Survival Gear is the most unused product until a natural disaster happens, then it’s the most desired products, but usually too late to help those that really need the help.
We sell around the World, and pride ourselves on offering a level of customer service that we would want to see ourselves if we were shopping online. Our product ranges change regularly, so we hope that you come back to our sites to see some of the fantastic offers that we regularly have.
This is a very difficult time for real estate agents and homeowners that are trying to sell their homes. As I have documented below, sales of previously-owned homes in the United States just fell to the lowest level that we have seen during the month of March since 2009. Needless to say, in March 2009 we were in the middle of the Great Recession. Meanwhile, the number of unsold homes that are currently on the market just continues to pile up. This is likely to put an enormous amount of downward pressure on home prices in the months ahead.
Of course the collapse of U.S. home sales that we are now witnessing did not actually begin during the Trump administration.
In 2024, while Joe Biden was still in the White House, sales of previously-owned homes hit the lowest level in almost three decades…
The final figures for home sales last year are in, and the story is quite grim: 2024 was the slowest year for existing home sales in nearly three decades.
Existing-home sales last year totaled 4.06 million, the lowest on an annual basis since 1995, according to the National Association of REALTORS® on Friday.
A big factor behind the slowdown was elevated mortgage rates, which spent most of the year above 6.5%.
In 1995, 266 million people were living in the United States.
Today, 340 million people are living in the United States.
So on a per capita basis, things were even worse last year than they were in 1995.
And now it appears that our problems are accelerating. The number of previously-owned homes sold in March 2025 was even lower than it was in March 2024. In fact, we haven’t seen a March this bad since 2009…
Higher mortgage rates and concern over the broader economy are making for a weak start to the all-important spring housing market.
Sales of previously owned homes in March fell 5.9% from February to 4.02 million units on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s the slowest March sales pace since 2009.
The housing market is in a depressed state.
Nobody can deny that.
Sales are falling even though the number of homes being listed for sale has been rising at a very brisk rate…
Sales fell despite a sharp increase in available listings. At the end of March, there were 1.33 million units for sale, an increase of nearly 20% from March 2024.
The number of homes on the market in the Sunshine State rose 23% year over year to a record high in January amid a decrease in homebuying, an influx of newly built homes for sale, intensifying natural disasters, and surging insurance costs and HOA fees.
Florida ended January with 172,209 homes for sale—the highest inventory of any month in records dating back to 2012. That’s up 22.7% from a year earlier.
When supply is very high but demand is very low, that is inevitably going to force prices down.
And we are already starting to see condo prices decline precipitously in some areas of the country…
Condos are often the first and biggest movers in local housing markets. Prices exploded in many of them over the three years between mid-2019 and the peak in mid-2022, by 60% such as in Austin, TX; by 70% such as in Tampa, FL, and Chula Vista, San Diego County, CA; or by 80% such as in Mesa, AZ, and Lakeland, FL.
But this absurdity is now coming unglued, and prices have begun spiraling down. In Austin, which is on the forefront of this movement, prices have already given up nearly two-thirds of the 60% three-year gain. People who bought at the top in mid-2022 are 22% underwater. People who bought in mid-2019 are still sitting on a 20% gain that is shrinking.
Unless the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it is likely that home prices will decline significantly.
But of course the truth is that the Federal Reserve may soon be forced to start cutting rates because economic conditions are really starting to deteriorate.
Once rates go down, home prices could start rising again.
In this economic environment, there is just so much uncertainty.
But what we do know is that much of the population is really struggling right now.
In fact, a brand new survey that was just released found that approximately two-fifths of all U.S. adults under the age of 30 are barely getting by financially…
Young Americans are sounding the alarm about their finances, with roughly 2 in 5 people under 30 saying they’re either “struggling to make ends meet” or “getting by with limited security.”
That’s according to a survey of 2,096 adults ages 18 to 29, conducted by Harvard’s Institute of Politics between March 14 and 25, 2025. The survey found that among that age group, financial insecurity most affected women, Hispanics and those without college degrees.
Times are tough.
Four years of Bidenomics did an incredible amount of damage to our economy, and now consumers have far less discretionary income than they once did.
This is one of the reasons why so many restaurant chains are now in such deep financial trouble. This week, we learned that Jack in the Box will be closing “between 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants”…
Jack in the Box said Wednesday it is planning to close between 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants and could sell the Del Taco brand it acquired three years ago.
The San Diego-based chain, which currently operates and franchises 2,200 restaurants across 22 states, primarily on the West coast and Midwest, said it plans to close 80 to 120 locations by the end of 2025, with the “remaining underperforming restaurants closing thereafter based on respective franchise agreement termination dates.”
I wish that I had better news for you.
I really do.
But what we are facing is undeniable.
When the Federal Reserve started to raise interest rates, I warned that it would be absolutely devastating for the housing market.
And that is exactly what has transpired. March 2025 was the worst March for home sales since the Great Recession.
Hopefully the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. If they choose to do so, I will cheer.
But for now, we have got a real mess on our hands.
The collapse of U.S. home sales is here, and so far the Federal Reserve is choosing to sit on the sidelines and watch it happen.
