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 “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the prospect of Internet  Rationing in Europe.

America’s Grimmest Month

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: America’s Grimmest Month

Austria Says: You Must Wear a Mask

Peter sent us this: Austria to Make Basic Face Masks Compulsory in Supermarkets

Study: Coronavirus Could be Airborne

Coronavirus could be airborne, study suggests. This article begins:

“It may be possible for the novel coronavirus to transmit through the air, a new study released over the weekend suggests.

In a joint study by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, and others, researchers found genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 in air samples from both in and outside of confirmed coronavirus patients’ rooms. The findings offer “limited evidence that some potential for airborne transmission exists,” researchers said, though they warned that the findings do not confirm airborne spread.”

Hamptons Houses are Now Luxury Coronavirus Bunkers

H.L. sent this: Hamptons Houses Are Now Luxury Coronavirus Bunkers

Unintended COVIDquences: Rats!

Reader T.S. sent us this: Rats swarm New Orleans’ streets as coronavirus precautions leave them empty

Help Support Operation Face Mask

Three companies in the gun accessory manufacturing have teamed up for a new project to charitably benefit health care workers in a practical and tangible way: Operation Face Mask. This is a worthy cause, folks. Please send a donation, if you can afford it.

Large-Scale “Internet Rationing” Possible in Europe

At Zero Hedge: Large-Scale “Internet Rationing” Possible, Experts Warn. A pericope:

“Days after Netflix pledged to reduce streaming traffic, experts are saying that European countries could start rolling out large-scale “internet rationing” to prioritize critical apps and websites.

“If we end up in a situation where worldwide, 850m children start to receive lessons virtually for an extended period of time, then networks might want to start prioritizing video traffic over gaming traffic,” said Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly, who spoke with The Telegraph.

British internet provider BT Group said their communication network could handle the extreme levels of data of millions surfing the internet while in quarantine. But they warned that video streaming services could start bogging down the system and leave critical networks, reserved for emergency services, exposed to slow speeds.

Besides Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are other streaming services limiting ultra-high definition videos to European users to preserve the functionality of the internet.

The French and UK governments have reportedly asked Disney to suspend the launch of its new streaming service in both countries on March 24.

The risk of large-scale “internet rationings” by European governments could be on the horizon as more and more people across the continent are forced to shelter in their homes. This could lead to the throttling of internet speeds for citizens while internet traffic is preserved for European healthcare systems, education systems, and emergency systems.”

The New Yorker Visits an Oregon Gun Store

A writer for The New Yorker magazine visits an Oregon Gun Store: Choose Your Weapon. “As shoppers stock up for a potential Armageddon, an Oregon gun store has sold out of ARs and .308 rifles, many of which went to first-time liberal buyers.”

Some Pandemic Humor

From our friend Patrice Lewis, Editrix of the great Rural Revulotion blog: Some humor to lighten your day. This little bit of Covid 19 humor. There are a lot a very cute memes, and the re-creation of The Sound Of Music songs is evidence that someone has far too much time on their hands.

A Not-So-Secret Irish Prepper Speaks Out

Reader Tim J. sent this video link: My BIG Secret: I’m Ireland’s only… [Prepper]

There is No Emergency Shutdown of the Right to Bear Arms

At AmmolLand: There is No Emergency Shutdown of the Right to Bear Arms

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You can send your news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) Thanks!


37 Comments

  2. Update they called the son into work today
    Health department officials and police officers going around enforcing people/businesses not complying
    I have know idea what they are going to do

      1. I really do not want to give out his location
        I do not want to put his job on the line if I say something to touchy
        I will talk to him later to see what happen today and update if note worthy

  4. We have a comet approaching the sun: Comet ATLAS C/2019 Y4 which is currently just to the right and slightly down from the Big Dipper. It can be seen with binoculars at this time. It is supposed to be visible to the naked eye around the end of April and then brighter than the moon by the end of May, possibly visible during the day. This will be a sight to behold.

    1. Hello Lily I’ve been following this comet for a while now. Comets are famous to flopping the hype. I’m wondering if a very bright comet appears how people will interpret it. Will it be an evil omen or a good sign? Hale Bopp brought out quite a few whackos.

    2. Thank you Ma’mm for the heads up on the comet. I’ve got a new camera since the last comet. Now I’m really excited to take some photos and just stare.

