Notes for Thursday – June 11, 2015

Don’t forget, Camping Survival is moving to Sanford, North Carolina (near Raleigh) soon and has a few open positions. If you are interested in any of the positions, please send a resume per the instructions. You may also want to check out their moving clearance section. Also, June 7th-13th they are having a Mountain House sale with 25% off of #10 cans and 15% off of pouches and buckets.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 59 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Don’t Forget To Prep Your Spice Chest, by T.H.

Spices may be the number one overlooked item when prepping a kitchen to survive the apocalypse. The following article, which I wrote based upon my 15 years of chef experience and a lifetime quest for a self-sustaining lifestyle, includes reasons why you should stock up on spices, information about prepackaged spices, my technique for building a stockpile, the addition of seed-stock to your stockpile of heirloom seeds, how to store home-grown herbs/spices aswell as some techniques for using them.

Surviving Doesn’t Mean You Have To Suffer

One of the pillars of prepping for survival is to stockpile food. This is done in many ways including the purchase of bulk items, freeze-dried meals, MRE’s, and other foods with high caloric values and long shelf lives. This usually results in huge stockpiles of rice, beans, grains, and other foods with marginal flavor profiles. Seldom have I seen mention of the need to prep your spice chest. At best, most sites and books will tell you to lay up a healthy supply of salt, which is useful for many things besides enhancing the flavor of food, but rarely will you see instructions to lay up a healthy supply of pepper, chili powder, curry, or other “non-nutritional” food stores. Well folks, I am here today to tell you that supplying yourself with a stock of herbs and spices will not only make your survival more comfortable, it will help you survive longer, healthier, and provide you with another monetize-able trade good for your TEOTWAWKI savings account.

Let’s get the definitions out of the way:

Herbs – The flavorful leaves or stems of plants.

Spices – The flavorful seeds, roots, or bark of plants.

I want to point out first that keeping a stockpile of spices can help in your survival beyond making your food taste better. Most, if not all, common herbs and spices contain medicinal qualities that help stave off common ailments. Studies suggest that incorporating them into your diet can help protect against conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even cancer. Morale is another reason why keeping some spices on hand is a good idea. It will be hard enough to keep up morale after the collapse of society without the addition of subsisting on the same bland food day after day.

Spices Are Packaged To Survive

Before we move on let’s talk a little bit about the packaging of herbs and spices. Spices and herbs are both susceptible to flavor loss among other types of spoilage. Protecting flavor loss is the number one goal of modern spice packaging and is accomplished in a number of ways. The biggest threat is moisture, after that is light, which means that most are packaged in air-tight resealable containers. The spice companies usually leave it up to the consumer to protect against light by keeping them in a dark cupboard.

You can expect an un-ground whole spice, such as black pepper, cumin, coriander, or cinnamon sticks, to maintain peak flavor for up to five years. Ground spices will hold peak flavor for an average of three years, and herbs generally hold for one or two years. Now, this is peak flavor that I’m talking about, so you can expect to retain some amount of flavor for well over the averages that I have listed. Open or damaged containers will, of course, not last as long, but based on my experience you can still find flavor in spices that have been sitting in an opened container for many, many years. I acquired a shelf of spices from my grandmothers house when she passed, many of them over a decade old, and all retained usable flavor.

When planning a system of spice purchases I find it useful to use the slow-and-steady method. Each and every week when I go to the store I buy an extra jar of spices. I try to rotate my purchases each week so that I keep a diverse stockpile. I usually look for the cheaper bulk items, like a 1# self-contained pepper mill– whole black pepper packaged in a disposable grinder, which is a potential trade item in and of itself, or other high quantity products. Since spices usually cost about $4-5 per small jar, it is pretty easy for most people to add an extra bottle each week or every other week. Once you get a stockpile built up, you can start rotating your oldest product into your kitchen and then replace whatever it is you took on the next trip to the market. Remember, with food, it is always FIFO (First In First Out). You must use the oldest first to keep from having to throw any food out.

I tend to stick with the whole spices but will also toss in a few ground spices to be sure I will always have some usable product without the need for an electric or manual spice grinder or mortar-and-pestle, which are both very important tools in homestead cuisine. I also like to stockpile spice blends, such as blackening, steak seasoning, lemon pepper, and Old Bay. My favorites are Old Bay and Chef Paul’s Blackened Redfish Magic. I’m an eastern NC boy, so I use a lot of Old Bay. It goes well with everything from crab boils to whole hog BBQ and even in the breading for fried chicken. Chef Paul’s can be used the same way.

