Notes from JWR:

Katastrophenvorsorge! The new German hardback edition of my international best-seller “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” is now in print. The title of the German edition is Überleben in der Krise: Das Handbuch für unsichere Zeiten. It is published by Kopp Verlag, of Rottenburg. If you want to be “Sei vorbereitet für Das Ende der Welt, wie wir sie kennen”, then buy a copy.

OBTW, the Bulgarian edition of the book is also already in print. You can expect to also see the Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Korean editions available in the next few months.

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Today we present an article by SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor, Dr. Cynthia Koelker:

Three Disabling Diseases You Can Cure Without Medicine. by Dr. Cynthia Koelker

Serious medical conditions that occur infrequently now will become commonplace at TEOTWAWKI.  Recognizing the symptoms will help you treat these diseases effectively.  Better yet, learn how to prevent them and prepare accordingly.
Case #1
It’s been over a year since you’ve escaped the city for your retreat.  Things are going well, though your teenage daughter is tired of hauling water from the creek. One day you walk with her and are alarmed at how winded she becomes.  She’s been acting fine otherwise, still primping and polishing her nails (though no boys are around).  She hasn’t lost any weight and seems to be eating okay, though she’s become a vegetarian after watching you slaughter a pig.  She has no history of asthma or heart disease, and shows no signs of respiratory infection.  What’s the most likely diagnosis? 
(see answers below)

Case #2
Meanwhile, your toddler is starting to worry you.  He was walking fine when you left the city, but now his legs are starting to bow like a cowboy’s.   Your wife plans to continue breast-feeding him another year yet, believing it will benefit his immune system.  Both of them have remained inside for months to avoid possible radiation exposure.  What could be wrong?

Case #3
It seems your mother is growing old before your very eyes.  At the last minute she agreed to join your family, though she hadn’t done any prepping herself.  Before, she always seemed full of pep.  Now she doesn’t have the energy to help with anything.  Even her voice sounds worn-out and a little hoarse.  Another mouth to feed wasn’t what you had planned on, but you can’t set your mother out on the curb, can you?

Answers:

1.) Shortness of breath occurs when either the lungs or the heart must work harder.  In the absence of heart or lung disease, the most likely condition is iron deficiency anemia.  Without enough blood, the heart must pump harder to keep what little blood remains circulating properly.  Usually the heart rate increases, especially with exercise, and often the blood pressure drops.  In a teenager wearing make-up and nail polish, you may not notice pallor (paleness).  Vegetarians who are not careful to include iron-rich foods in their diet are prone to anemia, especially teenagers who prefer a high-starch diet.  I’ve seen girls whose blood count has dropped to only a third of normal as a result of an iron-poor diet, with or without excess menstrual blood loss. 

Normally a teen whose blood count has dropped low enough to cause shortness of breath would be transfused with red blood cells for quick relief.  Untreated, extreme anemia will lead to congestive heart failure and possibly eventual death.

Fortunately dietary ingestion of iron will resolve the condition (or taking OTC iron pills such as ferrous sulfate 325 mg three times daily).  Iron-rich foods include red meat, liver, dark leafy greens, prunes, raisins, egg yolks, iron-enriched cereal, beans, artichokes, lentils, soybeans, and chick peas.  Make sure to stock foods your family will actually eat.

2.)  Most doctors have never seen a case of rickets – except in pictures.  But if Vitamin D fortified milk is no longer available at the local grocer, and if exposure to sunlight is limited, rickets will recur, particularly in breast-fed infants and toddlers. Although rickets may also be caused by calcium or phosphorous insufficiency, lack of Vitamin D is the most common trigger.  Vitamin D may be supplied through diet (butter, eggs, fish liver oils, oily fishes, and fortified milk and juice) or may be produced in the skin upon adequate exposure to sunlight.  Lacking these options, dietary supplements are recommended (400 IU daily for infants and children).   Adults lacking Vitamin D and/or calcium often develop osteoporosis.

To avoid permanent deformities of the legs, wrists, back, and skull, make sure to include sufficient Vitamin D supplements and/or foods in your prepping supplies.

3.) Don’t be surprised if even your own family omits part of their medical history.  People usually want to appear healthier than they are (except for hypochondriacs).  Many middle-aged and older women have hypothyroidism and are taking thyroid replacement therapy.  However, most will not have experienced full-fledged hypothyroidism.  The disease is usually diagnosed via blood work long before advanced symptoms occur, and patients may not associate their symptoms with lack of thyroid therapy, especially when it takes several weeks to months for symptoms to develop.  Many patients stop their medicine for a week or two now and then, and because they feel no different in the short-term, patients do not understand what would happen in the long-term.

