Sunday, February 26, 2012

Disaster Panic and Dangerous Humans

For a little while, I was buying into the concepts and images that are commonly shown about chaos during times/events of disaster. After some due diligence, I am starting to change my mind at least marginally on the following concepts:

  • During an emergency, people will generally be "out for number 1"
  • During emergency situations, most people will panic and become dangerous
  • During disasters, most people will loot goods and harm other people

I am very much a newcomer to the survivalist scene. Information is plentiful online on survivalist topics, and I joined several survival-themed forums in order to glean information and engage in discussion about survival methods, tools, planning, etc.

In most of the forums I joined, an overwhelming number of discussion threads are dedicated to human to human dangers and violence immediately following natural and man-made disasters. After reading a great deal in these threads, I started thinking, "I'll never be even two-percent prepared for this kind of chaos and violence, no matter how much time I dedicate to survival preparations!"

This way of thinking, of course, caused further internal panic and no small touch of fear about surviving emergencies and disasters.

Then I took a step backward, realizing that much of what I was reading was emotionally-charged opinion on various topics all related to survival. In the forums, the general mood and air is one of PANIC, for the most part. After this realization hit, I had to decide, "Do I want to be part of this panic, do I want to succumb to this panic and end up not feeling as if I can prepare sufficiently? Or, do I want to do my best to prepare, within my means, and have at least something to go on in the event of near-future emergency or disaster?"

For a few days, I was working under the first option... sort of succumbing to panic so that I could do very little to actually take action and do preparing activities. Then I realized that, in real life, I have been IN a number of pretty bad situations, even emergencies - but the bulk of people around at the time didn't panic. Sure, in every crowd there are people who don't know what to do but I don't recall a time when bystanders just started getting out of control, violent, etc. In my region, we don't have a lot of guns and weapons, so nobody went nuts and started panicking and shooting anyone. Not a single person mentioned, asked for, or suggested a firearm should be present for reasons of safety, control, or otherwise. Most people stood by nervously, wondering what to do... very concerned about the people who were hurt, involved in altercations, etc. Some bystanders cried and shook along the side-lines, and a number of people jumped immediately to action if they were told to do something, so long as these orders were issued with confidence.

Maybe the most dangerous humans are the ones who aren't in any kind of survival situation, who are thinking about worst case scenarios and using some of their leisure time to post about violence, mayhem, chaos and all-or-nothing tactics in the forums.

This morning, I started to think upon what I know about media, propaganda, entertainment, etc., (basically a great deal of what we call news from major media sources is actually only propaganda) and now I wonder wholeheartedly if the reason many survivalists seem to truly believe that human to human dangers during and after a disaster are going to be the worst form of danger - is because this is what we see from mainstream media news.

How deeply are people actually thinking on the matter of survivalist methods, planning, etc? I have to conclude that much of what I am seeing in electronic correspondence and online discussion threads is fear based and reaction based commenting. I'm not saying preparing and looking out for people who are temporarily not using critical thinking skills in a disaster isn't important. I think what I'm getting at is - WE NEED TO CALM THE HECK DOWN HERE!

I know that if half of what is said in forums is true - no amount of planning by me or anyone else is going to matter during survival conditions because ultimately, the people who have prepared by getting themselves some big guns and automatic weapons - are basically going to go nuts and kill us all.

In the same way of thinking, if the above is true, storing food for ourselves is going to be of no use - storing anything and prepping anything is going to just give violent, gun-slinging people a cache of items to take away.

This might end up being the case, it's true - if we keep allowing discussion threads such as are in existence as the bulk of survivalist tips in the current forums online. If these words, discussions and such are our only options, the only discussions and information being spread around, then we truly WILL BE in serious trouble when SHTF. If people are panicky, they've got to go through the steps of calming down before they can think critically about certain situations. If they are in reaction mode most of the time, with just tidbits and violence, all-out-for-ourselves information as the only stuff that comes to mind in any emergency...yes, then surely we are all hooped!

Luckily, from what I know about sociology and history, past emergencies and even a few serious emergencies I have experienced myself, human psychology goes lower functioning than all the violent-related things I see as mainstay conversation on survival forums... what actually happens when people are very frightened and confused is - THEY SHUT DOWN. In my estimation, few people are taking THIS into account. Consequently, people who are SHUT DOWN are really quite non-violent... they're frozen. If given firm instructions from a confident source, they will often follow along. THIS is going to be a benefit in emergency situations for at least a few moments.

I wish people posting lists and large chunks of "instructional" and "warning" content in forums would think about how "panic" and the human psyche really works! Yes, some people freak out - and even so, many who freak out, harm themselves much more than harming other people. This has been something I have seen on a consistent basis from working and being around a "trauma" field/profession, being around homeless (and desperate!), addicted people. My best defense possible is to just stay away from gun-toting survivalists who are all prepping for violence...because if these people "lose it," their back-up plans all involve 'shot-to-kill' prompts. People are actually trying to train themselves to kill or be killed. I'm really sure that in my region, this kind of scenario is going to be limited (because firearms are very restricted where I'm at) and I'm thankful for this.

