Dollar stores getting crushed sends ominous signal

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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First up: Dollar stores getting crushed sends ominous signal about US economy: Consumers are ‘tapped out,’ expert warns.

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Over at The Burning Platform: UN ‘Pact for the Future’: Digital IDs, Vaccine Passports, Massive Censorship.

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Reader F.J. sent this article link: Hawaii man trapped in 15ft remote forest ravine after bridge collapsed reveals ingenious way he survived.

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Grace, Goats, and a Dairy Cow: How 2 Self-Taught Farmers Turned Rejected Land Into Their Dream Homestead. (A hat tip to reader H.L. for the article suggestion.)

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Microbes Found in Earth’s Upper Troposphere Suggest Potential for Long-Distance Pathogen Travel. The article opening lines:

“Recent research sampling the upper troposphere has uncovered a diverse array of microbial species, including some human pathogens, raising concerns about the global transport of potentially harmful organisms. While many of the microbes were found to be dead, having succumbed to the cold temperatures, increased radiation, and lack of nutrients, others proved surprisingly resilient. These hardy microorganisms, capable of surviving harsh conditions, may travel great distances through high-altitude winds.”

Jerry wrote to suggest a newly-released movie:

“If you have not seen the movie REAGAN, then you need to. Fantastic historical piece.

I realize the progressives want to slam it because they feel that piece is trying to interpose Trump as Reagan but we know that is not the truth, The two men were vastly different Reagan was a diplomat, polite with a great sense of humor. Donald on the other hand is brisk, bordering on rude and occasionally petulant. But they did / do have several comparable aspects. The both had/have a firm handle on foreign relations through strength, (Trump did very well with China and North Korea) They both had / have an exposure to a business background, and utilized people from the private sector in their administration / cabinet. And most importantly they both had /have a tremendous love of country and the Constitution. During both administrations, they worked tirelessly to keep this country afloat while the potential for nuclear war was ever present.

These two men remind me of two other men, Omar Bradley and George Patton. While quite different in style and technique they both dedicated their life to saving this country and in fact the free world. almost to a man those who served under these two generals loved and respected them and would follow them to the gates of hell if it was ordered. (The only question the troops would have is how many canteens to bring.)”

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From an Austin, Texas newspaper: Having a Plan for When Sh*t Hits the Fan: A Journey in Prepping. Here is an excerpt:

“Even if I had a thorough disaster plan, and gas masks, AND a bomb shelter, I still wouldn’t feel made-in-the-shade. That’s because, from my experience, bad luck comes in threes, fours, and fives. So the question becomes: What else can go wrong during a disaster? And the worst-case scenario, to me, is sustaining a life-threatening injury with no access to emergency medical services.

I would like to know how to stop the bleeding.

And that’s a real concern because uncontrolled hemorrhaging is the leading cause of preventable death when it comes to traumatic injuries, according to the World Health Organization. One in five body trauma patient deaths could be prevented if someone present knew how to manage bleeding.

This is why Caleb Causey is advising me to buy a tourniquet.

Causey was a combat vet medic who did multiple tours in the Balkans before becoming a volunteer firefighter and an EMT and SWAT medic. Today he operates Lone Star Medics, which provides field and tactical medical training. His company offers 76 classes, which range from hyperspecific skills like performing surgery in the jungle to more generalized courses like Family Medical Readiness (You can see a full list of in-person and virtual events at LoneStarMedics.com). He also does in-home audits of people’s first aid resources and knowledge – often for people with interest in prepping.”