Letter Re: The Core Kit: First Aid and Beyond

Dear Mr. Rawles,
As a pharmacist of more years than I like to admit, I would like to make a few comments and additions regarding Jason J.’s recent excellent post on “The Core Kit – First Aid and Beyond”. First, I must thank Jason for his time, knowledge, and insight, as well as for his service to our country. His sense of humor was well-received as well! My comments are minor, but may clarify/enhance an issue or two.

First, as Jason suggests, it is wise to follow “Universal Precautions” whenever you are dealing with the blood or bodily fluids of someone else. In the health care field, these precautions simply mean to protect yourself as if the unknown person has a blood-borne disease, whether you know it to be true or not. However, thankfully, Jason’s statement: “Realize that every person has unique blood. This includes pathogens. We all have something in our blood we should not pass around” is a bit of an overstatement. The blood of a healthy person is sterile, except for the living blood cells that are a natural component of human blood.

With regard to the analgesic (pain med) section, I fear that a few typos may result in a misunderstanding of the intended points. First, ibuprofen should not be the long term choice of analgesic if you have stomach problems (especially if you’re prone to ulcers). As a side-effect of it’s pharmacological action, it inhibits the formation of the essential mucous layer which protects the lining of the stomach from the extreme acidity of the gastric juices. Using ibuprofen regularly, and long-term, is a sure recipe for ulcers and the inevitable G.I. bleed. Perhaps acetaminophen would be a better choice in people with stomach problems. While on the subject of ibuprofen (including its longer-acting sister, naproxen), it must be noted that it does indeed possess anti-inflammatory properties which are very useful in suppression of pain involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis (an auto-immune, inflammatory disease). In contrast, osteoarthritis (the general “wearing out” of joints which eventually manifests in most of us old geezers) is not considered an inflammatory condition (though acute flare-ups happen!). In this case, acetaminophen may relieve the pain without the stomach and kidney side-effects of ibuprofen.

Speaking of acetaminophen, though it is excellent for reducing fevers and helping to relieve some non-inflammatory pain, I would be remiss in not reminding everyone that it is the second most common cause of liver failure in the U.S. (anyone care to guess the first most common cause?…I’ll drink to that!). To dramatically reduce the risk of this toxic phenomenon, many experts are now recommending that acetaminophen should be restricted to no more than 3 grams daily. Since a regular strength acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol) tablet contains 325 mg, the maximum would be 9 tablets per day. Beware that “extra strength” tabs contain 500mg, and some sustained release products contain 650mg per tab. Also, be alert to other combination analgesics, often containing acetaminophen in a dose of 300-500mg per tab (e.g., Norco, Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet, Percocet, etc.). If you’re taking any of these drugs, this acetaminophen should be figured into your total daily dose count.

Finally, many medical folks (especially dermatologists) recommend the routine use of “double antibiotic ointment” (bacitracin and polymyxin) in the place of “triple antibiotic ointment” (bacitracin, polymyxin, neomycin) because many people develop a sensitivity (allergy) to neomycin – usually resulting in a local skin reaction which may confound assessment of the severity and healing progress of the wound. I haven’t studied the data on this phenomenon, but many hospitals have changed to the double antibiotic ointment as the standard. Having said that, whichever you can get is far better than having none! Also, with regard to antibiotics and their appropriate uses, I would recommend a copy of “The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy” to keep handy with whatever antibiotics you can store. This is a small paperback “pocket reference” published annually which summarizes the clinical use of antibiotics. Much of it is more detailed than most non-medical folks would need, but the first chapter addresses common infections by affected body system, and recommends empiric (i.e., “best guess without cultures”) antibiotic choices based on the most likely involved pathogen. If you know a doctor, nurse practitioner, or hospital pharmacist, ask them if you can have their last year’s edition. We usually throw them away when we get the new one, and the bulk of the recommendations rarely changes. You may also need to get a good magnifying glass. If the information is condensed much more, we’re going to need a microscope to read it!

Thanks again, Jason, for your post, and, as always, thank you to Mr. Rawles for all that you do!

Best Regards, – S.H. in Texas

News From The American Redoubt:

Here is a county-by-county map showing the outcome of the November 2012 presidential election, in the same format as the familiar 2008 election map. Note the similar tallies in both elections for the conservative American Redoubt region. Parenthetically, I must mention that the western halves of Oregon and Washington are not in the Redoubt, for good reason. Those parts are largely populated by statists. The eastern halves of those states are solidly conservative, with folks who favor small government.

