Failing to Prepare is Preparing to fail

"Surviving to Fight means Fighting to Survive"

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Friday, 17 January 2014

Show Content 17th January 2014



Show Notes
I start this week with the Blizzard Survival Discount Offer, Ribz Discount Offer and the Wilderness121 Discount Offer then I move onto Surviving SHTF, Out and About, support these companies, Emergency Survival Items Bug-Out-Bag, I am just, The Gloves are off Post SHTF, Flooded Out- Humour, The Many Uses for A Bandana, Campfire recipes, more companies to support, Stealth Camping, Wilderness Hygiene, Dear Mr Cameron, The Effects of EMP, Further companies to support, Butchered Sheep – Empty Shelves - No Power, Inland fish for food, Survival Knives, Crossing Rivers, Uses of a Pocket Knife,   



Well it is great to be back at last, this last few months has been an ordeal for me that is for sure. Two heart operations and nearly four weeks in hospital, then recurring chest infections week after week.
Well although I am not perfect even now I do feel a lot better.
I would really like to thank everyone who has sent me messages of support and good wishes it has really meant a lot thank you all.­­
I have sorted out some great discount offers for you dear listener so many thanks to those companies for offering special discounts just for you.
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All you have to do to get a 20% discount is enter the code “PREPPER” at the checkout, it is that simple. Thank you Blizzard Survival.
30% DISCOUNT FROM RIBZ
A front pack is a pack or bag that allows for access of equipment from the persons chest. Front packs first and foremost allow for easy access of gear without the removal of any equipment.
In many adventure outdoor activities it can be critical to the sport to have the ability to reach essential gear fast without the removal of a backpack. Simplicity is the foremost purpose of the front pack but there are many additional benefits as well.
Weight distribution and balance is a key element in the utility of the front pack. Shifting weight forward in situations when carrying heavy loads can be critical to the comfort and balance of an individual.
Backpacking is a sport where in many situations it is critical to both minimize and maximize the contents of your load for a longer or lighter duration of stay. The ability to move small amounts of weight to the frontal region significantly reduces overall stress on a person’s shoulders and back.
Moving a small amount of heavy equipment forward to a front pack can allow for an individual to either maximize or minimize the overall load contained in a backpack.
In all there are unlimited uses for the front pack. Front packs are the best compliment to any outdoorsman’s gear when accessibility, functionality, mobility and simplicity are required.
From horseback riding, long distance biking, motorcycling and kayaking. All sports where fast and easy access of gear is essential, a front pack is your best solution and as you can imagine it is going down a storm within the prepping and survivalist community.
RIBZ VIP TEAM DISCONT
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Now pop along to www.wilderness121.co.uk and check out their great range of survival related products.
So a big thank you to Blizzard Survival, Ribz front pack and Wilderness121 for their great offers to listeners of this programme.
Surviving SHTF
Nuclear warfare is not necessary to cause a breakdown of our society. You take a large city like London, Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds— their water supply comes from hundreds of miles away and any interruption of that, or food, or power for any period of time you're going to have riots in the streets.
Our society is so fragile, so dependent on the interworking of things to provide us with the goods and services that you don't need nuclear warfare to fragment us anymore than the Romans needed it to cause their eventual downfall.
While some may consider such a discussion a waste of time, more and more people are coming to the conclusion that preparations of some sort are warranted in our current troubled environment — on many fronts.
Surviving Economic Collapse is about how much preparation individuals are willing to do and is usually in direct correlation to their belief that something catastrophic could happen, making life as we know it a much more difficult task.
It is a proven fact throughout history that when disruptions of any kind occur, those who made even the smallest preparations typically fare much better than those who gave no thought at all in this regard.
I want to share with you a list I have compiled of the things that could potentially happen — and that threaten our way of life in a small or large degree.
There is no way to predict these things, but anyone with common sense can see that the possibility is likely we could experience one or more of these events at some point in the future...
Any single event or combination of events could cause terrible and debilitating circumstances for a short or long period of time:
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, volcanic eruptions, solar flares, earthquakes, and other geophysical events happen across our world daily.
There is the every present possibility of wars, nuclear wars, nuclear reactor meltdowns, and radiation fallout.
Then we have the coming financial meltdown (derivative, debt crisis, economic collapse and/or bond implosion) causing currencies to implode and governments to topple
There are problems with the exploration, delivery, or production of oil, the lifeblood of modern economies
We are seeing a spread of disease such as the Black Plague or a bird flu pandemic more and more often
We have frequent Power cuts
And you could even say that political anarchy or revolution is a possibility too.
Racial strife or civil war is on the cards that is for sure
Electromagnetic pulse events are in the news even more now.
With any of these scenarios listed above (and there is a host of others I have probably not even thought about), you could have localized, national, or global unrest and even war for an indefinite period of time depending on the scope and duration of the event(s).
An item that is not on the list — but could be equally devastating to individual families — is the loss of a job.
Losing a job can be a catastrophic event if one is not properly prepared. Most families find themselves living pay day to pay day with little in the way of savings and almost nothing in the way of preparations.
For years, I had brought up the issue of preparedness to a close friend of mine.
When I first started talking about it, my friend and his wife basically blew me off... but I kept bringing the topic up.
Eventually they thought it was a good idea to at least get some sort of food storage together. Their family was accustomed to an upper middle class income and living comfortably in suburbia with their three children...
About a year after making their food preparations, my friend lost his job and ended up working a series of almost minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet.
He kept applying for better-paying jobs in his field of expertise — but no matter how qualified he was nobody was interested in hiring someone at his previous salary level or his age (late fifties).
The family's lifestyle was devastated and they eventually lost their home...
In a recent conversation with this friend, he told me that without their food storage, things would have been immeasurably more difficult. He thanked me for being a good friend and pushing the issue when he and his wife weren’t listening.
The family is now living a greatly reduced lifestyle, but keeping their heads above water and continuing with their preparations.
I share this story because on an individual basis, there is a host of things that can happen in which being prepared could make a huge difference.
We often, as a people in general, terms take things for granted and think 'this' or 'that' will never happen to us. In addition to a major job loss due to a myriad of reasons, you could lose your health or the ability to do your job.
Unfortunately, things of this nature are happening to more and more people every day. In fact, I'm certain all of us have been affected to some degree by similar stories of friends and relatives.
Our Current State of Affairs
The world in general seems afflicted on so many different fronts.
When you look at the list above, any rational person could easily see one or more of these scenarios occur within their lifetime.
Aside from the geophysical things that seem to be going haywire, and could be explained simply as the planet’s cycles, there are plenty of man-made catastrophes that loom on the horizon...
Never has the planet had as many people as it does now. With increased population numbers, there is increased pressure for resources.
More countries seek nuclear devices than ever before and recent advancements in technology make this much easier than any time before in history.
Biological and chemical weapons are also much easier to manufacture — and are being stored by an increasing number of very scary countries.
Oil markets are tighter than ever as demand from countries like China and India increases, but new supply cannot keep up with the increasing demand.
The financial debacle of the world economies needs no introduction to my listeners. In short, bad times — really bad times — for any number of reasons could and probably will be coming to a location near you.
Unless you and your family take this possibility quite seriously, if and when something does happen, you could very well find yourself in some extremely difficult circumstances...
Just look at the latest news coming out of Greece, as reported by Reuters.
This is happening right now — and it’s only going to spread.
When the political and economic systems of entire nations collapse the consequences are devastating.
Earlier this year pharmacies and hospitals in Greece were unable to provide lifesaving medicines due to a shortages caused by a freeze in the flow of credit from manufacturers to distributors to patients.
A collapse in the country’s economy has forced many Greeks to turn to black market barter economies and has left millions financially devastated, with no hope of finding an income stream for the foreseeable future.
The credit system of the entire country is in shambles. So much so that reports are emerging about food shortages and hunger within the Greek prison system, suggesting that serious problems in the food delivery chain have begun to materialize.
Recently the news got even worse. Greece’s Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) announced an emergency meeting to deal with what can only be construed as a tell-tale sign that this crisis is very rapidly reaching critical mass and may spiral out of control in the very near future:
The RAE told Reuters on Friday it was calling an emergency meeting next week to avert a collapse of the debt-stricken country’s electricity and natural gas system.
You may have thought the financial collapse of 2008 was bad. 
That was just a warm-up.
The main event is staring us in the face, and the whole of Europe has front-row seats.
What is happening in Europe is just a precursor for what will eventually be happening to the United States.
The following are Items to consider that I feel are prudent as you make your own preparations based on the problems that could potentially threaten our way of life.
Each of the items below could fill a book... but my intent is to at least get you thinking about the most important things related to being prepared.
Should I stay or should I go?
