The Texas Survivalist

ICE says not interested to Texas with Illegal Alien

2010-07-13T09:35:00.002-05:00

here is a link to a texas newspaper article where our Feds won't place a immigration hold on a illegal alien that assaulted his wife was arrested, but when ICE was notified they said NOT INTERESTED. Is this what we expect?

Blotter: Report: No ICE hold slated for suspect
07:09 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2010
By Donna Fielder / Staff Writer
A representative of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency told a Denton police officer Friday that he was not interested in placing an immigration hold on a man charged with assault and three counts of injury to a child, according to a report.

The officer responded to a call for help about 11:30 p.m. to an apartment in the 600 block of West Eagle Drive. The man had ridden away on a bicycle, his wife said. She told police he was in the country illegally.

She told officers that she came home from work and found him drunk on the couch, passed out. She awoke him to ask for money because he was supposed to give her cash to help her move out, she said.

They were being evicted for nonpayment, and she was going to live with her mother.

The man was angry at being disturbed, she said. He began throwing things and then grabbed her by the hair and hit her in the back of the head several times, the report states.

Then he pushed her down, the report states. She is seven months pregnant and landed on her stomach, she said. She complained of pain but did not want the officer to call an ambulance.

She said the man then threw a shoe at her 5-year-old son, knocking him down. He pushed down their 3-year-old daughter and kicked their 1-year-old son, the report states.

Officers found the man as he rode the bicycle back into the parking lot and charged him with assault and three counts of injury to a child.

When the officer contacted the ICE agency, the representative said he had no interest in placing a deportation hold on the man but would talk to him later, according to the report.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Blotter_0713.135d6216d.html

Ten Essentials

2010-02-07T09:26:00.000-06:00

The Ten Essentials

By Scott Stoddard

"DON'T leave home without it." But what good will a green plas
tic credit card do you 20 miles from the nearest paved road? What
do you really need when out away from civilization?

Experienced outdoor enthusiasts know what items are most impor
tant to bring - even for short walks or hikes out of base camp.
The "10 Essentials" are items that cannot be improvised from
materials lying on the forest floor. To be found without these
few items, even only a few miles from camp or cabin, can spell
disaster.

The standard list of 10 essentials varies slightly depending
on which source you go to. The Boy Scouts have their list, the
Sierra Club has another, and the Mountaineers in their outdoor
bible, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, have come up
with another variation. They all incorporate the same basic
items.

The following list is not to be considered cast in concrete -
each survivalist should customize his or her own kit for the
barest minimum of supplies. Note that the first three items are
for finding your way, the second three are for your protection,
and the last four are for emergencies.

1. A MAP of the area you will be hiking, canoeing, or camping
should be detailed enough so that you can find man-made items
like trails, unimproved roads, power lines, etc., and natural
features such as rivers, streams, hills and other terrain land
marks that will guide you. A U.S Geological Survey Topographical
map has all of these features and more. For an index to topo maps
in your home state contact: U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribu
tion Section, Federal Center, Box 25286, Denver, CO 80225; (303)
236-7477. A 365 page book titled, The Map Catalog, (Every kind of
map and chart on Earth and even some above it), is available
from: High Country Enterprise, P.O. Box 746, Saguache, CO 81149;
(719) 655-2432.

2. A map without a COMPASS is almost useless unless you pos
sess a sixth sense in direction finding. I prefer the liquid
filled "Silva" or "Suunto" compasses. These have straight edges
that are useful in plotting bearings. Military lensatic compass
es are more bulky and don't have a clear base making map reading
through the compass impossible. With both map and compass you
should be able to "orient" the map by lining up magnetic north on
the compass with the magnetic north arrow printed on the map.
Once you do this, you'll be able to identify terrain features and
plot your course.

3. Be sure that the FLASHLIGHT you bring doesn't have a switch
that is easily turned on and off. You may find that it has been
accidentally on all day, and when you need it the batteries will
be already worn out. In that case don't put the batteries inside
the unit until you are required to use it. Even if you have the
most advanced, water proof machined aluminum light source, bring
a spare bulb and spare alkaline batteries just in case. A Mini-
Mag Lite will fit in the smallest of 10 essential kits but may
not be adequate for all-night travel. Headlamps are useful for
cave exploring and when the hands are otherwise occupied.

4. On one trip to the top of an 11,000 foot peak I forgot my
SUNGLASSES and I nearly went snowblind. After tiring of looking
through my balled-up fists I finally had to cut slits in some
cardboard and jury-rig some Eskimo sunglasses. Sunglasses are
available today that stop 99 percent of ultraviolet light. Poly
carbonate lenses with "wraparound" designs provide more protec
tion against wind and side glare. Glacier glasses are recommended
for snowy conditions. They usually have polarized lenses and
leather side shields to block out the side glare. Buy some re
taining straps when you purchase your sunglasses. Croakies or
Chums cost less than $5 and will prevent damage or loss of your
expensive eye wear. Add some sunscreen to your kit for total
solar protection.

