Getting Prescription Drugs for TEOTWAWKI, by Sara Sue

It was quite a shocker when I couldn’t get my husband’s heart medication prescriptions filled in January.  After numerous phone calls to our pharmaceutical insurer, I finally found someone who assessed and fixed the problem, but it took over 6 weeks to get his prescriptions filled.  (Fortunately, I had stocked up last year, so he wasn’t completely out of his medications.  Stocking up was not intentional.  The insurer accidentally sent twice the amount requested and when I called to let them know, they said not to worry about it and they would stop the auto-refill feature).  As to why my husband’s prescriptions could not be filled, the customer care representative said something about a “glitch” in the system.  At least, that is how it was explained to me.  How one customer care representative described it – “…all Medicare eligible persons are being switched over to a Medicare type plan and your husband’s record did not make it into the new database”.  The net effect was that it appeared he didn’t have any drug insurance coverage.  The problem was “fixed”, but the costs skyrocketed.  

Hey, wait a minute, we have private drug insurance through my husband’s previous employer – he is now retired.  We didn’t sign up for Medicare Part D because we didn’t need it.  We already had good insurance.  How can they switch you over like that without your knowledge or permission?  ObamaCare, that’s how.  The out of pocket costs for his prescriptions is now more than 10 times what they were the last year (i.e., $10 co-pay versus a $100 co-pay per prescription + a deductible that quadrupled and an out of pocket cap that doubled).  And this happened with no warning.  Our budget is fairly tight each month, so it was a budget shocker too.  I scrambled to rob Peter to pay Paul to get the medications he needed, but I was angry.  I thought of all the seniors who are less fortunate than ourselves.  How would they pay for their medications?  And how in the world can anyone stock up on medications for TEOTWAWKI?

This article provided some information about skyrocketing drug costs and the changes being made in Medicare right now under ObamaCare.  (Listen up people, the sequester and the Republicans have nothing to do with this, as Mr. O declares.  These changes are a direct result of ObamaCare.)  The title, Medicare drug costs to fall in 2014, but donut hole widens, is a bit misleading.  Costs are up for 2013, so don’t believe they are going down in 2014.  Here’s a quote from the article:

“Seniors fall into the “donut hole” when spending on drugs (the combination of what the individual and the insurance company spend) reaches a predetermined threshold.  This year, the number is $2,970; after that point, the senior pays 50 percent (a new change this year from the Affordable Care Act) of brand-name drug costs, until individual spending exceeds $4,750…

But for 2014, the CMS has proposed that beneficiaries enter the hole when combined spending reaches $2,850 – $120 less than in 2013.  That means seniors would start paying more out-of-pocket at a lower level of spending.  That will surprise seniors, since one of the key touted benefits of President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law is the gradual closing of the donut hole entirely between now and 2020.”

Can you make it until 2020 for things to improve?  There’s a lot of double talk put out by the federal government on how costs are going to be lowered for seniors.  I’m not seeing it.  Neither are my friends and family.  Our cost spike was a result of being forced from a private plan into a Medicare plan.  However, my parents have both Medicare and a private plan and experienced huge increases when they went to refill their prescriptions in January this year.  Something’s fishy, right?
I shared my story with a few friends, and they had also experienced the “sticker shock” and this includes people who are not Medicare eligible.  I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not going to put up with it.  I have choice (ah, so American of me, right?).  I started my quest to find an alternative source for medications.  Something I had never thought of before.  I recall my sister mentioning to me that her doctor at a major medical university had prescribed her a drug that was not FDA approved and gave her the link to a Canadian pharmacy.  I researched Canadian pharmacies and there appears to be a lot of confusion about them.  Is it legal for a US citizen to purchase medications from a Canadian pharmacy?  Some say yes, some say no.  I went to the source, the FDA, and read their policies.  It appears that for personal use and in small quantities (30-90 days), the FDA may “look the other way” when US citizens “import” Canadian pharmaceuticals.  The trick is finding a legitimate online pharmacy and protecting yourself against identity theft by purchasing from an legitimate source.  There exists policy only and I have not found a federal law on the books that prohibits US citizens from purchasing pharmaceuticals for personal use from Canada.  (Maybe that will be made a law as the vast ObamaCare bill is slowly morphing into legislation.)

