Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 31, 2022

May 31, 1930 was the birthday of actor/director/producer Clint Eastwood.

On 31 May 1970, an earthquake off the coast of Peru caused a substantial section of the north slope of Mt. Huascaran to collapse. The avalanche moved downhill at a speed estimated at 175 to 210 mph. with a mass of roughly 80 million cubic meters of ice, mud, and rock. The avalanche traveled nearly 11 miles, burying the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca in up to 300 feet of rock and debris. It is estimated that this earthquake and avalanche killed more than 67,000 Peruvians. It is the deadliest avalanche in recorded history.

May 31st, 1895 was the birthday of George R. Stewart. Prior to his death on August 22, 1980, he was a novelist, university professor, and toponymist. In the preparedness community, he is best remembered as the author of the classic post-pandemic novel Earth Abides.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 100 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 100 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging

Nootropics and Mushrooms for Survival, by Robert R.

I’m writing about the benefits of nootropics and how they can be used to enhance health, reduce the effects of stress, and even help to mitigate and treat anxiety, depression and PTSD.  A nootropic is a substance, natural or synthetic, which enhances memory and cognitive functions.  Some of this article also assumes that the government has collapsed and there is no longer any legal system or laws.  I have tried a number of things to help with my own PTSD and ADD issues and learned about many nootropics and supplements that can help in a variety of circumstances.

Imagine for a moment that you’re in the freezing cold, marching hours to go help protect your community from some threat, or maybe you’re out in frigid temperatures hunting to put food on the table.  You’re exhausted, your cognitive performance is reduced, you feel chilled to the bone, and your morale is suffering.  This is when 200mg of Phenylpiracetam would really help.Continue reading“Nootropics and Mushrooms for Survival, by Robert R.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on a cougar attack in Eastern Washington. (See the Central & Eastern Washington section.)

Region-Wide

New tool assesses wildfire risk for Inland Northwest homes.

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Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, announced plans to establish a new market serving the Inland Northwest.

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Greater Idaho Movement Modifies Proposal Map.

Idaho

Idaho bull rider wins big at world finals after battling injuries, alcohol addiction.

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Idaho woman gets 2 months jail for U.S. Capitol riot actions.

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Judge delays Lori Daybell’s October trial, ruling couple will be tried together.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 30, 2022

Today, Memorial Day, is a day of solemn remembrance in the U.S. of the many who have given their all for our freedoms. We always thank those who are serving in our military and their families who have also made sacrifices, but today most of all we want to honor those who gave their lives.

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Today’s feature article is another product review written by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

 

 

Smith & Wesson Wyatt Deep Cover, by Pat Cascio

I don’t normally write about firearms that have been discontinued. However, there are still a lot of this model still available on the secondary market – just too bad S&W discontinued them – more on this later.

The Wyatt Deep Cover, is a modified S&W Model 637. The modifications were designed by a former FFL dealer in Colorado. It is sad that he went to prison, but he flaunted what he was doing – illegally, on a television show. So it was only a question of time, before the Feds closed in on his operation. I won’t even say his name in this article, because he gave honest FFL dealers a bad name. He would fly around Colorado in a helicopter, showing everyone how well off he was. He was doing gun sales away from his shop – that is illegal – an FFL holder can only do gun sales deliveries away from your shop, at a regular and recognized gun show. He was doing deals – big money deals – away from his shop. I don’t know if he was ignorant of the law or if he thought he wouldn’t get caught – but he did!

Years before, he had contacted S&W and told them he could modify one of their 637 revolvers in less than half an hour, so they would be custom guns. He was invited to S&W to demonstrate his technique, and sure enough, he could modify one of these guns in half an hour, and it was a super-smooth double-action revolver, the equivalent of stuff out of their Performance Center. Smith & Wesson bought into the idea, and were factory producing these guns, with the “Wyatt Deep Cover” name on the frame, and “Gunsmoke” on the barrel.