Irradiation

Irradiation is another topic important to this discussion. Irradiation is the process of exposing food products to a source of ionizing radiation in order to increase shelf life and to prevent food-borne illness. The debate over irradiation’s effect on human health still rages, despite many studies showing that it is not harmful, if you believe what “they” tell you. The practice is not widespread in the U.S., due to public perception although it is still used in some cases. Other countries, in particular the European Union, use it more frequently. In the EU, irradiation is primarily used for extending the shelf life of herbs and spices, so ordering from overseas is the way to go if you want this extra level of protection.

Take It To The Next Level

In addition to buying jars of packaged herbs and spices, I also buy seeds, so don’t forget to add this to your list when purchasing your heirloom vegetable seeds. This is of course alongside my current garden where I grow fresh herbs and spices as I can. I prefer to buy perennials, such as thyme, sage, oregano, and lovage, because they come back year after year. Other herbs, such as basil, have to be restarted each year.

If you have never heard of lovage, I suggest you go and find some because it is very useful. Lovage is similar to celery and celeriac but with a deeper, more earthy flavor. It is very popular in eastern European cuisine where the leaves are chopped and used on soups and broths in the same manner as parsley. On top of that it grows a large root, which can be eaten as a vegetable; the stems and stalks can be chopped or diced and used just as you would celery and the seeds are useable too. Along with all that lovage also has medicinal value although I am not an expert on that.

Other great plants to grow in the garden are dill and cilantro because they are both spices and herbs. Dill produces only one flavor, dill, which can be recovered from the leaves, stems, and seeds of the plant. Cilantro, also know as Chinese parsley and coriander, provides two flavors. The leaves of the plant are commonly called cilantro and used prominently in Asian and Latin American/Caribbean cuisine. It’s great in salsa and tacos. The seeds are called coriander and are one of my most favorite spices to use, right after cumin. Coriander has an earthy, almost lemony, aroma that goes very well in stews, such as venison and bear. As a side note, I have in recent years discovered that bear is my favorite game meat by far. It has a rich flavor reminiscent of lamb and foi gras, and it makes great stew and awesome burgers.

Growing herbs in the garden is very easy, since most of them are just weeds. All you have to do is plant and forget. Then as the plants grow, you can harvest as needed. I usually get two or three harvests off of my oregano plant, which is more than enough to last a year, even with a houseful of mouths to feed. Depending on the plant, I would suggest at least two of each for every four people in your plans, so that you are ensured of having enough to use and store without killing the plant.

Garlic is also very easy to grow. One bulb can yield up to 30 or more cloves, each turning into a whole new bulb. The best part is that they grow just about year round, depending on where you live. I started out planting two batches each year, one just after Christmas and one as the summer begins to wind down. It takes three or four months for the bulbs to form, so by using this rotation I always have home-grown garlic, and my plants never have to suffer through the heat of summer. Now that I have been growing garlic for a couple of years, I have developed a garlic patch. I started by planting the cloves from one bulb widely spaced. Then, a month or two later, I planted more in the spaces between the first. This way there is always garlic growing and I can always go out and pull one if I want really fresh product. Plus, the best way to store a plant is to keep it alive, if you can. When I harvest the bulbs that are ready, I replant new cloves in the spaces left behind.

Storing Home-grown Herbs and Spices

Storing your home-grown herbs and spices is also very easy. For herbs, I usually tie them into a bundle and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space until completely dry. Then you can store them in air tight containers or plastic bags. These will not last as long as your store-bought supplies, but they will last for quite a while, up to a year or more. I have some dried oregano in my kitchen now that is nearly two years old and is still making great tomato sauce.

Spices are a little bit trickier but only a little. I have found that it is very, I repeat very, important to be sure they are completely dry before you package them. If you do not let them dry thoroughly and completely, you will come back to find mold growing within only a few days, ruining them. One way to help avoid this problem is to use your food dehydrator; another is to dry them out in a very low temperature oven. When I say low temperature, I mean under 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and a temperature under 150 degrees is actually best. You do not want to cook them; you just want to dry them out.

Get The Most Out Of Your Prepped Spices

In a life-or-death survival situation, it is unlikely you will have the time to worry about maximizing the flavor of your food. However, when you are safe within your compound, campsite, retreat, bivouac, et cetera, there are two tips I can give to help you get the most out of your spices. The first is to toast them. Heating them up will help to activate the oils and other volatile compounds within the spice. This will “open up” the flavor and help make a smaller amount go a long way. Another bonus is that toasted spices taste really really good. The next time, youare at the stove, try dry roasting, in a cast iron skillet, some black pepper corns or cumin seeds to see how much flavor is unlocked. I bet, that after you do, you will be roasting spices the rest of your life.

