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Post by captbart on Jul 13, 2019 9:45:11 GMT -5
Skills once acquired: I have always considered myself to be an excellent pilot. After not flying a helicopter for over 20 years, my son made arrangements for me to fly a modern, full function helicopter (Bell 412) simulator. I crashed within 3 seconds of takeoff! Not unusual for a fixed wing pilot but I KNOW how to fly Bells. My fine motor skills (definitely required for helicopter flying) had essentially vanished. After about an hour of practice I managed to fly without crashing but I was not very good.
Survival tip: Any skill that is important to you must be practiced or you do not have that skill. Always remember, all skills can be lost through lack of attention. Just because you know how to build a fire or shoot a gun or find your way without a compass, does not mean that you CAN do those necessary things. Always practice your skills.
Second tip: I once corresponded with a person who was going to go out into the woods with nothing to "practice" his survival skills. That was NOT practice; if was a self induced emergency situation. I told him my opinion; I never heard from him again. I hope he made it.
The tip is: ALWAYS leave yourself a back door. Burt's escape tunnel in T3 or his "backup, backup generator" in Night of the Shriekers are good examples. If you "think" you can do something, don't even try for real until you have proven to yourself, beyond doubt, that you can successfully complete the task. Your life may depend on being successful.
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Post by captbart on Oct 14, 2019 11:20:30 GMT -5
I just read an article about the power outages in CA. Seems like the folks who bought solar panels and how them installed with the grid connect have just learned that when the grid is down, the solar panels are also down! The sun was out but they had no power, solar or otherwise. That also meant that they could not charge their electric vehicle so they were trapped or were walking!
To reinforce my prior post:
Survival Tip:
If you have not tested your preps under real world conditions; you do NOT have them! Only skills and preps that you currently have and that you have verified as working can be counted on when you need it.
As Burt says, "When you need it and don't have it, you'll sing a different tune!"
Survival Tip 2:
Realistic testing is a requirement BUT if you put yourself in a life threatening situation, with no escape should your preps fail, it is NOT a test. It is a real life, honest to God, life and death emergency. The fact that you deliberately put yourself there doesn't buy you any slack. It just means that you nominated yourself for a "Darwin Award". The only remaining question is whether or not you will be elected.
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Post by captbart on Nov 14, 2019 18:29:01 GMT -5
Without ammo guns are expensive clubs or rocks. That being said, I have been looking at ammo for a while now. Type matters as well as caliber. Yes, target ammo can be used as self defense ammo. The US military uses full metal jackets on their combat ammo and no one accuses the military of not having the ability to project force. Still, what ammo you use depends on the mission and the wrong type of ammo can be catastrophic. Not enough penetration and you will just really tick off that bear. Too much penetration and you punch a nice, neat hole through your target as well as your neightbor's house and the house next to them. When I'm out in the tall and uncut I choose solids, unjacketed, in a bear load. It gives me the best bet for surviving a bear encounter of the worst kind. By the way, for self defense at home I like 12 GA with #4 shot. At close range it is lethal without overpenetration worries and the bore of that 12 GA looks to be as big as a basketball hoop from the business end so you might not have to shoot. In a handgun, I like Hornady Critial Defense ammo. It is a reliable expanding bullet in all calibers and does not over penetrate. I've had no feed problems at all and the "balistic tip" even allows me to use it in my lever guns. The CD ammo is the same as their LEVERevolution product (I wrote and asked them and they confirmed it to me)so my .45LC CD ammo workes in a .45LC levergun nicely. Also the .45 ACP CD ammo feeds perfectly. They even make a soft recoil for rounds like the .38SPL. Of course, the soft recoil stuff has a PINK tip instead of red. I don't think they let you into heaven if you are killed by a pink bullet, especially if it is fired in a pink gun.
So.....SURVIVAL TIP: just because you have the right gun for the job doesn't mean you are properly prepared. If you do not have the right ammo for the job at hand, at the time you need it, you are not properly prepared.