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Cynthia B. mentioned “a fabulous little company in Columbia Falls, Montana that designs and develops quadrocopters [and octocopters] for do-it-yourself drone builders: Quadrocopter.com.” Check out their videos, such as those of flights at Glacier National Park.

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Leftist pressure groups like the SPLC would be very surprised to see this map. (The SPLC mistakenly considers the American Redoubt region to be some sort of hotbed of racism. It obviously isn’t.)

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The Sage Mountain Center is sponsoring a series of free Solar Electric and Small Wind Power seminars in Eastern Montana. (In Plentywood, Wolf Point, and Glendive.) These seminars will be presented by Christopher Borton of Sage Mountain Center. No pre-registration required. For more information: E-mail: smc@sagemountain.org or call 406-494-9875

Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent this: Record 70.4 Million Enrolled in Medicaid in 2011: 1 Out of Every 5 Americans

Hurricane Sandy and the Disaster-Preparedness Economy

The Tragedy Of The Euro! What About Germany?

Items from The Economatrix:

Record Overseas Sales Boost US Growth

Why US May Be Headed For Another Recession

The Mass Firings Begin

Expect A Recession In 2013 Without A Quick Fix To The Fiscal Cliff

The Lull Before The Social Storm

$5 Trillion Price Tag For Public Pensions

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mat P. sent another reminder that folks shouldn’t eat mushrooms unless they are 100% sure of what they are collecting: Wild mushrooms kill 2, sicken 4

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Now Canadian police are parroting the same agenda-pushing SPLC “expert” rubbish: Anti-terrorism experts say lone white supremacists are the biggest threat in Canada. Alarmingly, anti-racist preppers, home schoolers, tax protestor, and various other conservatives have been tarred with the same brush as the radical anti-semitic neo-Nazi skinheads and other racists. By doing so, the leftist pressure groups seek to demonize anyone who doesn’t share their views.

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I stumbled into a very interesting dramatized documentary produced by the BBC that is now available on YouTube: End Day.

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Lars was the first of several readers to suggest this: Ducking Google in search engines

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Citizens in 15 states file petitions to secede from United States. (Thanks to T.C. for the link.)

Notes from JWR:

Today we present an article by SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor, Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker. But first, some comments from SurvivalBlog’s founder and editor:

Some Observations on Privately Owned Firearms

Washington D.C. is presently all abuzz with talk of the BHO Administration looking for an opportunity to enact the UN’s stalled Small Arms and Light Weapons Treaty. Meanwhile, Senator-For-Life Dianne Feinstein is “consensus building” to reenact the so-called Assault Weapons and “high capacity” magazine ban. (Note that the term “high capacity” is a specious political creation, to wit: A 30 round magazine is standard capacity for an AR or an AK, and anything less than that is a reduced capacity magazine. Get your terminology straight and don’t fall for semantics traps!) Rumor has it that this new incarnation of the ban would have no sunset clause and worse yet, no mechanism for transferring guns within a family. (When you die, your family would have to turn your guns in for destruction.) Please contact your senators and congressmen and urge them stop all civilian disarmament schemes in their tracks.

Here are a few of my observations about firearms, their use, and hoplophobes:

Guns rarely go down in value, so they are some of the very best investments. Consider: The used Macintosh II computer that I bought for $875 in 1990 is now worth perhaps $5 in scrap metal value, but the used stainless steel Colt Gold Cup .45 pistol that I bought for $400 in 1990 is now worth around $1,100.

Guns are often tussled over by heirs whenever an estate gets settled, for good reason: They are a compact, portable, and desirable form of wealth.

A gun is almost unique in that it is it’s own insurance policy, should anyone ever attempt to deprive you of it, by force. I say almost unique, because a trained pet bear carries the same policy.

Firearms are a popular target of elected officials in part because it is plentiful privately-owned firearms that keep bush league politicians from becoming major league dictators.

If politicians used the same logic that they apply to guns in attempting ban cars (which can squash people) or laptop computers (which can be used to commit libel) then they’d all be hauled off to insane asylums.

Without ammunition and magazines, rifles are just useless ornaments or very expensive clubs. So buy plenty of ammunition and magazines.

It is difficult for miscreants to argue you with you when they are looking at the muzzle of a loaded rifle, and it is even harder for them to argue with a loaded rifle that has sprouted a bayonet. If your rifle has bayonet lug, then buy a bayonet for it. A bayonet can also be a useful knife, but a knife is not also a bayonet.

