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.
Concern over current events is growing. Whether people can put words to it or not, I feel it, you feel it — we all feel it. The likelihood of real…
The post %The Signs Are There: What I’m Stocking More of as Conditions Deteriorate% appeared first on %Prepper Press%.
Tired of panic-buying food during the last storm warning only to throw half of it away 2 years later? That cycle ends today. Freeze dried emergency food with a 25 year shelf life means buying some kits once, storing them in your basement, and never worrying about their expiration dates or rotation schedules.
Freeze dried emergency food maintains a 25 year shelf life because sublimation removes up to 99% of moisture while preserving 97% of original nutritional integrity. This NASA-proven technology prevents bacterial growth and oxidation without the use of chemical preservatives. Here are the other benefits of these long-term supplies:
To find the best calories per dollar survival food, divide total kit calories by the price, and target brands that deliver 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day. Remember that anything below 1,500 calories per day is a starvation diet and not a survival plan.
Three factors separate real value from marketing hype:
The best freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life options contain great taste and nutrition at a wallet-friendly cost. These four systems cover every household’s needs without waste.
Start with a tiered approach that matches your budget and timeline. We’ve removed the “all-or-nothing” spend barrier by breaking our recommendations into shoppable tiers. These choices won’t blow your budget or clutter your home.
| Tier | Strategy | Recommended | Primary Benefit |
| Tier 1: Good | 72-Hour Relief | 1x Augason Farms 30-Day Pail per person. | High-volume “fast win” for suburban homeowners. |
| Tier 2: Better | 30-Day Resilience | Mountain House #10 Cans + Bulk Freeze Dried Meat. | Superior taste and proven 30-year testing for family safety. |
| Tier 3: Best | Year-Round Security | Nutrient Survival “Performance” kits + Phased storage roadmap. | Maximum nutrition; protects cognitive performance under stress. |
Use the R.A.D.A.R. Method
(Route, Arrange, Drill, Adjust, Repeat) to manage your freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life supply:
When choosing freeze dried emergency food with a 25 year shelf life in 2026, focus on calories per dollar instead of serving counts to get the best value. Top-rated options include Mountain House for proven taste and longest shelf life, Nutrient Survival for clean non-GMO long term food storage, and bulk freeze dried meat cans from ReadyWise for high-protein meals.
Freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life is worth it because it eliminates constant rotation and delivers FEMA-aligned nutrition for 25 to 30 years. The best calories per dollar survival food systems cost less per meal than restaurant takeout when calculated over their full lifespan.
Divide total kit calories by price. Reputable freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life brands deliver 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day. Kits offering less than 1,500 calories per day are starvation rations, not survival plans.
Non-GMO long term food storage preserves 97% of original vitamins and minerals without synthetic additives. Premium brands offer allergen-friendly options safe for families with dietary restrictions.
Store freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life supplies below 60°F in a dark area. Never place pails on concrete, and use shelving to prevent moisture wicking and preserve the nutrients for decades.
Bulk freeze dried meat #10 cans add 20g of protein per serving to garden staples. Protein maintains muscle mass and cognitive function during high-stress situations when your body needs it most.
Most brands offer gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options within their non-GMO long term food storage lines. Use a customizable checklist to match your specific dietary and medical requirements.
Bulk freeze dried meat #10 cans are not TSA-approved for air travel. Swap them for pouch options on travel days. Keep #10 cans for home storage where they perform best.
Augason Farms Pails offer the lowest cost entry point at approximately $1.50 per day. Mountain House #10 Cans deliver superior taste at $2.20 per day. Both qualify as best calories per dollar survival food depending on your priorities.
You can set up a complete freeze dried emergency food 25 year shelf life system in one afternoon. Arrange food on shelving, drill a 10-minute grab and go ritual, and post your Home Power-Down Plan inside your pantry door.
Non-GMO long term food storage is safe for children because it preserves clean nutrition without synthetic additives. Most brands meet USDA organic standards and avoid the top 8 allergens.
The advancements in tactical technology over the last decade have been impressive. The number of advanced tools we have at our disposal has grown significantly. One of the best in this category is IR illuminators. Once the stuff of government agencies and secret squirrel teams, EOTECH has now entered the market with a new option. Today, they are releasing the OGL-C Commercial Laser System.
EOTECH is proud to introduce the OGL-C. This commercial variant provides all the features and benefits of the standard OGL, but with eye-safe visible and IR lasers and IR illumination.
Available in either Black or Tan, the OGL-C can be mounted on any side of the rifle’s handguard, but the primary position is on the top rail. Ample separation between the lasers and the IR illuminator ensures no interference with front iron sights. Only slightly larger than a deck of cards, the housing incorporates strategic cuts and channels to reduce unnecessary weight.