Absolutely enormous things are happening all over the globe, but you aren’t hearing a lot about many of them. That is because the mainstream media chooses to focus on stories that advance the specific narratives that they are currently pushing. For example, virtually everyone knows who Kilmar Abrego Garcia is at this point, because the mainstream media has been endlessly focusing on him. But there are other stories of far more importance that are not getting nearly the attention that they deserve. The following are 6 major developments that that the mainstream media is being strangely quiet about right now…
#1 A “self-amplifying” mRNA bird flu vaccine that has been developed by a biotechnology company known as Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings has been fast-tracked by the FDA…
Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ARCT), a biotechnology firm specializing in mRNA medicines with a market capitalization of $266 million, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to its self-amplifying mRNA vaccine candidate, ARCT-2304. The vaccine is aimed at providing immunity against the H5N1 subtype of influenza A, a virus with potential pandemic implications.
This is a story of extreme importance, but hardly anyone is talking about it because the mainstream media is barely giving it any attention.
A major earthquake in Southern California this week has reignited fears that the ‘Big One’ is coming, but scientists say it may come from an unlikely source.
The little-known Elsinore fault is branch of the infamous San Andreas fault, stretching over 100 miles across Southern California, from the US-Mexico border, through San Diego and Riverside Counties, and up towards Los Angeles.
The California Institute of Technology has noted that the Elsinore fault, which sits just 15 miles from San Diego County, is one of the largest fault zones in Southern California.
According to Dr. Lucy Jones, the Elsinore fault has the potential to generate a magnitude 7.8 earthquake someday…
The Elsinore fault zone is actually one of the largest in Southern California, according to Caltech, but “in historical times, has been one of the quietest.”
However, that inactivity belies a devastating potency. The fault is capable of generating a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, said seismologist Lucy Jones, a Caltech research associate.
“The Elsinore fault is one of the major risks in Southern California,” Jones said.
As I keep warning, it is just a matter of time before a colossal earthquake absolutely devastates the California coast.
It’s been a banner year for gold. In March, the precious metal’s price crossed the $3,000 per ounce mark for the first time in history — and the upward price trajectory didn’t stop there. The price of gold has continued to climb in the time since, surging past the $3,300 per ounce mark this week.
I never imagined that the price of gold would be above $3,300 in the middle of April.
How high will it go by the end of the year?
#4 The Sun has been acting very strangely in recent months, and scientists are now warning that a “lesser-known, 100-year-long” solar cycle is “just beginning to ramp up again”…
The unexpected surge of solar activity during the ongoing solar maximum may be tied to a lesser-known, 100-year-long cycle that is just beginning to ramp up again, a new study suggests.
This little-known solar cycle is called “the Centennial Gleissberg Cycle”, and it is yet another reason why solar activity is expected to be unusually high during the years in front of us…
Another, lesser-known repeating pattern in solar activity is the Centennial Gleissberg Cycle (CGC) — a variation in the intensity of sunspot cycles that rises and falls every 80 to 100 years. The CGC is still poorly understood, but it is likely tied to “subtle sloshing” of the magnetic fields in each of the sun’s two hemispheres that slightly alters the Hale cycle, Scott McIntosh, a solar physicist at the newly formed space weather solutions company Lynker Space, who was not involved in the research, told Live Science.
#5 In Alaska, a major eruption of Mount Spurr could be coming very soon…
Scientists with the Alaska Volcano Observatory have said that Mount Spurr, a volcano located roughly 80 miles from Anchorage, is likely to erupt in the coming weeks or months based on elevated seismic activity.
In the event of an eruption, scientists said, it’s highly possible ash will make its way to Anchorage, causing issues with air quality and possibly disrupting travel.
While Anchorage lies outside the immediate impact zone of Mount Spurr, previous eruptions in 1953 and 1992 sent ash clouds over the city, coating it in about a quarter inch of ash.
A similar event today could result in widespread ashfall across the region, the AVO warned.
Volcanoes all over the “Ring of Fire” have been roaring back to life. I believe that it is just a matter of time before volcanoes in Washington and Oregon start waking up too.
#6 The New York Times is reporting that President Trump actually blocked an Israeli attack on Iran that was originally planned for May. Apparently, Trump wanted to see if a deal could be negotiated with the Iranians instead. The following is what Zero Hedge had to say about the New York Times report…
President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to attack Iran with US military support, which was pitched with a timeline of as soon as next month, in favor of seeking diplomacy with Tehran, The New York Times reported late Wednesday.
The report indicated Israel was seeking significant American support for preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with aerial bombings backing up Israeli commando raids to destroy the Iranian sites. The viewpoint from Tel Aviv is that such a massive operation, envisioned to take a week, would not be successful without direct US assistance.
It was during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu’s visit to the White House earlier this month that Trump informed the Israeli leader that instead he would pursue new diplomatic talks with Iran.
This is good news.
But the Iranians do not seem to be in any mood to compromise.
At the moment, they are insisting that they must be allowed to continue to enrich uranium.
That is not going to be acceptable to Israel, and I don’t think that it is going to be acceptable to the Trump administration either.
We shall see how negotiations go this weekend, but it appears that a major conflict with Iran is coming sooner or later.
Global events are starting to move at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking.
Unfortunately, most Americans just continue to live their lives as if the party will never end.
Often, in life, you get what you pay for. But sometimes, you overpay for what you get. Our mission is to show you the best and most affordable masks available today.
NOTE: Gas masks vanish faster than toilet paper during a pandemic! If you’re not ahead of the game, you could be gasping for air when you need it most.
The ST-100X Full-Face Gas Mask is compact, lightweight, and protects against environmental hazards.
Designed to withstand brute force impacts and toxic environments, the ST-100X mask will provide the safety and security to navigate unpredictable, dangerous situations.
The ST-100X mask’s convex face shield design, constructed of silicate, has been impact-resistant tested.
It is standard and provides a wide field of view that augments visibility and spatial awareness.
