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Guest Post: Take These Steps Today To Survive An International Crisis
Submitted by Brandon Smith of Alt-Market blog,
With the Crimea referendum passed and Russia ready to annex the region, the United States and the European Union have threatened sanctions. The full extent of these sanctions is not yet known, and announcements are pending for the end of March. If these measures are concrete, they will of course be followed inevitably by economic warfare, including a reduction of natural gas exports to the EU and the eventually full dump of the U.S. dollar by Russia and China. As I have discussed in recent articles, the result of these actions will be disastrous.
For those of us in the liberty movement, it is now impossible to ignore the potential threat to our economy. No longer can people claim that “perhaps” there will be a crisis someday, that perhaps “five or 10 years” down the road we will have to face the music. No, the threat is here now, and it is very real.
The loss of the dollar’s world reserve status will destroy the only thread holding up its value, namely, investor faith. There are only two possible outcomes from that point onward:
A) The U.S. will be forced to default because no nation will purchase our Treasury bonds and support our debt spending, causing the dollar’s value to implode.
B) The Fed will choose to restart and expand quantitative easing measures, confiscate pension funds, raid bank accounts or issue new taxes in order to keep the system afloat; this will also end in the eventual collapse of dollar value and hyperinflation.
The consequences will lead to an explosion in prices — first in commodities and necessities like petroleum, imported raw materials, food, electricity, etc. and then in all other goods and services. Austerity measures will be instituted by Federal and State governments. Cuts to social welfare programs, including food stamps, are probable. Civil infrastructure will suffer. The cost effectiveness of maintaining public utilities could become unrealistic. Anyone relying on such services may find themselves cut off for days, weeks or indefinitely. Public suffering will invariably rise, along with public crime.
If events like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans are any indication, the Federal government’s response will be inadequate, to say the least. The Federal Emergency Management Agency clearly cannot be relied upon to provide food, shelter, medical care or protection for communities. In fact, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Feds did far more harm than good, corralling people into camps where death was rampant and disarming outlying neighborhoods so that they could not defend themselves. Tens of millions of dollars in donated and Federally purchased necessities were never delivered to aid survivors. Trucks were turned away, and help from civilian sources was denied.
The point is, if you find yourself in the midst of a national or international catastrophe, you should assume that you will be on your own with whatever preparations you made beforehand. To assume otherwise would be foolish, given our government’s track record.
There are some people who will argue that during an international crisis, such as an economic war or a world war, there is no purpose to preparedness. They will argue that there is nothing an individual or family can do to weather the storm or fight back, because the scale of the threat would be “too great.” There is no place for such defeatism in the life of the liberty-minded. The scale of the threat is irrelevant, and only cowards give up a fight before it even begins. Survival and freedom require an unwavering conviction. Nihilists will fulfill their own prophecies, suffering a fate exactly as they imagine for the rest of us; living in fear, slavery, and obscurity.
That said, it is also important to acknowledge the truth that the majority of Americans today are utterly unready for a minor localized disaster, let alone a national or global crisis. This problem, though, could be easily remedied with a few simple beginning steps. I find that most people are not averse to the idea of preparedness, but many have trouble taking the first steps in the right direction. For longtime preparedness champions, the information listed here might seem like old-hat. However, I challenge each liberty movement member to approach at least one friend or family member who could benefit from the steps below. Prepping appears daunting to the uninitiated; show them how simple it can actually be.
Below is a list of goals that every liberty movement member and American can easily achieve starting today and continuing over the course of the next month. If enough citizens were to take the initiative to do these things, all threats — no matter how imposing — could be overcome.
Buy Three Months Of Food Stock
Food supply is the greatest Achilles’ heel of the American populace. Most homes store less than one week’s worth of food items at any given time. The average person needs between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day to maintain sufficient energy for survival. It takes around four to six weeks for a person to die of starvation and malnutrition. In a collapse scenario, most deaths will likely occur within the first few months, either by weakness and illness, or by looting and violence. The idea is to at least get through this first catastrophic phase without becoming a villain, or falling victim to one. One person removed from starvation is one possible threat removed from the equation.
