What a week! No, not a great one, but an awful one with allergies that turned into another sinus infection. I love Tennessee but if a person has allergy and sinus issues it’s probably not the best place to be – according to this article these are the top 10 worst states for allergies?
And to make matters worse my Grandfather passed away at the age of 95 – he had been in good shape all his life up until the time that fell ill last weekend and passed away Monday. He was my last living grandparent and the one that I had spent the most time with. He could tell awesome stories,...
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Editors Note:Another guest contribution from Kevin Fleeman at LifeUnderSky.com to The Prepper Journal. As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and possibly receive a $25 cash award as well as be entered into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies, enter today.
Fit, form, function sprinkled generously with a little experience!
Before setting out to buy a hunting knife, there is a lot of information that you need to gather. I know hunting knives tend to look the same, but don’t let this be the basis of your selection, especially if it is your first, as you will most likely make a mistake. With hunting knives, there’s more than meets the eye.
First of all, the variety of knives available in the market can definitely leave you a bit confused. This is why you need to know what you are looking for in a hunting knife.
To further emphasize on the difference of hunting knives, there is a huge range when it comes to prices. Anywhere from $50 to over $900. That being the reality let us consider some of the things you need to keep in mind when choosing the right type of hunting knife for you.
Uses of A Hunting Knife
The main reason why hunters carry hunting knives is to cut the prey up into manageable sizes for transporting back to the cabin, or base. This includes skinning and cutting through cartilage as well as bone.
To be able to perform its required task, the hunting knife thus needs to be both sturdy and sharp. A lot of fisherman live and die by their fillet knives and while one might work in some cases, it won’t as an effective hunting knife. And let me bring home the point that having a knife we ONLY use to field dress game is okay, even for those people who abhor carrying a tool that can only serve a single purpose. A hunting knife must be sharp, comfortable to handle and easy to use as, in some cases, your time to dress a fresh kill may be somewhat “constrained” if large bears also occupy the area, as they can smell a kill up to 20 miles away downwind. Using it to cut tree branches to form a lean-to, chop wood into kindling, open canned foods etc. are tempting, but will have you spending a lot of time with your sharpening stone. Single use has it’s good points in this situation.
Size of the Animal
This definitely forms the basis of selecting the size of the hunting knife. If you are a hunter who goes after deer, you will need a bigger knife than a hunter who goes after rabbits.
Using a big knife on small prey increases your risk of injury as you could easily cut yourself. Likewise, using a small knife on big prey is inefficient. You will not be able to cut through bone and it will take a long time to get things done, and, as noted above, you may not be in control of how much time you have, or even aware of it.
Hunting Knife Types
The right type of hunting knife is also determined by how often you go out to hunt. Regular hunters need something sturdy and the best choice is a fixed blade.
If you are an occasional hunter, this means you will not need to use the knife often. A folding knife will serve you just fine.
Fixed blade knives tend to be more popular among hunters with good reason. They are large, strong such that they don’t bend and they tend to be more reliable than folding blades. Folding knives however, are simple to carry.
The folding knife is normally not as durable as a fixed blade knife. So how can you get around this if you still prefer to carry just one? Well, first, ensure that you avoid cheap blades. Also pick a reputable manufacturer. The folding mechanism is of paramount importance as this is where most folding knives tend to have issues, and the issues could be life-changing. Sometimes going from 10 of something to nine of that something really is a BIG deal. The knife should also have a thick blade.
Blade Types
When talking about the blade, they come in three varieties. The skinning blade, drop pointed and clip pointed blades.
Skinning blades are simply for that, skinning the animal. They are excellent for this and poor for the other functions of dressing out a kill (cutting meat, cartridge or bone.) People who carry these for just this purpose usually also pack in Grey Poupon! This is a purely a matter of personal preference through experience.
Drop-point blades feature a back that gradually slopes the further you move to the tip. They have the benefit of preventing the user from puncturing organs while slicing. Another advantage is that they provide greater surface area for cutting. The downside is that drop-point knives do not have a very sharp tip compared to other types of blades.
Clip-point blades have a special design that provides for a sharp tip. They generally have a straight spine that runs all the way to the middle, then slopes and curves to the tip. The slicing part is long making the clip-point knife ideal for taking the skin off the animal.
Picking the most suitable blade really depends on the individual hunter. Clip point hunting knives however are the most popular thanks to their versatility. They can be used for all the functions of dressing out an animal.
With this information you are well on your way to making the right decision when buying a hunting knife. Let’s now look at the qualities of a good hunting knife.
Features of a Good Hunting Knife
As we have seen there are many factors to consider when selecting the right type of hunting knife. Now we wish to go deeper into the construction of the hunting knife and see what makes the best blade from the inside out.
Full Tang Construction
This means that the entire length of the blade is made up of one single piece of metal. The advantage to this type of design is the sturdiness that comes with it. It makes it hard to bend or break the knife. Some knives come with a partial tang design. These will not provide the service you need as they are more prone to breaking.
Type of Material
There are three main types of materials used in the construction of hunting knives – stainless steel, carbon steel and carbon stainless steel.
Carbon steel is the cheapest type of hunting knife, it is easy to sharpen but the downside is that it can rust when exposed to the elements. Stainless steel is a bit harder to sharpen. However, once sharpened, it does not need regular attention. Just sheath it for the next time you need to use it. To provide the benefits of both types of materials, carbon stainless steel will offer hybrid features.
No one should eat meat this knife has dressed, EVER!
Some hunters will opt for the carbon steel blade. If you do, to prevent the knife from rusting, a good option is to apply a silicon based special wax, or coating. This is not a bad option for any blade that will not be in constant use, or used on food being prepared right now. The coating wipes off on any absorbent cloth.
The Handle
A good hunting knife needs to have a strong handle that is comfortable on your hand. It is easy to go for certain materials such as wood or leather, but these are not very weather resistant. A handle made out of bone might be pleasant to look at but could break easily. The best materials are synthetic or a hard rubber.
It’s important to carry out measures to ensure that your hunting knife is in the best condition for use. Once you are done dressing a kill, clean the blade and handle and wipe it dry. In case your knife is made of carbon steel, remember to apply a silicon wax. This will prevent it from rusting.
A final note, stainless steel knives are not 100% resistant to rust. They are just better than carbon steel.