Another is to make flavored oils. This can be done simply by putting some of your spices and herbs into a measure of cooking oil and then gently heating it. When doing this I suggest you get the heat of the oil up above 140F for at least 10 minutes to be sure you kill any bacteria and other pathogens that may be present. This step is less important when using store-bought spices but will aid in capturing the flavor. So, if you have the time, do it right. A kitchen thermometer is another valuable tool in the homestead kitchen. You can buy the simple pocket thermometers used daily by professional chefs for about $10-$15. These come in two varieties– the standard model goes up to just over 212F (boiling point of water) and are used for general cooking. The other type of thermometer goes much higher and are used for frying and candy making.

Yet another method is to make flavored vinegars. You do this exactly as you would a flavored oil but without the addition of heat. Heating a vinegar will cause the acid to evaporate and along with it some of the flavor. To use the vinegar or oil, add it to your recipes just as you would normally. The difference is that now the vinegar or oil will carry flavor with it. Chili and garlic oils are great for stir-fry; flavored vinegars are great for making salad dressing or sprinkling on raw vegetables.

Letter Re: Pat Cascio’s Recent Post On Carjackings

Good morning, Hugh,

Pat Cascio’s recent post on preventing carjackings included this sentence: “Fifth, drive in the center lane (if possible) when on highways; this reduces your chances of becoming a ‘bump and run’ theft victim”.

I’ll agree with driving in the center lane, but stopping in the center lane is a different thing. Unless you are first in line, you’re trapped. Stopping in the curb or median lanes offers an escape route; one can drive over the curb and down the sidewalk if necessary from the curb lane, or one can cross the median or even drive in the median to get away from a threat. Whatever damage your car may suffer from climbing the curb is much less expensive than losing the car or a hospital stay. If there are cars parked along the curb, pick the median lane.

Needless to say, while stopped in traffic is not the time to be engrossed in a cell phone call or texting. Keep your head up, glance in all three mirrors frequently, and stay alert to people in other cars and especially any on foot. Car doors opening around you, especially on cars behind you, is a red flag. Nearly everyone has noticed a police car parked by itself in a parking lot, away from other cars; the officer is probably doing paperwork on the steering wheel (allowing him to keep his head up and glance around and in the mirrors frequently) and has created a safety buffer space around the car. It’s a good practice to follow.

Almost stopping a little more than a car length behind the car in front of you then easing forward a couple of feet reduces the opportunity for a “bump-and-rob” and makes it very obvious that’s what’s happening if it occurs.

We were taught in police driving school to leave space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you when stopping; the general rule was make sure you can see pavement between your hood line and the bottom of the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you. This allows room to get around that vehicle and escape. I consider that a minimum distance and I prefer to leave a couple more feet of maneuvering room.

When driving, crowd the left edge of the lane periodically so you can see down the line of cars in front of you. Too many people focus on the back of the car in front. Brake lights coming on 10-12 cars ahead give you warning, as does seeing traffic lights changing a hundred yards ahead.

In restaurants with two drive-thru lanes, never take the inside lane; again, you’re trapped. There’s a greater threat in the outside lane but also an escape route. Leave escape space between your vehicle and the one in front; if that means a car-length gap between you and the speaker or the pay or pickup window, so be it. Everyone in line will still get their food; just don’t compromise your escape path. Never put the vehicle in park. Just keep your foot on the brake. For manual transmissions, leave it in first and keep the clutch depressed. That way if the SHTF, you can escape forward immediately. Pay particular attention when between the pay and pickup windows; your car window will be down, and it’s easy to walk between your car and the building and reach in the driver’s side window. Glance around, especially to your right and behind when approaching the windows; that’s when you’ll be most distracted with handling money or your order. If something doesn’t seem right, drive away. You can always do a lap around the restaurant parking lot and get back in line. Needless to say, keep the doors locked.

There are the usual cautions: Always keep your gas tank at least half full so you control when and where you stop. Keep your head on a swivel, looking for anything out of place whenever you’re stopped. If you have to go inside to pay, lock your car and don’t leave your wallet or purse in the car. If you always use cash, consider a prepaid credit or gas card so you can swipe and pay at the pump. Don’t pin yourself in the “alley” between your car, the pump, and the hose. It’s simple for a threat to close the alley at the front of the car, which will also block you from getting to the driver’s door. It’s usually better to work the hose from the rear and stay behind the car.

Left handers should practice shooting right-handed, because they’re at a substantial disadvantage against threats at the driver side window. If you spend a lot of time in a vehicle, consider a good shoulder holster. It’s a faster, easier draw than a hip holster inside a car.

There are more, but I don’t want to steal all Pat’s thunder. – N.K.

Odds ‘n Sods:

The War on Free Speech Accelerates: DoJ Subpoenas Reason.com Over Comment Section. – H.L.

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Cheap, synthetic ‘flakka’ dethroning cocaine on Florida drug scene. – G.P.

