Monthly Archives: December 2012

December 10th, 2012
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The G.O.O.D Survival Manuals: Every Family Should Have One

You may be ready to hunker down and go into survival mode.  But what will happen if something happens to you?  Are your children and dependents as prepared as you are?   Having everyone involved in the preparedness stage is a good way to begin educating the family on their responsibilities in case an emergency arises.  That way, in an emergency state things are calmer, safer and action is ready to be taken.  Anytime a child is asking a question on safety or preparedness – that is the best time to sit down and talk to them.

Don’t G.O.O.D (Get Out Of Dodge) Without This

A well, organized survivalist should not only have emergency plans and food provisions in place, but also a well-organized preparedness manual for the family or group that has all the information needed in case something goes awry.  Think of having a personalized information system at your beck and call.  Prepare for the worst.  There may come a time when the only access to information will be what is in your home.  I began thinking a few days ago, that if something happened to  my husband or I, how would my kids know what to do?  What information would they need to thrive?  I realized that they need a structured information manual listing responsibilities and important information.  This is not only good for kids, but also a very good resource to turn to for adults that has all the information organized and ready at your disposal.

An Emergency Manual can be created to your taste and your liking.  All you need is some time and a few things to get started:

  • Three Ring Binder (the larger the better)
  • Dividers
  • Printer Paper
  • Highlighter Pen (optional)
  • Printed Out Information
  • Pens

Gather Information for the Manual

  • Medical Information On All Family Members – Complete emergency medical information including immunization records, blood type, previous injuries, food or medical allergies can be very useful in case of an emergency.  You do not want to waste time running around looking for this information.  Have an “Additional Notes” section at the back of the section for later use.
  • Contact Information For Next of Kin – Make sure the family knows who is next of kin and how to get in contact with them.
  • Emergency Plans – It’s good to have an emergency plan in place and written down that anyone can turn to for direction.  Emergencies come at the drop of a hat and can cause confusion for those that do not have a well-defined emergency plan, backup plan or evac plan.  All plans and details should be included in this section.  Additionally, emergency routes to be taken should be placed in this section as well as maps that would be used.
  •  Complete Inventory List of Supplies – A supply/inventory list is a crucial item that everyone should have on hand.   Itemized food, water rations, medical supplies, seeds, home canning equipment, books, etc should be included.
  • What To Do In The Case Of A Medical Emergency – Think of low priority injuries such as sprained ankles, colds, poison ivy, etc and move on to high priority injuries such as broken bones, heart attack or stroke.  This section is for you  that have on hand and use as a quick referral.  All family members must know where to find this information.  I have a first aid book with illustrations for this section.  Anything the family can look at to get direction.
  • Survival Information– finding food, preserving food, purifying water, food storage, gardening, etc.  Any information that you have found of use, put in down in this section.  It is the basic How-To-Live section.
  • Family Notes Section – This section should be used to organize and store important family information such as personal documents, financial information, insurance information, informative notes and listing responsibilities for each family member.  How will they help out?  Why is it important for them to contribute?
  • Inspirational Messages To Keep The Faith – This is an important section to refer to when things start getting harder and children start asking lots of hard questions.  This also teaches them the importance of positive thinking and holding onto their faiths.  Reassurance is very important when it comes to cheering children up.  Find bible verses, songs, poems or write them a letter letting them know why they are so special and how much you mean to them.
  • Happy Section – Include of few favorite family stories (birth, funny moments, Holiday stories), a small family scrap book, favorite song lyrics, etc.  This takes the entire family back to a simpler, less chaotic time.  Not to mention a good way to spend some family time together cherishing old memories.
  • Favorite Recipes – This is an instant morale booster.  Having their favorite recipes on hand will cheer them up.  If they are old enough, they can make these foods themselves to keep their minds off of negative thoughts.
  • Miscellaneous – This is always a fallback section to use for organizing information for later use.

 The Benefit

Being fully prepared can take time and money to invest in goods.  Having an emergency preparedness manual is the next step to fully preparing your family for an emergency.  The time it takes to prepare a manual is not long or very inexpensive.  At this very moment you are already investing your time into reading what you should do to prepare.  Starting your manual is as easy as clicking the print button to print this article.  Keep this manual outline on hand while preparing your family’s manual.  The benefit is everyone will be fully prepared and have a complete knowledge base on what is necessary to thrive as a family.  If the SHTF you have an entire manual with information that you found and feel is relevant to your family.

Via: readynutrition

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December 9th, 2012
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Essential Footwear

Surviving the harsh elements of nature is a hard thing to do.  Surviving the harsh elements of nature without a good pair of shoes is next to impossible.   Waterproof boots will protect your feet from the natural elements (water, heat, cold, snow, etc).  Hiking boots are designed to give your feet the necessary support they need to help you move, stay aligned with your body, and protect you from weather elements.

Boots Are Made For Walkin’

Boots that have flexible soles and deep tread are the best type of shoes to have as far as walking/hiking in nature go.  There is much debate on whether to purchase all leather boots that are fairly heavier or light weight hiking boots.  Several studies have shown that wearing one extra pound on your feet takes as much energy as carrying five or six pounds in a backpack.  Keep in mind of the terrain of the location you will be in to make the right decision of the type of footwear that should be purchased.  There are many reviews of hiking boots to determine what is the best choice.

Worn out boots that have not been tended to can do an insurmountable amount of damage on the feet.  In James Wesley, Rawles book The Patriot, the character Doug was wandering around in the harsh extremities of nature with worn down boots that were falling apart at the seams.  After walking a very long  journey, he made it back to his home and dug up a cache that he had buried way before the collapse of the country and found a spare pair of combat boots.  In all of the items that were in the cache (coins, batteries, face paint, soap, vitamins, food, etc), he was most thankful for putting in a spare pair of boots.