Just a quick note:  If you travel overseas and are able to purchase your drugs there, make sure you dump the pills into existing pill containers (that you have taken with you) that are labeled by a US pharmacy; trash your receipts and new pill bottles prior to traveling home, just in case a customs agent decides to hassle you upon re-entry.  You never know how far the federal government will go in forcing people into paying into the ObamaCare system.  Without your dollars, the system will fail and they know that.

There is an organization, RxRights.org, which is fighting to retain the right to purchase prescription drugs from overseas.  God bless them.  They wrote an article that described the FDA’s new campaign to warn citizens away from purchasing drugs from outside the United States.  The FDA’s web site for the campaign (BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy) can be found here. Key points from the FDA: Know the Risks, Know the Signs, and Know your Online Pharmacy.  (The very fact that the FDA is counseling citizens about safely buying outside the US, is permission enough for me.)  However, RxRights.org depicts the FDA’s campaign as being misleading by scaring people away from online pharmacies. RxRights.org stated that “…a recent Consumer Reports survey indicated that nearly half of those under age 65 without prescription drug coverage neglected to fill a prescription due to cost in 2012.  As Americans struggling to survive in this economy seek ways to save money, scare tactics are not what they need”.  And yes, there are many rogue Internet pharmacies out there, so BE CAREFUL, but don’t be deterred.  I am going to use the pharmacy that my sister’s doctor recommended.  

We have a close relationship with our family doctor.  Something I didn’t really care about a few years ago, but major health changes in our family forced us into regular doctor visits.  Now, I see this relationship as critical as we all work our way through what ObamaCare has done to destroy healthcare in America.  Our family doctor also practices what I call “Chinese medicine” in addition to traditional medicine, which is an indication to me that she is open minded.  She also listens and she cares.  When my husband’s insurance changed to Medicare primary, she continued to see him.  Many doctors are stating that they are “not taking new patients”, but that’s a response you will most likely get after you answer the question, “What is your insurance?”  It’s the first question asked, when you call to make an appointment now.  My next step is to call her for a new prescription and I will ask her for a couple of copies and explain that I am going to “shop pharmacies” due to the increase in drug costs.  I don’t think she will complain, but we’ll see.  This where your relationship with your doctor counts.  

I called my sister and she explained that getting her drugs from the Canadian pharmacy was fairly straightforward.  First, she had to call them.  Secondly, she had to fax her prescriptions to them.  Once she paid (they take Visa and Mastercard), her medications were shipped to her with no problems.  I have high confidence that her recent positive experience will be the same for us.  We are forced in this direction because the Affordable HealthCare Act is not affordable and the government takeover of private insurance plans is an outrage.  Once accomplished, I am hoping to be able use several online reputable pharmacies for stocking up purposes.  Expensive as it may be, I can still refill his prescriptions through our insurer, (and oh by the way – your insurer has become Big Brother too.  If you don’t refill your prescriptions in a timely manner, they not only will send you a letter or call you on the phone, they will alert your doctor as well.  Maybe they instituted that practice under the guise of “we care”, but I think more likely it’s about “we want your money”.)  My plan is to use the insurer despite the cost, and also use the online pharmacies for stocking up.  I can do this because I can.  If you can’t, get what you need any way you can.

2013 started out with increased taxes, higher healthcare premiums, higher food prices, higher gas prices, higher utility bills, and a huge increase in drug costs.  Inflation is here as forecasted.  Family budgets were slaughtered.  Not a good start.  I hope this helps others in finding a reputable online pharmacy, understanding the process, and understanding the risks in preparing for TEOTWAWKI.  

Living in The Age of Sequestration

I’ve observed that we are now living in The Age of Sequestration, in many senses of the word.

First, and most noticeably, is all mass media talk about the Federal Budget Sequestration. Despite all of the hoopla and handwringing, it is actually just a token decrease to an already enormously bloated budget.

