It's been about 10 months since I started my Survival Preparation and honestly several days will go by without me thinking about Survival.....I guess just life gets in the way. I don't know if it the Ostrich syndrome where you bury your head and if you don't see it, then it isn't real.......or me just hoping for the best. Then I realized that I really am not planning for a worse case scenario. I did get some caches emplaced close to my family's cabin but to tell you the truth, I have a hard time spending the money that UrbanMan urges me to spend to get prepared.
But, I have been buying more groceries and ensuring they I have about a two month supply in my pantry and I do have some long term storage food. But I don't think I'll ever get to the recommended 12 months of stored, long term food.
But some things are changing now that things are happening that are, frankly, scaring me: the Fed printing more money; inflation and probably hyper-inflation to hit; gas prices on the rise (19 cents higher since last week where I live); and the noticeable increase in staples at the grocery store have got me concerned. UrbanMan is telling me to ensure I buy enough ammunition and if I want an AR type rifle I better get it now, as the prices will most surely rise but my pay check won't.
The least dangerous thing for me to do is to purchase more Silver. I found this Silver site and asked UrbanMan to post it so those of you who cannot get to a Silver Market or save enough for a order and shipment can actually buy Silver through debits as low as $50 a month, or $25 a week.
The deal is you have your account or card debited for a certain amount on a automatic period, say every week, twice a month or just monthly. The money goes to this company (Silver Saver) who buys the Silver until you reach a minimum amount, in this case 20 ounces, then you can elect to have them ship it to you - this is what I am doing.
Watch the video below and you'' understand it better and maybe see a greater need to have some silver on hand.
If you are interested in learning more than go to Silver Saver.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Dollar Meltdown and the Looming Financial Crisis
Yesterday I had a conversation with several people who just did not understand what inflation and the devaluation of the dollar on the world stage meant to them and their stability and survival. I told them I would get some short pieces of information together, but in the mean time to take a few moments and consider what sky rocketing prices of commodities means to them and their families.
Imagine all manner of foods we take for granted to be on store shelves not only costing hundreds of percent more, but becoming scarce. What are the tens of millions, if not over a hundred million, people who live hand to mouth going to do when they can no longer even afford simple foods?
When the Fed announced they were monetizing the debt and printing more money to buy government debt, I immediately ordered two more cases of long term storage food and finally bought the backup .308 rifle that I have been wanting.
On my immediate list (buy this week) are additional boots for my family. What are your plans?
For those of you really into the "why's" and "what for's" of the coming collapse of the dollar, you may find these books valuable.
Imagine all manner of foods we take for granted to be on store shelves not only costing hundreds of percent more, but becoming scarce. What are the tens of millions, if not over a hundred million, people who live hand to mouth going to do when they can no longer even afford simple foods?
When the Fed announced they were monetizing the debt and printing more money to buy government debt, I immediately ordered two more cases of long term storage food and finally bought the backup .308 rifle that I have been wanting.
On my immediate list (buy this week) are additional boots for my family. What are your plans?
For those of you really into the "why's" and "what for's" of the coming collapse of the dollar, you may find these books valuable.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Terrorist or Conventional Attack Threat
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com has long thought that the most likely catalyst to a survival situation would be economic or social collapse, either through a dynamic event or a gradual degradation. However we can't discount the possibility of a terrorist or Foreign State sponsored attack such as described in the books "One Second After" or "Lights Out".
One of the newest delivery systems for nuclear, conventional, biological or chemical weapons is cruise missile launchers disguised as common MILVAN or Sea Shipping Containers which can be loaded onto commercial ships and sailed into a sea port then launched onto American cities.
Of course, terrorists can just load a ship full of explosives, radiological material (dirty bomb) or a pre-fab nuclear device then detonate it in a port, but missiles give a much longer range to reach into the interior of the country.
The bad thing is there is a Russian weapons company marketing a new missile system that is hidden inside an ordinary shipping container. It can turn a ship, train or truck into a long range missile launcher. Won't be long before all the crazies of this world have this capability as well.
The promotional video for the Club K Missile system is part of the marketing campaign by a private, Russian-based weapons manufacturer. The cruise missile system is hidden in a 40-foot shipping container. It can fire four long range satellite-guided missiles from a ship, train or tractor-trailer.
The Club K is being marketed at international weapons shows as a military weapon. In the hands of a terrorist group the container could easily be smuggled into the United States. It is so new most international security experts have never heard of it.
"To look at an entire weapons system that can be put on a cargo ship and deployed is frightening," said Brent Brown an international security consultant, "It is a pretty devastating piece of technology that could have all kinds of collateral damage."
The Port of Savannah is the fourth largest in the nation; moving over three million containers a year. A Club K Missile system fired from a container at the Port of Savannah could easily reach Atlanta 250 miles away.
Customs and Border protection are responsible for port security. Farmer asked the Directors of Customs and Border Protections if he was aware of the weapons. Director John Porter replied, "I am now."