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Editors Note:A guest contribution from Luna Anderson to The Prepper Journal. As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and possibly receive a $25 cash award, as well as being entered into the Prepper Writing Contest AND have a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies, then enter today!
A topographical map of the Western United States of dry river beds, creek beds and washes would like like the worlds worst varicose-vein outbreak and one of the Eastern United States would only look better because they have more trees to hide them. Anyone who has been to the Continental Divide knows that all the run-off from rains and snow melt West of the Divide eventually get consumed by man or ends up in the Pacific Ocean. That which falls on the east goes to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Simple generalized truths (though not a single drop of the Colorado River, which flows through the Grand Canyon, ever makes it to the ocean.)
What we preppers should be aware of is that this natural pattern can generate flash floods almost anywhere and at most anytime and they are, of course, extremely dangerous. A storm off into the mountains miles and miles away can generate a deluge that will sweep away anything in its path. Unheard until maybe it is too late, often mistaken for the sound of a changing wind, caught perhaps less aware because we turn our senses of survival down a few decibels when we have made camp and settle in for the night.
And admittedly there is a draw to these very places as campsites as they offer some protection from the winds, may offer a gentle fresh water source, and even may have a tree-line that serves as a further wind-break as well as shade, a cache of firewood, or a place to trap small game.
So, whether you are just camping, practicing survival skills, or really trying to get off the grid for a reason, a flash flood can occur most anywhere, and at anytime of the day or night where you have to deal with a riverbed, a creek bed, a brook, a stream or a wash.
If you are a smart camper, you already know to stay above the water level when camping near large bodies of water and to take the necessary precautions to secure your site. If you have taken all of these precautions and the flood line rises, which it can and will do steadly and almost silently in most case, you might still be in trouble.
In this article, you will learn what to do when a flash flood does strike and how you can deal with the available resources to help you survive the flood and save as much of your possessions as possible. Having the knowledge to detect and survive a flash flood can be the difference between life and death.
I have heard often that ‘flash floods are extremely dangerous and they cannot always be predicted. You might be in a dry area, but if the rain is pouring a couple of miles away upstream, you might be faced with the challenge of your life.” I think most preppers would scoff at this logic as “prepared” means in-tune with your surroundings.
Understand the Weather
Understanding the weather of the area that you are camping in is essential. As with any life-threatening event, the best way to survive a flash flood will be to avoid it altogether. By studying the weather of the area and checking to see if there is any rain predicted if you are just camping, is an acceptable method – assuming you are there for just the period predicted. But weather prediction is NOT an exact science yet. Knowledge is power and knowing what rain and snow clouds look like as opposed to following the predictions of someone in a studio hundreds of miles away who has gone home for the weekend will go a long way to making your weekend trip enjoyable or your survival last a few more days.
Understanding the weather means you understand the topography of the region as well. Putting up camp above a river that is flowing away from you down into its drainage area is simple common sense. Additionally, staying out of the flood line where the water has previously pushed to is of paramount importance as well.
Find Out How Far the Drainage Area Extends
Before setting up your camp, you should attempt to find out how far the drainage area of the river or body of water extends. This will enables you to see which spot is the least likely to get water or even face the grunt of the flood. If it is an established campground that is or was under some type of government management, this data is available, often posted on boards in the area, if one remains and the information remains as well. If not, a survey of the land slope, similar to what a golfer would do on a long putt, is a good exercise. Look near and close for indications of past water flows, sand or rocks or debris accumulated in spots, depending on what the general land cover is made of; look far and wide for mountains, foot hills or higher grounds that might produce a sudden flow from storms far away. These form the “feedings” of a flood plain.
The “feeding” is part of the drainage and it is important to understand the size of the rivers feeding the area. If large rivers are feeding it, you will have a bigger chance of danger, while these smaller rivers are usually a little tamer. All bets on this are off in a downpour. Understanding this tip is crucial when camping, especially in the rainy season, or during snow melt.
Always Consider Higher Ground
It is important to consider camping on higher ground as this will allow you to stay clear of any potential flooding dangers. Most parks are designed with camping spots that are out of the danger zones and you should stick to these camping areas if they are available, albeit they will draw other people as well. If you are camping with your family or others, maybe you have set up a large tent, or a group of smaller tents, no matter, just always seek the highest possible point when flash flooding or rising waters is a possibility.
Cliffs and ridges are perfect and they are found next to many rivers. If backpacking is your style, it may be better to continue walking if you think that mountains might be nearby as they will provide higher ground, perhaps a little colder, but safer.
Stay Alert
I know I am stating the obvious but you will be able to react much more safely once you notice the water level rising or the water running a little faster. THIS is when it will be a wise decision to start moving instead of taking the chances and camping in the danger zone or simply watching because it “looks cool”. While we are not suggesting someone stay awake all night in a camping excursion, it definitely is something to consider if you are in a danger zone, from the weather or other things that go bump, or not just camping for fun.
Most parks will let you know if there are potentially any floods and this can also be crucial to save you. One other issue, all water sources are used by the “local inhabitants”. It is wise to be aware of the possibility of being caught in between dangerous animals and their natural habitats. Alert is never a bad thing.
Setup Escape Routes
In this step, planning is key and having a way out is something to always keep in mind. Before heading to bed, you should walk around the camping site to see if you find any escape routes. Your escape routes should be on solid ground as weaker ground might be broken and disturbed if you are caught in a flash flood. After scouting these routes, any obstructions should be removed and you should notify all the other camper of the best way to escape the area if a flash flood should occur.
You should tell your family and friends about the escape plan if it rains too heavily in the campsite. Pick several safety meeting spots and make sure everyone know how to get to these locations, so all the members can gather after the disaster. And make sure that every member of the party knows that risking their lives to save a replaceable piece of equipment is the WRONG thing to do. This can not be over stressed. Always move higher and away from the water flow.
Avoid running through moving water since it can put your life at risk. You can’t predict the current, it’s always stronger than it appears, and your can’t see the river-bed obstacles and the rushing debris. Wide equates to shallow when it comes to a river. A river is widest where it is the most shallow, and deepest where it is most narrow. Like pipes in fluid mechanics, the waters speed is fastest where most contained (narrow) and slowest where least constrained (wide). Note that even a slight current can sweep away everything in its way.