Points to Find the Best Boots For You:

  • Select boots that are designed to provide the support and protection you will need for the most difficult terrain you expect to encounter.
  • Choose boots that are designed to support the load you expect to be carrying.   The heavier your load, the more support you will need.
  • Remember that hiking boots do not have to weigh a great deal.
  • Consider the various advantages of fabric-and-leather boots and all-leather boots. Fabric-and-leather boots are lighter and easier to break in, but all-leather boots offer added protection and durability in rigorous terrain, as well as being water resistant and breathable.
  • Top-quality hiking boots, are made with a Gore-Tex® lining that keeps water out while allowing perspiration to escape.

Source – www.llbean.com

R.E.I’s website has some further tips to think about when choosing the right pair of boots.

Take Care of Your Boots, and Your Boots Take Care of You

Many backpackers and soldiers carry nylon gaitors to protect their boots from water when walking through wet areas.  There are ways to winterize the boots to keep them protected from the elements.  Carrying an extra pair of laces would be a good thing to keep in mind as well.  As laces seem to weaken and break well before the footwear does.

Not only is it important to have undamaged shoes to protect the feet, but have an appropriate fitting shoes as well.  There are stories of children who grew up during the time of the Depression and did not have good shoes to wear.  In a personal Depression example, my grandmother wore shoes made from tires that her father made.  They did not fit, but she did not complain as she was thankful just for having those.  She wore tight fitting shoes for years that did a number on her feet.  As a result, she had to have countless surgeries to help her hammer toes.  Her feet are now deformed as a result of wearing tight fitting shoes.  This is a prime example of why good footwear is important.

When preparing to buy footwear for children, footwear can be purchased on clearance two sizes larger than what they wear.  Then buy another pair of shoes that are two sizes too big.  By using this method, if there is more than one child, shoes can be passed on.  Worn out treads, cracked leather, and rotten stitching can create ways for nature to seep into your shoes.  It is important to take care of your footwear.  In the Special Forces Survival Guide, the Royal Marines have a tip for caring for boots:

Stuff wet boots with newspapers and dry them in a warm, airy place, though not in direct hear, which will bake and then crack the leather.  In winter, rub silicone or wax over the laces to stop them from freezing when they get wet.

Nothing can end a great outdoor experience faster than painful blisters, pinched toes or even injuries caused by inappropriate hiking boots.  By taking care of your shoes, you are essentially taking care of yourself.  Investing in a good pair of waterproof boots is a lasting investment.

Via: readynutrition

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December 8th, 2012
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Emergency Clothing

Essential clothing for a disaster supply is a commonly overlooked area of prepping.  If a person does not have the proper clothing that is suitable for the terrain they are in, then harsh elements such as rain, cold, and snow can cause catastrophic effects.  Preparation for an emergency means having the right tools and clothing to meet any emergency situation.  Let this article serve as a basic guideline on some of the principles to keep in mind when researching what type of clothing will be needed if a disastrous incident breaks out.

The Layer Principle

According to the Special Forces Survival Guide, the Layer Principle offers the absolute best protection and flexibility for all types of climates.  The idea of layering clothing creates the best type of insulation in the form of still air.  The still air is trapped between layers of clothing.  The more layers that are worn, the greater the insulating effect.  Taking off layers of clothes serves as temperature control.

It is important to note that when preparing for cold weather, all of the body extremities should be well protected and maximum warmth is derived from multiple layers.  Water-proofing is as critical as warmth.

Source – Special Forces Survival Guide

It is important to note that overheating can be as much of a problem as being cold.  If you sweat when it is cold, the body chills when you stop sweating and your sweat-soaked clothing will act as a conductor to draw away body heat into the air.  Steps must be taken to prevent this.

Proper Layering Techniques

  • Thermal underwear should be worn close against the skin.
  • A woolen or wool mixture shirt should be worn over the thermal underwear.
  • On top of this layer should be a woolen or good woven fiber sweater or jacket (woven fiber tends to be better because it is warmer and more windproof).
  • A jacket filled with synthetic fiber should be worn over the last layer.  The Special Forces Guide advises not to wear a down jacket as it tends to lose its insulating properties when it gets wet.
  • The final layer must be windproof and waterproof.  This jacket is the outer shell of the thermal protection gear.  It should also be made of a “breathable” fabric such as Goretex, which allows sweat to evaporate through the fabric into the atmosphere while as the same time stops rain and water from getting in.  These last two layers can be combined into a single jacket.
  • Make sure that a durable hat is worn to insulate the heat given off by your head.  The Special Forces Survival Guide estimates that between 40 and 50% of heat loss from the body in some conditions can occur through the head.  Therefore, having proper head gear is essential to maintaining proper body heat.  Preferably the hat should be a  nylon shell with ear flaps that can snap down. A brim on the hat would help keep snow out of the eyes.

When preparing clothing for an emergency situation, bug out bag (B.O.B), or SHTF scenario, comfortable, non-restricting clothing should be chosen.  Keep in mind that you are preparing for any given situation.  Just because you have a warm home, or shelter does not mean that the shelter will always be there.  If there is a situation where you are left to walk in the harsh elements of nature, you must prepare for that.

