Human Brain Directly Attacked by COVID-19, by ShepherdFarmerGeek

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I ran across this report while doing some COVID-19 research online. If I’m understanding it correctly this is a major insight into how the virus attacks humans, especially in the more serious cases. And it’s implications may give us a useful strategy to attempt to combat it.

Here’s the original research article, published February 27, 2020.

If I may, let me try to put the article’s main findings (below in italics) into everyday English:

Here’s The Problem

The COVID-19 virus can infect a person through any mucous membranes – the mouth, eyes and nose. Infections via the mouth are typically from touching contaminated surfaces or objects (foamites) and the viruses are subsequently transferred to the mouth or eyes. Having virus-laden saliva particles drift into a person’s eyes is a second way infections happen and is why the best protective strategy includes non-vented goggles.

Of course the major route of infection is by breathing virus-laden particles into the lungs where they have a particular affinity (as well as the intestines). And people typically breathe through their noses most of the time. Doctors and researchers have now discovered that COVID-19 viruses can travel from the nose [and even the lower respiratory airways] to the brain stem where they infect the Central Nervous System (CNS).

There, the viruses attack the body’s normal ability to breathe spontaneously (without conscious effort). This is especially a problem when the person tries to sleep, but conscious effort is required to continue breathing. Hence the heavy use of mechanical respirators. Persons whose infection primarily started via breathing and nasal inhalation would be expected to experience respiratory crises more often / more seriously than persons infected via the fecal-oral or eye route.

Will nasal washing help?

Given this issue, washing the viruses out of the nose and throat might be one useful defensive strategy. We know that N-95 masks are not perfect (hence the 95% protection rating) and some viral exposure can still happen. But the exposure can be so little that the body’s normal defenses can inactivate the invading viruses. I would propose that we use a saline nasal wash (for heaven’s sake don’t spray ordinary water or distilled water into your noses! It burns, so use saline). And maybe use a saline that has some antiviral substance(s) added to help combat the viruses and wash them out of the nose?Continue reading“Human Brain Directly Attacked by COVID-19, by ShepherdFarmerGeek”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the Wuhan coronavirus crisis brewing in New York City, and the first wave of “camping” refugees leaving cities. To borrow some modern parlance: This is about the get real.

Re-Scheduling Note: Because of the urgency of some of this news, I decided to post this Odds ‘n Sods column on Saturday, instead of Sunday, this week.

Maine: First Comes The Trickle, Then The Torrent

A Fox network affiliate in Bangor, Maine reports on “visitors” to their state: DEEMI tracking visitors to Maine. Here is how the article begins:

‘A group in Maine is tracking who is traveling up Interstate 95 into the northern part of the state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Members of Down East Emergency Medicine Institute are counting the license plates of folks driving north on I-95 past the Kelly Road every day at around 4:45 p.m.

‘We’re seeing large increases in the populations of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and one particular day before New York was locked down, we saw a large surge of people who came out of New York,” DEEMI Executive Director Richard Bowie said Wednesday. “This is concerning to us because of the infected folk that are coming from New York City that have been infected that are then traveling up here to find someplace of respite up in the woods.’

He added, ‘We’re seeing, you know, RVs, and campers and people’s cars loaded with camping gear. It’s very early in the year for that to be happening.'”

Florida Troopers Setting Up Checkpoints on Interstates

Reader Tim. J. sent us this: Gov. DeSantis suspends vacation rentals in Florida, orders checkpoints on roads.. Here is a pericope:

“Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering that checkpoints be installed along Florida’s roads to account for traveling drivers and has also suspended all new vacation rentals in Florida for the next 14 days.

DeSantis made the announcement during a press conference on Friday.

For the next 14 days, new vacation rentals will not be permitted. Those already here can finish their trip, according to DeSantis, but are encouraged to go home as soon as possible.

DeSantis also ordered that checkpoints be installed along the state’s major roads that come into the Florida Panhandle from the Gulf Coast, including I-10.

The checkpoints do not apply to commercial drivers.