Second, is the forced sequestration of some Bad People. You’ve probably heard the latest news: following a lengthy jury sequestration former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilppatrick was found guilty. But his upcoming sequestration is hardly a news flash. Everyone knew he was a crook and this is of course his second conviction.

OBTW, does Mayors Against Illegal Guns have a special Life Sentence Membership option? And coincidentally it looks like former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (another one in Mikey Bloomberg’s Elite “Crime-Fighting” anti-gun club) may also be sequestered. If convicted, Nagin would join a long list of very ex-Mayors. One thing more gratifying than seing a bit of the Federal budget sequestered is seeing more of Bloomberg’s Band of Fools sequestered for long stretches in Club Fed, where they can’t do the public any more harm.

Third, Germany is sequestering its gold reserves. Once thought safe under the streets of New York City, the German government has announced that it is repatriating its gold. Since there are probably more banker IOUs than there is physical gold in the depository, this will surely be seen as a wise move, in retrospect. (Nobody wants to be the proverbial Third Guy In Line.)

Fourth, in reaction to economic turmoil and Quantitative easing (monetization) the citizens of many countries are wisely sequestering part of their life savings by buying more silver and gold.

Fifth, a bunch of collectivists are trying to sequester your gun collection. They tell us that melting our guns down to make manhole covers is for our protection. Yeah, right.

Sixth, American gun owners, in reaction to the gun grabbers, are sequestering part of their life savings by buying more guns, more ammunition and more full capacity magazines. That is a wise move.

Seventh, and most important to SurvivalBlog readers is the quiet exodus of American gun owners and other freedom lovers. They are moving from Blue States to Red States. Many people are fed up and have wisely chosen to vote with their feet. They are moving to places like The American Redoubt. May God bless them, provide for them, and protect them. We have our own ideas about where we want to sequester our gun collections, and sequester our kids, too. – J.W.R.

Four Letters Re: The Human Appendix

Mr. Rawles:
I am writing to address some of the questions in the letter on The Human Appendix. I am a physician who works at a large academic center.

Regarding The letter writer’s questions, an inflamed appendix is not uncommon (This is know as appendicitis), and removal of the appendix is one of the simplest surgery’s we perform in modern medicine. It is unclear why the inflammation occurs, but if untreated it can be fatal. The appendix was historically thought to be a vestigial organ (useless), or an immune presenting organ ( i.e.: helps the immune system fight off infections). It is thought to have no role in the digestions of foods, and people can live a normal life span without it. The symptoms that go with appendicitis are mid belly pain (pain around the belly button) which moves to the lower right corner of our abdomen over time, and the inability/lack of desire to eat. Recent evidence in the scientific literature points to the fact that the appendix may actually be more important then once thought (see the recent Wired Science article which points to the original science) though this is still under debate . There is nothing you can independently do to keep the appendix healthy (other then try to eat a healthy diet and not take unneeded antibiotics), and we no longer remove appendixes prophetically, that is we do not take them out unless they are infected. There is nothing you can do to keep your babies appendix healthy beyond possibly breastfeeding to make sure he/she develops a healthy immune system.

The Gallbladder is a different story. Most gallbladder problems are caused by gallstones, which are stones made of bile and cholesterol (two substances which the gallbladder stores in order to aid with digestion). When we think about people who get gallstones, the classic med school mnemonic is “fat, female, fertile and forty”. Woman, of reproductive/middle age who are fat get gallstones. So the only preventative measure is to stay fit and skinny, as you can’t really control your age or gender.

I hope this helps, – S.M.G. MD
 

Jim,
 Regarding Letter Re: The Human Appendix, I am not a medical professional but I’ve had reason to learn about some of what was asked regarding the appendix and gall bladder as I had both of mine removed when I had a gastric bypass.  First, there is evidence the appendix actually has a purpose by storing good bacteria.  It’s not critical, but it is helpful.  Without an appendix, the some antibiotics can cause you GI distress.
 
Next, the gall bladder helps you digest, among other things, fatty food.  Without a gall bladder, you will likely regret eating too much fat for dinner as you will tend to need the bathroom more urgently the next day.  Without the gall bladder, tracking what you eat is important to maintain good GI comfort.
 