Stay Away from Flood Areas
As I have already mentioned, the best way to survive a flash flood is to stay away from the “zone”. With so many great camping areas in the US, it is better to start searching for a secondary camping location. This will ensure your safety and keep you out of possible danger.
If you are camping in a danger zone, again, you should remember to always leave the floodwater, move away from it uphill. The ground around rushing water might be loose and this could be extremely dangerous. It is important to explain this to your children as well to help them stay clear of any potential danger as well.
In Conclusion
Flashfloods are unpredictable and they have cost many people their lives. Many people have also disappeared in the midst of these floods and staying away from them is the best answer to survive. If you loose everything and need help, please first stay put where you have found safety and constantly assess the safety or where you are, things can change rapidly. If you still have a phone with a signal please call your local Red Cross chapter or any emergency offices. These coordinators will send some saviours to get you out of the flooding area as soon as it is possible.
Your should always remember that your life is far more valuable than your belongings. If the flood comes in, please run and don’t look back. It could cost your life if you stay in your tent and look for expensive things to take along.
Last but not least, when you return to your campsite after a flood, you should stay away from muddy areas and of course any down electrical lines. They are extremely dangerous. I hope that these tips will help you better prepare when you go camping; always prepare for everything in advance and I wish you a happy camping experience every time.
Author Bio:
Luna Anderson is avid camper from Phoenix, Arizona. She loves the outdoors and she wants to show people the endless possibilities of this world and open their minds to experiences over possessions. You can find practical tips about hiking, camping and survival skills in her blog hikertrack.com.
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As renewable fuel technologies develop, more and more people are looking to use them in order to reduce reliance on commercial electricity and other fuels.
But both options can be quite expensive if you simply buy pre-fabricated power generation equipment and batteries for storage. That’s why our reader’s question makes a lot of sense:
“Have you any info about batteries for solar off grid? Especially inexpensive alternatives?
Joe”
Before you make a decision about which batteries to buy, think about all your options and try a few things out first.
Keep reading to find out more!
1. Pre-Fab Large Scale Batteries
Aside from being expensive, pre-fabricated large scale batteries will be ruined by an EMP blast if they are hooked up to wires or any equipment that can transmit the pulse to the battery.
Even if you use DIY windmills or other power generating equipment that can be easily repaired after an EMP, these batteries may still leave you without electricity. Therefore, it may not make sense to invest a lot of money in these batteries or put all your reliance on them for future power storage needs.
Here are some other things you should know about large scale batteries so that you can have a clearer insight into how they compare to something you might build on your own.
Edison Batteries
Even though Edison batteries are some of the best insofar as deep cycling and constant use, they can also be very unreliable and break down easily.
Over the years, Edison Batteries have been discarded and may be very cheap to find in junk yards and scrap metal stations. If you can refurbish one and get it to work reliably, this will be your cheapest option. You can also make your own Edison batteries and make sure they are built to tolerate repairs.
Tesla Batteries
As with other Lithium Ion batteries, the Tesla Battery cannot be deep cycled as much as an Edison battery. They are also fairly new on the market, so there is relatively little information on how easy or difficult it is to repair them and the cost.
While a Tesla battery may appear more reliable in the short term, that does not mean it is better for long term needs, or that will be reliable enough in a time of major social crisis.
Flooded Lead Acid Batteries (FLA)
As with Edison batteries, the FLA batteries have been around for decades. They were also some of the first used for off gridding power needs.
These batteries tend to have problems in colder weather, and may break down under constant deep cycling. That being said, if you are looking for a budget battery that has plenty of field experience, FLAs might be your best bet in the pre-fabs.
Lithium Ion Batteries
Even though lithium ion batteries are smaller and more durable than flooded lead acid batteries, they can still easily be damaged if something goes wrong with the inverters and controllers. Since they are also relatively new on the market, it is hard to say if they will last as long as older battery designs.
As with Tesla batteries, if a Lithium Ion battery breaks down, it is doubtful you will be able to repair it.
Lead-Carbon Batteries
These are relatively new batteries that use lead for the positive side of the battery, and activated carbon for the negative side. They are supposed to last much longer than Lithium Ion batteries and will take a lot more wear and tear.
While they are maintenance free batteries, you also will not be able to repair them if something goes wrong.
Flow Batteries
This is also a relatively new battery type that stores two electrochemical liquids in separate containers. From there, they are introduced into a central vessel separated by a membrane. As electrical charges build up, the electrons can be drawn off for use.
“Recharging” the battery is as simple as feeding energy into one tank or the other. These batteries are useful for meeting expanding energy needs because you only need to add larger storage tanks and equipment to upgrade the battery. Even though the electrochemical fluids can last for decades, they still require pumps to move them around.
2. Small Scale Pre-Fab Batteries
There are many ways to scavenge lithium ion batteries from cell phones, tablets, and other devices, but some other small scale pre-fabricated batteries may also be of some interest to you.
As with larger batteries, these will also be destroyed during an EMP if the battery is hooked up to a device that is susceptible or one where the pulse can be transmitted by wire to the battery.
On the other hand, since these batteries are much smaller and lighter in weight, it is also easier to build Faraday Cages to store spare batteries. Just don’t forget to rotate the batteries on a regular basis with the ones you are using for routine use so that they don’t deteriorate from lack of use.
You will also need to look for less power hungry appliances and devices so that you can use the smaller batteries more efficiently. Insofar as collecting power from generating sources, it will be of immense benefit to build smaller modules and then feed the power from each module into the smaller batteries.
If you are interested in exploring diverse power sources, or can produce limited amounts of power using different devices, then these batteries may be an ideal answer for you. For larger appliances, it may also be of use to shift to natural gas or some other fuel source instead of relying on electricity.
NiMH
These small, rechargeable batteries are used in high drain devices such as cameras. They will last a long time, and can withstand both deep cycling and a range of temperatures. Unfortunately, they cannot be repaired and can also be quite expensive to purchase.
Cotton Batteries
Even though Ryden Batteries are still not on the market, there is every indicator that they will be available for both large scale and small applications. As innovative as these batteries are, they do rely on complex technology for manufacture, and are not likely to be repairable.
Automobile Batteries
Standard wet cell and gel cell batteries can be used for low drain applications. They can also be scavenged and refurbished as long as the metal plates in the battery are still in good condition. Just remember that the average life of most automobile batteries is 2 – 5 years.
Even if there are plenty of batteries available now, you may find very few viable scavenge options within just a few years after a major social crisis occurs.
