Taurus TH9 Pistol, by Thomas Christianson
The Taurus TH9 is a full-sized, hammer-fired, SA/DA, semi-automatic, polymer-framed, 9mm handgun with a 17 round magazine capacity. It is reliable, accurate, and reasonably priced, with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $389.99 Background I am a big fan of single action/double action handguns with decockers. I have been ever since my son first let me […]
A Tactical Flashlight Could Save Your Life
When most of us think of flashlights, we’re focused more on convenience than on life-and-death situations.
We use flashlights when the power goes out in our home to check the fuse box. Or we use it at night in the backyard to see what the dog is barking at. Or we use it any time of day to look under a bed.
But the fact is, a tactical flashlight can be a lifesaver. In fact, I did some research and came up with 7 different ways a flashlight could help you in an emergency.
Keep reading to learn about ‘em. And then I’ll give you a dozen things to look for in a tactical flashlight, if you’re in the market for one.
7 ways a flashlight could keep you alive
- Spotting danger in the darkness. If you find yourself walking in a dark area – due to a power outage or if you’re camping in the woods – a flashlight is a big help for finding your way, avoiding pitfalls, and spotting dangerous wildlife.
- Escaping from a hazard zone. If there were a crisis like a blackout, flood, or chemical spill near where you live, a flashlight might be the only tool at your disposal to help you get out of the region as quickly and safely as possible.
- Signaling for help. If you get lost in a secluded area, whether during an escape from a bad situation, going off-grid, a camping trip, or are stranded somewhere, a flashlight could be used to signal for help. Especially if your flashlight has a built-in SOS component or a strobe function to it. It’s a great way to alert help to your location.
- Getting out of a submerged vehicle. When a vehicle plunges into a body of water – and it happens more often than you might think – the driver and passengers have very little time to save themselves from drowning. A tactical flashlight with a razor-sharp edge can rip through a stuck seatbelt. And its glass-breaking hammer can quickly break open a window that could become jammed in an accident.
- Self-defense from an attacker. There are weapons that would be more useful than a flashlight if you’re attacked. But if you’re in a pinch, a flashlight can temporarily blind an attacker to allow an escape, while its barrel can be used for a counterattack.
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A vehicle breakdown. If your vehicle breaks down, you’ll need light to check under the hood or change a tire in the dark. And if you have to abandon the car and walk somewhere, it will help light your way.
- Charging a cellphone for an emergency call. If your cellphone is dead and you need to make a call for help, some tactical flashlights can charge up handheld devices. That phone call could be your lifeline in an emergency.
What to look for
Here’s what I look for in a tactical flashlight:
- Ultra-bright LED flashlight
- Solar panel
- Power bank
- SOS light and strobe
- Work light
- Seatbelt/rope splitter
- Glass-breaking hammer
- Compass
- Magnet
- Lightweight
- Anti-slip handle
- Adjustable wrist strap
Everybody needs a flashlight. And several of them are much better than having just one. That way, you can keep one in each of the rooms where you might need it. Not to mention in your vehicles.
But make sure they are tactical flashlights. Because light in the darkness is only one of the advantages you can enjoy with a flashlight.
Sizzling Solutions: Cooking Without Electricity
They say spring comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. There’s plenty of truth to that. Temperatures in many parts of the country are still quite chilly in early spring. But later in the season, they’ve risen considerably.
There is one constant throughout spring, however. And that’s the potential for wet and wild conditions.
Spring often features snow and wind at the start and violent storms throughout. Including tornadoes. And as we all know, the common denominator is blackouts.
Cooking food never takes a holiday. So, as we approach spring, it’s important to bone up on different ways to cook during inevitable power outages.
So far, 2024 has brought powerful storms and blackouts across the entire nation. From west coast atmospheric rivers to nor’easter snow storms.
And it’s not just forceful storms that can leave you without power for hours, days, and even weeks…
A squirrel on a power line
27 million degrees… That’ll get your water boiling
You need to be able to heat water if you’re home in a blackout. The same is true if you’re in the woods camping or hiking. Or if you have to evacuate due to a crisis.