“We are excited to get the consumer-friendly OGL out into the market,” said Mark Miller, EOTECH Product Manager. “This product was designed and developed with ergonomics in mind, as well as a feature set that is sure to satisfy the more sophisticated tactical user.”
Stacked vertically on the front of the OGL-C are the visible and IR lasers. Both lasers are co-aligned and share windage and elevation adjustments, making the zeroing procedure easy. Positioned on the other side is an adjustable illuminator that provides quick beam divergence from a close-range flood to a long-range spot using the sliding adjustment lever.
Powered by (1) CR123 battery, the 515-nanometer green visible laser is 6 times easier to see than red lasers and offers .5 milliwatts of power on HIGH. Its 850-nanometer IR laser provides almost .7 milliwatts at high power. And finally, the 850-nanometer IR illuminator can quickly shift from an approximate 105 MRAD flood to an approximate 30 MRAD beam. Both the lasers and the illuminator come equipped with lens covers that provide diffusion.
Additional features include a large, raised, tactile laser fire button that can be located easily, even in the dark, and pressed for momentary operation, or a quick double tap for constant on. At the rear of the OGL-C is an industry-standard remote jack that takes most pigtail switches or hot buttons. Selecting the laser or laser illumination combination is easy with the tactile mode selector streamlined to the rear of the housing.
The OGL-C is eye-safe, consumer-friendly, and the new standard for on-gun laser systems and stealth operations. MSRP is $2,999.
For more information, visit EOTECH.
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The post OGL-C Commercial Laser System – From EOTECH appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
Surprise is rare in the gun industry. These days, another Glock clone, AR, or pricey custom 1911 is expected. The Rideout Arsenal Dragon, however, is different. Usually, I can size up a new gun quickly, but the Dragon is entirely unique.
The Rideout Arsenal Dragon looks like it stepped out of your favorite Sci-Fi movie. It’s certainly distinct, and about all I can tell from first glance is that it’s a semi-auto pistol. It’s a product of scrupulous gun design and a dedication to making a product that does things differently, not just for difference’s sake. It wants to be the best at what it does and to keep pushing the industry forward.
The Dragon uses a lever-delayed blowback design. Lever-delayed guns are rare, so this makes it one of only six I know of. The lever-delay design uses leverage to delay the breech opening until pressure has dropped enough to allow the weapon to safely cycle. The Dragon uses a lever mounted at the front of the bolt that interfaces with the bolt carrier.
When you fire the gun, the gas created by burning gun powder pushes against the bolt face, which makes the bolt want to reciprocate. The lever creates a mechanical disadvantage, delaying the bolt’s movement and keeping the breech closed.
It all occurs in fractions of a second, reducing recoil significantly while allowing the gun to use a fixed barrel.
Fixed barrels have benefits, namely in accuracy. Less movement of the barrel is always better than more. It also allows for the Dragon’s somewhat odd layout where the barrel sits inline with the web of the shooter’s hand. There is a lot of static out there about bore axis, and while most of it’s just noise, if it’s radical enough, you can see a difference.
The Chiappa Rhino is likely the most famous example of a low bore axis actually making a difference. The Rideout Arsenal Dragon is the second. Positioning the bore that low pushes the recoil rearward more than upward. As far as I can tell, this is the lowest bore axis of any semi-auto pistol. This unseats the Laugo Alien as the king of low-bore axis semi-autos.
On top of this, the gun doesn’t have a slide as we know it. The system consists of a bolt and bolt carrier, a bit like a rifle but shrunk to accommodate a 9mm pistol. This reduces the reciprocating weight, which further reduces the gun’s recoil and muzzle rise.
One of the big selling points of the Dragon is its tool-less modularity. The grip detaches from the frame, much like a 2011. You can customize the grip with different backstraps to alter its size and, in the future, swap the entire grip out for, say, a compact grip. The grip’s design is thin and encourages a very high grip on the gun, which again, helps reduce muzzle rise. Users can fit magwells to the bottom for faster reloads as well.
The entire gun can be disassembled into its core components without tools. This makes it inherently modular and easy to fix should something ever break. I imagine cleaning becomes much easier as well.
The gun makes smart use of Springfield Echelon magazines. This helps keep the grip thin, avoids the plague of proprietary, and allows the gun to use a truly ambidextrous magazine release. With capacities ranging from 10 to 20 rounds, the Ehcelon magazines offer a little something to everyone, regardless of your state’s laws.
The gun uses a striker fire system with a trigger that’s very 1911-like. It moves straight rearward and offers a user-adjustable pull of between 4.5 pounds and 2-pounds. It’s quite nice and feels more like a rifle trigger than a typical handgun. The trigger has a trigger safety device, and that’s our only external safety.
Let’s talk about accessories. The gun uses what Rideout Arsenal calls the N-ROC. N-ROC stands for Non-Reciprocating Optics Carrier. It’s a fixed optic mount for Trijicon RMR optics, with other options available in the future. You can remove and attach your N-ROC to accommodate other optics’ footprints.
