Some Experiences with Handling Trash, by Belle

An introduction of personal circumstances always seems necessary, so I’ll get that out of the way first.  My husband and I, along with our three children, moved from a moderate sized Texas town of 200,000 to a small spread out community of about 1.500.  That population of 1,500 lives in an area of about 40 square miles.  Our location, of which Mr. Rawles would not approve, is hot and dry. We are learning new ways in all areas of our lives to make this living situation work.  We and our 3 teen-aged children love our community and the new freedom that we have found here.

My husband is a man of many, many skills. A natural problem solver, he can look at most situations and fabricate some kind of solution.  Whether it is plumbing, construction, economics or world politics, he sees the situation in mechanical terms. While he can find or fabricate solutions for most construction, plumbing and solar converter problems, he can’t fix the problems that we see in the political and economic world.  So we do the next best thing.  We prepare.

I, on the other hand, am not particularly mechanically inclined.  Until I married my husband, I was a city apartment dweller with my mother and my brother.  If there was a problem, we called the apartment manager.  I’ve also always known the convenience of the city. Until this last move, I’ve never lived in a city or town without a university.  I’ve never lived without the convenience of grocery shopping at a moment’s notice. Until I met my husband, I did not garden and I’m still not that good at it.  Based on my mother’s experiences, canning was to be avoided at all costs.  Growing up, my mom and I were not in the category of the worst consumers, but we did consume our share of convenience. Compared to our friends at the time, we were down-right frugal.  Compared to what I know now, we had a long way to go before we could be called frugal.   Of all the things that I have “given up” to live where we live, convenience is what I miss most.  But, I’m not willing to move back to a town or city of any size to regain “convenience”.  My husband and I are blessed that we are of one mind about the need to prepare. We don’t take that blessing for granted, either. GOD put us in this new community for a reason and we will be here until He moves us.

While I miss conveniences like “in the mood” grocery shopping, the consistent, orderly removal of trash is a mark of civilized life that I miss very much.  Now, I realize that much of rural America still burns trash. Many have sloughs, or ditches that need filling and are filled with trash that cannot be burned, but I’ve never had any experience with this.  I’ve never separated my trash except for a few forays into recycling.   Before my husband and I moved to our current home, I could clean out the refrigerator, pick up around the yard, put the usual refuse of daily life into the trash and it was gone.  I could, twice a year like clockwork, clean out my children’s closets and make piles. One pile was trash and one was given to an organization such as Goodwill and another might be given to friends.  But wherever it went, it was out of my house and out of my life with immediacy that I never gave much thought.  And yes, we did recycle to a degree.  For whatever reason, our former town seemed to make recycling harder, not easier, so I did some, but not as much as I could have.
We arrived in our new community in December of 2010. We brought a burn barrel with us and we burned our trash and recycled what we could locally for about 3 months.  We were living in a 34 foot long trailer at the time, and we had no running water, so we used paper plates and picnic type utensils and cups.  We used a lot of water bottles. By March, our area had been a full year and a half without any measurable rain and some areas were suffering from fires, so our county instituted a burn ban.  If you are familiar with burn bans, you know that sometimes they don’t include every type of possible fire. Sometimes it is a charcoal fire burn ban, or just fireworks, or no open-pit burning. This burn ban was all inclusive. It included welding and any type of fire whether it was grilling on a gas grill or burning trash in a barrel.  So now what??  At first, I was pretty naïve about what a problem trash can be. We had no idea how long we’d be in the ban, so we started with Band-Aid solutions.  My husband used the Kubota tractor to dig/push dirt and rock into a berm and we piled our bags up against that berm. By this time, we were dry camping in our shipping container house.  Let me tell you, trash really piles up for 5 people in this situation. We had limited water by now, none running in the house, but hoses from a well outside.  I moved us away from disposable plates, etc. to dishware and cutlery as soon as I could, but we still made a lot of trash.  We quickly outgrew the berm idea and when we found our first rattlesnake with a mouse bulge, we knew that we needed a better solution.  We built an enclosure out of t-posts, cattle panel and plywood for the top and moved the trash pile.  What this gave us was an enclosure to contain the trash so that it wouldn’t spread out.  We could throw the bags in at the top and not get too close to the pile.  That was a year and half ago and I still have remnants of that pile that need to be burned.  At its largest, the current trash pit was 8 x 8 x 5.  It still has that basic outline, but it is no longer bulging at the seams. 

Another problem that we encountered in our situation was recycling.  In our area of the country, we have about 8 months of glorious weather. We can be hot during the day, but the nights cool down significantly.  We have 4 months during the summer when the heat is constant and a real challenge.   So most people live here during the 8 winter months and leave for the 4 summer months.  We don’t have many of our services, like recycling, during the summer.  And if we store recyclables during the summer and hit the recycling trailer with it when it reopens in the fall, it is too much for them to handle all at once.  Our closest town is 80 miles away and they have recycling services.  We do bag our recyclables, which at the moment, is mostly aluminum cans and metal food cans.  We have bags of them, but in order to get them to town, we’d have to take the diesel pickup rather than the more fuel efficient sedan.  So we haven’t done this yet. But, at some point, we’ll have to.  It isn’t a good solution to the problem, but we’ll do what we have to do.

A third problem that I have found is finding a home for things that I no longer use or things that no longer work and are not considered trash.   What do you do with the laptop power cord that will no longer charge the computer?  What do you do with the items that you thought would be useful in your new home, but are not? Thrift stores: We have a couple, but they really are overrun with stuff.  They consistently ask residents not to drop off any more things until they can clear out merchandise.  Garage Sale/Flea Market: also an option, but most people are looking to get rid of stuff, not buy it.  Also the organized flea market is only available in the winter months. Free cycle: Our nearest town is 80 miles away and most people won’t drive this far to get it, but it could happen.  Recycle/Re-purpose: seeing an item’s potential outside of its normal use is not one of my gifts. I rarely think outside of the box, so this is a skill that I need to develop and if you have stuff like I do, you need to develop it too.  Store items for Barter: Yes, but storage is a very big issue. We downsized our home considerably and I gave away about 2/3 of what we owned before we made the move.  But what I didn’t count on was how much room prep stores and food stores actually take.  We had only just gotten started with our preparations before we decided to move.  So before I store something that someone else may need someday, I’d like to get my own stuff organized and stored properly.  Beyond re-purposing and storing for barter, the only solution that I can think of for items like this is to bury them.  The solution before burying it is not to buy it in the first place.  I wish I’d seen that one coming.

The initial strict burn ban lasted a full year and we are still under a partial burn ban that prohibits some types of trash burning.  At the moment, we can burn trash in a barrel if it is enclosed. We put our burn barrel in our first outdoor shower that we had constructed out of cut-out shipping container walls.  In our small community, one business built a metal structure out of roofing tin.  On the roof he installed two whirligigs for exhaust.  We don’t know what he used for air intakes, but it couldn’t be that hard to figure out.  We are saving that idea for future use.  Anyway, with our small enclosure and our burn barrel, we can burn our current trash and we are making some in-roads into the stored trash. 