History has taught us repeatedly that firearms registration is a stepping stone to confiscation. Common sense dictates that you keep your firearms purchases as private as possible. Sign up for bridal registries, not gun registries.

Don’t expect just one gun to fit all potential circumstances and every imaginable task. There is no such thing as a concealable elk rifle.

The term “Gun Buy Back” is bald-faced lie. The gun grabbers never owned them, so they certainly aren’t buy them back. They merely want to buy them up, for pennies on the dollar. There are just a few pitiable dupes who fall for this ploy and agree to part with their birthright in exchange for cash, sporting event tickets, or gift cards.

I can think of no better barter items than guns, ammunition, and magazines. There may come a day when times are so truly bad that silver or gold may be refused, in a barter transaction. Not so for guns, ammunition, and magazines. They will always be desirable, and they will almost always leave you on the stronger side of negotiating a swap.

Don’t be too concerned about the exterior cosmetics when shopping for a used gun. Dings and scratches just show that a gun was used and enjoyed. Spend more time examining the bore and the gun’s mechanics. If looks could kill, the streets would be littered with corpses.

When I see seized guns being melted down on the orders of bureaucrats, it makes me want to weep. They are eating the seed corn of our liberty.

When I’m asked about whether I’d consider moving offshore, it always forces the obvious question: Where on Earth could I move where I would have the same level of firearms liberties that I now enjoy in these United States? There are precious few countries. So, for now, I’ll make my stand here.

Guns are like parachutes: if you don’t have one when you need it, then chances are that you won’t ever be in need of one again.

– J.W.R.

Medical Prepping in Three Months — Part 2 of 2, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

As of today, many families are still suffering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.  Are you prepared, should such a disaster strike your area?
The following is offered as an outline for medical prepping, should you someday find yourself without access to professional medical care.  (Part 1 of this series covered weeks 1 through 6.)
Please note the following abbreviations:
ORG = organizational concerns
OTC = over-the-counter products
Rx = prescription products
ED = education and skills
The supplies listed under OTC can all be purchased without a prescription, though some are only available online.  For prescription items, assess what your group has and what each member is likely to be able to acquire. 
The three-month period is divided into 13 weekly tasks, divided according to topic, making the project more readily manageable.  The outline could also be divided into months, rather than weeks, to cover a year instead.
For more detailed information on medical prepping, please visit www.armageddonmedicine.net. 

Week 7

ORG

MID-PROGRESS REVIEW and SECURITY

Assess your progress to date and establish a plan for securing your medical supplies

Identify individual(s) to establish security to protect both patients and caregivers
Identify and acquire secure storage arrangements for your medical supplies

OTC

GASTOINTESTINAL

Constipation:  Metamucil, Dulcolax, Surfak, or generics
Diarrhea:  Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, or generics
Nausea and vomiting: meclizine, Dramamine
Heartburn, gastritis, or ulcers:  Pepcid, Zantac, Axid, Tagamet, Prilosec, Prevacid, Tums, Maalox
Solar oven to warm/disinfect water/heat food without electricity or fire

Rx

CORTICOSTEROIDS

Request a supply of prednisone or a Medrol Dosepak from your physician for emergency use, such as an asthma attack, acute bronchitis, acute gout, bee sting allergy, hives, seasonal allergies, or acute flares of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or sciatica
Consider requesting a similar supply from your veterinarian for pet (or human) use

ED

PROTECTION AGAINST INJURY and INFECTION

Discuss potential sources of injury and infection with your group, including necessary but potentially dangerous activities
Educate yourself regarding isolation and quarantine, and make appropriate plans for your location
Educate yourself regarding spread of serious illness, in particular droplet-borne infections
Procure appropriate clothing to protect against sunburn, heatstroke, frostbite and hypothermia, mosquito and other insect bites, stinging insects, chiggers, poison ivy, foot blisters
Educate yourself regarding avoiding acquisition of scabies, lice, impetigo, fungal disease

Week 8

ORG

BUG-OUT KIT

Begin assembling easily transportable bug-out medical kits for identified group members (more than 1)

Assess your group for short-term needs (3–7 days, or longer if desired)
Assemble a bug-out medical kit for each group member

OTC

URINARY

AZO for temporary relief of urinary burning or pain
Cranberry pills or juice
Multistix 10-SG or other urine dipstick
Saw palmetto for middle-aged men with prostatic enlargement
Urinary catheters for anyone with obstruction or potential obstruction; catheter lubricant