The N-ROC can also be used as a charging handle, which is nice since the gun doesn’t have a slide, and most people like grabbing the rear of the gun to chamber a round. The lack of reciprocation also means the optic remains fixed. A fixed optic is an optic that’s intrinsically easy to track as you shoot. As a small bonus, it’s less stressful on the optic, and you won’t have it shear off at any point.
If you don’t want to use an optic, that’s fine too. The gun comes with fiber optic high-visibility sights that remain stationary as the gun fires. The front sight is positioned to be snag-free and easy to see.
Up front, the barrel has what’s essentially a tri-lug device. This allows you to fit muzzle devices, like compensators and suppressors. Rideout Arsenal produces its own comp and adapters to fit different suppressors, and Rideout Arsenal showcased its own suppressor that aligns with the gun’s design for a clean, natural look.
Currently, the Dragon is intended to be a high-end race gun. A competition pistol designed to buy you fractions of a second that separate winners from losers. The design is all about speed and low recoil. The folks at Rideout Arsenal have stated they plan to produce various models for carry, duty, and combat roles.
Currently, the base model of the gun retails for $3,600. There is a complete package with optic, backstraps, holster, and more for around $5,200. The current lead time is 6 to 9 months, with the first run scheduled for delivery. Speaking of holsters, Rideout Arsenal is producing its own competition-oriented holster, but that’s all we have so far.
The Dragon is far from typical when it comes to guns. It’s something new, truly innovative, and utterly fascinating. I can’t wait to get some actual trigger time behind one, and I’m hoping it happens sooner rather than later.
Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing trust in the content.
The post Check Out The Unique Rideout Arsenal Dragon appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
Most “30-day” emergency food kits only feed a family of four for 6–8 days when calories are calculated correctly.
A family of four typically needs 7,000–8,000 calories per day during severe weather to maintain energy and body heat.
Counting servings instead of calories is the most common mistake families make when buying food storage kits.
The most reliable kits balance calorie density, nutrition, shelf life, and honest labeling, not marketing claims.
Building a true 14–30 day supply usually requires multiple buckets or a modular system, not a single kit.
The old “3-day emergency supply” advice is outdated. Winter storms now shut down highways for a week. Supply chain disruptions can empty grocery store shelves in hours. The new baseline for family preparedness is 14 to 30 days of food storage.
Most families often buy a kit labeled “30-Day Supply” and assume they’re covered. Then they do the math and realize that bucket only feeds their family for 7 days.
A family of four needs approximately 8,000 calories per day to maintain energy and body heat during severe weather. Commonly, emergency food kits count “servings” instead of calories, which leads to serious underestimation of what your family actually needs.
Before buying anything new, run these four checks on what you already have:
Calculate your Daily Target: (Number of adults x 2,000) plus (Number of children x 1,500). For 2 adults and 2 children, that’s 7,000 to 8,000 calories per day.
Find the Total Calories on your bucket label. Divide by your Daily Target. A bucket with 56,000 calories only feeds a family of four for 7 days, not 30.
Healthy fats, high protein (40g per person), fiber, electrolytes, Vitamin C, and complex carbs. If your kit is missing three or more, it’s just a calorie bucket.
Look for clear calorie counts per container, transparent ingredient lists, and real emergency reviews, not just manufacturer marketing.
Last update on 2026-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
(As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
We tested these kits for real calorie density, nutritional completeness, and honest labeling. Here’s what actually works for a family of four.
Total Calories: Approximately 54,000
Actual Days for Family of 4: 6 to 7 days
Shelf Life: 25 years
Price Per Day: Around $12
ReadyWise delivers solid calorie density with decent variety. The serving sizes are more realistic than most competitors. The nutrition is basic but covers the essentials. This is the best all-around choice if you’re building a 30-day supply and plan to buy multiple buckets.
Total Calories: Approximately 52,000
Actual Days for Family of 4: 6 to 7 days
Shelf Life: 20 years
Price Per Day: Around $9
Augason Farms focuses on calorie-dense staples like oats, rice, and beans. The taste is bland but functional. If you’re stacking buckets on a budget and plan to supplement with your own seasonings and canned goods, this is your best value.
Total Calories: Varies by pack size
Actual Days for Family of 4: 10 to 14 days (depending on configuration)
Shelf Life: 25 years
Price Per Day: Around $18
Nutrient Survival is designed by nutritionists, not just food manufacturers. High protein, healthy fats, and bioavailable vitamins. This is the only kit on the market that genuinely covers the Survival Six. If you have young children or elderly family members, the nutritional density justifies the higher price.