As I read survival articles and literature, I don’t find much space given to the disposal of trash.  I’ve shared our experiences, now I’d like to share some insights.  Not so much solutions because there is only one solution that I see.  I’d rather let you see some of the issues and then tailor your own solutions.  As I’ve hinted above, the three options for dealing with trash are: burn it, bury it, or recycle/re-purpose it.  But, the ultimate solution to the trash problem for those of us who prepare for more desperate times is to plan for it.   In a grid down or TEOTWAWKI situation where security is paramount, what are you going to do with your trash?  Just so we are clear, I am not talking about a natural disaster where you can see that normal services will resume sometime in the future.  I am talking about a grid down situation where you are completely on your own.  In this situation, your decisions might need to include OPSEC, medical concerns, hygiene, and environmental pollution.  Critter control, future sewage needs, and the logistics of being out and about around your retreat need to be addressed.  In order to plan for this, you’ve got to look at what preparations you’ve got in place.  You need to look at your location.  What food/pantry store do you have in place?  What are your security needs?  What are your sewage plans?  Identify your biggest trash challenge.   Is it diapers or paper plates?  Is it tin cans or plastic water bottles?  You can deal with it as long as you’ve identified the challenge and the solution ahead of time and then planned for it.

I think most people consider burning trash to be the best alternative in most situations.  So does your location support that decision?  Do you live in a rural area? I can imagine scenarios where you could burn trash in a city, but that means things are pretty bad.  In a rural area, you may not want anyone to know that you are still in place.  Smoke can be dealt with to a degree, but you’d be hard pressed to burn trash on a regular basis and cover up the smoke smell.  As for environmental concerns, there are not that many.  You just don’t want to burn toxic stuff that will foul your air.  For example, we have blue foam boards that we’ve used in construction.  I don’t burn these.  I believe we do need to make some accommodation for the environment.  We won’t have the EPA breathing down our necks, but we should take care of the land and air that will take care of us.  Some things don’t burn.  You will have to deal with ashes and charred debris.  Have you got somewhere to dispose of that?  You can’t burn aerosol cans or batteries, so you will have to have some alternative plans for them. 

You can bury your trash. We live in an area where the landscape will not recover from this type of intrusion.  You’d see our pit, the tracks from the Kubota tractor, our car tire tracks, whatever, for 100 years.  That is more of an environmental impact than we’d like to make right now and it isn’t very secure, but it remains an option for us long term.   For one thing, we have enough land to do it and we have earth moving equipment. I’ve read articles that recommend you have shovels or hand tools to bury your trash. I’m telling you, from experience, a shovel will not be much help long term when confronted with mounds of bagged trash.  You are going to be digging a very large hole.  If you have the equipment to dig a large hole, do you have the parts and experience to maintain and repair the equipment? You may have ditches or sloughs that run through your property.  If you dump your trash in these and then plant native grasses in and around the refuse, this could help with erosion problems.  My in-laws do this and have corrected some erosion issues on their farm land.  But, my mother-in-law is very diligent about moving grass clumps into the dump area.  Again, this is not an option for us, but you need to evaluate your own landscape.  You also have to consider the environmental impact of burying as well.  Again, we may not need to be as obsessive as the EPA has become, but we don’t want our rivers to burn either.  Consider rain runoff before you choose a spot to dig.  Consider where your well is located; consider winds, critters and future land use before you dig.

You can recycle your trash. I’m not talking about municipal recycling programs because in this scenario, there would be no municipal recycling programs. I’m talking about home-grown, common sense recycling. What can I do with the water bottles or water jugs that I’ve stored and that are now empty?  What can I do with all of the #10 cans as they are used? I’ve seen a chicken shed roof that was “shingled” with tin can lids and the walls reinforced with flattened cans.  Walls can be built with cans and filled with dirt; bottles cans be used for windows, etc., but that is only if you still need structures around your retreat.  Some items from your pantry might be done away with entirely. I found a washable “paper” towel pattern online, and let’s face it ladies, washable pads from Naturally Cozy just makes sense, doesn’t it?  While there are few op/sec or medical/hygiene issues with recycling, there are logistical issues.  Where are you going to store used items like used tin food cans or the #10 cans that we all love so much? Have you got storage for used items?  There comes a point where you just cannot use another #10 can to store nuts/bolts/thread/yarn/seed packs/ etc.  Then what?  Think about diversifying your food and pantry storage as you rotate.  I used some of my dehydrated vegetables to make soup mixes. I repackaged them in Mylar bags which store flat and can be reused until they are too small and at that point, they aren’t much trash.  I also put some mixes into gallon glass jars.  I don’t recommend this if you are not rotating your storage.  There are literally thousands of recycle ideas on the internet. You just have to look for them.  Look at your storage, see what you have the most of and then go hunt up some ideas.  Plan ahead for what you’ll need and what may be used as barter (think glass jars—you cannot have too many!)

There is no one size fits all solution to trash in a grid down TEOTWAWKI scenario except to plan, plan, and plan.  There are as many solutions to the trash problem as there are retreat solutions. Don’t put this off, however.  You may visit your retreat often. You may practice bugging out.  But, if after the weekend is over, you haul your trash to the Dumpster in town, or burn it at your retreat without thought or worry, then you haven’t done all of your homework.  Trash will be a big problem for you if you don’t plan for its disposal ahead of time.  For most of us, trash disposal is one of those things that we regularly take for granted.  Don’t.

Letter Re: Coronal Mass Ejections and Their Consequences

Good Morning James,
The recent coronal mass ejection (CME) began interacting with the terrestrial magnetosphere earlier today. Though initially that interaction was rather subdued a rapid fall-off in the proton particle counters is actually leading to some rather elevated readings over at the Rice.edu monitor site. Polar convection, density and velocity are all registering in the yellow band, while the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) magnitude, angle and the dynamic pressure are all passed up into the red zones. It is worth remembering that a CME consists of hot, charged particles (ionized hydrogen primarily) and as such the situation is similar to the current in the wall of your house when a light switch is flipped on. At the fundament then a “current” of hot gas passing around the earth interacting with the geomagnetic field of same is virtually identical to an electric motor though the geometry seems different. It is the case that the total effect perpetrated on us, on the planet, by the passing of the electrically conductive cloud of hot gas and further, that gas’s interaction with the geomagnetic field is an inductive phenomena.

It is easy to forget that when talking about induction we’re not talking about relative magnitudes of the flow of the gas but instead the instantaneous rate-of-change of that flow as being central to the effects we here witness. Most especially the preceding applies when focusing on the magnetic aspects. To be sure, the incoming stream interacts with, and in part, is trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field, altering it’s velocity and transferring momentum as it does so to form the Van Allen belts above or heads, but it is the resulting magnetic fluctuations induced throughout that drive the actual changes in “earth currents” that were so ferocious during the Carrington Event.