Rx

NITROGLYCERIN and OXYGEN

Request a prescription for an oxygen concentrator if anyone in your group suffers from heart or lung disease, or may be exposed to carbon monoxide, fumes, extreme altitude, or other cardio-respiratory threat
Consider purchasing oxygen or an oxygen concentrator without a prescription (available online)
For anyone who has ever used nitroglycerin (current or prior angina, history of heart attack, stent, or heart by-pass), request additional nitroglycerin from your physician in small bottles of 25 tablets, which will remain potent long-term if unopened and stored under conditions printed on the bottle

ED

NUTRITION

Educate yourself regarding nutrients essential to human health
Educate yourself regarding edible wild plants available in your area, and locate potential sources
Assess your food supply for inclusion of sufficient fluids, calories, protein, essential fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
Assess your seed supply to assure an adequate supply of “colored” vegetables – yellow, green, red
Assess your supply of medicinal plants and seeds
Assess your group for the possible development of scurvy (lack of vitamin C), dementia (lack of vitamin B12 in the elderly), and rickets (lack of vitamin D and calcium, in children)

Week 9

ORG

BUG-IN KIT

Begin assembling one or more base-stations for your supplies

Assemble and organize secure storage areas as identified on Week 7

OTC

REPRODUCTION

Condoms and/or other birth control
Pregnancy tests
Pregnancy calculator
Gyne-Lotrimin for yeast infections
Pads and/or tampons
Vitamins with folate for pregnant women

Rx

SLEEPING MEDICATION

Request a prescription for Ambien (zolpidem) from your physician for occasional (or future) use
Other prescription alternatives include any sedating medication, such as low-dose amitriptyline, a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Ativan, Valium), muscle relaxers (such as Flexeril, Norflex, or Soma)
If unavailable, procure sedating antihistamine (Benadryl, Zyrtec, Nyquil) or nausea drug (meclizine)

ED

SPECIAL NEEDS FOR GROUP

Have group members share personal health needs (such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or chronic pain) with other group members for improved understanding and chance of individual and group survival
Make sure at least one other group member has the knowledge to help some with any chronic problem

Week 10

ORG

ACQUIRE BARTER ITEMS

Make a wish list of items you cannot acquire at this time

Identify and acquire items to barter for medical goods
Identify and acquire health care items to barter for other goods (pain meds, dressings, vitamins, inexpensive reading glasses, etc.)

OTC

SKIN PREPARATIONS

Bacitracin for mild bacterial infection
Lotrimin or Lamisil or other topical antifungal for fungal and yeast infections 
1% hydrocortisone cream (and plastic wrap to cover it with to enhance its strength) for itchy rashes
Bleach to dilute 1:1000  for bathing for recurrent skin infections, eczema, possibly ringworm
#11 scalpel for abscess incision and drainage
Rid and/or Nix for head lice; nit comb; Vaseline to smother lice; hot hair dryer to kill head lice
Wart freeze or salicylic acid for treating warts, or Duct tape to cover for 2 weeks
Warm clothing for preventing frostbite
Long sleeves and long pants for preventing insect bites, stings, chiggers, mites, tick bites
Good shoes to prevent blister and callus formation

Rx

STEROID CREAM

Request a prescription for an inexpensive, strong steroid cream for non-facial use, such as betamethasone, which is very useful for itchy skin problems such as poison ivy, eczema, and contact dermatitis

ED

PREGNANCY and CHILDBIRTH

Assess group and community need for current or future pregnancy and childbirth
Acquire midwifery or obstetric books and/or videos for use by your group or possibly others
Consider having group watch videos of childbirth
Locate and become acquainted with midwife or physician in your area

 

Week 11

ORG

MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OUTSIDE YOUR GROUP

Identify others you may need and who may need you
Make tentative arrangements for contact and/or access should the need arise

OTC

MENTAL HEALTH

Spiritual preparation; Bible, hymnbook, inspirational reading
Acoustic musical instruments and/or DVD/MP3 player and power source
Books, both fiction and non-fiction, including how-to books
Games and other forms of entertainment
Arrange group bonding activities to build trust before disaster strikes
Make sure everyone has a meaningful purpose and contribution to your group
Identify spiritual and/or emotional leader of your group
Purchase St. John’s Wort for potential depression
Nyquil or Benadryl for sleep
Caffeine or pseudoephedrine for needed wakefulness/alertness
Meclizine for potential anxiety

