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Post by tabasco on Nov 27, 2020 12:42:50 GMT -5
Completely agree. Cletus Poffenburger: " You can't keep a lid on a boiling pot "
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Post by captbart on Apr 10, 2021 14:05:02 GMT -5
OK, gang, we've gotten a preview of the new political regime's plans (or maybe lack thereof) for the rest of us. Frankly, I do NOT like their plans. Basically I'll quote Burt's line from T3 when taking about the government. When Tyler arranges a deal with the government men Burt's line is "Do you have your head up your ass for the WARMTH?"
As a retired GS13 myself (me and Twitch, right?)I have to wonder who would be so brain dead as to actually trust the "government"? I mean our government actually ran a brothel (seized for taxes)so poorly it went bankrupt! So these are the folks who are going to run an interior passport system based on an unproven vaccination so efficiently that all data will be safe and no additional tracking will be done? Oh, and they also want to outlaw guns because the police will keep us safe (the supreme court says they won't because they can't - it is an impossibility) while at the same time 'defunding' the police. While I was born at night, it wasn't last night.
Everyone who wishes to be safe is responsible for their own safety. You pay for your mistakes (that is why I have a broken leg - on the mend now but the event HURT!) but only some one who refuses to look at facts is willing to abdicate their health and welfare to an anonymous, mid-level, government functionary who lives a thousand miles away. If I get (or already have gotten) one of the untested vaccines I will NOT be telling the government about it.
Only you can safeguard your own identity - no one in the "government" cares for your safety.
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Post by captbart on Apr 13, 2021 17:38:38 GMT -5
I'm re-reading one of Louis L'Amour novels "Mustang Man" (I really like L'Amour's work and they all have some solid survival tips) and it reminded me of a fact that fits here. When I lived in the southwest we lost several people every year to flash floods.
A big cause was that folks who did not understand the tall and uncut would find a place with a gravel base and no vegetation. They thought that here was a nice clear space to set up camp not realizing that it was repeating flash floods that scoured the vegetation away. The problem with flash floods, especially out in the desert or close to mountains is that the flood can occur when there is no sign of rain in the local area.
The first sign of a flash flood may well be a six foot wall of water washing away your camp site. This is usually fatal. How do you avoid this scenario? When moving out in the woods or hills, be aware of water paths. They are often the easiest to navigate through but great care must be taken to avoid being trapped in the water course.
Any space that is very different from the surrounding area is that way for a reason. Usually a space devoid of ground cover is that way due to moving water. Never assume that a dry water course will stay dry for extended time periods. I've watched floods spread through the desert as a wall of water covering a path 1/2 mile wide and running for miles. No slow build up of water, just a wall.
Remember that less that a foot of water can wash away almost anything. Six inches will wash away a car.
Pay attention to your surroundings, learn a little about geology and the history of the area where you are going to visit and stay safe.
Burt was right; "You've got to KNOW your geology".
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Post by captbart on Aug 4, 2021 20:19:00 GMT -5
My bride and I have been reviewing our preps. Some time ago we figured our long term outlook meant we didn't need all of our preps so we began to burn through some of our own preps.
Based on the published reports coming from DC I really question the ability of our social constructs to survive. Mask, no mask, lock down, open everything up, Covid/Wuhan/ "Chi com" pandemic, green energy, climate change, police will protect you so no guns, de-fund the police, mandatory experimental anti-virus shots (these things are NOT vaccines as they play RNA games with your biology) and so forth.
With that as a background, we are reviewing our future needs based on the high probability that run-away inflation will soon make our retirement income go from comfortable to inadequate. With that in mind, we are figuring out how to make the most of our money before it becomes valueless.
Economic survival is as important to physical survival as are other preps as per the series episode "Blast from the Past". Even in the book "Alas Babylon" it is noted that money, while not of great value after TSHTF, is essential during the time we have to prep.
So, review your preps in light of the increasingly dictatorial approach our government agencies seem to be taking and take advantage of your finances while you still have the where with all to prepare for the uncertain future.
Remember as someone (I wish it was me) said, the government is using a virus that is so deadly you have to get a test to see if you've even had it to establish what is essentially marshal law and the destruction of the economy. Don't you just hate it when Burt is actually proven right!