Three months of supply is not ideal by any means, but it will buy you precious time. Start with 2,000 calories per day per person. Bulk foods can be purchased cheaply (for now) and can at the very least provide sustenance during emergencies. A 20-pound bag of rice, for instance, can be had for less than $15 and provides about 30,000 calories, or 2,000 calories per day for 15 days for one person. Supplement with beans, canned vegetables and meats, honey for sugar, or freeze-dried goods, and you will be living more comfortably than 90 percent of the population.
Food stockpiling is one of the easiest and most vital measures a person could take. Yet, sadly, it is one of the last preparations on people’s minds.
Buy A Water Filter
Do not count on city water to remain functional. Even during a drawn-out economic downturn rather than an immediate crisis, there is a good chance that some utilities will be sporadic and unreliable. This means you will have to focus on rainwater collection, as well as water from unclean sources. Boiling the water will kill any bacteria, but it will not kill the taste of sediments and other materials floating around. A high-grade survival filter is the best way to get clean water that tastes good.
The average person needs about a gallon of water per day to remain healthy and hydrated. I highly recommend the Sawyer Mini Water Filter, which is a compact washable filter that can cleanse up to 100,000 gallons of water. It uses no moving parts, making it harder to break; and it costs only $20.
Buy A Small Solar Kit
Try going a week or two without electricity, and you may find how dismal life can truly be. The very absence of light at night reduces one’s productivity time drastically, and using fuel for lanterns is not practical in the long term. Solar power is truly the way to go for a grid-collapse scenario.
I’ve heard much whining about the cost of solar power, but small systems that will serve most electrical needs can be set up for less than $1,000. Two 100-watt panels, a power inverter, charge controller and four to six 12-volt deep-cycle batteries are enough to deal with most electrical needs in a survival situation; and all these items can be contained in a portable foot locker for minimal cost. New solar panels are much more effective in low-light conditions and winter weather as well, making solar a must-have prep item.
Store A Fuel Source
Twenty gallons of gasoline treated with fuel saver is not expensive to purchase today, but in the midst of hyperinflation, it may be impossible to obtain tomorrow. Kerosene is useful for heating and cooking. Propane can be stored for decades and runs numerous appliances. If you live in a forested area, dried wood can be had for free, and can keep you warm throughout the winter months (keep in mind the your local danger factor when using fire). It is vital to have a means to stay warm and fed during the most difficult seasonal changes, especially during a grid down scenario.
Find Alternative Shelter
There are no guarantees during a full-spectrum disaster. Having all your eggs in one basket is not only stupid, but unnecessary. Always have a plan B. That means scouting an alternative location for you and your family in the event that your current shelter comes under threat. This location should be far enough away from large population centers but still within a practical range for you to reach them. It should also have a nearby water source, and be defensible. Establishing supply caches near this site is imperative. Do not assume that you will be able to take all of your survival supplies with you from your home. Expect that surprises of a frightening variety will arise.
Buy One Semi-Automatic Rifle
At this point I really don’t care what model of rifle people purchase, as long as they have one, preferably in high capacity and semi-automatic. AR-15, AK-47, Saiga, SKS, M1A: just get one! Every American should be armed with a military-grade rifle. If you are not, you are not only negligent in your duty as a free citizen, but you are also at a distinct disadvantage against the kind of opponents you are likely to face in a collapse situation.
Buy 1,000 Rounds Of Ammunition
Again, this is by no means an ideal stockpile, but it is enough to get you through a couple rough patches if you train furiously. Cheap AK-47 ammo can be had for $5 for a box of 20 rounds. Get what you can while you can, because the prices are only going to skyrocket in the near term.
Approach One Friend Or Neighbor
Community is what will make the difference between life and death during a SHTF collapse. I challenge everyone in the liberty movement to find at least ONE other person to work with in the event of disaster. Lone-wolf operations may be strategically practical for short periods of time; but everyone needs rest, and everyone needs someone else to watch his back. Do not fall into the delusion that you will be able to handle everything on your own.
Learn One Barter Skill
Learn how to fix one vital thing or provide one vital service. Try emergency medical training, gunsmithing or metal working, as long as it is an ability that people will value. You have to be able to produce something that people want in order to sustain yourself beyond the point at which your survival stockpile runs out. Be sure that you are seen as indispensable to those around you.