Rx

BACTROBAN ANTIBIOTIC CREAM or OINTMENT

Request a prescription for Bactroban (mupirocin) topical cream or ointment for superficial skin infections, mildly infected lacerations or abrasions, or small areas of impetigo

ED

MENTAL HEALTH AND ILLNESS

Spend time bonding with your group, focusing on hope, purpose, and faith
Assess each member for prior and expected reactions under stress
Discuss how your group will respond if confronted with suicidal, panicky, or psychotic patient

Week 12

ORG

STOCK FOR A DOC

Obtain additional supplies a doctor or nurse could use, even if you can’t use them yourself

Suturing supplies
Plaster splinting and casting supplies
IV supplies

OTC

LIQUIDS and PERISHABLES

Hydrogen peroxide
Medical alcohol
Distilled vinegar
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
Sterile saline
Nyquil
Baby formula
IV fluids
Nutraceutical thyroid preparation
Potassium iodide

Rx

NERVE MEDICINE

Anxiety is a common problem now, and will likely worsen if disaster strikes

Discuss nerve medication with your physician and request a (small) supply of fast-acting medication for occasional use.   Possibilities include benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan – which are controlled substances, and so your doctor may not agree), and Vistaril (a sedating, prescription antihistamine)
Consider requesting a slow-acting medication for chronic use, such as Buspar (a non-addicting medicine, but takes days to weeks for relief), or an SSRI (Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil) (equally slow to act)

ED

RADIATION and BIOTERRORISM

Determine the proximity of nearest nuclear reactor and typical wind patterns
Decide on radiation detection (dosimeter, Geiger counter) and consider procuring
Purchase KI (potassium iodide) for each member of your group (have multiple doses for children)
Decide which (if any) bioterrorist threats you plan to prepare for (anthrax, plague, botulism, others)
Educate yourself on how to protect yourself against specific bioterrorist threats

Week 13

ORG

REVIEW

Group meeting to assess any additional needs and to affirm success of preparations

Review each group member’s medical history and needs, especially for important life changes, such as pregnancy, childbirth, and any new health problems
Review each group member’s medical responsibilities, should disaster strike
Affirm each member’s contributions and success

OTC

REVIEW

Make written inventory of supplies you have acquired, location, and purpose
Review weeks 1 through 12 to assess for additional needs and/or shortages
If budget allows, procure additional stock of items most essential for your group
Check dates on items with short shelf-life (insulin, liquids) and re-stock as necessary
Be thankful that so many items are available over-the-counter to help your group and others

Rx

REVIEW

Make written inventory of prescription medications you have been able to acquire, location, and purpose
Make written list of supplies you would still like to procure
Have various group members make appointments with their physicians, who may have changed their position on personal preparedness, and may be more willing to prescribe

ED

REVIEW

Review what you have learned, and organize material into notebook(s)
Make sure all group members have access to needed information and know location of notebook(s)
Assess group members for progress, gaps in knowledge, and intentions for future learning
Encourage and thank all for their efforts and cooperation

 

Harry’s Book Review: The World Ends in Hickory Hollow

The World Ends in Hickory Hollow by Ardath Mayhar
Copyright 1985 and 2007 Publisher: The Borgo Press, An Imprint of Wildside Press
Audio, e-book, Nook & Secure PDF available
Suitable for children? Yes, by age 10+, depending on the child? (I recommend that parents read it first to evaluate.)

There are two things about this book which strike me as remarkable for the genre:
First, this is a book written by a woman and told from a woman’s point of view, and second, this book is very concise. With regard to the first point, I noticed that there was recently another SurvivalBlog book review with similar authorship and perspective, but these certainly seem to be the minority. It is nice to see that there are at least some women writing on these topics. As to the second point, I am going to provide a summary of the first twenty pages of this book. Notice how much the author has packed in and then consider for yourself if that is pro or con for your own preferences. It is a lot of story packed into only 160 pages. Spoilers ahead!