Fatigue is the hallmark of hypothyroidism, often accompanied by dry skin, weight gain, hoarseness, puffy eyes, constipation, and slowed thinking.  Everything slows down.  Severe hypothyroidism may lead to permanent coma unless treated.

Fortunately, the symptoms are reversible with thyroid replacement therapy. Anyone suffering from hypothyroidism currently should stockpile sufficient medicine for years to come.  However, animal sources are also effective, usually in the form of desiccated bovine or porcine thyroid.  Proper dosing requires additional understanding of thyroid function, which I have addressed in several articles at ArmageddonMedicine.net. 

Two Letters Re: Blending In–Unremarkable and Invisible Architecture

Sir,
Happy Independence Day to you and your family. Concerning underground tanks for fuel storage, most states require both lining systems and cathodic protection to prevent leakage into the ground and or ground water. I fully agree with the defensive sense, being a veteran of the US Army and most of my time serving in the Infantry, having prepared many a defensive position.   As such for OPSEC, finding a discreet contractor may present a challenge, and of course the local county may get interested, Hopefully not too much. – Grog  

JWR Replies: Cathodic zinc anodes (commonly called “sacrificial zincs”) such as these have been mentioned before in SurvivalBlog. They are important to use if you bury metal containers for caching, too!

Your mention of bureaucratic nosiness prompts me to mention that this is just one more reason to move to one of the American Redoubt States. In most of those states, no building permits or inspections are required for anything except septic tank installations, if you live outside of city limits.

Jim:
That was an interesting article you wrote about the goal of blending in. My amplification of that is to make a goal of not showing up on the aerial and satellite photos that Google and others have on line. I’m in the middle of 10 acres of old growth woods and the satellite view shows the road leading here swallowed up by the over-reaching trees. And delivery vehicles trying to get here usual go right by the drive.  

For ham operators, the method I use to blend in is by use of wire antennas. Through the trees. My long wire antenna is 250 feet long. My doublet is strung as an Inverted V. Details on doing these antennas that perform every bit as good as more expensive beams and towers is The Wireman’s excellent handbook, now in its fifth edition.  

My scanner and VHF/UHF antennas are all on five television masts and push-up mounts on the rear of the house, not visible even from the front of the house. – Vern

JWR Replies: Keep in mind the drawback to having large trees that screen your house from aerial observation in most cases also put your house at risk of forest fires.

Letter Re: Machine Shop Tool Recommendations

James,
In your blog you recently mentioned Transfer Punches. A more important tool to have is the automatic center punch. These are handy around the shop and in a bug out bag. They are great for emergency egress from an automobile accident. [Since these will shatter the tempered glass used in the side widows of cars.] They are handy, compact and versatile.

The ones made by Starrett, though pricey, are the best quality. I used mine at work for over 20 years and once a year would oil the spring and still have it after 40 years. Quality always wins in the end. I paid less than 1/3 of the current price that long ago.

I have tools that are 40 years old and still in great shape. These include Wiss brand Snips, Vaco nut drivers, Klein tools, etc. For instance, I have my Grandfathers’ and Fathers’ Wiss Wiss bulldog snips as well as my first pair and each pair is as good as new and still sharp after years of metal cutting. I did wear out the aviation L/R pair several times though. (Mostly from cutting sheet steel or metal that was too thick.)

The moral is you still get what you pay for. As always talk to the people who use these tools everyday to find out what are the best and most reliable. – J.H.B.

Economics and Investing:

A New Investment Strategy: Preparing for End Times

Huge rare earth deposits found in Pacific: Japan experts. (A tip of the hat to to Mary M. for the link.)

John R. recommended a piece over at The Daily Bell: Where Will You Go When the Sovereign Debt Volcano Blows?

JBG sent this: Rating Agency Issues Greek Rescue Plan Warning

Items from The Economatrix:

Ron Paul:  US Should Declare Bankruptcy

On-line Retailers Strike Back at Internet Tax Levy

S&P to Deeply Cut U.S. Ratings if Debt Payment Missed

Gas is 24 Cents Cheaper Than Labor Day

The “Economic Recovery” Turns 2.  Feel Better Yet?

US Auto Sales Up in June, But Japan Still Hurting

Odds ‘n Sods:

The Lumberman sent this: India’s rural poor give up on power grid, go solar.

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Freeze Dry Guy (one of our advertisers) has announced a special: 15% back in Survival Bucks on all orders for their “Bugout Buckets”. This offer is only good for the month of July, so order soon.