Grow A Garden
Spring is upon us, and now is the perfect opportunity to grow your own food supply. If you have even a small yard, use that space to grow produce. Focus on high-protein and high-vitamin foods. Buy a dehydrator or canning supplies and save everything. Use heirloom seeds so that you can collect new seed from each crop to replant in the future. If every American had a garden in his backyard, I wouldn’t be half as worried about our survival as I am today.
Prepare Your Mind For Calamity
The most valuable resource you will ever have is your own mind. The information held within it and the speed at which you adapt will determine your survival, whether you have massive preparations or minimal preparations. Most people are not trained psychologically to handle severe stress, and this is why they die. Panic equals extinction. Calm readiness equals greater success.
The state of our financial system is one of perpetual tension. The structure is so weak that any catalyst or trigger event could send it tumbling into the abyss. Make no mistake; time is running out. We may witness a terrifying breakdown tomorrow, in a year, or if we are lucky, a little longer. The path, though, has been set and there is no turning back. All of the items above can be undertaken with minimal cash flow. If you receive a regular paycheck, you can establish a survival supply for yourself and your family. There are no excuses.
Take the steps above seriously. Set your goals for the next four weeks and see how many of them you can accomplish. Do what you can today, or curse yourself tomorrow. What’s it going to be?
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2000-3000 calories a day? the fat-asses here in the US would do well to have to cut down to 1000 a day. 1000 is about all the calories you need to sit around playing X-Box, Facefucking and jerking off to online porn all day anyway.
Oh please, Mel Tappen had been talking this BS since the early 1970's, and he died not from any government calamities, but from cutting his foot on broken glass in a pool.
Some prep is OK, but nonsense like Tappen and this clown is over the top.
Also 1000 rounds would last me about a day if the SHTF- there's a lot of MFers on my shit list. Don't forget- Level 4 body armor is a must.
Survive an international crisis? Now why would I want to do that? Bastards.
So you have a blog eh? Would you enjoy every single ZH poster spamming it? No? Get lost......
DIY water filter:
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/520706/how-to-build-a-plant-xylem-w...
50 lbs whey protein isolate, about a one year supply of protein, $290
http://www.americanpurewhey.com/whey-isolate-01.html#7
i skimmed that blog, dont even bother with the spam. your energy will be better invested elsewhere
I skimmed it about 75 user profiles ago. This weirdo keeps beating the spam filters here and posting this nonsense. The worst part is he's not even a decent troll.......
The dragon lady will stick a knife in his back sooner or later..
Just another sock puppet account.
If your are putting yourself in situations where you need 1000 rounds a day then you're not a very smart survivalist.
Er, I think that was in total, not per day. (That'd be one helluva day...)
Heh!
But if it was in just one day, it'd be
A Super, Maxi, Bueno - helluva day!
Get yourself a C93.
It could do 1000 in a day without a cleaning -- if that's your thing.
A shitload of lawyers out there. 1000 rds may not get it done.
Just because it hasn't happened here doesn't mean that it can't. History is ripe with societies that have collapsed. We have been fortunate that we live in the period of time that we do. I would rather be prepared and nothing happen then have the world fall go to shit and be totally screwed.
its the poisoning you are not watching.
"History is ripe with societies that have collapsed."
did you just say ripe instead of rife?
your doctorate is hereby revoked!
Actually I went back to change it and somebody had replied before I could. Oh well I'll take my lumps.
"Ripe" is appropriate when taken as history being filled with fruit to be picked as examples. Rife would refer ro examples being found throughout history.
Dr. Engali is vindicated and may re-don his robes!
One thing is for sure...it will be interesting to see how everyone will fare when this thing goes--those who prepped and those who didn't. Pretty sure we're going to see some insane things.
No, you will see the obvious consequences and the inevitable.
No shit. The average person is at least 20-30 pounds over weight. 1000 calorie a day diet for a couple months would do wonders for this society. Pretty sure the average food stamp recipient has enough chips and cookies stored in their body fat to last a couple months anyway
Fat people can go ballistic without their calories
Fat people are bigger targets.