Many have already decided where they will go if and when any such disaster occurs. I hope they get there but…
Personally, I know many who have already left the United Kingdom — and they have never looked back. I have been invited to their retreats in Spain, Australian, New Zealand, and the Greek Islands, and they seem very happy with their decision to leave.
This is a huge decision. My hope is that the following discussion may be of some help when thinking about this topic.
Because I have travelled internationally so much in my previous life I often compare notes on my trips with other folks (Drivers, tourists etc.) about their travels...
One of the realizations you see first-hand as you travel extensively worldwide is the extreme wealth, extreme poverty, and extreme corruption that exists in all of its world flavours.
If you think the United Kingdom is corrupt, you should try going to Peru, or Bolivia, or Panama. And if you think those countries are corrupt, you haven’t see anything compared to Russia, Haiti, India, or some places in Africa...
The fact is corruption and the growing global police state is EVERYWHERE!
So while we certainly see much to complain about in the United Kingdom, which is definitely going the wrong way fast, from what I have seen in most other places on the planet, the U.K. is still less corrupt than most.
There are bad apples everywhere throughout politics, local police, special agents, and most certainly the court system — but for every bad apple, there are probably three times as many honourable people who are truly just trying to do their jobs.
Leaving the country is a decision you must make before the event takes place due to the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to accomplish such a task.
You must also think about being away from family and friends who don’t share your enthusiasm to leave the country and what affect that could have on everyone over time.
For most, I think it’s probably best to just hunker down in your own country and prepare as much as you can. If you can afford a retreat cabin somewhere far away from the big cities, that would probably be best — but again, you still need to get there once the event occurs.
I think that once a SHTF event occurs, you have two to three days to get to where you ultimately want to hunker down. After that, travel becomes extremely dangerous and it is unlikely you will reach your final destination.
Highways will become kill zones targeted by the bad guys. To a gang of armed looters who forgot to prepare or plan ahead before the event, there is not a better target than an RV loaded down with stored food, ammo, and gold.
Don’t be foolish and attempt travel once things have gone south: If you need to get somewhere, plan to leave the moment the event happens and arrive where you want to be within 72 hours.
This may require several false starts (meaning the situation looked bad at first, but didn’t materialize, and you need to return home) on your part as events start to unfold. But it's better to be safe than sorry if you are planning to get somewhere when an event happens.
Military strategists know from historical accounts of what happens when governments fail or when SHTF events affect a country:
The rule of thumb is that roads are to be avoided at all costs.
If you cannot afford a retreat of some sort, there are things you can do to like plan to survive in your own home...
First, you need to stock up and find a way to defend it.
Like-minded friends and neighbours can be a huge support network — as long as they have prepared as well.
Ultimately, everyone must decide for themselves based on finances, family concerns, and individual preferences what he can or cannot do in his preparations.
Hopefully, this discussion will help you make the best choices for what is in your best interest.
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.   
This is a good motto to live by, despite how you think about things.
Individuals can still hope for the best (that things can and will eventually work out), but what good is your prosperity going to do if you don’t have anything to eat or a safe place to hang out for an extended period of time?
Why not prepare while you still can — when things are readily available and can still be purchased at cheap prices? The coming hyper-inflation will make any such purchases beforehand look very intelligent...
To prepare for the worst, you need a plan. Why are most people so against doing basic preparations that could be the difference on how they survive — or whether they survive?
History shows time and again that those who prepare always fare better than those who did not. Having a plan and being determined to act on that plan will always be the best way to handle any contingencies, should they occur.
After disaster strikes, your mind is going to be racing around like a car on a race track. Pre-planning and having a written set of measures to take will make someone’s life go much smoother when the SHTF.
Your own personal plan is ONLY what best fits what you are going to do during and after a disaster.
People should also have back-up plans — Plans B and C, at least — because nothing ever seems to go as planned.
Haphazard approaches to the aftermaths of catastrophes are kind of like a chicken running around without its head.

Out and About
Here are three survival tips that are free, and won’t cost you anything.
There is a caveat though, that is you may need to force a slight change in your behaviour and habits.
In today’s world of increasing economic woes, more individuals are turning towards criminal behaviour as they become angrier, looking for someone to blame, and may be downright desperate.
You, as a ‘normal’ person, may be walking among them from time to time and you don’t even know it or recognize it.
To a large extent, the key to avoid being victimized is to simply be aware. Awareness consciously (and subconsciously) changes your own behaviour such that you will be more likely to avoid dangerous situations that could escalate into violence.
So how do you define ‘awareness’ in the context of your self-security:
Well you need to know what is happening or has happened in your field of travel
Look around you (and behind you) while moving (walking, driving, etc) outside your home
Make eye contact while scanning in crowded public places
Whether by paying attention to the news or ‘hearsay’, understand the history of the area you are about to travel in.
Most people over time will come to understand where the ‘bad’ areas are in their local region – areas especially vulnerable to crime.
If you are new to the area, or if traveling outside your own area, make an effort to discover where these ‘bad’ areas are. A great tool to look for crime reports is on CrimeReports.com, which shows maps dotted with crime reports in Canada, the U.S., and the UK.
Look around you (and behind you) while traveling
This simple behaviour is more effective than you may imagine.
The reason is that so many people do not do this, they are ignorant to their surroundings, and are the first to become victims.
Predators look for the weaker prey.
Someone who is looking down, or who appears to be in their own little world, they are prime targets for criminals.
Instead, scan around you from time to time, with your head up straight, as you walk with purpose – shoulders back, and confident.
Not only might you avoid an unruly-looking gang of troublemakers, but they might avoid targeting YOU.
Make eye contact while scanning in crowded public places
Making purposeful, but quick eye contact is another very effective deterrent to a criminal.
Here’s the reason… Most people purposely avoid eye contact in public places. They want to remain in their own little world and by looking down or avoiding eye contact, they are convinced that they will remain in that cocoon. The reality is that they are entirely wrong.
Sure, that type of behaviour may avoid unwanted conversation that otherwise might initiate from a stranger, but that’s about it… By occasionally scanning and making quick eye contact with others, tells any potential criminal that you are not afraid. ‘Quick’ eye contact simply means don’t stare.
Staring will provoke a stranger.
Is this type of behaviour simply a bunch of paranoia? Do you have to walk around being paranoid to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time? No, of course not.
Granted, for some people, learning to do these simple things will feel uncomfortable at first – and they may feel as though they are being paranoid.
However, after a while this will become part of you, just like being able to carry on a conversation with someone while driving a car. It’s no big deal…
Bolster some confidence while you’re out and about. It may unknowingly ward off a pick-pocket, purse-snatcher, or worse criminal, without you even knowing it happened!
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Emergency Survival Items Bug-Out-Bag
Disasters here in the UK such as floods and storms or power cuts can strike at any time, sometimes without warning.
All disasters have the potential to cause disruption, damage property and take lives.
The information here will help you learn about the disasters that can affect you and what you can do to be prepared before they happen. And knowing what to do during and after these disasters will also help you and your loved ones keep safe and get through.
In most emergencies you should be able to stay in your home. Plan to be able to look after yourself and your household for at least three days or more.
Assemble and maintain your emergency survival items for your home as well as a portable getaway kit a, Bug-Out-Bag in case you have to leave in a hurry. You should also have essential emergency items in your workplace and in your car.
Emergency Survival Items
Torch with spare batteries or a self-charging torch
Radio with spare batteries
Wind and waterproof clothing, sun hats, and strong outdoor shoes.
First aid kit and essential medicines
Blankets or sleeping bags
Pet supplies
Toilet paper and large rubbish bags for your emergency toilet
Face and dust masks
Check all batteries every three months. Battery powered lighting is the safest and easiest. Do not use candles as they can tip over in earthquake aftershocks or in a gust of wind. Do not use kerosene lamps, which require a great deal of ventilation and are not designed for indoor use.
Food and water for at least three days
Non-perishable food (canned or dried food)
Food, formula and drinks for babies and small children
Water for drinking. At least 3 litres per person, per day
Water for washing and cooking
A primus or gas barbeque to cook on
A can opener
Check and replace food and water every twelve months. Consider stocking a two-week supply of food and water for prolonged emergencies such as a pandemic.
Bug-Out Bag
In some emergencies you may need to evacuate in a hurry. Everyone should have a packed getaway kit in an easily accessible place at home and at work which includes:
Cash
Torch and radio with spare batteries
Any special needs such as hearing aids and spare batteries, glasses or mobility aids
Emergency water and easy-to-carry food rations such as energy bars and dried foods in case there are delays in reaching a welfare centre or a place where you might find support. If you have any special dietary requirements, ensure you have extra supplies
First aid kit and essential medicines
Essential items for infants or young children such as formula and food, nappies and a favourite toy
Change of clothes (wind/waterproof clothing and strong outdoor shoes)
Toiletries – towel, soap, toothbrush, sanitary items, toilet paper
Blankets or sleeping bags
Face and dust masks
Pet supplies
Local maps
Survival Knife
Survival Kit
Include important documents in your getaway kit: identification (birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licences and passports), financial documents (e.g. insurance policies and mortgage information), and precious family photos.