Footwear

Good footwear has everything to do with survival.  A good pair of waterproof boots will protect your feet from the natural elements (water, heat, cold, snow, etc).  Boots that have flexible soles and deep tread are the best type of shoes to have as far as walking/hiking in nature go.  There is much debate on whether to purchase all leather boots that are fairly heavier or light weight hiking boots.  Several studies have shown that wearing one extra pound on your feet takes as much energy as carrying five or six pounds in a backpack.  Keep in mind of the terrain of the location you will be in to make the right decision of the type of footwear that should be purchased.  There are many reviews of hiking boots to determine what is the best choice.

Socks

Socks are vital in keeping the feet warm and free of moisture.  Without a good pair of socks, the feet are susceptible to not only natural extremities, but also susceptible to blistering and other injuries to your feet.  Socks should be matched to the intended type of weather condition and the type of walking will be done.  Whether a person wears multiple pairs of thin layered socks or wears two thick pairs, it is entirely up to the person’s preferences.  But carrying multiple pairs in your backpack or B.O.B. is a good idea.  If one gets worn out, or wet, then there are extras on hand. Try and keep socks as clean and moisture free as possible to prevent fungal infections and other unwanted podiatry ailments.   Always plan and prepare for the worst. 

What Type of Sock Should Be Purchased

Like a shoe or boot, your hiking socks should be matched to the type of activity a person will be doing.  According to www.hiking-gear-and-equipment-used-for-camping.com, there are things to keep in mind when choosing a good pair of socks.

  • Blood Flow – Good blood flow through the feet must be maintained.  A decrease or cut-off in blood flow can be caused by unyielding fabrics in hiking socks. Acrylics in combination with other fibers and a terry weave can help with this and shear.
  • Moisture– With exertion one foot can sweat 1-2 pints of vapor/fluid per day. That’s why wicking technology in hiking socks is so important. Without it bacteria and fungus can become a problem.
  • Position – If your hiking socks don’t help to maintain correct anatomical alignment this can cause premature fatigue. Correct posture also helps to correctly position your foot in your boot or shoe to make it feel like it’s an extension of your body.
  • Pressure Areas – Pressure can cause discomfort and lead to damage if it’s not addressed. A good example of this is a bedsore. Most people hopefully won’t experience pressure to this degree, but it’s something you want to keep in mind when looking at hiking socks. Padding is especially important around bony areas like the heal and ball of the foot.
  • Shearing Force – This happens when your tissue is moving in opposite directions, like when jumping over a stream, or descending a steep slope. Part of your skin is moving one way and the tissue under it another, this causes a tearing action just under the surface of the skin. This is the most common way of getting blisters.
  • Temperature – Good hiking socks need to be appropriate for their intended use, from a warm weather day hike to a week-long mountaineering trip.
  • Liners– Thin socks called liners are made to be worn under your hiking socks next to your skin so they can wick the moisture away and keep your feet dry. They also can help prevent chafing and increase warmth by wicking when used under heavier hiking socks.

Invest in a good pair of socks,  it’s worth every penny spent.

Gloves

The layering principle also works with gloves.  According to the Special Forces Survival Guide, mittens are better for heat retention.  Putting a thin pair of gloves under the mittens helps maintain heat if the mittens need to be removed to grab something.  There are also waterproof winter gloves available that have built in pockets to put a heating pack in to also maintain good body heat.  However, if a person is going outside to work, then they would need leather gloves or an insulated synthetic pair that is durable.  A pair of leather gloves can also be “winterized” with SnowSeal, paraffin or seal oil to protect the leather.

Outer Clothes

When outdoors, it is recommended to wear lightweight, quick drying, windproof pants.  Synthetic/cotton gabardine weaves are the best.  These type of pants also have multiple pockets with zippers that are handy for carrying extra items.  There are also pants that convert into shorts for an all-weather type of clothing.  However, keeping the extremities warm is the point to keep in mind.

If possible, try to avoid wearing cotton clothing.  Tight cotton clothing that gets wet has a tendancy to hold the water next to the skin which can drop the body temperature as a very alarming rate.  Wool clothing is naturally durable as well as a natural thermostatic insulator that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Wool naturally repels water and has the unique property of keeping the body warm even if it gets wet.

In the book, The Patriots, Rawles discusses the importance of having the same type of clothes per group as it makes your group more easily identifiable to each other in the case of unwanted visitors.  Wearing BDUs is a sturdy outfit that is equipped with handy pockets as well as camouflages into a natural background.  Coveralls and overalls are another suggestion of clothing to wear.  This would especially be good to dress children in as they tend to need more growing room than adults.

Undergarments

Never underestimate the relief of a clean pair of underwear when you have not had clean underwear for sometime.   Having clean underwear is also essential to good hygeine.  Buy an extra pack of underwear for your B.O.B as well as some for your long term survival supply.  For kids, buy some packs of underwear that are a few sizes too big so they can grow into it.

The C.O.L.D.E.R Principle

Creating a thermal protection system is essential in surviving in the open terrain.  If a person does not protect themselves against the natural elements, then injury and possibly death could ensue.  Having the proper attire to survive can be an investment, but a necessary one.  Find reviews online to see what type of clothing is the most durable, long lasting and best suited for the area you will be living in.  The U.S. Air Force has an acronym that helps them remember the principles of survival clothing:

C – Keep clothing clean.

O – Avoid overheating.

L – Wear clothing loose and in layers.

D – Keep clothing dry.

E – Examine clothing for defects in wear.

R – Keep clothing repaired.

Source – Special Forces Survivor Guide

When you are preparing, you are preparing to survive in any given situation.  Even if the SHTF scenario does not happen.  What happens if your electricity and heat in your home are affected by a bad snow storm and the heat gets turned off for a week?  You and your family must have the appropriate clothing on hand to survive until the heat is turned back on.  Having the necessary clothing packed will keep you prepared and ready to act swiftly in the case of an unplanned emergency arises.