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Post by tabasco on Aug 22, 2021 10:43:33 GMT -5
My bride and I have been reviewing our preps. Some time ago we figured our long term outlook meant we didn't need all of our preps so we began to burn through some of our own preps. Based on the published reports coming from DC I really question the ability of our social constructs to survive. Mask, no mask, lock down, open everything up, Covid/Wuhan/ "Chi com" pandemic, green energy, climate change, police will protect you so no guns, de-fund the police, mandatory experimental anti-virus shots (these things are NOT vaccines as they play RNA games with your biology) and so forth. With that as a background, we are reviewing our future needs based on the high probability that run-away inflation will soon make our retirement income go from comfortable to inadequate. With that in mind, we are figuring out how to make the most of our money before it becomes valueless. Economic survival is as important to physical survival as are other preps as per the series episode "Blast from the Past". Even in the book "Alas Babylon" it is noted that money, while not of great value after TSHTF, is essential during the time we have to prep. So, review your preps in light of the increasingly dictatorial approach our government agencies seem to be taking and take advantage of your finances while you still have the where with all to prepare for the uncertain future. Remember as someone (I wish it was me) said, the government is using a virus that is so deadly you have to get a test to see if you've even had it to establish what is essentially marshal law and the destruction of the economy. Don't you just hate it when Burt is actually proven right! If I could ' like ' this post more than once I would. Could not agree more. Use the lull and fiat currency to prepare. The current situation, imo , is well past the political threshold. It's crashing by design. It's also a decision about good or evil, light or darkness, right or wrong, comfort or resolve. Many are quick to release their civil, constitutional , and God given liberties.
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Post by captbart on Aug 23, 2021 11:31:05 GMT -5
Survival Tip:
Establish a spending history that will support your choices post marshal law. For instance, if you are spending $300 a week on groceries and then drop to $10, the enforcement agents will assume that you are getting supplies somewhere else and come calling just to see if you are 'hording' things they can "use" for themselves. You end up losing your preps and maybe going to jail.
How would they do this? Credit card records show way too much information about what you buy and where. What this means is that cash is your friend. It also means to avoid records of any kind. As annoying as it is, it means no online stuff. Get your ammo at a gun show with cash. Private gun sales do not YET require background checks (any check leaves a trace and anyone who tells you that the records are not permanent is either totally ignorant of computer practice or is lying) so if you need to purchase a firearm leave as little trace as possible. In Texas my License to Carry allows me to skip the NICS check so that helps and cash would limit the trace that way, if I needed to buy another gun.
We are living in a time that is very much like the stories from my childhood where the sheriff is a bad guy and the hero has to protect the ranch in spite of the "law". Remember, your survival is up to you in a time when government oversight of everything you do is very possible. Plan ahead.
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Post by captbart on Sept 2, 2021 20:00:23 GMT -5
After the betrayal of the US and its allies in the sandbox, no one should have any delusions about what the current occupants in DC are capable of doing. It is my belief that they have overplayed their had and are premature in their attempts at control. The problem is that they may try to enforce their rules with force.
SURVIVAL TIP: Decide now what level of control you are willing to accept from DC and what you will do if that level is exceeded. It may not be pretty but I fear we will find out just how far they are willing to go.
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Post by captbart on Oct 18, 2021 16:36:58 GMT -5
You still have time but not much!
We went to COSCO the other day and it was shocking to see how much was missing from the shelves. We've been hearing about "supply chain problems" but what I see at the store is the impending shortage of, quite literally, everything. We found the stuff we needed but not in the brands or quantity desired. Not much rationing (some limits on things like toilette paper) so if you stock up now you are NOT hording but that will be coming soon.
Poor government policy has started the inflation elevator so what is in the stores is more expensive but it is still available. So, if you need anything to fill out your preps get those things now or do without for the next couple of years.
If you haven't started prepping, it is not too late to begin. Check out what you need daily, weekly and monthly. Basic foods keep when purchased properly. Peanut butter, canned beans, instant potatoes etc. have shelf lives measured in years. Paper products are also long lived, so toilette paper, paper towels, paper plates etc. also keep for extended periods.
Some things are not obvious. How much salt do you have? Coffee or tea? Do you really want to go through a Caffeine withdrawal headache in a crisis? How about basic pain meds? Prescription meds? I'm a diabetic so if my meds become unavailable how do I keep going?