First Aid
If someone you care for is injured in a disaster, your knowledge of first aid will be invaluable. Many organisations provide first aid training courses. Consider taking a first aid course, followed by regular refresher sessions. You can buy ready-made first aid kits or make up your own.
In some situations you may be forced to evacuate your home, office, school or neighbourhood at short notice.
Before an evacuation
Consider your transportation options in case you have to evacuate. If you do not own or drive a car, ask emergency planning staff at your local council about plans for people without private vehicles.
Know which local radio stations to listen to during an event for announcements from your local emergency planning officials.
Discuss and practice your evacuation plans with everyone in the household.
Make in-case-of-evacuation arrangements with friends or relatives in your neighbourhood as well as outside the area you are in.
Know the evacuation routes you could take and plan several evacuation routes in case roads are damaged or blocked.
If you have pets, domestic animals or livestock, include them in your emergency plans.
If there is a possibility of an evacuation, fill your car’s fuel tank. Keep in mind that if there are power cuts in an event, fuel stations may not be able to operate pumps.
If you are in an area this is being evacuated
Listen to your local radio stations as emergency planning officials will be broadcasting the most appropriate advice for your community and situation.
Evacuate quickly if told to do so by authorities. Take your getaway kit with you. If you are outside the evacuation zone when a warning is issued, do not go into an at-risk area to collect your belongings.
If there is time, secure your home as you normally would when leaving for an extended period.
Turn off electricity and water at the mains if there is time. Do not turn off natural gas unless you smell a leak or hear a blowing or hissing sound, or are advised to do so by the authorities.
Take your pets with you when you leave if you can safely do so.
If you have livestock, evacuate your family and staff first. If there is time, move livestock and domestic animals to a safer area.
Use travel routes specified by local authorities. Some areas may be impassable or dangerous so avoid shortcuts. Do not drive through moving water. If you come upon a barrier, follow posted detour signs.
Get your car ready
Why not plan ahead for what you will do if you are in your car when a disaster strikes. In some emergencies you may be stranded in your vehicle for some time. A flood, snow storm or major traffic accident could make it impossible to proceed.
Consider having essential emergency survival items in your car. If you are driving in extreme winter conditions, add ice scrapers, brush, shovel, tire chains and warm clothing to your emergency kit.
Store a pair of walking shoes, waterproof jacket, essential medicines, snack food, water and a torch in your car.
When planning travel, keep up to date with weather and traffic information.
I am Just
Lots of things get people in trouble when they go into the woods including lack of preparedness, not paying attention to the weather, accidents etc.
More commonly, it is the attitude toward our safety that is the precursor to a life threatening event occurring.
How many times have you said to yourself or have heard others say, “I am just………”  as in “I’m just going to walk up the ridge and see if I can see a deer,” or “I’m just going to be out for fifteen minutes,” or perhaps “I’m just going to run down to the shop.”
I believe these three little words “I am just” get more people into trouble than any other three little words I can think of!
Except I LOVE YOU Ha, Ha,
Most commonly you don’t say these words out loud, but say them to yourself, silently─ which is even more dangerous.
Many times you are not even conscious of your decision to leave your gear behind.
Unconsciously you already have made the decision to leave it because “I am just…….”  When spoken out loud there always is the chance that someone, upon hearing you say, “I am just……….” will step in and remind you of the importance of always taking your emergency clothing and equipment with you ─ even though the possibility of having to spend an unplanned night out is remote.
When nothing looks familiar, and every direction seems to be the same, STOP and think about what to do next!
It is easy to convince yourself that nothing life threatening will happen ─ after all you are “just……………”   When you use the word “just,” you are convincing yourself that the weather will remain pleasant, that no accident will happen, that you will not get lost, or that you will be able to get back before dark!
You are saying to yourself that you don’t need to carry your day pack with your emergency gear and warm clothing because you won’t need it ─ you are “just…………….”
It also is easy to rationalize away the need to always carry your back up clothing and emergency equipment.
As the years ago by, one hunting season follows another, and you have yet to spend that unplanned night out, the temptation to reduce the weight of the daypack you are carrying by leaving your survival kit at home, can be very attractive.
As you look to the mountains in anticipation of having to ascend on foot and hunt at higher altitudes, it is natural to want to lighten your load and leave behind those pieces of equipment that you have seldom, if ever, used. 
Sometimes it is “space” or the lack of it, which causes you to decide to leave items behind that you should take.
Most often, it’s the short trips that get you in trouble!  After all, “I was just………”  You get complacent.  
Nothing life threatening ever has happened in the past and so it is easy to  convince yourself that it won’t happen in the future and if it does you can handle it ─whatever “it” is!
Ignoring the possibility of finding yourself in a survival situation is like playing Russian roulette.  
Falling victim to the “I am just” syndrome is like playing
Russian roulette with five out of six chambers loaded!
History is replete with examples of those finding themselves in trouble who, after being rescued from some horrendous situation, said “I was just……..”
Several years ago in the US an older man left his camp one evening ─ he was “just” going to walk down to the end of the ridge and see if he could spot a stag.  
The following morning was the opening day of the shooting season.  He never returned and despite an extensive search he was not found alive.
Ten days later his body, partially buried under snow, was discovered by other hunters.  
His emergency gear consisted of a .357 Magnum pistol and thirty seven rounds of ammunition, which he had used to try to signal his hunting partners.
Thirty-six of the thirty-seven cartridges had been fired, but were never heard by either his partners or those that searched for him.
He had tried to shelter himself by drawing two log ends together and laying slabs of bark on top of the logs to provide a crude roof.
His clothing, a mixture of cotton and wool, failed to provide the protection he needed from the environmental conditions he encountered.
Physiologically he died from hypothermia, but it also could be said that he died because he had rationalized away the need to carry any additional emergency gear.
Equipment that might have prevented the situation from developing in the first place – a map, compass or a GPS Receiver.
Equipment that he could have used to increase his protection from cold temperatures, precipitation and wind-chill.  
Equipment that he could have used to attract the attention of the rescuers that were looking for him – a mirror, whistle, mobile, warm clothing, survival bag.
He was “just going to walk to the end of the ridge, to look for an elk and then return to camp!”
The words “I am just” when spoken out loud or silently should be considered a red flag warning!
When you say them yourself or hear others say them ─ STOP!  The trap is being set!
Continuing on only will spring the trap and once you are in it, there may be no escape.   
Without adequate clothing, without basic survival equipment (reliable fire starting devices, waterproof, windproof sheltering materials, a signal mirror and whistle), without the ability to build a fire or signal to others, survival depends on an individual’s tenacity to live, their ability to improvise what they need and luck – but sometimes that’s not enough!
As you contemplate what you should have with you as you begin a trip – even a short one, don’t use the words “I am just…….”
What do you think of the show so far?
The Gloves are off Post SHTF
I say that Post SHTF the gloves are off as regards shooting game and even large domesticated farm animals.
Meat and animal products is what we get from livestock so even if you do not eat meat animals still have to be kept for eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products, which we need to make up a healthy diet.
They are a very good source of protein and I can tell you that things do not seem so bad when you are tucking into a beef steak or a lamb joint.
The feed to production ratio value of your animals is basically like this. Poultry good, Pigs & Sheep medium, Cattle poor.
Poultry eat a mainly grain diet so that is expensive but this can be supplemented with natural feed when free ranging.
Any switch from high value grain to natural feed will lower the feed to meat and egg production ratio, but the switch to a varied natural feed can produce a higher quality product.
Pigs also eat a grain diet but this can be supplemented quite well with waste fruit and vegetables, and also natural feed when free ranging.
Sheep eat mainly grass but if producing black faced hardy sheep, these will eat almost all kinds of vegetation from the poorest of land, so even though their feed costs are low they still put weight on but slower than more expensively reared quality grass sheep.
Cattle require expensive quality grass to produce anything and will also require expensive winter feed and purpose built winter housing, producing anything from cattle takes many months and masses of expense and time.
Everything will depend on how big the operation is.
Many years ago I shot a mallard drake from across the river, the mistake I made was I was on the wrong bank when I shot it, and this meant that I had to cross the river to retrieve it, nevertheless it did eventually end up on my plate and all was well.
For decades game has been the preserve of the wealthy as they purchase days shooting on estates with driven game (a bit like shooting rats in a barrel) sometimes, I think.
The guy in the street “us” has been legally removed from these shoots except that we are good enough only to pick up what has been shot and beat, it seems.
Well as I said when SHTF “WE” assume the survivor rights of ancient times, yes we must provide for our own. Now with years of battery breeding of game birds we have a chemical drug free food source just running around free.