If an X-20 erupted on the face of the Solar disk, even very near to the center thereof, the total effect upon us here some few minutes later (light-travel time scale) would be negligible though the subsequent arrival of the mass of ejected gas would be have frightening effects on our civilization.

If, on the other hand, an extremely high magnitude flare occurred – virtually anywhere on the face of the visible disk – say, an X-40 or greater – then a resulting EMP (like the detonation of a 20 megaton thermonuclear device high in the stratosphere) would likely have near-instantaneous effects on the distribution grid on the sun-facing side of the planet. It might well be the case that the installed safety subsystems at most generating facilities would act in time to prevent a catastrophic, effectively incinerating, effect on the facilities themselves, but it is a near certainty that the Very High Voltage transformers which upconvert energy from the generating facilities to voltages making long-distance transmission of electrical energy practical would be summarily annihilated. The problem that would arise in this circumstance is that there are now only two manufacturing
concerns left operating globally at present that manufacture these extraordinary pieces of machinery and the minimum lag-time from order to delivery is two years (presuming that all of the requisite materials are already on hand without supply chain interruptions and that they themselves have ample electricity available to them for the manufacturing itself). Simply losing the grids over one hemisphere would be bad, but losing them globally would be an incalculable catastrophe. Consider that if there is no way available to transmit electricity long distance point-to-point then how would we be able to remanufacture replacements for these units?
  

Leaving aside the fact that the effects would be the worst in the developed world, resulting in “flash” starvation of hundreds of millions of people – if not billions – as our wondrously efficient, woefully interconnected and critically dependent supply chains vanished like smoke in the wind, how could this happen then?

It could happen as the consequence of a large magnitude X-Flare followed by a subsequent – and necessarily, geoeffective – high magnitude CME. When the mass began interacting with the terrestrial magnetosphere enormous ground currents would be induced by the action of the hot sea of gas flowing around the planet. Also, as a consequence, large voltage potentials would be induced in the ground plane – to which every electrical device on Earth is directly connected. It would not be enough to simply throw the breakers in your fuse panel to isolate your house, business and so forth from Earth voltages and grid fluctuations. Fluctuations on the ground plane itself could/would easily destroy whatever yet remained attached. Disconnecting the ground strap from your your panel(s) to the ground plane would be equally necessary until the large scale fluctuations subsided beyond the event. The actual events involved in this would come upon us rather stealthily. As the ground currents surged there would be no blinding, instantaneous grid-wide failure, no. Instead, the currents through the ground plane traveling into the transformers would slowly, steadily heat the cores in their oil baths until the frail windings began to boil their insulating coatings off at which point massive shorting would occur. Given that the Earth itself is non-homogeneous in it’s make-up, it is also the case that the pattern of failure would be equally heterogeneous. Specifically, places like the eastern seaboard, especially, Eastern Canada would see the first failures (Canadian Electric companies have installed strip-mall sized buffers after the 1989 loss to Solar activity and are now relatively safe) due to the hard-rock underlying the region, the Laurentian Shield. But as one failure occurred there would be another, and another, ad infinitum as a cascade of failures shifted further of the burden to the remaining operational grid. The logical conclusion of this process would be the destruction of virtually every High voltage unit globally inasmuch as unlike a Solar EMP which would effect the “day side” only (approx.) the ground currents in the CME case would be global in character.

An enormous “buzz” has developed over the last few years relative to “EMP” events of Solar or instrumental origin but in the case of solar this particular effect would be limited except as noted above. Thankfully, we have a vast distance between us and our warm, somewhat tempestuous neighbor and it is this distance that along with the atmosphere and magnetic field in which life here is mainly cocooned that preserves us. The initial open-air testing of the hydrogen bomb in the 1950s early 1960s in the South Pacific is of course when first we became aware of the effects that an EMP pulse might have upon us. I have read a report – somewhere, it escapes me at the moment – that during one of the tests, in which one of the larger devices was detonated, that parts, if not all, of the island of Hawaii lost power, had equipment failures virtually simultaneously as the weapon was detonated. It is for this reason that I call “bull” on those harping on the possibility of a middle eastern agency deploying an “atom” bomb over the US to destructive effect. Hear me out.

Fission bombs have an upper limit beyond which – no matter how much more fissile material is added – simply doesn’t produce any further corresponding yield. Our scientists ran into this problem rather early on during America’s primal nuclear efforts, this led to the development of the H bomb, [fusion] thermonuclear weapons as it were. H-bombs don’t really have an effective upper limit as to the amount of yield which can be obtained…just build a bigger bomb. However, there is a catch: H bombs are really, really difficult to engineer. Without going into detail, suffice it to say that the geometry of the device and the timing of the explosives necessary to coax a fusion reaction out of ordinary, cold matter are formidable–extremely so. The largest thermonuclear device ever tested was the infamous “Czar Bomba”, the “King of Bombs” detonated by the Soviet Union circa 1960, which was designed to produce a yield of 100+ megatons TNT equivalent, but was actually only tested with two of it’s four cores in place for a nominal yield of 52 megatons. For any who need more about this just traipse over to YouTube and search for “Czar Bomba”, great footage BTW. But I digress, the probability that someone other than a major nation-state could develop atom bombs is crazy-high, it is only necessary to laboriously render out enough fissile material from uranium and then slap it together. But the converse is equally and inversely true for thermonuclear devices for the reasons lined out above.

As an aside, while I’ve been typing this, the polar convection graph over at stanford.edu has shot right up, as has the graph for interplanetary magnetic field. The figure being shown for the convection is nearly off the graph as it is currently scaled. It’s about 02:30 CST [Sunday, July 15, 2012] and as I look now the Polar convection is actually above the numbered range on the graph, like when your going faster than your speedometer can show you, the IMF being ‘way up there too. I expect that there might be some unhappy northern latitude utility company executives in the morning, the polar convection figure is still getting worse. If I read it right, pushing 280 Kv or more, been up there for quite a while now.

As always, May the Lord Bless and Keep us, His Children, everyone. – J.E.B. in Missouri

Letter Re: Retreat Ideas for the Disabled and Elderly

As a formerly disabled person I would like to share some ideas to help make survival more likely or at least less treacherous:

 * Keep a heavy duty luggage cart for bug out bags. They are versatile and can be used for many other things like hauling water. Wheeled backpacks with roller blade wheels will not be as durable and versatile.

*  Adult tricycle bikes are quite stable can help many get around easier and quicker while carrying some supplies too. These can be used by others as well to carry water and heavier supplies.
   
*  Foot-care should be top priority. If you are caring for someone who is elderly or diabetic check there feet often and make sure to keep moleskin, extra soft socks and that they own a pair of quality sneakers that are comfortable.

*  Meal replacement shakes That have a minimum of 19 grams of protein per serving, contain a minimum 25% of RDA on Vitamins and minerals per serving. Higher calories are better and low in sugar. Ideally you want something that only needs to be mixed with water or you can also add powdered milk.

   These can be used by everyone but will be especially handy for the elderly & sick.