Just how does the Federal government check millions of containers? Customs says that they carefully monitor the paperwork of every container. They said that it is largely done at the port of origin overseas. They admit, while they have the latest in x-ray technology, it is simply not realistic to scan all cargo.
Thousands of containers are off loaded from ships like this one but just a fraction go through machines.
"If you are not checking 100% that it is a hole in the system," said Brown.
Every truck is check for radiation as it leaves the Savannah port, but the Club K Missile can be either nuclear or hold conventional explosives that would not' trip these detectors. Savannah authorities told us they believe the Club K would not' make it through either way.
"Our systems in place would detect such an anomaly," said Porter.
"It is extremely troubling, it's extremely troubling," said retired general now defense industry consultant David Poythress. Poythress added that the military has quietly been working on technology to defend against a Club K cruise missile-type system.
"It's a huge threat. A cruise missile launch from a vessel, off-shore against an urban population," said Poythress.
Janes Defense Weekly estimates the price tag on the Club K Missile is between $10-20 million. The Russian company that makes the weapon has refused interviews. They have issued statements saying the Club-K is not being marketed to terrorists and is meant for use on military ships. The company also claims to have nations in Latin America and the Asia pacific region interested in weapon.
One of the newest delivery systems for nuclear, conventional, biological or chemical weapons is cruise missile launchers disguised as common MILVAN or Sea Shipping Containers which can be loaded onto commercial ships and sailed into a sea port then launched onto American cities.
Of course, terrorists can just load a ship full of explosives, radiological material (dirty bomb) or a pre-fab nuclear device then detonate it in a port, but missiles give a much longer range to reach into the interior of the country.
The bad thing is there is a Russian weapons company marketing a new missile system that is hidden inside an ordinary shipping container. It can turn a ship, train or truck into a long range missile launcher. Won't be long before all the crazies of this world have this capability as well.
The promotional video for the Club K Missile system is part of the marketing campaign by a private, Russian-based weapons manufacturer. The cruise missile system is hidden in a 40-foot shipping container. It can fire four long range satellite-guided missiles from a ship, train or tractor-trailer.
The Club K is being marketed at international weapons shows as a military weapon. In the hands of a terrorist group the container could easily be smuggled into the United States. It is so new most international security experts have never heard of it.
"To look at an entire weapons system that can be put on a cargo ship and deployed is frightening," said Brent Brown an international security consultant, "It is a pretty devastating piece of technology that could have all kinds of collateral damage."
The Port of Savannah is the fourth largest in the nation; moving over three million containers a year. A Club K Missile system fired from a container at the Port of Savannah could easily reach Atlanta 250 miles away.
Customs and Border protection are responsible for port security. Farmer asked the Directors of Customs and Border Protections if he was aware of the weapons. Director John Porter replied, "I am now."
Just how does the Federal government check millions of containers? Customs says that they carefully monitor the paperwork of every container. They said that it is largely done at the port of origin overseas. They admit, while they have the latest in x-ray technology, it is simply not realistic to scan all cargo.
Thousands of containers are off loaded from ships like this one but just a fraction go through machines.
"If you are not checking 100% that it is a hole in the system," said Brown.
Every truck is check for radiation as it leaves the Savannah port, but the Club K Missile can be either nuclear or hold conventional explosives that would not' trip these detectors. Savannah authorities told us they believe the Club K would not' make it through either way.
"Our systems in place would detect such an anomaly," said Porter.
"It is extremely troubling, it's extremely troubling," said retired general now defense industry consultant David Poythress. Poythress added that the military has quietly been working on technology to defend against a Club K cruise missile-type system.
"It's a huge threat. A cruise missile launch from a vessel, off-shore against an urban population," said Poythress.
Janes Defense Weekly estimates the price tag on the Club K Missile is between $10-20 million. The Russian company that makes the weapon has refused interviews. They have issued statements saying the Club-K is not being marketed to terrorists and is meant for use on military ships. The company also claims to have nations in Latin America and the Asia pacific region interested in weapon.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
CBRNE Threat - Blood Agents
This is another post in a continuing series on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Threats.
A blood agent is a chemical agent, very toxic to the body, that gets into the blood stream through breathing (inhalation or swallowing (ingestion). They are very fast-acting, lethal poisons (in the proper amount) that can be a gas with a very light smell.
The military chemical blood agent are used as aerosols and as such become effective through breathing in the poison. They are much more effective in confined areas rather than large open areas where the previaling winds and effect or disapte their lethality.
Blood agents are usually Cyanide based compounds that occur in small amounts in the natural environment and in cigarette smoke. They are also prevalent in pesticides and some manufacturing. Cyanide gas is often the cause of death in fires as it is given off when certain materials burn such some plastics and other comon household material such as drapes.
The symptoms that appear from blood agent poisoning depend on the level of concentration and duration of exposure.
Cyanide-based blood agents irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract, while the other less common blood agent, Arsine, is basically non-irritating. The Hydrogen cyanide version has a very faint, bitter, almond type smell. Arsine has a very light garlic like odor that is only detectable at very high levels with wold be lethal.