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The Australian nanny state strikes again… Sighting of boy with realistic fake gun prompts call to amend sale laws. – A.S.

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Hospital drug pump can be hacked to overdose you. – D.S.

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The Water Terrorcrats Have Crossed My Line – Here’s What I Am Doing About It. – H.L.

Notes for Wednesday – June 10, 2015

On June 10, 1967, the Six-Day War ended as Israel and Syria agreed to observe a United Nations-mediated cease-fire.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 59 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Does the Number of the Beast Have an Area Code?, by CTS

[Editor’s Comment: SurvivalBlog does not endorse the concept of the “number of the beast” being associated with any form of technology; however, the information presented in this article is of import to anyone who is concerned about the collection of private information and government oversight.]

Listen carefully. I’m about to tell you something that they don’t want you to hear. I’m also about to tell you something that you most likely don’t want to hear, so you may want to sit down for this.

You don’t need your cell phone.

There I said it.

You may say, “but they are so convenient, and what if there’s an emergency?” It may be that convenience is the most important thing to you. You can check the weather and traffic on your smart phone, and you can use it as an airline ticket to scan in for a flight. It has a camera, and you can take cool selfies with it. It may be that you are, for whatever reason, unable to handle emergencies by yourself. Maybe you don’t want to take the time to take a basic first aid class. Maybe you don’t want to deal with the stress of stopping to help at the scene of an accident because there may be blood and it may be icky. It’s easier to just call 911 and let someone else handle the problem. If either of those are the case, read no further, and may your chains rest lightly.

You do know how they can use your cell phone, right? This article by Jose Pagliery was widely read.

The article discusses secrecy surrounding the employment of technology that collects data and tracks cell phones. This article and others make it clear that broad amounts of data are scooped up in the process of looking for criminal and terror suspects. Allegedly the byproduct is scrapped and the constitutionally-aware law enforcement agencies using this technology are careful to protect the privacy of the individual, but there’s no evidence of what procedures are in place for protection of constitutional rights. It’s not even clear how or if warrants are obtained to conduct these huge sweeps of information.

For many there is little new in the article. Many understand the vulnerabilities of the cell phone to outside interception and tracking, as numerous articles have been written in the past. A simple Internet search yields plenty of interesting material on the subject. It’s a subject that is worth self education. It should become clear to anyone that any information, data, or voice put out into the ether is subject to interception, tracking, and exploitation. The next big question is who is doing that exploiting, how are they doing it, and for what purposes are they doing it?

Here is an articlethat touches on the scope of law enforcement use of techniques in cell phone surveillance.

This article discusses the conflicting policies and legal concerns of those implementing these techniques. In an ideal world, if you didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t have anything to worry about. However, we all know this isn’t an ideal world, and the founding fathers knew that also. The Fourth Amendment is designed to protect people from an over-reaching government that may be run by corrupt officials.

For the record, I want to say up front, I’m glad cell phone technology exists. I am glad we have cell phone technology in the world today, and I’m glad we have the means to track phones and use them to monitor all kinds of illegal activity and hopefully catch bad guys before they do bad things. I hope also beyond hope that law enforcement officials apply for warrants and abide by constitutional constraints, but I won’t hold my breath. Use of this technology is vital to our national defense. Its implications in thwarting terror attacks and criminal acts is clear. It doesn’t really take much to do it properly and have the oversight necessary to preserve liberty. I hope that those who are involved in chasing terrorists and criminals never lose sight of the fact that the whole point is to protect the American way of life and freedom. If, in the process of hunting terrorists, we throw away our liberties, then the terrorists have won and we’ve just exchanged one enemy for another.

We all know that cell phone data that is retrieved can be misused by a government, which has not been immune to exercising abuse of power. We know that prosecutorial abuse and investigative misconduct are an unfortunate part of our government. This country is great, and our government is (when run properly) one of the best in the world. However, we have to maintain vigilance and be constantly on guard against failings of the system, and more importantly, failings of the individuals of which it is made. The cell phone is a great convenience, but it’s also a great impedance to self reliance and is a potentially grave threat to personal freedom.

So why are we using them? Why do we just roll over and accept this?

The answer is because we want to. It’s because we’ve embraced the technology as a necessary evil, and many of us love them, even denying the evil side and believing that we are all sophisticated enough to see any evil.

It is easy to say we need them for “emergencies”, and that is a valid and life-saving application. “If it saves just one life” is a common cry, and clearly cell phones have saved lives.

Most of us who were born before the advent of cell phones remember a time when we saved our own lives or worked together as neighbors and community to save each other. Who is it that we call on a cell phone to save us? Generally, help comes in the form of a government entity. This is not entirely a bad thing. Valiant fire/rescue personnel and police departments save lives daily as a result of cell phone calls, but are we becoming too reliant on government to rescue us? Has it become too easy to push three or four simple buttons and wait for the cavalry to come over the hill? Are people willing to push a little harder, to climb a little farther and take more risks because they know rescue is only the push of a few buttons away?