I’m afraid that any ethics will have to be over ridden as obtaining this free food is the priority and in many ways not the way we get it.
So lamping roosting pheasants and wood pigeons will be the norm instead of deploying decoy’s and building hides etc.
I’m sure many preppers and survivalists know what I mean and would agree with my sentiments.
And yes, water fowl and game birds will be shot on the ground and on the water as well.
As for large domestic farm animals they too will need to be on our menu either shot of dispatched with a quick blow to head with a heavy object. Imagine how long we would survive with a cow or sheep to keep us going.
Fish farms would be a logical target as would free range chicken farms.
I would also advocate the live capture of the above; including game birds and water fowl so as to breed our own food, the benefit being that most of these animals and birds feed themselves do they not.
It is criminal to take the life of an animal and waste it, for me it is also morally wrong too.
If you keep animals for food and then after slaughtering it you decide you can’t eat it and end up throwing it away, then you have wasted that animals life and killed it for no reason other than some half-baked idea that you could be self-sufficient or rear your own food.
This does happen to some people who then rush down to the supermarket for a pound of sausages. If you find you have become attached to your animals which happens quite a lot, then don't kill them, keep them as pets which they most probably will have become.
Best thing to do is work out exactly what you think you can achieve and stick to it and not get carried away by popular fads.
Either do it or stick to growing vegetables and let someone else produce the meat.
Growing fruit and vegetables is always going to be cheaper, simpler, easier and a lot less hassle than trying to produce your own meat.
Yes the gloves would be off.
Flooded Out- Humour
It rained for days and days and there was a terrific flood.
The water rose so high that one man was forced to climb on top of his roof and sat in the rain.
As the waters came up higher a man in a rowboat came up to the house and told him to get in. "No thank you, the Lord will save me!" he said, and the man in the rowboat rowed away.
The waters rose to the edge of the roof and still the man sat on the roof until another rowboat came by and another man told him to get in. "No thank you, the Lord will save me!" he said again, and the man rowed away.
The waters covered the house and the man was forced to sit on his chimney as the rain poured down and a helicopter came by and another man urged him to get in or he'll drown. "No thank you," the man said again, "The Lord will save me!"
After much begging and pleading the man in the helicopter gave up and flew away.
The waters rose above the chimney and the man drowned and went to heaven where he met God.
"Lord, I don't understand," he told Him, frustrated, "The waters rose higher and higher and I waited hours for you to save me but you didn't! Why?"
The Lord just shook his head and said,
"What are you talking about? I sent two boats and a helicopter?!"
The Many Uses for a Bandana
There are many items we find on bug out bag list and survival gear lists. However, there are a couple on there, that to be truly honest, most of us aren’t really sure what we would use them for. Or if we do have one option, we don't have any other use for this item. For preppers and survivalists, having just one use for an item just won't cut it when it comes to our survival gear. So for this post we're going to take a look at one such item. The bandana. You can use it to cover your head, but what else can you use it for?
1. A Dust Mask
2. Sweat Rag
3. Add Water to Use as a Cooling Cloth
4. Self Defence (just roll up a rock or roll of coins in it)
5. Signal Flag (a bright colour is preferable)
6. Crude Water Filter
7. Pot Holder for Cooking
8. Dish Cloth
9. Collection Basket for Wild Edibles
10. Sun cream for exposed skin
11. Scarf for Cold Water
12. Bandage
13. Tourniquet
14. Handkerchief
15. Sling (for broken bones)
16. Sling (as a weapon)
17. Cordage (through tearing into strips)
18. Pouch or Small Bag
19. Cleaning Patches for a Firearm
20. Gun Wipe Cloth
21. Bullet Patches for a Muzzleloader
22. Char Cloth
23. Emergency Toilet Paper
24. Nappy
25. Washcloth
26. Eye patch
27. Blindfold
28. Restraints
29. to Tie Things In Place
30. Napkin
31. Hot or Cold Compress
32. Food Cover
33. Coffee Filter
34. Trail Marker
35. Fire Tinder (through shredding or by picking the lint off)
Hopefully this list will give you some ideas for how to use your own bandanas and to think of new uses for other equipment as well. If anyone has other uses for a bandana please share them in the comments below!
Camping Recipes
In the olden days, this simple pleasure was a nightly occurrence. Every meal was enjoyed and appreciated. But somehow, with the increased pace of life in the modern era, it was lost in the importance.
The focus put on camping meals by both its preparers and consumers, however, provides campers the rare opportunity to bring back that slowed-down sense of community and appreciation during a great meal.
The following campfire recipes, are guaranteed to fill the stomach and tantalize the taste buds. So round up the ingredients, get the cooking fire roaring, and gather around the fire for these campsite culinary treats as who says campfire meals have to be sausage and beans?
Foil Dinner
1/4lb Mince
1 Carrot, sliced
1 Potato, sliced
Small onion, diced
Seasonings To choice
Butter
Heavy duty aluminium foil
Layer all ingredients in the centre of a piece of aluminium foil. Season to taste. Top with butter. Fold foil and secure tightly. Leave room for expansion. Place packet on hot coals for approx. 20-30 minutes. Turn and rotate often.
Be Creative – Use various meats, vegetables, seasonings and sauces etc.
Camper’s Pizza
Bread
Butter
Mozzarella cheese
Sauce
Pepperoni, sliced (other other)
Butter one side of two slices of bread. Place one slice of bread in a frying pan or on a grill with buttered side down. Top with 1 1/2 tablespoons of pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Place other slice of bread on top with buttered side out. Turn often until bread is toasted.
Campfire Stew
1lb Mince
1 small onion
Garlic salt
1 can vegetable soup
Using a Dutch oven, brown the meat with onion, garlic and seasoning. When the meat is thoroughly cooked add canned vegetable soup and simmer till heated through.
Serve with foil wrapped potatoes and biscuits.
Fish on a Stick
Piece of fish (trout, etc.)
Grilling fork or green hardwood stick
Thread fork through the fish. Cook over hot coals. Cook both sides until fish flakes at the thickest part. Serve with foil wrapped potatoes.
Have extra pieces of fish ready in case some fall into the fire.
Tasty Pork Tenderloin
1 pork tenderloin (boneless chicken breasts can be substituted)
5 small potatoes
3 carrots
1 medium onion (sweet if possible)
2 courgettes
1 tomato
1/4 lb. of fresh green beans
2 Corn of the cob cut in half
Garlic salt
Olive oil
Ground pepper
Simply Spread 2 layers of heavy duty foil side by side, with middle overlapping. Drizzle olive oil onto foil. Place tenderloin in the centre (lengthwise) of the foil.
Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch slices and place on and around the meat. Cut other vegetables into large pieces and place on and around the meat.
Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Cover food with another piece of foil and fold the top & bottom foil together to seal the packet. Place on hot coals for 60 to 90 minutes.
As a variation, leave out the olive oil, garlic salt & pepper, and cover the meat & veggies with Italian salad dressing instead.
French Toasted Sandwiches
6 slices cheese
12 slices Italian bread
Milk
Flour
2 eggs, beaten
Dip sandwiches in milk, then flour, then egg. Brown on heated grill.
Easy Camp Pies
Mince (enough to make a burger for each person)
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Butter
Dry onion soup mix
Heavy Duty Aluminium Foil
Use a square of heavy duty aluminium foil for each “pie”.
For each “pie” put one hamburger, thinly sliced potatoes, sliced onions, sliced carrots, a tablespoon of butter & some dry onion soup mix. Wrap up your “pie” and place in the coals. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes or until done.
Easy Chili
1lb Mince
1 can large can peeled tomatoes, diced
6 small cans tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, diced
2 cans light red kidney beans, drained
1 pack of Chili Seasoning
Brown the mince in a large pot then drain the fat and combine all remaining ingredients Simmer for 1/2 hour. Stir occasionally.
Foiled Fish
1lb fish fillets
2tbsp margarine
1/4 cup lemon juice
1tbsp chopped parsley
1/4tsp paprika
1 sliced onion
Salt
Pepper
Heavy duty aluminium foil
Place each piece of fish onto a piece of heavy duty aluminium foil.
In a saucepan, melt margarine. Add lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well. Pour this mixture over the fish. Sprinkle with paprika and top with onion slices. Fold foil loosely and seal tightly. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side. Fish should flake easily when done.
Haystacks
Bag of corn or tortilla chips
1 can of chili
Onion – diced
 Lettuce
Tomato – diced
Shredded cheese
Tobasco Sauce or Salsa (optional)
Warm chili in a Dutch oven or skillet. Crush corn chips. Top chips with chili, onion, lettuce, tomato and shredded cheese. Add Tobasco sauce or salsa.
Eye of the Round
1 boneless pork loin
Seasonings of choice
Wax paper
String
Good bed of coals
Coat the meat with a good layer of the salt. Season the meat. Wrap meat in 7-9 layers of wax paper tucking in the end of each layer. Tie up the roast with the string making sure the wax paper stays in place. Place the roast directly on the coals.