  5. Ah, stepping out into the world with a brand new gun and ammo to boot.
    Hard to beat that feeling. Got that new gun oil smell all over your hands.
    For a lot of converts (hopefully) this is the start of an awakening.
    Ani posted a comment in another thread about newbies buying seeds, freezers, and canning supplies becoming brothers and sisters in arms.
    I certainly hope this is the case. Time will tell. We have been gardening, canning and storing our God given bounty for many years. We have success and failure every year.
    For those who are just beginning this journey. If you are on this blog welcome, you found a treasure trove of information and people with traditional American values.
    Most of us cling to, and in fact do read our Bibles, like the smell of Hoppes 9 (the old stuff) and we like having garden soil under our nails.
    Don’t give up. Just keep living and learning it is all right in front of you.

      1. The numbers do speak. One thing seems apparent: The United States is doing a lot of testing, and China isn’t doing much at all. However, the U.S. numbers are still leaving much to be desired, because the tests are still being heavily triaged and rationed. Even health-care providers cannot get a “preventative” test to determine if they are asymptomatic carriers–for cause, obviously. At the same time, deaths linked to the SARS CoV-2 are still possibly including trauma deaths, heart attacks, etc.

        I do like worldometers.info for their layout of official stats.

      2. I was listening to Rush today and it seems his opinion is this is a plot to destroy our economy so liberals can take over. He thinks this is still just a bad cold virus and we should never had shut down the economy for just a few thousands people dying.
        He did a list the other day which in my opinion was useless since this virus is only 3 months old and the rate of infection is incredible.

        Anyway, in 30 days we should know if this is the event that changes everything or it will burn itself out. Also, we do have other nations like Italy and Spain to show how deadly this can be. And the idea that people would have died anyway misses one point, it was COVID-19 that killed them. People with controlled diabetes, or high blood pressure can live a long life, but this one virus seems to be the vector that kills them.

        Time will tell but I think this event has legs to it and will change things we do for a very,very long time. The idea things will go back to normal is a myth.

  7. My how things change, and yet remain basically the same. It will be interesting how this affects us in the long term. Having observed humans for a good number of years, I’m wondering how the newly introduced “peppers” will actually continue with their preparing, canning, garden growing, and staying aware of anything can happen situations as well, and most important goobermint intervention and encroachment into their lives etc, or will revert back to the “easy way” once things return to somewhat normal. My bet is that the majority will find themselves ill prepared to embark on this endeavor in the first place and will drop it soon as things smooth out. It takes genuine effort to live a life of preparedness. Most have neither the effort nor knowledge or willingness to gain that knowledge.

    Judge Napolitano has a very good article today re: the so called lockdown/encroachment of goober mint into peoples lives and rights. SO un-Constitutional it’s not even funny. Once we allow then this leeway under the guise of “national emergency” you can kiss your 1st, 4th, and many of your other guaranteed right goodbye. they will use any mundane excuse from then on as a “national emergency”.

    https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/04/andrew-p-napolitano/taking-rights-seriously/

    I have no doubt that the numbers are accurate, for the most part, but you need to read between the lines as well. How may deaths attributed to covid-19 are actually caused by the virus or simply died “with” the virus, an underlying death issue by other illness that has been exacerbated by the virus. A lot of it has to do with who is doing the reporting and the reason they report it like thy did.
    IE: cause of death – corona virus – VS – cause of death – diabetes & pneumonia due to obesity and infection of corona virus.

  8. The New Yorker article feels like a made-up story. Maybe its just the way it was written…
    Anyway, I’d be scared to be anywhere around a liberal gun newbie.

    2. Like you, JW, I plan to stay far away from a gun-toting newbie. That one will not hit what he is aiming at and will have no awareness of what is behind the target. When I do go out, my situational awareness will be at a new level. Oh, and I hope none of my neighbors are newbie shooters. Bullets pierce walls and nail innocent people.

      Carry on with grace

    1. This is far worse than the Hong Kong flu was. It will kill far more people even if we do everything right and if we fail to take all the necessary steps it has the potential to kill 10 – 20 times that number. Make no mistake in 6 months there will be no one posting that this is just the flu and those old posts if they are still around will be a huge source of embarrassment. In fact by April 15th the numbers will be so staggering that we will be much more somber with our criticisms of Covid-19 and our efforts to minimize the effects of it. Based on statistics the death rate will likely double four times by then. I.E. right this minute total deaths in the U.S. = 5865. Double that once = 11,730. Double it again = 23,460. Double again = 46,920. And again = 93,840.

