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 re-emergence of synthetic Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) derivatives. (See the Derivatives section.)

Precious Metals

First off,  there is this at Zero Hedge: Gold Demand Surges As Price Suffers Worst Month Since November. JWR’s Comment: But keep in mind that Gold is still up 12% for the year to date.

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For those of you who like to track metals prices measured in grams and quoted in Euros, I recommend the Legor web site.  Andf if you want to toggle between Troy ounces and gramsa nd toggle between different currencies, I recommend the GoldPrice.org site, based in Switzerland.

Stocks:

Stock Market And Economic Outlook For Q4 2017. JWR’s Comment: I concur. Loose credit is the driver of this boom. It can definitely continue, but not indefinitely.

Commodities:

What’s next for industrial metals after a third-quarter rally?

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Essential Survival Tips From A Hurricane Irma Survivor, by C.S.

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At the time I began writing this, Hurricane Irma had hit only eight days earlier. From it and other hurricane experiences, I have learned some valuable lessons. The first is, use your head. No, do not use it to hammer the shutters down. What I mean is, use some common sense.

Demonstrating a Lack of Reasoning

Here are some things that happened here in South Florida that demonstrated a lack of reasoning:

  • A guy burned down his house because he wasn’t careful while pouring gas in his generator that was running. The spillage later caught on fire, torching his entire hacienda.
  • My girlfriend forgot to take a shower right before the hurricane hit. On the fifth day without water or a bath, she sprayed Febreze all over her body. She’s now waiting for recovery from the repercussions of that move.
  • A guy waited until the last minute to put his hurricane shutters up on the second floor. The wind gusts blew over the ladder, and he died.
  • People spent lots of money on huge amounts of bottled water and then discovered they had no food.
  • Many people stayed in the Keys. They stayed even after they were ordered to evacuate.
  • I saw this guy on the news looking for shells in the Tampa Bay, where the water had just been sucked out to sea.

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Letter: The Three Greatest Threats To Our Mutual Survival

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To The Readers,

Artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear war, and economic collapse; represent the greatest threats to our survival as human beings.

AI

If we continue on our present path, computers will be able to out-think us. Every battle will be lost to an opponent that is smarter than us.

Nuclear Devastation

Alternatively, a hot-headed dictator may lose their cool, and may fire his nuclear arsenal upon humanity. This could [trigger a general exchange] leading us all to extinction.

Economic Collapse

Even economic collapse would devastating. We would struggle amongst ourselves for basic necessities.

I have heard several arguments concerning all three of these:

  • Perhaps “artificial intelligence” will be our savior, meaning all of humanity’s woes will be solved. At the expense of our free will, and subservience to the new master, AI. We will have become jellyfish.
  • A limited nuclear war would only create a partial collapse of our world. Do we dare to find out? Most likely we become ashes in this scenario.
  • Economic collapse maybe overcome. [Continuing global credit injections] will lead us to the path of continued artificial prosperity. We will reach perigee again, [but then perhaps] be sent upon the path of AI and nuclear destruction. We might suffer hardships.

The world is on now, and perhaps always has been; on a collision course with destiny. One of these three scenarios will become real; and perhaps very soon. There is no denying this.

Time to wake up.

In my personal opinion, “The Great Reset” seems to be our only logical choice for our continued survival. As to what we consider ourselves as the “greatness of humanity”. I invite all readers comments on these matters. What do you think?

Pray, and take action, – Sheepdog and Son.

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”. Steven Crowder goes undercover with antifa and the results are incredibly predictable.

Reason #5032 for Getting Out of Public School

Teacher arrested for ‘contaminating THOUSANDS of flutes given to California schoolchildren with his semen’. Apparently this happened over the course of multiple years. Really, what more can be said? Thanks to F.C. for the link.

Undercover in Antifa

Steven Crowder, an independent podcaster and his producer, infiltrated an Antifa group over a couple of weeks. As noted in the video, after Antifa was declared a terrorist organization, they pulled in close and it was much more work to get inside. The producer had to meet organizers in person who vetted him and installed an encrypted app on his phone so they could communicate. During the planning stages of the disruption of Ben Shapiro’s talk, they began to plan on stabbing and shooting victims and the producer excused himself and turned the video footage over to police. The footage was also offered to local and national media who all turned it down as not newsworthy. Thanks to D.B. for the link.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” – Romans 3:21-26 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday – September 30, 2017

In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington wrote on this day in 1776 of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British. this eventually led to the appointment of Friedrich, Freiherr von Steuben who taught the militia basic military discipline.

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Memory Longer Than A Gold Fish, by NavyVet_77

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While some people get frustrated over short-term memory issues of the aged, others wonder if young Americans have a more serious issue with their absent memory of history that seems to last no longer than that of a gold fish. Many of those we see participating in the Antifa/BLM movements are between the ages of 16 and 25. Other age groups are involved, but the clear majority of participants are from a younger demographic. So many people ask themselves, “What is going through the minds of these protesters?” and “Why?”.