5. EXTRA FOOD and WATER. This category puzzles me a bit. Does it
mean that I should have two water bottles filled with water and
two bags of trail mix? The amount of water you bring should be
determined by the length of the trip and the temperature and
physical demand put on your body. Water should be used as needed
and not rationed out,(i.e.,a few ounces now and no more for
another hour). If your body needs water, it needs it now not
three hours from now! Water purification tablets might help you
use other water sources. As far as food, some hikers throw cans
of sardines or tuna fish into their packs knowing that they
wouldn't eat it unless there was an emergency. Normal trail foods
(dried fruits, nuts, and granola) should be eaten at regular
intervals to resupply the body with energy. Pemmican is one of
the most concentrated high energy foods you can carry. See the
Oct. 1991 ASG issue on page 57 for directions on its preparation.

6. Once again, the EXTRA CLOTHING you bring is determined by
the time of the year and the weather. A breezy summer hike may
require only a poncho for rain protection and a light nylon wind
jammer for possible cold. A day snow hike gets more complicated.
An extra jacket or sweater may do, but if you will be in extreme
mountain conditions, a bivouac sack, insulation pad, and a winter
sleeping bag may be the only thing that will save you should the
weather go bad. In normal conditions you should at least throw a
metalized space blanket into your kit. This with a poncho can be
used to rig up an improvised lean-to shelter. Tape the space
blanket to the poncho for support, tie the poncho to trees to
form a lean-to and then build a fire in front. The space blanket
will reflect the heat of the fire back on to you.

7. Expensive WATERPROOFED MATCHES have always seemed a little
too gimmicky for my taste. Strike anywhere wood matches are a lot
cheaper and can be stored in a waterproof container such as an
empty plastic 35mm film can. If they're too long, just clip off
the ends to the right length. A more convenient item for starting
fires can be found at your local liquor or convenience store.
Throw-away plastic cigarette lighters work well and some have
adjustable flames in case you need "blow torch" action. Other
fire sparkers such as the flint/magnesium bars on key chains are
good back-ups should you lose your matches or lighter.

8. FIRESTARTERS. In this category you can include a regular
paraffin candle (store inside a plastic bag so it doesn't melt in
your pack), commercial firestarter tablets, Sterno, or my favor
ite - Hexamine tablets that are available at most Army/Navy
surplus stores. Hexamine tablets won't evaporate like Trioxane
Fuel Bars do when the wrapper is ripped, and come six tablets to
a small cardboard tube.

A firestarter is used only when conditions make it difficult to
start a fire. Preparation is the key to fire building. You need
plenty of kindling sticks or pieces of wood split thin with your
knife to make the larger diameter branches catch. Most people
begin their fires with inadequate supplies of tinder and kindling
and are frustrated when they can't get a three inch thick log to
catch fire.

9. A POCKET KNIFE is your most important 10 essentials item.
Among other things it helps in first aid, food preparation,
and fire building. As long as you have a knife you can make fire.
Striking steel on any flint-like rock will produce sparks that
can catch fire in carefully prepared tinder and kindling - mate
rials you have gathered and prepared using the knife. More elabo
rate versions of pocket knives contain a treasure chest of useful
tools: saws, tweezers, scissors, screwdrivers, awls, toothpicks,
can openers, etc A good Swiss Army knife will bring out the
MacGyver in all of us. Don't forget this item!

10. A FIRST AID KIT really isn't one item but a collection of
items that can contain the bare minimum of bandaids, aspirin, and
iodine or on the other extreme contain suture kits, chemically
activated cold packs and prescription drugs. This is where you
will have to really do some customizing and personalizing. I
store my first aid items in a plastic Zip Loc bag so that I can
see everything inside and protect them from the weather. Along
with an assortment of bandaids, gauze pads, and Steri-Strips, are
the following: insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm with SPF 21,
triple antibiotic ointment, small bottle of Hibiclens Surgical
Scrub, Aspirin, Diasorb tablets for diarrhea, Actifed (decongest
ant), Bonine (motion sickness), and Benadryl (antihistamine).
Other items that are helpful are: a needle for splinter extrac
tion, moleskin or Spenco Second Skin for blisters, Ace bandage,
small needle-nose pliers, single-edge razor blades, and Calamine
cream for insect bites.

The "11th" item of the 10 essentials most people carry is
toilet paper. Other "essentials" I bring include: an Air Force
type signal mirror, 50 feet of parachute cord, mini-Leatherman
tool, and plastic fluorescent marking tape for trail marking. You
might want to add a pocket signal flare and other items such as a
smoke generator for signaling.