Photosynthesis Based Batteries
These batteries require a special pot, a plant, and some water. As the plant absorbs sunlight and carries out photosynthesis, an electrical current is generated. Even though these batteries are expensive and do not make much electricity, they can last for decades and require very little in the way of refurbishing or repair.
Gold Nano Batteries
The manipulation of molecular structures at that level is truly leading to some amazing innovations in batteries. For example, gold nano wires can be used to make a battery that can be recharged well over 200,000 times without showing wear or breaking down.
While these batteries are not yet on the market, they may quickly become popular with people that want reliable batteries that will last for a long time.
Graphene Batteries
Even though graphene was forgotten about for decades, it is still possible to make it at home. That being said, actually making a functional graphene battery takes considerably more effort. Today, graphene batteries are rapidly taking over, and being used to replace lithium ion batteries.
You can purchase small batteries as well as larger ones that can be used to power a motor vehicle. These batteries are known for durability as well as the capacity to work well in high drain situations. They also recharge in minutes when compared to lithium ion and other batteries.
Nano Batteries
Today, there are many batteries and power generation devices that take advantage of molecular manipulation to create lattices, honeycombs, and other patterns that accelerate energy flow, or achieve some other goal. Nano technology is also being used to create new materials that have characteristics that are very different from the parent material by virtue of how the atoms and molecules are arranged. This is distinctly different from chemical reactions that cause an exchange of electrons, or replace atoms and molecules for others of interest.
Many batteries are using these materials for making batteries, but the battery itself is not necessarily referred to as a “nano battery”. Rather, this designation is meant for batteries that are made up of tiny batteries that are joined together to make a larger battery. They tend to be more efficient and charge faster because the electrons do not have to travel as far.
If you are interested in the smallest possible size battery with the largest amount of power, nano batteries should be at the top of your list. Perhaps at some point, nano technology will even provide some answers for EMP proofing and deliver a battery that will not be damaged if an attached device transfers the pulse to it.
3. DIY Smaller Modules Using Simple Systems
If you build these batteries correctly, they can produce anywhere from 1 to 12 volts, which makes them comparable to small scale pre-fab batteries.
These batteries will be the best for long term prepping as you will be able to make them from scavenged materials in nature as well as from junk piles or other locations. Their main drawback revolves around the need for trial and error as well as the limitations on the amount of electricity you can store with them.
As with small scale pre-fab batteries, you may need to make smaller power generation systems such as CD Tesla Turbines or other devices that will generate smaller amounts of electricity that can be combined to power larger devices.
Flywheel Battery
Unlike conventional batteries, a flywheel battery stores mechanical energy instead of electricity. Since many power generators rely on mechanical motion to produce electricity, you should be able to do the same with a flywheel system.
Aside from being able to build these batteries from many different materials, you can also adapt them to different sizes. This includes expanding to large scale batteries.
Other Mechanical Batteries
Twisting ropes, variations of the ancient Chinese Trip Hammer, and even springs can be used to store mechanical energy and then convert it to electricity when needed.
Electrolyte Batteries
Salt water, and many other electrolyte solutions can be used to make wet cell batteries that will store and release electricity.
These batteries may require a good bit of maintenance, and you will always have to be concerned with replacing the electrolyte once it breaks down.
Even though you can also scale these batteries to larger sizes, it may not be worthwhile because of electrolyte availability, or what it will take to produce more.
Natural Batteries
Potatoes, lemons, mud, and even copper pennies can be used to generate and store electrical charges. Even though these batteries won’t last for very long or generate much electricity, they can be used in an emergency situation.
You can make a Leyden Jar from little more than a glass jar and some tin foil. Even though the Leyden Jar seems primitive by modern standards, it can still build up thousands of volts of electricity and work reliably for years on end.
You can also add salt water to the Leyden Jar to increase the amount of electricity it can store. Unlike other batteries, you store and concentrate static electricity to make it of use for a wide range of applications.
Aluminum Graphite Batteries
These batteries do not hold as much electricity as lithium ion batteries, but you may be able to make them from scavenged parts.
Since they recharge faster, you may also find them useful for low drain devices and other applications. Because these batteries do recharge very quickly, researchers are looking for ways to bring them to the market.
4. DIY Larger Scale Batteries
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on batteries that will power a household. Here are two battery types that you can build from scraps that will last for years and serve your needs well.
Even though it will take some hard work to set them up, it will be well worth the effort. Unlike pre-fab batteries, these will last a long time, require little or no maintenance, and are very easy to refill or repair as needed.
Earth Batteries
These batteries are some of the easiest and most versatile batteries that you can make from scavenged material and a place to bury it.
All you need is some soil, two different kinds of metal, and some wire. You can build small versions of Earth Batteries in ice cube trays, or larger ones in your backyard.
If you want to increase the yield from these batteries, just add salt water or some other electrolyte. Insofar a ease of building, you will find that no complex tools are required.
They are also very easy to repair and fairly easy to maintain. Start off with a small version and then put several of them together before creating underground versions.
Salt Water Batteries
While salt water batteries were available on the market, the company that made them, Aquinon, filed bankruptcy earlier this year. It is difficult to say at this time if salt water batteries will continue to be available on the market. It is also very hard to say how useful or durable a DIY version of a salt water battery will be.
That being said, if you live near an ocean or have access to plenty of salt, this may be a good option for you to pursue.
5. Highly Unconventional DIY Batteries
Chances are, if you are a fan of Nikola Tesla, then you know that he was working on finding ways to generate electricity from the Earth. He was also very interested in transmitting electricity through the air.
While Earth Batteries may be far weaker than what Tesla envisioned, modern researchers are making some headway on transmitting electricity through the air. For example, devices exist now that utilize ultrasound, which is then converted to sound signals, and then transmitted to a receiver.
The receiver converts the sound to electricity, which powers the device. If you do some research, you will find many devices that work on similar principles, yet have never made it to the consumer markets. As such, you can adapt these ideas for your own use and see what you can come up with.
Each year, it seems like the types of batteries for off grid power usage expand in some interesting ways. Not so long ago, your choices were limited to Edison, FLA, and Lithium Ion Batteries.
Today, you can still take these batteries into consideration, or you can pursue DIY and unconventional models that will also serve your needs at a lower cost.
This article has been written by Carmela Tyrell for Survivopedia.