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Army’s Last Draftee to Retire After 39 Years

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And speaking of longevity in service: 76-year-old Army medic on fourth tour in war zones

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Reader Walt M. mentioned that Matt Bracken has a great new novel out, titled Castigo Cay. Walt said: “I couldn’t put it down.”

Notes from JWR:

I have some good news and bad news about the SurvivalBlog 5-Year Archive CD-ROM: The good news is a price reduction: Beginning today (July 4th), we have reduced the price to just $14.96. The bad news is that since Lulu is getting out of the CD-ROM production business, you will not be able to order this CD-ROM after July 31st. (We are evaluating other vendors, and should have it back in production by mid-September.) Buy one to tuck away, just in case the Internet or the power grids ever go away. (I trust that most of you have at least a small photovoltaic power system to run a laptop.) This CD-ROM has of all of the SurvivalBlog posts from 2005 to 2010. The files on this CD-ROM are fully keyword searchable, and are provided in both HTML and PDF. Effectively, it emulates SurvivalBlog offline, on your PC or Mac. (A less capable version of blog archive is also available for Kindle readers.)

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Have a Happy Fourth of July. Cherish your freedom, and do your best to help restore our lost rights. Support Constitutionalist and Libertarian candidates and vote everyone else out. And please take the time to write your Congresscritters often!

Blending In–Unremarkable and Invisible Architecture

Much of my consulting work revolves around either finding retreat properties for my clients, or helping them design or retrofit houses, once they’ve bought a property. I often have to play the “voice of reason” role, especially with houses that will be within line of sight from neighboring properties or from public roads.

It is important to have a house that blends in with the style of architecture of your neighborhood. Yes, a Monolithic Dome offers great ballistic protection, but if it is the only one in your county, then it will attract attention. My advice: If you want ballistic protection but your house will be in plain view, then either build with insulating concrete forms (ICFs), or build a traditional brick house. If you want to add ballistic protection to a “stick built” (aka “bullet transparent”) house, then add a decorative rock or brick facade, depending on the local style. Only someone who looks closely will notice that it is a thick facing.

If your house will be situated behind a screen of trees, then you will have a lot more leeway in design options. There, you might consider an underground house, for example. But even then, try not to build a house that screams “retreat bunker house.” For example, if you install ballistic shutters, then back them with wood or vinyl panels, to make them look either like storm shutters, or like purely decorative shutters when they are in their normally open position. And if you install a large array of photovoltaic panels, then site them with both solar exposure and privacy from public view in mind.

Don’t build a moat. Instead, construct “decorative” masonry planters to stop vehicles, or “stylish” stepped planters. Either of those will stop 99% of vehicles.

If you buy large fuel tanks, then opt for underground installation. Not only will they be low key, but that will also give them protection from wildfires.

If you buy a backup generator, do your best to keep it out of public view and dampen the noise.

If you have any unusual vehicles (such as a Unimog), then keep it garaged when it is not in use, and and keep your garage door shut.

Anyone with a gun vault bolted to their garage floor should not only keep their garage door shut as much as possible, but also take the extra step of camouflaging the vault. A cardboard refrigerator box is better than nothing, but you might get creative and make it look like an actual refrigerator. (You can get dead, oversized “Frankenfridges” free or at very low cost at dumps, if you ask nicely. Craigslist is also a good source.) Or make your vault look like a paint cabinet, by building a hinged unpainted plywood cabinet with double doors around the vault.

If you are a ham radio enthusiast, resist the urge to buy a giant Yagi or Moon Bounce antenna. Also, consider getting antenna masts that can be telescoped when not in use. Also remember that vertical yagis stick out, but horizontal ones blend in. (They just look like television antennas, to the casual observer.) So consider getting one that pivots for operation in both polarizations. Not only will it give you better OPSEC, but it will give you better versatility.

In conclusion, do your best to make your retreat house unremarkable or invisible. You want to look like “just another hobby farm.” Adding a few kitschy trappings out at the county road helps with the subterfuge.

Pat’s Product Review: Benchmade’s Bedlam Model 860

Pat’s Product Review: Benchmade’s Bedlam Model 860 

The Benchmade 860 Bedlam folder could best be described as a “wicked” knife. I like big folders, as most SurvivalBlog readers know. The Bedlam actually looks bigger than it actually is, with its 3.95″ upswept curved blade – it reminds me of the ancient scimitar type blade. Benchmade uses 154CM stainless steel for the blade material, one of my favorites. And, the Axis lock makes for butter-smooth opening and closing, and the blade stays locked solid when opened, too.