They render out well for fuel too.
"They render out well for fuel too."
Funny that you say that...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130422154911.htm
millions of barrels of pure, sulphur-free diesel
just sitting around, watching 'Elllen'; talkin on that obamafone, eatin' those EBT-paid twinkies & chips.Washing it all down with sugary Sunny Delight.
Forget Soylent Green.
I think I might go buy a Volkswagon TDI.
We have finally realized a real purpose for the FSA. They are the modern day dinosaurs.
That's a dead giveaway in the future. The heavy set people willbe thought to have lots of food somewhere. If you start out thin no one will bother you.
Can't argue with you there. Judging by the junks it appears that there are a few of the NSA trolls reading your post who are pissed for being called out.
This is how you prepare!
http://PreparedForEverything.com
Buy Now ? Buy Now Buy Now...? why pay for Info that is already out there for free.
"Buy Now ? Buy Now Buy Now...?"
And this guy is a prepper? What's he want fiat $$ for?
I would like to contribute to our community.
http://ready4itall.org/the-free-preppers-library/
Build a still or buy a shit ton of booze. For barter and cleaning infections. You know.
Buy cigarettes too. Tobacco is as good as gold in some situations.
Sorry Dr E - I usually agree with you but in this case it would be far better to learn to grow your own tobacco. It's easy and not only better smoke than anything you can buy, it is also ( as you say) very useful for barter. And its legal everywhere. If I may talk my book just a bit here - The Cultivators Handbook of Natural Tobacco.
Interesting route to take. Not being a smoker, I have never put much thought into growing tobacco. Actually I've never put any thought into it. However, after witnessing the addictive power of tobacco and being in situations where having it has proven beneficial, I believe it is an important part of preparations.
Just so, and while we're on the subject,
did you ever see a chick without her caffeine and Midol? It sticks in your memory;)
Note to self, stock up on tampons. Should be a good barter item.
While not legal, knowing how to grow Marijuana may be helpful too. People are going to want an escape from having their world destroyed.
It is legal here in Colorado.
Tell that to the feds.
Better get a fuck pile of sugar and yeast or your still (and mine) won't be good for anything.
You don't need sugar. You need to learn how to malt grains. Sugar is the easy way to do it, but when you malt grains, you get amalayase enzimes which break the starches in the grain down into sugars. People have been brewing beer and making spirits since before sugar was widely avaliable.
The yeast though, is still essential. You can preserve the culture from bath to batch, but you will screw up sometimes and kill the culture by accident.
Funny thing, I have done all above plus the still! Even the corn, yeast and sugar to do just that. Of coarse I have not put any of that into use, that would be illegal, but I have just in case.
Simple water filter for the price and conveience - http://www.monolithic.org/stories/best-water-filter-in-the-world-available-to-your-ngo
Careful, just having a still above a certain (1 gallon ish) size is illegal all by itself.
FYI, Hope or Prayer are feel-good exercises, not a viable Action Plan. No matter what your clerics or ploticians tell you.
Nothing wrong with prayer. It calms the nerves.
And seems to be much more beneficial than science lately.
All good advice from the author.
Personally, I like Chris Martensen's site useful regarding Resilient Communities and Households.
i got doomer fatigue about a year ago
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Sawyer water filters suck, I can't belive he recommended them.
Katahdyn, First Need, or Britsh Berkefeld (Berkey) are all much better filters.
I've just been saving up all my old socks. The ones with holes in them are not so good, but those really worn thin ones are perfect!
Agree on the Berkey filters. MSF (Doctors withour borders) also use them in Africa. It's a big shiny pot with keramic filters. Combine it with a rain-water collector and you are well prepared to cope withj drink-water supply issues. Unless you live in the Arizona desert...lol
I have a Berkey. In my part of the world they are called British Berkefeld.
Their cartridges contain silver for anti-bacterial goodness.
If you buy one make sure you also get the secondary chemical cartridges that also remove fluoride.
As far as I know it is the only gravity filter in the market that removes fluoride.
Had a sawyer for years. They are fantastic. You don't know what you are talking about. How the hell is Katadyn better?
Latest Water Filter, Working great.
