Archive for March, 2009
Urban survival tips for men
Just a few tips to help the average male survive in the urban jungle.
When the garbage gets full, take it out. This does not mean stomp on the top of the trash, to try to get another beer can in.
Since the topic of beer was brought up, lay off a little bit so your beer belly will go down.
Help take care of the yard.
Take your dirty clothes to the wash room.
Rinse your plate off and put it into the dish washer.
If your wife mentions having her nails painted, offer to do it for her. Whether if you really want to or not, its the thought that counts. And if you mess up, there is always fingernail polish remover.
Buy your wife something at least once a month. And do not try to get off cheap.
Help with the dishes.
Help with the kids.
Spend time with the family.
A little patience goes a long way.
Listen to your wife / girlfriend and pay attention when she speaks.
A lesson from the Black Death
A few months ago as I was reading a non-fiction book on the Black Death. There was an interesting story of a family that was out of food and staving. The family members decided they had a choice to make – either try to get some food from town, or stay at home and starve to death.
The family gathered all of the money that they had, the father and son then headed off on their journey.
On the way to town, the father decided to stop by his cousins house. Upon arrival, the cousin was sick with the plague, her husband was dead, but the cousins baby was well. The cousin – knowing that she was dying – begged her cousin (the father) to take her baby with him – which he did.
The father and son decided to turn around and go back home, instead of going on to town. Right before the trio got home, the father and son killed the baby, skinned it and cut it up into small pieces. The father then presented the butchered baby to his unsuspecting wife, along with the story of how his cousin had butchered a hog and gave them part of the meat.
The wife cooked the baby and served it to the family.
About 10 days later all of the family were dead from the plague, except the son. Who went to town and confessed to the sheriff as to what he and his father had done to the baby.
Now ask yourself, how bad would things have to get before “you” resorted to such measures to survive?
Are you and your family prepared for self sufficiency over long periods of time? In other words, if there were no grocery stores, how long until you and your family starve?
Eversafe Meals
Eversafe meals are kinda like a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE), but are a little different. The meals are packaged in a see through package, so the contents are visible. This is unlike a standard military issue MRE, where the package is not see through.
The meals are packed inside of a study cardboard box. The straps that help hold the box closed can also be used as grab handles.
On the top of the box it says – “Two meals, per person per day.”
Food supply chains
During outbreaks of the plague in Europe, there was one major problem that faced the rich and poor alike – and that was the availability of food.
The more moving parts a machine has, the more likely it is to break. The supply lines that feed the world are fragile. Before the crops are ever planted, there is fertilizer that has to be made, seeds harvested from the previous year and both of those sent to the farmers. The farmers then spread the fertilizer, plant the seeds, apply water and hope for the best.
In some parts of the world, crops are only grown because modern technology allows them to. Examples of this are water pipelines and irrigation systems that span hundreds of miles. It is only with water that crops can be grown.
Before the first sprout ever breaks through the soil, there are already several “moving parts” or factors. Some of these factors include:
Seed supplies
Manufacturing of fertilizer – either organic or commercial.
Transportation of seeds and fertilizer to the farmer.
Water – either through rain or irrigation.
Pesticides and / or herbicides
Harvesting the crops.
Transporting the crops to either market or to a commercial processing plant.
Processing of food into canned goods.
Transportation from manufacturing to warehouses.
Transportation from warehouses to stores or other outlets.
Urban Survival Tips
When the term “Urban Survival” is discussed, thoughts of MREs stacked to the ceiling, closets filled with cases of bottled water, tons of dried beans and rice piled up in every corner of the house – those kinds of thoughts come to mind. The fact is, there is more to urban survival then just stockpiling food and water. There are several factors that should be considered, such as food production, water, money, disease and infection control.
A small home garden can produce a lot of food. When people get into gardening, they often have so much food they are having to give it away. Home gardens can supply a typical family with a food source if a disaster were to strike.
Most urbanites depend on city water as their only source of fresh water. This is also a weakness in the plans of a survivalist. Alternative water sources should be found and plans should be in place on how to use those sources of water. Examples of this include – lakes, streams, ponds, swimming pools, rain collection, rain water run off, ditches, canals,,,, only to name a few. If water from these sources is to be used, there most be a plan in place on how to purify the water to make it safe for human consumption. It does no good to drink the water, only for it to be full of bacteria and viruses.