Most people, who have watched one too many Hollywood movies, believe that a knife is used to stab in a hand-to-hand combat situation. Well, that’s not really true. Most strikes with a knife are of a slashing type, and the slashes are usually directed towards the hands, arms, neck and upper body – where they will draw a lot of blood. The late Col. Rex Applegate, taught our  OSS troops, in WWII, to use the knife for slashing, and when the opening presented itself, to go in for a kill, with a stabbing motion, if at all possible. However, slashes to the arms and hands caused a lot of blood loss, and muscle and tendons would be cut, rendering your opponent harmless in short order.

The Benchmade Bedlam is ideally suited for slashing techniques with its long, upswept blade. And, there is plenty of handle to hold onto as well. I couldn’t tell you how many folding (and fixed blade) knives I’ve tested over the years that didn’t have enough handle material to hold onto, and I don’t have large hands – only medium sized. You’ve got to have enough handle to grasp or you’ll lose your knife in short order when using it for self-defense purposes. The Bedlam has plenty of handle to hold on to, with it’s overall length of 9.71″ and the 3.95″ blade.

Ambi thumb studs are also on the blade for easy opening if you’re a southpaw, and the pocket/clothing clip is reversible for a blade tip-up carry. I’ve yet to determine which method I prefer on a folder when carried in my pocket – blade tip-up or blade tip-down, then both seem to work equally well for me. Rockwell hardness of the blade comes in at 58-60 and that’s about perfect for edge retention as well as ease of re-sharpening in my humble opinion. You can also have your blade partially serrated, plain, black BK1 coated or left in the white with a soft satin finish – the choice is yours. Plus, for those living in “Free” states, the Bedlam can also be had in an automatic version – known as the 8600.

Benchmade says the blade is a “modified” Bowie – well, I guess they can call it that if they want. But as I mentioned, the blade is more of an upswept version, that is more akin to a scimitar from the Middle East, from an era long gone. Handle material is black, G10 laminate, and it’s one of the strongest handle materials I know of for a knife, or grips on a handgun – the stuff is almost bullet-proof. There is a texturing on the G10 slabs, that aids in keeping the Bedlam from moving around or slipping out of your hand under harsh use conditions. The handle is also curved, to match the curve of the blade, plus there are finger grooves for proper finger placement. Oftentimes, grooves on knife handles don’t match where I want to place my fingers, on the Bedlam, they are perfectly situated to do the most good, and allow for a secure grip when holding the knife in the fencing grip.

There is also a lanyard hole in the butt of the Bedlam, and if you work over water, make good use of the lanyard so you won’t lose your knife – it happens, when you least expect it, the knife slips out of your hand and falls into the water – never to be seen again. And, the lanyard hole is big enough for 550 para cord to slip through it, too.

The 3.95″ blade looks longer than it actually is, this is due to the upswept blade. The cutting edge is actually longer on a blade that is curved than one that is straight. A curved blade also allows for deeper slashing cuts, too. There are friction grooves on the top of the blade, towards the rear for a secure thumb placement, and this area is curved upward, too – nice touch!

The Bedlam weighs in at 7.10-oz and that’s almost half a pound in weight, which should tell you that this one one robust folder, with plenty of material in the blade, handle and handle scales – this hummer isn’t gonna let you down, under severe conditions. Make no mistake, the Bedlam wasn’t designed for everyday chores, although it can handle some of them. We have a large folder that was designed for self-defense work, and I have no problem with that.

I did some slashing tests with my Bedlam sample, and it easily cut deeply into a pot roast – very deeply, I might add. I did some stabbing tests, and while the knife did well, it did better in the slashing tests, which is what Col. Applegate would have approved of for combat use. Let’s face facts, you’re not gonna use your mall ninja techniques to creep up on a sentry in the middle of the night and take him out – that works in the movies, but not in real-life, at least not in the sense that you and I would be able to do it. Sure, SpecOps military personnel can pull this off – if they have to – but they would rather take out an enemy sentry with a silenced firearm. I see the Bedlam as an outstanding folder for carrying on the street, as a back-up to your firearm, and it would be used for slashing your opponent’s arms, hands and wrists in a do or die situation.

As with all Benchmade products, the Bedlam came hair-popping sharp out of the box – no surprise there. And, as mentioned, there is an automatic version of the Bedlam if you prefer an auto-opening folder (and you live in a jurisdiction where they are legal). I like both versions, but find I can manually open a folder as fast as I can open an automatic – it takes a moment or two to find the button release on an automatic, and I can usually flick open a manually opening folder faster in most cases. And, if your life depends on a fast draw with a knife, I think you might have brought a knife to a gun fight and you’re probably going to lose the fight.