The Special Forces Survival Guide: Wilderness Survival Skills From The World’s Most Elite Military Units is a huge survival resource that should be in any prepper’s library.  This learning tool teaches essential survival skills to stay alive in extreme conditions, harsh terrain and gives examples of what to do in life threatening emergencies.  This book is the first book I purchased for my Preparedness library and I constantly look upon on for advice.

Via: readynutrition

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December 7th, 2012
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Disaster: It’s Not a Case of If, But When

How we choose to be prepared for a disaster event is entirely up to us.  Disaster preparation is entirely our responsibility, and no one elses.  But, when a disaster does occur, be it man made or by natural elements, the time to act is short.  And a well prepared person has a better chance at surviving than an unprepared person.  Planing your supplies, medical supplies, food and water needs ahead of time will keep the “panic” mode from coming on full force.  With all these elements in place, you can concentrate on other tasks at hand.  Always remember: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

In some cases, such as in Hurricane Katrina, civilians were left to fend for themselves.  They had no access to medical attention, civil unrest went through the roof, and some died of starvation, dehydration or infection from sustained injuries.  You must plan for all of these elements.  Keep in mind it could possibly be for long term, not just short term survival.  Planning ahead is the key, but staying calm and finding the best case scenario is ideal.   The goal is to get into action.

Disasters happen all the time.  Stay calm. 

If you do not have a plan of action already in place, find a safe place for you to go to calm down and begin thinking of a strategy.  Begin to think about your choices of action, and the most logical scenario. 

A Blueprint for Survival: Make a Plan

A Decisive Plan of Action should take into account the pros and cons of any given situation.  Be objective.  Your main priorities are shelter, fire, and water/food.   What is an alternate plan?  Always have Plan A, B and C.  And stay focused at the task at hand.  Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your plan:

If you are in a situation where you have the opportunity to stay where you are and bunker down:

  • Keep your main priorities in line (shelter, fire, water/food).
  • Can you sustain until emergency responders can find you?
  • If you need to leave your home, what is your alternate plan? 

If you are in a situation where you should leave:

  •  Do you have a reliable form of transportation?
  •  Have you properly mapped out your route? 
  •  Do you have extra gas stored?
  • Can you sleep in the car? 
  • Can you protect yourself from possible dangers or bad weather elements?
  •  Do you have an escape route?

If you have no transportation and realize that walking is the only option for you:

  •  What is your route you will take? 
  •  How long will you walk each day? 
  • Where will you sleep? 
  • Do you have a method of signaling in case of emergency?   
  • Do you realize that you will need extra food to compensate for the extra energy you will need to walk?
  •  Are you properly dressed? 
  • If you follow the main highway system out of town, there could be a lot of trouble that could meet you.  Can you defend yourself? 
  • Do you have an escape route?
  • How long are you prepared for?  Do you have preparations for medical emergencies?

Budgeting For Supplies

Preparing is not as costly as everyone believes it to be.  Purchasing dehydrated food to use at a later time (up to 10 years) is very economical and can be budget friendly.  Think of the many uses one can use dehydrated peanut butter or dehydrated cheese.  This author found a 326 item  first aid kit on Amazon  for $32.99.  Also, we found a blog by Hillbilly Housewife who created a simple week supply of food, that only cost $45.

Prepare Mentally and Spiritually

A little seed of hope can go a long way.  Finding faith in hard times can be compared to walking through a desert and finding water.  It can save your life, and give you the endurance to carry on.  In the midst of disappointment and frustration, faith and hope can keep your positive momentum going.  Concentrate on all that is good and positive.  I have often told my friends, “Don’t count your problems, count your blessings.”  Concentrate on anything that could give you hope.  

Via: readynutrition

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December 6th, 2012
post by policysup | | 2

Basic Food Storage Cookbook

Great news for those of you who would like access to a .pdf version of the “Basic Food Storage Cookbook,” South Jordan Utah River Stake, 2003.

IT’S READY!
(Many thanks to my mom who offered to scan the cookbook and my brother who converted her scans to a .pdf file which you can read with Acrobat Reader! And thanks again to the South Jordan Utah River Stake for sharing!)

“BASIC FOOD STORAGE COOKBOOK – Recipes, Ideas, Tips, and Information,” South Jordan Utah River Stake, 2003 – .pdf

(Clicking this link will take you to a website where you can download it.)

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December 5th, 2012
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Scientific Reasons a Zombie Apocalypse Could Actually Happen

We found out recently that if you try to leave a little kid in a graveyard late at night, he’ll freak out.

Even if you offer to leave him a gun to protect himself. Why? It’s because on some instinctual level, all humans know it’s just a matter of time until the zombies show up.

Our culture is full of tales of the undead walking the Earth, from our religions to our comic books. But, some sort of zombie apocalypse isn’t actually possible, right?

Right?

Guys?

Actually, yes. It’s quite possible. Here’s five ways it could happen, according to science.

#5.

Brain Parasites

As seen in …
Resident Evil IV

What are they?
Parasites that turn victims into mindless, zombie-like slaves are fairly common in nature. There’s one called toxoplasmosa gondii that seems to devote its entire existence to being terrifying.

This bug infects rats, but can only breed inside the intestines of a cat. The parasite knows it needs to get the rat inside the cat (yes, we realize this sounds like the beginning of the most fucked-up Dr. Seuss poem ever) so the parasite takes over the rat’s freaking brain, and intentionally makes it scurry toward where the cats hang out. The rat is being programmed to get itself eaten, and it doesn’t even know.

Of course, those are just rats, right?