The ST-100X has a standard 40mm NATO filter mount and can be used with various 40mm NATO canisters.
We earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Parcil Safety Gas Mask Review ↓
Real Gas Masks For Kids
When it comes to fitting your children, your options are extremely limited. However, over the past few years, a renewed focus has been on protecting children. A few new baby gas masks have recently been brought to the market.
Here we have the CM-3M CBRN Child Escape Respirator.
This expandable hood respirator deploys in a matter of seconds and can provide hours of protection for some of the youngest members of your family.
Most modern gas masks are designed for military use. But the CM-3M Child Escape Respirator is designed for small children and young teenagers.
Because children have substantially less lung capacity than adults due to their smaller size. Meaning they can struggle to draw enough air through the complex filters in today’s gas masks.
So instead of wrestling with ill-fitting kids’ face masks and straps, this unit can simply be expanded and placed over the child’s head.
Once the blower is activated, the mask will overpressurize—simultaneously ensuring the child can breathe easily and providing a natural protective barrier to keep out aerosols and dangerous threats like mustard gas.
The solution is as simple as it is robust: powered by household CR123 batteries and using standard 40 mm NATO filter cartridges.
This KZD6 Enclosure / Infant Gas Mask is the only solution I know of for children too young for a child’s gas mask (under 18 months) or small pets.
This protective enclosure seals hermetically. Thus it provides life-saving protection from toxic contaminants, bacterial agents, and dangerous radioactive exposures.
The KZD6 is the only protective solution of its kind and is designed to protect babies and small animals:
We earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?
Enter your email below to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary. 👇 👇
Why Everyone Should OwnOne
In my opinion, too many survival articles begin by pointing out that water is the number one survival priority, but it’s not.
I’m NOT saying that clean water isn’t essential for survival (it is), but it’s secondary to air.
Access to clean, abundant, breathable air trumps water every single time. Why? Because while it’s well-established, you can only survive 3 days without water (less time in intense heat).
Most of us take clean, breathable air for granted…which can be a deadly mistake. But you might argue that “air won’t just vanish,” and you’d be right. Our entire atmosphere won’t instantly vanish. However, just because air is breathable doesn’t mean it’s not deadly.
It’s possible to breathe highly toxic chemically infused air. The sort of air where even a few small gulps and you’re headed for an early grave.
Of course, this depends on the toxin involved and its intensity. But your ultimate fate will be set in stone for the worst-case scenarios.
What sucks in this situation is knowingly being forced to breathe the toxins in. Because you can only hold your breath for so long. But each breath brings you closer to your premature demise.
In other words, “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
So if this horrible scenario frightens you (it does for me), you should be highly motivated to invest in a high-quality gas mask. There are reasons why the military, police departments, and firefighters all have them.
They prepare and practice rushing headlong into the worst disasters to assist their communities, even if it’s a chemical or nuclear attack. They’re equipped to survive even if the air is deadly breath.
So if you’re like me, and you’re serious about preparing, then you must invest in one.
How Gas Masks Work
It’s simply a small, portable, personal air-purifying device. It’s an invention with one exceptionally important task – providing detoxified “clean” air.
Similar in concept to a portable water filter that cleans water before drinking.
The key difference being you can avoid drinking water for longer than 3 minutes! And they’ve been around a lot longer than you realize.
The ancient Greeks made the first ones. They were crude versions using sponges. A few centuries later, Iraqi brothers produced a rough prototype of a 19th-century version.
Soldiers have used them, miners, doctors, and civilians. But always to achieve the same end goal: clean air.
But these were very primitive. They didn’t work well, at least not enough to ensure survival. But to be fair, chemical and nuclear warfare was still yet to be invented.
The first practical gas mask was created by a Brit named Edward Harrison in 1916, shortly after the invention of chemical warfare during WWI.
Since then, it has morphed into a symbol of the apocalyptic. But as menacing as they may look, they save lives.
That is why you should add one to your survival gear in your home or your bug-out bag. But they do require research, preparation, and upkeep. And a little bit of know-how to buy the right one.
Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?
Enter your email below to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary. 👇 👇
2 Types Of Gas Masks | Pros & Cons
The first step to purchasing is to determine which style of mask is right for you. And you do this by deciding what level of personal protection you desire.
Let’s start with the style first; you have 2 options:
1. Air Purifying Respirator
You could buy an air-purifying respirator if you want a down-n-dirty, quick-n-easy, cheap solution. But take note; these respirators only cover your nose and your mouth.
While they technically purify the air, they expose your eyes. And yes, eyeballs are extremely vulnerable to chemical damage and biological infection. And to be blunt, you need your eyesight if you want any chance to survive a real chemical attack.
Stumbling around in the dark during an attack is a recipe for failure.
2. Full Face Mask Mask
The second option is a full-face mask.
As you probably already guessed, this version includes eye protection.You normally think of these when someone says “gas mask.” They include a large filter below the mouth area and cover the entire face.
Your eyes are inside this mask, and you can see out of glass or plastic plates.
Here’s a video showing you these different levels of respiratory protection:
↓ Levels Of Respirator Protection
Important Full-Face Options
The next most important decision is what type of respirator you want with your full-face gas mask. Here we have 2 basic options to choose from:
1. Air Purifying Respirator
The first option is called an “air-purifying respirator.” These are the most affordable and simple full-face options.
The filter canisters on these units are replaceable and screwed directly into the mask. It uses the power of your lungs to pull and push air through the filter. If you can get and keep a good seal, this setup works fairly well.