As a GB patient, fat rushes through me and I don’t have a very big stomach which can not easily process certain foods (especially proteins) thus causing discomfort.  Further, as a person over 50, my body naturally does not grow the helpful bacteria or enzymes as well.
 
I’ve read various medical sites talking about probiotics and there are certain probiotics that create a very good mix of the suggested helpful bacteria.  However, they need to be encapsulated properly to bypass your stomach and get into the intestines lest they be destroyed by the stomach acids.  Probiotics can help you maintain a comfortable life and help you draw in the nutrition from the foods you eat.
 
I use a product that I found on the internet and researched their claims.  After some consideration I decided to try them and have been happily using their products for over a year.  I found that after a few weeks, I can back off of the probiotic pill to every other day or so.  Can I live without them?  You bet!  But my overall GI comfort level is harder to maintain without them.  
 
I have not had much luck finding medical information regarding enzymes beyond the fact that as you get older, your body does not produce as many.  What I have learned is that certain freshly picked greens make my digestive system very happy and, for everything else, the enzyme pills help me digest protein and other foods with greater comfort.
 
I have no ties with this company and am simply an avid user of their products. I personally use them and swear by their effectiveness.
 
IMHO, their web site leaves much to be desired, but their products perform quite well. – J.W. from Virginia

 

James,
I’ve benefited from so many tips from survivalblog that I’d be gratified if you could pass this preventive measure on to your readers.  I have on several occasions cured a case of appendicitis at the painful and nauseous stage by administering a purgative.  Appendicitis is caused by a blockage in the bowel, a hard piece of stool that is blocking the secretions of the appendix.  A purge that leads to full elimination can remove the blockage and give immediate relief.  Aloe vera or gum of aloes is excellent for this purpose.  (Do not use senna or epsom salts if ulcers or hemorrhoids are present.  Purgatives should be used with caution during the first trimester of pregnancy.)
 
In an environment where people have no choice but to eat high fiber foods, appendicitis would be a rare problem.  There are many other “modern” diseases that would disappear if our diet were not so “modern”.  For example, diabetes is only a problem because of the high percentage of refined starches and sugars in most people’s diet.  The natural human diet is one of the many things that God set and humans tampered with, to their own detriment. – Suzan G.

 

JWR:
There was an article from the Institute for Creation Research just yesterday on this topic, highlighting recent research showing that the appendix harbors a “cache” of bacteria that are used to re-colonize the gut following a major illness or condition that disrupts the digestive system. Evidently there are no vestigial organs. – Tip H. in Washington

Letter Re: Fire: Your Partner in Survival

Dear JWR:
The excellent article, “Fire: Your Partner in Survival, by Pledger” mentioned the BTU ratings of certain trees. Wanting to know a bit more, I did some searching and found a chart of the BTU ratings of various types of wood.

On another note, Pledger’s reference to a cord as 4×8 feet by 16 inches threw me. I looked it up and found that a “full cord” measures 4x4x8 feet, which is the number I was familiar with, ranging from 80 to 100 cubic feet stacked. The web site I found uses 90 cubic feet for its BTU ratings. However, a “face cord” is one-third of a full cord and measures 4×8 feet by 16 inches. This is the one Pledger’s article uses. – Larry X.

Auction Recap: PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope to Benefit C.R.O.S.S. Ministries

Reader M.V. was the final high bidder in the auction AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope, with his very generous bid of $3,900. All proceeds (100%) will be donated to C.R.O.S.S. Ministries. (A very worthy Christian ministry that is sharing the Gospel of Christ in South Sudan. Their outreach method is unique: They are teaching rural villagers tactical marksmanship, water purification, and firefighting skills, free of charge.)

The monocular is one of these. (The same model that we use here at the Rawles Ranch.) These night vision scopes normally retail for around $3,600. (Although Ready Made Resources sells them at the discounted price of $2,695.) This monocular was kindly donated by Ready Made Resources, in cooperation with Night Ops Tactical.