The Bedlam sample I tested retails for $235, a bit on the steep side. Then again, we are talking Benchmade quality, and you’ll never be let down with a Benchmade product at any price. I understand the Bedlam is a super-hot seller, and are a bit hard to find in-stock at times at Benchmade or your local cutlery shop, and it’s no wonder, you get a lot of knife for the money. Check out a Bedlam and see if you don’t agree, that’s it’s one heck of a slasher, and would be an ideal folder for self-defense work.

Letter Re: Securing Windows With Plywood The Fast And Easy Way

Dear Jim:
To follow up on the recent letters, we supply roughly half inch thick ballistic steel to stop .30-06 AP threats. (NIJ  Level IV ).

The tradeoff is that you are looking at roughly double the weight — 20 lbs. per square foot.  So for the hypothetical 36″ by 36″ piece it adds up to roughly 180 lbs.  Ceramic tile can provide AP or Level IV protection at less than half that weight – but much more expensive.

Your point about spall is well taken. I would worry most about the bullet splatter or ricochet from a round plastering itself onto the threat side face of steel plate.   Eye protection is mandatory anytime firearms are in use, but especially here.

Your idea to angle the plate is a great one. Just be sure you are directing ricochets and bullet splatter in a safe direction!   (You do not want to have your head sticking up over a plate angled toward you!)   Ideally, you want to direct bullet splatter and ricochet away from you.  So shutters that lock open at an angle are an idea here, to give a protected firing port.

Assuming a bullet that would otherwise be a perfect 90 degree hit, a .25″ thick steel plate angled at 45 degrees effectively gives you a 0.35″ plate thickness. Or in metric terms, 6.4mm becomes almost 9mm.  Over 40% more effective thickness, plus you are encouraging the round to take the path of least resistance, and ricochet rather than penetrate.  There is a good reason that tanks have sloped armor on the front!
Yours truly, – Nick at BulletProofME.com Body Armor

Economics and Investing:

Reader Burt J. sent a link to a list on the CIA web site, showing positive and negative foreign trade balances. Look who is at the very bottom of the list with the largest trade deficit, by a wide margin. This can’t go on much longer without a currency collapse.

Notutopia flagged an article that demonizes perfectly legal incorporation: Special Report: A little house of secrets on the Great Plains. (To some statists, financial privacy and economic freedom are foreign concepts.)

Yishai was the first of several readers to send this: Inside the Fed’s Vault: $1 Billion Worth of Unused Coins. JWR’s Comment: If you check the value of the base metal content at Coinflation.com, you’ll see that nickels are a much better hedge on inflation. My advice: Stock up on five cent pieces that are worth seven cents rather than one dollar coins that are worth seven cents!

Items from The Economatrix:

Unemployment Benefit Applications Stuck Above 400,000

Oil Drops 11% in 2nd Quarter

How The Bailout Killed Local Lending

Gold & Silver Ownership & Prices Not Be Affected By Dodd-Frank Legislation On July 15th

Odds ‘n Sods:

Jeff B. sent this: The Four Most Likely Ways You Can Die if the SHTF

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Bob J. found this: The Post-Apocalyptic Clownscape that Was Six Flags New Orleans

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Don’t forget that the deadline for the Ready Made Resources Preparedness Video Contest is July 26th. Instructional (nonfiction) videos on any topic related to family preparedness are sought. The prizes are a brand new Rock Rivers Arms (RRA) Elite Comp M4 (AR-15 series compatible ) complete Barreled Upper Receiver and a Trijicon Reflex sight with a combined retail value of more than $1,400. Please keep your privacy in mind when you create your videos. (Don’t mention any surnames or towns). You may post up to three videos to YouTube for consideration in the judging. Videos up to 10 minute long that are your original work that are already posted to YouTube are also eligible for the judging. To enter, e-mail the URL for video(s) to: grisrob@gmail.com. Do not send the videos themselves or links to videos stored at other web sites. Only nonfiction videos that you post to YouTube are eligible. The creator of the best video will win a brand new a brand new complete Rock Rivers Arms (RRA) Elite Comp M4 (AR-15 series compatible ) Barreled Upper Receiver and a Trijicon Reflex sight. The deadline or posting videos is July 26th. The video judged best will be announced on Monday August 1st, 2011.

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The aftermath of the arrest of a woman who videotaped an arrest from her front yard: Petty Thuggishness in Rochester

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Timothy J. mentioned a web site for yet another modular gabion maker: Defencell. Speaking os gabions, you can see plenty of HESCO bastions in use in YouTube clips and in Sebastian Junger’s Afghanistan documentary Restrepo. (Which, BTW, is now available via streaming or on DVD from Netflix.)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed…."- Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 35 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and B.) Two cases of Alpine Aire freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $400 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo , and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 35 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.