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Post by captbart on Nov 20, 2019 10:24:44 GMT -5
Burt uses weapons for many things. The trouble with weapon use is that it is not always dangerous to just the target. Burt's "cover your ears" in T2 and in the first episode of the series is a clear indication that being too close to the muzzle of a .50BMG is damaging to your hearing. There are other issues; the slide of a semiautomatic pistol can quite literally rip your thumb off due to the force of the recoil. Remember, even a .22LR has between 21,000 (.22 short) to 24,000 (.22LR) psi. What about revolvers? Well:
is a link to a photo of a revolver at the moment of firing. That gas blasting out from around the cylinder is super heated, extremely high pressure and velocity and will quite literally blast the skin from your hand, perhaps even amputating digits. Modern shooting styles puts the weak hand around the strong had for a firm grip. What do you do with the thumb that really has no place to go? If you point it forward it might end up in the blast zone around the cylinder gap. If you shoot both revolvers and pistols, putting your thumb safely out of harm's way away from the cylinder gap can put it directly in line with the slide during its forceful recoil. Survival tip: Make sure you are aware of your weapon's danger zones to yourself and practice safe shooting methods with all your weapons until you no longer need to think about how you grip your weapons.
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Post by captbart on Apr 5, 2020 13:20:23 GMT -5
It looks like the whole world has become survivalist. Thanks to the COVID-19 panic (yes, I know, it is a bad virus and I am a likely fatality if I get it at 71 years old in May) that most governments have caused we are locked into our own homes. I'm still not sure why so many folks horded toilet paper but panic does strange things to people. By the way, it isn't hording if you stockpiled during a time of no shortage; that is called prepping. I saw folks running around grocery stores with the hurricane prep maps that contained a list of the needed supplies for a hurricane. They had never considered prepping even thought they lived on the Gulf Coast. These are the same folks that panic when a storm is 24 hours off shore. The fact that this is different just doesn't register with these folks. My family bought a few short term consumable items but we were already supplied for a long term stay at home. We have been able to help some family members and good friends. (I won't see a child go hungry if I can help it. I don't care that it isn't good survival planing, I'll help kids.) We have the required food and medicine. We have sufficient firearms for self protection. The question is, are you prepared. It really isn't too late to begin. Buy what you need and then a little bit more. Don't horde anything but if you need a can of chili and can get a couple of extra cans, do so. Buy the ingredients for bread and make your own. Keep soup handy, it is always good, especially for those who feel poorly. One last biggie; DO NOT WATCH TV! OK, here is the point. TY has become all pandemic all the time. Much like after 9/11 all we see is "WOE IS ME, WE'RE ALL DOOMED". That attitude will get you killed. Watch DVD, or movies or (weird thought I know) read something. I like Louis L'Amour's oat operas but also history. Want to know about survival? Read the Lewis and Clark diary. Can be dry but also very informative. The diaries of those who rode the wagon trains across the plains or ran the supply trains (Commerce of the Prairies) or the stories of the Mountain men. This is a time for self reliance and learning. I don't care what our politicians and news media claim, our survival, physically and economically, depend on our own attitudes, skills and preparations. If you do nothing, you will probably survive anyway but would you not prefer to take care of your own and your loved ones survival and comfort? I know that I would and have done. Just my not so humble opinion of course.
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Post by tabasco on Apr 9, 2020 16:08:35 GMT -5
Thanks,Cap. I wish you and yours all the best. Wishing everyone here the same. Adding a highly contagious virus to a already sorted social media environment and political circus does make for odd days indeed. I still go to work everyday, but with masks and nitrile gloves. I treat it like everyone has it and every surface is contaminated. This situation will be getting more interesting as it progresses. If this doesn't influence the masses perception and unwarranted dependence on China, perhaps nothing will. Stay safe, everyone.
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Post by captbart on Apr 19, 2020 11:34:24 GMT -5
Thanks, Tabasco. The bigger government enthusiast see this as a good time to go for global control. Heck, WHO is even advocating global prohibition on booze (like THAT will ever happen - hopefully we learned from our own prohibition years). Anything to increase control of we despicable peons. Unfortunately for the globalist, those of us who realize that we are responsible for our own safety now have glaringly obvious proof of the failure of big government. Keep safe guys and we'll write again.