News From The American Redoubt:

Gunwerks in Burlington, Wyoming has introduced several new products and they now offer a ballistics calculator, but their phenomenally accurate long range rifles are still their forte. Their long range shooting courses have been taught in Wyoming, Utah, West Virginia, Texas, and Canada.

   o o o

Larry Pratt will be speaking at two southern Idaho Patriots Night events! Friday, March 22, 2013 at the Nampa Civic Center, 311 Third Street South, Nampa, 6:00 p.m. Social Hour/Meet and Greet, 7:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker Larry Pratt followed by Q&A. Admission is $5.00 for Club members (Parma Rod and Gun Club, Nampa Rod and Gun Club, or Gem County Rod and Gun Club) and $10.00 for the general public. This includes a raffle ticket for door prizes. You can reserve tickets at the Parma web site, under Special Events.

A M1911 pistol from STI will be raffled during the event. For questions about this event, please contact Aaron Goodfellow.

Then, the following evening: Larry Pratt and Chad Huff (the Payette County Sheriff) will be the guest speakers on Saturday, March 23rd, 6 p.m. at McCain Middle School, 400 N. Iowa Avenue, in Payette, Idaho. Organizers say: “Larry Pratt will explain the dynamics of the federal ‘gun control’ push and how it is being used to attack our Second Amendment Rights.” Admission is $10. Doors open at 6 PM for social hour and dessert bar. Event begins at 7 PM. Seating is limited, so get your tickets in advance. For more information or to buy tickets, please call: Howard at (208) 642-3854 or Bruce at (208) 440-9080.

   o o o

The folks at Nemo Arms (in Kalispell, Montana) are reporting “brisk” sales. That comes as no great surprise, in today’s market. Also in Kalispell, Sonju Industrial (SI) is working as quickly as possible to crank out AR-15 and AR-10 receivers. By the way, it had been planned for SI to be acquired by Nemo Arms, but that deal fell though. But the two companies are still working cooperatively.

   o o o

For those who observe the Feasts in the Spokane, Washington area, I heard about this Messianic congregation:

Kehilat HaMashiach
13506 E. Broadway Ave
Spokane Valley , Washington 99216
509-465-9523 (Phone) / 509-465-0451 (FAX)

   o o o

Idaho bull sells for $600,000, sets world record

Economics and Investing:

Bitcoin Reaches Half Billion Dollar Market Capitalization

B.B. sent: Jim Rogers: We’re Wiping Out The Savings Class Globally, To Terrible Consequence

And A.K.H. suggested this (also at Zero Hedge): Fed Injects Record $100 Billion Cash Into Foreign Banks Operating In The US In Past Week

Items from The Economatrix:

A Year Of Improving Payroll Growth Starts Tomorrow

ECRI Still Insists We’re In A Recession–We Just Don’t Know It Yet

ECRI’s Achuthan:  US Recession Began In Mid-2012

Odds ‘n Sods:

How to Use a [BUSTED] Cell Phone to Meet 5 Basic Survival Needs. (Thanks to Otter for the link.)

   o o o

G.G. flagged this: UPDATE: Number Of U.S. Gun Makers Refusing Sales To Gov’t In ‘Firearms Equality Movement’ Triples In Two Weeks

   o o o

Reese Case: Prosecution Appeals Judge Brack’s Decision

   o o o

According to the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arm (CCRKBA), you should be aware of five pieces of pending Federal gun legislation:

• H.R. 138 would ban transfer or possession of standard-capacity magazines, targeting those that hold more than 10 rounds.
• H.R. 142 would ban Internet or mail order ammunition purchases, require a federal license for all ammunition sellers and mandate reporting of “bulk” ammo purchases.
• H.R. 21 would ban all private firearms transfers. 
• H.R. 34 & H.R. 117 are both gun registration bills overriding long standing protections of gun owner privacy.

Of these, the magazine ban (H.R. 138) and the private party transfer ban (H.R. 21) have the highest likelihood of passing a Senate floor vote. Please contact you senators and congressmen!

   o o o

Mr. Smith sent this: Wonder Gel Instantly Closes and Stops Profusely Bleeding Wounds

Auction Update: PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope to Benefit C.R.O.S.S. Ministries






CURRENT BID is $3,900. (Generously bid by Reader M.V.) Hit reload to see any updates to this post made this evening.