Your 10 essentials kit can be packaged in a number of ways. The
most convenient is a small day pack. Day packs will hold your
water bottle, extra clothing and food for most daytime trips. Get
one made out of Cordura nylon with padded straps.

For extensive mountain bike rides many cyclists like to use
waist packs or fanny packs to store their emergency gear and a
banana or two. A waist pack is generally cooler to wear and
provides for a lower center of gravity. Water is normally carried
on the frame of the bicycle, so the packs can be smaller and
lighter.

The last essential that needs to be taken on all your trips into
the wilderness won't fit in a survival kit. It's called common
sense and is a prime commodity in both the city and in the out
doors. If it looks like rain - don't go. If it looks too high -
stay back. If it's getting dark - get back to your base. By
avoiding unnecessary problems and dangers you will save on your
own personal wear and tear, and probably get back home in one
piece. However, if something does come up, at least you know
you've got those 10 important items stowed away in your rucksack.

(This article was optically scanned from :American Survival Guide
/ January 1992

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Anaheim, CA 92801-1785)

How to make your own trail foods

2010-01-26T08:14:00.000-06:00

MAKE YOUR OWN TRAIL FOODS

By Scott Stoddard

JELLY-filled donuts, a bag of Doritos and a case of soda pop
will usually get you through an easy weekend over-nighter of
rabbit hunting or target shooting - and that's if the weather's
mild. Long expeditions to remote areas of the each however,
usually require dehydrated or freeze dried food that are as light
as air but came heavily spiced to overcome the cardboard factor.
The first few days of eating commercial backpacking foods
aren't bad. You're tired, hungry and anything tastes good.
It's the same principle with outdoor furniture. Any flat rock
will do when you're dog tired. Just being outside in gorgeous
surroundings tends to block out the negative. Yet something
happens to backpacking foods after the third, or at the very
latest, the fourth day - everything begins to taste the same.
The Turkey Tetrazzini tastes just like the Beef Stroganoff, and
the Stroganoff just like the Alpine Minestrone. Is it the plas
tic/foil cook-in-their-own pouches, the infamous spice concoc
tions or something about the butane cook stove that causes this
taste-the-same syndrome?
On one lengthy backpacking trip I can remember drooling as
I watched a fellow hiker plop sections of real navel orange into
her mouth while I sat there munching on gorp (peanuts, M&Ms and
salty raisins), and swilling down warm Tang. After a week of
living on dehydrated meals you'll give just about anything for
some "real" food.
Our early U. S. astronauts experienced somewhat the same prob
lem. Space food consisted of pureed gunk packaged in plastic
squeeze tubes along with their famous orange-flavored Tang.
Meanwhile, Soviet cosmonauts were dining on caviar, black
breads, salami and other delicacies. Today shuttle crews are fa
vored with shrimp cocktail, teriyaki chicken, tomato egglant
casserole (one of their favorites), and many natural foods like
fruits, tortillas and peanut butter.
If today's astronauts can eat more normally, certainly modern
backpackers can enjoy eating foods that taste good, won't spoil,
and are easy to prepare. The key to this is pre-trip planing and
proper packaging. Before getting into making your own gourmet
hiking meals, it's a good idea to learn how our predecessors did
it.