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Post by captbart on Jun 5, 2020 18:04:17 GMT -5
Alright guys, depending on where you are, you can either get out and about or you are still confined to your home (unless you are out rioting, of course. then it is OK).
Survival tip: Crowds are NEVER your friend. The bigger the crowd, the more likely it is that some idiot will start the crowd panicking or rioting. Either one will get you hurt. I saw a woman complaining that her young daughter had been tear gassed - she had taken her out to see the riot! This is stupid beyond belief and now some are talking about getting rid of the police. Stay out of crowds, keep your powder dry and handy, and make sure you have enough supplies on hand that you do not need to get out during a riot.
Just a side comment: Have you considered the fact that the same people who say we don't need guns because the police will protect us are now saying we should get rid of the police. Makes you feel warm and safe all over that this is the quality of thinking that goes into the making of government policy.
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Post by captbart on Jun 5, 2020 18:55:44 GMT -5
Forgive me for double posting but I just saw our county judge (runs the county) saying that all hurricane preps have to keep "social distancing" rules. Evacuation buses that could haul 50 folks now can only carry 15 or so. So, to avoid the risk of catching a virus that actually has a lower fatality rate than the annual flu (that includes this year - I've see the CDC data)we are to generate plans that may leave many in harms way from violent weather.
Survival TIP: You and you alone are responsible for your survival. The government is NOT worried about your survival; they are worried about how they appear at the next election. If you need to evacuate you must plan for your own escape. If you are going to shelter in place, you can only depend on the preps you, personally, make for food, shelter, safety, water, etc. The thing at which I get most angry is the whining on TV of a "victim" demanding that "someone" (meaning the government) MUST help them. If you want to live, take charge of your preps and be ready.
Just my not so humble opinion, of course.
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Post by captbart on Jul 9, 2020 18:33:32 GMT -5
OK, I always worried about the effects of a pandemic. It was one of my least favorite SHTF scenarios. That said, we still live in the Houston area. That means hurricanes, urban riots, supply train disruption, etc. The key here is that being in the midst of one disaster does NOT mean you will not be caught in another disaster. Unfortunately, all too often one disaster triggers another. The pandemic triggers shortages and riots. As I write this I just saw the TV weather about a tropical storm heading for NYC. My point is that you can never take it for granted that you will only face one emergency at a time.
Survival tip: Unless you have been in the military you may think that things can not get any worse. You are WRONG! Prep so you won't be dead wrong.
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Post by captbart on Jul 14, 2020 16:04:35 GMT -5
OK, heat index around Houston has been between 105 and 112. I don't care what your age is and don't much care about your physical condition, unless you are a GI fresh from the sand boxes of the world you are not likely to be able to bug out on foot. Even the deserts don't have 98% humidity. Now is a good time to review your emergency plans for survival during this season.
Survival tip: If you live in a location that has more than one season, you need a plan for each season AND a plan for the transition time from one season to the next. If you are up in the mountains or northern areas and it snows in late April (it happens)you may be stuck until the end of May. Of course, if you're in that country in September and it snows you also may be there until late May.
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Post by captbart on Aug 2, 2020 12:01:37 GMT -5
I have been reviewing my EDC (Every Day Carry) and home survival situation based on the new environment of the "peaceful protest" we see in places like Portland (used to be a city in Oregon, now is a trash heap - I can see the next Mad Max movie coming now). Last year, most violent encounter scenarios involved between one and three bad guys. I like revolvers and in that scenario they work just fine. Also, if you just gave them what they wanted (money or car) often they left you unharmed. Now they involve large crowds that want to beat you bloody if not kill you, maybe setting you on fire. That is a completely changed situation.