“There’ll probably be a diversion for folks with certain license plates,” DeSantis said. He didn’t give specifics as to where the checkpoints will be installed.”

JWR’s Comments:  Do you readers recall my advice (starting in 1993, with first publication of the draft edition of Patriots) to have an in-state driver’s license and your bug out vehicle registered in the state where you have your retreat? Mark My Words: We will see many more travel restrictions in the weeks to come.

Rhode Island to Hunt Down New York Refugees

Reader JJT sent this, with the comment “So it begins…”: Rhode Island Police to Hunt Down New Yorkers Seeking Refuge

Coronavirus Sends City Dwellers Fleeing to Second Homes

Reader G.Y. spotted this: Coronavirus sends city dwellers fleeing to second homes, inflaming tensions in towns across the nation. JWR’s Comment: Here we can see the “We/They” paradigm, writ large.

The Pandemic as Seen From a Safe Distance

This article caught my eye: Rural America watches pandemic erupt in cities as fear grows

The Pandemic as Seen From Up Close and Deadly

‘People Are Dying’: Battling Coronavirus Inside a N.Y.C. Hospital — NYT News. JWR’s Comments:  The great unspoken truth here is that suburban and small town hospitals will soon likely be stripped of their “extra” ventilators to supply the big cities. Keep in mind that a large portion of hospitals in the country are no longer independent. Soooo… The suits who run those corporations may soon order the redistribution of ventilators, medications, and even their staff to other hospitals under their corporate umbrella. Then, when the virus finally hits the hinterlands, the “stripped”  hospitals will be under-equipped.

They’re Moving to Idaho

Hopefully, most SurvivalBlog readers are well-situated, well-supplied, well-armed, and hunkered down where they plan to be, during the upcoming Peak Virus months. It is time to lock the gate. Check on your neighbors, and see if you can help them, logistically.

I know of a couple of families that are now in the middle of household moves to properties that they’ve purchased in Idaho. Take a look at the Orange Jeep Dad family (bloggers) and the Good Simple Living family (vloggers). Please pray for their health and safety, as they move in the midst of the midst of this global turmoil.  These folks are proof that it is not too late to move. If you’d like to do likewise, then see these two new SurvivalRealty.com listings:

Make the move now, folks!

—

You can send your news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) Thanks!

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

I’ve had a very quiet week. I did get into town once (in mask and gloves), to pick up mail, ship out orders, and buy some welded wire fence panels as well as some 6-foot heavy duty T-posts. I’ve also done bit of firewood work. As a precaution, I’ve been staying in our guest cabin. This is because I had been traveling for three weeks in a state with a high infection rate. Lily has been dropping off hot meals on the cabin porch. This is using up paper plates and paper bowls at an alarming rate. (In normal times we only rarely use them.) All of our brief conversations have been outdoors at a 10- to 15-foot distance. We’d talk longer, but we get chilled. There have been light snowfalls twice since I’ve returned to the ranch. The afternoon high temperatures have been in the high 30s and low 40s. My time in the gulag ends in eight days. This quarantine within a quarantine is frustrating. I’m getting a lot of writing and editing done, but this seems like the longest 14 days of my life!

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” – Psalm 91 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — March 27, 2020

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March 27th is the birthday of the late Robert W. Ford (born 1923, died 20 September 2013). He was an amazing man who had a remarkable life. His book, Wind Between The Worlds (an account of experiences in Tibet, captivity by the communist Chinese, and his fight against brainwashing), is highly recommended. It is available for free download.

—

Some Troubling Statistics…  My most recent visit to WorldOfMeters revealed plenty of “hockey stick”-shaped  graphs.  If the U.S. continues to mirror Italy and Spain (presently with about a three week delay), then our hospitals will run out of standard ward beds and ICU beds by the fourth week of April.  Please pray that social distancing will sufficiently flatten the curve, to prevent that.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 87 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $100 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!

Round 87 ends on March 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.