Total Calories: Approximately 64,000
Actual Days for Family of 4: 8 days
Shelf Life: 30 years
Price Per Day: Around $15
Mountain House is the gold standard for freeze-dried quality. The meals actually taste good. The shelf life is the longest in the industry. If morale matters to your family during a grid-down event, this is worth the premium. The downside is lower calorie density per dollar compared to dehydrated options.
Total Calories: Varies (modular system)
Actual Days for Family of 4: Build your own duration
Shelf Life: 25 years
Price Per Day: Around $10 (when buying in bulk)
Ready Hour sells individual Number 10 cans of staples like wheat, oats, powdered milk, and freeze-dried vegetables. This system lets you customize your nutrition and avoid paying for entrees you won’t eat. Best for experienced preppers who want full control over their macros and meal planning.
Freeze-Dried: Best for taste and nutrition. Water rehydrates in minutes. Shelf life is 25 to 30 years. Higher cost per calorie. (Mountain House, Nutrient Survival)
Dehydrated: Best for budget calorie density. Requires longer cooking. Shelf life is 20 to 25 years. Blander taste. (Augason Farms, ReadyWise, Ready Hour)
MREs: Best for grab-and-go when no water is available. Shelf life is 5 to 10 years. Useful for vehicle kits but too expensive for primary storage.
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Last update on 2026-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Store kits in a cool, dry location. Basements work better than garages. Avoid attics where summer heat degrades nutrition.
Rotate your stock by eating one kit meal per month and replacing it immediately. This keeps your family familiar with preparation methods.
Must-Have Gear: Manual can openers, water filtration (Sawyer or LifeStraw), portable cooking fuel (Jetboil or Kelly Kettle).
If you need calorie density and long shelf life for winter storms, go with Augason Farms or Ready Hour bulk systems.
If you have young children or need to maintain morale, prioritize taste and nutrition with Mountain House or Nutrient Survival.
If you’re on a tight budget but need 30 days for a family of four, buy multiple ReadyWise buckets and supplement with canned goods and rice.
Secure your family’s food supply today.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE 15-MIN FOOD KIT AUDIT CHECKLIST
A family of four generally needs 7,000–8,000 calories per day, depending on age, activity level, and cold exposure. For a 14-day emergency, that’s roughly 100,000+ total calories, far more than most single “30-day” kits provide.
Most kits calculate days based on serving counts, not calories. When you divide the total calories by what a family actually needs per day, many “30-day” kits only last 6–7 days for a family of four.
Freeze-dried food offers better taste, nutrition, and faster prep, but costs more per calorie. Dehydrated food is more affordable and calorie-dense, but usually blander and slower to cook. Many families use a mix of both.
A well-rounded kit should provide adequate protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, fiber, electrolytes, and vitamin C. Kits missing several of these are best treated as calorie backups, not complete nutrition.
For most families, multiple kits or modular systems work better. This allows you to spread food across locations, rotate supplies more easily, and scale up to a true 14–30 day reserve without relying on a single bucket.
For many new shooters, ammunition can be an intimidating topic to understand. The various types and terminology can often make it confusing, resulting in misconceptions to easily develop. This not only leads to incorrect information being shared but can also give ammunition an unfair and dangerous reputation. To set the facts straight, here are five common ammo myths that you should be aware of.
One of the most dangerous assumptions about ammunition is the belief that all types are the same and intended to be used in any firearm. Ultimately, the main factor that separates ammunition from one another is caliber. Every firearm’s chamber, barrel, and action are built with specific dimensions, requiring ammo that matches those measurements.
Purpose is another key factor that separates ammunition. Due to differences in penetration, cost, and design, ammunition used for training, hunting, and self-defense differs from one type to another. A bullet’s design can also make ammunition distinct, as its weight, type, and the material used in its construction can vary.
It is crucial to recognize that using the wrong ammunition in a firearm is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or damage to the firearm. To ensure you are using the correct cartridge, it is recommended to check for the caliber stamp or engraving located on the firearm’s barrel or receiver. If the stamp or engraving is unclear, you can also refer to the owner’s manual.
When properly cared for, ammunition can actually last decades, even 50 years or more. However, factors such as high humidity and drastic temperature changes can make ammunition prone to corrosion, primer failure, and powder degradation. This means storing ammunition in a cool, dark, dry area is essential to extend its lifespan and preserve the cartridges. Examples of suitable storage include a climate-controlled gun safe, an airtight container, or using desiccant packs.
One misconception about ammunition is that it is likely to explode if dropped. For a bullet to fire, the firing pin must make a direct strike onto the primer. Most cartridges that are accidentally released tend to fall tip first, protecting the primer from impact. However, in a rare event acartridge does fire after being dropped, the casing may split open, and the bullet will move at a lower frequency. Ultimately, you may hear a single loud pop, but no explosion will occur. To prioritize safety, It is highly recommended to always handle ammunition with care.