Burt's comment after the Graboids became Shriekers: "I should have been carrying full auto, preferably belt fed!" I have never been impressed by large capacity magazines as almost all civilian firearm use is resolved in less than 5 rounds. (No solid stats exist here but anecdotal evidence says this is true.) The problem is that like the Grabiods, the bad guys seem to be on a learning curve. So, depending on your location as city, suburban, or rural, that 5 shot Chief's Special may not be enough gun. I still carry my Ruger SP-101, .357 Mag, but I have replaced the 10 round magazine in my Kel Tec P-11 with a 15 round magazine. It is not quite as concealable but as a backup I figure the Ruger will buy me enough time to pull out the P-11 and then I have 15 more "arguments" for a crowd. Depending on where I'm going and what the climate is like, I replace the Ruger with a Colt 1911 and spare mags. If I HAVE to go somewhere I'm not happy about, I keep the Ruger and ADD the Colt.
My last words will never be "if I only had my gun". I may run out of ammo if enough bad guys want to keep playing and are willing to pay the price but they will pay.
Survival Tip: Always plan on facing the worst threat in your area BUT never neglect the other possible issues. I plan for wild animals (Four or TWO legged) but to not consider the other threats is a good way to lose in the "you bet your life" game.
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Post by captbart on Aug 26, 2020 15:20:20 GMT -5
Well, we seem to have avoided Hurricane Laura, should hit the Texas/Louisiana boarder, so I thought I'd talk about what is going on. Most of our preps were in good shape but I discovered than my generator was Tango Uniform. (Toes Up is the polite term meaning dead) So, we have no backup AC source at the house. We do have a power source in our RV and after the storm passes, if needed, I could bring it from its protected storage and be good to go but that is not the best solution. I'll fix that after the storm.
Moral: do not wait until the last minute to test all your preps. I should have done this back in May before the hurricane season but let the Chi-Com virus distract me from hurricanes. Stupid mistake on my part because I know better but just did not take care of business.
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Post by captbart on Oct 24, 2020 10:51:56 GMT -5
OK, Pilgrams, listen up (oh, yeah, read on, can't listen to writing)! I know the US is in a mess and politics and riots and transportation breakdowns and fires and .... oh, hell, everything is going wrong and we're all worried, right? Well, just because we see THIS mess doesn't mean there are not other, bigger, badder, things out there. I just read this article sciencenorway.no/climate-geology-ice-age/what-actually-started-the-little-ice-age/1759318 and it reminded me of the black swans we've seen in the past. The idea is that the "little ice age" in the middle ages was not "caused" by volcanoes or anything except just a random fluctuation. Their models pop these "ugly duckling" (their term) up randomly for no discernible reason. If this is what happened (not just a program glitch) that means that the next ice age could begin today with no warning. The moral here is simple. Just because you are in the middle of one SHTF event it does NOT mean you can lose your focus on other possible events. The military call it target fixation and it has resulted in things like pilots flying into the target at which they are shooting. Happened to me once in training, weird experience, and my flight instructor broke the brain lock but it was really strange. So, no matter what is happening do not become so focused you forget to check your 6 for approaching bad things and keep looking for storms, volcanoes, earthquakes, fires, what ever is not happening now but CAN happen.
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Post by captbart on Nov 27, 2020 9:46:39 GMT -5
I've pretty much stopped watching the news. Just like after 9-11 it is all bad news all the time. I've developed my own sources for important things and ignore the rest, especially MSM talking heads. Why?
Well, true survival is more about mental attitude (plus luck) than it is about preps. Yes, the right attitude gives you the right preps to make survival easier and less dependent on luck, but as I've written before, folks with perfect preps die because they give up. Also, as is mentioned in the Tremors series, it is also about economic survival.
There was a time when I thought the Chicom Virus stuff would quiet down after the election, now I'm not so sure. I've got my tin foil hat on now but maybe it is, and always was, about scaring people into letting themselves be controlled. Looking at the actual data and the data's quality, the Chicom pandemic was never as bad as the seasonal flu! Don't read the summaries provided by the "researchers"; look at their data - the clowns LIE!
In my part of Texas that attempt to become dictator is failing miserably. Our county's "fear leader" gets on the TV all the time and whines about the need to sit in the dark in our houses and be afraid but mostly we all ignore her. Same with Houston's mayor; we ignore the clowns.
The moral here is to make sure you take care of your economic survival so the fear mongers can't destroy your ability to resist the government's oppressive policies. If they can't force you to disarm and report to the camps for food and medicine then you are beyond their control.
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