Working From Home: A Forced Sabbatical, by D. Glen

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I work for a Fortune 100 company in the Midwest and work in the area of Research and Development (R&D). Late during the week of March 8th, we began to hear rumors that our facility and other staff locations throughout North America would be closing soon due to the CV-19 outbreak that was beginning to spread across the country. During the afternoon of Friday, March 13, the rumor was confirmed in that my supervisor stopped by to inform us that our facility was closing immediately and would remain so for three weeks until April 6th. Per the rumor, the closure was going to apply to all of our North America staff locations. Manufacturing sites would remain open. We are in the business of making consumer products (e.g. facial tissue, bath tissue, diapers, feminine care products, etc.), so our products would be in very high demand in the coming weeks and months. Us staff folks would be ‘working from home’ for the next three weeks at minimum.

I immediately began the process of shutting down my imaging equipment and got together some hardcopy research materials to take home with me and placed them in my computer backpack along with my company issued laptop. Being a person that works out 3-4 times a week, I had planned to work out after work that day, so I eventually made my way to our health center facility in hopes of getting one last workout in before the hiatus. Low and behold as I approached the health center entrance, I found my supervisor was there chatting with the staff member on duty. I asked the staff member if they were still open and she indicated they were. Unfortunately, though, my supervisor then reminded me that our Director would assume we would all be leaving immediately and so encouraged me to follow him out the door. At this point in my life, I felt it better just to go along with this rather than to resist. Not worth making waves, when I still had other options available outside of work.

So next, I informed my wife about the situation and she was all excited that I would be working from home at least the next three weeks. I had mixed feelings myself, since I know it will be difficult to be real productive with our six-year old son, that I love dearly, coming upstairs frequently to say hello to Daddy and see what he’s up to. Nonetheless it was going to be a new adventure for everyone!Continue reading“Working From Home: A Forced Sabbatical, by D. Glen”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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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 stock market rebound–most likely a bull trap rally. (See the Equities  section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold bid/offer spreads blow out to $100 in loco London market. JWR’s Comment: Things are definitely askew when the “paper” gold market says that gold is trash while simultaneously the physical gold market says that gold is treasure.

o  o  o

Gold Price Tells Us Nothing About Gold

Economy & Finance:

I’ve concluded that America has been visited by its long-feared Black Swan. Tragically, the gub-mint’s chosen response was to start limitless and ceaseless bailouts in an attempt reinflate The Everything Bubble. But this will likely wreck our economy, shrink the Middle Class, and destroy the Dollar as a currency unit. – JWR

o  o  o

Reader ST85 spotted this troubling news at the Federal Reserve web site:

“As announced on March 15, 2020, the Board reduced reserve requirement ratios to zero percent effective March 26, 2020.  This action eliminated reserve requirements for all depository institutions.”

ST85 warns:  “I expect bank runs.”

o  o  o

CNBC: Negative rates come to the US: 1-month and 3-month Treasury bill yields are now below zero

o  o  o

The check is in the mail (“real soon”): Coronavirus stimulus checks will come within three weeks, Mnuchin says.  JWR’s Comment: This is Robinhood-ism, plain and simple! Do you make more than $75,000? Well, then, “No check for you.” Uncle Sam will instead tap your wallet, and hand it to Mr. Democrat Voter. Worst of all, the Everything Bailout (with plenty of corporate welfare) will triple the Federal Budget Deficit for the year–an extra $2 Trillion for us taxpayers to gradually re-pay, plus interest!

At Wolf Street: Four Mortgage REITs Collapse After Chaos Hit Markets for Residential & Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

o  o  o

An interview with a market trader that covers a lot of ground at Real Vision Daily Briefing: Roger Hirst: There’s No Quick Fix For The Fed

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — March 26, 2020

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March 26th marks the anniversary of the historic peace agreement ending three decades of hostilities between Egypt and Israel and the establishing of diplomatic and commercial ties between them. Less than two years earlier, Anwar Sadat had traveled to Jerusalem to seek permanent peace. Most of the Arab world was outraged, but despite criticism from Egypt’s regional allies, they pursued peace. While the efforts earned both Egypt’s Sadat and Israel’s Begin a joint Nobel Prize for Peace in 1978, Egypt was expelled from the Arab League and in 1981, Sadat was assassinated by Arab extremists.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 87 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $100 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!