How it can result in zombies:
Hey, did we mention that half the human population on Earth is infected with toxoplasmosa, and don’t know it? Hey, maybe you’re one of them. Flip a coin.

Oh, also, they’ve done studies and shown that the infected see a change in their personality and have a higher chance of going insane.

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
Humans and rats aren’t all that different; that’s why they use them to test our drugs. All it takes is a more evolved version of toxoplasmosa, one that could to do us what it does to the rats. So, imagine if half the world suddenly had no instinct for self-preservation or rational thought. Even less than they do now, we mean.

If you’re comforting yourself with the thought that it may take forever for such a parasite to evolve, you’re forgetting about all the biological weapons programs around the world, intentionally weaponizing such bugs. You’ve got to wonder if the lab workers don’t carry out their work under the unwitting command of the toxoplasmosa gondii already in their brains. If you don’t want to sleep at night, that is.

You may be protesting that technically these people have never been dead and thus don’t fit the dictionary definition of “zombies,” but we can assure you that the distinction won’t matter a whole lot once these groaning hordes are clawing their way through your windows.

#4.

Neurotoxins

As seen in …
The movie The Serpent and the Rainbow and Resident Evil 5 video game.

What are they?
There are certain kinds of poisons that slow your bodily functions to the point that you’ll be considered dead, even to a doctor (okay, maybe not to a good doctor). The poison from fugu (Japanese blowfish) can do this.

The victims can then be brought back under the effects of a drug like datura stramonium (or other chemicals called alkaloids) that leave them in a trance-like state with no memory, but still able to perform simple tasks like eating, sleeping, moaning and shambling around with their arms outstretched.

How it can result in zombies:
“Can?” How about “does.”

This stuff has happened in Haiti; that’s where the word “zombie” comes from. There are books about it, the most famous ones by Dr. Wade Davis (Passage of Darkness and The Serpent and the Rainbow). Yes, the movie The Serpent and the Rainbow was based on this guy’s actual science stuff. How much of it was fact? Well, there was that one scene where they strapped the guy naked to a chair and drove a huge spike through his balls. We’re hoping that part wasn’t true.

What is definitely true is the story of Clairvius Narcisse. He was a Haitian guy who was declared dead by two doctors and buried in 1962. They found him wandering around the village 18 years later. It turned out the local voodoo priests had been using naturally occurring chemicals to basically zombify people and putting them to work on the sugar plantations (no, really).

So, the next time you’re pouring a little packet of sugar into your coffee, remember that it may have been handled by a zombie at some point.

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
On the one hand, it’s already fucking happened! So that earns it some street cred right off the bat. But, even if some evil genius intentionally distributed alkaloid toxins to a population to turn them into a shambling, mindless horde, there is no way to make these zombies aggressive or cannibalistic.

Yet.

#3.

The Real Rage Virus

As seen in …
28 Days Later

What is it?
In the movie, it was a virus that turned human beings into mindless killing machines. In real life, we have a series of brain disorders that do the same thing. They were never contagious, of course. Then, Mad Cow Disease came along. It attacks the cow’s spinal cord and brain, turning it into a stumbling, mindless attack cow.

And, when humans eat the meat …

How it can result in zombies:
When Mad Cow gets in humans, they call it Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Check out the symptoms:

  • Changes in gait (walking)
  • Hallucinations
  • Lack of coordination (for example, stumbling and falling)
  • Muscle twitching
  • Myoclonic jerks or seizures
  • Rapidly developing delirium or dementia

Sure, the disease is rare (though maybe not as rare as we think) and the afflicted aren’t known to chase after people in murderous mobs. Yet.

But, it proves widespread brain infections of the Rage variety are just a matter of waiting for the right disease to come along.

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
If the whole sudden, mindless violence idea seems far-fetched, remember that you are just one brain chemical (serotonin) away from turning into a mindless killing machine (they’ve tested it by putting rats in Deathmatch-style cages and watching them turn on each other). All it would take is a disease that destroys the brain’s ability to absorb that one chemical and suddenly it’s a real-world 28 Days Later.

So, imagine such an evolved disease, which we’ll call Super Mad Cow (or, Madder Cow) getting a foothold through the food supply. Say this disease spreads through blood-on-blood contact, or saliva-on-blood contact. Now you have a Rage-type virus that can be transmitted with a bite.

Just like the movie. With one bite, you’re suddenly the worst kind of zombie:

A fast zombie.

#2.

Neurogenesis

As seen in …
Laboratories around the world.

What is it?
You know all that controversy out there about stem cell research? Well, the whole thing with stem cells is that they can basically be used to re-generate dead cells. Particularly of interest to zombologists like ourselves is neurogenesis, the method by which they can re-grow dead brain tissue.

You can see where this is going.

How it can result in zombies:
You wanted the undead to make an appearance in this article? Well, here you go, you creepy bastards.

Science can pretty much save you from anything but brain death; they can swap out organs but when the brain turns to mush, you’re gone. Right?

Well, not for long. They’re already able to re-grow the brains of comatose head trauma patients until they wake up and walk around again.

Couple that with the new ability to keep a dead body in a state of suspended animation so that it can be brought back to life later, and soon we’ll be able to bring back the dead, as long as we get to them quickly enough.

That sounds great, right? Well, this lab dedicated to “reanimation research” (yes, that’s what they call it) explains how the process of “reanimating” a person creates a problem. It causes the brain to die off from the outside in. The outside being the cortex, the nice part of you that makes humans human. That just leaves the part that controls basic motor function and primitive instincts behind.

You don’t need the cortex to survive; all you need is the stem and you’ll still be able to mindlessly walk and eat and enjoy Grey’s Anatomy. This is how chickens can keep walking around after they’ve been beheaded (including one case where the chicken lived for 18 months without a head).

