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”. More Social Media news today.
Social Media
Reader S.M. sent in this article on how the State Department has unveiled new rules that require most visitors or immigrants to the United States to turn over their recent social media histories. This is part of President Trumps “extreme vetting” national security enhancements. Given that social media is a primary means of communication among radicals, this is certainly a step in the right direction. Also encouraging is the mandate that visitors from countries who practice female genital mutilation will be directed to information sources that ensure that they know the practice is illegal in the United States.
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Do you know of people who announce that they are going on vacation on their social media accounts? I know of several families who have teenagers that regular post their current location along with photos, especially when they are traveling with their families. Note in this story that the house was robbed and the car stolen due to the social media presence of the family. We hate social media, but also understand that there are many who must use it. If you have to, at least use good OPSEC practices and don’t mention that you aren’t home, inviting burglars to visit you.
LaVoy Finicum
Now that the dust has settled over the whole Bundy court cases (which were basically thrown out by the juries who sat on the panels) and it is very clear that the Federal government stepped way over the boundaries, what’s next? What about justice for LaVoy Finicum? Even if you dislike the manner in which the Bundy’s and LaVoy dealt with the whole issue, there is no doubt that the abuses of the government were way over the top. This article details how the family of LaVoy, along with the other occupants of the vehicles that were fired upon, have filed suit against the government. Unlike previous abuses, like Waco or Ruby Ridge, this one has video evidence.
Refuting Gun Control
Reader H.L. sent in this article that provides a good guide to refuting popular gun control arguments. Most who attempt to argue for gun control do not actually have a good grasp of what they are demanding or what the facts surrounding the whole issues are. Note that you may be arguing against a brick wall, because if they are closed minded, you won’t be able to change their mind. But for those who are interested in truth and facts, this guide can help you convince them of their erroneous ways.
Wound Closure
Reader T.J. sent in this video reviewing the ZipStitch, a brand new product that allows you to have professional non-invasive wound closure at home. This product is particularly appealing since you would no longer have to actually pierce the skin with a needle and depend upon the structural integrity of the skin near the wound to hold the tension without ripping out. Note that this only works for wounds that require surface stitching. If the wound penetrates deeper than just the skin, you may need internal stitching. In that case, unless you are prepared to deal with it, you really need to seek professional help. Consider this just another tool in the medical toolbox. It is not a one device answer to all wounds requiring stitching and if you have access to modern medicine, you should still use that access.
Water Filters
Clean water is always an issue in third world countries – especially after a large natural disaster. While many companies have addressed this issue with various forms of water filtering and purifying, one company has come out with an innovative solution that may be of interest to preppers. Arsenic is a particularly troubling pollutant because it is so hard to remove and the education of people on how to use products is problematic. This solution simply uses filters made of bamboo fiber with ceramic granules sandwiched between each layer. The pores are small enough to trap pollutants and the failure mode is to simply stop passing water through it. When the filter is thrown away, the iron reacts and rusts sealing the pollutants inside the filter.
DRD LLC and the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest
Alaskan Gardener, winner of the last SurvivalBlog Writing Contest wrote in to tell us about one of the prizes he received from SurvivalBlog Sponsor DRD LLC:
“DRD Tactical mailed the 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper as their contribution to the first prize for the 74th Survival Blog writing contest promptly after your letter to Skip. The quality of the 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper and hard case that was form-fitted to the upper metal pieces was excellent. The machining and bluing of the metal pieces was top notch. I am very please with this prize.”
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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!
LaVoy FINICUM ISSUES: THE MAN WAS ASSASSINATED , I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE, BY A POLICE TYPE PERSON. At first they said he had a gun,” in his LEFT coat pocket ” that he was reaching for. The gun was a 9mm handgun that had been previously reported stolen. TV pictures at the refuge showed Finicum wearing a .45 pistol on his RIGHT hip. When Finicum left the refuge, to go to the ill-fated meeting, he reportedly left the .45 there. The 9mm handgun was what police people call a ” throw down gun “. These guns are easily obtained by police on the streets, in a varitey of ways, and are kept by the officers in case of a “bad shooting.” Finicum was shot three times in the back.
As in Waco and Ruby Ridge the law enforcement is very, very questionable. Is it any wonder that people no longer respect police, and there are now numerous attacks on police!?
And when there are attacks on police it’s usually a good cop that has to pay the price for some bad cop out there who had murdered an innocent citizen. Maybe police would be wise to publicly condemn their fellow cop buddies when they murder the innocent instead of stand in support with them.