*  For those dealing with incontinence it will not always be practical to stock up on or carry the required amount of supplies needed but the following items can help:

        Male external catheters (available online)
        Female urination devices like GOGIRL
        Plastic moisture barrier underwear
        Reusable (washable) incontinence pads & briefs for both men & women       
        Gentle laxatives
        Baby wipes & washcloths

 *   USB memory stick containing medical records

 *  10 parameter reagent test strips- an easy urine strip test that tests glucose, bilirubin, ketone, specific gravity, blood, pH, protein, urobilinogen nitrite, and leukocytes. They are inexpensive–only about $13 for 100  test strips and should be included in everyone’s emergency kits.

*  Back pain- Mueller adjustable lumbar back brace, Biofreeze or Salonpas, extra Ibuprofen or Aleve
    Knee pain- Patella tendon strap or full knee brace, Biofreeze or Salonpas , extra Ibuprofen or Aleve
   Neck pain- Inflatable neck pillow, Caldera relief neck rest, Biofreeze or Salonpas , extra Ibuprofen or Aleve

    You can also learn acupressure using your fingers or a knob like device
    Robin Mckenzie has written two very popular books on the subject titled Treat Your Own Back and Treat Your Own Neck

*  Book Recommendation: Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner

*  Heart rate monitors for exercise. These can be used to monitor those with heart conditions and make sure that they
   take a break or practice calming exercises when needed. Some of these have custom alarms that will beep when your heart rate
   goes to high or too low.

*  Diabetic supplies may run out Cinnamon bark capsules, Fenugreek seeds or tea, and chromium polynicotinate
   can be used as a last resort. Cinnamon will also be pretty easy to come by and can be easily put into foods, drinks or
   emptied capsules.

Regards, – Tricia, Illinois

Letter Re: Effective Small Team Tactics for the Coming Collapse

Mr Rawles,
I have a few comments after reading the guest article by Max Velocity on small team tactics. I realize the author’s perspective is colored by his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there are some issues I have with his article.

The first is the Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) is not the same IED he described in the Off-route section. The EFP is formed by the Miznay-Chardin effect, not the Munroe effect. The EFP (Miznay-Chardin) is a solid slug or can be fragmented by various means, but is not a molten jet of metal (Munroe). The Munroe effect, or shaped charge, works best in contact situations (it is the kill mechanism by which the RPG works), where the warhead contacts the target. At distance, it often turns into what has been termed as an “incoherent spray,” where the jet breaks up before it strikes the target. This effect is so pronounced that vehicles in Afghanistan use cages to break up the spray inches from the armor, for those occasions where the warhead isn’t damaged to the point of malfunctioning. Miznay-Chardin charges use a shallow plate to form the slug, which is not molten, and lance thru armor. These devices are generally only defeated by more armor or reactive armor.

Second, a vehicle-borne IED doesn’t have to be so large as to affect the suspension of a vehicle to the point of noticing it. In places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the maintenance done on automobiles is spotty at best, and is generally only done to the point of keeping the vehicle running. Putting decent shocks in a vehicle is often a pipe dream. A charge of 200 pounds (about the weight of a person) will generally not affect the ride or stationary characteristics of a vehicle to the point of being noticeable, yet is a large enough charge to do plenty of damage.

IEDs are probably not a real threat to the G.O.O.D. crowd, because any benefit (other than just causing mayhem) would be lost, because a civilian vehicle’s contents would probably be irreparably damaged if it was attacked with an IED much larger than three to five pounds. I’d be much more worried about small arms ambushes (which were not really covered) and things like spike strips or caltrops. These things would immobilize a vehicle and allow the vehicle and contents to be recovered relatively intact.

The author’s point about forming a convoy is a good consideration, but my nuclear family (husband, wife, two kids) would be hard pressed to provide good on-road security for itself, because my sons are just over and just under 10 years old. I can’t expect them to perform even as well as a 16 year old. They can’t really drive, nor can they shoot with the level of fire they’d need to in a contact. You’d really need to band together with at least one other family, hopefully taking two or three vehicles.

The method of providing security is suspect as well, because not every vehicle suitable as a G.O.O.D. vehicle has a sunroof to provide something resembling 360-degree fires during a firefight. The author’s perspective is again colored by his experiences. I don’t own an armored pickup or SUV, and would have to rely on speed and my driving to get myself out of an ambush or attack.

And, to give you an idea of my experience, I spent a year in Afghanistan running missions outside the wire. Sincerely, – Major K.

News From The American Redoubt:

I am gauging interest in what might become a new weekly column with news from the American Redoubt region. It will feature news about events, business opportunities, Radio Free Redoubt, local bloggers, local vendors, demographics, and more.

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Musicians will find this of interest: PrairiePsaltery.com

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Another Sustainable Preparedness Expo will be held on September 30, 2012 in Spokane, Washington.

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One of the largest and best gun shows in the Redoubt region is scheduled for August 3-4-5, 2012, in Missoula, Montana. (This is Montana’ oldest and biggest show, organized by Hayes Otoupalik–an expert on World War I history who has amassed an amazing collection including aerial observer balloon baskets.) The show is held at the Adams Field House at the University of Montana. Wear your SurvivalBlog or Bennington Flag T-shirt or hat and see who you meet.

Economics and Investing:

Those pesky derivatives: How Jamie Dimon hid the $6 billion loss

The latest from Yohay at FOREX Crunch: US Gained Only 12,000 Jobs in May According to Bernanke’s Highlighted Indicator

Steven M. sent this: It’s Not Just Free Cell Phones… The Government Is Handing Out Free Air Conditioners Too. JWR Adds: Oh, and to make it even worse, the LG Global Electronics brand air conditioning units they are giving away are made in China. (“Your tax dollars at work.”)

Items from The Economatrix:

Jim Willie:  Extreme Danger Signposts

Gold 22% Rally to Record Seen by Eric Sprott:  Commodities

Buffet Says Muni Bankruptcies are Set to Climb

Odds ‘n Sods:

Following up on the recent derailment and evacuation in Ohio, SurvivalBlog reader Lee M. found a handy railroad map of the U.S. [JWR Adds: More detailed maps can be found if you do a search for each particular railroad, such as Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe.]

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Ian R. sent this: Emergency responders turn to expired drugs as key lifesaving medicine supplies run low

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Getting in on the act: Reader Tracey A. noticed that Costco’s mailorder arm is now offering a special package price on 12-pack Gamma Seal Lids and 6-gallon Buckets with 12 Mylar Liners and 80 Oxygen Absorbers.

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Reader J.S.S. sent this: U.S. Officers to Make Arrests in Canada: A Clear Threat to Sovereignty

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Reader Geoff S. mentioned a product that might be of interest to readers that have large alternative power systems: Automatic Battery Watering System.