So, you take a brain dead patient, use these techniques to re-grow the brain stem, and you now have a mindless body shambling around, no thoughts and no personality, nothing but a cloud of base instincts and impulses.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we like to call a real, live, undead fucking zombie. So there.

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
Think about it. Under every legal system in the world, all rights and responsibilities are terminated at death. All it takes is someone with resources and a need for a mindless workforce of totally obedient slave labor.

How long until somebody tries this? We’re betting somebody in the world, maybe North Korea, will have a working zombie by Christmas.

#1.

Nanobots

As seen in…
Michael Crichton’s novel Prey, The PS2 game Nano Breaker

What are they?
Nanobots are a technology that science apparently engineered to make you terrified of the future. We’re talking about microscopic, self-replicating robots that can invisibly build–or destroy–anything. Vast sums of money are being poured into nanotechnology. Sure, at some level scientists know nanobots will destroy mankind. They just can’t resist seeing how it happens.

How it can result in zombies:
Scientists have already created a nano-cyborg, by fusing a tiny silicone chip to a virus. The first thing they found out is these cyborgs can still operate for up to a month after the death of the host. Notice how nano scientists went right for zombification, even at this early stage. They know where the horror is.

According to studies, within a decade they’ll have nanobots that can crawl inside your brain and set up neural connections to replace damaged ones. That’s right; the nanobots will be able to rewire your thoughts. What could possibly go wrong?

Chances this could cause a zombie apocalypse:
Do the math, people.

Some day there will be nanobots in your brain. Those nanobots will be programmed to keep functioning after you die. They can form their own neural pathways, meaning they can use your brain to keep operating your limbs after you’ve deceased and, presumably, right up until you rot to pieces in mid-stride.

The nanobots will be programmed to self-replicate, and the death of the host will mean the end of the nanobots. To preserve themselves, they’d need to transfer to a new host. Therefore, the last act of the nanobot zombie would be to bite a hole in a healthy victim, letting the nanobots steam in and set up camp in the new host. Once in, they can shut down the part of the brain that resists (the cortex) and leave the brain stem intact. They will have added a new member to the unholy army of the undead.

Now, it should be more than clear by this point that our goal is to be responsible researchers. We don’t want to create a panic here. All we’re saying is that on an actual day on the actual calendar in the future, runaway microscopic nanobots will end civilization by flooding the planet with the cannibalistic undead.

Science has proven it. 

via: cracked

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December 4th, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Checklist for Refugees After a Event.

This is a guest post and entry in a non-fiction writing contest  by Bitsy Pieces.

 

I have two types of family and friends: those who are prepared without realizing it, and those who are not. The ones who are prepared keep a small stockpile of food (because they shop sales and coupon). They may have a garden, have developed self-sufficiency skills, and will try to make a go of it as long as they can.

There are also some who are woefully under prepared. At best, they have a week’s worth of food in their homes. They are used to government assistance and aid from their church. They don’t have a strong work ethic, and they’d die without help from others.

But both of these types of loved ones share one thing in common: neither have a preparedness mindset. Although the first group is inadvertently better prepared than the average person, they still don’t “think” like a prepper. So to them, a metal bucket is just a bucket. It’s not a toilet or a rain barrel or a cooking pot.

These two groups of people share another thing in common: sooner or later, they will show up at my doorstep after a major event. (The unprepared group will, of course, show up sooner.) And because they lack the prepper mindset, they are likely to show up with only a suitcase packed with clothes. Left behind in their homes will be numerous items that could be invaluable in dire times.

So I have compiled a list to hand to these refugees when they ask to stay in my home, live underneath the blanket of protection I can provide, and dine on my food storage. Assuming they have the time, they are to take this list and return to their home. They are to procure any of the items they have on the list and return with them. Only then will they be allowed to enter.

Rather than making it a simple list of items, I’ve also (in some cases) noted a few purposes these things may serve. Hopefully, it will help get their minds into “prepper thinking” as they go through their homes and gather useful items. I think I’ve included most of the items you can expect a non-prepper might have. Most of my friends and family are unlikely to have a generator, for example, or a solar-powered battery charger. What do you think, Wolf Pack? Any other suggestions?