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It is no secret that increasing levels of pollution in the water, air, and food are leading to a higher percentage of people developing “allergies”.
Modern science claims that it is our immune systems at fault, and therefore needs blocking with dangerous drugs, but perhaps look at this situation from the other way around.
In this case, our body’s immune system has “good reason” to reject chemicals that cause cancer, heart problems, or other diseases.
From that perspective, it becomes possible to look for methods to control allergies without using medicines.
Detecting, eliminating, and healing from the consequences of allergic triggers can be tedious and time consuming.
Still it may be best to consider before even more people succumb to “allergies” that may indicate environmental problems instead of biological dysfunctions.
Be Open Minded When Searching for Triggers
When searching for allergy triggers, start off by viewing your body as a holistic system in the sense that problems in one area can trigger symptoms elsewhere.
For example, a food allergy can trigger breathing problems, headaches, or other issues that aren’t clearly “digestive” in nature.
Therefore, when you go for allergy testing, make sure that you are tested for as many possible triggers in as many areas as possible.
Get a copy of the results and keep them handy in a binder where you can make additional notes.
As you will see later on in this article, molecules from things you are allergic to can appear in some very strange and unexpected places. This, in turn, means that you will have to do some very careful research to find out exactly what is triggering your allergic responses and then figure out how best to avoid them.
Start the Trigger Elimination Process With Dairy
Did you know one of the biggest and fastest growing causes of allergy in the United States is dairy products?
As such, if you are looking for the biggest place to eliminate the most triggers, starting with cutting out all dairy may be a good place to start. Now let’s have a look at why.
Even if you have never been on a farm or helped raise dairy cows, you already know that lactating cows consuming onions will produce milk that smells of onion. While we are often told that milk is a food designed to feed newborn mammals, the fact remains mammalian mothers also pass many other things along with the milk.
This includes:
The kind of molecules from foods that are consumed by the cow
In this case, chemicals from the onion are not as easily digested, and get passed along in the milk.
Now let’s say you are allergic to sulfur (which is in the oil from onions that the cows do not digest easily), and you buy milk from a cow that has consumed onions. Let’s also say the milk has been homogenized, pasteurized, and modified in order to produce the same flavor from one carton to another.
As a result, even though you would normally be able to smell or taste the sulfur, you are unable to because of all this masking. Logically speaking, even though sulfur is not listed on the carton of milk as an ingredient, it may, in fact be in milk itself.
In order to find out if there are hidden allergens in dairy products, you must start off by finding out what you are allergic to. Do some research at feedipedia.org to find out if things you are allergic to are being fed to dairy cows.
Remember, it may not be the entire food you are allergic to, but just one or two molecules that get passed into the milk. This includes items that you normally don’t consider as food, but may be fed to dairy cows such as wood chips. If you are allergic to the pollen from a specific tree, then seeing wood or other material from that tree may still be putting you into contact with problematic molecules from that tree’s pollen.
Proteins and other materials from foods that are used in vaccines
At this time there is considerable controversy over whether or not vaccines can cause food allergies in children. Since dairy proteins are used in some vaccines, it is worth a try to stop consuming dairy products to see if it helps.
Hidden vaccines, medicines, and other chemicals fed to dairy cows
As with hidden food molecules from other sources masked in the milk, you may also be consuming traces of antibiotics, injected hormones, and many other things that may be triggering allergic responses once you consume them through the milk.
Keep Track of Improvements and Changes
Once you decide on an allergy trigger to eliminate, be sure to record the date and how you feel. Take notes daily for at least three months. If you notice improvements in your health, make note of these. In some cases, the improvements may be indirectly related, or not as much as expected because your body needs to heal.
While some claim that you will reach maximum improvement in 1 – 2 months, swollen or inflamed tissue can take months to heal. If you sprain your ankle on the ice or sprain your ankle the exact same way on some other surface, it will take the same time to heal.
It does not always matter where the tissue injury comes from, it only matters that it needs a certain amount of time to heal before you see the full benefit.
How to Filter and Avoid Air Based Triggers
There are all kinds of toxic odors around you from automobiles, factories, and even homes that burn various fuels for heat and cooking. In fact, if you could test an air sample from your home, you would find that it is full of micro particles of dust, mold, smoke debris, and all kinds of gases.
Even though you can breathe it in and have become adapted to the odor, that does not mean your lungs are immune to injury from these air pollutants.
Each time you go into a store, you’re exposed to airborne toxins and carcinogenic molecules released by air fresheners, soaps, perfumes, and other body care products. Even if you don’t use a particular product, if you can smell it in the air, it is, in fact, having an impact on your body, and may be causing harm to your lungs and immune system.
Since it can be expensive and tedious to isolate every single gas or particulate matter in the air around you, the best thing you can do is filter your air as much as possible.
At home, you can use activated carbon and near-HEPA grade furnace filters to clean the air as much as possible.
You can also wear face masks that contain activated carbon when you go out in order to eliminate store based odors, auto exhaust fumes, and other air borne toxins that may be triggering allergic reactions. Wearing a mask (and latex/vinyl gloves) will also reduce your chances of getting the flu, colds, and other illnesses during peak seasons for these diseases.
Dig Deeper on Vaccines
Did you know that vaccines for Adenovirus, and mist versions of the flu shot contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)?
Aside from this, many other vaccines contain sucrose, molecules from milk, pork, beef, eggs, soy, and other things that are either food or commonly found as food additives.
Chances are you also realize that allergies to these foods, and illnesses from them were virtually unheard of even a few decades ago.
While there are many possible factors causing the rise in allergies and cancer, there is no question that immune system “problems” are at the bottom of them, just as surely as the immune system is part of the equation for asthma and “allergies”.
From this perspective, the rise in all these diseases corresponds uncomfortably well with the increases in vaccines and vaccinations.
There is no doubt that vaccines are important for preventing deadly diseases like tetanus. On the other side of the equation, there is truly more than one way to make a vaccine.
Do your research on the different formularies available and demand one that you feel will do the least damage just in case there is a viable, yet currently controversial link between receiving vaccines and developing allergies to some of the ingredients injected at the same time as the offending pathogen.
Understand the Role of Pollution
Your body is made up completely of atoms and molecules that have been part of the Earth since its formation. Even though there are things that are poisonous or harmful to your body, nothing compares to the toxic load generated by molecules that would never form naturally or on their own.