Perfect Water Technologies TMJRf2E Tap Master Jr F2 Elite Counter Top Water Filtration System, White $109.00
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AOKJDC2/ref=oh_details_o02_s01_i00?i...
Make sure you get the "elite, not the older 99.00 model.
Got a Berkey, calcium pool shock, other small filters & more.
A low cost but pretty powerful solar set up.
https://www.ecodirect.com/
2 Canadian 250 watt mono panels, wiring, 24 volt inverter
Pole mount for 2 panels ebay 150.00
Controller from Amazon $168.99 (better deal)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012DNFT2/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?i...
4 powerful Batteries from amazon $999.99
4 X 225ah 6 volts = 24 volt System
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ASCTJNO/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?i...
All for about 3400.00
It can not be beat.
Also investing in hand tools and hand mixers, etc.
I've been following these steps and moar for years. It's become a way of life. As this mess continues to be drawn out it's obvious that .gov is preparing too. If they ever lose control of the matrix it's going to be a bloody mess. My guess is that they are going to let us take each other out and by the time it's over with people will beg for and embrace the stormt trooper police state.
In fact, I think it is the plan.
I fear that americans will fall into the trap, not seeing the real reasons why things have unravelled.
A building without a foundation will not stand for long. Same goes for countries.
Agreed. If the shit hits the fan there going to be A LOT of unprepared peeps out there. If this is their plan, then those people will span out and take over house by house by house..with force. You better have a shitload of ammo & faith if you want to stand your ground anywhere near a city. When people get hungry, they will eat anything....did you get that? ANYTHING.
I'm thinking that there will be a lot of corpses to chow down on...
That's my worst fear here in SF, thugs going house to house searching for food.
I'm not a gun enthusiast, but I bought one and can use it.
Go east young man,I'm in the burbs and would willingly hook up with any decent people who have some preps.
you got it right doc.
I think the traitorous bastards are going to get more than they bargained for. People within their own ranks are just as sick of their shit as many of the posters here. Although a battle looms, good will prevail over evil.
>>>and by the time it's over with people will beg for and embrace the storm trooper police state.
Some may even try to emigrate to Quebec.
isn't that what Kissinger said? Something along the lines of the thought that people would embrace the UN troops after a period of lawlessness (paraphrase).
Yes. It is the plan.
"Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order [referring to the 1991 LA Riot]. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond [i.e., an "extraterrestrial" invasion], whether real or *promulgated* [emphasis mine], that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this *scenario*, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government."
Dr. Henry Kissinger, Bilderberger Conference, Evians, France, 1991
UN troops?
What UN troops?
You mean those silly, worthless creatures that drive big blue Jeeps around with blue berets or helmets in 3rd world shytholes all day?
That's just a raping force. Not a fighting force.
Prolly a bunch of commie pinko uni professors on sabattical, gettin' phd credits for "human service".
The site of blue berets & that stupid blue flag in my neighborhood will cause me to laugh, lock, & load - in that order.
Putin won this round, the US-EU sanctions are a joke. I'm confident the neo-cons will be back with another provocation, but not necessarily right away. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it will be. From Putin's speech on March 18:
"Obviously, we will encounter external opposition, but this is a decision that we need to make for ourselves. Are we ready to consistently defend our national interests, or will we forever give in, retreat to who knows where? Some Western politicians are already threatening us with not just sanctions but also the prospect of increasingly serious problems on the domestic front. I would like to know what it is they have in mind exactly: action by a fifth column, this disparate bunch of ‘national traitors’, or are they hoping to put us in a worsening social and economic situation so as to provoke public discontent? We consider such statements irresponsible and clearly aggressive in tone, and we will respond to them accordingly..."
Buy a semi automatic rifle and scads of ammo, lets face it your in America and surrounded by Americans. You may need to shoot it out with them.
You mean the shit heads from Walmart Black Friday.
Better than going Rwanda, machetes and all.....gruesome. Up close and personal.
Machetes...because you care to give a personal touch.