      Now it may or may not follow that exactly. It could take all of April to reach that number. That is after all the reason we have self quarantine; to prevent the spread. Or it could take three weeks instead of two weeks. But in a very short time even the naysayers are going to finally understand that this is in fact a true and deadly pandemic and after it runs it’s course nothing will ever be the same again. Not our hospitals, our families, our economies, our interaction with other countries and more. This is going to be tough…

  10. “Rats swarm New Orleans’ streets as coronavirus precautions leave them empty”

    How many rat traps do you have in your supplies? Another use – with that addition of shotgun primers and some monofilament line, rat traps can be converted for use as audible perimeter security notification as well.

    1. Yes, funny how prepper mind track the same .

      My preps this week were to get a hand sprayer (decon use)on sale, a bucket of Tomcat rodent bait, and another urgent call to the animal shelter trying to find a new barn cat.

  11. Rather than argue the legalities of a thing, I prefer to deal with the reality as much as possible. When it comes to suspension or denial of our rights, especially our gun rights, it makes me think of the pedestrian’s right of way at the intersection. Sure, you may have the signal in your favor, but when the car hits you, you’re still gonna lose. What happens later on in court may or may not be of any relevance to your immediate situation.

    The fact is, those in power can abuse it if they have enough of it and the right kind. New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina comes to mind as a good contemporary example. A dozen well armed and armored cops at your door comes fairly close to an irresistible force. You might be an immovable object for a short period, but once reinforcements arrive, your rights are irrelevant. What happens next is fairly certain, depending on your choice of living without, or living at all.

    Once they’ve shot you in the face, there aren’t too many more legal arguments that are gonna do much for you.

    1. This sort of thing is more likely to occur in the big cities, and very unlikely to occur where the natives already stand their ground. Here in NW Montana, although the police and Sheriff here are corrupt, they fear the citizens, and no swat teams will be going from house to house raiding homes.

  12. Hello from New Zealand. I thought you guys might be interested in how this pandemic is affecting others, and how we are handling it. My partner is from CA, and has family still in the States, so she is very worried for them. Down under, things arent so bad – yet. Remember, we have a population of just under 5 million people (the whole country). Of that, we have just under 1000 people infected. Of those, 15 or so are in intensive care, 2 seriously. Only one person (elderly) has died so far. So why is this so? Well, we went into nationwide lockdown a week ago. Work from home if able, do not go out unless to get food, medicines or other essential supplies (note, ammo is not considered essential here). We can go out for a walk and to get fresh air, but must stay 2m (6ft) away from others. No group gatherings/parties. This lockdown is supposed to be for 4 weeks, but I am expecting it to last longer, or be extended. We have to break the chain of transmission. Our borders are still not fully closed. The socialist govt havent got their act together yet. Even the incompetent police are only ‘educating’ people who infringe (like tourists having parties – idiots), instead of arresting them for endangering the rest of us. I am glad we live rural, with own water supply, vegetable garden and I have game meat in the freezer. If you’d like to know more, let me know. Stay safe, stay home, save lives. Regards, Jim.

  13. Speaking of Odds and Sods:

    I just read this article on LifeSite News.

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/problematic-covid-19-death-definition-may-be-inflating-death-rate-effecting-draconian-lockdown-measures

    This kind of solidifies my argument that all is not what it seems with this CoVID-19 “pandemic”.

    Notable paragraph:

    “Notably, too, the above guidance on how Covid-19 deaths should be reported by physicians on death certificates is dated March 24, 2020. The alert provides a very broad guidance of what physicians should report on death certificates and is then apparently included in the CDC’s tally of “Covid-19 death” mortality data. If one views the data of daily reported deaths after March 24, 2020, one finds that there was an apparent sudden increase in daily “Covid-19 deaths.” This may not be due to spread of the virus, though, as one may be misled to think. It may be a result of the March 24, 2020 guideline from the CDC which says that “COVID-19 should be reported on the death certificate for all decedents where the disease caused or is “assumed to have caused or contributed to death”; as this is stated, it would include some that have not tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus. And, as written, it includes many others that may have co-infections with other viruses which may be “assumed to have contributed to death”. Or, it could include patients with COPD and a recent history of pneumonia resulting as a side effect of certain medications but with Covid-19 “assumed to have contributed to death”. Thus, mortality statistics of “Covid-19 deaths” could have immediately inflated after March 24, 2020 as a result.”

