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 from “HJL”. Ebola is back in the news this week.

Power Grid

The California power grid is urging consumers to conserve energy in this heat wave that is hitting the western United States. With temperatures in the 100+ range, people are demanding more from their air-conditioning and the grid is stressed. Southern California Gas Company has already issued alerts letting people know that there may be gas shortages as the send more gas to electrical generators. The warning is that if the grid is stressed to much, it will result in brownouts or blackouts for much of California. Gas producers may also have to tap reserves which could mean trouble this winter. As an aside, Valley Food Storage has an article on “10 Ways to Stay Cool Without Power” that you may want to read if you are in an affected area. Thanks to G.P. for the link.

Ol’ Remus on Democratic Socialism

Ol’ Remus pontificates on the rise of Democratic Socialism in the United States in his latest blog entry. In his traditional “calling it like it is” style, he suggests that the reader ad Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals to their reading list as the socialists are following it nearly verbatim. He notes specifically these two rules:

  • Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have
  • The threat is more terrifying than the thing itself

He also notes that the U.S. has basically been under Communist rule for decades with the socialists having achieved practically all of their goals. There is also a good update to the chipped tire article in this issue. Thanks to JMC for the link.

How to Survive Anything

The Kate Dalley podcast recently had Kevin and Susan Reed from OnPoint Tactical, LLC as guest. Discussion on the forum basically ranged over the gamut in preparing to survive anything. Preppers have a tendency to “think big” in their survival thinking, but Kevin had many good suggestions to help you think smaller as well. Things like getting trapped in your car during a flood and other smaller emergency situations are covered. The concept of the black swan is fleshed out and helps you understand how it can be good or bad. It’s a good listen while your driving. Check it out.

Total Disarmament

In a totally predictable patter, the mayor of of Toronto has suggested that total disarmament is the only viable option in dealing with the rising gun related violence within the city. It should be noted that this latest mass shooting in Toronto is only part of the rising violence. Of course, no one thinks that the violence could have anything to do with the government creating victim rich zones through their current oppressive gun control laws. This is the the “common sense” gun control that is so revered by filmmaker Michael Moore and others. Remember, gun control is not just about “guns”. It’s really about “control”. Thanks to DSV for the link.

Artificial Embryos

Reader G.S. sent in this disturbing report that artificial embryos have been built from scratch using stem cells. Researchers bypassed the act of fertilization by growing the self-assembling structures in the lab. Normally, a process known as “gastrulation” – a process whereby the embryo creates three distinct layers that determine the future of its cells, is absent in the lab. However, it appears that researchers overcame this bringing all three types of stem cells into a fully formed embryo. Currently, the research is only being performed on mice, but there is a huge ethical discussion occurring about humans. Under British law, only donated human embryos less than 14 days old can be studied in the lab, after which they have to be destroyed.

Ebola

For the first time, it appears that a female Ebola survivor from last year has infected others with the virus. Fears that this could happen have been around since researchers suspected that those who suffered and infection and recovered could be carriers of the disease. Researchers do not yet know how the virus hid inside the woman for 13 months before re-emerging in a lethal form. The woman fell ill shortly after giving birth so there is some speculation that the normal immune suppression that occurs in pregnancy may have triggered the relapse. In the past, though parts of the virus have been found in breast milk and spinal fluid of women who recover, only male survivors have been known to infect anyone. Research shows that the virus persists in semen for up to two years.

Survival Realty

If you are thinking of becoming an expat, Survival Realty has listed an nice property in the Ecuadorian Andes. It’s almost 15 acres and is located about 1 1/2 hours from the expat retirement haven of Cuenca Ecuador. It’s got a well maintained gravel access road and is beautiful. While in the mountainous terrain, a good portion of it is usable land. It’s priced at $9.25 per square meter.

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!




10 Comments

    1. Van Attack? Oh you mean offensive combat operations by any means necessary in islam’s declared war against the world, Civilizational Jihad. Maybe if we continue to ignore the declaration of war and pretend that it doesn’t exist it will go away. Why have we spent the last 30 years wrecking the middle east only to invite those with growing ire toward us into our lands? Somebodies got some splain’in to do.