Communism/Marxist Ideologies Seeping Into Children’s Lives

Communism (which is based upon Marxist ideologies) has been slowly seeping into every aspect of our children’s lives, spanning from at least the 1980’s. For instance, we now have a practice of removing the teacher as an authority figure in the classroom. And the classroom has become a platform for indoctrination into the Marxist ideology.

Children When Obama Elected Became Alinsky’s “Useful Idiots”

A person who is 20 years old today was 12 years old when Obama was first elected. The years of 12-20 are very influential years for a person coming of age up through high school and perhaps college, which are bombarded with Marxist Social Sciences. These individuals have been brought up and raised by the State of communist indoctrination. The destruction of the family and parents as authority figures are part of this indoctrination. It continues with training the children to look at the State as the authority figure in their lives, teaching these children they don’t need to trust or believe anything they are told other than the answers the State provides. Thereby, the States creates the quintessential “useful idiots” of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radical”.

Continue reading“Memory Longer Than A Gold Fish, by NavyVet_77”

The Editors’ Preps for the Week

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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 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!

JWR

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers,

This week we split and stacked some more firewood, and took delivery of another six tons of hay.   Stacking hay is always a dusty and fatiguing chore, but a satisfying one.  When you gaze at a a full woodshed and a full hay barn it gives you a sense of accomplishment. It also confirms that you’ve done what the Lord expects you to do, to provide for your family, regardless of what happens in the larger world.

Our greenhouse is still generating  successive harvests, such as tomatoes and squash. But our open-air gardens are nearing their end for the season. (There is still broccoli, carrots, cabbage, kale, and a few red raspberries and strawberries producing outdoors.)  We are feeling ready and provisioned for winter. Let it come.

Today (Saturday) we are praying and fasting, honoring Yom Kippur.

I’m looking forward to reading comments from readers, both about their preps for winter, and how they fared in the recent hurricanes.

Continue reading“The Editors’ Preps for the Week”

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”. Pandora’s box continues to produce questionable fruit. Just because we can does not mean we should! A Cambodian farmer has produced GMO pigs – or frankenpigs.

Puerto Rico

Reader L.C. sent in this article on what it’s really like after the SHTF. Information on the dire straights of the people of Puerto Rico has been difficult to get out due to the entire island being without power. However, we are beginning to get reports of just how bad the situation is. We know that we resources are scarce, you only get about 36 hours before chaos set in and it appears that hold true here. but there are over three million people on the island caught in this situation.

Venezuela

A bit further south and you have the man-made disaster called Venezuela. The population is starving thanks to the socialistic policies of the government. while the elite ruling class are desperately spending resources, not to help people, but to hold onto power, the people continue to suffer. the governments response to the starving masses? Let them eat rabbit. thanks to G.P. for the link.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak;
and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain,
my speech shall distil as the dew,
as the small rain upon the tender herb,
and as the showers upon the grass:
because I will publish the name of the Lord:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
for all his ways are judgment:

– Deuteronomy 32:1-4 (KJV)

Guest Article: Considerations for Night Operations- Part 4, by Max Alexander

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Yesterday, I talked about the technology behind night vision and combined thermal/IR devices as well as what should and should not be mounted on your rifle. I also wrote about when to use head mounted night vision. Now, let’s continue a little further with the idea of head mounted night vision and use of night vision in conflicts as we conclude this article series.

How To Mount Night Vision Monocular To Head

The question often comes up of how to mount your night vision monocular to your head. The provided “skull crusher” is not popular. The most effective way to mount this device is on a helmet. But no one wants to wear or carry a helmet. There are a couple of options. You can wear a “bump style” ProTech or airsoft knockoff tactical helmet, which will comfortably mount the night vision equipment while being lightweight. If you want ballistic protection, you can buy a MICH or ACH helmet off the Internet. You can also purchase lighter ballistic helmets, such as the ops-core FAST helmet.

Only you can decide what you’re prepared to wear. Yes, I know that a ballistic helmet does not stop direct strike from high velocity rounds. But depending on the situation, if you’re going to carry a helmet for your night vision equipment, it may be worth carrying one that is also ballistic protected. You never know what it may stop. If you are doing covert stuff, then carry a Crye Nightcap. Each to his own.

Continue reading“Guest Article: Considerations for Night Operations- Part 4, by Max Alexander”

Freeze Dried Friday:

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Welcome to Freeze Dried Friday on SurvivalBlog! We’ve been making so many things in the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer that we want to share some of them with you. If you have something wonderful you’ve prepared in your freeze dryer that you would like to share with SurvivalBlog readers, take a photo of it and send it in along with a description. We might just feature you here!

Practice What You Preach

It’s that time of year again. The freeze driers have been eerily silent and lonely this week. The Latimer household is on vacation. Of course, we are not just relaxing and enjoying ourselves, though that is a big part of vacation. We are testing all those yummy foods we put up over the last year. We will let you know exactly what worked and what didn’t work very well from our freeze dried stocks as we go along. In the mean time, we’d love to hear what you are putting up or testing this week. Leave us a comment and include a picture or two if you’d like.

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If you would like to include pictures of your freeze dried products in your comments, just send them to us via email along with the name you posted the comment under and I’ll place the pictures for you. Alternatively, you can host them on your own server and use the html <img> tag to include them.