I suppose in all this, I am also saying that I feel the most dangerous people right at this time are the people who believe in violence as the only panic reaction during times of stress and disaster. Most appear to be willing to fight violence with violence, so I'll have to stay a hop, skip and big jump away from those types.

As well, for most of the day (better part of 5 hours straight), I've been reading up on research papers about real cases of disaster - which say that MOST PEOPLE DO NOT become violent at all in disaster situations even when threatened by other human beings who are being violent. Most people freeze up - and are easily prompted by firm, confident conversation.

So... this tells me that most people are going to enter into a state of not knowing what to do, experience overload leading to numbing and stillness. These people can actually be worked with and are very unlikely to be a danger to anyone. Some will literally even FALL RIGHT ASLEEP (it's called emotional/stimulus overload leading to dissociation).

I'm ready to believe now - that in order to avoid disaster panic and dangerous humans in the event of an emergency or disaster - I'll need to stay away from people who are going to act upon FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERRORS (making wrong conclusions based on interpretations of situations that are missing pieces of data) in their survival planning.

Suggestion: think very critically about whether you're reading survival tips or survival hype - the latter might be just as dangerous as real survival dangers during an emergency or disaster situation!

moi~





Friday, February 24, 2012

Food Storage Prepping

This information comes from Wendy DeWitt who facilitates seminars on how to start food storage preparation to alleviate stress and discomfort should a natural or man-made disaster happen in the near future.

In this video series, Wendy Dewitt talks about the Top 10 reasons that people give for not actually preparing for disaster and storing food right now.

Vid 1:





Vid 2. Wendy continues to say why food storage is very important to do NOW, to proceed with on a continual basis, etc. Vid 2 is Wendy's disclaimer and she also mentions that her ebook is free, where it can be found online, etc.




Vid 3 below, Wendy starts talking about creating a system, making choices about what foods to start learning to store, how to make decisions, etc., and talks about Worst Case Scenario.



Vid 4 below, "Equivalency Page" and cooking options so you'll know how much stuff to buy in stores as you're planning on stocking up on items. Wendy talks about where to find information in her free book.



Vid 5: Where to store all this food!



Vid 6: Food cooking and food preparation before storage... canning meat, etc.



Vid 7. How are you going to cook your stored food once SHTF? Talk about a solar oven. Very interesting - "If you've got sunshine - you can cook!"



Vid 8: Food Saver - vacuum packing, etc. - How long can you make food last with proper storing methods and materials?



Vid 9 - Wendy answers questions from the seminar audience:



I hope you take the time to watch these and start planning and prepping.

moi~

Survival Prepping Overwhelming For Newbies

I have some friends who have seen the blog who are freaked out with the whole idea of planning for SHTF time. In part, when they saw the already varied topics here, they mentioned feeling overwhelmed at all that will have to go into prepping for survival in case of potential (some say, "inevitable") disasters - both natural and man-made.

I have more time available than most of my friends, so I've decided my task is to keep prepping, answer questions if anyone ever has them for me, keep filling this blog with information and - most importantly - to REFRAIN from bugging my friends constantly to prep, prep, PREPARE for when SHTF! (If I don't refrain, then I will fall into the classification of "Prepper Freak" or "doomsday fanatic" and will never be taken seriously).

Luckily, I have a few Zombie movie fan and horror movie fan friends so we end up in good natured, short off the cuff discussions about "Survival" quite often. In the least, this prompts the mind to think often and briefly about survival options (even if we're laughing about wooden stakes, silver bullets, the fact that in almost every horror movie, at least one girl will trip over her own feet right at the wrong time).

For my friends who aren't horror or Zombie movie fans, I understand that I can't prompt them often to get prepared for possible disasters or else they will freak out and flock off! When SHTF, I want them to survive with me 'cos I very much like these people... so I've been thinking up suggestions for those who are resistant to the idea of preparing for the future and who are too busy working to think much about the future (Not to mention those who are AVOIDING prep for when SHTF because they are afraid of the future).

There will never be anything I can do or say to those who already think I am a nutcase - to convince them to prep before SHTF - so I'm going to save my time, words, and energy and not bother with those people... even though I like some of 'em.

Consequently, nobody I've ever run into who has been prepping for when Shyt Hits The Fan has ever turned down a discussion on the topic of prepping, survival or even Doomsday or Zombie Apocalypse survival (even if most people don't believe SHTF time is going to be about Doomsday or Zombies). As well, of those who never turn these topics down, I have always learned a new and important thing about survival from these people.

For newbies, people who are too busy to prep in large chunks of time, and semi-avoidant people, here are a few suggestions:

  • Prep a bug out bag for possible home fire or home flooding emergencies
  • Pet owners, prep a bug out bag for your pet in case you end up in the hospital or stranded on a road trip sometime
  • People with medical conditions, prep a bug out bag for emergency hospital trips 

And that's all.

Enjoy the relief you'll feel once you get these emergency bags together, place them in easy to access locations and you'll have fewer worries about sometimes minor but extremely COMMON emergencies.