The story is of a young couple who grew up on adjacent farms, got married, moved to the big city, started their family and then realized that the life of the city was not good for them. They sold off their city house, quit their jobs and moved back to the country farms they had left. They had already gotten established in their new lifestyle when the lights went out. Being at the end of the line for service it was no shock for the lights to go out, and even a week later they didn’t think it all that remarkable that the lights were still out, but when they went into town for supplies they were surprised to find that the world seemed to have been deserted. Neighbor’s houses were clearly vacant, the road was empty and the stores closed. Only once they reached a small town did they notice a few wary folks watching from behind closed doors. Fortunately Zack’s (the husband’s) mom Allie was waiting for them. Knowing them, she expected they would not know what had happened. She filled them in with what details she had been able to glean from the radio. It was understood that a nuclear war had begun (note the original publication date of 1985) and bombs were dropped on the east coast, the Midwest, Colorado, Houston, and who knows where else. It seemed that everyone who survived the bombings responded by taking off to try to find their loved ones. Mom Allie just waited for the kids to come to her. The local town had chosen to set up a disaster shelter at the armory, but Mom Allie declined to move into there. Once Zack and Luce (the wife from whose perspective the story is told) arrived it was decided that Mom Allie would move back to the farm with them. Determining that the farm was already well stocked Mom Allie sent Zack down to the armory with her stash of home canned food to help out the other old timers who were down there and being fed “bought stuff”.

When Zack returned from the armory he still had the canned food plus nine other folks who wanted out of there and back to the farms. Thus is established the core of the community which the reader will follow. And that?s the first twenty pages. As novels go, there is a price to be paid for this degree of conciseness. There is only the barest level of character development for many of the players. By no means does this destroy the story. There is plenty of action and drama to keep the reader engaged in the story line, but it does cause the reader to pause and consider which particular character is this, and where have I seen them before? It is simply the price of efficiency. Survival of the small community is threatened by fallout, tornado, a band of savage prostitutes turned into looters, and a government official who shows up out of nowhere. Fallout poses a concern about which nothing can be done. There is no hard information about where bombs have been dropped nor where the winds may have taken the fallout. Geiger counters and potassium iodide are not even considered (and perhaps were not even available to the general public in 1985). At any rate, all our characters can do is hope for the best on this count. The tornado presents a surprise challenge. It is not that tornados were unheard of in Eastern Texas, but they were not to be expected in summer. Some of the old timers could recall it happening though, and there was the possibility that the nukes had impacted the weather patterns. Regardless of how it occurred, it created some problems and taught the lesson that no one is self sufficient, and no one is coming to help either.

The band of women, the Ungers, seem an unlikely proposition at first glance, but the creation of the problem is plausibly presented to the reader. In essence, the prostitute mother and her prostitute daughters have lost their clientele and business model and resort to looting in order to feed themselves, even using one of their own very young daughters to get unsuspecting surviving farmers to open their doors. Once these women gain access they then brutally beat the occupants, often to death, take all the food they can find and ransack the house. They pose a constant threat throughout the novel, and a growing threat as they refine their techniques. The collapse of society opens up a world of options for those who are already on the fringes. The government official is a surprise vestige of the old world, trying to keep alive the bureaucracy and imposition of those who thrive on such things. More than anything he showed how it will be that everyone will do their best to sustain the world they have lost. Don’t count on a collapse being the end of government imposition in private lives. By the end of the book a full year has elapsed. There are no illusions that going forward will be easy, but there are plans for the future and the old are teaching the young so that skill sets will not be lost. Overall, this novel is a good read. There are bad things which happen, but the action is not presented in full, graphic horror. The consequence of those actions are clear however. There is certainly a good deal of drama, but much is left to the reader?s own imagination. I did not notice any profanity. The novel is very quick and concise. This may be better for some, worse for others. Don?t read this book expecting to find detailed information which will help you survive. What this book will show you is the value of a variety of skill sets and of the knowledge of the old ones who have lived through a rougher world.

Pat’s Product Review: Bear & Son Bold Action Folders

I was more than a little anxious to get to the new Bear OPS “Bold Action” automatic folder for SurvivalBlog. For those who may not be aware of who Bear & Son Cutlery are, they have been around since 1991 and have a very extensive line of knives and tools for everyday tasks, as well as for survival, hunting and for collectors. Be sure to log onto their site to see their complete line-up. However, for this article, we’re only looking at their new division of Bear OPS. The stated goal of Bear OPS is to produce the “best knives made in the USA.” Only USA manufactured parts, material, and a dedicated workforce work in this division. They only use premium 154 CM or CPM-S30V steel for these blades and they do their own heat-treat, water-jet and CNC grinding to finish their blades. You also get a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all Bear OPS knives and tools.