You see, air pressure always takes the path of least resistance. You are creating air pressure as you pull air in and out with your lungs.
Now, if you have a good seal around the outside, the path of least resistance is the filter itself, which you want. However, if the seal breaks or fails for any reason, the path of least resistance is no longer through the filter; it’s through the breach.
The breach route will have less resistance than the filtered route (hence the “path of least resistance). And that’s the one big disadvantage to this type: any prolonged leak makes it 100% ineffective.
If there is a gap between your chin and the mask, outside air will bypass the filter and enter through the leak. And you may die.
So make sure that seal is airtight, and you’ll be fine.
Notes of caution:
If you have a beard, you’ll have to shave it off because facial hair makes these masks difficult to seal.
Or, you can try what this guy in the video below did with his beard. He uses Vaseline to create a seal without saving off his beard.
↓ Beard Versus…Gas Mask!!!
2) Be careful what tasks you perform while in the mask.
You don’t want to accidentally run into anything that could break the air seal. So try not to be clumsy or perform unnecessary acrobatics.
The bottom line is:
Even if you initially establish a good seal, you must diligently KEEP a good seal.
2. SCBA Masks
The second variety of masks is the most effective and the heaviest. It is the type of mask firefighters use to breathe in smoke-filled rooms. It is called the “self-contained breathing apparatus system” (SCBA).
These masks require carrying around a tank full of air (usually strapped to your back). But they provide the highest level of protection and security of any respirators on the market.
The tanks contain air and keep pumping it into the mask constantly.
This design always keeps a positive pressure in the mask, eliminating the need for a perfect seal. Why? Because of physics.
Air moves in one direction only, from high pressure to low pressure.
One simple way to understand this concept is by thinking about a flat tire. An inflated tire contains pressurized air.
Or another way to explain it; it has more pressure in the tire than the surrounding atmosphere.
Hence, when you get a flat tire, the air moves from its higher-pressure environment (in the tire) to the lower-pressure atmosphere (out of the tire), never the other way around.
So a gas mask filled with pressurized air will leak out, never in.
A leak is not dangerous as long as it maintains a relatively higher air pressure than the surrounding atmosphere.
Ok, enough science for one day…
But the SCBA setup is not without its trade-offs: for one, it’s bulky, heavy, and unwieldy in all circumstances.
SCBA equipment is also a challenge to store in small spaces. It takes up serious square footage in a regular-sized closet.
Also, most tanks only contain about 30-60 minutes of fresh oxygen anyway, and you can only refill them using special equipment. So as you can see, there are upsides and downsides to each of your options.
You must determine what kind of chemical or biological threat you plan to face, how much you are willing to spend, and how protected you want to be.
The Bottom line:
Not all setups are equal. Some are glorified surgical masks, while others are only used by serious professionals in dangerous circumstances.
Now, I could cop out and leave it at “Just do your own research.” But that’s why you’re here, looking for advice.
So here’s my advice:
Invest in a full-face air-purifying respirator, practice putting it on, and get a good seal. And if you have a large and gnarly beard and refuse to part ways with it, good luck with that…
Here’s a short video covering the basics of using a full-faced gas mask.
↓ How Do They Work?
Before you pull the trigger on a purchase, we still have some more technical groundwork to cover. So stay with me…
Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?
Enter your email below to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary. 👇 👇
How A Gas Mask Filter Works
The common full-face air-purifying respirator uses filter canisters to keep the air you breathe poison and disease-free.
There are three general types of filter designs:
Particle Filtration
Chemical absorption
A chemical reaction to neutralize other chemicals
Particle Filtration
Particle filtration is the most common and the simplest of these three options (and it’s also the oldest).
Like the ancient Greeks who held sponges up to their faces, particle filters block foreign substances from entering your lungs.
Recall when you’ve pulled your shirt over your nose to block a particularly repulsive smell.
You were employing a crude version of particle filtration.
Very fine particulate filters are helpful against biological threats like anthrax. However, these filters have a limited life.
They can only hold so much particulate matter before they clog, so you have to replace them after every 20-24 hours of use (alwaysverify these numbers on any filter you intend to purchase).
If you are trying to prepare for a chemical threat, then you will have to take a different approach. While particle filtration is an effective system, it does little to purify the air of chemical agents.
You will need to use an activated charcoal system for chemical absorption.
Most deadly chemical warfare agents come in the form of gaseous vapors (not particulates) and will slip straight through your particle filtration filter system and kill you.
If you’re looking for a filter for nuclear fallout, read the fine print and make sure the filter specifically lists radioactive particles.
Not if you’re trying not to breathe household chemicals or a neurotoxin, your best bet is activated charcoal.
Certain chemical agents aren’t chemically attracted to carbon and will pass straight through (such assodium and nitrates).
This is to say that activated charcoal absorbs some chemical agents while ignoring others.
Chemicals that could be as equally dangerous.
The final type of filter option uses chemical reactions to neutralize. This is a very effective way of defending against one specific chemical agent.
Still, you must know exactly what you are up against so the respirator is loaded with the right counteractive chemical.
For instance, during chlorine attacks in WWI, soldiers would be fitted with masks containing sodium thiosulfate, which would react with and neutralize the chlorine in the air.
When you buy these filters, they are color-coded to indicate which type of gas or acid they work to diffuse.
Unfortunately, this type of gas mask is ineffective for most people because it’s impossible to predict what kind of chemical will be present in any attack.
Filters Have A Shelf Life
No matter what filter you choose, you must invest time and money to maintain them. No filter lasts forever; most only last about 20-24 hours of use. So every time you use your mask, you will probably have to replace the filter afterward.