I’ve owned a few revolvers from the S&W Performance Center over the years, and every one of them were a real joy to own and shoot. However, the Wyatt Deep Cover was everything you would expect from a Performance Center trigger job and then some – and the price was kept down – only slightly more than a Plain Jane factory Model 637. And, again, it only added less than half an hour of manufacturing time to do these modifications at S&W.Continue reading“Smith & Wesson Wyatt Deep Cover, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Monkeyman’s Dirty Rice

The following Dirty Rice recipe is from SurvivalBlog reader “Monkeyman”.  He notes that he often makes this doubled recipe.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups brown rice – you can use white rice, just reduce the liquid to exactly 4 cups
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • One 14-oz. can of coconut milk, I add a little water to rinse out the can and add it
  • Lard, Olive Oil, butter, or your grease of choice
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 pounds pork sausage
  • Dried Home Grown Sage, to taste
Directions
  1. Add rice, broth, coconut milk to large pot and bring to a full rolling boil.
  2. Turn heat down to low, cover and let simmer until all liquid is gone and rice is tender. (This is basic rice making; either brown or white)
  3. In a large skillet add garlic, onions and fry in oil. I add the Sage as the garlic and onions turn translucent and mix it up.
  4. Add the sausage and cook and chop it all up until it is fully cooked and resembles ground beef.
  5. When the rice is done, add it to the sausage and mix well combining all the ingredients together. Note: Sometimes the sausage is extra greasy; I dump the whole thing into a large metal colander and let it drain into the skillet with no heat.
SERVING

Some family members add salt to their own servings, to taste.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the recent record-setting auction price for General Grant’s revolvers. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Mike Savage: Inflation, Deflation…Or Both?

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If gold is not the best inflation hedge, then what is? Nancy Davis.

Economy & Finance:

At Zero Hedge: “Build Blackouts Better”: Half Of America Faces Power Blackouts This Summer, Regulator Warns. JWR’s Comment: This serves as confirmation that one of the best places to live is in a power exporting region, such as the Inland Northwest.

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Over at Sovereign Man, Fighting inflation… with price controls. It’s genius!

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Pandemic shipping delays cause excess inventory at Walmart, Costco, Target.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — May 29, 2022

On this day in 1780, the treatment of Patriot prisoners by British Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Loyalist troops led to the coining of a phrase that defined British brutality for the rest of the War for Independence: “Tarleton’s Quarter.”

Tarleton and his Torries proceeded to shoot any and all Patriots that had surrendered after the fall of Charleston. The Patriots lost 113 men. The slaughter of the surrendered troops became a propaganda victory for the Continentals and Carolina civilians who had been terrified of Tarleton and their loyalist neighbors now rallied to the Patriot cause.

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Today’s guest article was too short for consideration as an entry for Round 100 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running the contest. Round 100 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging

Medical Community Autocracy, by ToAndFro

I thought long and hard about whether to share this due to OPSEC, but felt it was important.

We have been seeing the same GP for healthcare for 28+ years and he was just slightly older than us. In June of 2020 he announced his retirement due to his own health concerns and COVID. He had always been very down-to-earth, understanding, listened more than he spoke, understood people, non-political, etc. The kind of doctor you would want for a Physician.

Luckily, his office partner was able to see us so we didn’t have to find new doctors. I had a physical scheduled for late that fall after Primary Doctor retired, and opted to do a virtual appointment during the pandemic with his Office partner who wasn’t as good a fit, but was ok for the time being. I only have 2 prescriptions so just getting the visit done and prescriptions renewed was a load off of our minds. Wife has several more prescriptions, and is a cancer survivor so her healthcare is more of a priority. The next summer in August 2021, without advance notice, the Office announced replacement/partner had seen his last patient in June, and would be retiring, so we would need to find new doctors because the office would be closing.

COVID cost us two doctors in 14 months. So, we began the search. The only doctors we could find in our network who were accepting patients were 20-to-30 something year-old doctors, fresh out of residency. We each booked an appointment 2.5 months out, which later had to be postponed for 4 weeks, because of this past winter’s spike in Covid cases, with someone I will refer to as Doctor “Doogie”.