Seriously - that's all - don't do anymore. Just think about how you feel about having put together something for a possible future emergency. Think back, once you're done, on how difficult or simple you found putting an emergency bug out bag together.

Next time you are stranded away from home and you've only left 2 days of food out for your pet, you'll be able to call a neighbor or friend, say, "Hey, look in such and such closet/room for a bug out bag. Everything for Rover/Whiskers is in there - will call you when I get back home."

Next time you're having minor health difficulties and think you might need to head to the hospital, just grab your hospital bug out bag from the easy-access location you've stored it at and you won't have to worry about your medical cards, a bit of cash (you put that in your bug out bag, right???), notepad and pen, emergency phone numbers, medications list, etc. If your medical emergency is severe and you end up unconscious, what you've prepped into your bug out bag might be very helpful for emergency workers to see! (This happens in my case).

If your fire alarm goes off and home and you really have to get out because nobody has staged an official fire drill - you can be really certain that you can leave your home and go to a safe location... so long as you grab your easy to access bug out bag - alert the other people in your home and grab your pets on your way out the door.

Yes, learning about survival skills, honing skills, prepping and all the rest can be overwhelming. Do a few things at a time. Many things you can do to prepare for an emergency or for when SHTF aren't freakish, weird, or dramatic at all - they're smart and logical. They will give you peace of mind and free up your thoughts after the prep work is done - so you can enjoy time with family, friends, hobbies, pets, activities and events.

Enjoy knowing that you're prepared for at least a few emergencies and give yourself credit for having adopted some survival skills!

moi~

Thursday, February 23, 2012

SHTF in 127 Hours (Movie Review)

I just found the movie title, "127 Hours" on a survivalist forum thread featuring a list of movies with a survivalist/survivor theme. I bookmarked the thread page as there are a number of movies I haven't seen yet and that I hope to see soon. I don't want to forget which movies were suggested by other survivalists ('cos I'm still just a noob and need to be mentored by others on survival methods and information).


Wow, SHTF in this movie, 127 Hours, that's for sure!

127 Hours is the movie depiction from a real life survivor experience that Aron Ralston had in 2003. He wrote a book (memoir) about his experience called, "Between and Rock and a Hard Place," and from the movie depiction, this book title explains EXACTLY what Aron's real life situation was, the situation he had to survive.

Ralston was canyoneering (rock-climbing/hiking in a canyon area) in 2003, in a "slot canyon," when he suddenly slipped downward and a boulder dislodged from the crevice, falling with him. When he and the boulder both stopped, he was near a floor of the canyon but not quite to the bottom and one of his arms was wedged - literally - between a rock and a hard place!!! Ralston was essentially stuck in place by the boulder pinching his extremity between boulder and the crevice wall.

Even though I did a little basic research before I found this movie for viewing online, and I knew Ralston had obviously survived a life-threatening experience in order to write a memoir, this did NOT quell the SHTF SHOCK VALUE of the movie experience.

Although I have been interested in viewing films of all kinds for learning survivor techniques (or myths), I enjoyed this show even though it dealt with a very singular scenario. There aren't a whole repertoire of survivalist concepts conveyed here, but the film was definitely worth watching.

The Main Survivalist Points:
  • ALWAYS tell someone where you are going
  • Never give up

Those are the most pointed concepts this movie conveyed.

Mr. Ralston likely would have experienced less time in the canyon had he just TOLD SOMEONE where he was going. People knew he was going canyoneering and likely would have started looking for him pretty quickly after a set time period if he'd just told someone where he was going.

On the second point - he never gave up - thus was successful in surviving the life-threatening experience (at a COST!).

Here's a trailer:




I believe the movie title is an explanation of how long Ralston was away or else stuck in the canyon - so when you see the movie trailer, don't be fooled as the series of clips make it seem/sound like Ralston was trapped for a little over 24 hours. Really, he was stuck in the canyon, an extremity wedged between boulder and canyon wall - for several days!

General Rating (10/10)
SHTF Rating  (9/10)

moi~

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Think Critically About The War You Don't See

I'm still trying to find decent, regular news/media sources that aren't lying all the time. While I was searching non-mainstream sources for general news today, I came across John Pilger's 2010 documentary, "The War You Don't See."

See John Pilger's Website here .

John Pilger has been questioning Western foreign policy for decades as a journalist, writing articles that question status quo and the way of things, and his documentary experience goes back all the way to 1970, with his "The Quiet Mutiny" documentary. Pilger, an Australian, has been involved in more than 60 documentary productions and is a strong critic speaking out against questionable content and structure of mainstream media sources.

One of his most recent projects, a documentary called "The War You Don't See" is a pointed investigation into how mainstream media presents news related to WAR... what mainstream sources do or don't show about war, how mainstream media writers, producers and announcers force the mood and such related to the stories (and I'm going to boldly call them STORIES, not News) they are conveying.

Watch the documentary:




How often are you tuning in to mainstream sources for general news, expecting to learn what is going on in the world?