They also have a limited shelf life, so you will have to check up on them occasionally and replace them once they expire (even if you did not get the chance to use them yet).
Don’t use any filters that were made during WWII or early. Back then, asbestos was considered the ideal filter medium.
We all know that breathing asbestos is highly dangerous and will lead to asbestosis and lung cancer. You’ve been warned.
↓ Which Filters Are Safe Or Dangerous?
Want a free 78 item preppers checklist?
Enter your email below to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary. 👇 👇
Final Thoughts
Here’s the rub: when it comes to any gas mask, a littlelate can be too late.
Even the most expensive, advanced, top-of-the-line ones won’t save you if you can’t deploy them fast.
If you put your mask on after realizing a life-threatening chemical is in the air, you’re probably already dead. Real life doesn’t happen like in the movies. Every second of respiratory exposure, biological or chemical, is closer to death.
It’s also impossible to tell when or where you’ll need it.
Sure, soldiers and police often get a heads-up. That way, they can deploy their masks quickly. Civilians don’t get such notice. We are at work, in our cars, or often hanging out with friends.
And should word of a chemical/biological attack reach you while you’re away from home, you’re going to wish you’d taken it with you.
The best way to avoid this is to buy several and a set of filters for each. Then store them in various places where you often spend time. Keep one in your car, one at the office, one at the house, one in your get-home bag, and one in your bug-out bag.
If there is a place you spend a lot of time, stash a gas mask nearby.
Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,
P.s. – I just found out 2 out of 3 Americans don’t feel prepared for a 3 day disaster!!!
I guess this goes to show how modern society continues to embrace ‘living a fragile life.’ What’s crazy is… it’s so easy to fix.
To make sure YOU have the basics, watch our FREE training on “10 Simple Steps To Basic Preparedness” that shows you HOW.
Nothing crazy here… this isn’t doomsday prepping… just the basics every responsible adult should have before a disaster strikes.
Three human beings in China, two children and one adult, have been infected with the H9N2 bird flu, also known as the avian influenza. These new cases bring China’s H9N2 total for the year to five. In 2024, the country reported 11 cases.
The University of Minnesota’s CIDRAPstated that one of the patients is a 7-year-old girl from Henan province whose symptoms began on February 11th. Another infection also involved a child, a 5-year-old boy from Guangxi province who became ill on March 3rd.
This version of the bird flu virus is known to circulate in poultry in China and other parts of Asia. Sporadic human infections continue to be reported, mainly from China. Infections are typically reported in children who usually experience mild infections. However, some people can become severely ill.
The bird flu fear-mongering has recently leveled off, and we can only hope that this means the panic never took hold and we can put this outbreak behind us. Or it could mean that the war mongering is going to tick up, too.
While human cases in the U.S. appear to have ended, several outbreaks in domestic cats persist, according to most mainstream media outlets.
Meghan F. Davis, a veterinarian and epidemiologist with Johns Hopkins University, said that cats are very susceptible to the bird flu. “Cats are not part of, for example, the surveillance structures that we have in place for people,” she said, according to a report at STAT News. “We don’t invest nearly as much in veterinary research, whether it’s for clinical or public health benefit, as we do in human, which kind of makes some sense.”
Davis said she’s so concerned that she has closed her “catio” (a cat outside patio) to prevent the animals from having contact with outside sources of prey, such as rodents and wild birds.
For many years, pundits have been warning us that the U.S. dollar would collapse. In 2025, it is actually starting to happen. The U.S. dollar hit a three year low against other global currencies last week, and on Wednesday the crash of the dollar resumed. Overall, the U.S. dollar is now down about 9 percent over the past 3 months. The currency that has benefitted the most is the Swiss franc. The USD/CHF recently hit the lowest level that we have seen in 14 years. What we are witnessing is literally a bloodbath, and many experts are suggesting that our reserve currency status is now in serious jeopardy.
Many were hoping that the dollar would bounce back this week, but there was more carnage on Wednesday…
The dollar resumed its fall on Wednesday with both safe havens and risk sensitive currencies outperforming the greenback as traders waited to see if U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration reaches new trading agreements with partners.
The dollar tumbled last week on concerns over the economic impact new tariffs will have, and as investors shifted allocations overseas due to uncertainty over the erratic implementation of the trade levies.
To me, one of the best ways to evaluate the strength of the U.S. dollar is to look at the price of gold.
Needless to say, the price of gold in U.S. dollars has been absolutely soaring lately, and on Wednesday it went up another 3.1 percent…
Gold prices extended their record run on Wednesday, to breach $3,300 per ounce, as a weaker dollar and escalating U.S.-China trade tensions pushed investors towards the safe-haven asset.
Spot gold climbed 3.1% to $3,327.78 an ounce.
During times of financial chaos, investors tend to flock to gold.
And times are definitely very chaotic right now.
If the dollar continues to become more unstable, other global currencies will inevitably become a lot more attractive.
At this point, we are being warned that the dollar’s role as the primary reserve currency of the planet is “looking increasingly uncertain”…
Specifically, the dollar’s status as a reliable “safe haven” has been tarnished, and its role as the de facto global reserve currency has been looking increasingly uncertain.
Signs of growing dissatisfaction with the dollar can be seen in the breakdown of its longstanding correlation with other markets.
Having the primary reserve currency of the world has been a major advantage for us, but there are other currencies that are widely used in global trade.
For decades, the dollar, the Swiss franc and Japanese yen were among the most popular options for investors seeking calmer ports in volatile markets.