Today, man-made chemicals pollute every aspect of our world. To add insult to injury, when you start combining these chemicals (such as in dumps), or other areas where they can mix, there is no telling what impact they have once you encounter them. There may not even be a tests for your allergy simply because researchers don’t even know that certain molecules exist.
From that perspective, it’s important to be careful about purifying washing, bathing, and drinking water. Do what you can to make sure the air you breathe and food you eat are as free of pollutants as possible.
Find ways to keep your garments free of contamination and make sure that you can prevent debris from getting into your home. If this all sounds like advice for nuclear decontamination, you would not be far off in your estimation!
Understand the Drugs and Therapies You are On
Over the years, researchers claim they have made great strides in understanding how the immune system works, and how to control it to achieve better results. One has only to look at the history of the appendix to understand how far off researchers may be even as they continue to develop drugs based on what may be faulty knowledge.
Consider that not so long ago, the appendix was considered a “vestigal organ” that has no real purpose in the modern human body. As such, it is often removed or thought of as having no role other than to cause problems when it becomes infected.
More recently, it has been discovered that the appendix helps ensure the balance of bacteria in the intestines remains in favor of good bacteria. This alone has many implications for good health and a well functioning immune system. Some researchers also speculate that the appendix may play a heavier role than expected in the immune response process.
Allergies are often thought of as “inflammation”, and that one part of the immune system is responsible for all the problems. This part of the immune system is also thought to have no particular or important use in the human body, so modern therapies aim to either block it or knock it out altogether.
Given the “mistakes” in scientific conclusions that happened with the appendix, isn’t it possible that the same kind of mistake is being made with the parts of the immune system that create allergic responses?
As stated earlier, it is entirely possible our bodies have good reason for responding to certain things as poison. While we may not see anything on the surface, hidden poisons, toxins, carcinogens, and other dangerous molecules may be detected by the immune system.
Before you try to control your allergies without drugs, be aware of what you are on, and if it is safe to stop therapy. In some cases, missing a single shot can spell death or serious illness because your immune system will be thrown into chaos. Once you know that you can safely get off these drugs, make a plan with your doctor and make sure that you get all the right information.
This includes consulting with the following doctors on all drugs that you are taking:
an endocrinologist (especially if you are taking any kind of steroid)
an immunologist
a hematologist
an allergy specialist
a dietitian that specializes in eliminating specific foods without sacrificing good nutrition
a specialist for the organ system for every other drug you are on that isn’t related to treatment for allergies
a licensed specialist for any herbal supplements you may be taking
Before you make a decision, take notes on all the answers that you got and then do your own research. Make an effort to find out where the conflicts come from. Rule out any that may come from lack of more detailed knowledge about a specific drug and its impact on organs you hadn’t considered to be part of your problem.
Go back and ask more questions and see if you can get a viable consensus that agrees with research derived from creditable resources such as the WHO and NIH. Once you have a consensus, then you have a better chance of getting off drugs for allergies safely and effectively.
Use Your Rights to Demand Change
One of the most important and impressive things about capitalism is you have a right to spend your money as you choose. If you find that products are dangerous or harmful, there should never be a law that says you have to buy them or consume them instead of something else.
Today, many aspects of modern medicine are driven by money. While doctors may still have good intentions, they are also bound by money and making as much of it as possible. Now is the time to use your political rights to demand better scientific research and accountability. It is also time to refuse to buy into anything that prevents capitalism from getting rid of bad or dangerous drugs or procedures.
More than a few people suffering from allergies today are surprised to find that controlling the problem seems to be getting harder and more expensive. Without a careful study of pollutants, hidden ingredients, and drugs used to treat immune related disorders, you’ll have a very hard time managing your allergies using natural methods.
If you start with some of the bigger, or key triggers, it will give you a basis for moving forward.
Regardless of whether you are concerned about drug availability during a major social collapse, want to cut costs associated with prescription drugs, or simply want to feel good without always focusing on being ill, then even small steps can and should encourage you to move forward.
And hopefully succeed in treating your allergies as well as many other conditions without using drugs!
****Disclaimer: This article is not intended to, nor does it take the place of competent medical advice. See a qualified, licensed medical doctor and always do your own research.****
This article has been written by Carmela Tyrell for Survivopedia.
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Since the birthday-fairy snubbed me and I didn’t get a new Galaxy Note 8 I am making an impassioned, though somewhat, maybe, early plea for what every prepper needs to find in their stocking! I, probably like many of you, have heard the same thing on every gift-giving occasion. “You are so hard to buy for! You have everything and I never know what to get you.” Wrong, really wrong, major fail “WRONG!” So here are some blatant hints you can drop, like hot coals into a bucket of gasoline.
The reality is that all things come in “electric” form now. My iPad (and pretty much any Smartphone) has a compass app and many apps that cover sailing navigation, mountaineering, and on and on. Just look at an excellent post here from last week – The Top 10 Android Apps That Might Save Your Life! They were all great, and there were many more comments on other apps that were useful and interesting as well, but electric things only work where the signal reaches them, or until they run out of juice, or when the grid fails. And you simply can’t say enough about having a back-up.
So, I know everyone knows about the big things, more ammo, more MRE’s, more medical supplies, a new tent, shelters, guns, knives, cutting tools, water purifiers and on and on but here is a list of some little goodies that will warm the heart and raise the adventurers spirit in any outdoorsman.
The Fox 40 Sharx Whistle – Besides being an inexhaustible noise maker which, in itself, makes it worth its weight in gold, it attaches to anything and it can, for a moment, even quiet a 3 year old. As you know three shorts blasts (of a whistle, horn, firearm, rock striking rock and even your old KISS souvenir drumstick striking a metal can) are ways to call for help, get attention. This whistle will works as long as you can blow on it, where the others have limits. Every SCUBA diver has one so he can signal the dive boat if he surfaces in rough seas and is obscured by the swells. Every skier should have one in case the gaps between the trees are not as wide as he/she estimates (or they are not as narrow.) No go-bag or bug-out bag should be without one, in fact every key chain should have one as a safety item.
The UCO Survival Matches – compact, storm-proof with matches that burn for up to 12 seconds. Few things available in a waterproof container less than 1.5” tall make a better part of a gift set.