Jerky, Pemmican - The very first backpackers on this continent
were the Indians and they developed some of the best trail foods
known to man. Dried meat, known as jerky, is today a favorite
snack found in most convenience stores. Store bought beef jerky
contains lots of salt, seasonings and extra chemicals that can
make you sick on the trail. It's better to make your own so that
you can control the flavor and ingredients.
Jerky can be made from venison, elk or Buffalo, but is gener
ally made from beef. A good lean round steak or flank steak will
work great. Cut the meat in long thin strips against the grain.
If there's any fat or gristle, remove it and throw it away.
Cowboys used to sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper, a small
amount of chili powder, and then simply hang it on wire lines in
the sun to dry.
For more flavorful jerky, marinate the meat in a solution of
two tablespoons of soy sauce, two drops of Tabasco sauce or
cayenne pepper to taste, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, ground pepper and
one fresh clove of garlic, minced. Place meat and marinade in a
Ziploc plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight. Then drain the
meat and place on the oven racks to dry. The oven should be set
at 140 degrees with the oven door partially open. Dry for about
six to eight hours or until the meat turns dark and brittle.
Other marinade ingredients that add a unique taste to the meat
are red wine, red wine vinegar, Worchestershire sauce, minced
onion, a pinch of thyme, oregano and marjoram.
One of the best known survival foods in the history of North
America is pemmican. Invented by the Indians as rations for long
hunting trips, pemmican was used on the Lewis and Clark Expedi
tion as trail food and by Admiral Peary's group as a staple food
during their successful journey to the North Pole.
Pemmican was made using equal parts of jerky, wild berries,
and boiled fat from animals. A modern day recipe substitutes
peanut butter for the fat. The ingredients to be mixed include:
eight ounces of jerky pounded into powder; eight ounces of rai
sins or dried apricots, eight ounces of unroasted peanuts or
pecans. Heat up two tablespoons of honey and four tablespoons of
peanut butter until softened and then blend together with a pinch
of cayenne pepper. Add to the jerky/nuts/raisin mixture and work
thoroughly through the mixture. Stored in plastic bags pemmican
will keep indefinitely in a cool, dry place.
Before you attempt to make your own trail foods and meals you
will need to build or acquire an important piece of equipment - a
food dryer. Commercial food dryers are available for about $100
but you can make your own for about $30. Buy the drying racks
first - they will determine the width and depth of your food
dryer. Metal cake cooling racks work great. Buy the square
ones with dimensions of about 10 x 10 inches.
You want the dryer to be shaped more like a tall square tower
rather than a low wide rectangle. Because this unit doesn't have
a fan to keep air circulating it uses the principle of "warm air
rises" to create the circulation. A 100 to 500 watt bulb is
located at the base of the dryer. Air enters at the bottom
vents, heats up, rises through the dryer racks and exits out
the top vents. The temperature inside should be at least 100
degrees for proper food drying. Build the dryer frame using 1 x
2s and use Masonite for the sides. Screw eyes are used to hold
the door closed. Don't paint or varnish the dryer once you've
built it.
When planning a menu for a wilderness outing it's best to plan
for one or two small meals and one main meal at the end of the
day. Trail snacks should also be provide for in-between-meal
energy replenishment. On a piece of paper list the days you will
be gone on the left-hand side and on the top of the page - break
fast, lunch and dinner. If you draw lines separating the days
and each meal category, you should have a page of boxes with
each box representing a particular meal of the day. To figure
out what to put into each box of the menu you might try one of
the backpackers cookbooks at the end of this article.
The basic principle of packing food for the trail is keep it
simple and light. For quick, trouble-free meals that keep well
n the trail, pack hard salami, small tins of fish - tuna,
shrimp, sardines - and chicken. Don't forget crackers, cheese,
peanut butter, dried fruit and granola for no cook/cleanup eat-
as-you-go meals. Small cans of evaporated milk can be used full
strength for coffee creamer or cut 50/50 with water to use as
whole milk. Yogurt is ideal for shorter trips. It will holdup
for about 48 hours. And of course cheeses will just continue to
age.
Black breads, pumpernickel and dense whole-wheat breads travel
well on the trail. Make them at home or buy them at your local
bakery. Don't slice them until you're out on the trail or you'll
end up with a bag of crumbs. Bagels travel very well in a back
pack.

Food Packaging - When preparing meals on the trail many times you
can get out of pot cleaning duty by mixing ingredients in sturdy
self-locking bags like the Ziploc brand. Rehydrating dried
fruits and vegetables can be done in these bags too. Use the
large gallon size bags to pack each individual meal. Label the
bag with a wide swatch of masking tape and mark on the tape using
a waterproof marker the day and the meal (example:
Saturday/Dinner). Remove unnecessary packing from grocery store
bought foods (cardboard boxes, etc. ) but don't forget to clip
the instructions from the box and include it with the food.
If you have one of those Seal-a-Meal machines you can pre-
measure mixes and powders at home, include a slip of paper with
instructions, and then seal the bag from the elements. This
saves time on the trail when mixing up your favorite pancake
recipe or your favorite dehydrated gourmet spaghetti sauce.
Be sure to wrap individual portions of baked goods such as
cookies, chews and muffins in plastic food wrap. Then place
them in a plastic bag or container. When packing your pack be
sure to protect your food from spoilage or contamination by other
items in the pack, such as soap, toiletries and liquid fuels.
You never know when your sunscreen or insect repellent bottle
will burst due to high altitude.
The weight of food to pack for each hiker varies from one to two
and a half pounds per day. Of course the colder the weather,
the more calories you are going to need to stoke the fires. The
following are ten ways to cut down on the weight of your provi
sions:

1. Eat less (If you can afford to be eating less you may not be
in the best shape for heavy duty exercise. Your best bet is to
get in shape before you go, and then eat heartily). 2. Use re
cipes with only the shortest cooking times to cut down on fuel.
3. Save fuel by undercooking foods slightly and letting them sit
for a few moments, covered, to finish cooking. 4. Eat heavy
meals first, like canned goods, fresh eggs, and rice. 5.
Pack only one pot meals. 6. Use dried soups and dumplings for
dinner. 7. Pack make-ahead meals to save cooking time. 8.
Substitute fruit leathers for gorp, Potato Buds for rice, pasta
for rice, Butter Buds for butter or margarine. 9. Keep strict
ly to the pounds-per-person limit that you decide on. 10. Save
water - use the one pot method in trail directions if it's of
fered as an alternate method.
Use your dehydrator to dry fresh fruit and vegetables. Some
of the best foods to dehydrate are eggplant, bell peppers,
mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and Gravenstein apples.
I've had great luck drying vegetables out of the can. Corn and
green beans dry up really nice. Avoid canned vegetables packed
with heavy sodium concentrations.
We've already talked about making beef jerky. It can be added
to stews and such for extra flavor. You can also bring ground
beef for your meals if you dry it in your oven at home. Brown
the meat in a fry pan the way you normally do and then drain off
the fat. Dry it on a cookie sheet in the oven for six to eight
hours at 140 degrees with the door slightly ajar. One pound of
ground beef dries to six ounces, about one and a third cups.
Store the dried ground beef in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator
until you're ready to go.
Meals really stand out when you use the following fresh ingre
dients: onions, cloves of garlic and salted butter. Fresh onion
and garlic sauteed in butter will marry the flavors of anything.
You can pack garlic cloves in left over 35mm film cans. In fact
you can use plastic film cans for other important items such as
salt and pepper, herbs and cooking oils. If you want see
through film containers, buy Fuji film. Fresh cheeses make
boring meals come alive. Parmesan, Reggiano, aged Gouda and
dry Jack can be carried in wide mouth plastic bottles and will
last for days.
If you plan activities in the fall and winter months, super
charge your meals with extra calories, so that the body has
enough fuel to fight off hypothermia and exhaustion. To whet
your appetite for some cold weather camping here are two recipes
from the Hungry Hiker's Book of Good Cooking.

Russian Black Bread
1 square unsweetened chocolate
2 cups water
1 cup bran flakes
1 cup cornmeal
2 envelopes dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup molasses
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
2 1/2 to 3 cups white flour
2 cups rye flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
Glaze: 1 egg white mixed with
1 tablespoon water

Melt chocolate in 2 cups water and pour this over the bran and
cornmeal in a large bowl. Let cool. Meanwhile, dissolve the
yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. To the cooled bran and cornmeal,
add the oil, molasses, yeast, brown sugar, salt, coffee,
fennel, add 2 1/2 cups of white flour. Mix well. Add the rye
and whole-wheat flours, then add more white flour until you can
knead the dough (It will be sticky). Knead it for five minutes,
adding more flour if necessary, then put it into a greased bowl,
turn, and cover with a damp towel. Let it rise until double.
Punch the dough down. Divide it in half and form each half into
a ball. Set these on greased cookie sheets, cover, and let
rise until nearly double, about 30 minutes. Brush the loaves
with a mixture of egg white and water. Bake at 375 degrees for
50 to 60 minutes, until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped - the
crust should be very dark. Cool on racks.
For winter meals when you need to pack as many calories into
your meals as possible, make up a soup that positively brims
with delicious nutrients. As well as containing plenty of
vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, and protein, Super Soup has the
advantage of using up the odds and ends of dried vegetables that
you have left over from making more refined recipes. And a very
tasty soup it is, too! Dumplings make it a complete meal. Note:
milk does not boil well - it froths and boils over and makes a
general nuisance of itself, so add it only in the last few
minutes of cooking.

Super Soup
1/3 cup barley
1/3 cup lentils
1/3 cup Potato Buds, or 1/4 cup
instant potato powder
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 cup dried sliced vegetables
1 tablespoon dried meat
A pinch each of thyme and marjoram
1/2 cup dry milk
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup grated or cut cheese
(optional) 1 cup biscuit mix packed
in its own bag for dumplings

Put into one bag everything except the milk - butter or marga
rine - and grated cheese. Trail directions: 1. Put the soup
into a pot with 4 1/2 cups water. Bring to boil, then simmer
for 1/2 hour. 1. During the last five minutes, stir in 1/2 cup
dry milk and 3 tablespoons butter or margarine. Add cut or
grated cheese. 3. To make dumplings add 1/4 cup water to 1 cup
biscuit mix and make a stiff batter. Form into balls about the
size of ping-pong balls, and float them on top of the soup.
Cover so they steam and cook until done, during the last 20
minutes' cooking time.

Outdoor Foods Information Access
For more information on preparing your own trail foods and
backpacking meals the following books are available:

Wilderness Cuisine, by Carole Latimer. Wilderness Press. (800)
443-7227. Carole Latimer leads women on her Call of the Wild
wilderness trips. Imagine after hiking six hours at 9,000 or 10,
000 feet and staggering into camp at the end of the day you are
treated to Thai lemongrass coconut-milk soup, Mexican tabouli
salad, a main dish of puttanesca with goat cheese and angelhair
pasta, fresh-baked cornbread served with home-canned rhubarb-
raspberry jam, ginseng tea and a desert of flaming cherries
jubilee!