But while the yen, franc and euro have shot higher over the past few weeks, the ICE U.S. Dollar Index, a popular gauge of the dollar’s value against its main currency rivals, sank to its lowest level in three years. By comparison, the Swiss franc recently climbed to its strongest level in 14 years.
Could the euro or one of the major currencies in Asia eventually take the place of the U.S. dollar?
It is entirely possible.
The truth is that the status of the U.S. dollar has already been slipping.
According to MarketWatch, “the dollar’s share of global central-bank reserves has been shrinking since the late 1990s”…
By some measures, the world has been shifting away from its dependence on the dollar for decades. Data from the International Monetary Fund show the dollar’s share of global central-bank reserves has been shrinking since the late 1990s.
When the dollar is strong, U.S. government bonds are attractive to foreign investors.
This keeps our borrowing costs down.
But in recent weeks we have witnessed a “major sell-off” in bonds at the same time that stocks have been going down…
During the financial crisis of 2008, investors around the world bought more Treasury bonds, confident that despite the crash, this was the safest place in the world for their money. That is how things usually go: The bond market moves in the opposite direction as stocks.
This time, as the stock market took a nosedive, an alarming trend emerged. Investors were dumping their U.S. government bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped from 4% to 4.5% in a week, a huge jump for the bond market that indicates a major sell-off. Investors were putting their money into euros, yen, pounds, and gold instead of into dollars.
We haven’t seen a financial crisis like this in a long time.
And we only have a limited amount of time to turn this around before things start getting really messy.
If this new crisis begins to spiral out of control, there will be an immense amount of pain, and we could witness a collapse of confidence in the U.S. dollar.
One expert is warning that the U.S. dollar has now been put on a “watch list”…
“It is too early to call if we are seeing the demise of the dollar, but the dollar has certainly been put on a ‘watch list,’” says Kevin Gallagher, director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University. For the rest of the world, “The U.S. is no longer innocent until proven guilty, but the opposite.”
Sadly, most Americans simply do not understand how important the strength of the dollar is.
Our primary export is currency.
For decades, we have been exchanging the world’s dominant currency for goods manufactured in poorer nations all over the planet.
If the U.S. dollar becomes much weaker, our standard of living will go way down.
Unfortunately, it appears that there are those in positions of power that want to see the value of the U.S. dollar drop.
For Miran, tariffs and moving away from a strong dollar could have “the broadest ramifications of any policies in decades, fundamentally reshaping the global trade and financial systems”.
Miran’s essay argues that a strong dollar makes US exports less competitive and imports cheaper, while handicapping American manufacturers as it discourages investing in building factories in the United States.
“The deep unhappiness with the prevailing economic order is rooted in persistent overvaluation of the dollar and asymmetric trade conditions,” Miran wrote.
It is true that if the dollar is substantially devalued our trade deficit will be reduced.
But in the process our standard of living will be greatly diminished.
This would particularly be true for those on the bottom levels of the economic food chain.
And if another global reserve currency ultimately takes the place of the U.S. dollar, that would be absolutely catastrophic for our standard of living.
At this stage in our history, the strength of the United States is dependent upon the strength of our currency to a very large degree.
If the dollar crashes and burns, so will our society as a whole.
Prepping often gets romanticized—think cabins in the woods, off-grid solar, hunting for your food with a bow and arrow. But for most people? Crisis is going to hit right where they live—and that’s in or near a city. And cities are a different beast altogether. Urban environments come with unique urban prepping threats—many of which […]
Spring is the season for enjoying nature with activities such as hiking and camping. Coincidentally, spring is also when wildlife resumes being more active. Bears wake up from their hibernation looking for food, snakes come out to sunbathe, and coyotes roam to find prey. While these animals usually avoid humans, sometimes their paths cross. The best way to stay safe is to understand their behavior and know how to react correctly. This guide will teach you how to prevent wildlife encounters and handle animals safely if they happen. This also shows you the right gear for protection during these chance encounters.
Wildlife Encounters Alert: Stay Safe From Springtime Predator Attacks
As animals emerge from hibernation, wildlife encounters can get dangerously real. One wrong move can turn a scenic trail into a survival test. Here’s how to stay safe when nature gets too close.
Bears: Big, Bold, and Hungry After Hibernation
Bears don’t wake up in spring feeling refreshed—they wake up starving. After months of living off body fat, they need food fast, and they’ll head toward wherever the scent of a meal takes them. Especially when cubs are around, this is when they’re most unpredictable.
Where You’ll Find Them
Bears are most common in forests, mountainous areas, and nearby rivers or lakes. As spring arrives, bears emerge from hibernation hungry. In North America, you’ll typically encounter black bears. Meanwhile, grizzly bears are more common in the western U.S. and parts of Canada.
What to Do If You See a Bear
The key is to stay calm and avoid triggering the bear’s natural instincts. Here’s what you should do:
Stay Calm: Do not run. Bears can sprint up to 30 mph, and running may trigger a chase response.
Make Yourself Look Bigger: Stand tall, raise your arms, and speak firmly to show dominance, not fear.
Back Away Slowly: Move sideways, avoid direct eye contact, and watch the bear’s movements without turning your back.
How to Prevent Bear Encounters
Store Food Properly: Use bear-proof containers or hang food at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from the tree trunk.
Maintain a Clean Campsite: Properly dispose of food scraps and avoid leaving items with strong scents, like toothpaste, out in the open.
Carry Bear Spray: Keep it easily accessible and not buried in your backpack.