I would suggest that we are being, as Kruschev said we would, ruled by invitation.

Try spending a day without your cell phone. You can do it; I know you can. The question is about willingness. Are you willing to set aside the convenience and the safety net and delve into the world of self-reliance? If you can make it a day, then try a week. Try spending a week without being leashed to that thing. Maybe you wind up not getting a call from your significant other about the fact that the kids ran through the milk faster than expected. You get home and he/she is standing there arms crossed, toe tapping, and a stern look. You might hear, “I tried to call you. We were out of milk. You should have picked some up on the way home.”

Well, you should have some shelf stable milk on hand just in case any way, but that’s probably another article. I’m trying to point out that this will ultimately be a family project. Right now, nearly every family of every socio-economic class in this country (and many other countries) are totally dependent on the ability to instantly communicate.

If you can do it, if you can lay that thing down and walk away for just one day, you may find yourself, sadly, in a new world. Once you put your cell phone away and look up at what is going on around you, one of the first things you will notice is how everyone seems to have their heads down. You’ll notice that they all look like a bunch of antelope around the water hole. They look like prey.

Everyone is eager for the latest app, the latest bells and whistles of the latest product, and all the pretty lights so shiny. It is truly amazing what smart phones can do. All that technology is in the palm of your hand. What used to fill rooms is now right there, so small and so available to everyone. No question goes unanswered by accessing the Internet in the palm of your hand. The smart phone is a source of knowledge, and knowledge is power. Is it really empowering? Is it really making us more knowledgeable? Are we really this easily led and manipulated? Who is it that is turning us into such easy prey? Is it big government? Is it evil corporations? Or are we all just collectively dumb enough to be doing it to ourselves? I’m not a particularly religious man. I don’t know much about things like the number of the beast or the ways of the devil, but if I had to guess, such things wouldn’t come to us in the form of bar code tattoos or numbers on our foreheads. Even implanted chips seem obviously obtrusive. Personally (and I admit this is my own uneducated opinion, tainted as it is by my own well-founded paranoia), I think that the devil would be sneaky about it, just like Kruschev said about ruling the world by invitation. I think the number of the beast would come to us by invitation of the masses. The number of the beast could well start with an area code.

Letter Re: Economics and Investing Article Reference, by TC

HJL,

That was fascinating reading. It is important to read the article AND the comments. I regard myself as middle class and have read the WSJ since 1978, when my Economics professor required it. Those people commenting regard themselves as middle class, and they sound like me. I look at the people that the media and democrats call middle class, and I don’t see myself.

My own spending habits revolve around expenditures that lower my cost of living, ensure I can provide for my family (preps), and the acquisition of new assets that pay me or improved assets that will pay me better. It is important to work for assets and not just a paycheck. They put you in a position to offer services for money when you want to do it. It is about freedom. – RV

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“As long as enough people can be frightened, then all people can be ruled. That is how it works in a democratic system and mass fear becomes the ticket to destroy rights across the board.” – James Bovard

Notes for Tuesday – June 09, 2015

On June 9, 1954, Army counsel Joseph N. Welch confronted Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy during the Senate-Army Hearings over McCarthy’s attack on a member of Welch’s law firm, Frederick G. Fisher. Welch said, “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 59 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Conditions for Combining Survival Groups Under Extraordinary Circumstances – Part 2, by G.R.

  • How much of the land floods? i.e. During past tropical storms, how much of the land was under water?

    Again, this is ***(a southern state)***. Yes, the land gets wet when heavy rains come. All campsites and camper parking areas must be able to be elevated by the owners. The harder the rains, the worse the situation would be. In fact, a very good chore would be scouting and foraging for lumber and then constructing suitable platforms for tents. There is nothing different here than at any scouting campground or other public campsite. The land is protected by a wide marsh on the west with a single narrow track through it to the main gate, which has a natural defensive barrier. There is deep ditching on the north to handle the runoff, some lesser ditching on the south, and the same on the east. There are several ponds, and a belt of woods that pretty much surrounds the entire western half of the site. All of these land features extract water in one way or the other from the central area, but this part of the country is wet. I highly recommend a higher wheel base on any vehicle taken onto the site. I’ve driven out there through two or three feet deep mud holes. My truck is not 4-wheel drive, but I know the roads and where to expect the problem points. A low wheel base would not make it during wet times. Again, what you may cry dismay at, is a plus for the community in regards to security; it’s the harshness of access.

  • Can we pre-place our supplies?