America’s Economic Recovery: Smoke and Mirrors

The mainstream news outlets are still proclaiming an ongoing “recovery”. Headlines in the Washington Post warn that the “recovery may be slowing.” Meanwhile The Economist calls the American economy “The Comeback Kid.” The stock and bond promoters at Parker Financial had the temerity to begin their latest cheery report (dated July 9th) with: “The economic recovery that began in June 2009…” The BBC, quoting International Monetary Fund officials, more realistically describes it as a “tepid recovery.” In my estimation all of these pronouncements are nothing but hyperbole. Any movement in economic indicators has not been a result of any genuine or truly fundamental recovery. To contrast the mainstream media’s cheerleading, SurvivalBlog reader “Wallstreeter X.” sent us some news about the ugly side of Quantitative Easing (QE, also known as monetization), that came from CNBC: Market Savior? Stocks Might Be 50% Lower Without Fed.

Wallstreeter X. had these comments: “This is a well known fact on “The Street” and has been for years, especially since 2008.  I’ve worked in the New York financial district all my adult life and the corruption here between Government/Fed and the Banks is legendary.  After the 2008 crash the Fed made the deal with the big banks that the Fed would do the QEs, and the banks would “support” the stock market, with the Fed supplying “free” money to the banks (partly through the Treasury bond sales/purchases, negative interest rates, “bailout” funds/free loans, et cetera.) The Fed would thereby “finance” the banks.)  That’s Bernanke’s foolish solution to the “economic crisis” from his studies of the Great Depression. He really believes that if the stock market doesn’t collapse, then the economy will rebound.  He’s not a stupid man, but he is terribly naive.  Wall Street et al is now based on corruption. While there are a few of us that actually work honestly and try to “do the right thing” here, we are vastly outnumbered by the crooks. If the Fed ever stops pumping money then the stock market will be at 6000 or lower very quickly.  Unfortunately precious metals prices may collapse at the same time, because they are pumped up mainly by speculators in funds and ETFs, who will have to liquidate their precious metals “paper” holdings, as well as speculative crude oil and agricultural holdings (futures and OTC swaps) at the same time (due to margin calls).  I actually deal in OTC option derivatives now and I agree with you completely James that it is the derivatives that are the 900 pound Gorilla in the room no one wants to talk about.  If the collapse happens it will be terribly scary.  I only say ‘if’ not because I doubt its all a house of cards, its just that I am so amazed at how long they have been able to keep the shell game going.” 

I concur with his observations. Creating trillions of Dollars out of thin air and artificially holding interest rates of absurdly low levels (ZIRP) has created only the illusion of recovery.

Boom and bust cycles are hardly something new. Attempting to avoid or arrest the bust phases through monetization is just a clever parlor trick.

Despite changes of policy with successive presidential administrations, the law of compounding interest is inescapable. In recent memory, only the Clinton Administration has made any headway toward stopping further accumulation of Federal debt. (And Clinton was the beneficiary of his predecessor’s tax policies.) The real demon here is not left/right politics. Continuing Federal spending beyond our annual revenue is inevitably suicidal, regardless of what political party holds office. The debt clock keeps ticking.

Mark my words: Quantitative Easing and ZIRP cannot go on forever. Budget deficits cannot go on forever. At some point interest rates will rise, and the game will be over. Servicing the national debt will become impossible. Derivatives will implode, spectacularly. The United States will become a pariah nation like Greece, only on a grand scale. The inevitable result of the coming chaos will be the destruction of the U.S. Dollar as a currency unit. In the short term we are looking at deflation, but in the long term, mass inflation is inevitable. The turnabout will come when interest rates spike.

When the government reaches the point where it debt service becomes painful, I predict that they will redirect their gaze on the $4 trillion that U.S. Citizens have saved in 401(k)s and the $8 trillion they have in in IRAs and pension funds. They are just too tempting for politicians to ignore. They will find some excuse to grab these funds. Be prepared. Anyone that is over 55 should convert their IRAs and 401(k)s in to Silver Eagle IRAs. (Available though Swiss America and other firms.) Anyone that is under 55 should consider taking the penalty and simply cashing out. Whatever you do, give it some concerted study and prayer, first. Don’t rush headlong into a major change in your retirement planning.

Regardless of whether or not you have a formal retirement savings program, I recommend that you shuttle some of your net worth out of Dollar denominated investments and into productive farm land. Ideally this will be a farm that is well away from major cities and well off the beaten track that can serve as a safe haven for your family. Once you’ve bought your retreat and squared it away with the proverbial “Beans Bullets and Band-Aids”, then think about sheltering what you have left in precious metals. Silver is my top pick, and pre-1965 circulated 90% silver U.S. dimes and quarters coins are the ideal vehicle. Those silver coins should be in tangible form (not amorphous ETFs), and kept well-hidden at home. Be ready to hunker down, folks. Instead of “continued recovery” there is now a high likelihood of collapse. When? That all depends on how long Ben Bernanke’s game of smoke and mirrors can continue.

Pat’s Product Review: Montie Gear Slingshot

Although my body is growing older, my mind is still stuck at age 27 – and at times, my mind is even younger than that. I hope this never changes, once the mind grows old, then the body will grow even older – faster! While I can’t do the things I used to do (physically) when I was much younger, there’s still a lot of “fun” left in me.
 
I grew up in Chicago, and like most kids at that time, and in my neighborhood, we were pretty poor, except back then, we didn’t know we were poor. We entertained ourselves in a lot of different ways. Back then, the television only had four stations, so there really wasn’t much to watch compared to today, where people have hundreds of different television channels to watch, and complain that “there’s nothing on…” As a kid, my friends and I often played marbles – we could play for hours on end. We also fashioned home made slingshots from tree branches. Most of the time, those slingshots didn’t even last a day. And, for ammo, we used rocks – we never ran short of ammo in those days. Yeah, and like most kids my age back then, we got into a little trouble with our slingshots by shooting out windows of abandoned buildings. I guess that wasn’t so bad, compared to the trouble kids get into these days – like taking guns to school and killing their classmates. Nope, back then, we didn’t get into nearly the trouble kids get into today.
 
When I grew older, I purchased a store-bought slingshot – made out of some kind of hardwood, and it lasted a good long time. The only thing that needed replacing from time-to-time, was the rubber band used for propelling the ammo, more often than not, the rubber band was made out of an old tire inner tube (remember those days, when we had tubes in our tires?). I’ve also had some other better made slingshots pass through my hands over the years, and they were really a lot of fun, and very well-made, too.
 
Montie Gear has a new slingshot called the “Y-Shot” and I’m here to tell you, hands down, this is the best-made slingshot I’ve ever run across – PERIOD! The all-aluminum frame is made out of 1/2″ thick aluminum plate, cut with a water jet at 50,000 PSI for unrivaled strength and low weight. Then, Montie Gear either powder coats the Y-Shot in different colors, or leaves the aluminum bare – with a grayish oxidized color to the finish.
 
