The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. The Puerto Rico update gives us an idea of what most urban areas will be like during the beginning phases of a societal collapse.

Institutional Evil

A project Veritas video shows former Twitter employees discussing “Shadow Banning” users. This is the policy where the platform allows those who are in control to arbitrarily apply censorship to the platform. Those users who have ideals contrary to the censors get their accounts locked and/or banned or have tweets removed. Conservative concepts regularly get flagged yet left-leaning content sails through unchecked. Thanks to D.B. for the link.

New Spy Portal

While we are on the subject of social media, it’s worth noting that Facebook is getting in on the act. The Portal is a 15 inch screen with a wide angle camera that has facial recognition and microphones to allow voice control. It’s being pitched as a way for family and friends to stay in contact with each other through video chatting and other social features. The units are planned to ship later this year and I’m wondering how many who purchase one will have read George Orwell’s 1984 (where telescreens were used to closely monitor and repress citizens.) Thanks to DSV for the link.

Puerto Rico Update

Reader H.L. sent us this article that gives us a glimpse of life after a societal breakdown. In the first 11 days of the year, 32 have been slain – double the number slain during the whole of 2017. While the murder rate did not spike immediately after the hurricanes, police attribute the rise in violent crime directly to the aftereffects. The increased economic hardship, a sickout by the policed and other factors are contributing to the rise in crime. In addition a turf war has apparently broken out among drug gangs trying to increase their territory.

Influenza

This years flu season is turning out to be a big one Some hospitals are now banning younger visitors until the flu season subsides. Most hospitals are experiencing high volumes of patients with respiratory viral illnesses, primarily influenza and the young are apparently primary vectors of the diseases, even if they are not showing symptoms. You can also thank those who head back to work or school while being sick for spreading the love. Thanks to G.P. for the link.

Firearm Traveler’s Guide

Gunlaws.com has released it’s latest version of the “Travelers Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States”. If you currently travel through the U.S. or are planning to travel, this would be a handy reference to have. You might want to get more than one too. Put one in your car and keep one at home. Considering the worth of your firearms and the value of your freedom, you really need to know what you can and can’t do as you travel through some of the more restrictive states. The book also covers restaurant carry and police roadside stops along with advice on dealing with illegal requests for searches.

Warrior Mindset

Max Velocity Tactical has a new blog post on the warrior mindset and the firearms culture.

“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”― Heraclitus

Are you that one? This article is a definite read.

Government Overreach

Reader R.T. sent in this article on government interference. A Pennsylvania court has mandated that an Amish family must connect their house up to the sewer system despite the need for an electric pump and a permanent connection to the public electric utility. They are not allowed to use their traditional outhouse. This is just further evidence of the countries propensity to ignore the religious freedom of its citizens.

o o o

Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact 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!


17 Comments

  1. “Some hospitals are now banning younger visitors until the flu season subsides.” The hospital is a formidable, inhospitable place for the young, sick or elderly at any time. The high incident of nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistant infections precludes this as being a safe place for anyone that is not expressly needing hospital care. Keep your children away.

  2. Re: Travelers guide to the firearm laws of the 50 states”

    This is a great publication, but has a flaw, in that it becomes obselete as soon as one state decides to change a law.
    A much better source of info for those traveling is the website handgunlaw’dot’us which will give you real time updates on the laws in all 50 states, as well as describe pending changes.
    I had a near catastrophic situation several years ago when PA rescinded reciprocity with my state CCW, and I was carrying unaware of this rule change. My copy of the Travelers Guide was in my truck at the time. I almost got stopped for speeding; cop followed me for several miles. If I had been stopped, it would have been a real mess.
    Since that day, I have consulted handgunlaw”dot”us prior to travelling out of state.

  3. The Warrior Mindset includes the self discipline to do the truly hard things, and make decisions that are not really popular, but necessary. Warrior Mindset is focused on the Mission, beginning to end.

  4. Re: connecting to utilities.

    I agree that you should not be forced to connect or use electric and water. Sewer perhaps is different. Certainly in a sufficiently rural property an outhouse is acceptable but it appeared from the story that this was in a community and it is unfair to others in the community to have one guy (or a hundred) dropping their human waste into the ground water.

