Notes for Tuesday – May 09, 2017

On May 9th, 1945, Herman Goering– commander in chief of the Luftwaffe, president of the Reichstag, head of the Gestapo, prime minister of Prussia, and Hitler’s designated successor– was taken prisoner by the U.S. Seventh Army in Bavaria. Goering, who was addicted to painkillers due to a wound, was instrumental in creating concentration camps for political enemies. It was Goering who ordered the purging of German Jews from the economy following the Kristallnacht program in 1938, initiating an “Aryanization” policy that confiscated Jewish property and businesses. Tried and convicted at the Nuremberg trials, he was sentenced to hanging, but before he could be executed he committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide tablet he had hidden from his guards.




Water Contamination and Filtration 101, by MHN

*For those of us who prep, I am tailoring this guide to contaminants that would be found anywhere: radiation from fallout, chemical contamination from industry, contamination from urine and feces, natural sources that one might encounter on a homestead, and the technologies and techniques like filtration that would be most widely available in a SHTF scenario. I am an engineer who has specialized in water treatment in the chemical industry.

Most of us rely on clean tap or bottled water for everything from drinking to cooking to showering. We pay little attention to the process that takes raw water and transforms it into safe clean potable water. Once upon a time our ancestors drank right from streams and lakes. While the quality of this water was most likely better than the quality of water from most modern day surface sources, it was still contaminated with various pathogens and minerals. Even though our ancestors’ digestive tracks were heartier than ours, waterborne illnesses ranging from minor stomach bugs to cholera and dysentery took their tolls.

Many of us believe that a high quality particulate filter coupled with an activated carbon filter will make any source of water safe for human consumption. However, that isn’t necessarily true. Contaminants come in many shapes and sizes. In addition, different contaminates require different technologies and processes. Geography and human development determine where contaminants are found. Consequently, suburbia is not likely to contain agricultural chemicals. PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) aren’t likely to be found rural locations. BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), found in both gasoline and diesel, can be found anywhere.




SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This column is posted on Tuesdays. Here, we present news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region.  We also mention companies in the region of interest to preppers. The Redoubt region is perhaps the safest and most free place to live in these United States.

The American Redoubt has seen an unusually wet spring season. Near record rainfall has been the gift of the Jetstream which seems to have parked itself over the northern Redoubt. I can safely predict that the fire season will be mild this summer–at least in the northern part of the Redoubt.

Idaho

Here is a headline from Redoubt News about Boundary County, Idaho: There’s a New Sheriff in Town and He’s Been Busy His First 100 Days

o  o  o

Southern Idaho man admits being masked gunman in staged robbery…




The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of the Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods– a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper.

President Donald Trump’s full remarks at NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Atlanta. While his speech was not specific on particular gun law policies, it was encouraging. He previously mentioned that he is in favor of the Hearing Protection Act.

Columnist who defended NRA quits after being suspended. JWR’s Comment: I’m confident that a conservative network like Fox would benefit from hiring Stacy Washington!

Tactical Training

For Bragg released a video of a team engaged in an active shooter drill. The video underscores the importance of training. As the writer points out, the reason we train is so foolish (and costly) accidents don’t happen. I like his saying: “Remember, amateurs train until they get it right, professionals train until they don’t remember how to do it wrong.” (Warning: The second video is graphic.)

The left has lost its mind

The left continues their absurd, whining diatribes as they continue to refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. Fox news interviews Dakota Meyer on New York Magazine’s claim that the NRA benefits ISIS. This claim is the epitome of foolishness…