Things you may want to bring from home

  • Any and all food/beverages: Including half-empty cans of coffee, open boxes of crackers and the stray apple in the bottom of your fridge. ANYTHING edible should be salvaged. Don’t forget your supply of spices and herbs.
  • Booze/alcoholic beverages: This can be used for trade/barter, disinfecting wounds, or simply drinking.
  • Pots/pans: Particularly cast iron, large stew/soup pots, and frying pans. We’ll be cooking for more people now, and often over an open fire.
  • Food containers: Plastic or glass, especially those with lids. Look for anything that can be used to store dehydrated foods.
  • Bundles of old newspapers: Newspaper has multiple uses, including twisted tightly to make logs for burning and crumpled for toilet paper.
  • Matches, lighters, other fire starting implements: We will need these for the woodstove (to keep us warm) and for cooking fires.
  • Charcoal: If you have a charcoal grill, bring that along, too. We may have to use this for cooking if electricity ceases to be available.
  • Any camping equipment: Including camp stoves, propane tanks, tents, sleeping bags, cook sets, etc. Consider that we are basically “roughing it” right now, so bring anything you have to make the experience more pleasant.
  • Candles: Bring your fancy scented candles, as well as any other candles you may have (tea lights, birthday candles, etc.). These can provide light, warmth and a small cooking surface if necessary.
  • Flashlights and lanterns: If the power goes out, these will be our primary light source.
  • Batteries: Pilfer all working batteries from electronics. We’ll need them for flashlights and lanterns.
  • Medical supplies: Including band-aids, bandages, antibiotic ointments, Pepto, cough syrup, pain relievers, thermometers, hot water bottles, cold packs. Anything that can be used for either minor or major injuries should be acquired.
  • Sewing supplies: Such as needles, threads, extra fabric, scissors, yarn, crochet hooks, etc. We may very well have to repair our clothing or make our own at some point in the future.
  • Plastic bins/tubs: These can be used to catch rainwater if necessary. They can also be used for storage.
  • Plastic bags: Including plastic grocery bags, plastic garbage bags, etc. If you have tarps, bring those, too. These can be used for everything from trash to personal waste disposal.
  • Wagons: Even kid’s wagons are welcome. These can be used for hauling water, wood, soil, rocks, etc.
  • Hand tools: Don’t forget things like an axe, nails/screws/etc. and work gloves. Anything that can be used to repair buildings around the house, shore up home security, or build fences will be useful.
  • Gardening supplies: Such as gardening tools, gloves, seed packets, pots, extra bags of soil, etc. We will be gardening to replenish food supplies.
  • Paper products: Bring your supply of toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, paper plates, paper cups. The more paper products we have, the less water is wasted doing dishes.
  • Hygiene/Cleaning products: Including soap, shampoo, hand sanitizer, dish detergent, laundry detergent, bleach and other cleaning products. Bleach can be used to purify water, and proper cleaning of items will help reduce illnesses in the household.
  • Clothing: Bring clothing for yourself, but make sure to bring extra socks, shoes made for work, and clothing that can be layered for cold weather. We don’t know how long this crisis will last, and during this time you will be working hard.
  • Blankets and pillows: We simply do not have enough bedding for everyone.
  • Rope: Including all types of string, rope and line. Anything that can be used to bundle or tie is useful.
  • Firearms/Ammo: Don’t forget about your hunting rifle or your shotgun. Any type of firearm would be welcomed. Bring it even if you don’t have ammo. Someone else may have ammo for your gun, or we may be able to obtain it through trade/barter.
  • Entertainment: Board games, card games, books, puzzles and such. You may find the nights get long without television to entertain you.

via:

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December 3rd, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Homemade Cough Syrup.

First you need a gallon glass jar or a half gallon depending on the size of your family or how bad your cold is. I used a gallon jar because we have had such bad colds that this has been a ‘good thing’ – not to quote someone who totally doesn’t need my help….

My mom came over last night and saw the ‘jar’, tested it and said ‘Grandpa used to call this ‘snakejuice’….. Come to find out my grandpa used to make this very thing and I never knew it. SO from now on it’s going to be ‘snakejuice’…..

Take your jar and make sure it’s good-n-clean and this is the rest of what you will need..


I know your first thought was the same as mine… Amish consume booze.

First you cut up 3-4 lemons – I had BIG ones and used 3. I then cut up 2 large onions into slices.


Then the onions…..

Then I layer them – first lemons then onions until I have about the same amounts…

Then you take a jug of honey and pour that over the top…..

THEN… the booze – a bottle of blackberry brandy and a bottle of peppermint schnapps…..

Yes use the whole thing if you are making a jug like this…


Notice the Milk Man is wearing a DARE shirt… *snicker*

Here is the finished product….


We take about a Tblsp as adults and 1/4 tsp of it IF we give it to the kids…. There is no more alcohol in this than there is in regular cough syrup – just none of the synthetic stuff that they stick in it.

My Amish friend said that she keeps hers in a cool place and that it will last…. are you ready – over a year….. I suppose with all the booze the lemons are ‘pickled’.

Via: themilkmanswife

 

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December 2nd, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Prepping With Wheat Allergies

Anyone with allergies know how degraded they feel after they have a flare up.  Wheat allergies are among the top 8 food allergens that people suffer from in the United States.  The allergy is mainly due to the gluten.  Preppers with this allergy are looking at different sources to grains to get around this problem.

Wheat Alternatives

Most wheat alternatives are gluten free with the exception of barley and rye.  The list below are both wheat and gluten free.  Note: flours that do not have gluten will cause breads not to rise.  Unleavened breads can still be made.

  • Arrowroot Flour- This type of flour is ground from the root of the Arrowroot plant.  It is tasteless and ideal to use as a thickener.
  • Brown Rice Flour – Brown rice flour has a higher nutritional base compared to white rice flour.  It is much heavier in comparison to white rice flour.  And is suggested not to buy this in bulk as it is better used when it is fresh.
  • Buckwheat Flour – According to Dr. Weil, “Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) looks like a grain and tastes like a grain but isn’t one. Instead, it is a relative of rhubarb, and because it is gluten free, it is an ideal food for those allergic to the gluten in wheat and other true grains.”
  • Corn Flour – Corn is ground into a very fine powder. It has a bland taste and is therefore good to use for multiple recipes.
  • Corn Meal – Cornmeal is much heavier and courser than corn flour.
  • Nut Meals – Such as almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can provide rich flavor as well as a good flour substitute for cookies and cakes.  Their shelf life is brief and should be stored correctly.  Most nut meals require a bonding agent such as eggs.  Note: chestnut flour has a longer shelf life.
  • Potato Flour – potato flour is not potato starch flour.  It does have a stronger flavor compared to other wheat alternatives.  Due to the heaviness, a little can go a long way.  The shelf life for this type of flour is not very long, so long term storage could be a problem.
  • Potato Starch Powder – This has a lighter potato flavor which is hardly detectable in recipes.  This type of flour keeps very well.
  • Quinoa Flour – “The Mother Seed” as the Incas call this has a large variety of vitamins and is high in protein.  Quinoa flour is not readily available in many stores, so locating this could pose a problem.
  • Soy Flour – This flour is a fine powder ground from soy beans.  It adds a pleasant texture to different recipes and is also high in protein and a good vitamin source.
  • Tampioca Flour – Tapioca flour adds chewiness to baking and is a good thickening agency.  It also stores well.
  • White Rice Flour –  this type flour does not have a high nutritional value.  The taste is bland and ideal for recipes that require light texture.  The shelf life is adequate as long as it is stored properly.