Let's face it. If the average American bought an automatic weapon and 1000 rounds of ammo they'd probably shoot themselves or worse, one of their own friends or family members. It takes a lot of training and practice to be proficient with a weapon just in the basic operational sense. Now add on riots, streetwise thugs and organized bands roaming around looking for easy targets. Yeah sure, dust off that Ak sitting in a closet and you're Rambo.
Miffed;-)
I'm supposed to hold the gun sideways, right?
Proper grip technique.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDnEkFSMRik
throw dem bullits fool
First saw that about a year ago and many times since...and it still almost brings me to tears laughing. "It's a program..."
Actually, yes, a little bit. Obviously using both hands ideal and the most stable way to shoot a handgun, but if you must use 1 hand for whatever reason, it is best to cock it inwards, towards the center of your body about 25-30 degrees, it activates more muscles in your forearm, which makes it more stable. So, yep a little side ways....
Being prepared is not about buying things, its about being prepared. The majority of those selling preparedness are simply selling to a market. People buying stuff that they have not a clue what to do with. Most like the idea of being prepared but actually doing the work is well...work. And while they want to feel prepared, they really don't want to think about it all that much. Just another excuse to buy crap.
SAY, where can I get those currently illegal automatic weapons?
You gotta know a guy who knows a guy.
You don't need them. Aim, then squeeze like it's a titty.
And as Dad told me long ago, don't point a gun at anything you don't intend to kill.
The ATF practically gives them away down South........
Ask Eric Holder.
haha, yep - fast and furious
Eric "the red" Holder sells illegal weapons. You just have to promise to take them to Mexico.
Forward (over the cliff)!
Hi Miffed - I love your comments here but in this case you're not completely right. An awful lot of people know exactly how to use a weapon in far more than an operational sense. Many of us have actually used weapons on people who were also shooting at us. Sharpens the mind considerably. So while weekend warriors might shoot themselves in the foot, there are plenty of people who would have zero problem killing one intruder per round. A thousand rounds is far more than any of these folks would need because the bodies would be stacked so deep after just a hundred or so that the rest of the diddy-boppers looking for cheap loot would just turn away. What would be more useful at that point would be a few gallons of highly inflammable liquid to start the barbeque - in my area we have plenty of wild hogs who would be happy to come in and finish cleaning up.
Americanspirit, you are certainly not the average American of whom I am speaking. Certainly not the warrior class in any sense! My thoughts were of a horrible local tragedy where a woman was faced with an intruder. She got her husband's loaded gun out of the nightstand drawer but couldn't bring herself to shoot the man. So she shot the wall to "scare him away". She ended up killing her mother. Of course this would never happen to a trained soldier.
I have trained with a 30year ex military man who specialized in firearm training. No way am I up to snuff for a home invasion. So I've got a laser sight on my xd40 and a Mossberg shot gun I can handle and hopefully my man,who is far more capable, will see us through. Really, how many people would keep on coming after the rack of a shotgun is heard? Only the truly stupid and that's just one more Darwin Award recipient.
Miffed;-)
For every tragic case like the one you just cited and, that the media likes to hype up, there are dozens of cases where people have either successfully dispatched of or scared away a perpetrator with a fire arm. Sure a citizen needs to be well versed with their fire arm, but I would rather have one than not in any scenario.
Absolutely,
This example was cited to me that in this scenario you shoot. And you shoot to kill. There is no "warning". I am well aware of the ridiculous spin the MSM puts on such cases as this and the effect on the average person. I am not such a person. If one cannot find it in themselves to do this, then it is best not to have a firearm in the first place.
Miffed;-)
I've been in two myself. It's not cool when it happens, but in both cases, they felt that maybe it was a good idea to leave me alone after all.
Thanks Miffed. My Daughters, who were well trained to shoot, by me, reached the same conclusion.
There is no other sound in the world quite like a shot gun shell being chambered..., and the home boys know what comes next.
Anybody who tries to break into my house is not going to hear the round being chambered. It will already be chambered. Should I decide not to shoot, their warning will be a good look at the muzzle. I don't want to take that extra second to chamber a round if I think my life might depend on the gun going BANG.
i can shoot a blue-winged teal coming in fast and low over the corn stalks and only visible for a few seconds with my Browning semi auto 3" mag. also can nail a torso target 100% at 35' left or right handed with my short-barreled .357 S&W. practice.