Turn the roast every 15 mins. (+/-5 mins.) a 1/4 of a turn. After the 4th side, check the meat using a meat thermometer for desired doneness.
Note: The wax paper does burn, but the salt and the wax seal the meat. The burnt paper can easily be pulled off before serving.
Here are some more companies to support
72 hour survival pack
Blizzard Survival jacket
Survival Ration Packs
SOL Complete Survival Kit and SOL Bivy Bag
The answer to rough ground sleeping
For all your military equipment needs
NEW MRE’s
The Fire Piston
Great tasty MRE’s
The 95 Puukko Survival Knife
Gold Standard Whey Protein isolates which are 90% pure protein by weight
The RIBZ Front Pack
Further Companies to Support
Uses natural fuel
EDC steel tools
Highlander Trojan Hydration Pack – Multicam
CUDEMAN HEAVY DUTY OLIVE WOOD BUSHCRAFT KNIFE - 111L
Alum Crystal and natural spa products
Tool logic Survival 11 Credit Card
BackHawk Web duty Belt
Guppie Multi=tool
Go Survival Pack
Beautiful Handmade Catapults
1 Person BASIC Backpack Survival Kit, the back pack that does it all
DD Hammock –The ultimate in Travel Hammocks
Elzetta ZFL-M60 Tactical Weapon-Grade LED Torch
Ultimate Adventurer Survival Kit everything in one kit
Adjustable Knife Lanyard Review
Handmade knives by James D. Sanders
Mini alarm Device with an Ultra bright White LED
Lightload towels
You are listening to the UK preppers Radio Network on KPRNDB-UK I’m your host Tom Linden.
Stealth Camping
A while ago I said I was going to "overnight" out in the town or on the outskirts of the town or even under bushes in the local park.
So I was very pleased to see that doing this is called “Stealth Camping” and it is done mainly by biker-campers although not exclusively.
Stealth Camping is the act of sleeping in non-conventional areas without trace or discovery.
Though it may sound illegal, stealth camping, by definition does not imply an illegal activity. Instead, stealth campers take advantage of free or extremely low cost sleeping areas where other campers never think to stay.  
Proper stealth camping is an art and requires forethought, consideration of the property owner, and safety consciousness in order to keep it legal, safe, and comfortable.
Stealth camping takes on many forms and there are very few confining definitions on what constitutes stealth camping.  
If you have ever taken a long journey in your car and stopped at a rest stop or a fast food outlet for an extended nap you have stealth camped without even knowing you were doing it.
Though sleeping in your car for a few hours at a Burger King may not be considered hard core by the most experienced stealthers, car camping in public car parks is one of the more sedate forms of stealth camping.
If car parks are too tame for you, don’t write off stealth camping as only for losers who would rather sleep in their cars than shell out money for a hotel bed and a hot shower.
Remember, stealth camping takes on many forms.
The more exciting forms of stealth camping will have you stringing a Hammock Tent between two trees in a secluded wooded area on the outskirts of a big city or pitching a one-man bivy shelter within earshot of a train track or in a tucked away corner of a farmer’s pasture land.
I suggest that when stealth camping you use a hammock and here are some reasons why.
Do you remember last time you went camping looking for a piece of flat ground on which to camp?
Once you find a suitable site, the ground is never very flat. Even within your tent footprint, and sleeping bag, you are still lucky to find a spot without a root sticking in your back.
Besides, even with all that protection, you will still be sleeping on hard ground.
As hard as you try, you can never get truly comfortable. Anyway, this is STEALTH CAMPING…there is NEVER a flat spot when you need one.
With a hammock, you can pitch it almost anywhere over any type of terrain.
Being invisible is what stealth camping is all about. Since you don’t need a big flat area of ground, you are able to pitch your campsite amongst the trees.
Being hidden by low lying branches is one of the best cloaking devices ever for stealth campers. Hammocks are designed to be stealthy and trees are an effective blocking mechanism.
In densely wooded land, I have seen hammocks that cannot be seen within 10 feet of the campsite. It is very reasonable to assume that you can launch a hammock 50′ away from a populated area and never be seen by the public.
I can honestly say that I have never really had a comfortable night’s sleep in a standard tent. I cannot say the same thing about a hammock.
Hammocks have many of the benefits of a standard bed that you just cannot get sleeping in a tent. The first thing that comes to mind is the ability to prop yourself up.
Hammocks allow you to prop yourself up within the slight curvature as it is strung between two trees. This curvature isn’t over whelming though and you are still able to slide down and flatten out.
So I think I will be taking my hammock and getting into stealth camping as it sounds great fun.
Wilderness Hygiene
Mate you Stink! - a common phrase heard in the woods.  
But beware of the pot calling the kettle black. “Camping sanitation practices” - “personal hygiene” – whatever you want to call it, it’s about more than just smell.
Your health and the health of fellow hikers; the aesthetics of the wilderness; avoiding fines; and your personal comfort are all at stake as well.
It’s all about the bugs – bacteria, viruses, and other various nasty’s. Keep them at bay through better personal and environmental cleanliness, and you’ll feel better, smell better and be less likely to end up gut-wrenching sick.
I am really looking forward to attending one of Sally Mittauchs wilderness hygiene master classes at the WG next month.
Survivalists and Preppers are usually knowledgeable about water contamination and proper treatment, but are less cautious about other sources of germs from food and waste - witness a trio of survivalists or preppers all sticking their grubby hands into a bag of trail mix at break time.
But just because you don’t have a gold-trimmed taps, a bidet and a rubbish disposal at camp doesn’t mean you can’t keep yourself and your trail area reasonably clean when out in the woods.
I’ve put some suggestions together on the subject so you can be a friend to the woods - and to your tent mate.
Make a point to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket and use it frequently – after toilet use; before grabbing a handful of trail mix; before cooking dinner.
This cuts down on the prospects of ingesting bacteria that can make you sick – a doubly unpleasant experience when on a survival exercise let alone the real thing.
Carry a small bottle of rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls.
Soak the cotton with the alcohol and give yourself a rub down at night under the arms, feet and groin area.
You’ll be amazed at how dirty the cotton becomes – yes, that all came off you - and how much better you feel afterwards. A light weight to carry with big benefits.
Whenever you can, don’t pass up the chance to dip your feet in a creek.
A quick 5-minute stop a couple of times a day to clean your feet, dry and move on does wonders for eliminating bacteria and relieving hot spots that may have been developing into blisters as you hike.
Better still, rotate your socks in use while you’re at it.
Speaking of socks, if you camp near water, wash out your socks and hang out to dry overnight.
Just make sure you have one dry pair for in the morning, as sometimes they won’t dry out completely at night. Tie outside your pack to finish drying the next day.
Carry a bandana and a small bottle of biodegradable soap to give yourself an occasional sponge bath of sorts – at least your face, underarms, groin, buttocks and feet.
This reduces chafing, odours, and bacteria, and you’ll sleep better if not so sticky everywhere.
For minimal impact on the environment, carry water away from the source to take this bath if you are using soap – one way is to include in your pack a container cut from a 1-gallon jug, or buy a collapsible bucket.
Carry a small container of body lotion or muscle rub and use it on your feet at night after cleaning.
Try to sleep in something other than what you hiked in, and hang those hiking clothes to air out overnight when possible. If near water, rinse them out when you can.
Maintaining dental hygiene while camping is comforting and healthful. Include dental floss and a travel-sized travel toothbrush and toothpaste in your pack.
Don’t rinse out your mouth right near your tent though. As with dishwater, either dispose of it well away from your sleeping area or in running water that will quickly dilute it.
An alternative to bathing with water is using wet-wipes you can remove a lot of grunge from your body with one or two of these alcohol-soaked cloths, when used burn them.
I’ve heard of survivalists and preppers going as long as a week without “going” because of either being uncomfortable with the process, or too bashful of sorts to let nature take its course.
No point getting your colon all up in knots over it; just emulate your cat, as explained below.
First, on urination – not a problem for us blokes; the world is our bathroom. Do relieve yourself away from camp sites as the urine odour can remain for some time.
Ladies have more difficulty, but are encouraged to either drip-dry, carry out the TP, or bury it where allowed by using a backpacker's trowel.
Second, There’s actually a good-selling book titled “How to S#!+ in the Woods”, but I’ll try to condense that issue down to a few points:
Go off trail and at least 200 feet from any water source, including springs and streams.
Always carry a lightweight plastic backpacker's trowel when you hike for toilet purposes. 
Like your cat tries to, dig a hole 4-6 inches deep. If the ground is covered with snow, be sure to dig through the snow and create the cat hole beneath the topsoil – this can be quite hard work if the ground is frozen.