Most ammunition is water-resistant, not waterproof. Modern cartridges are built with sealants around the primer to help keep gunpowder dry. These sealants can be made from lacquer, wax, or polymer. If a cartridge has been briefly exposed to either rain or a puddle, it is often still useable. Just be sure to dry the ammunition and inspect for any damage before use.
Ammunition that has been fully submerged in water for a prolonged period of time can ruin primers and powder, resulting in failure to fire. To prevent a safety risk, it is best to properly dispose unusable ammunition by either contacting a local police department, a hazardous waste facility, or a local gun range. Never discard damaged ammunition in the household trashcan.
One benefit of larger bullets is that they offer greater stopping power and penetration capabilities, which can lead to the impression that a larger caliber is automatically better than its smaller counterparts. However, factors such as mass, velocity, and bullet design play a fundamental role in determining how effective ammunition can be. Smaller, lighter bullets tend to offer less recoil, flatter trajectories, and higher velocities, making them an option worth considering.
Another often overlooked factor is shot placement. A smaller-caliber shot to the heart, lungs, and central nervous system, can be ten times more effective than a larger-caliber round that hits a non-vital areas.
Ammunition is a fundamental component of firearms, which means that educating yourself on the common myths and misconceptions about ballistics is essential. Once you understand that not all ammunition is the same, that is can last for decades, is unlikely to explode if dropped, it iswater-resistant, and that larger calibers does not always mean better, you are off to a strong and successful start.
The post Busting 5 Common Ammo Myths appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
One of the keys to being successful in life is a strong work ethic. No matter where you find yourself, if you are willing to work hard you are more likely to get ahead. This is something that I have studied for many years. Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice were all born with physical gifts, but so were countless others. The primary reason why Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice are now considered to be some of the greatest athletes of all-time is because they simply worked harder than everyone else. When Tom Brady came out of college, he didn’t have a gun for an arm and he was very slow. He was not a highly regarded prospect, and so he was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft. But once he got into the league, he worked like mad, and eventually he won seven Super Bowls. If he had not been willing to work extremely hard, he could have easily faded into obscurity without ever accomplishing much of anything.
Have you noticed that a lot of young people today don’t want to work hard?
There are a lot of employers that specifically avoid hiring those that are fresh out of college because they have a reputation for being lazy.
Of course the reason why they are not inclined to work hard is because they have never been trained to work hard.
If kids do not learn self-discipline when they are young, they are not likely to learn it as adults.
That is why it is vital to create a structure that makes self-discipline a part of their normal routine.
Recently, a man named Carol Randolph Jr. shared a chores list that he was expected to complete as an 8-year-old boy in the early 1990s…
A chore list from a Philadelphia household in the early 90s has been praised by users on social media.
The list, posted on Threads by Carl Randolph Jr., (@fatcarl_sp) lays out daily, weekly and monthly expectations that began when he was just 8 years old.
His father, Carl Randolph Sr. wrote instructions for making the bed, completing homework, doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, vacuuming, wiping down furniture, and even washing down the exterior of the house with a hose, weather permitting.
Carl Randolph Sr. was a single father, and so having a very strict routine was very important.
And by having all of the household tasks on a regular schedule, it ensured that everything ultimately got done…
What percentage of parents have a list of chores this extensive today?
Needless to say, that number would be really, really small.
So where did Carl Randolph Sr. get his work ethic?
Well, it turns out that he served in the U.S. Navy…
Before school, Carl Jr. was expected to make his bed, eat breakfast, check homework for “neatness and completeness” and be out the door before 6:50 a.m. In the comments, he clarified that his father was in the Navy.
Dishes could not be left in the sink. Trash had to be taken out and liners replaced. Even leisure time was conditional—earned once obligations were met. The tone is firm but not punitive, focused less on control and more on preparation.
“We had fun doing these duties, but he didn’t play about getting business done or breaking rules,” Carl Jr. said.
In those days, virtually anyone that served in the U.S. military was going to develop a very strong sense of self-discipline.
Of course much has changed since that time.
We have gotten soft as a society, and our system of education is completely failing our young people.
Just look at what is happening to ACT scores for college-bound seniors…
The level of education that our young people are receiving in our public schools is a joke.
And many of our young people have no moral foundation whatsoever.
Earlier this month, an 11-year-old boy in Pennsylvania shot his own father to death…
An 11-year-old boy faces homicide charges after shooting and killing his father in Perry County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
WGAL News 8 obtained court documents that reveal new details about what happened the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Duncannon Borough.
Officers responded to a home on South Market Street around 3:20 a.m. for an “unresponsive male” and found Douglas Dietz, 42, dead from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the documents.
I haven’t even told you the worst part yet.
It appears that he shot his own father to death because his Nintendo Switch had been taken away…
Clayton said he found the key in his father’s drawer and unlocked the safe in an attempt to find his Nintendo Switch, which was previously taken away from him, according to the documents.