Other things most folks don't think about - hand soap, laundry soap, dish washing soap, basic topical antiseptics (want to die from a cut finger that gets infected?) Are your shots like tetanus, pneumonia and others up to date. Do you have antacid, diarrhea, sinus, insect repellent agents. They may be worth their weight in gold if you can't get them. Aspirin and acetaminophen and such can actually be life saving in serious cases.
If you're waiting until "black Friday" for your winter clothes, you may have waited too long already.
I remain unconvinced the ChiCom virus jabs are a good idea and I rebel against any "mandates" (I do live in Texas, after all) but that is your call. If I have or will have the shots, I'll never tell the government and I won't do the Pfizer as I've seen how they destroyed their lab results from the control group. I do NOT trust those people. As an Astro-Physicist I bitterly hate what the government clowns have done to the reputation of "SCIENCE".
Moral? Spend your money now before it loses anymore value on the things you'll need to survive the next year with questionable supply chain access. You don't want to wreck your retirement plan or lose your home but you also need to ensure you can survive when the trucks stop rolling. That trip to Hawaii would be fun but so would eating at regular intervals. There is still time but take action now, don't wait for better deals or you may have waited too long.
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Post by captbart on Oct 23, 2021 18:52:38 GMT -5
OK, folks, I just read something that is more than a little troubling. Some CEOs of large companies are now using the "H" word. Yep, they warning against folks hording food and other supplies. As soon as the government starts saying hording they will start checking on your "stockpiles" to see what they can take to give to others. Stockpiling is not a crime but hording IS a crime and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law (perhaps a bit more).
Make sure your preps are not common knowledge and do NOT let the fact that you are prepared to take care of yourself become common knowledge. You can't care for yourself and your family from the government furnished, no (legal) weapons allowed, they will control what you get and when you get it camps.
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Post by captbart on Jun 18, 2022 14:14:21 GMT -5
I haven't been here for nearly a year; what a year it has been! The list of things to prep for is incredibly large.
The most immediate may be the attempt by DC to get all guns. These clowns MUST have you disarmed to inflict their dictates on the public. The use of school shootings as a political plow is at best despicable and at worse evil. My first response is to ANY gun legislation is "no new laws until current laws are fully and vigorously enforced in all cases - starting with the elite rich, law makers, Hollywood clowns and their spoiled kids". Until then the answer is NO! to any new law.
Next is the threat to our energy supply. Gas prices have doubled since president "81,000,000 votes" (or at least his handlers) has taken over. Folks, it is deliberate! The green energy clowns have all the data to know how full of it they are but they don't care! The move to destroy oil and gas is a political move to control people, not to solve a made up problem.
HINT: Buying wind turbines from China (Worlds biggest coal user and "green house gas producer") is a clue about just how serious these guys are about a world climate problem!
Survival Tip:
The list of creditable threats has changed and enlarged. It is past time to review your preps and the threats for which you are prepping.
More thoughts to follow.
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Post by captbart on Nov 28, 2022 10:15:44 GMT -5
There is a line in the Tremors series that is very applicable now. Jody tells Burt that he has to survive economically in order to survive physically. This is a fact to be ignored at our own peril. Inflation, shortages and purchasing limitations must be addressed while there is time for them to be addressed.
So, what is needed? Well, supplies to last through a rail strike of course. A point to be considered; stocking a pantry in a time of plenty is being prepared for unforeseen events. Events like family coming to visit unannounced. Stocking a pantry during a time of shortage or disaster is called HOARDING and will get you arrested and your supplies seized by the government. Note well that your credit card purchases will be (probably already are) in a government database. If you go from spending $800 a month on food to $200 a month the government may come by to asked about your stockpile. Shifting to a cash basis is tough; credit cards are great but they tattle tale to the government about you.
Weapons? Well a couple of things here. First you are NOT going to beat the police power of the state. Ask the Branch Dividians in Waco, TX about their success rate. Sure, given enough political pressure you MIGHT be able to stand off the BLM for a while but ultimately you either win in the courts or you lose. So, your preps have to be kept below the radar. Any BS about fighting off the police is worse than stupid, it is suicidal.