Original Cowboy Cookbook, Authentic recipes from bunkhouse,
chuck wagon, cook shack, line shack, saloon, trail drive
cooking and main house cooking, by Wild Wes Medley. Original
Western Publications, 1020 Mt. Vernon Rd. , Hurricane, West
Virginia 25526. This book doesn't exactly contain backpacking
food but the recipes date back to the 1840s where western outdoor
cooking was born. Chapters include: Everyday Cooking, Sauces
and Gravies, Breads and Biscuits, Desserts and Candy, Curing
and Preserves, Cowboy Remedies and a Special Barbecue Section
(worth the price of the whole book).

The Hungry Hiker's Book of Good Cooking, The first cookbook for
backpackers (and canoeists and campers) that makes possible
superb meals on the trail, by Gretchen McHugh. Recreational
Equipment Inc. , P. O. Box 88125, Seattle, WA 9e138-2125.
(800) 426-4840. Consider this the do-it-yourself backpacker food
bible. Learn how to prepare ahead with fresh ingredients your own
delicious, home-dried foods and mixes, and then how to trans
form them easily into wonderful dishes over a camp stove or fire.
More than 135 recipes from hearty soups and stews with dumplings
to pilafs and pastas, from delectable stir-frys to skillet-baked
breads.

The Wilderness Ranger Cookbook, San Juan National Forest Associ
ation, P. O. Box 2261, Durango, CO 81302; (303) 385-4634.
When you spend weeks at a time in the back country, you come up
with some fairly creative and tasty recipes. So it just makes
sense that the people employed by the forest service, the wil
derness rangers, would come up with a fantastic cookbook of
trail recipes. The 112 page collection contains 8O recipes
including: Regurgitate de la Prospector con Yama, Sauteed Chant
erelles, and Back country Cheesecake. The book includes the full
text of The Wilderness Act, and contain slots of wilderness
facts and history, with personal reflections about the wild
places visited by the contributing rangers.

Reprinted with permission:

AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE/OCTOBER 1991

Survival needs a list to have

2010-01-24T08:12:00.001-06:00

FOOD
----
* MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat)'s - enough to last 30 days
* 2 months of food in the pantry (American Red Cross recommends canned food)
- Canned veggies (Use water in the can as supplemental drinking water)
- Corn, potatoes, peas, canned
- Canned fruit - pears
- Canned tuna
- Beans, canned
- Beef stew, canned
- Chicken, canned white meat
- Chili, canned
- Milk, canned
- Granola bars
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Crackers
- Dried beans, rice, pasta
- Warm drinks
- Pudding, canned
- Juices
- Cereals
- Nuts, raisins, candy, soups
- Dried fruit
- Extras - catsup, honey, jam/jelly, salt/pepper
- Date the cans and rotate stock
- Store non-perishable foods in empty coffee cans
* Can opener (non-electric)
o Also about 4 weeks worth of backpacking food, freeze dried & nitrogen packed
o High caloric items to keep up your strength
o Add a supply of good single malt scotch to your stash. (This is no joke.)
Aside from the fact that it makes good trading material, and *maybe* an OK
field expedient pain killer or disinfectant (don't take my word on the
latter), it's a great way of calming shot nerves. Keep in mind that even
though it may feel like it warms you, it really does the opposite, which
can be bad in cold weather. Also, don't get so squashed that you can't
respond to aftershocks or emergency situations. Guns and booze don't mix.
o cigarettes or pipe tabacco (if you're a smoker, so don't start now) :^)

WATER
-----
* 50 to 60 gallons of water - 1/2 - 1 gallon/day
- Heavy 5 gallon storage containers from Tri-City (about $14 each)
- 30 and 40 gallon storage containers from Rational Behavior
- Hand water filter/pump (They can be purchased at Big 5 and will filter
almost any dirty water into clean). It will also kill bacteria such as
Giardia. It won't take out things unless the molecules are bigger than
2 microns.

CLOTHING
--------
* Good solid footwear (with ankle support)
- Combat boots
* Work gloves
* Extra clothing (At least 5 days worth)
- Underwear
- Shirts
- Work pants
- Wool & cotton blend socks
- Goose-down or Dacron II backpacking clothing
* Layered clothing
- Windbreaker outerwear (gortex if possible)
- Wool medium layer - It stays warm even when wet (Don't forget mothballs)
- Cotton or polypropalene inner layer
- Silk is also very good

