Video: Quick Review of the Market – Q&A – 1/19/2018. (Jump forward the to 1:45 mark, to start watching.)  This videos gives a good insight on how today’s Crypto market investors compare notes.

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Preparedness Notes for Sunday – January 21, 2018

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January 21st Eliza Moore, the last surviving individual born into slavery before the Emancipation Proclamation died on this day, in 1948, in Montgomery County, Alabama, at age 105. Since 70 years have now elapsed since her death and 153 years have now elapsed since 1865, JWR perhaps presumptuously hereby declares that it is now fully high time for Americans to Get Over It, and instead focus on current slavery issues, like the uncounted thousands of slaves now being held by Muslims in North Africa. There is no cause for so-called White Guilt in our generation, but we should feel badly about doing little or nothing (both individually and collectively) toward seeing modern slavery abolished once and for all!

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I’m sad to report the unexpected passing of Mara Helland, of Alberton, Montana, at age 50. She was a CPA and tax accountant who formerly advertised on SurvivalBlog. Several of her clients are SurvivalBlog readers. Like any well-prepared individual, she had a transition plan in place, so her clients will be handed off to a trusted accounting firm. May God grant comfort to all the members of her family. She was fine lady who greatly enjoyed the scenic beauty and lifestyle of rural northwestern Montana. She will be greatly missed! – JWR

The Strange Case Of The Falling Dollar – And What It Means For Gold

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This article was written by Brandon Smith (the Editor of Alt-Market.com) and originally published at Birch Gold Group.

Trillions of dollars in uncontrolled central bank stimulus and years of artificially low interest rates have poisoned every aspect of our financial system. Nothing functions as it used to. In fact, many markets actually move in the exact opposite manner as they did before the debt crisis began in 2008. The most obvious example has been stocks, which have enjoyed the most historic bull market ever despite all fundamental data being contrary to a healthy economy.

With a so far endless supply of cheap fiat from the Federal Reserve (among other central banks), as well as near zero interest overnight loans, everyone in the economic world was wondering where all the cash was flowing to. It certainly wasn’t going into the pockets of the average citizen. Instead, we find that the real benefactors of central bank support has been the already mega-rich as the wealth gap widens beyond all reason. Furthermore, it is clear that central bank stimulus is the primary culprit behind the magical equities rally that SEEMS to be invincible.

To illustrate this correlation, one can compare the rise of the Fed’s balance sheet to the rise of the S&P 500 and see they match up almost exactly. Coincidence? I think not…

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