If you’re prepared, it won’t be a problem. On most days the sun will help you accomplish the task at hand.
Not all by itself, though. The sun is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit at its core. But its rays are not hot enough to cook food or boil water by the time they reach Earth.
Fortunately, those electromagnetic rays contain a great deal of energy. They cause molecules in whatever they strike to vibrate. That’s what generates heat. And solar cookers are capable of harnessing that heat.
Sun-powered ovens
There are a number of different types of solar cookers. They include solar ovens/box cookers and panel cookers. Plus evacuated tubes and parabolic solar cookers.
The solar oven or box cooker is usually about three to five feet across. It’s basically a sun-powered oven. It heats up and seals in the heat. The open-topped box is black on the inside with glass or transparent plastic on the top.
It usually has several reflectors featuring flat, metallic, or mirrored surfaces outside the box. They collect and direct sunlight onto the glass.
A pot of food sits on the black bottom of the box. Sunlight enters the box through the glass top. When light waves strike the bottom, the box heats up and the food cooks.
Methods of cooking
Panel cookers incorporate different elements of box cookers and parabolic solar cookers. They use parabolic reflectors above a box-type oven.
Evacuated tube solar cookers use a double-wall glass tube for the cooking chamber. The space between the glass is created as a vacuum.
Many people prefer parabolic solar cookers due to their ability to achieve higher temperatures. And their portability.
A parabolic solar cooker uses curved, reflective surfaces to focus sunlight into a small area. The evacuated tempered glass tube traps every bit of heat-producing light that hits it.
No noise. No smoke. No fuel.
Temperatures inside a parabolic solar cooker can get very hot. But it’s cool to the touch on the outside. So, you can safely handle it with your bare hands when it’s at full temperature.
The sides fold out to reveal two parabolic mirrors. These “wings” grab every bit of sun and focus it on the glass tube.
A parabolic solar cooker does not need batteries or electricity. Because it boils water, it protects you from parasites such as giardia.
It doesn’t need any flames or fuel. You don’t have to be concerned with gathering wood or sticks. And it doesn’t produce smoke or make noise. So, it allows you to keep your location covert.
A hotdog in your kettle? Top foods to cook
What can you cook with a parabolic solar cooker? Hard-boiled eggs and hot dogs come to mind immediately.
But you could also cook an omelet or vegetarian couscous. Or oatmeal and a wide variety of soups.
As well as mashed potato flakes and instant rice. Plus stovetop stuffing, ramen noodles, and bulgar wheat.
Not to mention pastas that cook in less than four minutes. Such as artisan pastas and instant grits.
When to use it
When are the best times to use a parabolic solar cooker? They’re great for camping, boating, and hiking.
As well as picnics, your job site, or tailgating. Or just sitting on the sidelines while your kids or grandchildren play.
Cooking food such as hotdogs, eggs and freeze-dried meals is one way to use a parabolic solar cooker. But there are many others. Including…
- Heating water for hygiene needs
- Keeping liquid hot for hours for coffee, tea, cocoa, gelatin, or baby formula
- Melting snow for drinking or other usages
- Pasteurizing water
- Killing giardia, cryptosporidium, and other waterborne bacteria
More ways to cook in an outage
Now, a solar cooker may be the best way to heat water during a blackout. But it’s not the only way. Here are a few others.
Candles & Camp Stoves
If the only item you have available as a heat source is a candle, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to boil water. But you should be able to at least heat it.
Just place a lit candle under a small pan of water and patiently wait for the water to warm. If you can add more candles to the mix, you’ll have a better chance of raising your water’s temperature.
You’d be much better off with a camp stove. All you need for a camp stove is kindling. Such as twigs, leaves, or grasses.
Camp stoves are lightweight and easily portable. Made of stainless steel, they produce only a small amount of smoke. And they’re easy to clean.
Portable gas stoves
These are best used as an outdoor cooking method. The two best options with portable gas stoves are butane and propane.
Butane stoves are portable and can generate enough heat to do most cooking. However, butane canisters can be pricey and hold a limited amount of fuel.