Clayton admitted to “removing the gun from the safe, loading bullets into it and walking over to his father’s side of the bed,” the affidavit stated. “He pulled back the hammer and fired the gun at his father.”
We have raised an entire generation of ultra-coddled young people that are completely addicted to entertainment and that have never learned to fend for themselves.
As a result, one out of every five 30-year-old men in the United States still lives at home…
This is during a time of acute anxiety and curiosity about young men in America. Much ink has been spilled about their loneliness, their jawlines, their physical fitness and about being “performative males.” The prolific podcaster Scott Galloway’s book “Notes on Being a Man” jumped to No. 1 on the New York Times advice bestseller list when it was published in November and sparked fresh discussion about the “masculinity crisis.” (On “Today,” Savannah Guthrie asked Galloway why “this particular cohort — young men — have fallen so far so fast” as an infographic citing Galloway’s book noted that 1 in 5 30-year-old men still live at home.)
We wouldn’t be in this mess if we had taught our young people the value of hard work.
When I was born, it was very common for a 25-year-old man to already be married and own a home.
Today, it is extremely rare to find a 25-year-old man that is both married and a homeowner.
There was a time when Americans were known for their work ethic.
Sadly, those of us that have been around long enough to have experienced that are getting older with each passing day.
Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine 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.
The post A Chores List For An 8-Year-Old Boy From The Early 1990s Demonstrates How Far Our Society Has Degenerated Since Then appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
The U.S. Mint obviously expects the price of silver to keep rising. When I first learned that the U.S. Mint was selling one ounce silver coins for 169 dollars, I thought that it must be a mistake. So I went to the U.S. Mint’s official website, and sure enough the report that I had heard was accurate. Of course the U.S. Mint always sells their coins at a premium, but this is ridiculous. Are they expecting the price of silver to blow way past the $100 mark in 2026? If so, that will cause enormous imbalances in the global financial system. There have been repeated attempts to suppress the price of silver in recent weeks, but they have all failed. A global scramble for physical silver is underway, and the paper games that were once so effective just aren’t working anymore.
Last week, the U.S. Mint suspended sales of silver coins temporarily so that they could update the prices.
Everyone knew that sizable price hikes were coming, but nobody was prepared for the colossal price increases that were ultimately unveiled…
The Mint temporarily suspended silver sales earlier this week to implement the price changes. Products started coming back online yesterday with the new pricing. The 2024 Uncirculated Silver Eagle that retailed for $91 is now $169. The 2023 version also jumped to $169 from its previous $91 price point.
They are free to charge whatever they want.
And even at these exceedingly elevated prices, many people will gobble these coins up.
But it is still difficult for me to believe what just happened. The following image comes directly from the official website of the U.S. Mint…
I recently described the relentless rise of the price of silver as being “unstoppable”, and on Monday gold and silver both surged to brand new record highs…
Gold and silver prices climbed fresh peaks on Monday, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets on intensifying tensions, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland.
As I write this, the price of silver is sitting at $93.52 an ounce.
In Asia, it is selling for even more.
Supplies of physical silver have gotten very tight, and it is used in thousands upon thousands of important high tech products.
In fact, CNBC is telling us that at this point over half of all global silver demand “comes from manufacturing”…
Unlike gold, which is held largely as a store of value or for jewelry, silver is more closely tied to industrial activity. More than half of global silver demand comes from manufacturing, driven by its use in electronics, solar panels and electrification, according to data from the Silver Institute.
Without sufficient supplies of silver, our high tech economy would crash.
So last summer the U.S. officially designated silver to be a “strategic metal”, and that started the wild scramble that we are experiencing now…
Last summer, the U.S. officially declared silver a strategic metal. Since then, silver prices have surged, confirming suspicions that both China and the U.S. are stockpiling heavily. Silver is indispensable for building AI data center infrastructure and electric motors.
And when China decided to implement very strict restrictions on the export of silver, that raised the stakes to an entirely different level…
Earlier this month, China released a list of 44 companies approved to export silver under the new measures in 2026 and 2027. The new rules in 2026 also restrict exports of tungsten and antimony, materials dominated by China’s supply chain and widely used in defense and advanced technologies.
While China hasn’t explicitly announced a blanket ban on silver exports, the state-run Securities Times on Tuesday cited an unnamed industry insider, who said the new policy formally elevates the metal from an ordinary commodity to a strategic material, placing its export controls on the same regulatory footing as rare earths.
The U.S., China and everyone else are trying to ensure that they will have sufficient supplies of physical silver in 2026 and beyond.
Those that have been attempting to artificially manipulate the price of silver have no control over that.
No matter what paper games they play, nothing is going to stop the global scramble for physical silver that is currently playing out.
That is wonderful news for silver investors, but those that are holding shorts are in for a world of hurt.
