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 “HJL”. Puerto Rico has been hammered again by yet another Hurricane. Now they have a dam on the brink of collapse.
Mitchell Flint
Mitchell Flint, the American naval pilot who helped form the Israeli Air Force in 1948 and served in Israel’s first fighter squadron has died this week. Flint was one of the founding members of “Machal”, a group of non-Israelis who faught in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Flint an other members had flown in German planes that were captured during World War II and covered the Nazi insignia with the Star of David. We will miss him. Thanks to G.L. for the link.
Community
What if some like-minded people on ZeroHedge decided to create a new community?
Reason #5000 to leave public school
An Arizona 4th grade teacher has created an edited, gender neutral Declaration of Independence and had her students recite it every morning. Parents have banded together and demanded that the teacher be fired and at least one parent has removed their child from the classroom. The school district has a policy that is supposed to keep teachers from using their political views in their teaching curriculum, but it obviously isn’t working. Time to get out!
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If you are pulling your child from public school and private school is not an option, what do you do? You do what people have done for thousands of years. You homeschool! If you think that is an overwhelming option, this article can get you started: What If You’re Forced To Homeschool? Thanks to H.L for the link.
The Long Arm of Turkey
As Turkey slides into the dark pit of Islam the president, Erdoğan has continued to tighten his grip on the country. Now his henchmen have tried to shut down the free speech of an American think tank. Emre Celik, a Turkish dissident was speaking at a Middle East Forum-NATO conference in Philadelphia this month when a group of Turks rushed the stage attempting to shout him down. When that failed, the Turks and the entire NATO PA delegation marched out. Free speech prevailed, but those at the conference who needed to hear it the most allowed themselves to be pawns of Erdoğan and missed it.
Oops!
In the Russia’s new sculpture dedicated to honoring Kalishnikov has a mistake on it. Apparently, the sculptor included a WWII-era German assault rifle – the sturmgewehr 44 exploded view. While some will claim that this is proof that the roots of the AK-47 is in the German weapon, that is certainly in question. Thanks to J.N. for the link.
How to Cure Smoked Ham
Reader J.C sent in this link to an article on curing hams the way they used to be done before there was reliable refrigeration. While not necessary for preserving now, some still like the flavor imparted to the meat. It’s good to know this skill too, just in case things don’t go well.
Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria has smacked Puerto Rico hard and the Island, which didn’t even have a chance to recover from previous hurricanes and now the Guajataca dam is on the brink of collapse. Thousands have been evacuated. Engineers have said there is a “contained breach” that could be the first sign of total failure. Emergency crews are also hindered by the massive debris left in the wake of hurricane Maria.
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News Tips:
Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
Creating a new community
According to the “Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States” which was signed by the United States on 12/26/1933 by the Sectary of State Cordell Hull you only need 1 person with land to create a State.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:TIikVbnlEAsJ:https://www.ilsa.org/jessup/jessup15/Montevideo%2520Convention.pdf+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
The wise folks (cough) of the New York Times have published a piece in the 23 September Style Section of the Old Gray Lady titled: How To Survive The Apocalypse. This half tounge in cheek, half condescending article does make a few worthwhile points when one considers the readership of the ‘Times. Hopefully it will get someone thinking about taking care of themselves when you can’t find Über and Starbucks is closed – forever. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/23/style/how-to-survive-the-apocalypse.html
The aircraft the IAF flew were not captured WW II German planes. They were postwar built by Avia, Germany left a Me 109 manufacturing facility in Czechoslovakia and a Jumo engine facility, which was for He-111 bombers. Avia put the two together to create the Avia S199 fighter. These were sold and smuggled into Israel before the Independence Declaration.
Puerto Rico. An island in the Caribbean in hurricane alley and everybody is surprised it gets smashed flat on a regular basis…..
Puerto Rico hasn’t been hit by a strong hurricane since 1928, it doesn’t get “smashed flat” but every 90 years
Does anyone have advice on a good set of history books to use as a curriculum for homeschooling?
And by good, of course I mean accurate.
I’m not a Teacher by any means, but possibly one of the best books on History that I have ever read and it is recommended as a history book for home schooling. America’s Providential History, by Mark A Beliles & Stephen K McDowell, Published by The Providence Foundation, PO Box 6759 Charlottesville, VA 22906. 434-978-4535. Also another Great Book is The Light and the Glory, by Peter Marshall. Trekker Out
For the American Revolution, you might try Rebels and Redcoats (1957, Scheer and Rankin) if you can find it. I have a copy that my father gave me in high school, and I treasure it. To quote the cover: “An eyewitness account of the American Revolution taken directly from letters, journals and battlefield reports. A moving and powerful human drama of the citizens and soldiers who fought, suffered and died to build a nation.”
This book isn’t a history textbook, but it is the best of its kind for the information it offers. Good luck in your search, and good for you for homeschooling. I am a Christian, born again, and am a public school teacher. I will be retiring soon (in the next year or two); it is wearying spending every day in the Enemy’s camp.
I especially like The History of the World published by Peace Hill Press. Covers the world in four years, and is meant to be read aloud to children lower elementary; upper can read themselves. There are corresponding activity books available as well. American history is included chronologically within the four books, so you’ll want to supplement for deeper study. I really like individual biographies of great Americans, rather than any particular text. The general rule in choosing whole books is: read it yourself, and if you find it fascinating (not dry) and fitted to your worldview, your kids will learn a lot from it, too.