Propane is a highly dependable fuel at freezing temperatures and high altitudes. The tanks, however, are thick-walled. They’re too heavy to easily carry.
Smaller stoves in this genre are single-burner stoves. But there are also two-burner stoves. If portability is not an issue, larger camper stoves with legs are effective.
Wood and coal-burning stoves
Wood-burning and coal-burning stoves are convenient for use in the winter when you can cook and heat your home simultaneously. But they’re also great in warmer months.
If it is flat enough, you can cook on top of it. The fire should be going strong before you start cooking. It’s best to use cast-iron cookware. It conducts heat, but does not retain it.
Frying time is similar to using a conventional gas or electric stove. But cooking time is longer.
If your food is cooking too quickly, turn down the drafts. Transfer food to a cooler part of the stovetop. If it’s cooking too slowly, open the drafts and add wood to the fire.
Grills and open-fire cooking
If you’re able to hunker down at home – or you have one of these grills at your bug-out location – it will come in handy. They use gas or charcoal.
This is a great way to grill various meats and fish. As well as large vegetables. Grills have an advantage over open-fire cooking because their lids trap more heat.
Open-fire cooking is a simple outdoor solution during a crisis. Set a barbeque grill plate over an open fire and cook.
Another option is using a large, flat rock. Place the rock over the fire. Once the rock is hot, put your pan or pot on top. The harder the rock, the less likely it is to crack.
Fireplace and fondue pot
If you’re hunkering down, a fireplace is not a bad choice. Use logs rather than charcoal, which can produce carbon monoxide.
Add a little vegetable oil, salt, and pepper to your food before wrapping it in aluminum foil. Then cook it over the flame. Use tongs and rotate the food often. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the inside is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can use a fondue pot to cook a small meal. Make sure your fuel is approved for indoor use.
Stainless steel is the way to go here. Both for cooking and for cleaning up afterwards. Make sure the handles are strong and the base is wide.
Power outages are inevitable this spring. Some will be short-lived, but others could go on for a while.
Knowing in advance how to cook during those blackouts will come in handy. I hope you’ll be able to utilize one or more of the ways listed above.
Wait, Doc. That’s My Prescription? Fruits & Veggies?
In the 1991 comedy movie What About Bob?, psychologist Leo Marvin writes a prescription for his neurotic patient, Bob Wiley.
Bob, played by Bill Murray, worries how he will cope while his shrink (Richard Dreyfuss), is on vacation. He is expecting a drug prescription to calm his nerves.
Instead, the prescription Bob gets says, “Take a vacation from your problems.” Bob quickly realizes this will not require a trip to the pharmacy.
In real life, some patients show surprise these days when handed a prescription. Especially when it prescribes nothing more than fruits and vegetables.
New Prescription Program Is Working
The recipients of these prescriptions may feel “cheated.” After all, they can pick up fruits and veggies at their local store.
But they do appreciate something else. These prescriptions are often accompanied by an electronic card or voucher. It’s good for accessing free or discounted produce at grocery stores or farmers’ markets.
The strategy is working. That’s what a recent study shows. It’s published by an American Heart Association journal titled Circulation.
The fruit and vegetable prescriptions result in greater consumption of these healthy foods. And the increased consumption results in improved health. Both in medical checkups and in self-reported health. As well as in lowering food insecurity.
It’s All About Long-Term Survival
Now, maybe your doctor has never handed you a prescription for fruits and vegetables. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from this idea.
Increasing your consumption of veggies and fruits should result in better health. Both in the short-term and in the future.
Here’s why that second part is so important. The more nutritious foods you eat now, the better health you’ll be in when stuff hits the fan.
Why develop improved food habits now? Because it will make you better equipped to survive a future crisis. Handling an emergency situation will be challenging on its own. Being in poor health when it happens will make it even more difficult.
Natural Solutions Work Best
Many people believe doctors could serve their patients better. How? By discussing and prescribing natural solutions to health problems. Rather than prescribing drugs.