Settle in - it's full length :)



moi~

Morse Code

You can transmit textual messages in emergency situations with Morse Code. Morse code can be understood via sound, sight, or even touch. Others who are familiar with this code (International and standardized since the early to mid-1800's. This code has been in mass use for going on to two hundred years.

Usually transmitted over long distances by electric telegraph equipment or radio methods, the code can also be useful in various situations:

By sight: using a flash light with a good battery to signal, also written as dashes and dots on paper to both send and receive (not every member of the general public knows this code, so you might be able to pass a secret message easily just by dashing - dotting on paper)
By sound: using a whistle or anything that makes noise over a long distance or rapping/knocking the code out on a pipe, wood, etc., so it can be heard ie: at a door, to another room in a building via pipes, etc.
By touch: rapping/knocking or POUNDING the code out to be felt along a pipe, train track, on a bridge - something that conducts well over a reasonable distance.

I'm not going to get into the history of this code 'cos this can easily and quickly be googled and looked up by anyone. I'll just explain, briefly, the representations of the code.

The code system uses dashes and dots only or short and long units only, then can be written down as the code is received, in pencil/writing marks of dashes and dots. The dashes and dots correspond to 26 letters of the English alphabet and the number series of 1 to 0 in a 10 number series, ei: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0.

Naturally, because this code needs transmitters to spell out words, it can be a time consuming process. It is advisable that if you're going to learn Morse, you PRACTICE it often until you can transmit (send the code/tap out the code) and receive (understand code messages, write them down) very quickly.

Morse code speed is a skill to be measured, honed and improved upon for anyone who is able to learn and practice using the code. The code is measured in WPM - Words Per Minute - just like typing is measured.  (lower in this post, I will provide some links for online sites set up for practicing Morse Code transmitting, receiving, understanding and using Morse Code with efficiency).

Length of time between dashes and dots is also IMPORTANT, so using this code really does take some practice for best results. There should be uniform spaces/pauses between transmitting a dot value or dash value.

Here's the code, taken from Wikipedia here.


I am just starting to practice this code, myself. It's one of the top things on my survivalist "To-do-before-the-SHTF" list. It's something that seems a little silly but that I know will come in handy very soon! Learning Morse Code is also something that doesn't take a lot of equipment to learn and it isn't going to cost me anything. I just need to arrange a time slot in my schedule dedicated for "morse code practice."

Here are some links to online Morse Code practice and info sites:

AA9PW .com - Morse Code

Learn CW Online (sign up free, learn, practice)

learn morse code .com

I signed up at the second website so that I will have my practices, wmp speed and everything recorded. I'll be able to visit the site for regular practice and be able to assess my progress with learning Morse Code.

Good luck with the code!

moi~

 

Ten Code Used By APCO

Association of Public(-Safety) Communications Officers (APCO) has an official code list for code numbers that represent common phrases used by law enforcement and other officials as well as by Citizen Band (CB) operators.

You've probably heard some of these in the movies (particularly in the 70's - remember the movies "Smokey and the Bandit," and "Convoy"?), or even in real life ie: Ten - Four (10 - 4) means "acknowledgement/OK" as in "I hear and understood that."

In a survival situation, it could happen that you'll need to know some of this stuff in order to understand communications around you or in order to communicate and convey messages, yourself.

There's nothing pretty about this list, so I'm just going to copy and paste it... it's around on various websites, blogs, etc., and is public domain information.
 