Snakes: Silent but Serious Threats
Snakes aren’t aggressive—but they will defend themselves once they get sense danger. Most bites happen because people accidentally step too close. With warmer weather, they’re out of hiding, and knowing where they like to stay can help you avoid a painful encounter.
Where You’ll Find Them
Snakes prefer sunny and warm spots like rocks, logs, and open trails. During spring, they come out of hiding to bask in the sun and regulate their body temperature. In North America, you might encounter venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.
How to Identify Venomous Snakes
Rattlesnakes: Recognizable by the distinctive rattle sound they make when threatened.
Copperheads: Identified by an hourglass-shaped pattern along their bodies and copper-colored heads.
Cottonmouths: Known for the white interior of their mouths. Cottonmouths are often visible when they display a warning gape.
What to Do If You See a Snake
Freeze: Stop moving immediately. Quick movements can provoke a defensive strike.
Identify from a Distance: Look carefully from afar to determine if the snake is venomous, which means you’ll have to avoid getting too close.
Slowly Back Away: Move away slowly and carefully and keep your eyes on the snake’s position.
Never Try to Handle or Kill It: Most bites occur when people try to catch or kill snakes.
If You’re Bitten by a Snake
Stay Calm: Stress increases heart rate and can spread venom faster.
Keep the Affected Limb Immobilized: Keep it at or below heart level to slow the venom circulation in the blood.
Seek Medical Help Immediately: Call emergency services or get to a hospital as quickly as possible.
What You Should Not Do:
Don’t suck out the venom. This doesn’t work and can worsen the wound.
Don’t apply ice or a tourniquet. This can cause more tissue damage.
Don’t drink alcohol or caffeine as they increase heart rate.
Snake Bite Prevention Tips
Wear boots and long pants when hiking in areas where snakes are common.
Watch where you step, especially near rocks, logs, or tall grass.
Use a walking stick to probe the ground ahead in dense underbrush.
Coyotes: Wily, Bold, and Curious
Coyotes are opportunistic animals. They’ll eat whatever they can find, whether small animals, fruit, or trash. If you’re in their territory, they won’t hesitate to test boundaries with you.
Where You’ll Find Them
Coyotes are incredibly adaptable. They live in deserts, forests, grasslands, and even urban areas. They’re more active in spring because they have pups to feed. This makes encounters more likely in areas near food sources like trash or parks with small animals.
What to Do If You See a Coyote
Stand Tall and Make Yourself Loud: Clap your hands, shout, and stomp your feet to scare the coyote away.
Maintain Eye Contact: Coyotes are cautious but curious. Facing them shows you’re not easy prey.
Back Away Slowly: Do not turn your back. Keep moving backward until the coyote loses interest.
How to Prevent Coyote Encounters
Never feed coyotes, intentionally or unintentionally.
Secure trash cans, pet food, and any other potential food sources.
Keep small pets on a leash, and don’t leave them unattended outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk.
Essential Gear for Wildlife Encounters
Bear Spray: Works on bears, coyotes, and other aggressive animals.
Whistle or Air Horn: Loud noises can deter curious predators.
First Aid Kit: Include supplies for snake bites, such as elastic bandages.
Walking Stick: Helps with balance and can be used to create distance from snakes.
The Outdoors Rewards the Prepared
Wild animals aren’t out to get you, but they will defend themselves if you are in their way. Give them space, know how to respond, and keep your gear ready. A calm reaction is your best tool in any encounter. The outdoors is safest when you respect its rules.
FAQs About Wildlife Encounters
What’s the best way to avoid wildlife encounters?
Stay alert, make noise, and keep food secured.
Should I carry a weapon for protection?
Bear spray is often more effective than firearms for deterring wildlife.
What should I do if a bear enters my camp?
Make noise to scare it off. If it’s aggressive, use bear spray.
How do I know if a snake is venomous?
Learn to identify local species. Look for triangular heads, slit pupils, and rattles.
Can coyotes be dangerous to humans?
Rarely, but they can be aggressive if sick, used to humans, or protecting pups.
Do you remember the panic buying that we witnessed during the early days of the pandemic? It’s back, and I have a feeling that it is only going to intensify in the days ahead. As more Americans begin to realize that products made in China will soon more than double in price and that some may no longer be available at all, there will be a feverish rush to purchase Chinese-made goods. Ironically, this may actually give a short-term boost to the U.S. economy, and the economic numbers for the first half of this year may end up looking better than they otherwise would have.
Before I get too deep into this article, there are a couple of things that I want to clarify.
First of all, I do not think that the U.S. should have ever begun trading with communist China at all, because communist China has always been an incredibly evil regime.
Secondly, it was a catastrophic error for the U.S. to become so deeply dependent on imports from China. This is something that I have been writing about for years. Our stores are now teeming with products that were made in China, and thousands of our supply chains simply cannot function without equipment, parts or products that come from China.
But our leaders refused to listen to those of us that were sounding the alarm, and now we have a real mess on our hands.
Because we have become so deeply dependent on China, the trade war that has now begun is really going to hurt, and everyone should be able to see that.
On Thursday, the White House confirmed that the total tariff rate on Chinese imports has now risen to 145 percent…
The U.S. tariff rate on Chinese imports now effectively totals 145%, a White House official confirmed to CNBC.
Trump’s latest executive order hikes tariffs on Beijing to 125% from 84%.
But that comes on top of a 20% fentanyl-related tariff that Trump previously imposed on China.