This is the last day of the benefit auction of a brand new AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope. All proceeds (100% of your bid) will be donated to C.R.O.S.S. Ministries. (A very worthy Christian ministry that is sharing the Gospel of Christ in South Sudan. Their outreach method is unique: They are teaching rural villagers tactical marksmanship, water purification, and firefighting skills, free of charge.)

The monocular is one of these. (The same model that we use here at the Rawles Ranch.) These night vision scopes normally retail for around $3,600. (Although Ready Made Resources sells them at the discounted price of $2,695.) This monocular was kindly donated by Ready Made Resources, in cooperation with Night Ops Tactical.

Simply e-mail us your bids. I will post regular updates on the bidding. The final deadline will be Midnight EST on Monday, March 11, 2013. Thanks for your generous bids in support of C.R.O.S.S. Ministries.

Pat’s Product Review: Bear & Son Damascus Hunter

Awhile back, I tested some automatic folding knives from Bear Ops, which is a division of Bear & Son Cutlery and was favorably impressed with the little tactical folders. Now, while I sincerely enjoy all the new types of stainless steel blade materials used on knives these days, I’ve always been fascinated with Damascus steel. Bear & Son is one of the few commercial knife manufacturers offering knives with Damascus blades. What we have in Damascus steel is a combination of different steels with different properties, that is hammer forged and folded back onto itself, to give you blades with extraordinary toughness and edge-holding ability.
 
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we get a lot of rain. We have two seasons in my part of Oregon, we have four months of beautiful summer weather – not too hot and not too cold as a rule. But then we have eight months of wintry weather – which means liquid sunshine – RAIN! We get a lot of rain, not much snow as a rule, but a lot of rain. So, whenever possible, I try to get gear that can stand-up to the elements, and I enjoy stainless steel knives and guns – when I can get what I’m looking for, to fill a particular need. Even so, with stainless steel, it can still rust – it just rusts less – “stains-less”, and it still must be maintained, just not as much maintenance goes into keeping a knife or gun from rusting in my climate. Most of the knives I own, are manufactured out of some type of stainless steel, and only a few are tool steel. And, no matter how hard I try to maintain the tool steel knife blades, they still develop some patina rust and pitting, if I don’t pay close enough attention to them. For all my guns and tool steel knives, I use a product called Birchwood Casey Barricade. It’s a simple spray it on, and let it dry a bit and wipe it off, and it gives metal a nice coating that protects it from the elements. Still, regular maintenance is required to prevent a gun or knife blade from rusting.
 
So, why my fascination with a knife blade manufactured out of Damascus steel – and in this case, tool steels, that can easily rust in my climate? Well, first of all, I love the different patterns on Damascus steel blade knives, no two are ever the same. Damascus steel was first produced in Damascus, Syria, more than 2,000 years ago, so it has stood the test of time, when it comes to toughness and edge-retention. Also, when viewed under a microscope or high magnification, you can the tiny saw-tooth carbides what are formed in the blade’s edge by the forging and coal fire. What you will discover with many Damascus blades is that, they may not feel as sharp as other tool or stainless steel blades, but they are – very sharp! Even when you feel the blade’s edge, it may not feel as sharp as you’d like, but the sharpness is there, and it holds an edge a very, very long time. Also, when ground on an angle, as in grinding a knife’s blade, the blade displays a pattern that is stunning, to say the least. To my eyes, a real thing of beauty and art.
 
Bear & Son Cutlery produce 416-layer Damascus steel blades. Now, I’ve seen some custom knife makers offering Damascus steel blades with 2,000 layers of steel, and I’m not sure how much stronger those blades are compared to Damascus steel blades with a lesser number of layers. I’m sure there might be some advantage to more layers, but just how much that matters to me, is a moot point. To get more layers, the steel is folded over onto itself and forged again and again, each time getting more and more layers. A very time-consuming process if you are doing the forging by hand, as opposed to having a power forge. In any event, Bear & Son Cutlery still has very limited supplies of their Damascus blades on-hand at any given time. They are in great demand. Knowing this, when I placed an order for a sample Damascus blade for this article, I placed several alternate choices – just in case. Good thing, because my first choice wasn’t available. (Like I said, they are in great demand.)
 