SUPPLIES
--------
* Flashlight and batteries (waterproof & explosion proof)
- Don't keep batteries in the flashlight; store in freezer
- Extra bulbs
* Watch or clock - battery or spring wound
* Radio and batteries (don't keep batteries in the radio)
* Toilet paper (20-30 rolls for sanitation as well as for bargaining)
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Soap
* Deodorant
* Liquid detergent
* Shampoo
* Household bleach
* Powdered chlorinated lime - add to sewage to deodorize, disinfect, and keep
away insects
* Large, plastic trash bags
* Towels
* Paper towels
* Paper plates, napkins/paper towels, plastic eating utensils, plastic cups
* Blankets
* Sleeping bags
* 4-8 pack of replacement batteries (rotate stock; keep in freezer)
* Knife & razor blades
* Garden hose, for siphoning and firefighting
* Condoms
* Money (at least $100.00 allin small bills & plenty of change)
* Scissors
* Tweezers
* Rubbing alcohol
* Sponges
o Pre-moistened towelettes
o Ground cloth
o Candles
o Matches - dipped in wax and kept in waterproof container
o Newspaper, to wrap garbage and waste in
o Large trash cans
o Coleman lanterns
o Stoves
- Gasoline stoves and 10 gallons of white gas
- Propane stove with an 11 lb propane tank
- Weber and charcoal, lighter or sterno stove
- Big kitchen matches in a water-tight container
o Pots - at least 2
o Chafing dish
o Heavy duty aluminum foil
o 8,000 btu heater that runs on propane
o 12 volt battery backup system
o Medium sized generator to maintain the refrig, provide minimal lighting, and
for power tools
o Tents - Four-man dome tent, or regular 9X9 tent
o Set up for at least a week. That's my minimum time
o Fold up toilet seat. (Sure beats squatting.)

TOOLS
-----
* Fire extihguisher (A-B-C type)
* Shovels, pick, axe, other 'round-the-house tools
* Broom
* Crescent wrench, screw driver, pliers, hammer
* Coil of 1/2" rope
* Coil of bailing wire
* Plastic tape
* Small and large crowbar (18") to help with jammed doors
- Small one in the bedroom
- Large one out in the shed
* Small, high quality, tomahawk or hatchet (useful for opening car roofs, house
doors, and for clearing rubble)
* Knifes
- A big one (like 8-10" fixed blade) to cut, hack, and to a limited amount,
pry, to make emergency shelters, do emergency surgery, kill alien invaders
- A little one (either 4" fixed blade/locking folder, or a large swiss army
knife) to do yet more surgery, as well as more mundane things such as peel
veggies, cut rope, open boxes
- New designs of serrated edges that will cut through anything more quickly
than a straight edged knife
- Paramedic rescue knife (has an edge and a little bolt which enables it to
be opened with one hand)
- Sharpening device
o Trauma shears and pouch (20 times more useful than any knife I've ever had.)
- The knife is very concealable as the pouch appears only to hold the shears
o Leatherman (TM) Pocket Multi-Tool
o A cold chisel
o Bolt cutter
o Guns
- .22 long rifle semi-auto handgun is nice for small game hunting,
shooting feral dogs (practice!), and for self-defense (practice!)
- Larger caliber handgun, primarily useful for self-defense only
- "High-powered" rifle, in semi-auto or bolt action
- 12 guage pump action, or semi-auto, shotgun
- Reloading equipment

FIRST AID KIT GEARED TO MAJOR TRAUMA
-------------------------------------
* Sterile eye wash
* Any long-term medications for family or pets (make sure they are current)
* Large cold packs (disposable) - Kwik-Cold is the best brand I've used.
* 1 space blanket
* Bandages - store in Zip Lock bags
- 2 4-inch wide roller bandages (Bulk non-sterile)
- Not all roller bandages are conforming, or stretch( plain gauze won't
adhere well)
- J&J SOF, and the Kendall Conform are the best, both are sold at Med Choice
- Can pour Betadine on the dressing before applying it (they do this in ER's)
- 2 4-inch wide Kerlix rolls (bulky roller bandages)
- 6 4X4 12 ply gauze dressings
- 1 Blood Stopper (a VERY multi-use telfa compress dressing)
- 1 multi-trauma dressing (10X30 heavy duty dressing)
- Several packages of vasoline gauze (for sealing sucking chest wounds)
- Adaptic dressings (fine mesh dressings for burns and abbrasions)
- 2 triangular bandages
- Bandaids in there somewhere I think, (not real important)
* Betadine
* Hydrogen peroxide
* Hibicleanse anticeptic soap
* Safety pins
* Pad and pen
o Squirt bulbs (for irrigating wounds)
o 1 unit instant glucose
o Air splints or 1 wire splint (just in case I can't find cardboard)
o Large selection of antibiotics and pain killers (check expiration dates)
o Scalpels, suture kits, and other items to perform minor surgery
o Stethoscope
o BP cuff
- Pediatric cuff (sized BP cuff for kids and little old women)
o Latex exam gloves (several pairs, disposable)
o CPR rescue mask (a mask you place on a victim to perform rescue breathing)
o Tape (I hardly ever use tape)
o Steri Strips or butterfly closures
- Large open wounds are only to be covered with a sterile dressing and left
to heal/close by themselves. This way, drainage takes place as the dress-
ing is replaced daily.
o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Backpack to carry it all in
o 1 set of 5 oral airways (see explanation below)
- Airways are meant to be used primarily in conjunction with ventilation
equipment, resue masks, bag valve masks etc. If used improperly, or with
the wrong size, a patient's airway could be blocked. This especially can
happen if they're not inserted using the correct technique.
o 1 oxygen euipment tubing (connect my mask to supplimental O2,VERY important)
o Surgical scrub brushes (Med Choice has) packaged in betadine or hebicleanse
o Trauma Shears (actually, I carry those on my belt)
o 'Extractor' venom pump kit
o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Fanny pack to carry it all in