When Using Alternatives to Wheat Keep this In Mind

In the blog  Preparedenss Brings Peace, there were pre-measurements of these substitutes listed.

Try substituting 1 cup wheat flour with one of the following:

Barley 1-1/4 cups
Oat 1-1/3 cups
Rice 3/4 cup
Soy 1-1/3 cups
Corn 1 cup
Potato 3/4 cup
Rye 1-1/3 cups
Tapioca 1 cup

Potato and soy flours are best used in combination with other flours. They have a strong flavor and soy flour has a darker coloring. Rice flour gives a distinctively grainy texture to baked products. Rye flour is frequently used although it has a dark color and distinctive flavor. Barley, oat, and rye flours all contain slight amounts of gluten. Other grains are available that do not. Here are some suggestions:

Gluten-Free Flour Mix: 1 part white rice flour, 1 part corn starch, 1 part tapioca flour, 1/2 part white bean flour.

Rice Flour Mix: 3 cups brown rice flour, 1-1/4 cups potato starch or cornstarch, 3/4 cup tapioca flour.

Bean Flour Mix: 1-2/3 cups garbanzo/fava bean flour, 2 cups potato starch or cornstarch, 2/3 cup tapioca flour, 2/3 cup sorghum flour. Mix all ingredients together, use in place of wheat flour.”

Allergies to wheat products dos not need to stop a person from prepping.  There are alternatives available.  These alternatives may not have to same consistency that wheat products have, but most do the job nicely.

Via: wheat-free

 

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December 1st, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

How to Purify Water with Sunlight

Did you know that solar radiation from the sun can purify (disinfect) water and make it safe for drinking from harmful bacteria?

While so often we hear or read about the bad things that the sun is capable of doing to us, we should also know that some of the same energy from the sun can be harnessed for doing good. A few good examples include solar electric panels, solar hot water panels, and solar ovens.

Well here is one more good example. Harnessing the solar energy from the sun to purify (disinfect) water from a lake or stream into safe drinking water. It is much simpler than you may think. Here’s how…

light-spectrum

UV-A rays from the sun, (Ultraviolet-A, longwave, 315-400 nm), will terminate harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses in water, given enough sun exposure.

A clear plastic bottle filled with water, exposed to the sun for 6 hours will make the water safe to drink (see the caveat list). In fact, the effectiveness of terminating  harmful bacteria is an amazing 5-Nines, that is, 99.999 percent!

List of germs that are terminated from UV-A sunlight exposure at 6 hours

  • Bacteria – Escherichia coli
  • Bacteria – Vibrio cholera
  • Bacteria – Salmonella
  • Bacteria – Shigella flexneri
  • Bacteria – Campylobacter jejuni
  • Bacteria – Yersinia enterocolitica
  • Virus – Rotavirus
  • Parasites – Giardia
  • Parasites – Cryptosporidium (needs 10 hours exposure)

List of caveats to UV-A sunlight water purification

  • This method kills germs. If the water is already contaminated with chemicals from pollution, the chemicals will remain.
  • If the water is cloudy and dirty, it should be filtered first to allow the UV-A rays to effectively penetrate into the water.
  • The plastic water bottle should be no bigger than 3 liters. In moderately cloudy water, UV-A will lose 50 percent effectiveness at a depth of 10 mm (about 0.5 inch), whereas UV-A will only lose 25 percent effectiveness at a depth of 10 mm in clear water. Just use a typical size soda bottle or water bottle.

How to purify water with sunlight

The recommended bottle to use is a “PET” bottle. It is very common and is typically used for soda or other soft drinks.

PET, PolyEthylene Terephthalate, Recycle code #1 on bottom of bottle.

pete-1

The bottle must not be colored. It must be a clear bottle. Again, it must be a clear plastic bottle. Not glass (glass blocks too much of the UV-A for this purpose).

The bottle must be clean. Common Sense.

Know your water source (as best you can)… if you believe it to be chemically toxic, don’t use it.

Fill the bottle with water. If the water is very cloudy, it must be filtered by first pouring through a cloth or such material to capture sediment.

Lay the bottle down in the sun. Do not stand them up. Ideally the bottles would by placed so that they face the the sun at a similar angle, to maximize the UV-A penetration.

Even better… lie the bottles on a reflective surface to increase the UV-A exposure using direct and reflected sunlight. This is not necessary, however it would shorten the required time and ensure optimum UV-A exposure.

If the sky is partly cloudy with only a few clouds, then 6 hours sunlight exposure will be enough.


If the sky is half filled with clouds, or more, then 2 days will be required.

Note that the outdoor temperature does not matter, so long as the UV-A sunlight exposure has been 6 hours.

A few notes:

An excellent source for more information on this subject is from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Sciences and Technology.

For those that are concerned about using plastic, the WHO (World Health Organization) states that the limiting values (plasticizers) for drinking water are never exceeded when using PET bottles for this method.

Sediment or other particulate matter should be removed first by a filtering process.

via:  modernsurvivalblog

 

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