    I’d suggest doing so at your local center/group meeting site where you’d depart from. Label individual goods with the family name (plus the family leader’s first initial in case of multiple families sharing the same sir name) and box items for easy loading, stacking, and transporting. At the very least, do so in your home in a dedicated area and in an organized manner. All full members are offered the ability of pre-positioning assets at the site. That’s not available to associates or exigents. A good plan would be for a predetermined, large group of trucks to be dedicated for hauling those labeled goods that have been gathered by your groups in a convoy to the community site. That would serve multiple purposes. A larger amount of goods could be transported at once. The emptied trucks would be useful for work purposes or living purposes; it could be used for recharging 12VDC batteries, scouting and provision runs, and for defensive and offensive purposes. A truck is good for all of these purposes, and the majority of the current membership have trucks or large SUVs for those very reasons. Cars would be unable to navigate the roads leading to the community site during times of extreme wet weather. So, consider joining families with those who have reliable and utilitarian vehicles.

  • What are you expecting of us?

    Nothing exceptional is expected. In the extraordinary circumstances that would cause us to gather at the site, we’ve made a proposal to you, people who would need assistance, by providing a place to run to that is safer and more secure than waiting in your city home to be raided and robbed, where the people left in the city are likely to be murdered, raped, assaulted, or taken prisoner and enslaved. I expect those who agree to come here to be willing to work to survive and to offer to “do” more than “want” and “take”. I expect them to be self-sufficient as much as possible and self-responsible, law-abiding, and rule-abiding. They should not expect more than is possible. They should be firmly grounded in reality and willing to go without all of the things that are frivolous and transitory in nature, such are entertainment, luxury, non-essential items, and time-wasters; these things include games, media, communications, and the “desserts” of life.

    Basically, I expect adults to be adults and forget, for the duration of your stay, the ways of this so-called civilized, leisurely society and enter into the new way of life for a time, as long as it is required for our survival.

  • Are you able to generate power if the grid goes down?

    Yes. In addition, all current members have some form of solar electrical generation capability as a requirement for membership. I do, and it is enough to recharge a laptop, my truck battery, or other vehicle batteries. However, your source of electricity will be what you provide yourself. All power requires fuel input to cause the process to take place, even if that “fuel” is merely the food it takes you to stay healthy enough to maintain your system, or it could be the wind or the sun. In addition, strict noise regulations may be in effect at times. Both of those concepts need to be thought through. All people need to understand that, like water and food, fuel is something that must be replenished. Not only does the fuel have to be acquired, but it must be stored as well. Storing power is quite costly; storing fuel is a challenge because it expires and must be rotated. I know your question is really whether there is electricity for you as a family group or exigent group, and the answer is that there is electricity only at or during communal activities, events and gatherings. Otherwise, there is none. The power production capabilities of the community are primarily for pumps, centralized communications, security, work, and food production.

  • Will the various leaders of the provisional groups be allowed to see the property sometime soon so they can at least report back to the group that all looks good? It seems important if we’re to “sell” the concept that we should at least know where and to what we’re taking our recruits.

    No details of location will be given to the exigent group membership at large. At this time, only certain prospects for full, regular membership have been invited to come out to the site by the community of members for security considerations. Absolutely no one goes out there without such an offer in the works. It is a matter of discretion and good sense to impart to you the reality of what is there only when such an invitation, if ever, is offered to you.

    As for “selling” anything, please understand that this is merely an altruistic offer. My goal is to try and give some time to people who I do not know, have not investigated, vetted, or background checked. As is, the community, while a limited number of people, can do fine without anyone else joining us. I’ve worked hard to just get this small exception for all of you and for your groups, but we, the community/group, are not trying to sell anything to anyone. We do see the practicality of having more people for defensive, offensive, supply and procurement purposes, work, or areas of need for personnel. Their issue is a matter of trust. I’ll tell you this; it’s a good spot. That is truth. It is up to you to accept my word or not. Once a prospective member is taken out there, he or she falls under the same instructions to not allow anyone to know about it and its location without prior board invitation. All of this is for security purposes, now and once we are all out there.

    You can think of this proposal as a gift, and no one has the right to demand a gift. In that case, it would no longer be a gift, and like any gift you open it when you get it and can choose to either make use of the item or merely be polite and offer your thanks for being thought of.

  • You mentioned a rally point where provisionals would meet regulars, who would lead them out in a convoy at the time of an event. Will the meet-up and convoy movement and security be rehearsed ahead of time so that it doesn’t turn into cat herding?