    As for the electric you can, anyone can simply go to your breaker box and flip the main breaker and voila you are no longer connected to the electric utility. Ditto for water. By law everything after the water meter is the resident/owners property and responsibility. There is usually a shutoff on your side of the water meter. Shut it of and you are disconnected.

    Then there is the issue of religious freedom. It seems disingenuous to use electricity when you want to for convenience or effectiveness but then use your disdain of electricity as an attempt to cite the 1st amendment to bolster your argument. IMHO the case should have been thrown out for fraud because of this obvious phony argument.

    1. The issue is should you be forced into buying a product or a service and judging by this and your earlier comments your Aok with that…Wake Up Man and stop being such a Statist…

      1. Lineman:
        You and I think a lot alike. Once again I find myself in total agreement with you.
        Unless you are Amish living in downtown Philadelphia you should not have forced into buying something you do not want or need. We could learn a lot from our Amish brothers and sisters about living off grid. Live and let live. Peace.

  5. Warrior Mindset:

    Max’s article states what I have been thinking and seeing for a while, a lot of talk and possession of things with no real ability to make it work in a sustainable fashion.

    Today, a military mindset and discipline is missing from a vast majority of Americans compared to previous generations.

    The 2nd Ammendment mentions a militia, but few people really know what that means and it simply hasn’t existed in some time.

    Some states, like Florida, have a militia on paper, but no real existing force, while at the same time forbidding any type of military training.

    The 2017 Florida Statutes, Title XVII, MILITARY AFFAIRS AND RELATED MATTERS, Chapter 251, FLORIDA STATE DEFENSE FORCE
    CHAPTER 251 FLORIDA STATE DEFENSE FORCE
    http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0251/0251ContentsIndex.html&StatuteYear=2017&Title=%2D%3E2017%2D%3EChapter%20251

    The 2017 Florida Statutes, Title XLVI, CRIMES, Chapter 790, WEAPONS AND FIREARMS
    790.29 Paramilitary training; teaching or participation prohibited.—
    (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the “State Antiparamilitary Training Act.”
    http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.29.html

    My parents insisted that their sons enlist in military service, that it was crucial for a society to have participants in the military. So, at age 17, as part of the Reserves, I had been to Parris Island and Camp Lejeune for six months. Military skills had been learned at a young age. Having said that, the happiest day of my mother’s life was the day her last son ended his military enlistment, having watched many men go off to WWII and not come back.

    But, trying to impart those learned skills on others in the decades since then has been a difficult challenge. Some of it is that these folks are older and less receptive, and other that they are just heavily distracted by other things.

    In JWR’s books and as well as others, like Forstchen’s “One Second After” (2009), and Frank’s
    “Alas, Babylon” (1959), a local militia was formed and trained, after a major event had occurred. All of this was done at the local level, not at the National, State, or even County levels.

    Part of the challenge of preparing, is how to equip, train, and feed a bunch of people, when the power goes out, the trucks stop running, and the signals all become static. When the ones to be trained, are so distracted right now, that they have no concept of ever being in such an organization. They are going to have a lot of free time on their hands…

    It would be far simpler to train them all when they are in high school… But, that is not part of the current reality.

    I really like the Swiss military, all able men, 18 to 34…
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Armed_Forces

    We all need to help men of this age to acquire military skills and equipment.

      1. Unless you are unlucky enough to be at ground zero, modern sub-megaton warheads are survivable at a distance in a shelter. “…Die” is a fatalistic way to prepare for someone else fighting a nuclear war nearby.

  7. Shadow Ban and Feminism
    Although not a fan of social media I use it as a tiny voice against the feminist ideology. I was banned for a month I believe because my title was “The Recovering Feminist.” One of the quickest ways to get shut down in this culture is to confront the feminist. The hatred is palpable. You do not question the feminist!

    I changed my name to “feminine nudge” and have been waiting for my first set of hand-cuffs but pleasantly surprised to be able to continue speaking against the lies. Now, I suspect that I am simply being “shadow” banned rather than outright silenced. These tactics are well known in history.

    1. The Recovering Feminist:
      Tell it like it is sister. Preach on. Every time I turn around I find another lady absolutely sick about the feminist movement of ’60s & ’70s and wishing it had not happened. Stand you ground!

    1. This was a great lesson that should have been picked up by many here. Many have livestock but little plans to protect them. There was a reason there used to be Shepards

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