Round 87 ends on March 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.

Consider Horde Mentality in Your Planning – Part 2, by Ani

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(Contined from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

If it were spring or summer, I would also expect many refugees to head to what they perceive of as a good place to pitch a tent and set up “camp” such as farm fields, your “back forty”, the woods behind your house, any stretch of land that appears “unoccupied” etc. I know for sure that many urban/suburban people don’t view rural land as being “owned” in the same way they do their apartments or front lawn/back yard. They also see this as being way more than anyone needs. So why not help themselves to it? They will also figure that you’ve got plenty of apples, pears, berries or whatever it is growing on your land (way more than you could possibly need) an  that they therefore can take some. After all, it’s greedy not to share!

Similarly, if you’ve got livestock of any kind that are visible from the road, I wouldn’t put it past people to decide that you’ve got plenty and they need some of what you’ve got. Lots of city people have access to guns and some might not be those who you’d want to have them.

There’s an expression that describes many city/suburban types as those who “would starve to death with a field full of wheat and a fresh cow in the barn”. I recall saying that to someone I knew and he responded by stating that he’d just kill the cow and eat it so he wouldn’t starve! So don’t count on everyone realizing that slaughtering your milk cow is a bad idea!

So other than rural locales close to a city or those located in areas with lots of vacation homes or campgrounds, which other areas might be at risk to the hordes descending on it? As has been written here and elsewhere, many people will just use their apps(if still functional) or maps that will give them directions to where they are heading. Mostly, I’d suspect these will prioritize the main roads, especially the interstate. With this in mind, anyplace that’s on a main road, visible from the interstate or easily reached by an interstate exit would be more at risk. The notion that one wants to be at least 3 turns off of a main road makes sense. If you’re easily visible you’re probably at a higher risk.Continue reading“Consider Horde Mentality in Your Planning – Part 2, by Ani”

The Gun-Buying Frenzy: Holding The Line

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A special note from SurvivalBlog Editor JWR:

As most of you know, my web-based antique gun business is called Elk Creek Company.

Despite the current frantic “run on guns” at gun stores, nationwide
And despite galloping prices at both gun shops and on-line auctions
And despite NICS system interruptions
And despite unconstitutional gun store closures in many cities…

I’m still very much in business and I’m defying any unconstitutional gun restrictions by local petty tyrants. I am stating bluntly: Your non-legislated fiat decrees create no jurisdiction over what I sell here.  And as far as I’m concerned, when I make a sale, it is on my local server, in my jurisdiction, not yours. Go peddle your tyranny somewhere else. I’ve drawn this line in the sand.

Even before the recent decrees, I regularly shipped to California, Washington, and Illinois (except Chicago — see the list of legislated restrictions.)

How I Do Business

Elk Creek Company is essentially a “Mom and Pop” business. Our overhead is minimal. While some dealers have jacked up their prices, I decided hold the line, as long as possible. I have even reduced a few prices. The only price increases that you will see in the weeks to come will be when I re-stock, reflecting my actual replacement cost.

Elk Creek Company accepts credit card payments.  We also accept USPS postal money orders and even payment in pre-1965 silver coins, at 15 times face value.  (Just take the listed price, and divide by 15. That is like stepping into a time machine.)

Most of my inventory is pre-1899 cartridge guns from the 1880s and 1890s, and these guns are practical shooters.

NO FFL is required for pre-1899 guns, in most jurisdictions. (But of course check your state and local laws before ordering. That is your responsibility, not mine.)

With the nationwide gun-buying frenzy continuing apace, I expect brisk sales to continue–so don’t hesitate. (I’m re-stocking as quickly as possible, but I’m not keeping up.) All items are first-come-first served.

Note: I’ll also consider some trades, for any choice pre-1899 antique cartridge guns–especially any .38 caliber or larger cartridge revolvers that you have available.

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at more coronavirus news from southern California.