My long-time friend, Tom Ables, is handling the outside public relations and marketing for Bear & Son Cutlery. When he told me about the new Bold Action tactical folders from the Bear OPS division, I was more than a little excited to get my hands on a sample or two. Tom Ables spent about 30 years doing the marketing for another major cutlery player, and he knows cutlery inside and out. Now, the new Bold Action automatic folders are only available for those who live in enlightened states that allow automatic folders, or those in the military or law enforcement. However, don’t despair, Bear OPS has a good number of other folders that will take care of your needs if you can’t legally own an automatic folder.

I received two Bold Action folders for this article, one is the AC-110-B4-T – that has a Tanto-style blade, and the other is the AC-1-B4-T that has a modified drop-style point – probably one of the most useful blade styles ever. Either blade style comes in a 3-inch length, and is made from premium CPM-S30V stainless steel, and is .115-inches thick. The blades are heat-treated to a Rockwell hardness of Rc58-60 – not too hard and not too soft – they will hold an edge a good long time, and will be easier to re-sharpen compared to blades having a higher Rockwell hardness. You can also get either Bold Action with a bead-blasted blade or a black Ti coating .Mine came with the latter. The handle material is G-10, which is super-tough, with grip edges for a secure hold. You can also opt to have good-looking Cocobolo wood. Closed length is 4-1/8″ and it weighs 6 ounces. There is a pocket/clothing clip for tip-down carry.

Now, as for the button for the automatic opening on the Bold Action. The button is slightly recessed into the handle – the button is of a good size, too. Several automatic folders I’ve tested over the years, that have opened in my pocket because the button got bumped and it usually resulted in the open blade “stabbing” me in the leg, or a cut to my hand when I reached in my pocket. Some automatic folders now have an additional safety that locks the button so the blade can’t accidentally deploy while in your pocket. The Bold Action does away with any added safety by simply recessing the open button a little bit into the handle scales – nice job, Bear!

I couldn’t find any flaws in the blade or the handle scales on either sample, they were done up right in my opinion. I prefer a slightly longer blade on a folder for self-defense purposes, however the 3-inch blade on the Bold Action is plenty long enough for Every Day Carry (EDC) purposes. To be sure, a pocket knife will probably be used 99% of the time for everyday cutting chores, so the 3-inch blade isn’t any sort of a handicap in my book. The blades opened with authority and locked in place solidly – I can’t say that for all the auto opening knives I’ve tested of the years – so had way too much side-to-side play when opened. This is not the case with the Bear OPS Bold Action folders.

There is also a nice lanyard hole in the butt on the Bold Action folders, and the liners appear to be stainless steel. To open the Bold Action, simple depress the button and the blade flies open and locks in place. To close the blade, use the same button – press in on it, and you can then close the blade, and it honestly does lock in place solidly! What can be simpler? Both the Tanto and Drop Point blades felt good in my hand – not too big and not too small. I like enough handle to hold onto in a folder or fixed blade knife, and even though the blades on these knives are only 3-inches long, there was more than enough handle to hold onto.

I used the Tanto blade more in my testing than the drop point blade – I’m just partial to Tanto-style blades for some reason – nothing I can put my hand on, but I like Tanto blades a bit more than drop point – even though it has been proven that drop point blades are more useful for more tasks. Go figure. Almost daily, UPS or FedEx brings me a package or two, and I reach for whatever folding knife I have in my pockets to cut the boxes open. I also used the Bold Action folders for chores around the kitchen, and I honestly do a lot of cooking in our house, and the Bold Action handled all my kitchen chores from slicing tomatoes to cutting cucumbers and meat. I also spent some time cutting poly rope – now if you’ve ever tried cutting poly rope, you know that a lot of knife blades will simply slip right off this slick rope – no problem for the CPM-S30V blades on the Bold Action. I also tested some wet hemp rope – again, wet rope is very difficult to cut – ask any sailor – and I had no problems with the Bold Action samples.