Are you ready for the depression?
The depression is just around the corner, are you and your family ready? The news reporters are trying not to use the word “depression”, probably out of fear of the panic that will follow.
IMF predicts a global recession
The banking system, along with the US State and Federal governments have been the number one cause of this problem.
The banks started writing flexible mortgage rate loans – knowing that people would not be able to pay the notes. But for some reason the people just played along with the scams. Untold millions of families have lost their homes and driven into bankruptcy because of the greed of bankers. The blame can not be placed solely on the bankers – the people HAVE to take part of the blame.
The State and Federal government have allowed millions of US jobs to be shipped over seas. This is only at the benefit of the companies that are using cheap labor. Since millions of people are out of work, less money is spent, in turn less tax dollars are brought in.
There is nothing “free” about “free trade” – someone pays the price.
The State and Federal government has also continued to take care of millions of illegal immigrants. Untold millions of dollars are spent on the health and welfare of trespassers, when we can not even take care of our own.
A few weeks ago news was coming out of California that the sate was going to be hit with a money shortage. The first thing that came to mind was – “how much money could be saved by taking the illegals off the social services programs?” An illegal immigrant has no right to anything, expect to be arrested and sent back home.
Every 3 months Exxon reports record profits, and then the people wonder why gas and food is so expensive.
Human stupidity and greed have prevailed, and as a result, the depression is right around the corner.
Its time to get the plans in order.
MRE Videos
Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) are an effective portable food solution. One meal is more then enough food for an average adult – who usually has some left overs. The outer pouch is tough and durable.
2009 food prices
An article posted on MSN should be great concern to everyone that eats some kind of food.
Nothing but worse for Texas drought
According to that article, 97% of Texas is in a drought. Some people might be saying “so what?” Well, there is a lot to be worried about. Texas is the 2nd largest agricultural state in the nation. Everything from beef to zucchini is grown in Texas. That means, if Texas has a bad drought, and crops fail, the price of food goes up nation wide – maybe even on a global scale.
With so many people out of work, high food prices is the one thing we do not need right now.
The concern should not only on on Texas, but other states and nations. If the crops from one state fails, the markets will have some degree of flexibility. But, if crops fail in several states, or, if the crops fail in several nations fail across the world, things could get bad.
This is the kind of stuff that can cause panic buying. Whether there is actually a food shortage or not, really does not really matter. There will be people out there that go into a buying frenzy at the slightest mention of “shortage”. The panic buying, coupled with a slight food shortage can equal a moderate to large major food shortage.
If your concerned about the future price of food, consider planting a home garden.
On a personal note, I am not too worried about the food supply, I am more worried about the panic buying like what happened in the summer of 2008. Some large discount stores had to limit the amount of beans and rice that people could buy. Mainly because of people buying 100 – 200 pounds of rice at a time. There was a small shortage that turned into a moderate shortage and nation wide panic – partially due to crop failure and partially due to panic buying on a massive scale.
While driving around East Texas, it looks like more fields are being plowed this year, as compared to 2008. Hopefully more families will be planting a garden this year.
Trained civil obedience
From the time a child starts school they are trained in civil obedience. The teachers tell the children to “sit down and shut up!” – “No Talking!” – “This is the way it is” – “Do not question authority”,,, and the list goes on and on. This is also true with political education.
Instead of teaching “real government”, schools teach the children that there is a 2 party political system. That the children must vote for one of the two major parties.
When the children are trained from an early age to “obey” – something is wrong.
Independent thought is discouraged and frowned upon.
Children are taught to “obey” and not question authority.
There is several words that describe blind obedience, – brain washing and slavery are the first two that come to mind.
So, you teachers out there, why dont you “teach” our children. Teach them to “think” instead of to “obey”.
If this nation wants real political change its going to require 2 things:
1. Real freedom of the press
2. An educated voting populace.
Children that are taught to “sit down, shut up and obey” can not think for themselves when they grow up. If people can not think for themselves, they turn into Obama Zombies.
Utilize available resources
Survivalism can be defined as utilizing available resources to achieve a desired goal. Whether this is a lake, pond, garden, hunting, fishing or anything else – the goal is to get through a situation with the least amount of effort.
Resources such as lakes and ponds can be a good source of water and food. Its important that a survivalist have knowledge of “where” these resources are at before a disaster strikes.