    That’s a good question. I’ll turn it around on you. Where is a place you, as a group, could gather and be ready to travel? Have you the vehicles for persons and things you all think you’ll need for the initial period of time? You, the leaders of your organizations, should take this chore for your people; it’s not my chore. As I’ve said before, convoy is one of the safest ways to travel in uncertain times, but like any military convoy it must be self-equipped and supported along the route from start to end. Once there, multiple trips or solitary trips will be subject to community decisions. It’d be a good exercise wouldn’t it to even fake a bug out by loading trucks with full or empty boxes or containers to see how much and how many people can fit in the vehicles and then practice it. Again, do it like a military exercise, because in the event of it becoming truly necessary that is not a good time to learn what mistakes you are making. As for it being cat-herding, we’ve the time now to learn just what to expect out of all who decide to commit to such a venture. We also have time to think it all through and as leaders to decide who not to include, if need be. Be pragmatic and practical. Again and again, I must say it– stay focused on reality. Be responsible as individuals and as a group. You will be escorted and led to the site, either by me or others who are assigned the task.

  • Is there anyone else I know from (***a specific area***) who has been approached with this proposal? This knowledge could be important so that we don’t cross-recruit or be oblivious to another group traveling to the rally point right alongside us or worry about security. There is security in numbers and benefits of inter-group training and communication.

    No, there is no one you know; there are only individual friends, some neighbors, and some people I know via business who have been approached. However, it is not your business who is being considered or to whom this concept is being proposed. I will state that I am considering some other small groups though. This idea is new. Previously, our group did not wish to take any such risk. All who joined us in the past were invited to do so and each knew the rules and declared their intent to live according to them without questioning. Great care was given in speaking with those who were asked if they’d be interested in joining our group. We all are men, women, and families who realize that if such a crisis does come about that requires such a place and cooperative community to become reality, the world has changed. We know that we will be required to adapt and follow new guidelines and methods of daily life and conduct.

    A straight-forward answer is that I proposed all that I have to you and to my group, as I think you personally– you as group leaders– are worth saving. You must decide for your own people who is worth the risk. Who will bring with them skills and the strength we will all need? Do not allow weakness and some sense of “saving everyone” to develop in your hearts. It is impossible to save everyone in such a time. The harsh truth is that we all will be lucky to just make it the first 60 days.

  • Are we each expected to show up at the rally point with 60-90 days worth of supplies? That would likely be an impossibly heavy haul, if we aren’t able to pre-position on-site or at secure points along the way.

    Impossible is what you decide it is. It is possible, when you think, plan, revise plans, and discard unworkable or impossible ideas. Sixty to ninety days of food, ammo, water filtration, meds, and supply for each person is not impossible, unless you wish it to be so. Start off with what I’ve written above. There is no cold storage. That alone eliminates an awful lot of wasted space and effort. Look at dry goods like rice and beans, which don’t require a lot of space really for a 60-day supply. It may be boring, I grant you, but it will get any and all of you through. All things brought out should be of an absolutely necessary nature. Again, no frivolous items should be brought. Leave the make-up, TV guide, and Playstation at home. Food, ammo, medical supplies, water filtering equipment, containers for various items, soaps, toilet paper, minimal cooking gear,and dry change of clothes and shoes. That’s about it to make it. Your “home” will most likely be the vehicle you travel in or what you intend to pitch and pitch in it.

  • Is the main group planning to engage in food production on the land? If not, what will happen after 60-90 days if the main group sees value in the provisional members and wishes to keep them around, if supplies are exhausted?

    Crops can be grown there and are being grown there now, but supplies are limited. If you don’t work, you have no food or resources. There are many unknowns. Provisional members will either prove their worth or not. Sixty days is long enough for a lot of dying to happen in the city and surrounding areas. That is a lot of time to seek resupply, scavenge, and forage. It is also a time to plan, think, and decide. However, initially, nothing is carved in stone as to anyone being any kind of permanent resident. I’ve offered a breathing space, a time of recouping one’s breath so to speak. It gives you the opportunity to count blessings and get further prepared mentally, emotionally, and yep physically for what would be some very rough times ahead. My hope is that all who want to do so could re-enter the city and its surroundings to try to take up some normal life again. As is, the answer is simply that all of us together will look at our situation when the time comes.

  • What do you expect us to do right now and when? If recruiting, what is the deadline for you to receive completed applications?

    I expect you to get busy doing what you should’ve been doing all along– quit talking, start gathering, figure out how to move 60+ days of supplies into one vehicle with yourself and whomever you travel with as a family group. Also, stop wasting ammo and money. If the fighting comes to us, it will be close up and personal in most cases; mark my words on that. You’ll need every round. You need to think and really accept the difference between what is needed for life versus what is junk, excess, and non-essential. What do I want you to do? Nothing, other than be self-supporting, self-reliant, hard-working, honest, practical, and perhaps brave. I will answer the “recruiting” question simply: We are not recruiting for full memberships. This is an emergency, exigent proposal only. Thus, other than the form for individuals– the roster form– there is no application.