Rite in the Rain All-weather Notebook – no one should be in the woods without one. Rain, swear and grime don’t phase it, works with all pencils, wax markers and even crayons should you have small children or a college student in your party. Great for recording compass points from a site, site coordinates from your GPS before it dies, injury details for medical personnel, observations. Or, my favorite, to list the crap I lugged to the middle of nowhere and never used, as well as the things I wished I have brought.
Collins gem SAS Survival Guide – at 3” x 4.5” x 1” this is the compact survival guide to carry. Light, compact and complete, no one should leave home without it because no one know everything, in spite of what you hear on TV or read on FaceBook.
Chemical light sticks, I like the Cyalume VisiPad Chemlights – because they are flat and small (2.5” x 4.5”), come 5 to a package, are simple to operate and offer 10 hours of light. More practical as markers than reading lights, though they can do both.
And finally, the Funtalker Multifunction Map Compass – no one should be allowed to venture into the wilderness without a compass and the understanding of how to use it. I like this one as it is durable, compact, has the 5 standard scales (1: 24,000, 1: 63,360 – 1” = 1 mile, 1: 50,000, 1: 250,000 and 1: 1,000,000) commonly used in map reading and altitude determination. The included signaling mirror, which is polished aluminum, is worth its weight in gold. When everything fails, this alone will find you if you know how to use it and that information is everywhere. On a recent trip to Spider Rock in Northeast Arizona the Navajo guide used the signaling mirror to point out the petroglyphs on the canyon walls in bright sunlight while explaining their origin (Navajo, Hopi, etc.) and their meaning. I love simple and efficient.
No one who ventures off paved roads won’t love these as a gift, and there are so many more little, useful stocking stuffers. That is if they are true preppers……
from The Prepper Journal
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Our country has been plastered by hurricanes lately.
First there was Hurricane Harvey, which turned much of Houston, Texas into a lake, along with Corpus Christi, Rockport and the surrounding area. Then there was Hurricane Irma, which brushed by Puerto Rico and then tried to devour the Florida Peninsula. Finally, the third villain in this story was Hurricane Maria, which demolished Puerto Rico.
While Hurricane Maria was the “weakest” of the three, only a Category IV hurricane, it probably did the most damage. That damage is exacerbated by the fact that Puerto Rico is an island, making it harder to get relief workers and supplies in. Unlike Houston, access to Puerto Rico is limited to a few ports and airports, both of which were damaged by the storm.
Thousands of homes in Puerto Rico were destroyed by the hurricane, some only having their roofs torn off, while others were flattened entirely. Entire apartment buildings are standing with the façade torn off by the high winds, leaving the apartments exposed to the elements.
But the really serious damage from the hurricane wasn’t to people’s homes, although that is rather serious, but rather to the electrical grid. Over 95% of the island is currently without electrical power, not because of damage to the power plants, but rather to the near-total destruction of the transmission lines that carry the electricity produced to people’s homes, offices, stores and companies.
Without electricity, much of what people depend on to survive is eliminated. There is no running water, no communications, and most stores are unable to operate.
Between the lack of electric power to run their cash registers and the communications necessary to reorder stock, even if they sell their inventory for cash, using hand-written receipts, the stores will be empty of critical supplies, such as food, within less than three days.
But coming up with that cash will be difficult for most people, as the ATM machines that they need to use and the computers for the banks are without power and communications as well. Since few people hold onto much cash these days, but rather use plastic for all their purchases, they are left without the ability to buy even the most basic necessities of life.
While relief efforts are pouring in, there isn’t enough and it’s not getting there fast enough. Unlike the rest of the country, the people of Puerto Rico are limited by being on an island. There isn’t anyplace they can go themselves, to get away from the problems or get what they need.
But getting supplies to the island is only the beginning of the problems. Once the supplies get there, workers encounter problems moving them to those in need. Roads are damaged or blocked by felled trees and other debris and gasoline is in short supply. Those nearest the ports and airports have the best chances of receiving relief supplies, while others, on more remote areas, may receive none.
Medical Issues
The problems that ordinary people have are bad enough. But they don’t hold a candle up to the problems faced by those with serious medical conditions. Hospitals are overrun, between the people who were injured by the hurricane and the normal problems they have to deal with.
On top of that, diesel fuel to run the hospitals’ generators is running short, limiting their ability to treat patients.
The lack of electricity is causing other medical problems as well, such as there not being power to run kidney dialysis machines. People with kidney failure need this treatment three times per week. Without it, their body accumulates too many minerals in the bloodstream and organs, leading to heavy-metal poisoning and death.
The same can be said for many other medical treatments which require electricity to run the equipment.
Medicines themselves are becoming an issue as well. While pharmacies and hospitals were well stocked before the storm, some medicines are running short. The worst of this are medicines which require refrigeration, like insulin. Without refrigeration to keep insulin supplies fresh, diabetics will soon find themselves without this life-saving drug.
Recovery from the Disaster
Rebuilding and restoring Puerto Rico is going to be a major project. The damage was so severe and widespread, that there isn’t any place “safe” on the island that people can go to, to get away from the problems. That also means that there is no good starting point to work from in rebuilding the island. If only part had been damaged, they could use that as a base for rebuilding the rest.
Unsurprisingly, officials have decided that the first focus of restoration has to be government facilities and hospitals. While that makes sense from the viewpoint of needing those to be functional in order to rebuild the rest of the island, it can also be seen as government bureaucrats taking care of themselves.
The first thing that has to be restored is the electrical grid. With so much of the grid damaged, repairs are impossible. Rather, the distribution grid needs to be rebuilt. This little project is projected to take six months, which probably means it will take much longer.
In the mean time, the loss of electricity will mean that people will be without clean running water, power in their homes, refrigeration and the distribution of products to retail stores will be severely limited. As all the farms in the country were destroyed by the hurricane, all food will need to be shipped in for at least the next year, until the 2018 harvest comes in.
While the death toll from the hurricane is officially stated as 16 people, that number will surely rise. Between the lack of necessary medical attention and the lack of clean water, they can expect to see more and more people dying, either of pre-existing conditions or from disease spreading easily due to lack of sanitation. The situation isn’t pretty and it’s likely to get worse, even with all of the efforts being thrown into relief and recovery.
This problem is amplified by the Puerto Rican government’s poor financial condition. With an economy that is near the bankruptcy point, there isn’t the money needed to rebuild the island. Fortunately for them, President Trump has waived the normal requirement for states to pay 25% of disaster relief and recovery funds.