One economist is warning that high tariff rates on both sides will lead to “a hard decoupling”, and he says that it would be “really hard to overstate the expected shocks this is going to have”…
“This is probably the strongest indication we’ve seen pushing towards a hard decoupling,” said Nick Marro, principal economist for Asia at the Economist Intelligence Unit, referring to an outcome where the two economies have virtually no trade or mutual investment.
“It’s really hard to overstate the expected shocks this is going to have, not just to the Chinese economy itself, but also to the entire global trading landscape,” as well as on the US, he said.
I fully agree with his assessment.
What we are witnessing is going to cause a tremendous amount of disruption.
Apparently lots of other people see things the same way, because a wave of panic buying has now started…
Across the country, people have been rushing to stores or going online to buy everything from iPhones to coffee to designer bags and jewelry in anticipation of the toll the tariffs will take on their wallets.
If there is something that is made in China that you really need, I would get it now while you still can.
Costco was a total nightmare yesterday. I’ve never seen it so busy. I walked out after seeing the lines going down each aisle with no end in sight.
Another woman that lives in New York City admitted to a reporter that her mother is literally “panicking”…
“Actually, I already have. I’ve already started stocking up. My mother has a whole stockpile, and she’s panicking. But I told her we’re going to be okay, as we live in New York City,” said Amelia Guilford, a retail worker who was visiting her mother in the city.
The price hikes that we will soon see will be quite a shock to the system, and this will particularly be true for big ticket items.
For example, it is being projected that the cost to manufacture an iPhone could go up by hundreds of dollars…
Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese goods mean the cost for Apple to manufacture an iPhone could jump from $580 to $850, according to a report from TechInsights.
In anticipation of the coming price hikes, there was a “full-blown buying spree” at Apple stores over the weekend…
Apple just faced a weekend retail frenzy more typical of iPhone launch day than early April. With the Trump administration floating a 54% tariff on Chinese-made goods including Apple’s flagship devices U.S. consumers rushed into stores, fearing sharp price hikes were imminent. According to reports from multiple locations, sales surged as worried buyers sought to lock in current prices, turning what’s usually a quiet season into a full-blown buying spree.
Many of the parts that go into our new vehicles also come from China, and it is being reported that U.S. auto sales were quite a bit higher than expected last month as people rushed to purchase new vehicles before the tariffs were implemented…
US auto sales for March came in higher than Deutsche Bank analysts expected, the bank said in a Friday report, rising from February levels. That might indicate “panic buying” as Americans sought to get ahead of the tariffs on foreign-made vehicles that took effect last week.
The analysts said they had expected higher numbers due to a pre-tariff pull-forward. But “this impact appears far greater than we anticipated,” the report read. Deutsche Bank expected auto sales to be strong through June, then weaken in the back half of the year.
Unless the U.S. and China can reach some sort of an agreement, and that appears very unlikely at this stage, our standard of living is about to change dramatically.
According to CNBC, approximately 70 percent of the goods sold on Amazon come from China…
Many sellers on Amazon count on China for manufacturing and assembly due to lower costs and established infrastructure – up to 70% of goods on Amazon come from China, according to Wedbush Securities. With nearly all imports from China being taxed a staggering 145% under the latest tariffs, Amazon sellers are having to decide whether to raise prices or absorb the vastly increased cost of importing their goods.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Thursday told CNBC that its vast network of third-party sellers will likely “pass the cost on” to consumers. He added that Amazon has done some “strategic forward inventory buys” and looked to renegotiate terms on some purchase orders to keep prices low.
Reuters spoke to five Amazon sellers in China. Three of them said that they would be raising prices, and two of them said that they would be leaving the U.S. market completely…
Of the five sellers who spoke to Reuters, three said they would look to raise prices for their exports to the U.S., while two planned to leave the market entirely.
Dave Fong, whose products range from schoolbags to Bluetooth speakers, said on Thursday he has raised prices in the U.S. by up to 30% and would let inventory levels fall and lower spending on Amazon advertising fees, which once took up 40% of his U.S. revenue.
“For us and anyone else, you can’t rely on the U.S. market, that’s quite clear,” Fong said. “We have to reduce investment, and put more resources into regions like Europe, Canada, Mexico and the rest of the world.”
If this trade war persists, it will be an even bigger economic shock than the pandemic was.
But to me, there is potentially an even bigger concern.
The threat of economic sanctions has always been one of the barriers that has made China think twice about invading Taiwan.
But now that our two economies are rapidly decoupling anyway, the Chinese may come to the conclusion that this is actually a perfect time to make a move on Taiwan.
This crisis with China is a far bigger deal than most people realize, and it could have some very serious unintended consequences.
About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing. You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter. Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites. These are such troubled times, and people need hope. John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.
If you’ve been paying attention to the headlines lately, you’ve probably heard the rumblings about new tariffs and trade tensions. And if you haven’t—you should. Because when international costs go up, it hits you right in the gear bag. Tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and inflation aren’t just talking points for economists. They’re warnings for preppers. […]
This is a very difficult time for real estate agents and homeowners that are trying to sell their homes. As I have documented below, sales of previously-owned homes in the United States just fell to the lowest level that we have seen during the month of March since 2009. Needless to say, in March 2009 we were in the middle of the Great Recession. Meanwhile, the number of unsold homes that are currently on the market just continues to pile up. This is likely to put an enormous amount of downward pressure on home prices in the months ahead.
A Complete Guide To Buying (& Using) A Gas Mask For Emergencies
It’s simply a small, portable, personal air-purifying device. It’s an invention with one exceptionally important task – providing detoxified “clean” air.
FAQs About Wildlife Encounters