  • 10-0 Caution
  • 10-1 Unable to copy -- change location
  • 10-2 Signal good
  • 10-3 Stop transmitting
  • 10-4 Acknowledgement (OK)
  • 10-5 Relay
  • 10-6 Busy -- stand by unless urgent
  • 10-7 Out of service
  • 10-8 In service
  • 10-9 Repeat
  • 10-10 Fight in progress
  • 10-11 Dog case
  • 10-12 Stand by (stop)
  • 10-13 Weather -- road report
  • 10-14 Prowler report
  • 10-15 Civil disturbance
  • 10-16 Domestic disturbance
  • 10-17 Meet complainant
  • 10-18 Quickly
  • 10-19 Return to ...
  • 10-20 Location
  • 10-21 Call ... by telephone
  • 10-22 Disregard
  • 10-23 Arrived at scene
  • 10-24 Assignment completed
  • 10-25 Report in person (meet) ...
  • 10-26 Detaining subject, expedite
  • 10-27 Drivers license information
  • 10-28 Vehicle registration information
  • 10-29 Check for wanted
  • 10-30 Unnecessary use of radio
  • 10-31 Crime in progress
  • 10-32 Man with gun
  • 10-33 Emergency
  • 10-34 Riot
  • 10-35 Major crime alert
  • 10-36 Correct time
  • 10-37 (Investigate) suspicious vehicle
  • 10-38 Stopping suspicious vehicle
  • 10-39 Urgent -- use light, siren
  • 10-40 Silent run -- no light, siren
  • 10-41 Beginning tour of duty
  • 10-42 Ending tour of duty
  • 10-43 Information
  • 10-44 Permission to leave ... for ...
  • 10-45 Animal carcass at ...
  • 10-46 Assist motorist
  • 10-47 Emergency road repairs at ...
  • 10-48 Traffic standard repair at ...
  • 10-49 Traffic light out at ...
  • 10-50 Accident (fatal, personal injury, property damage)
  • 10-51 Wrecker needed
  • 10-52 Ambulance needed
  • 10-53 Road blocked at ...
  • 10-54 Livestock on highway
  • 10-55 Suspected DUI
  • 10-56 Intoxicated pedestrian
  • 10-57 Hit and run (fatal, personal injury, property damage)
  • 10-58 Direct traffic
  • 10-59 Convoy or escort
  • 10-60 Squad in vicinity
  • 10-61 Isolate self for message
  • 10-62 Reply to message
  • 10-63 Prepare to make written copy
  • 10-64 Message for local delivery
  • 10-65 Net message assignment
  • 10-66 Message cancellation
  • 10-67 Clear for net message
  • 10-68 Dispatch information
  • 10-69 Message received
  • 10-70 Fire
  • 10-71 Advise nature of fire
  • 10-72 Report progress on fire
  • 10-73 Smoke report
  • 10-74 Negative
  • 10-75 In contact with ...
  • 10-76 En route ...
  • 10-77 ETA (estimated time of arrival)
  • 10-78 Need assistance
  • 10-79 Notify coroner
  • 10-80 Chase in progress
  • 10-81 Breathalyzer
  • 10-82 Reserve lodging
  • 10-83 Work school xing at ...
  • 10-84 If meeting ... advise ETA
  • 10-85 Delayed due to ...
  • 10-86 Officer/operator on duty
  • 10-87 Pick up/distribute checks
  • 10-88 Present telephone number of ...
  • 10-89 Bomb threat
  • 10-90 Bank alarm at ...
  • 10-91 Pick up prisoner/subject
  • 10-92 Improperly parked vehicle
  • 10-93 Blockade
  • 10-94 Drag racing
  • 10-95 Prisoner/subject in custody
  • 10-96 Mental subject
  • 10-97 Check (test) signal
  • 10-98 Prison/jail break
  • 10-99 Wanted/stolen indicated

Growing up, I had a dad who was a trucker, so common codes I heard when I rode with him were: 10-4 (OK), 10-20 (location), 10-22 (disregard), 10-74 (negative), and 10-66 (message cancellation). Not many from the list, overall, but a few that stick from way back when.

This list was created sometime around the late 1930's, improved upon in the mid-70's, and has pretty much been a standard list in use since the 70's.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tiny Homes On Wheels

Okay, so along with survavalist details, I am a horror movie (and zombie invasion survival) fan, and recently just became officially interested in the Tiny Home Movement... and not just in a small way.

Stay with me here - no don't roll your eyes. It just clicked with me - what Tiny Homes could mean to the idea of BUGGING OUT!

Wow, imagine taking your whole home with you. After all, many of the Tiny Homes I've been looking at on You Tube videos and have been reading about online are actually ON WHEELS! They're like sturdy real-house materials on a flat deck trailer. A little bigger than a BIG Motorhome - but built much sturdier with all the considerations one would give a permanent home.

Now if the crew on Walking Dead (TV Show about Zombie Apocalypse) had just a few vehicles and pulled tiny homes behind them, they wouldn't have to be worrying all time time about that Motorhome that keeps breaking down. They'd also be in really sturdy shelters with great mobility.

As anyone who watches the series (Walking Dead) realizes - the survivors rarely have trouble finding a good, working vehicle (and managing to find fuel, as well). They do, however, keep having trouble with the RV breaking down and then with Dale Horvath (Actor, Jeffrey DeMunn ) having to stop and strip non-RV units and make pieces fit to repair the ever-breaking-down RV.

So, yeah, this post is rather tongue in cheek but I must make the statement: If zombie survivors were to use Tiny Houses and regular vehicles, they'd be much better off!

(fictional Zombie survival information is FREAKISHLY close in many ways to general survivalist stuff).

For those who watch the series mentioned above, keep the Zombie Apocalypse in mind when you watch the next Tiny House video:



This is truly a MOBILE HOME!

Now, just in case your tongue is in cheek and you're also rolling your eyes at this blog post/article (tongue in cheek is fine but not accompanied by rolling eyes - that's going way too far!), I'm going to post some Walking Dead Trailers below and POINT OUT the obvious... points where fictional Zombie Apocalypse survival steals from real life survival methods. In essence, I think this show is complicated and intense but if you're watching with a critical eye and can see past the gross special effects gore, there are little mini-lessons on survival here (and anyone of age watching the show - yes YOUTH - may be getting some free survival lessons - kudos).

If a tornado or urban explosion/fire hits in my urban area and, for some reason, it's a huge one and people get out of control afterward - mobbing broken storefronts, etc - I WANT the teenagers on MY BLOCK to all be Walking Dead fans 'cos they aren't going to stop to loot for POSSESSIONS and gain - they're going to know at least some survival techniques.

Walking Dead Season One Official Trailer:



*Note - above trailer and in Season One, the folks of Walking Dead end up making most of the mistakes they could have avoided if they were already studying survivalist methods prior to their disaster.