The problem is that you can't always pick your battlefield.How many rounds were fired to kill 1 VC in Vietnam ? What about if you're being attacked by several people and you need to use suppressing fire ? If you were in your house I would probably just torch it,won't end well for you.
Things don't burn that fast & if you're hanging around you'll get shot by police or you're in an area so bad you shouldn't expect to find anything worth robbing, unless it's drugs & that's what you're up to.
Most robbers won't come equipped to burn a place down if shot at and won't think do that if shot at.
I really doubt you'd do as you say or anyone would or we'd hear about that tactic more often.
I was shooting before I can remember how old I was. It isn't hard. If you can drive a car you can handle a gun, safely.
If the average American had a gun the average American would be more polite and patient.
Breathe
Relax
Aim
Stop
Squeeze
The only form of gun control I endorse.
Honestly I find this incomprehensible.
It's a tube with something in it and stuff around it.
The tube shoots bullets, the things in the tube, and you point it at the thing you shoot.
The other end is the handle and what loads more bullets.
This isn't rocket science so a person who shoots themselves... is incomprehensibly stupid to me.
You and me, bro. Tomorrow. OK Corral. High noon.
"How to" books would be a good additon too, such as old scouting books.
An iPad/ eReader may not function well after the battery is dead and there is no way to recharge it.
And don't forget TP.
How many can read? much less comprehend? This shit could go caveman in a blink.
well, that's a relief for this guy: so easy a...
"And don't forget the TP"
By that time there will be plenty of FRNs laying around for that.
You are a practical man doc. Too bad Barry doesn't have his mug on a FRN yet. It would be my favorite one to use.
True dat - the old "Foxfire" series will be worth their weight in platinum if the grid goes down.
when SHTF I'm taking over the nearest factory that makes toilet paper & keep it up and running.
Two brown thumbs..I would starve if it were not for the thousands of rounds stored away.
I'm confused by this. It would appear you either plan on taking something from people by force (which would seem to be the opposite of what most are talking about) or you would trade your rounds for what you need.
I'm hoping the second option.
Wild hogs, barter and self defense. If it comes to mobs in the streets, I still need to defend my stash of twinkies.
the biggest problem in the usa is the food distribution system. the more dependent you are upon an outside food source the more vulnerable you are to cannibalism as people get more desparate for food when even the dumps are empty. george will wrote a great column reminding us about the true nature of the microeconomic choices made in times of cold starvation. george was equating putin to stalin but the article is a bit of reality to help prepare for the worst case scenario.
sorry, i read a hard copy so there is no link.
Hedgeless Horseman said it best...disintermediation!
He's a living example. BTW, where's he been?
He choked to death on some organic collard greens........
But it sure looked delicious.
I keep this on my favorites to review every six months or so.
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Go long commodities, necessities, and all other goods and services.
Alrighty then.
Don't forget antibiotics.
Silver is a natural antiseptic. Colloidal.
Honey is too. It has many uses besides food.
I've judged many times at science fairs, and I cannot tell you how many times I've seen "The Effects of Colloidal Silver on Microbial..." projects.
You know what I call 1000 rounds?
A good start.
That's only a day at the range......
Get an air soft pistol and a BB gun and save your ammo. It has better than a thirty year shelf life.
I feel like he should have thrown in a little line at the end of the '1k rounds of ammo' paragraph about it probably being best to not buy your thousands of rounds of ammo off the Internet. Can't be too careful
I installed a large nat gas generator for my home but wonder how reliable that fuel source will be in a shit storm? I started to do LP but it uses about 12 gallons of propane an hour so the tank would very large. Anyone with knowledge of the nat gas pipelive grids?
I looked into that a while back. Seems there is no easy way for a prepper to store Natgas.
You can, however, have a propane tank installed on your property and the oil companies will come fill it up for you. This is quite common in many parts of the coutry, especially in rural areas. Many nat gas appliances can be refitted for propane. This seems to be the only real way a prepper can store large amounts of energy.