I’m gonna give you the run down on the specs, right from the Montie Gear web site: “The slingshot features a tapered flat band and leather pouch assembly. The tapered flat band has a 16-pound pull weight at approximately a 28″ draw. The band has a tapered shape and is made from Thera-Band material for a fast shot and long life. The leather pouch and tapered band assembly come from A+ Slingshot in California. The handle is wrapped with 550 test weight paracord for comfort. The paracord also provides a source of very strong cord, should you need it in the field.”
 
This slingshot is ready for hunting (small game) or target practice. Don’t hesitate to use ammo up to a 1/2″ ball bearing or .44 cal lead ball ammo with this baby. My Y-Shot only came with 30, 1/2 steel ball bearings – which I shot up in only a few minutes, shooting at empty soda cans and empty milk jugs. Darn!I had to run to town, to the local big box store, and purchase a couple hundred more ball bearings – and in no time at all (again) I was out of ammo. Next day, I went to town again, and purchased a good supply of ball bearing ammo from the local big box store, so I’d have enough ammo to last me through several days of target shooting.
 
I’m here to tell you, that with only a little bit of practice, I found myself hitting empty cans at 25-yards without any trouble at all. I even placed some cans out to 50-yards, and about a third of time, I’d hit one, and they were hit with authority enough to make ’em go flying too. I didn’t do any small game hunting because I haven’t picked-up my hunting license for this year. However, I believe that the Montie Gear Y-Shot slingshot is capable of taking small game like squirrels and rabbits, as well as larger birds like turkeys, too…and we have a lot of wild turkeys are my rural country road. The slingshot would also discourage someone from coming very close to your property, with a well-aimed shot to the body or leg. Now, I’m not saying that you should purchase a mere slingshot for personal defense. However, if someone were trying to sneak on your property, and they took a hit from a steel ball bearing, they’d sure know that they weren’t welcomed. It would also keep pests out of your yard, too – stray cats or dogs.
 
I honestly believe, that there is a place in a Prepper’s arsenal for a good slingshot. It would be great for taking birds and other small critters for the stew pot – and you can do it silently, too. What’s not to like about this? And, ammo is plentiful, if you only use rocks as ammo. However, rocks are not nearly as accurate as ball bearings or round lead ball ammo – be advised! I personally wouldn’t want to take a hit from a steel ball bearing launched from the Montie Gear Y-Shot slingshot. I saw what it did to aluminum cans and milks jugs – they were easily penetrated out to 25-yards.
 
Now, while you can go to the local big box store, and buy a pretty decent slingshot, you won’t find one as nearly well-made as the Y-Shot is, or one that will hold up for a lifetime. Were there any negatives about the Y-Shot? Yeah, It only came with 30 ball bearings – I’d like to see at least a hundred included in the package. I’d also like to see at least one spare rubber band and pouch included – because sooner or later, the rubber band is gonna break on you. Full retail price on the Y-Shot is $99.95 – a bit spendy, to be sure. But if you compare this slingshot to ALL the others, you’re gonna see the difference, and it’s a big difference, too. The Y-Shot is outstanding and will give you a lifetime of pleasure – so long as you don’t run out of ammo. And, you will run out of ammo very fast – it is very addictive shooting the Y-Shot – trust me, the little kid in me is telling you the truth.
 
So, if you’re in the market for the world’s best slingshot, look no farther that the Y-Shot. Is it worth almost a hundred bucks? Yeah, to me it is, and I think you’ll also agree, if you get one, that it’s worth the money. Just make sure when you order your Y-Shot from Montie Gear, that you get some more ball bearings and a couple extra rubber bands with the leather pouch.
 
I’ve tested a lot of firearms and knives over the years, and to be sure, they were all a lot of fun. But I don’t recall when I had more fun testing a product, than the fun I had with the Y-Shot slingshot. It’s fun to shoot, silent and accurate…and it’s capable of taking small game and birds for the stew pot when the SHTF if need be. If it sounds like I’m more than a little excited about this product, I am. It brought out even more of the little kid in me. And, if I had this slingshot when I was a kid, I would have been king of the block, and would have been known as an “Ace” with it. Check this slingshot out on the Montie Gear web site and you’ll probably get one.

Essential Medical Skills to Acquire: Suturing, Part 1, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

In the introduction to this series of article I gave a brief outline of the medical skills that a layman should acquire when preparing for TEOTWAWKI.  One of the most needed skills is suturing and other forms of wound closure. 

Lacerations are frightening, especially to young children.  One’s sense of wholeness is violated, often out of proportion to the actual injury.  Even adults view minor cuts as emergencies, when the truth is, most would heal (though perhaps with more scarring) with little intervention beyond cleansing and bandaging.  Pain and fear may cause as much discomfort as the actual wound.
The primary goal of intervention is to speed healing with a good cosmetic outcome.  Healing is accelerated when the wound edges are in contact with each other and infection is prevented.  That’s just about all that suturing does.  The God-given wound repair mechanism is what really heals the body.  The secondary goal of treatment, which is often equally important, is instilling confidence in the patient that he or she will be fine.  The ability to provide gentle, professional wound closure earns the skilled caregiver a great deal of respect in the injured party’s eyes.

The most common lacerations patients experience are relatively superficial.  In my work in urgent care I rarely encountered an injury that required complex closure techniques, though deep lacerations certainly do occur.  The incidence of minor to major lacerations is at least 100:1, likely much higher.  By minor, I mean no deeper than through the skin and subcutaneous tissue, not penetrating to muscle, tendon, or internal organs, and not involving the eyes or other special organs.  Therefore, learning how to suture a standard laceration is the place to start. 

Before discussing suturing I’d like to stress that other wound closure techniques are often quicker and may give equally good results.  When the edges of the wound are practically touching each other, with no tension to stretch them apart, taping is an excellent choice.  When speed is of the essence, taping or stapling is often the best option.  Several staples can be placed in the time it takes to numb a wound – and hurt little if any more than an injection of anesthetic.  Anyone who doubts this should purchase a surgical stapler and try it out personally (I have). 

Both surgical staplers and suture material are available online without a prescription, though the quality is often not equal to professional equipment.  Don’t bother with the super-cheap stuff except perhaps to practice – it will certainly be inferior for human use.  Outdated veterinary sutures are fine for knot-tying or practice on a chicken breast, but at least the ones I’ve purchased have dull needles.  (More on this in the next article.)  If you are going to practice suturing, needle choice is paramount.  Sewing needles have tapering points, which actually do not penetrate the skin well.  Surgical needles have tiny knife points, labeled cutting or reverse cutting.  A tapered point is fine for practice on foam, fabric, or perhaps a chicken breast, but requires too much pressure for penetration when used on actual skin.  Practicing on a pig’s foot will yield a simulation more comparable to suturing human skin than does chicken skin or foam.  They don’t stay fresh long, though, so be sure to refrigerate your practice pig’s feet and use them within a few days of purchase. They also freeze well, and after practice you can cook them up for your dogs if desired (but beware of the distinctive smell). 

