SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. There are a couple of interesting articles on the Texas shooting on important aspects of the case that the media doesn’t seem to be reporting on.
Water-Powered Flashlight
Well, not really. It’s a simple galvanic battery that uses water as the electrolyte. You store it dry, then add water when needed. The real jewel is the Joule Thief circuit. A couple of inexpensive parts and you can run the LED on very low voltage (like batteries that you would normally consider dead). I’m not sure of the practicality of this DIY flashlight, but it might be a fun project with your kids. You can also buy a commercially made version of the flashlight. Thanks to G.P. for the link.
Texas Shooting
Reader DSV sent in this article showing that the shooter was on prescription drugs for ADHD. His best friend from high school goes on record describing a troubled youth who struggled with verbal aggression and had a hair trigger on his temper. He had authority issues and plenty of red flags concerning his behavior. (Note: If you follow the “Read the Whole Article” link, you will be forwarded to the Daily Mail which has much crass and vulgar content. You’ve been warned!)
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The Activist Post has an interesting article showing that there are records reporting that the shooter pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and batter on his wife and aggravated assault on his infant stepson while stationed at Holloman Air Force base. Five other charges were withdrawn as part of the plea deal. These charges included multiple incidents in which he allegedly aimed either a loaded or unloaded firearm at his wife. He apparently kicked and choked his wife a number of times and fractured his infant stepson’s skull.
In the plea deal he admitted that he intentionally struck his stepson and the Air Force reported that he used enough force to potentially kill him and cause grievous bodily harm. For these egregious crimes, he received a year’s confinement, a demotion and a dishonorable discharge. If the Air Force had done it’s job properly, the shooter would have been locked up for a very long time and 26 people would still be alive. Where is the media coverage of that?!
Reason #5050 to Leave Public School
A Chillicothe, Ohio high school principle who was once named Ohio Principle of the Year has been indicted on sex charges involving students. The charges relate to two students where 16 and 17 years old. While the details of the case are being withheld, he is being charged with seven counts of sexual battery. The charge of sexual battery implies allegations of sexual intercourse. Thanks to reader F.M. for the link.
Multi-Drug Resistant Turberculosis
Reader F.M also sent in this reason to flee the crowded urban areas and move to a rural community: Minnesota’s multi-drug resistant tuberculosis outbreak is spreading. Seventeen known infections have occurred and six of them are now dead. The outbreak originated overseas. Some of the infected people hailed from a Thai refugee camp where tuberculosis infections were common. When they were resettled in Minnesota, they carried a latent form of the disease that was not infectious. But as they got older and their immune systems weakened, the disease became active, and they passed it along to others.
Wood Splitters
With the season of wood splitting exercise upon us, reader M.R. wrote in to say he has started using the Logosol Smart-Splitter. The unique design allows you to throw the weight of a maul and never miss the log. He says that two to four throws is usually enough to split a straight, dry piece of wood. Simply place a log under the wedge, then throw the guided weight down until the piece splits.
Removing Arsenic from Rice
I wasn’t even aware that arsenic was a problem in rice, but reader H.L. sent in this informative article on which kinds of rice contain the most arsenic and how to prepare it to remove the arsenic. I’m happy to say that my favorite aromatic rice, Basmati Rice, already contains the least amount of arsenic. Brown rice grown in the U.S. contains some of the highest amounts of arsenic though this is not due to contamination issues. Arsenic occures naturally and rice has a propensity to take it up from the ground as the rice grows. Apparently both the FDA and Consumer Reports have done extensive studies on the issue.
Conspiracy Theory
I normally don’t pay much attention to conspiracy theories but this one caught my eye. Could the Las Vegas mass shooting and the mass arrests in Saudi Arabia be related? Perhaps. This Reddit user makes a compelling argument for just that and fits together many pieces including an evacuated VIP and random firefights from various casinos on the same night. It certainly makes one think. Thanks to D.D. for the link.
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Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via ourContact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
Is there a link to the Tuberculosis article?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/healthtrending/minnesota-county-scrambles-to-control-deadly-tuberculosis-outbreak/ar-AAuy4b3
Here’s one of many…
Minnesota’s immigrant refugee program just keeps on giving. My nephew lost his job after several years employment with a medical institution to a refugee. Can’t blame the company, the refugee was part of a training program, government picked up his salary, etc, and as far as the company was concerned he was free labor and they received a lot of positive publicity. The refugee’s also received housing assistance, medicaid, free education, a free pass on political correctness, had a high crime rate, provided recruitment and support for ISIS, created an increasing Moslem population with a different view on the rule of law and the source of governmental powers, introduced many new and exotic diseases and drug resistant old ones, etc. Somehow most members of my extended family are not real fond of the program and suggested that they bestow all of its people and all of its blessings on New York or Los Angeles.
Should identify the company..
1) Actually, the most glaring example of bias in the liberal news media is how they refused to cover the armed civilian who actually shot and stopped the Texas church murderer — and the assault rifle the civilian used.
2) The Washington Post published multiple stories on the incident for several days without mentioning the civilian — it was as if the murderer had been hit by lightning and then committed suicide. Even thought the Post had a long article praising the driver who drove the truck that chased the murderer — without mentioning that the driver’s bravery might in part have been due to the passenger protecting the driver with an AR15.
3) After the brainwashing period was over the Post finally had a buried AP story on the civilian. The ten or so other Washington Post articles has 3000-4000 reader comments –many of them appearing to be from Democrat operatives trying to use the incident to attack Trump and exploit the incident for political gain. (Virginia’s election for governor was coming up in 1 day and Washington’s Virginia suburbs make up most of the urban liberal vote that counters the conservative votes in the rest of the state.) Note that very late story on Stephen Willeford only had 1 comment.