My appointment was first on the schedule. I saw Dr. “Doogie” Mid-April. At the appointment. I asked him about my 2 meds, and whether there were any alternatives, or ways to get off of them. He bluntly stated those were the Medical/Hospitals protocols for this type of case. We discussed all the usual, diet/exercise etc. and he examined me. I played baseball for 11 yrs., competed in road cycling, and lifted weights for many years, so health generally is good. My resting heart rate is still 61, and in my prime it was 55. Bloodwork is good, but Cholesterol is a little high (not much), but that’s because good cholesterol is most of that ratio.

I should mention that for the past two years, I have done all of the outside the home errands including food shopping, car maintenance, etc. in an effort to protect Dear Wife from exposure, always wearing an N-95 mask and taking every precaution possible including shopping in the early hours before the public shows up and utilizing curbside pickup when possible. I supplement with Vitamins, and have since my athletic years including Multi, B-Complex, C, D, and Zinc on days when I ‘go public’. All are taken spaced out throughout the day. Most are timed-release. We eat very well, plenty of dark greens, complex Carbohydrates, fruits, veg, and yes, we like our protein of the animal variety, and plenty of eggs, etc. I get plenty of exercise (Wife not so much). She tires easily, and has ever since her cancer treatment. Back to my doctor’s exam/appointment:

When I got to the point where I asked what his treatment protocols were for COVID (without giving any opinions or information about my beliefs), his posture changed. He stood up, crossed his arms, got very uncomfortable and defensive, and stated he didn’t think Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin worked, and that there were studies proving they had little value, and that he recommended the vaccine. Now this is without my giving any indication what my beliefs were, only asking what his treatment protocol was for someone who got COVID. Then, when I stated that I hadn’t been vaxxed, hadn’t gotten COVID, nor had my wife, and based on the VAERS data and studies from around the world, I wasn’t planning on getting the vaccine. I also stated that research from studies in India, Africa, Scandinavia and other countries showed improvement when (Hydroxychloroquine  and Ivermectin)/FLCCC’s treatment protocols were used early, and in the proper dosage vs. late treatment after hospitalization.

I never even got to my Religious objections before he cut me off and said he wasn’t able to provide those kinds of treatments, and said they had Paxlovid available for treatment. (Two weeks after my appointment, bad news came out on Paxlovid). He finished up and concluded the appointment (about 45 minutes with exam), by scheduling an appointment for 1 year later, and that was that, or so I thought. Later that night (9 something p.m.) I get an e-mail on the Medical Net from his office wherein he tells me (without giving any reason), that he doesn’t think he can provide the medical Services I am seeking. When I asked if it had anything to do with the questions I had asked about his COVID treatment protocols, he said absolutely not, he had many patients that hadn’t taken the vaccine… I told him I didn’t understand his reason for this decision, and thought it was entirely appropriate to ask questions about my medications, my treatment, and his treatment protocols. He then stopped responding.

My dear wife had an appointment scheduled with him for the following week, which she had like-wise been in the queue for 2.5 months. The day before the appointment, his office called and canceled her appointment, saying he was sick and wouldn’t be in. She thought it odd they didn’t offer to reschedule. I phoned his office the next day with caller id blocked, and may or may not have said I was a Pharmaceutical Rep, and that I wanted a few minutes with the doctor when he was available. I asked if Dr. Doogie was in, and if I could stop by and introduce myself. The secretary said yes, he was in with patients (so he was not out sick as his secretary told my wife the day before). I told her I was willing to wait until he was available and confirmed again that he was in the office. She said he was.