To date the best sutures I find online available to the layman are the brand Unify.  The 4-0 size is appropriate for most lacerations; 3-0 works well for larger or deeper injuries, whereas the 5-0 is good for facial lacerations or the tender skin of children.  A suture length of 18” is generally sufficient, and easier to work with than the 30” material.  The silk suture is easier to tie so that knots slip less easily, but nylon slides through the skin easier, causing less trauma when positioning knots or removing stitches.  As a single filament, nylon also produces less wicking action and therefore less likelihood of infection.
If you do not or cannot obtain surgical suture, purchase nylon or silk thread from your local sewing supply store.  Prior to use you can dip it in alcohol to sterilize. 
Before suturing a wound you must make sure it is clean.  Clean is a relative term – no wound is completely clean, and some are assumed contaminated whether they look clean or not, especially human and animal bites.  Human bites and cat bites will get infected nearly 100% of the time and so should not be sutured.  Dog bites generally should not be sutured, either.  Closing a dirty wound provides a cesspool for bacterial growth – i.e., a warm, moist, dark environment with foreign bodies (sutures) that bacteria can cling to.  Cuts inflicted by sharp objects (knives, razors, wire) can usually be rinsed clean with soapy water and sutured (as long as no rust is present).  Any wound where infection is suspected should not be sutured.

After the wound is cleaned, establish a sterile field for your sterile instruments, or at least a clean field so your suture is not dragging over dirty clothes or adjacent skin.  If you don’t have a sterile field, at least use a clean towel to cover any contaminated areas.  I’ve never used aluminum foil, but I think it would be a good option, or possibly plastic wrap or even wax paper.  Paper that tears when moistened would be less than ideal. 
The topic of anesthesia for suturing will be covered in a separate article, but for now I’ll just mention that it certainly is possible to suture without numbing, especially an adult patient.
Once the patient is prepared, establish a work area so that you can work in a relaxed, comfortable position at a comfortable angle.  You may need to move your chair or the patient’s orientation.  If you try to suture while leaning over the patient you will certainly regret it part-way through as your neck or back begin to ache or your hands begin to tremble (as most doctors know from experience.  Please learn from our mistakes.)
The goal of suturing is to bring the edges of the wound together clear down to the depth of the wound, with no gaps in between where the wound can separate.  The depth of the wound determines proper needle size as well as suture width and spacing.  Specifically, the radius (R) of the curved needle should equal the depth of the wound, which is also the distance the suture should be placed from each edge, as well as how far apart the sutures should be spaced.  Half this distance (R/2) is a good spacing to place the first stitch from the end of the laceration.  As you’ve cleaned the wound you’ve estimated the depth and decided on the proper size needle and suture.

When suturing, it is best to use a needle holder with smooth edges rather than a hemostat with small teeth or ridges.  The flat edge holds the needle more securely.  When inserting the needle into the skin, grasp the needle holder in your palm (not with your fingers in the finger holes), making sure the needle is directly perpendicular to the skin to enable it to reach the full depth of the wound.  (Beginners usually direct the needle in at an angle rather than directly perpendicular.  Palming the needle holder assures much better control.) 
Each suture should be placed half at a time, that is, start from the right side and have the needle come up in the middle of the wound; then reposition the needle and insert inside the laceration, directing your needle up and out to the opposite side of the wound.  (Left-hand dominant individuals often sew from the opposite direction.)  Proceed from one end of the laceration to the other; usually it is best to start at the point furthest away from the operator and work toward the operator for best visibility.  When the laceration lies well-closed, make sure the knots are positioned all on one side for easier removal and less crusting.  Apply Bacitracin antibiotic ointment (optional) to a sterile (or clean) dressing and cover the wound (as opposed to applying the Bacitracin directly to the wound, which risks contamination of your tube of medication and also may cause discomfort for the patient). 
 
As I write this I realize that a picture is worth a thousand words, and not everyone learns well from text alone.  Doctors don’t suture their first laceration without an experienced physician supervising their work, and preferably neither would you.  If at all possible it would be ideal to receive hands-on training from a medical professional in your area.  Alternatively, I offer this at my own SURVIVAL MEDICINE workshops, as mentioned previously (see www.ArmageddonMedicine.net for upcoming classes). 

In the next article I will expand on the above with SUTURING, PART 2. 

About the Author: Cynthia J. Koelker, MD is SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor, the author of the book Armageddon Medicine, and the editor of www.ArmageddonMedicine.net   

Guest Article: Effective Small Team Tactics for the Coming Collapse, by Max Velocity

I have been a soldier for all my adult life: infantry, special operations and as a civilian security contractor. More recently, I have got into prepping for the survival of my family. I have been working slowly at it, and reading and researching a lot of the publications and related blogs. Given my background, I have a head start in the security area, but many have huge head starts over me in the other desired and required skills that will be essential to survival. I have a lot to learn and a lot to catch up on. However, I would like to contribute my two cents worth where I can.

The more I read, the more I form the opinion that certainly not all, but perhaps “some” or “many” preppers out there are making the simple mistake of thinking that with the subject of security, they can simply “tick the box”. Preparing for the protection of your family cannot be simply taken care of by having guns; not in the same way that hunger can be taken care of by stocking food. It is simply not sufficient to exercise your right to bear arms and own guns, without being tactically proficient. Even for the good shots, that is not the same as being able to perform tactically. The kind of tactical challenges that you will face post-SHTF will be in a different league to, for example, confronting an intruder in the dead of night with your handgun or shotgun. Think marauding gangs of looters, going from house to house, raping and killing. Even if you have a remote retreat, you will need tactical know-how at some point. I also believe that there will not only be a need for family and friend units to protect themselves, but if the collapse is ongoing for some time there will be a need to create tactical teams to conduct necessary operations to protect your area of operations and retreat from whatever threats emerge.

Reading through forums and articles I see many of the same questions out there about what techniques to use, how to defend yourself, your loved ones and your home, and similar. I hope to answer these questions. Also, the book takes you from tactics for survival of yourself and your family, including vehicle movement and defending your home, through to small unit tactics. These small unit tactics require the training of tactical teams and would form the basis of a group that you would use to conduct operations post-SHTF to defend your location, compound or small town. This compendium of infantry, special operations and close protection tactics would also allow you to carry out an effective American Insurgency against invading enemies, foreign or domestic, into the post-SHTF vacuum.
 
As an example, as part of my career in the military and security, I spent five years serving as a security contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This included working on contract for the US Government in Iraq, a year of which was based out of Fallujah, the rest variously based out of Baghdad and country-wide, and also two years working for the British Government in Helmand Province and Kabul, Afghanistan. These roles were operational security roles that included exposure to multiple training methods and operational schools of thought, as well as both high profile and low profile mobile operations across Iraq and Afghanistan. In my book, I have incorporated a lot of the techniques and experience that I learned in both high and low profile movement in these combat theatres into techniques that you can apply to moving your family and conducting any type of post-collapse vehicle movement.
 