On another note, we are now experiencing the most powerful solar radiation storm to hit the Earth in more than 20 years…
Powerful solar activity released by the sun is heading for Earth and it’s likely to create dazzling auroral displays in unexpected areas Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. It could also disrupt satellite-based communications and GPS accuracy.
A solar radiation storm, ranked at a level four out of five on a severity scale, is being tracked by the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center, or SWPC.
“An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years,” SWPC shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.”
Originally there was not too much concern about this storm, but it appears that it is quite a bit stronger than they were initially projecting…
Hopefully this storm will not cause too much damage.
But I think that the fact that the giant ball of fire that our planet revolves around has been acting so strangely in recent months should deeply concern all of us.
The behavior of the Sun has been a major topic of mine, and a large enough solar storm would have the potential to absolutely fry our power grids.
Of course most of the population is not interested in such talk.
They just want to hear that everything is okay so that they can go back to enjoying the party.
But signs that the party is ending are all around us, and I believe that the months ahead are going to be filled with all sorts of nasty surprises.
Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine 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.
The post What Are They Not Telling Us? Why Has The U.S. Mint Suddenly Raised The Price Of One Ounce Silver Coins To $169? appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
EOTECH has been a leader in tactical and commercial optics since it opened its doors. One of my favorites in their lineup has always been the Vudu series. It is a bomb proof optic with exceptional glass. Today, EOTECH has announced a new version. New Super Short 4-12×36 Vudu Scope.
EOTECH is now adding to its family of super short optics, with the release of the Vudu 4-12×36 First Focal Plane rifle scope. The 4-12x shares similarities to EOTECH’s wildly popular 3-9×32 launched in 2025, but its first focal plane design gears this optic to the more tactical or professional user.
The 4-12x’s overall length is only 7.1″, making this optic ideal on even the shortest rifle or AR-pistol designs. The scope body is constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum to be a compact, lightweight, but still incredibly durable package that is fog, water, and shock resistant. Its 36mm objective lens allows for excellent light transmission, even in low-light, dusk, and dawn conditions.
A wide power band on the eyepiece makes transitioning from low to high magnification quick and easy, and a substantial boss feature on the power ring makes it even faster. An adjustable diopter allows for precise focus for the individual’s vision.
The scope’s turrets offer .1 MRAD adjustments and are both capped to protect from inclement weather or inadvertent adjustments. And, once the scope is zeroed, the turrets can quickly be reset to zero.
A rotary dial located on the left side of the optic provides an illuminated reticle with 10 brightness settings to help in dusk and dawn lighting conditions. A CR2032 is located next to the rotary dial, providing roughly 300 hours of operation. The 4-12x sports the same XC high-density, low-dispersion multi-coated glass as its predecessors for excellent light transmission and scene clarity.
But what makes the 4-12x stand out from other magnified optics is its mounting interface. To minimize the overall length, EOTECH reduced the tube area typically used for mounting rings. Instead, a machined interface located at the bottom of the scope will adapt to the included EOTECH mount, or any aftermarket mini-ACOG mounts, and mount directly on a mil-standard rail. This provides a 1.53″ height above more, clearing most rear iron sights.
The first focal plane is preferred by more tactical users because the design allows quick range estimation and trajectory compensation at any magnification. In this design, the reticle and its sub-tensions maintain their size relative to the target image. For those wanting a non-magnified solution, EOTECH offers an optional ring mount that can be attached to the slim, front tube section to mount an EFLX or other compatible micro sights. It can be positioned at the 12 o’clock position or at 45-degree offsets to give you immediate transitions for close or moving targets.
In the tactical world, size and weight are major factors in equipment decisions. The super short 4-12x is small in size, lightweight, packed with features, and ideal for any shooting situation.
For more information, visit EOTECH.
EOTECH Vudu 4-12×36 Riflescope Specifications
| Magnification: | 4-12x |
| Focal Plane: | First |
| Color: | Black |
| Objective Lens: | 36mm |
| Illuminated: | Yes |
| Battery Type: | CR2032 |
| Overall Length: | 7.1″ (180.3mm) |
| Weight: | 16.9 oz (479g) |
| Eye Relief: | 4x: 2.5 – 3.1″ (65-80mm) |
| 12x: | 2.4 – 3.0″ (61-77mm) |
| Field-Of-View @ 100 Yards: | 4x: 28.5 ft (8.6m) |
| 12x: | 9.5 ft (2.9m) |
| MSRP: | Scope/$1,219 and Combo/$1,589. |
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The post Super Short 4-12×36 Vudu Scope – From EOTECH appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
Did you know that more stores were closed in the United States last year than ever before? More than 8,000 stores were permanently shuttered in 2025, and it appears that 2026 will be even worse. U.S. consumers have very little discretionary income to spend these days, and empty stores litter the landscape. If you live in a relatively prosperous area in our “K-shaped economy”, there may be just a few empty stores where you live. But if you live in a depressed area of the country, you may be faced with constant reminders of our retail apocalypse because there are abandoned stores virtually everywhere that you go. The wealthy are still spending lots of money at retailers, but things have gotten very tight for the rest of us. As a result, we are witnessing a tsunami of store closures that is unlike anything that has ever happened in the entire history of our nation.