Then just squat above it. This is the part novices fear the most, but actually results in much more natural and healthful elimination than sitting at a 90 degree angle on your home toilet.
There are a couple of pointers – make sure you’re really out of sight; squat with your rear downhill; hang on to a tree for balance; and make sure your shirt or coat is lifted up in the back.
After wiping with TP, get yourself even cleaner back there with wet wipes this will reduce the chances of chafing and later discomfort.
After using the cat-hole, cover it and the TP with the soil you removed. Revert the site to its natural look by re-scattering leaves, rocks or pine needles over the top. Place a rock on top so the next person along doesn't step in it or animals try dig it up.
Always follow with a good hand cleaning with hand gel or soap and water.
Keep your trowel as clean as possible - wipe off on grass or sand or wash off after each use. Keep it and your roll of TP in a plastic bag and carry in or on your pack away from your food.
According to many countryside polls rubbish left on the trail and at camps – wrappers, toilet paper, plastic jugs can distract from the wilderness experience. Here’s how you can be part of the solution.
Plan ahead and pack consumables with minimal wrappers. Use Ziploc re-sealable baggies to package individual meal servings instead of their original containers, then use those bags to hold your rubbish coming out.
Avoid cans and other containers with metal – you’ll have to carry those in and out.
If fires are permitted where you camp, you can burn some trash items, but beware of paper not burning all the way to ash, or you still have a rubbish problem.
Cigarette butts can hang around for years, and don’t easily burn up – if you’re going to smoke, carry out the butts.
If you see rubbish on the route – be a trooper and pick it up; don’t wait for “someone to do something about it”.
Bring a heavy duty black bag with you – it has many potential purposes such as water protection, ground cover, or sleeping bag protector while you are out there – and then put your unburned rubbish in it on your way out.
Dear Mr Cameron
Please find below our suggestion for fixing the UK's economy.
Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.
You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:
There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.
Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
They MUST retire.
Ten million job openings - unemployment fixed
They MUST buy a new British car.
Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed
They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage -
Housing Crisis fixed
They MUST send their kids to school/college/university -
Crime rate fixed
They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week
And there's your money back in duty/tax etc
It can't get any easier than that!
P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances
Also let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home
This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc. and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.
Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.
Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.
Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.
The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.
Now think about this
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Appleby almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the county of Cumbria?
And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
What do you think, am I right-let me know.
The Effects of EMP
Identifying the systems that would probably fail if there were a strong-enough EMP from either a massive solar CME, a nuclear EMP weapon, or a tactical EMP bomb, is easier to speculate than items that might survive an EMP.
There are some obvious items that would survive, but many are not that obvious.
An EMP, an ‘ electro-magnetic-pulse’, is a side-effect of a nuclear explosion, a coronal mass ejection (from the Sun), or a purposed EMP bomb.
An EMP is a near instantaneous and invisible ‘ZAP’ of electricity that surges through electrical wires and electrical semiconductor components.
‘IF’ the EMP is strong enough and the electronic components are close enough to the source, then these components could fry. Once they are fried, that’s it…they’re done.
Only physical replacements will bring the systems back up and running.
So, while attempting to discover what items will survive an EMP, we need to know what is INSIDE the item… namely, if there are any electronic semiconductors (transistors, IC ‘chips’, microprocessors, etc.).
It is the microscopic semiconductor ‘junctions’ themselves that are vulnerable to melting due to an excess of electrical current being forced through the junction (from the EMP).
Also, an EMP will be carried through overhead power lines (at the speed of light) and could instantaneously overwhelm power transformers along the grid with excess electrical current, causing the windings of the transformers to melt into a molten blob.
The power lines will also carry the EMP (at the speed of light) far and wide into homes and businesses in search of semiconductors to fry.
Here’s another thing to know… an EMP’s energy will decay the further away from the source that you get.
Electronic circuits that are further away will be less vulnerable to the EMP. But how far away?
Well that depends (of course). It depends on the overall strength of the EMP, the altitude of the EMP, the ‘line-of-sight’ distance from the EMP, and any protection that the device might have to protect it from an EMP.
After all that, the simple answer to what items might survive, are those items that do not contain semiconductors!
The problem is, nearly all devices today contain semiconductors!
If the device you are wondering about contains any digital interface whatsoever, then you can probably kiss it good-bye.
Often it may be difficult to even know if there are semiconductors in a device. Even if there is no digital interface, there could still very well be semiconductors or electronic circuits somewhere inside.
Electric heaters… Forget about it. The grid will probably be down.
Oil heat… The burner’s ignition transformers, electronic control circuits, and electronic controlled pumps will fry. Plus, with no electrical power, the pumps won’t function.
Natural gas heat… The utility gas pressure will probably remain for a while, but electronic thermostats or gas valve controllers may fry.
Some basic-style natural gas heaters, such as wall units, could be lit manually though – until the pressure runs out.
Portable heaters… Most self-fuelled heaters without electronic controls will survive –until your fuel source runs out. If it plugs in, it’s toast.
Wood Stove heater… Ding Ding Ding… we have a winner!
Let’s talk cars.
As most of us know, any new car today is jam packed full of electronics. Forget it. It’s dead.
Any car made with electronic ignition and fuel injection will probably stop in its tracks.
Cars have been being built with these features longer than you may think in fact since the (1980′s).
Depending on the exact vehicle, you may be somewhat ‘safe’ with a car built in the early 1980′s, 1970′s or earlier.
It would take some significant research to list the vehicles built without these electronic systems, but suffice it to say that most any vehicle today is vulnerable to EMP failure (if close enough to the EMP source).
So should you re-think your choice of bug out vehicle?
Let’s talk ‘general’.
Generally speaking, ranging from tools, to appliances, to heaters, to vehicles… if it has electronic circuits, it is vulnerable to EMP.
This basically leaves hand tools, hand operated or primitive appliances, wood stove heat, and old vehicles.
We’re talking living like the 1800′s or earlier.
While the threat of an EMP to the degree of mass power cuts is apparently slim, the fact is that it is not zero.
A huge portion of the world population today relies on electricity for survival.
It has enabled great advancements in civilization. The lack thereof could enable great setbacks to civilization.
Be prepared.
Further Companies to Support
Uses natural fuel
EDC steel tools
Highlander Trojan Hydration Pack – Multicam
CUDEMAN HEAVY DUTY OLIVE WOOD BUSHCRAFT KNIFE - 111L
Alum Crystal and natural spa products
Tool logic Survival 11 Credit Card
BackHawk Web duty Belt
Guppie Multi=tool
Go Survival Pack
Beautiful Handmade Catapults
1 Person BASIC Backpack Survival Kit, the back pack that does it all
DD Hammock –The ultimate in Travel Hammocks
Elzetta ZFL-M60 Tactical Weapon-Grade LED Torch
Ultimate Adventurer Survival Kit everything in one kit
Adjustable Knife Lanyard Review
Handmade knives by James D. Sanders
Mini alarm Device with an Ultra bright White LED
Lightload towels
The Power Trekk
The LUCI light
Butchered Sheep – Empty Shelves - No Power
Starving scavengers forced to the brink by the recession are targeting sheep in a remote beauty spot and butchering them in fields for their meat, livestock protection officers fear.
Experts have reported that animals are being dismembered on Dartmoor, Devon - or stolen alive to be killed later.
Sheep have been found where there joints like the legs and shoulders have been carefully cut away. They’re the sort of joints you’d have in a roast dinner.
Could the traditional Sunday roast dinner become a thing of the past?
Thousands of families can no longer afford to cook the traditional Sunday meal
Sheep have been found in peoples back gardens and it could be that they’ve been taken home so that people can butcher them there - and then have lost heart and don’t fancy doing it - or the sheep have got away.
I think we all know it’s because times are hard and people are struggling to put food on their table. This is the 21st century; this is a 1st world country, what the hell is going on, why are our people taking to poaching to survive?
Well it is the economic policies of the traitors at the houses of treason that have designed this mess in which we are forced to exist, where 25,000 elderly people died of winter related diseases last year, “winter related diseases” is government speak for hypothermia.
Our elderly are being forces to choose between Heating and Eating.
But it is not just the elderly that are being affected, teachers at a school in Bristol have been forced to buy breakfast for more than 130 pupils because parents send their children to lessons ‘hungry and malnourished’.
Staff at Knowle DGE School in Bristol are supplying the youngsters with the food at a weekly cost of £280.
The teachers refused to let their pupils go hungry and are buying cereals, bread and fruit juices - so pupils will no longer complain they feel 'sick' and 'angry' with hunger.
Spokeswoman for the school, Joanna Greenwood admitted teachers felt it was ‘unfair’ that they had to pay but refused to let the children go hungry.
She said: ‘We feel it’s really important that a child has a good start to the day. Hunger and thirst is a very big trigger for negative behaviour.