COVID-19: Increasing Ventilator Production

Washington state company increasing ventilator production in response to COVID-19.  Here is a snippet:

“Kiple is the CEO of Ventec Life Systems out of Bothell. Founded 12 years ago, Kiple says the company’s latest ventilator model meets those needs. It’s the 18th model they’ve developed.

Dubbed ‘VOCSN,’ the ventilator can act as an oxygen concentrator, a cough assist, provide suction for symptoms of pneumonia, which many COVID-19 patients exhibit, and can be used as a nebulizer should that person need medication.”

JWR’s Comment: Once the hospitals are filled to capacity, it will be YOYO time. There is no way enough ventilators can be built in time. Be advised that the window of opportunity to find used steam vaporizers and oxygen concentrators on Craigslist and Facebook is closing fast!

Now Everyone’s a Prepper

They prepared for the worst — now everyone’s a prepper. JWR’s Comment: My prediction for 2020 and 2021: Weeks of boredom and toiling labor, punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

Matt Bracken: DIY Face Masks

Some practical how-to from Matt Bracken, over at American Partisan: 5-Minute D.I.Y. Anti-Virus Face Mask

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“As smoke from burning buildings smudged the skyline and the TV news showed vivid images of laughing looters smashing windows and carting off boomboxes and booze, I got a few phone calls from firmly anti-gun friends in clear conflict. ‘Umm, Chuck, you have quite a few …ah, guns, don’t you?'” – Charlton Heston on the L.A. riots of 1992, from his autobiography In the Arena (1995)

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — March 25, 2020

This is the birthday of English film director David Lean. He was born in Croydon, England in 1908. He died in 1991. He is best known for his films Lawrence of Arabia,  The Bridge on the River Kwai and Doctor Zhivago.

National Medal of Honor day is officially observed on March 25th of each year.

On March 25 1944 RAF Flight Sergeant Nicholas Alkemade survived a jump from a burning Lancaster bomber from 18,000 feet over Germany without a parachute. His fall was broken by pine trees and soft snow, and he suffered only a sprained leg. He died on June 22nd, 1987.

—

For those of you who are stocking up to be ready to hunker down for the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I heard that Harvest Guard is offering a 20% discount just for SurvivalBlog readers. Enter the code “survivalblog” during checkout to receive 20% off any order for Harvest Guard Reusable Canning Lids.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 87 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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 Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $100 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!

Round 87 ends on March 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.

Consider Horde Mentality in Your Planning – Part 1, by Ani

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As a prepper for many years, I’ve put some consideration into trying to understand the mentality of the “hordes” who might be forced to leave their cities and heavily populated suburbs, in the event of a major disaster. I think that while we may not know how things are going to unfold or what sort of disaster might provoke people into leaving and essentially becoming refugees, we can consider some of the more likely to occur scenarios. Doing this will let us examine how well-situated we are in our own homes, the risks that we might be most susceptible to, and actions that we could take. And if you’re reading this and still living in a city or heavily populated suburb, well, then this is also for you.

Lights of the USSo as someone who has lived my entire life thusfar in the heavily-populated eastern part of the US, I already know that wherever I may live here I’m at a higher level of risk than say someone living in a sparsely populated area of Idaho or Wyoming. One only has to take a look at those really amazing night sky maps of the US such to really get the picture of the difference in population numbers and density across the country.

In general, more cities and more population isn’t a good thing if TSHTF. So why, knowing this, am I still here? For me as for many people, the reasons vary but mostly have to do with family commitments, money, and the difficulty of a long distance relocation. I’ve seriously considered moving to an area such as the “American Redoubt” not just for prepper reasons but also for the wide open spaces and lower population levels as well as the generally Conservative politics which I prefer. I’ve realized though that it’s just not feasible due to family here plus the costs of land and housing there which are beyond my means. So I’m here in the east and have to make the best of it. I suspect many of you are in the same boat. That is: Knowing what you might prefer to do but facing up to the reality of the factors keeping you tied down where you are.Continue reading“Consider Horde Mentality in Your Planning – Part 1, by Ani”