Walking Dead Season Two Official Trailer:



In my estimation, many of the Season Two episodes don't detail "Zombie Threats" as much as showing the threat of person versus person. Along the time line here, Zombie Apocalypse survivors have sort of settled in to the severity of their situations - The world as they previously knew it is definitely gone. Then the fun/personal danger begins - within the circle of personalities of the survivors. As if they all didn't have ENOUGH surviving to do without manipulating and attacking each other. The human psychology in trauma environments is explored to a great degree here, making Season Two very interesting with some points that we should take away from fiction and put into real life models.

Jonathan's Zombie Survival Video... if you have a car - it matters which kind!



Okay, Jonathan's video is tongue in cheek but there are some good points about ESCAPE here.

I'll argue that for a quick and sure escape, J has picked the right car - however - I seriously doubt that over a period of time, this is the right car to be using in a survival environment. The car is fancy with a bunch of obvious electronic bonus features. If this car breaks down - how is J going to get his car mobile again?

As well, I wonder if J's vehicle is going to be able to pull a Tiny Home like the one below:



I'll leave off now - to go catch up on the Walking Dead episode I missed!

moi~~

Minimalist Living in The Tiniest Space

This is a wonderful example of someone making do with what little space she's got... and then turning around to toss out everything not useful, living in minimalist style.

It's amazing to watch this and then look around at all my STUFF - stuff I don't need or use - and try to figure out how (other than using some of it for my container gardening) I'm going to get myself down to just basics - no more clutter. If I can get down to only owning those items that I need and that are useful and in use, then I will have a lot more time for LIVING! For gardening and learning survival skills, doing research, studying and also - for friends and family (those who haven't run away from me yet, screaming - because of the lifestyle choices I am making these days).

Have a look:



I was actually looking at "Tiny Houses" and learning about the Tiny House Movement (because I believe it can benefit the environment as well as society) and ended up also viewing the above video. In the next video, the idea of the Tiny House Movement is shown.

This is interesting stuff! I think social constructions and social conditioning has taught us to seek out bigger and bigger homes and spaces but, as explained in the video, these bigger places are killing us in the pocketbooks while failing to offer us "more" security or happiness. In North America there are numerous large homes with the loftiest of mortgage and rental payments - but people aren't often having increased quality of life experiences for all the space they're paying for. Only in the largest of cities could we say that population versus space is a problem in American and Canadian urban areas. In fact, just the opposite of overpopulation and lack of space is a problem in many areas - "urban sprawl" causes a number of social problems, transportation/work commute issues, even pollution and environmental problems.

Still, it seems - the bulk of the population is frantically trying to work toward bigger, more spacious (often Suburban - into the sprawling areas) living situations, knowing FULL WELL that job markets are changing all the time, cost of living and inflation is going up, wages aren't following suit. Eventually when many of us get into roomier dwellings, then what? We generally fill up more space with more stuff... things we store and aren't using.

With the homeless counts also showing disturbing, rising trends in many regions, we then have some people in huge spaces with stuff filling their spaces while not being utilized - while other people are in great need of material resources (clothing, books, housewares, the stuff that is being stored in big houses and spaces). None of this makes a lot of sense, does it? Social constructions... we've constructed societies and sub-cultures in society, complete with intact belief systems that keep moving toward more space, higher cost, storing and hoarding items... while so many in our midst are without the bare essentials.

Seriously - I don't think anything in our economy, any band-aid or even workable, long term economic recovery strategies could do as much as for us to just CHANGE OUR WAY OF THINKING about things... changing to something LOGICAL that makes SENSE! It makes more sense for people to live and use what they've got, stop collecting things they don't need - share what they don't need with people who require those spare items. It makes sense for people to use space wisely, clear out the clutter so they have more time for friends, family, and leisure - rather than putting in more hours in the workplace so they can own LARGER homes.

Of course, TINY HOUSES aren't for everyone - but huge mansions shouldn't be held as the best goals to strive for, in my opinion. How can some people possibly enjoy all the space, the stuff, etc., when they're paying such a high monetary cost these days for housing?

Here's something I do all the time (maybe you do this too) if I don't plan carefully when I am going to stay overnight somewhere else: I pack a huge duffel bag full of things I might need... then I end up needing about 5 of 30 items inside the duffel bag when I'm actually away from home. I've been looking at the survival and minimalist living videos, the tiny container gardens and tiny houses for about a year or so. Something is sinking in because I can't look around my place anymore - or go out overnight then return to my home - without exclaiming, "I don't NEED all this STUFF!"

I am finding this Tiny House movement as fascinating (and necessary) as the survivalist movement and I come to both concepts to learn how to live better. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or in the near future but I think that if we don't plan better for next week - if we don't use space better and think critically more often about our lifestyles - then when the SHTF we could all be in a panic, unable to know which material items are really useful to us when we need to survive and make living better.

Here... check out this Tiny House!



How much space do you think you really need? I mean - how minimalist could you go?

moi~

Interesting Container Gardening Possibilities

With snow still on the ground over where I'm at, I find I'm really impatient about having to wait to start my container gardening. To ease the wait, I'm surfing and watching videos, how-to clips on gardening with various containers.