Lessons to be Learned
This disaster was just about as serious as they come. While the process of rebuilding won’t be as bad as it would have been with an EMP, the outright destruction is much worse. The people of Puerto Rico, American citizens, are going to be hard pressed to survive this disaster and come out on top.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of lessons that you and I can learn from this disaster. Lessons that we should apply to our own prepping plans, so that when our turn comes, we are not left in the same boat as our countrymen find themselves.
If we don’t take the opportunity to learn, then we could say that their suffering would be in vain.
Shelter
One of the biggest lessons that we can take away from this hurricane, as well as the ones that hit Houston and Florida is that American homes are not built to withstand natural disasters, especially disasters that involve enormous amounts of water. Our homes are easily damaged in any sort of flooding, which ends up soaking into the materials and destroying them.
Granted, many of the homes which were the worst hit in the hurricane are those of the poor. As such, they aren’t built according to normal American standards, but rather, in any way possible. So they are not as strong as a typical American home.
But that really doesn’t make much difference.
In a time of major disaster, we have to assume that our home will be damaged, unless you happen to live in a concrete box. With that in mind, there are two things that we should do.
The first is to be ready to make emergency repairs to our home, having the necessary tools, materials and skills on hand to accomplish those repairs. The second is to have an alternate means of shelter that we can use, if our homes become completely destroyed.
I had previously thought of using a travel trailer as my alternate shelter, in case of a hurricane destroying my home (I live in a hurricane zone as well). However, looking at the damage in Puerto Rico, it is clear that such an idea was ill-founded; a travel trailer would not survive.
It would be best to have a shelter somewhere away from your home, the classic survival retreat that we all aspire to. But if you can’t afford that, at least make sure that you have a good tent or two that you can count on.
Water
The lack of clean water in Puerto Rico is going to account for many deaths. Had those people but had some means of purifying their water, they could survive. Yet few actually did. While I have no idea how many preppers there are in Puerto Rico, it is clear that there aren’t enough.
But I see something else here as well. This is one area, in which we, as preppers, can really serve our communities, earning their respect and hopefully giving them a reason to not attack us. That is, for us to be ready to provide water filtration to those around us. For us, this is easy, as we already plan on purifying our own water. All we really need to do is increase our capacity.
Another lesson that we can take away from this is the need to be ready to harvest rainwater. While a lot of us are already using rainwater capture, we probably don’t have anywhere near the capacity needed to capture even an infinitesimal amount of the water that would fall on our homes in a hurricane. Increasing that capacity would also increase our chances of survival.
Food
With the island’s farms in a shambles, food is going to be a real challenge for the next year, with prices considerably higher than normal. While food shortages aren’t a major issue yet, they soon will be, as people and stores run out. FEMA and other relief agencies just can’t get food to the island quick enough.
This pretty much answers the question of whether or not it is unreasonable to have a year’s worth of food stockpiled. For the people of Puerto Rico, a one year supply of food seems like a minimum, right now. Those that don’t have that much (most people) are probably going to end up losing weight.
There’s something else that this disaster brings up in the food area, as well. That is, protecting your food stockpile from destruction. If my home had been in Puerto Rico for the hurricane, it looks to me like much of my food stockpile would have been damaged or even floated away. I need to rethink my food storage, looking for ways to make sure that my food stays at my home site, even if my home becomes damaged.
One way to do this is to bury some of it. Five gallon buckets, filled with food will bury just fine, protecting the food. About the only thing that could happen to it, to destroy it, would be driving a vehicle over the top.
Electric Power
As usual, the electrical grid is one of the first things damaged by any storm. Therefore, none of us can count on electricity after a disaster. We either need to be ready to do without, or to produce our own.
In this case, people who had solar panels or wind turbines probably saw them damaged by the storm. High winds can be hard on both, especially if they are not properly anchored. In that case, their preparedness wouldn’t have helped them at all.
When Hurricane Harvey was headed for my home, before turning and making landfall at Rockport, I took down my wind turbine, strapping it down behind a cement wall to protect it from the storm. Had it been up and the hurricane hit our area, I am sure that it would have been destroyed.
Medical Needs
As I mentioned above, one of the biggest problems facing the citizens of Puerto Rico is medical services and supplies. This is not uncommon in any disaster situation, as medical services tend to become overwhelmed.
But there is a big difference in this case, that is, their generators are going to prove to not be enough. When the supply of fuel is exhausted, the hospitals and all their equipment will be down.
The only medical services we can truly count on in a time of emergency are those that are already in our possession. If anything, we had better count on needing more than we thing, not less. Chances are, we’re going to find ourselves in a position where we won’t be able to count on the medical community.
Self-Defense
It didn’t take long for the two-legged predators to come out of the woodwork and start taking what they wanted. I’ve heard stories of gunmen at gas stations, threatening others so that they could get in line first. While a fairly simple example, this is indicative of what is going on in other areas as well.
As supplies become even shorter, people will become more desperate. More and more acts of violence will break forth, with people fighting over food, water and other basic necessities. Those who are not prepared to defend themselves will be the loser in this game.
FEMA
Once again, FEMA has proven that they are unprepared to deal with any emergency, especially a major one. While their workers are hard at it, trying to coordinate relief efforts, they are behind the curve. Without others pitching in to help out, FEMA will be unable to meet all the needs.
There is a stark difference between what is happening in Puerto Rico and what has happened in Houston. While I don’t have any actual figures for how much aid is reaching Puerto Rico or how much of that is from FEMA, most of it seems to be coming from FEMA or through the Red Cross. On the other hand, the large Christian community in Texas provided most of the help to the citizens of Houston. In fact, there was so much aid given by the Christian Community, that news agencies who are normally hostile to Christians commented positively about it.
Anyone who is dependent on the government to provide them with aid is asking for trouble. While government relief workers do their best, it’s never enough.
We must be ready to take care of ourselves, and if possible, those around us as well. Are you prepared?
This article has been written by Bill White for Survivopedia.
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When searching for allergy triggers, start off by viewing your body as a holistic system in the sense that problems in one area can trigger symptoms elsewhere.
Did you know that vaccines for Adenovirus, and mist versions of the flu shot contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)?
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Rite in the Rain All-weather Notebook
Collins gem SAS Survival Guide
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