I obtained the Model 549D  which is a no frills Drop Point Hunting style fixed blade knife. It has an overall length of 7-7/8 inches with genuine India stage bone handle scales and a nickel silver bolster. I’ve always loved the look of genuine India stag bone handle scales on a knife, and Bear & Son did a fantastic job on this sample, the golden honey hue with the roasted grooves, really caught my attention. A nicely done leather sheath also comes with the 549D and the blade was heavily oiled – as is necessary with any Damascus tool steel knife, to prevent it from rusting. The handle scales are attached by two stainless steel pins, and the workmanship is second to none on this sample. You would believe it was a custom knife because of the attention to detail. The handle is nicely configured to fit my hand perfectly, and everyone I showed it to liked the way the knife felt in their hand, too.
 
Now, before using a Damascus tool steel knife, you really need to wipe off the oil coating, especially if you are dressing out game, you don’t want oil contaminating the meat. There was a lot of oil on my sample, and you don’t need that much in my humble opinion. Still, Bear & Son are being cautious and putting a heavy coat on the Damascus blades, you don’t know how long they might sit on a shelf in a warehouse, or at a dealer’s store, before being purchased. Better safe than sorry. I cleaned all the oil off my sample, and gave it a coat of the Barricade, let it dry for a bit and wiped off the excess, and I was confident the blade had a good protection against the elements.
 
The sharpness of the blade, as mentioned earlier, didn’t feel “that” sharp to my way of thinking, however, it was much sharper than any stainless steel blade knife I’ve laid my hands on, it would easily slice through meat, rope, poly rope (and that is difficult to cut) blue jeans canvas material, cardboard boxes and paper could easily be sliced by the edge into slivers. At the conclusion of my testing, I took the 549D sample and gave it a quick touch-up on some Crock sticks, and it was even sharper than when I got it. You can, if you’re careful, actually feel the microscopic teeth on the edge of the blade with your finger – do this carefully, as the blade will cut you. No, I didn’t get cut!
 
The 549D is just the perfect sized fixed blade knife for wearing on your belt when you’re out hunting or camping, and the size is not too big and not too small, for just about any reasonable task you can use this knife for. Of course, it’s not big enough for chopping wood, nor was it intended for that, you can find bigger knives or an axe for that task. However, most tasks around a camp or in a survival situation, can be handled by the 549D. Now, we’re not talking hard-core combat, or taking out an enemy sentry – if you are into a Rambo mentality, then this knife isn’t for you, nor will you survive out in a hard-core combat role very long with that mentality – sorry! Being realistic here! I honestly don’t believe most SurvivalBlog readers have a Rambo mentality, and I hear from a lot of readers regularly. I’ve found you are a very intelligent bunch of folks, and I enjoy hearing from you.
 
In the past, if you purchased a Damascus steel knife from a custom knife maker, on average, it would cost you about $100 per inch for the knife – if you wanted a 10-inch knife, it would set you back an easy $1,000 or more, depending on the handle scales, sheath and other variables. The Bear & Son 549D is priced at only $209.99 and that, is a fantastic deal to my way of thinking. So, if you are in the market for something a little bit different than what everyone else is carrying, take a look at the 549D, and if it’s not to your liking, check out some of the other models they offer, I’m betting you’ll find something that will fit the bill, and at prices that are very affordable for what you are getting.
 
As a side note, during all my testing, I did touch-up the coating of Barricade protectant I put on the 549D, I didn’t want to have to fight the beginnings of rust. It only takes a minute to put another coat of Barricade on a knife, and its an inexpensive product. Everyone should have a can of Barricade in their survival gear, it can make a difference in keeping your metal gear in tip-top condition, or allowing it rust. A can of Barricade will last you years. I t doesn’t take very much to give you a protective coating, that lasts a long time.
 