4) This is how the Democrat billionaires’ news corporations brainwash the voters. You don’t have to tell outright falsehoods to functionally lie to the voters — you just need to loudly hype some facts in an emotional rant and cover up ..er.. inconvenient truths.
PS Or maybe grudging acknowledge inconvenient truths a few days later in order to maintain the facade of “objective reporting”. Acknowledge them but so fleeting that readers miss it if they blink. Acknowledge the facts only after the brainwashing of the voters has been completed and few people are paying attention to the story any longer.
“Virginia’s election for governor was coming up in 1 day and Washington’s Virginia suburbs make up most of the urban liberal vote that counters the conservative votes in the rest of the state.”
That is why it is high time the States be broken up and the large population centers isolated. I’m sick and tired of my vote being countered by voters in a very few counties. In Michigan you can have as few as 9 counties out of 83 that control the outcome of any election. Break up the states! We don’t need 50 States, we need 60, 70 or 80 States, or more.
Clarification: The Post did acknowledge in some initial stories that the murderer took off “after an exchange of gunfire” with an armed civilian. Very passive voice — the equivalent of the murderer being startled by a truck backfiring he strolled to his vehicle. No mention of the murderer having other guns and fleeing only AFTER he had been WOUNDED twice by rounds from Stephen Willeford. Or what a 5.56 round does.
You had to read BRITISH newspapers to get a full account of who and what stopped the murderer.
Re: Texas shooter
I have been screaming about the role of psychotropic meds in mass shootings for years, and no one seems to be covering this.
Is there any reason we should be giving our children hard core drugs?
If we want to prevent mass shootings, we have to look at the effects long term of some of these drugs. Almost ALL the mass shooters over the last 5 or 6 decades had been taking prescribed meds for a significant time.
Does no one else see the correlation?
The original “school shooter” Laurie Dan was off her medications when she commited her crime and judged to be insane. Thhat was a long time before current medications
I have owned and used the Logosol Smart Splitter for 5 years and attest to its efficiency and durability, plus its a great back saver for females and older guys with tender lower backs.
I am not a fan of the schools push to define students as ADHD or the drug treatment. However it is not a reasonable conclusion to say that the drugs caused the problem(s). Some and perhaps many of the people treated with drugs for mental issues are dangerous. That is they are dangerous with or without the treatment. The drugs aren’t magic and although they may help some individuals they may not help others maintain a more or less normal life. It is the underlying mental illness that is the problem.
Regarding Kristallnacht and the potential targeting of constitutionalists:
I find it very likely that constitutionalists/nationalists will someday be legally targeted, but I find it even more likely – even certain – that fundamentalist Christians will be legally targeted. It is prophesied in Matthew 24/Mark 13/Luke 21.
It may be that in that day, fundamentalist Christians will actually be the only constitutionalists left in America, thus targeting both groups at once.
Not only is there much historical precedence for the targeting of Christians; it is actually happening in many places around the world today.
Another option for gardeners is to grow their own rice! I wasn’t aware previously, but there is a type of rice that can grow in normal garden conditions (e.g. not flooded). It is called “Upland Rice”, and is available from your favorite reputable seed supplier. It only needs fertile soil, lots of sun, and a moderate amount of water. “Lowland Rice” is the variety used mostly in Asia and requires a flooded environment to thrive.
I acquired some seed from https://www.southernexposure.com/
and planted it in the spring with my potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peas, corn, and other vegetables. No special care needed. It grew well, and in late summer I was harvesting my own rice! There are even varieties that grow as far north as Maine!
Everyone is blaming the Air Force for not following thru to keep this “person” from getting a firearm. They forget he committed a felony when he lied on the form that he had received other than an honorable discharge. This works about as good as a restraining order!
On the other hand, lying on the form for purchase of a firearm should have shown up on his NICS check. Or am I mistaken. Also his military criminal record should have shown up. Question, who dropped the ball on this one? Which government agency screwed up this time? Who screwed the pooch?
That is assuming he bought his firearms through what otherwise should have been legal means.
BCD
It should be Las Vegas shootings. There have been audio evidence that there were shooters on the roof of Mandalay and there is an almost an hour long video from another hotel showing up to 17 ambulances in front of Hooters. Also audio from the airport where they were mentioning shooters (presumed to be trying to get away) on the runway.
Texas Shooter
Yes, I was waiting to see this one pop up on the “SSRI Stories Antidepressant Nightmares” website. It is on the first page. I find this website to be a wealth of data for research on this topic. It certainly has compiled a significant amount of evidence. The description from the website reads:
“SSRI Stories is a collection of over 6,000 stories that have appeared in the media (newspapers, TV, scientific journals) in which prescription drugs were mentioned and in which the drugs may be linked to a variety of adverse outcomes including violence.”
The Lame Stream Media focuses on a single motive for these shooters. Few people have a single motive for anything they do. With the shooting in Sutherland Springs, we understand that the shooter had issues with in-laws, anger management issues and now we are hearing reports of ADHD. If one adds to the mix a virulent atheism and a climate of hatred towards “normies”, the threat matrix for this shooter would be high. Prevention of another such incident will be more likely by creating a threat matrix, rather than diagnosing a single motive.
Attributing ADHD medication to the shooting is like attributing a man’s copious coffee drinking to him having a nervous breakdown in the middle of a grocery store.
In fact, this line of reasoning is no different from the libtards’ gun control arguments.