New doctors seem to be toeing the Hospitals/Medical Networks line and official dogma, so be advised and aware. We are now asking around for like-minded Physicians… We started by searching the internet using DuckDuckGo.com for Physicians that prescribed Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate and Ivermectin. It was virtually impossible to locate doctors and Pharmacies that were willing to commit publicly on the Internet, or at least we had difficulty finding any in the nearby region. We then tried the FLCCC website. The FLCCC Alliance lists doctors and Pharmacists willing to prescribe/fill prescriptions and that provide COVID care using their protocol. We had some luck in our area searching for doctors by checking with Pharmacies listed on the FLCCC website that prescribe the alternative medications. We then called around and asked those pharmacists in our area if they know any Physicians prescribing those meds. One was unwilling to give out names of doctors, but another did give us two names. It’s a start, but we’re going to keep asking around. Another idea might be to approach the Pharmacies in person vs over the phone. We haven’t tried that yet but just a suggestion …

If anyone has other suggestions on how to find ‘like-minded physicians and pharmacies’, please share them via e-mail with JWR, so that he can post them in the Snippets column, next Wednesday.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

But God raised him from the dead:

And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” – Acts 13:22-47 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — May 28, 2022

George Washington, a young lieutenant colonel in the British Army and future president of the United States, led an attack on French forces at Jumonville Glen on this day in 1754. This battle was later credited with being the opening salvo in the French and Indian War (1754 to 1763). In the biography His Excellency: George Washington, historian Joseph Ellis recounts Washington’s first combat experience. Washington and 40 colonial troops had been encamped near the French garrison at Fort Duquesne when he received an urgent message to rescue Indian allies in the area who were threatened by French forces. In his official report of the encounter, Washington described how his troops, aided by warriors under the Indian leader Tanacharison, surrounded a detachment of 32 French soldiers near the fort on May 28 and, within 15 minutes, killed 10 of them, including the garrison’s commander, wounded one and took another 21 prisoner.

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Today is also the birthday of the late Major General Victor Joseph Hugo Jr. (28 May 1931 – 11 May 2020.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 100 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 100 ends in just three days on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging

Science Fiction and the Preparedness Mindset, by Michael J.

Some SurvivalBlog readers might think that science fiction is just starships, aliens, and directed-energy weapons. Not all science fiction is created equal, but the best of science fiction provides important commentary on society as it is now, or as it could be given the invention of certain technological devices. There is also a genre of science fiction called alternate history, which attempts to depict what life would be like if certain historical events had turned out differently, or if certain famous people had been removed from the scene before the activities that made them famous. (For example, imagine how different history would have been if Corporal Adolf Hitler had been one of the millions killed during World War I.) It is for this reason that science fiction was once called speculative fiction.

This essay highlights some science fiction short stories, novels, television shows, and movies that provide some hints about prepping and some commentary on what our country and Earth in general have become, and what we can do to prepare ourselves and possibly even to reverse some of the damage. If I missed your favorite example of science fiction, I’m sorry; I wish I had time for everything out there.

Much science fiction attempts to describe politics of the future. The themes are tyranny (religious or secular), war, chaos, or a benign, democratic world government. This last is the cornerstone presumption of Star Trek in its various forms: there might be war and despotism and anarchy out there in the galaxy, but Earth is peaceful and united. If anyone thinks that is likely to happen anytime soon, I’ll sell you some oceanfront property in Arizona.

Sadly, despotism, war, or anarchy seem to be more likely here on Earth. One good candidate here is Robert Heinlein’s Friday. Friday depicts a future in which the United States has disintegrated into several smaller countries: Vegas Free State, the Atlantic Union, the Chicago Imperium, the Lone Star Republic, and the California Confederacy. The heroine is a genetically engineered woman who works for a shadowy corporation. Robert Heinlein coined the term “corporate states” and noted that these would be more powerful than many territorial states (the modern nation-state). I’d say he hit the nail on the head: Amazon, Google, Twitter, Apple, and Facebook (Meta), as well as industry leaders in finance and energy, among others, all command a great deal of revenue and power. Facebook even attempted to start its own currency, and backed down only in the face of united opposition from the territorial states. Friday contains a hilarious parody of California politics.Continue reading“Science Fiction and the Preparedness Mindset, by Michael J.”