And in the United States according to a new survey of public school teachers released by Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, childhood hunger remains a serious obstacle to learning.
With nearly 1 in 5 U.S. kids facing the threat of hunger this year, teachers across America are seeing its effects.
3 out of 5 teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry.
4 out of 5 of those teachers say these children come to school hungry at least once a week.
A majority of teachers who see hunger as a problem believe the problem is growing.
Teachers commonly help families enrol in free or reduced-price meal programs (71% of the time) or refer families to resources in the school (54% of the time).
More than half of teachers (53%) say they purchase food for hungry kids in their classrooms. One in ten of these teachers buy food every week.
I ask again what is happening in our 1st world countries and what can be done to counter the effects of these economic policies that are destroying us as a civilisation.
You know perhaps it is up to us as preppers and survivalists to enter our schools and talk to the kids about nutrition and food planning and preparation and give them information sheets to take home to their parents.
Surely with our knowledge of survival food we can help in our own communities and by doing so change the perspective in which we are held.
I believe that these warning signs should be responded to, we as preppers and survivalists may have to survive not a war, not a terrorist attack, not a natural disaster but a food shortage.
Recently the following crops have been reported as failed and or ruined en-mass Honey, wheat, Potatoes, Apples, Peas, pumpkins.
News of a pork shortage began sizzling (excuse the pun) after a report claimed that pig herds around the world are “declining at a significant rate.” The report also said that the high price of corn, which is used to feed pigs, is hurting farmers. Britain’s National Pig Association, a group that supports farmers, issued the report.  Richard Longthorp, the group’s chairman, declared the problem “unavoidable.”
Wheat prices have also risen, more than 50% in the past six weeks alone. All of this leaves us teetering on the edge of another food crisis.
The chief culprit has been the devastating US drought, which has withered more crops than any weather pattern since 1956. As climate change grips, such extremes are becoming the norm.
Livestock farmers are warning they won't be able to afford to feed their animals due to the lack of feed stuffs and the hiked price of what is left on the market, and if they cannot afford to feed them then they will cull them, reducing food production ability for ever.
Today supermarkets are warning of shortages of British fruit and vegetables and higher prices after the recent torrential rain left fields waterlogged.
Retailers are struggling to keep shelves stocked, and some are putting up signs apologising for the fact that their produce is not up to normal standards.
So I say that now is a good time to look into keeping a few chickens, rabbits, sheep etc. and also into growing your own vegetables, if you cannot manage to do this on your own then join with someone else or form a local group to obtain some land and then produce your own food.
But you must do something otherwise we could see our very food culture change beyond belief, in fact in one paper they were predicting that by 2050 the UK would have become a vegetarian country.
And as if all that was not enough
Britain is likely to run out of energy generating capacity in the winter of 2015, Ofgem warned today.
The energy regulator said spare capacity could fall from current levels of 14 per cent to just four per cent in three years.
This will make the country ever more reliant on imported gas - which will likely lead to huge price increases while also risking Britain's self-sufficiency.
Ofgem said closures of coal-fired power stations before schedule and EU legislation was behind the reduced capacity and urged investment.
Ofgem also warned that uncertainty over the government's plans to revamp the electricity market meant it was unclear whether new, cleaner plants would be built to bridge the gap.
The lack of spare capacity would leave the country little leeway if any plants were to suffer unplanned outages or if supply of power imports from Europe were disrupted.
Nine UK-based coal and oil fired plants with a combined generating capacity of 11.5 gigawatts (GW) are due to close by 2015 or when they have completed 20,000 hours of operation for coal-fired power stations or 10,000 hours for oil-powered facilities, under EU legislation aimed at limiting emissions.
It really is time to start prepping now.
Inland fish for food
Millions of anglers catch fish only to put them straight back again. Isn't it time were discovered the culinary potential of freshwater species?
While Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has been raising awareness about sea fishing with his Fish Fight campaign, it seems a good time to cast an eye inland to our native freshwater species: the pike, perch, zander, chub, carp and bream that swim largely uneaten in our lakes and rivers.
Britain has a rich history of consuming freshwater species.
In the past those who didn't live near the sea ate whatever they could coax out of inland waterways.
Monastic gardens and manor houses almost always had a fish pond or moat where freshwater species were farmed for Friday fish suppers and feasts.
You would struggle to find any of the species above displayed on a fishmonger's slab in the UK these days, but they all make a worthy feast.
Some cultures have never forgotten this - the British angling press is frequently peppered with tales of resourceful eastern Europeans taking prize carp, something of a delicacy in their part of the world, home for tea.
With an estimated three million anglers in the UK regularly pulling fish out of the water only to put them straight back, why is it that we don't we eat more of our native freshwater species?
One of the main reasons must be that we are a nation of sporting folk; freshwater species are targeted on both quality and quantity criteria.
Specimen hunters invest plenty of time and money in the pursuit of large individuals of species such as pike, carp, barbel and the non-native catfish.
The reward is twofold: an epic fight and the possibility of a new personal best or even a record-breaker.
On the other hand, match fishermen go for quantity and any species is welcome regardless of size.
All these perfectly edible fish are put into a keep net to be weighed up at the end of the day before being released back into the water.
Many cultures would view this practice as verging on insanity, but it is our quality of life and today's convenience culture that has turned fishing in the UK from a necessity into a mass-participation sport.
Only those fishing for trout, sea trout and salmon seem to take something home for the table.
People are also nervous about the legality of fishing.
There's no need; in England and Wales as long as you are in possession of a £27 rod licence and have permission from the water's owner, the Environment Agency states that on any given day an angler may remove 15 small (up to 20cm) native species including barbel, chub, common bream, common carp, crucian carp, dace, grayling, perch, pike, roach, rudd, silver bream, smelt, tench and zander (non-native) as well as one pike of up to 65cm and two grayling of 30-38cm.
Another reason this subject is often approached with apprehension is that many people believe freshwater fish will taste muddy.
Fish from free-flowing waters don't tend to suffer from this problem, although those from still waters can.
After seeing an episode of River Cottage Forever, the only antidote is to cleanse the fish through a de-mudification programme of 3-4 days in a spring-fed tank.
I'm afraid the bath tub just won't do.
To ensure these fish find their way into your kitchen, you have to catch them yourself. So what to catch? I've been fishing since childhood and over the years I have eaten my way through a number of freshwater species.
My favourite used to be eel, but as the number of young eels returning to European rivers has fallen by 95% it is now illegal to remove any caught by rod and line, but there are plenty of other options.
Perch are a beautiful fish, green scaled with black stripes down their flanks, an impressive spiked dorsal fin and a ferocious pack-hunter mentality.
Although nearly wiped out in UK waters in the 1970s and 1980s by a lethal virus, thankfully they have made a remarkable comeback.
Perch have firm white flesh similar to bass. 
To cook, simply de-scale, fillet, toss in seasoned flour and pan fry with lemon juice: a recipe the French refer to as filet de perche.
The chub is deemed to be an inedible fish, Izaak Walton referred to it as being "full of forked bones, the flesh is not firm, but short and tasteless".
And I could not agree more.
If any freshwater species is guilty of tasting muddy, then it is the carp.
Due to increasing pressure on our saltwater stocks and adoration from Eastern Europeans in the UK, consumption of this fish is beginning to rise for the first since the middle ages.
Again, the flesh is firm and meaty and stands up to a variety of different ways of cooking, although baking is the best method.
The sinister pike is another excellent eating fish, I have had a few in restaurants in France Not only are they cannibals, regularly feasting on other pike often more than half their own size.
Their mouths contain a series of backward-pointing teeth: once something goes in, it's not coming out.
Pike can also grow to alarming size - the British record presently stands at a mighty 46lbs 13oz.
Even dead pike have a secret weapon; once cooked they possess a substantial number of Y-shaped bones along the fillet.
Once removed they have a mild taste which is quite pleasant.
As with growing and eating your own vegetables, catching and cooking a fish you have wrestled out of the depths gives a feeling of deep satisfaction.
With the pressure on our oceans at an all-time high, perhaps it is time to look at less familiar options.
For those who do fish, please consider tasting your catch. And if you don't, consider taking it up: you'll be in a position to get your hands on some of the freshest possible fish.
Many of the fish I've mentioned above have been staple foods in the past, so why are we so put off by them now?
If you've tucked into some of our lesser-known freshwater fish you will know what I mean.
Survival Knives
Survival knives are essential items for surviving and thriving in the wilderness.
Since prehistoric times, people have carried knives to protect themselves and to help build shelters, hunt and start fires.
The oldest European mummy, Otzi, was found with a flint knife.
You too should carry a survival knife when engaging in outdoor activities or have one in an emergency pack, such as a 72 hour kit you keep in your home or car.
Survival knives come in different styles. Larger, heavier knives are useful for actions you would use a machete for, such as clearing brush or cutting thick ropes and wood.