Take a close look at the Bear & Son web site, and you’ll see several types of fixed blade as well as folding knives, manufactured out of Damascus tool steel. I know you’ll find something that catches your eye. And their prices won’t break the bank, either. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Letter Re: Micro-Gasification Stoves – Taking it to the Next Level

Jim:
Thanks again for the recent posting on my piece: Local Food and Energy from Top Lit Up Draft Micro-Gasification Stove. That was much appreciated!

Are you tracking woodgas powered vehicles?

You may have heard of it from WWII stories and FEMA manual.

The old systems worked in emergencies, but were not really practical for long term use.

Wayne Keith has a new book just out on practical applications, Have Wood Will Travel. In it are detailed instructions for building, operating, and maintaining a modern woodgas powered vehicle.

Wayne has tinkered his way into the first system that is practical (in areas with abundant wood or stemmy biomass) for modern fuel injected engines. It works okay in carbureted engines as well. He has been driving all over the US on wood power for almost 8 years now. Longest single trip, 7,000 miles, also holds the LSR for wood power at just under 80 mph. I have ridden with him at higher speeds, but in his first trip to Bonneville he mostly just learned a lot about the protocols. He can go a lot faster.

Auburn University did a study on his design running on gasoline and wood. His 318 Dodge Dakota gets better BTU-to-energy conversion from wood than from gasoline.

I will have a copy sent to one of your reviewers, if you will give me a mailing address.

When I joined the Driveonwood.com forum a little over a year ago, when there were 8 subscribers. Today there are over 1400. Their web site has the largest collection of woodgas info on the web. Woodgas has its addicts, I am one of them. I have an old farm truck, a 1984 F-250 with a 460 cubic inch motor that runs great on wood. I have a gooseneck hitch in it, because it has enough power to pull a trailer.

Seeing is believing, and I no longer believe the PhD-spouted myths about woodgas not having enough power to do useful work. The engine, originally built to run on high octane, sounds better running on woodgas than on any modern grade of pump petroleum.

For off grid electrical power generation, the wind doesn’t always blow, the sun doesn’t always shine, but smoke always rises.

Letter Re: The Human Appendix

Sir:
I have a medical question that I thought that maybe you could forward to Dr. Cynthia Koelker, your Medical Editor, on perhaps she could write an article.
 
My appendix was enflamed recently and they performed emergency surgery to remove it before it burst. My doctor said that his granddad, also a doctor, performed preventative surgery to remove his daughter’s (my doctor’s mom’s) appendix. He said that there is really no purpose for the appendix except to get infected and inflamed and burst. I agree that he is probably correct in this day and age, but when I asked the same question of my surgeon, he said that pandas have the largest appendix, and they live entirely on raw plant materials, that the appendix is to make it easier to digest plant materials.
 
So here are my questions:
1. What IS the purpose of the appendix in the human body?
2. In a survival setting, how would you insure keeping the appendix healthy, especially in climates where there is a long winter and thus, difficulty in obtaining fresh food? In hot climates? In asking this question, I am assuming that TEOTWAWKI has occurred, like 10 years ago, maybe I had a baby somewhere in there, there is no food save what I have grown, no modern devices, etc. So for people that are alive now, we can go get the surgery before it gets bad, to prevent the appendix getting sick. But how would I prevent the inflammation of the appendix of a future baby?
3. I haven’t experienced problems with the gall bladder, but how do you keep it healthy?
 
Thanks so much, – Anita L.

JWR Replies: Dr. Koelker is now writing a reply. That should be posted tonight.

Letter Re: Sodium Chloride IV Bag Expiry Dates

JWR,
In my military life I can relate the reason for the expiration date on the bag is due to the bag not the fluid.  Plastic is not impermeable.  The rationale is after the date of expiration enough time has passed to question the integrity of the fluid.  The purity of the fluid can be compromised.  If you started a line and pushed the fluid you have a increased risk of infection.  The fluid is perfectly good for oral use.  It doesn’t taste very good but in a pinch it works. – Ken L.