Actually, I thought this would help me calm down about all this but, instead, I am more determined to start gardening by this weekend - INSIDE - without waiting for Mother Nature to send a warm breath my way...

The following video shows some creative and amazing gardening in all sorts of containers from old crates and re-used furniture - to (not very large!) styro-foam take-out containers! Wow, this video shows that you can pretty much use ANYTHING, fill it with soil and seeds, then grow stuff!



I watched a few other videos but, honestly, some of the avid survivalist gardeners and their methods of planting and setting up containers seems convoluted and complicated!

I'm definitely going for "minimalist" and am going to be working to save money, so I'll keep watching all the how-to videos that I can on this subject - but I can't see how I'm going to manage to gather the kind of advanced tools and materials some people are using for their container gardens.

I have a bunch of kitty litter buckets and those keep on showing up as I have a feline friend at home, so they'll have to do to start with. No plastic pipes or any other kinds of pipes are available to me and I'm going to refuse to spend money on any but the most basic of tools and materials. Call me "CHEAP-O" but remember that I live on a below-poverty-level income.

...I suppose I'll just have to be as creative as possible with all of this.

If you've watched the video from this post, you'll see why I might be saying I'll refuse to buy anything I don't need to... WOW, plastic juice/water bottles have been used for gardening in this video. This project is going to let me get rid of a bunch of stuff I've been calling "absolute junk" around the house and put it to good use... There will be no running to the hardware store or department store to ask for best prices on buckets! In the above vid - jars, bottles, styro-foam take out containers, burlap sacks, cups, milk jugs - you name it... plants are growing in all of those things. Tomato, Bok Choy, Onions, Lettuce, Basil, Garlic and other herbs... Re-use, Re-cycle, remarkable gardening!

Enjoy the vid - I hope other people decide to start doing this, too!

moi~

Survivalist Lingo and Acronyms

If we're going to survive a disaster or otherwise life-changing event, it's going to help a whole lot to be able to communicate! As of Winter (early) 2012, I'm still pretty much a noob with Survivalist lingo, so I figure the best way to catch up on things is to type everything out that I can find... Phrases and Acronyms below:

AK-47 - weapon/gun. Assault Rifle.
AMFYOYO - Adios mother f*cker - you're on your own
AO - Area of Operations
AR-15 - weapon/gun. a gun available to civilians that is similar to military M-16 & M-4 rifle
AR-7 - weapon/gun. A .22 calibre rifle... a take-down utility rifle
ASAP - A.s S.oon A.s P.ossible
BATFE - (US) Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Gov't Agency)
BCL - B.asic C.ombat L.oad
BIB - Bug In Bag. Pre-planned equipment bag to get you home
BOB - Bug Out Bag. Bag/kit with equipment for leaving home/shelter FAST
Bug In - opposite of Bug Out. Sheltering in place where you can't go out
Bug Out - Getting out of town, away from home when home is unsafe
BOV - Bug Out Vehicle. Vehicle pre-packed with bug-out gear, prepped for escape
BOL - Bug Out Location. Location with stocked provisions to attempt to get to for safety
Bugging Out - Evacuating, getting out of town, leaving for a safer location
Bugging In - Needing to stay put in shelter
Cache - Supplies
CCW - Concealed Carry Weapon - CCWP - Concealed Carry Weapon Permit
CIA (US) Central Intelligence Agency (Gov't Agency)
ComCon - Command Control (HQ-HeadQuarters)
CQC - C.lose Q.uarters C.ombat
DHS - (US) Department of Homeland Security (Gov't Department)
DYODD - Do Your Own Due Diligence
EDC - Every Day Carry/Every Day Carry-arounds (things you carry all the time)
Eagles/Silver Eagles - currency, (US) silver coins, 1oz silver coins in dollar denominations
EOTWAWKI - End Of The World As We Know It
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
E Tool/trench tool - Entrenching Tool. Collapsible shovel for bug out bag
FAK - First Aid Kit
FITFO - Figure It The F*ck Out
FOF/FOAF - Friend of Friend or Friend of a Friend
FRN - (US) Federal Reserve Note. Paper money of disputable value as currency
FRS - (US) Federal Reserve System. Also - IRS
FUBAR - F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition/Repair
GHB - Get Home Bag
G.O.O.D. - Get Out Of Dodge! (Bug Out!)
GTFO - Get The F*ck Out
GTFOOD - Get The F*ck Out Of Dodge
HDR - Humanitarian Daily Ration (daily ration of food - no meat/animal by-products)
Hordes - Mobs of people - usually in big cities - may be unsafe, be careful
IBA - Individual Body Armour
IMAO - In My Arrogant Opinion  -  IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion/In My Honest Opinion
IRS - (US) Internal Revenue Service (Gov't Department)
JFC - Jesus F*cking Christ
JIC - Just In Case
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid/Keep It So Simple
LRRP - Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
MAG - Mutual Assistance Group/Mutual Aid Group
Multi-Tool - combination survival knife with attached tools
MRE - Meal Ready to Eat, military food ration
NWO - New World Order
OBTW - Oh, By The Way
ODT - Or Die Trying
OTW - On The Way
PAO - Possible Area of Operations
PDW - Personal Defense Weapon
PPPPPP - The 6 P's - Proper Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance
PM's - Previous Metals - gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium
PSK - Personal Survival Kit
RadOps or ComsOps - Radio Operator or Communications Operator
RTFM - Read The F*cking Manual
SAK - Swiss Army Knife
SHTF - Shyt Hit The Fan
SIP - Shelter In Place (Bug - In)
SKS - weapon/gun. Russian Rifle
SNAFU - Situation Normal All F*cked Up
STFU - Shut The F*ck Up
Survivalist - a person who practices survivalism and emergency prep
Survival Knife - multi-purpose knife for wilderness/emergency survival
Survivalism - planned preparations for surviving disasters/events
TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It
TOI - Target of Interest
TP - Toilet Paper - don't forget to pack in bug out bug in bug all over bags
WROL - Without Rule Of Law
WTF - What The F*ck  - WTH - What The Hell