For them, this produce prescription program is a step in the right direction. Patients are more likely to eat vegetables and fruits when “prescribed” to them.
This is true for patients with health issues connected to their diets. As well as for patients with a lack of nutritional access due to their budgets.
The program is convenient for many people. Because of the variety of places they can get fruits and vegetables. Including grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Plus online stores and mobile markets.
Prescriptions Increase Consumption
The study mentioned earlier involved approximately 3,800 participants. More than 2,000 were adults with an average age of 54.
About one-half of households participating in the survey reported experiencing some food insecurity.
Food insecurity is the condition of not having access to enough food. Or food of an adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs.
The participants received an average of $63 per month for vegetables and fruits. Adults reported their intake of fruits and veggies increased by about one cup per day.
1 in 10 Not Good Odds
This is a program whose time has come. Especially considering only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults eats enough fruits and vegetables daily.
The CDC reports that only 12.3% of American adults eat enough fruit. And only 10% eat enough vegetables. Mostly due to cost and availability.
Those committed to preparing for an uncertain future should think seriously about this program.
Even if we don’t qualify for vouchers or discounts. But if you do qualify, why not take advantage of it?
Processed Food Is the Enemy
One of the biggest problems with not eating enough fruits and veggies is what we eat instead. That’s processed foods.
One study claims ultra-processed foods make up about 60% of the typical American’s diet. Now, that’s scary.
Processed food has been changed from its natural state. This can include everything from canning it, freezing it, and adding ingredients to it. Even baking and cooking can count as changing it.
Among unhealthy ingredients added to many foods we eat are salt and sugar. As well as flavorings, preservatives, and artificial colors. They are added to make food last longer and/or give them more visual appeal.
Consider Your Future When Making the Choice
One reason ultra-processed foods are so tempting is because they’re usually ready-to-eat. They’re simple and easy. They include ice cream and sodas. As well as processed meats, pizza, and potato chips. Plus cookies, candy bars, and sugary drinks.
And when we eat these foods between meals, we consume less healthy foods at mealtime. This is a habit we need to break. Both for our health now, and for our survival in the future.
As we age, our health becomes a bigger concern. It makes sense to eat enough healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables now.
When it comes to a survival situation, our health will be more important than ever. Getting into the right habit now will benefit us in the long run.
Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — March 5, 2024
On March 5, 1963, American country and western singer Patsy Cline—who was one of the classic performers of the genre, known for such ballads as I Fall to Pieces and Crazy—died in an airplane crash near Camden, Tennessee, at age 30. Also killed in the crash were Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes. This […]
An Illegal Alien Military Invasion, by Mike in Alaska
The united States of America has been invaded by an illegal alien military force almost equal to what is termed a Field Army. I am going to focus on one report of illegal aliens crossing the border from Mexico, and in particular the breakdown of data of who those illegals are, and where they came […]
Scammers have Robocalls Mimicking President Joe Biden
When we receive a communication from someone we don’t know, we should be skeptical about it. Especially if they’re asking for money to pay for medical expenses or a trip to America to gain freedom.
It’s most likely a scam. But what if that communication seems to come from someone we know? Or someone we know of? Or even someone we trust?
Lately, some folks have been receiving calls that seem to be coming from people they’re familiar with. Some of these calls even mimic the voice of President Joe Biden.
The calls – using AI-generated voices – ask for money. And they’re working. AI voice clones cost Americans about $2.6 billion per year. The elderly are most at risk.
AI Makes It Seem Real
Today I want to talk about how prevalent these calls have become. And how careful we need to be to avoid being deceived.
One of the biggest problems with artificial intelligence (AI) is how close to reality it seems.
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference. Doctored photographs and AI-generated voices are the tip of the iceberg.
Some U.S. senators are aware of the problem. They’re asking the Biden Administration to do something about it.
Bipartisan Committee Fighting Back
Mike Braun is a U.S. senator from Indiana. He is the top Republican on the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
He’s leading an effort to petition the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the subject. He and other senators from both parties sent the agency a letter.
They’re trying to determine what the FTC knows about AI scams targeting the elderly. And what the agency is doing to protect them.