Coresight Research is reporting that a whopping 8,234 stores were permanently closed in the United States in 2025…
Data shared with Daily Mail last month shows 8,234 US stores permanently closed last year – a staggering figure that marks a fresh blow to brick-and-mortar retail.
That’s 12 percent more than last year’s total of 7,325 closures, according to Coresight Research, and the highest number ever recorded.
We set the bar really high in 2024, and then we smashed that number by 12 percent in 2025.
Is that a good sign for the U.S. economy or a bad sign?
Needless to say, if the U.S. economy really was in good shape thousands of stores wouldn’t be closing.
And the number of store closings is a figure that government bureaucrats have no way to manipulate.
Stores either stay open or they get closed.
The fact that so many are being closed says a lot about where things are heading.
And this month there have been all sorts of signs that America’s “retail apocalypse” is getting even worse.
For example, Francesca’s has suddenly announced that all locations will be permanently closed and all inventory will be liquidated…
Nationwide women’s clothing brand Francesca’s has begun the process of closing all store locations, Women’s Wear Daily reports.
A customer service representative told the outlet the company was “liquidating our inventory and closing soon.” Francesca’s didn’t confirm the news publicly or provide any further details.
The company, which began in Houston in 1999, lists more than 450 locations across 45 states on its website. As of Monday, the site was advertising “last chance” warehouse clearance sales.
Francesca’s says it employs more than 3,400 associates.
Over 450 more stores are gone.
Just like that.
Meanwhile, the parent company of Value City Furniture has decided that now is the time to permanently close all 89 of the stores that it runs…
The parent company of Value City Furniture announced it would be closing all of its stores after nearly 80 years in business.
American Signature Inc.’s decision comes after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2025, according to The Street.
A press release from the company stated that liquidation sales started on Jan. 10, 2026, at the company’s 79 Value City Furniture stores and 10 American Signature Furniture locations.
Value City Furniture was an institution when I was growing up.
I can still remember the television commercials.
But now in the blink of an eye it is gone.
This is what the economic environment is like in 2026.
Macy’s was once a retail behemoth, but it is currently closing 14 stores as part of a plan to shutter approximately 150 locations by the time we reach the end of this calendar year…
Macy’s announced that it’s closing more than a dozen additional stores in 2026 as it pushes forward with plans to shutter underperforming locations to boost profitability.
Approximately 14 stores are slated to close during the first fiscal quarter as part of its “Bold New Chapter” turnaround strategy, which includes shuttering about 150 underperforming locations by the end of 2026.
But at least Macy’s is doing better than Saks.
Earlier this month, Saks Global made headline news all over the globe when it announced that it would be filing for bankruptcy…
Saks Global – the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman – filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, marking a low point for the nation’s biggest luxury department store conglomerate.
The firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which indicates a need for new ownership as debt impedes operations. Stores will remain open, but some locations may shutter as part of the reorganization.
I don’t know how a turnaround is going to be possible.
The company has been churning through hundreds of millions of dollars, but things just keep going downhill.
Of course just about every retailer that is dependent on mall traffic is hurting these days.
In fact, one of the most popular stores for plus-size women’s apparel has been rapidly shutting down locations…
A popular mall merchant continues closing “underperforming” locations as it aims to shutter hundreds of stores.
Torrid, a retailer of plus-size women’s apparel, announced in August 2025 it had closed 57 stores towards its plan to shutter 180 stores for the year. More recently, individual store closings are continuing, including a Connecticut location that is shutting down this month, The Street reported.
When I was a teenager, going to the mall was the thing to do.
But who has the money to shop at the mall at this stage?
Yes, the wealthy still have lots of money to spend, but the middle class is evaporating right in front of our eyes.
GameStop once thrived selling video games to middle class kids, but now they plan to close over 470 stores in 2026…
GameStop is closing more than 470 stores nationwide to start 2026.
While the Texas-based video game retailer has not released a list of which stores are closing, the GameStop website lists hundreds of locations as closed. A spokesperson for GameStop did not respond to a request for the full list.
Unless some sort of a miracle happens, we are going to shatter the all-time record for store closings that we just set in 2025.
The numbers don’t lie.
We really are in the midst of a horrifying retail apocalypse.
So I would encourage you to visit your favorite stores while you still can, because more of them could suddenly disappear at any time.
Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine 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.
The post Empty Stores Everywhere! America’s “Retail Apocalypse” Is Already The Worst In History, And There Are Signs That It Is Getting Even Worse… appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