I just did a Big G search for survivalist terms, lingo, etc., and found a lot of copied and pasted lists but I don't know where they originated from.

Two sites that seemed most helpful that I used, combined together to make this list:
Survival Boards acronym thread
and
The Survival Tribe blog

You Tube channel, gwyn1975, S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. acronym and tips (primarily wilderness survival - but anything that is about being prepared/survival is worth having a look at)



Get Prepared! And Stay Safe 'til TEOTWAWKI !

moi~







Monday, February 20, 2012

Beginning of Being Prepared

Times are a-changing - for the worse in many places - so I started getting interested in getting prepared for unforseen circumstances.

I suppose I shouldn't say literally UNFORSEEN circumstances - at least not in North America - because what we are seeing in N. American politics, military, etc., in the content of movies, music, in our social constructions and society, in general - isn't unforseen at all.

For years many wise men and women have been warning us about the negative aspects of materialism, consumerism and similar topics. Yes, I view videos from the likes of Jim Marrs, Alex Jones, David Icke... and even if their worst case scenarios aren't ever going to happen, I don't think we should be ignoring or making fun of these people. In the least, they have pushed forward against the mainstream, making ripples, bringing up questions and topics we'd better start thinking and talking about!

Eventually, I suppose, this blog will turn into a conglomerate of off-shoot topics - survivalist, current events, conspiracy theory possibilities, but for right now, Spring is nearly here in North American regions of the world, so I'm going to be reading up on, learning about, and engaging in some gardening/food production projects.



It's amazing to me (maybe because I'm not that young) that living in an urban area now (I grew up in a rural location), I find so few people who grow their own food. I don't live in an urban area that is considered over-populated at all, either - but I am still surprised that most city-dwellers who do maintain their yards are primarily bent on having nice grass and then keeping stray dogs, cats, and kids off their lawns!

I use public transit most of the time and so I'm walking past yard after yard after yard... I'm surely not trying to be a peeper here but I do glance into my neighbours' yards and into yards on the next block, all the way to the bus stop. What I see mostly are grass and some flowers in the front yards and very few greenhouses or gardens at the backs of houses. I must say there are a LOT of nice lawns in my area.

I can only conclude that, in general, people in my district are pretty much all buying food from stores year-round - and I'm not going to place a harsh judgement on that, however, I must say I'm worried that in my particular region of the country, we seem to have very little frugality or care for the resources that are right in front of us.



My plan for this year, this Spring (just a few short weeks away) is to start growing some of my own food and to use buckets and such so that I can bring at least a little bit of my gardening inside once the weather turns cold again. I figure that once I start, I'll have about 6 months to get things right with the plants, figure out which plants I am good at growing.

As well, I am a low-income urban resident of my city, so if I can keep some things growing in containers after the summer months, I'll be doing myself a huge favour by creating a dent in my winter grocery lists! In my estimation, it will take me a few YEARS to properly learn some useful survival skills in case of freak weather events, political events or societal upheavals... so I decided I should learn about food, growing, storing, etc, as a first project here.



I started learning a little bit about hanging pots for gardening prior to this winter. I purchased a couple of hanging bags/potting units as winter was almost upon my region, when the prices of gardening items went on sale. I've had a good look at how the pieces are made and won't have to purchase anything fancy as Spring rolls around. I've asked some friends for large buckets and I'm just waiting for some funds so I can purchase seeds and soil to get started. Oh - as well, I'll wait for the snow to clear before getting into high gear with things.

Here's one of the videos I've been paying attention to from a you tube user:




My idea is that when the SHTF I'll still have some tomato, lettuce, radish and other veggies around so I'll make us up a salad while we're figuring out the rest of our survival tactics! :)



BTW, I've been viewing all the Haters' comments under you tube vids for people who are displaying "Survival tips" videos so I am not looking forward to that kind of response to my blog. I'll just stay anonymous for the time being if that's all right with readers. I'll just call myself moi for now.

moi~~