However, you may not always have room for something that large. Therefore, survival knives also come in small, lightweight styles.
Whatever size knife you prefer, it is important to choose a knife with a full length tang. The tang is the metal part in the middle of the knife.
A survival knife has to be sturdy and must hold up to real challenges. A thin tang is almost as bad a partial tang and could break when you need it most
Another choice for selecting a survival knife is a smooth or serrated blade. Smooth blades have the advantage of being able to easily be sharpened against stones if you find your blade dulling through usage.
Smooth blades also cut and chop better than serrated blades.
Although serrated blades are difficult to sharpen if you are out in nature, the serrated blades cut synthetic materials more easily.
Most camping gear like tents and sleeping bags, especially winter gear, is made from synthetic materials.
Both types can spark fires and work for defence from wild animals or other people.
Survival knives are not just for accompanying you on planned outings like camping trips or expeditions into the wild.
Survival knives are useful for any type of emergency. They are important additions to 72 hour kits, which are packs that contain the absolute essentials for a few days’ worth of surviving on your own.
If you need to exit your home due to a fire, earthquake or attack, as long as you have a 72 hour kit you have a good chance for staying alive.
A 72 hour kit includes water, meals for a few days, a first aid kit, personal documents, duct tape, soap, a flashlight and basic tools to meet survival needs.
Surprisingly, many experts recommend only pocketknives for inclusion in 72 hour kits. A pocketknife is a handy item, but try cutting firewood or splitting logs with a pocketknife and you will wish you had packed a survival knife instead.
Survival knives are much more versatile and practical than other knives, and they do not have to cost a lot.
An inexpensive knife may go for £20, though you can buy military quality knives for several hundred dollars.
You do not have to be Crocodile Dundee or a Navy Seal to need a survival knife.
You do not even have to be an outdoorsy person.
Anyone can be the victim of a natural disaster or even a car accident on a lonely road.
In these situations, would you rather have a good knife and basic survival gear or just take your chances?
Crossing Rivers
The beauty of a mountain stream flowing through a forest can be the highlight of a hike.
But knowing how to cross a river is a survival skill.
The fact is that crossing rivers, especially when they’re running high, is among the riskier things you can do on the trail. Rocks and logs may offer a bridge to the opposite bank.
But they’re often wet or covered with algae and mosses. That can lead to slips and falls, and, therefore, any number of things that you really don’t want to experience: head injuries, broken bones, and the chance to get swept downstream.
The rate of runoff in streams and rivers is highly variable. In years of light snowfall and hot spring days, streams may run at low-to-moderate levels by early summer.
However, in years with heavy and late-season snows, rivers can run so high that trails, even ones with actual bridges, remain impassable well into summer.
Two points to remember: Don't take any unnecessary risks. And don't push anyone past their skill and confidence level. You're only as capable as the weakest hiker in your group.
Before You Leave
Check on conditions. Identify your destination or route.
Carry a staff.
They can help you assess water depth and rate of runoff, then provide additional stability when you do cross a stream. If you don’t have a staff, find a pair of sturdy branches that you can use instead.
Wear shorts or convertible pants. Long pants will increase drag in the stream and can be uncomfortable to hike in once they’re soaked.
Pack hiking sandals or gym shoes. If a stream is shallow enough to cross, it’s often easier to walk through the water instead of trying to boulder hop on slippery rocks. With spare shoes or hiking sandals, you can keep your hiking boots dry.
But don’t cross barefoot or use flip-flops because the current can easily sweep them off your feet.
Get out early. Cooler overnight and morning temperatures mean that the volume of snowmelt is lower early in the day, which means that streams will flow more slowly. Thunderstorms are also more common in afternoon and make currents more treacherous.
At the Crossing
Assess the situation. The actual point where your route meets a river may not be the best place to get to the other side. Scout the river (ideally from an elevated perspective) or look both up- and downstream for alternatives.
If you can't identify a safe crossing location, then don’t take the risk and turn around. Wishful thinking has no place in this decision, so be conservative and assume the worst. Invariably, streams are faster and deeper than they appear.
Straight. Wide. Shallow. That’s what you’re looking for when identifying a place to cross.
Watch out for debris. If the river is carrying a lot of debris, such as branches and small logs, it’s not a good idea to cross.
The debris is an indication that stream flows are high. And objects flowing downstream can create a serious hazard if they strike you as you’re crossing.
Look for braided channels. The crossing may be wider where a river breaks into separate channels. But the current's intensity will be dissipated and there may also be small islands or gravel bars where you can take a break and plot your next steps.
Test the current. Toss a branch and watch how swiftly it moves downstream. That will give you a better sense of the direction of the main current and how fast it’s moving.
Don’t cross where flows are much above your knees. Even comparatively shallow water can knock you off balance and carry you downstream if it’s flowing rapidly enough. The only time to wade through deeper water is when you locate a flat pool with little or no current.
Loosen your pack before crossing. Undo your waist belt and let out the shoulder straps so that it's easier to remove. If you fall in and your pack gets soaked, it can drag you down or get snagged. You might lose your pack but consider the alternative.
Look for low and open exit points on the opposite bank. Once you reach the other side, you’ll want to be able to get out of the stream as quickly as possible. A scramble up a steep bank could lead to a slip that puts you right back into the stream.
Crossing the Stream
Face Upstream and Shuffle Sideways. Slide your feet along the bottom while facing the river. Angle yourself diagonally to the flow and move in a slightly downstream direction toward the opposite bank.
Always maintain two points of contact with the bottom. Use your staff to steady yourself as you shift your feet. The more contact you have with the bottom, the more stable you'll be.
There’s strength in numbers. Crossing with a partner or with a group of people creates additional stability. Link arms and coordinate your movements.
Uses of a Pocket Knife

I have always said that every responsible person should carry a UK Legal pocket knife at all times. However a friend asked “Why? What would I do with it?” my answer was this brief and incomplete list of typical uses: (It goes without saying that it would be kept sharp, oiled, and appropriately cleaned before and after each use.)
Frequent Uses
Opening Mail. Removing staples. Opening boxes and packages, removing tags.
Peeling fruit and vegetables. Halving sweetie bars for children.
Cutting up cardboard boxes for recycling .
Repairing and cleaning fingernails,
Removing splinters and thorns. Deburring wood, plastic and metal objects.
Chamfering holes and sharp edges. Marking parts for drilling or cutting.
Repairing handles on hoes, shovels, and axes before getting a splinter from them.
Scraping away rust, paint, dried or wet glue, labels and adhesive.
Cutting and trimming thread, string, fishing line, shoe laces, cord, wire, straps and rope.
Cleaning cracks and recesses. Extracting objects from slots, cracks and crevices.
Prying things loose. Trimming plants. Fashioning Wood and Plastic items by whittling.
Repairing clothing and shoes by trimming fabric, cutting threads, making holes.
Occasional Uses
Opening canned goods, Preparing food, and as an eating utensil. Preparing kindling for fire.
Dividing an aspirin for a fractional dose.
Sharpening pencils. Killing centipedes and scorpions.
Making stick horses, marshmallow roasters, and other utensils and toys.
Opening cheap locks. Making or modifying bandages.
Rapping on jar lid to loosen seal.
Trimming candles and wicks, and fishing line.
Scraping corrosion from electrical terminals.
Trimming insulation from electrical wires.
As a Screwdriver substitute, to repair glasses, watch, car, computer or other machinery.
Field dressing game animals. Making all the components of a spear, sling, or slingshot.
Extracting nails from tires. Tapping on pipe to loosen stuck valve.
Digging meat from a pecan.
Potential Uses
To cut seatbelt to extract trapped driver cut shoelaces to extract trapped foot.
To remove clothing from injury in First Aid.
To write by scribing on something.
For Personal defence against man or beast.
Cutting hose for snorkel or breathing tube.
To dig through a wall to safety.
Remove thorns from prickly pear, so it can be eaten.
For the steel part of fire making by flint and steel (sacrificial; this really tears it up.)
To fashion weapons and snares for catching small animals, or cages to hold them.
To improvise clothing and shelter from available materials.
Since no human has survived more than a few days in the natural world without having or making some kind of tool, and the quintessential tool, and tool-making tool, is the knife.
Anytime something needs to be made, cut, killed, trim med, blunted, butchered, altered, fixed, fashioned, assembled, disassembled, divided, pried, probed, scribe d, scraped, perforated or dug
At any time you need to interact with the physical world by fashioning or modifying materials more precisely than you can do with your fingers, or with greater pressure than you can apply with your nails and knuckles, a pocket knife is useful.
While it is useful for small tasks at all times, the extended capability represented by a knife for similar tasks in an emergency makes it an especially valuable accoutrement.
And the kind of knife you are most likely to have with you at a moment’s notice,
Everywhere you go, day or night, is a pocket knife.
I rest my case.

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