    As for a deadline, there is none. If it happened right now, I’d call you or email you and say, “Are you ready to go?” The event is or will be the deadline. How many, who, what you bring, and what you offer the group is up to you. However, the community needs to know what to expect more than you do. What is your job? What do you expect of yourselves? That answer is the first one you need to find out.

The Summation

I, too, have more questions than answers. So much depends on just what takes place to cause a reaction as we’ve been speaking of. The “grid-down”’ scenario is a common one. Take that one, where there are no cellphone services, no land-line phones, and no Ham or short-distance radio. It’s cute and fun to play in that scenario, but most people either don’t have the equipment nor the know-how. Add in that there are no real standardization or plans in place by any groups in this area. Mostly it’s just those who are Hams or radio aficionados playing at being important. Seriously, that is my view on the whole thing. Like I said, it’s not jumping on the air waves and running mouths; rather, it’s shutting up and listening that is crucial.

That really is a good segue into the real issue– talk versus doing. I’m not a man who really likes to keep banging away talking about anything. I tend to lose patience and just say, “Do it, this way, or get out of my way.” My view about all of this is that I’ve given all I can; it’s an idea– a valid proposal– and I’ve expected some kind of response back.

I know little about your survival plans and capabilities. All who I’ve met are quite sociable people, but being “social” is not the issue. Do not treat this whole idea/issue/possibility as some sort of excuse to have potluck dinners. Instead, start gathering your supplies, and don’t waste time fretting about things we don’t have answers for. Quit wasting ammo for anything other than what’s necessary to stay competent. Quit wasting money on luxuries that have no long-term merit. The fighting, if it comes, will be close up and personal, in most cases, and you’ll need every round. I couldn’t care less about social mores or the dictates of polite company. I see a huge series of jobs that need doing with no one or few really doing them. If it comes time to actually shoot another human being, I will bet the farm that it happens almost pointblank face-to-face. Those who think they are going to sit a 1/2 mile away and be some sort of sniper or sit in a comm-shack in an easy chair and CQ their way to safety had better think again.

It is not going to be a world that folks can expect barter and trade to suddenly appear in a peaceful manner. It is not going to be a place we can hoe the rows and put in our beans and sit back waiting for harvest time. We will not have the luxury of time to melt bees wax into candles, turn wild edibles into tasty gourmet meals, or anything of the sort. It will be a time of loss, a time of great struggles, doubts, and mistrust in our hearts and minds and times when we will possibly at one time or another think of giving up. Some will, and some will do worse. There will be betrayals, defections, losses of control, losses just adding up to where it may seem impossible to go on, but we will need to go on.

No, it will not be some cute time of “where have all the flowers gone” coupled with guns. It won’t be men and women acting like what we today think of as normal. Not one bit. We will be hard-pressed to do our best to preserve our most sacred humanity inside each of us. It will be a time of dealing with all the pain, including what we have inside ourselves.

It’s time we all faced reality and what we are actually coming up to. Your group’s leadership needs to look at this proposal and begin taking action on organization, lists, supplies, and do so with honesty as to capabilities and who can pull their weight and at what jobs. If “it” happens such that some crisis occurs and this all becomes real and not just an exercise in “togetherness”, most all of the people I’ve met are not going to make it, unless they make some changes now.

The first 30 days would be the turning point for so much. At 60 days, the rate of attrition would be awful. Just doing without meds, air conditioning, or any other luxury of life we now expect will be rough. Poor food, sanitation, living in dirt, hard work, lack of sleep, experiencing constant worry will equate to an unkind world. The practical part of me knows that unkindness is the default human condition, like it or not.

Where do we go from here? I have suggestions. I suggest you locate rendezvous point with some real means to meet up. Plan for the worst, and seize any opportunity for the better. Procure and store food and water purification systems for all. Keep the food simple, seriously; buy things like rice and beans or beans and rice. Keep items lightweight. Procure arms and ammunition, as much as is possible for each to accumulate. If anyone does not own or possess the means to defend themself or their own family, or worse, they feel that they cannot ever take such a step to do what it may take, they are out. Store first aid supplies, including bandages, sutures, and disinfectants.

Prepare the methods to transport it all– wagons, travois’, carts, or whatever. Buy bicycles for people close by, if cars can’t run, to assemble in rendezvous points. Cache spots in your homes or other hidden locations– places that won’t be found by intruders or thieves.

I don’t know all the answers, no one does. I don’t know even if I’ve begun to address of all the possible most important questions, but something needs to be done. Change is necessary for all of us, me included. I’m thinking of multiple staging points. Small groups gathering, then gathering again and again with each step bringing more together at different locations with shorter distances for all at each step.

At least we’re still able to think, plan, and take steps while not in a panic.