If you find yourself packing up your family in a “get out of Dodge” situation, then there are a number of factors to consider. The number of vehicles and personnel in your convoy will have a knock on effect to tactical potential, which will is discussed in more detail. However, to introduce the concept here: one vehicle gives you limited load carrying ability and no redundancy. If you are a standard type family you likely have a couple of cars. Take both. If you have the ability to take three cars and have a driver and security in each, then take them because you will 1) spread out your personnel so that there is less risk with the destruction of one vehicle 2) increased redundancy if one vehicle breaks down or is immobilized 3) increased your tactical options, which we will cover in detail in the chapter on vehicle operations, and 4) greatly increased your load carrying ability, perhaps without having to use a trailer which will benefit mobility.
 
One of the big threats faced in Iraq and Afghanistan is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). We hope that this will not be a primary threat in a WTSHTF situation in the Continental United States, and the manual does not concentrate on them for this reason, but they may either be used in a limited fashion by certain groups or become a widespread threat in an insurgency type situation if one develops, for whatever reason. Here are a few interest points on IEDs:
 
IEDs come in various sizes and the effectiveness of an IED depends on large part as a function of size and placement, as well as accurate targeting. IEDs can be connected in a “daisy chain” and usually placed to match the anticipated spacing of vehicles in convoys, to cause maximum damage. IEDs can be initiated in a number of ways:
 
• Command Wire (CWIED). A physical connection between the initiation point (Firing point (FP) and the CWIED itself (Contact Point)); the need for this connection can aid in detection of the device and the FP.
• Remote Control (RCIED). The RCIED is detonated remotely using any one of multiple options. It can be anything from a cell phone to a garage door opener. This increases the enemy’s options for placement and FP, without the need to be physically connected to the device. This can make it harder to detect the device.
Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). Simply put, the IED is inside the vehicle. This type of IED will usually be remotely detonated, or can be on a timer (exception: see SVBIED, below). The VBIED allows for mobility and placement of large IEDs. However, they can be detected: a simple example can be a car that is packed with Home Made Explosives (HME) and therefore the suspension is weighed down, making the vehicle suspicious as it sits parked at its placement point.
 
Off-Route Mine: (A targeted IED capable of defeating armored vehicles)
 
• The off-route mine is very effective and can defeat many types of armor. It uses the “Monroe effect”(shaped charge) to create a molten jet of metal that will pierce armor, causing damaging effects inside the vehicle as it passes through. The Monroe effect places explosives in behind a metal cone or dish: on detonation, the cone inverts and melts into a stream of metal. This is the same effect used by a standard RPG, with the exception that an RPG detonates on contact with a vehicle, whereas the Explosively Formed Projectile goes off several feet away by the side of the road.
• The effect of the device can be devastating but usually limited in scope. It will pass through armor, and there have been multiple circumstances of these devices causing traumatic lower limb amputation of personnel in the driver and front passenger seats of vehicles, but personnel in other compartments being left unscathed.

Victim Operated Improvised Explosive Device (VOIED). This type of IED is detonated by the actions of the victim. In order to be effective the IED will usually target a location that is known to be used by coalition forces. VOIEDs can be anti-personnel or anti-vehicle. The type of location targeted would usually be somewhere that locals could avoid, but that forms a channel for military personnel or vehicles. These devices, or the corresponding safe routes, may also be marked, often in unusual ways, similar to the way that mines are often marked in the Balkans i.e. piles of rocks, sticks, cloth tied to markers etc.
 
About The Author: Max Velocity is the pen name of a former Special Forces soldier and private security contractor. He is the author of the nonfiction book Contact!: A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival.

Letter Re: National Forest Road Closures in Arizona

Jim,
My wife and I were heading back from cabin in the Northern Arizona mountains Saturday (July 7) afternoon and were stopped by a nice elderly lady who worked for the Forest service (vehicle
parked across from her) on a forest road. She handed me a new Coconino National Forest map and said “if the roads are not shown on this map then it is closed and that each year they will come out with a new MVUM (motor vehicle use map) and the same applies. So, if the road is not shown, then it is consider closed. I said why not put up closed signs or barriers so we can see and she said they will just get moved or destroyed. She also said it is your responsibility to know which roads are closed via their maps. Rather than sit on the road questioning/argue with her (just the messenger) I figured I would look over the map when I got home.

After getting home I looked over the map and its purpose (written rules) and what it says: Violations of 36 CFR 261.13 are subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months or both (18 U.S.C. 3571(e)). This prohibition applies regardless of the presence or absence of a sign.

It’s a National Forest and they will close forest roads (no signs/marked) which they deem and we are responsible to know by it not being shown (drawn) on their maps. Just out diving I do not look at a map. I just take whichever road is there and drive. I do not make new ones or drive across fields unless to retrieve downed game which is authorized. I could see if they were doing it for reclaiming the forest to it’s natural order or fire restriction however if you read into the rules and such (on the map) it outlines a lot more plus where you can camp. A lot of roads are missing from this map (Flagstaff, Arizona area) so if you hunt, camp or sight see look out because it is already in effect, as of April 2012.

Again, it is our National Forest (tax dollar funded) and they are going to tell us what roads to drive and where we can/can’t camp? Whether you agree/disagree with off road travel, camping and quads this is pure crap.
Install barriers (post/rocks) up on areas you wish to reclaim not just delete the road from a map (only theirs) which will change yearly and make it the public’s responsibility to know. I am sure this is happening in other
national forest however I just happened to be traveling through Coconino National Forest. I am writing to the forest heads and our congressmen because soon we will lose all rights of our National Forest! It’s just the beginning of our limited use of our forest in which we pay for along with their paychecks!

For more information, see this editorial in The Arizona Republic Friday, July 13, 2012: Rules a burden for hunters. – Regards, – Steve E.

Letter Re: Avoid Becoming a Refugee

Dear Editor:
The “off-road” gear carriers described in Avoid Becoming a Refugee are neat, but check out this fascinating article about the Chinese wheelbarrow. Its wheel is dead center (instead of at the end like European barrows) enabling it to carry three to six times more weight. Frequently passengers with luggage would be transported by just one person. These were the primary freight movers of their day (much like tractor trailers are
used today) but had the advantage of being able to negotiate extremely narrow “roads.” I really enjoyed reading this history and have tucked this knowledge in the back of my mind in case I’d need it one day. Regards, – C.D.V.

Economics and Investing:

Six charts that show the Welfare State run amok. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate G.G. for the link.)

Doug C. sent this: Is Bankruptcy Coming to a City Near You?

The looming student loan bubble – Almost half of all student borrowers were not making payments. 1 out of 4 in debt repayment past due on student debt.

G.G. sent this: Gold for Oil: Turkey has exchanged nearly 60 tons of gold for several million tons of Iranian crude oil, despite its promises to uphold Western sanctions on Iran’s energy sector

Items from The Economatrix:

Inflate Or Die

Four Reasons To Be Even Less Optimistic About The Global Financial System Than You Were Last Month

Consumers Gloomier On Jobs, Finances

Buffet:  US Economy Growth Slowing, Europe Slipping “Pretty Fast”