Second, while you might love to shoot (I do) your survival battery only NEEDS a few things. My choice is the 3+1 concept. A handgun, a rifle capable of taking deer sized game, and a shot gun. I have 12 GA but in hindsight I think I'd go with 20 GA for recoil in my old age. That is the 3; the plus 1 is a .22 for small critters and vermin. Those are the needed; the things you really don't want the government to take from you. Note that going to a refugee center means you lose your guns. On limited funds those are the must have items; preferably not on government lists. Buying ammo with a credit card gives away the fact that you have the firearm. If I buy 500 rounds of .223 ammo on a credit card it is fairly obvious that I own an AR style weapon.
Once you have at least 3 months of food and the weapons and ammo for the 3+1 battery you have the necessary items for basic survival with one exception. Recognize that if food gets short there will be disease. In the UK some years back a friend and his family were rationed to 10 aspirin a week during the bird flu pandemic. A family of 6! I arranged for them to get a couple of large bottles of aspirin but they still purchased the 10 aspirin a week, just like everyone else. No reason for the government to know that they didn't need to buy aspirin. First aid stuff and medicines will be hard to come by and expensive and insurance will become less and less reliable so be ready for that. If you are in a state that loves their control of your health, MOVE! While you can get out. That whole COVID response stuff made sense for a couple of weeks but it went on WAY too long. Florida and Texas and a few others are better places but regardless of where you are, never forget you were lied to by folks that had a moral and legal obligation to tell you the truth. They did not and are not being punished for their crimes.t
The 1870's were a tough time but we may be headed back there in terms of supply chain issues. How much you have to spend is a limiting factor of course. What you spend your resources on is what can make a difference. It is not too late but realize that buying a new TV or going on a vacation or buying extra guns when you have a 3 day food supply is a foolish choice. Get fully prepped before you get the extras. Credit cards are nice but cash is trace less and hard currency (as in silver coins) will last through a downturn. The welfare of your family is in your hands.
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Post by captbart on May 20, 2023 11:30:20 GMT -5
Survival versus enjoyment.
I've recently convinced several folks not to buy 6.5mm rifles for survival use. I don't have anything against the caliber or against rifles in that caliber that are well made. If you enjoy firing one and you already have a 3+1 (see earlier posts) then by all means, go for it. The thing is, the 6.5 is quite sufficient for survival (unless you live in bear country) but the ammo is NOT common. I can order it of course but if the government stops the mail or for any reason and you need to scavenge ammo you probably won't find 6.5, or have any to share with your group (they won't have your caliber, most likely) should the need arise. So, if that is the rifle you must have or already have and need to use, then I strongly advise that you get as much ammo for it as you possibly can afford.
Financial survival is necessary as is simply enjoying your hobbies but make sure your basic survival requirements are met prior to spending money on nice to haves and wants.
SURVIVAL TIP:
NEVER confuse what you want with what you MUST have to be fully prepared. Confusing need with desire can be fatal in a survival situation.
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Post by captbart on Jul 25, 2023 11:23:00 GMT -5
For a number of reasons, the topic of "Two is one, one is NONE" came up in a conversation with my bride. That reminded me of one of my favorite Burt quotes from the series. From "Night of the Shrieker" - got it? - "Backup Backup Generator" I've run into several instances lately where folks who thought they were prepared but found that "one is none". I've had loads of "we can't afford any more for preps" complaining and I've finally decided to "vent" to you good folks. The thing is this; if you are driving a new car, live in an "exclusive" part of town, have expensive hobbies or any number of other less than cheap items you CAN afford to prep. First, I don't want to hear the complaints about how expensive survival and preparing are now. Failure to prep is a lot more expensive, of course, but that isn't the point of this missive. Where I'm going here is a discussion about how much to spend on prepping. If you are drinking Star Bucks coffee on a regular basis then you have extra income. The question of the moment is,"Is your life and the lives of your family worth changing your life style, even a little?" Mountain House or Valley Food Storage all offer bulk food for less than $150 for food kits. Besides which, buying extra at the grocery store is an even cheaper way to go. If you can come up with $150 a month (remember that Starbucks coffee is $2 to $3 for straight coffee, more for the strange stuff - there's your $150 a month) you can afford survival food. In two months you can afford a pistol caliber carbine or a handgun. A new EAA .38 can be had for $300 and there are 9mm pistols for $350. If you're looking to buy used the market expands greatly. You won't find a Colt or Smith & Wesson but there are a lot of solid handguns available from other manufacturers on the used market. First Aid items are not that hard to come by and some thing like "Burn Free" for burns or a car First Aid kit and some basic analgesics are excellent starts. Add some antacids and anti-diarrhea meds for stomach issues (in a long episode they'll be needed). You'll have a good start. I was bitten by a dog just before the last hurricane hit our area and there was only one Urgent Care facility open within driving distance. They were closing up as I got there for antibiotics. We had already dealt with the wounds but the antibiotics were a precaution. If we hadn't been able to treat the injury, we'd have been in trouble with the bleeding. If you expect to survive you have to spend resources on the project. The government not only won't be there to help you but based on past performance they will be a large part of the problem. From personal experience I and my family have lived through some strange events with nothing more than minor inconvenience while acquaintances who made fun of my "survivalist tendencies" needed help from outside. You can be prepared for the most likely problems to come your way. The question for you to consider, "Is my current lifestyle more important than the survival of my family?" In the closing words of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1950's version), "THE CHOICE IS YOURS!"