Exposure to small amounts of cyanide has no effect - remember the cigarette smoke - except for long term exposure and then only linked to degenerative diseaes like cancers. Higher short term exposures at higher concentrations cause dizziness, weakness and possibly nausea, which usually cease when removed from the area.
Long duration - long term exposure can cause permanent brain damage and muscle paralysis. Moderate exposure causes stronger and longer-lasting symptoms, including headaches, sometimes followed by seizures, convulsions then death. Very heavy concentrations will cause severe lethal effects within seconds.
One way to tell if blood agent poisoning has occured on dead people is that their blood will appear very bright.
Cyanide poisoning can be detected by the smell of bitter almonds, or respiratory tract inflammation in the case of cyanogen chloride poisoning although it will be hard in a survival situation to determine this. There is really no way outside of a laboratory to determine arsine gas poisoning, but it may leave a garlic smell on the victim's breath.
At sufficient levels of concentration, blood agents can quickly infuse the blood and cause death in a matter of minutes or seconds. They cause powerful gasping for breath, as the agent denies the body the use of oxygen in the blood. Violent seizure type convulsions and a painful death that can take several minutes. The immediate cause of death is usually respiratory failure.
Detection methods for Chemical agents do exist for hydrogen cyanide in the form of test strips, like the military M8 type paper. Ordinary clothing, particular vinyl rain suits, gloves and protective masks provides some protection, but military grade protective over garments would be recommended. Mask filters containing only charcoal are ineffective, and effective filters are quickly clogged.
Due to their high volatility, cyanide agents generally need no decontamination. In enclosed areas, fire extinguishers spraying sodium carbonate can decontaminate hydrogen cyanide, but the resulting metal salts remain poisonous on contact. Liquid hydrogen cyanide can be flushed with water.
There are some antidotes for Cyanide poisoning but these are mostly beyond the grasp of Urban Survivalists.
Carbon monoxide could technically be called a blood agent because it inhibits the use of oxygen in the blood by contracting with the with the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin.
A blood agent is a chemical agent, very toxic to the body, that gets into the blood stream through breathing (inhalation or swallowing (ingestion). They are very fast-acting, lethal poisons (in the proper amount) that can be a gas with a very light smell.
The military chemical blood agent are used as aerosols and as such become effective through breathing in the poison. They are much more effective in confined areas rather than large open areas where the previaling winds and effect or disapte their lethality.
Blood agents are usually Cyanide based compounds that occur in small amounts in the natural environment and in cigarette smoke. They are also prevalent in pesticides and some manufacturing. Cyanide gas is often the cause of death in fires as it is given off when certain materials burn such some plastics and other comon household material such as drapes.
The symptoms that appear from blood agent poisoning depend on the level of concentration and duration of exposure.
Cyanide-based blood agents irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract, while the other less common blood agent, Arsine, is basically non-irritating. The Hydrogen cyanide version has a very faint, bitter, almond type smell. Arsine has a very light garlic like odor that is only detectable at very high levels with wold be lethal.
Exposure to small amounts of cyanide has no effect - remember the cigarette smoke - except for long term exposure and then only linked to degenerative diseaes like cancers. Higher short term exposures at higher concentrations cause dizziness, weakness and possibly nausea, which usually cease when removed from the area.
Long duration - long term exposure can cause permanent brain damage and muscle paralysis. Moderate exposure causes stronger and longer-lasting symptoms, including headaches, sometimes followed by seizures, convulsions then death. Very heavy concentrations will cause severe lethal effects within seconds.
One way to tell if blood agent poisoning has occured on dead people is that their blood will appear very bright.
Cyanide poisoning can be detected by the smell of bitter almonds, or respiratory tract inflammation in the case of cyanogen chloride poisoning although it will be hard in a survival situation to determine this. There is really no way outside of a laboratory to determine arsine gas poisoning, but it may leave a garlic smell on the victim's breath.
At sufficient levels of concentration, blood agents can quickly infuse the blood and cause death in a matter of minutes or seconds. They cause powerful gasping for breath, as the agent denies the body the use of oxygen in the blood. Violent seizure type convulsions and a painful death that can take several minutes. The immediate cause of death is usually respiratory failure.
Detection methods for Chemical agents do exist for hydrogen cyanide in the form of test strips, like the military M8 type paper. Ordinary clothing, particular vinyl rain suits, gloves and protective masks provides some protection, but military grade protective over garments would be recommended. Mask filters containing only charcoal are ineffective, and effective filters are quickly clogged.
Due to their high volatility, cyanide agents generally need no decontamination. In enclosed areas, fire extinguishers spraying sodium carbonate can decontaminate hydrogen cyanide, but the resulting metal salts remain poisonous on contact. Liquid hydrogen cyanide can be flushed with water.
There are some antidotes for Cyanide poisoning but these are mostly beyond the grasp of Urban Survivalists.
Carbon monoxide could technically be called a blood agent because it inhibits the use of oxygen in the blood by contracting with the with the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin.
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