They’re especially interested in AI technology used to replicate voices of well-known individuals.
Fake Grandson Fools Elderly Couple
The bipartisan letter addressed FTC chairwoman Lina Khan. It mentioned voice clones and chat boxes. Including those trying to convince the elderly they’re communicating with a real person. Such as a relative, close friend, or celebrity.
One elderly couple almost lost $9,400 in a scam. But their bank alerted them to the potential fraud in time.
The caller had tried to convince the couple he was their grandson. And that he needed money to make bail.
In another case, someone posing as a kidnapper used voice-cloning technology. He duplicated the sounds of a crying child and demanded ransom.
Voice-Cloning Technology Is the Culprit
Older folks were already more vulnerable to scams than others. Partly because they grew up in an era when things like this rarely happened.
And also because many elderly people don’t have the same cognitive skills they used to have. Their hearing is not what it once was. One scam used a voice that sounded like movie star Jennifer Lopez.
Braun, who cited the $2.6 billion figure, said AI makes scams easier “because it’s like talking to your grandkid.”
He added that voice-cloning technology is making it much easier to fool people. Especially older individuals.
Connecticut Senator Gets in the Act
Richard Blumenthal is a Democratic senator from Connecticut. He used a creative way to let his fellow politicians understand how serious the problem is.
He opened a hearing on AI by using an AI-generated voice that sounded like his. The voice was reading a script generated by artificial intelligence.
Braun said this. “When you can replicate a voice to the extent I couldn’t tell if that was Senator Blumenthal or a replication… just imagine.
“That is a tool the scammers never had” at their disposal in the past. But now scammers are using it regularly.
Advice for the FTC
What do Braun and other politicians want the FTC to do about this? For one, they want the agency to update its “educational and awareness” materials.
That will help seniors understand scammers use artificial voices to steal their money.
They also want the FTC to air public service messages to bring more awareness to the problem. And also to maintain a hotline people can use. To make complaints about voice-cloning calls.
Braun added it’s a red flag when inventors of AI warn against its usage. He said, “I’ve never seen any new technology… where the people that created it have been more worried about how you use it.”
Biden’s ‘Voice’ Targets Voters
Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made phone calls using AI voices illegal.
Not that this decision will stop these calls. But it could slow them down. The commission was partly influenced by political calls made in January.
The callers used a voice like Biden’s. It encouraged New Hampshire voters to skip the primary election.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel made this statement in a press release. “Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters.”
Protect Yourself From Scams
What should you do if someone communicates with you, asking for money? Or for personal information?
If it’s someone you know (or think you know), tell them you will call them back. By doing that, you may learn it was a fraud.
If it’s someone you know of and trust, ask them to mail their request to you. Punishments for false solicitation through the mail are harsher than through phone calls.
If they ask for your address, don’t provide it. Not knowing your address is a sign they’re trying to scam you.
We’d all rather be trusting than suspicious. But we also need to protect ourselves. Be on guard against scammers.
Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 4, 2024
On March 4, 1681, William Penn secured from King Charles II of England the colonial province of Pennsylvania in North America, hoping to provide a refuge in the New World for Quakers and other persecuted people and to build an ideal Christian commonwealth. — And on March 4, 1955, the first radio facsimile (or “fax”) […]
Zastava PAP M77PS .308, by Thomas Christianson
The Bottom Line, Up Front Capable of surprising accuracy when using the right ammo, the Zastava PAP M77PS in .308 Win offers an AK pattern rifle chambered in .308 Winchester. It is durable, reliable, and comes with a 20 round steel magazine. If you are looking for a semi-automatic rifle chambered in a full-powered rifle […]
Recipe of the Week: Spoon Bread
The following simple recipe for Spoon Bread is from Good HouseKeeping’s Book of Menus, Recipes, and Household Discoveries (253 pages, copyright 1925, now in public domain). That is one of the 11 bonus books included in the 2005-2023 edition of the SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. Ingredients 1 pint milk 1/2 teaspoonful baking powder 1/2 cupful cornmeal […]