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Post by captbart on Jul 29, 2023 11:39:01 GMT -5
I believe it was Patrick Henry who wrote, when encouraging resistance to England, "You say we are not strong enough but I ask you, when will we be stronger?" If now is not a good time for preparing for your least favorite, most likely SHTF event? Prioritize your needs and START! Simply buying an extra can of chili (my favorite survival food!) and maybe a couple of cans of tuna and you've added two days to your food supply if necessary. Enough? Of course not but it is a start. I have a few P-38 and P-10 can openers (designed for C-rations; P-10 for mess hall use) in case my manual opener breaks after the electric one fails. I also have openers on several Swiss Army type knives. Starving to death with cans of food available is dying stupid! A couple of manual openers is a good investment but make sure you can actually use one. You like coffee fresh ground? Great, do you have a manual grinder? I do. Survival stuff can be expensive but it isn't necessary. Survival food is the food you have on hand when needed. Tuna, SPAM, chili, Ramon noodles, are reasonable inexpensive. I like jerky, one of the original survival foods. None of these things will break the food budget if you increment your grocery store lists by a little at each visit. A quick note about coffee, tea, other caffeine sources. I tried going off caffeine cold turkey once. The withdrawal headache was the worst I've ever had short of a full blown migraine. If you drink a lot of caffeine drinks, make sure you have enough to taper off or be prepared for the headache. A couple of bottles of Excedrin will help. Just study your life and work on what you need in small steps. Your life could depend on doing this right.
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Post by captbart on Sept 2, 2023 17:13:51 GMT -5
Just an observation: Just finished a doctor appointment and had some interesting comments about the upcoming flu season and the latest warnings about the "new" strain of Covid.
Fist the flu shot: It is still the old fashioned style shot with none of the new mRNA technologies included. That as a given, I will be getting the shot this year. The rest of the conversation is than my doctor recommended NOT getting the shot until the October time fame. The reason is that the shot is good for about 3 months so if you get it in August by the peak of the flu season it is essentially no help. It has the added benefit of letting you see if there are any side effects in others you might want to avoid.
Second the new Covid strain: As a matter of interest I review all sorts of science journals (I was an astrophysicist for NASA back in the day and maintain an interest in a variety of fields. The interesting thing about the mRNA vaccines is they have done more harm than good based on data collected, but not widely published, by the CDC and others. The other thing is, that as a matter of epidemiology, as viruses evolve the new ones are always less lethal than the parent strain. The more lethal variants kill their hosts prior to being able to spread so only the less lethal strains survive. That given, the governments new push to force lock downs, mass mandates and new rounds of harmful injections seems to warrant resistance at least and outright refusal if you can get away with it.
SURVIVAL TIP:
If you are unable to have these kind of conversations with your medical folks, find new doctors. You can not trust anyone who is unwilling to let you be a part of your own medical care; since you pay a bill to see these folks they work for you. Some don't see it that way but you can always fire them and find new doctors. Unless you've asked them to do something illegal or causes them to violate their Hippocratic oath (do they still take that? mine do but not all anymore) they really must allow you to be part of your medical decisions.
SURVIVAL TIP #2:
As part of most medical exams they are now asking about depression. Frankly, I don't want to discourage anyone from getting needed help but I am very leery about sharing some things with others. Remember that with the current laws, certain things must be reported to the government. Being treated for depression can, in some jurisdictions, cause you to lose your right to own firearms. Be careful what you reveal, even to your doctors.
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