    To quote Sherlock Holmes: “The game’s afoot!” Me thinks there is something really fishy about the reporting of this “pandemic”, and these here fish smell mighty bad.

    1. Charles,

      You hit the nail on that head. When “they” realized that “their” response to this virus tanked the US economy, and I mean truly tanked, “they” realized that the numbers needed to include every secondary fatality even tangentially related to this virus.

      You can’t shut the country down, drive up unemployment to double digits, wipe out trillions of retirement account value without a “really” good crisis to back it up. Hence, give really broad leeway to report death stats.

      Hindsight being 20/20, “they” can’t crater the economy with a virus that kills less than the annual flu.

      This is a horrible pandemic, regardless of the death toll. I won’t argue that but the spin doctors have started spinning….

      1. The U.S. death toll doubled in the last three days. That is as many or more deaths from Covid-19 than all the weeks before this. It is expected to double again in 3-4 days. It is naive to compare this with the annual flu. Six months to a year from now we can look back and make a reasonable comparison with the annual flu but right now we are barely in the beginning of this pandemic. What you can expect is that one year from today that the deaths from Covid-19 will be anywhere from 5 times the annual flu to 50 times the annual flu. That final death rate will depend on how successful the government efforts are in reducing the spread of the virus. This becomes important not so much because it will significantly reduce the total number of people who get Covid-19 but rather because it will flatten the curve and prevent overwhelming of hospitals.

  14. I’m more worried about voter fraud than the actual virus, even though I am sheltering in place.
    I wrote my governor, senators, reps, and the AG this morning about Idaho having to “vote by mail” for our primary. I told them I will not participate in a vote by mail scheme, too much risk for fraud. I asked them to please not consider a vote by mail scheme for the general election in November. That would be an enormous travesty.
    In other news… the Internet. I hear the President met with the major Internet leaders about the Internet load issue. I used to work in Network Security and I can tell you a large portion of Internet traffic is pornography, so they should cut off the criminals, and the rest of us can enjoy the bandwidth. I am assisting one of my grandchildren (remotely) with Algebra and Geometry lessons. And I will tell you this: Common Core is bunk. I’ve never seen such a jumbled up mess. No wonder the kid hates math. In the lesson plan on “exponential functions”, the example given was calculating, now get this… “the hormone levels for pregnant women”. I kid you not. I kid you NOT!! No, no, don’t start about homeschooling. I’m a rabid supporter of homeschooling and this particular grandchild is in public school and it can’t be helped. He has one more year and I would hope to convince his family that the public education serves zero purpose for him. The teacher can’t teach math, obviously, the curriculum is full of crap, and I think the supposedly (failed) educational system does more harm than good.
    Off soapbox.
    Thanks for listening.
    I feel better now.

    1. SaraSue,

      My wife and I voted this week. “ABSENTEE” vote for next week’s election. Process was simple, no mail in request, mail in ballot etc. We drove right up to the election spot, village town hall, stayed in our car, election workers brought our ballots to us, we voted, watched workers put ballots into ballot box and drove off.

      We can all argue the security of the ballot box with my ballot in it, but that’s the same issue I’d have if I voted in person next week.

      I thought the process was a good secure way to provide a safe option given the current virus environment.

  15. And so it begins…..

    U.S.
    U.S. officials redistribute protective gear seized from alleged hoarder
    By Mark Hosenball
    ReutersApril 2, 2020, 11:55 AM PDT

  16. NYC is pushing a tracking app even for healthy people…

    Big brother is watching
    Big brother knows
    Big brother loves you….

    Brb gotta join in the minutes of hate

  17. Well I read all your comments. Some are well-reasoned. All are SERIOUS.

    So, an invitation to a few minutes of levity. JWR considered these good enough to include in today’s Odds and Sods. I heartily agree.

    Some kevity, now: Some Pandemic Humor

    From our friend Patrice Lewis, Editrix of the great Rural Revulotion blog: Some humor to lighten your day. This little bit of Covid 19 humor. There are a lot a very cute memes, and the re-creation of The Sound Of Music songs is evidence that someone has far too much time on their hands.
    A Not-So-Secret Irish Prepper Speaks Out

    Reader Tim J. sent this video link: My BIG Secret: I’m Ireland’s only… [Prepper]

    Carry on in grace

Comments are closed.