  1. “Under British law, only donated human embryos less than 14 days old can be studied in the lab, after which they have to be destroyed.”

    While on the one hand I appreciate that the LORD tarries, very likely giving us a chance to repent, the Church just doesn’t have it in them to fix this. As far as I’m concerned He can burn it all down today. We deserve it.

    1. I’ve always liked the ring of “Sitting Duck Zones”. I would love to paste signs saying such over the Gun Free Zone signs outside schools.

  2. RE: Power Grid

    I just watched a video where a guy is saying the future is NOW for Electric cars, even in rural areas. He said ANYONE can put in their own “Semi Super Charging Station” in their garage and have the freedom to roam the US. He stated that in a “standard” 200 amp service the charger “ONLY” takes 60% of that, leaving 40% to run your entire house. OK, so everyone puts in a charge station, we all get home around 6:00PM and plug in. What happens to the grid? With this nation wide heat wave, we can barely keep up with the air conditioning needs. Add ANOTHER 120 amps of pull off that grid for everyone with an EV and it’s a recipe for disaster.

  3. Regarding California (and other states) with very high heat! I moved for a year in the early 80’s to St. Louis, MO from Connecticut. It was the hottest summer in decades. For over a week it never dropped below 85 at NIGHT, and it was over 100 days. St. Louis had the most post WWII BRICK housing in the nation. High crime caused many, primarily elderly, to nail windows shut and they had NO AC, and most had no fans. People (and pets) died! After that I knew that in a HOT spell, even with NO power for a period of time, I would do the following: Always have a heavy foam cooler, and keep ice blocks, the ones that come with an order of frozen meat, or even just freezing several plastic containers, full. If you think that a storm is coming, or whatever, keep the cooler there with the ICE in it. Take cheap 100% COTTON tee shirts, wet them down, roll tightly and put in the cooler, or if power not out, in the freezer or refrigerator. If/when you need them, take the tee shirt, and put it on, and put a cotton hanky that is also COLD on your head. Lay down, keep your torso and head cool, and if you have power, keep a fan blowing on you. You should be fine. Keeping the CORE of the body cool, and the head, can keep you ALIVE. Even without a fan, you should make it. No need to try and drive/walk/whatever to cooling center. BE PREPARED in hot weather for a cooler in your kitchen, with ICE, and cotton. If no tee shirts, cut up 100% cotton sheet, damp it down, roll up tight, put in refrigerator or freezer, or cooler and you can save your life. To heck with the food, you are trying to save your life. Of course, if you had sterno cans and folding sterno stove and kitchen matches and some back packing meals, and a few basics, you should be OK for a week or two until things normalize. No need for elderly to die of the heat, unless they have underlying serious illnesses. It would be a cold day in you know where before I went to any “FEMA’ or whatever center. This old girl had learned, sometimes the hard way, how to survive for a few weeks. I am too old to worry about longer, but I have made a FEW provisions for my CLUELESS, YOUNGER, USELESS, BUT NICE RELATIVES After then, well I have lived a good, charitable and very fun life and my foot stone which I designed and had made, at the family plot is ready. It says “always a maverick” and that is me to the core! I was born after my time. I should have been born in the 1800’s! PS, we have a large propane generator, but I NEVER depend on it, and always have Plan B or C to keep me and my 82 year old sister safe. I am NOT one to be messed with,but be a good person, and we will help!

  4. The 15 acre Survival Realty in Cuenca is outrageously priced at over half a million USD. The property and the house must be a top of line survival pad. I am starting my second year of research to find a place and OMG type places range from 150-200k. 15 acres= 60702.8 SqM at $9.25/SqM= $561,500.00

  5. On keeping cool, I used this method in VN. Take a box fan and angle it from the foot of your bed so that the airflow covers the whole bed. Now cover your naked body with a coarse blanket ( mine was from the Army). The airflow will cover your body evenly and evaporate your sweat keeping you comfortable. You will need a shower in the morning

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