RE -“Refuting Gun Control”
I recommend no longer having the pro gun conversation with anti gun idiots. They simply do not have the will, ability nor intelligence for rational discourse.
Besides the fact we have been losing our gun rights steadily over the past decades, and 1968 in particular was the worst, we have done nothing but give in to appeals of “compromise”.
At every turn we’ve been stabbed in the back.
Nope, no more.
I have had enough.
Want my guns? No, you cannot have them. Period.
I would encourage massive non-compliance with any new regulation. They can’t arrest millions of people, and if they start doing that, they’ll unleash a previously not experienced kind of hell on themselves. And they will lose.
I’m with you, Ned. And not just about guns.
It’s a waste of time and energy to attempt intelligent discourse with anyone about anything. We have abdicated millennia of learning and logic to emotion and passion, and they will be our undoing. Makes me wish we had our own Surak.
Its not that emotion is in itself a problem, but it can be played “like a harp from hell” to manipulate anyone into anything – just find the right button.
Critical Thinking? Thanks, never use it…. Consider another point of view? Are you mad!
The more inexperienced and idealistic the mind, the easier it is to influence with an appeal to emotion. The younger the mind, the more the rush obtained from passion, fanaticism, group belonging and the need to follow leaders blindly. Never mind where they’re going, they feel so good about themselves and how they’re making a difference.
The Liberal doesn’t exist who has matured beyond the age of 12. And it shows!
They live in a world of magical thinking, marmalade skies filled with cotton candy clouds and self-centered egotism. They can’t hold the concept that they are not the center of constant attention and consideration. To their adolescent world view, they are not only the nucleus of the universe, they are the reason it exists.
They have been systematically isolated from the techniques of Rational Debate and saturated with easy to embrace (and tweet) heuristics – problem solving shortcuts – and the fallacious logic that leads to illegitimate conclusions.
They have thrown away our past and our accomplishments to their peril. I will not engage them, unless they come to take what is mine. Then, “Molon labe.”
“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.
Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying…nothing.” —Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
Finicum did multiple stupid things. Taking over the federal facility was incredibly stupid and they are lucky they weren’t all killed in a shootout. Running from law enforcement; stupid! Then jumping out of the truck and acting a fool; stupid! He put everyone in that truck at risk; stupid!
I don’t think that gun was planted on him and I think it is irresponsible to make that claim without knowing.
Could not find ZipStitch or Mesopaper on Amazon. Any suggestions? Both great ideas/inventions.
https://zipstitch.us/
Not sure about Mesopaper. It was on Amazon, but is currently unavailable. We’ll have to keep an eye on it.
Just bought some on zipstitch.us with a discount for multiple items.
https://www.amazon.com/MesoNose-Pitcher-Certified-pitcher-reduces/dp/B01N9Z00FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522625054&sr=8-1&keywords=mesofilter
I have A brother heading to Myanmar on a mission trip. He’s been before and conditions are beyond poor. I will be calling the Mesopaper company on Monday to see if it’s available and pricing. Hopefully in quantity discount. I’ll post any news I can get.
I agree with the comment by ned2! It past time to Quit compromising on Restrictive gun laws. We need to stop compromising and start Repealing. No more restrictive gun laws should be passed. Instead we should start Repealing the restrictive gun laws now on the books!
Do you HEAR ME NRA!!
Speaking of bad gun laws: Here is the link to the ATF comment section on bumpstocks
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ATF-2018-0002-0001
The talk of being away from home on vacation reminded me of something I have recently implemented. Discreet security cameras all over the place, run on batteries so the cameras themselves do not require AC. I put monstrous UPSs on all my network equipment so that if the perps shut my power off thinking they will bypass the cameras, wifi will continue to function and record/alert me for many hours before the UPSs run out of juice. Also have this product installed to alert me of the power being shut off:
https://www.isocketsystems.com/en/products/
Its the iSocket3G I am referring to, a most intriguing product. Can also run a temp probe into any refrigeration unit to monitor said temp.
Reference Lavoy finicum jumping out of the truck with your hands up is definitely an aggressive move on on Lavoy finicum part. Why would you also set a roadblock up on a curve? And have you watched the video of the bullet coming through the top of the truck as he exits the truck with his hands in the air? Somebody’s been watching the mainstream media too much la-di-da la-di-da brainwashed.
What is concerning about the proposal to collect social media data from people traveling to the U.S. is that other countries will almost certainly start doing the same to Americans in retaliation. We are already subjected to increased visa fees, fingerprinting and other issues when we travel that people from other countries are not.
I know this feels like an “America First” policy, but it does have a real impact on the lives of people doing missionary, commerce and relief work abroad.