I was simply assuming that the gas grid was more stable than the electric grid, but I have no real knowledge of that. Propane would require massive tanks to be able to last more than a few days. I had considered buying a nat gas compressor to at least store for short periods the grid might be down, but those run into some pretty big money and I'm still dealing with tanks, and Nat gas is stored at much higher pressures so large tanks are right pricey. I had looked into wood gas as I have an endless supply of fire wood, but even though it is an old technology, there isn't much out there in pre-manufactured units. I gots to have my lectricity.
It really makes me laugh when prepper articles always suggest stocking up on rice and carbs. Humans require essential amino acids and fats. Carbs are nice as fillers to stretch out meals but veggies are better for vitamins, antioxidants and are far more nutritious. Rice and corn do provide calories but not nearly as much nutrition and have no staying power. We are a country that lives on simple carbs in abundance and the results aren't pretty.
Miffed;-)
A handful of 5-gallon buckets full of rice, wheat (berries not flour) and sugar will still be good in 2025 and beyond. Can't say the same for olives, avocados, arugala, et cetera. And yes, trees and gardens FTW.
Snails, frogs, squirrels, turtles, any living creature really. Heck, bugs. There's your aminos and fats. Sugar from corn, cane, maple, and beets. Edible fruits, vegetables, and nuts are all around. Everything you need has been provided. You just have to know where to look and be willing to eat.
And a knowledge of traditional / herbal medicine. Most medical drugs in use do come from plants that were used for thousand of years. Unfortunately, with the advent of "modern" medicine, people were encouraged to discard a huge body of knowledge that had been passed down through the ages.
You can buy large amounts of powdered protein at Costco. Muscle Milk, tastes great, tons of aminos for weight lifters and pretty cheap by volume.
The natives in my area did OK on corn, beans, squash and chile before europeans arrived. They'd add meat when they had it. I've taken that as my starting point, but IMO, variety, variety variety. Onions, garlic, brassicas, tomatoes (I can't eat them fresh, they make me sick, but sauces...) lettuce and spinach, beets and chard, potatoes ant turnips. Melons - I have some melon seeds that I'm going to try out this year that are all from varieties that were originally cultivated within 25 or 30 miles of where I am. Fruit too. It looks like I may not have my fruit trees get raped by a late frost this year. I can also get duck, goose, squirrel, rabbit, coyote, and various fish behind my house year round.
Start with the three sisters, corn, squash and beans.
Hugelkultur beds may help with frost, and is a great method beyond that.
Most prepper articles aren't very serious. This one was fairly decent. I'd much rather have a list of things to do rather than a list of x number of reasons why we're doomed.
Serious preppers know to start with beans and rice. That covers the basics for the least amount of money. Then add canned goods (veggies, fruits, and meats), peanut butter, and (if you can afford it) freeze dried foods which come in all varieties.
Every household is different, so every prep plan will be different. It would be nice if people would at least do SOMETHING.
Carbs works for me. I need protein but eating fat makes be vomit and eating only protein without enough carbs makes me get horrible heart-burn and feel run down, low blood sugar. It's carbs that your body will turn into energy, if it has to resort to stripping energy from proteins you could get kidney trouble, like over time, kidney failure.
Rice, noodles, freeze-dried potatoes, that works for me for longer term cab storage.
Buy my cookbook, To Serve Mankind.
Chianti and fava beans?
I'm thinking more along the lines of alien space wine...
The United States of America has everything it needs to survive. If the globaliss were thrown out of the country or arrested and prosecuted we as a nation would do quite fine no matter what happens elsewhere.
Tar and feather the oligarchs. Take their shit.
Sooooooooo 2008. What was the shelf life again?
2-3000 calories may seem like a lot for daily consumption, especially if you're carrying some extra poundage but once that is gone and manual labor becomes a major part of your existence you'll be surprised how much you can consume and still look emaciated.
Yes, spend a week in the woods hiking with a backpack and you'll see quickly that 3000 calories is a good morning (and who takes that with them? After the week you can get pretty tired.). Spend time cutting wood with an axe and you'll see pretty quickly that lumberjacks ate pretty similar to the athletes today with their 10,000 calories.
C. How about cutting (gutting) fucking FEDGOV by about 80%?
No one thinks of the obvious solution to this "problem".
.