The Bold Action AC-110-B4-T retails for $230, a good chunk of change. But this is one rugged little automatic folder, that would make a welcome addition as an EDC folder. And, I like the idea of Made In The USA and the Limited Lifetime Warranty. I was pretty impressed with the Bold Action samples. And, I’m going to request some more knives from Bear & Son Cutlery to test for SurvivalBlog readers. They really do have quite an extensive line-up of knives and tools, including Damascus blades, filleting knives, double-edge fighting knives, Bowie hunters, multi-type tools, and multi-blade knives. They also make butterfly knives and a host of other tools – too many to list here. Be sure to check out the   Bear & Son Cutlery web site and the Bear OPS web page for a look at all they have to offer. I’m betting good money you’ll find quite a few knives and tools you’ll want to add to your survival needs or just for collecting. I’m looking forward to testing more of their products. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Letter Re: Experience with a Restrictive State Pistol Permit Process

Jim,
Thank you for your ‘forward’ as well as the article: Experience with a Restrictive State Pistol Permit Process. We in New Jersey experience similar issues. A regular citizen cannot even obtain a carry permit here. It is basically limited to retired police and that even has to be basically approved or recommended by their former chief. There are limited others that may obtain like private investigators. Even with the concealed carry for retired police they must pay a yearly fee plus qualify (at an additional cost) as if still a police officer two times per year. It really would be nice to be allowed to exercise our second amendment right here. Each pistol must have a permit as well. First you must apply for a Firearms ID card to even be able to purchase ammunition! The process is daunting. You must apply to your local police station. You must be fingerprinted. You must answer and sign a questionnaire about crime/mental health issues.( I don’t particularly see that as so invasive.) But you must also allow them to access mental health records as well as contact your employer! The employer contact is especially intrusive. They may not like guns and what business of theirs to give opinion as to whether or no you can buy a gun! May be a reason for them to let you go but of course they would never say that! Sickening. Family members are going through this now and employer of one is questioning why they want it. None of their business! I guess this state is truly trying to dissuade anyone from even wanting to go through it. Same thing for a pistol permit! And all this takes months. Some of my family members applied two months ago and a letter just went to employer. Also, if you move to a new town, you must reapply for the ID card at that location’s police department. The whole process completed all over! This also happens if you marry and change your name as well — reapply! How is this allowing any privacy to honest crime-free citizens? Thank you and God Bless! – Diana

Recipe of the Week:

Ray T.’s Baked Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

1/2 cup – cooked rice
2/3 cup – Molasses or cane syrup
1 teaspoon – Salt
1 Tablespoon – Butter
1 teaspoon – Cinnamon
4 cups – Milk

Stir together all of the ingredients except the milk. Once they are thoroughly mixed, then add in milk. Stir well. Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Bake for the first hour stirring occasionally. Then finish baking without stirring until it is firm, which is usually about 2 hours.

Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

19th Century Recipes

Colonial American Recipes

Currently Available as Free Kindle e-Books:

35 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Green Smoothies. 50+ Recipes. Nutrition, Life and Health

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics and Investing:

Tossing a bone: Boehner Would Accept ‘New Revenue’ Under ’Right Conditions’. (But soon after, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) put his foot down adamantly: no tax hikes.

Some news from Greece: Sharp rise in overdue debts to the State

Jim Rogers: Money Printing Will Run Amok.

Obama 2.0 & the Fiscal Cliff: Implications for America, the Markets, the Dollar, and Gold

Items from The Economatrix:

Wage Costs Rise More Slowly As US Employers Hold The Line

US Home Sales Dip 1.7% On Tight Inventory

Can Asia Demand Help Gold Break $1,800 Barrier?

Doug Casey:  There’s Going To Be A Huge Change Of Ownership Over Global Resources

US Auto Sales Seen Up 11% In October

Odds ‘n Sods:

News from Maker Faire, Nigeria: Teens Create A Way To Use Urine As Fuel

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Florida officials order partial recount in tight House race between Rep. West and Democratic challenger Murphy. (Gee, could it perhaps be because of the 113% to 158% voter turnout? See: Massive Voter Fraud in St. Lucie County, Florida. Avalanche Lily says: Obviously they need to more than just re-count the ballots. Have another election, confirm IDs, and use purple dye to prevent ballot stuffing!)

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Reader S.E.M. gave us: Reason # 1,492,683 not to live in an urban area. And B.B. gave us: Reason # 1,492,684 not to live in an urban area. And C.G. gave us: Reason # 1,492,685 not to live in an urban area.

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Debbie H. wrote to mention that the text of the classic Richard Graves Bushcraft Books are now available online.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The bottom line in all this is that once the debt collapse begins, it’s the preppers who have the firepower, the skills, the food, the water and the farmland. It’s the veterans, the farmers and the local sheriffs who have the know-how to get through tough times. While Obamabot voters have put America on a collision with economic collapse, they remain clueless of the reality that they are bringing about their own destruction in the process.

After all, who would you rather be hanging with when the collapse comes: Michael Moore, or James Wesley Rawles?” – Mike Adams, in Natural News