SMALL FIRST AID KIT
-------------------
10 4x4 Dressings*
3 Kling gauze rolls*
1 8x10 surgipad
1 roll wet proof adhesive tape
10 band aids assorted sizes
1 scissors
10 antiseptic wipes*
1 sterile water
1 pocket mask*
1 large trauma dressing
1 instant glucose
1 burn sheet
peroxide*
2 kerlix rolls
2 triangle bandages*
1 rescue or space blanket
1 roll hypo allegenic tape
1 tweezers
1 kwick cold
2 eye patches
2 pair sterile latex gloves
2 erg or gatoade packs
1 pen light
pen and paper
1 syrup of ipecac

STORAGE
-------
* Outdoor shed
o Sturdy, decorative footlocker or chest (keep it near the front door or patio)
- Keep it filled with as much of the above-mentioned stuff as you can
- Water and food being the most important considerations
o Rubbermaid Rough-Neck Totes - food in one tote, blankets in another, etc.
o Enclosed utility trailer - ready to go should I have to leave the area
- Compartments for food storage
- One large area for bulkier items such as my generator
- 5 gallon water jugs
- 2 5-gallon gas cans on the front
- 12 VDC battery that can be charged from the vehicle
- Fold down shelf on one side for setting up a propane stove for cooking
- Ham antennas and lights
- 1000 lb capacity - built small chassis available from Sears or auto stores

EVACUATION KIT
--------------
* Food
* Water
* Flashlight
* First Aid kit
* Clothes
* Money (at least $100. in small bills)
* Whistle or Police-shrieker
* CURRENT pictures of family members (incl pets)
* Documents like house deed, insurance, etc.
o A game or two & books

CAR
---
* Keep gas tank full (refill at 1/2 tank)
* 1 gallon water
* High energy protein bars
- Keep the food out of direct sunlight, so it lasts longer.
* First aid kit
* Fire extinguisher - CO2
* Metalic blankets
* Flashlight/siren/radio combination
* Sun logo emergency kit, in the SunWear catalogue
* Swiss-army knife, or better yet a good folding blade knife with a 3-4" blade
* A big knife
* Maps of the area
* Couple of MRE's (MEALS, ready to eat)
* Small backpack to carry it all in
* 4-5 D-cell Maglite with krypton bulb or 2 AA cells mini-maglite
- Extra bulbs
* Road flares
* Sealable plastic bags
* Critical medication
* Tissues
* Pre-moistened towelettes
* Tools - screwdriver, pliers, wire, knife
* Spare Clothing
- Poncho
- Warm, all weather jacket (A mil-surplus field jacket is great because it's
windproof, has 4 big pockets, a built-in hood, removable insulating liner)
- Long sleeve wool sweater
- Warm pants
- Warm shoes
- Rugged gloves (cheap mil-surplus leather gloves and removeable wool liners
are great. For upscale folks, a set of deerskin black leather gloves with
wool liners from Eddie Bauers.)
- The nice thing about military clothes and stuff is a) it's rugged and b)
it often is inter-designed to work with other components (Ex: the M-65
field jacket has fold out wrist liners to be cinched down by the military
gloves).
- Knit wool cap
* Money (small bills/change)
* Toilet paper
* Tissues
* Tampons or pads (useful for first aid, also)
* A few large black plastic bags (environmentally incorrect, but very useful)
* Vitamins (at least C since fresh food may be scarce for a while)
* Spare glasses (if you wear them)
* Gas siphon - or short rubber hose
o Tow chains, tire chains (4)
o Tent
o Shovel
o Chemical lights (Cyalume)
o Walkman/batteries

OFFICE
------

HOME
----
* Don't rely on hot water heater for a source of water
- Check immediately if the water main has broken
- Listen to see if you can hear water leaving the water tank
- Close main off to preserve the water in the HW tank
- Shut-off valve on the tank
* Evaluate home and work-area for their strengths and weaknesses in the event
of an emergency---ie, where are the safest--and not-so-safe--places, know
where the exits are, the location of first aid equipment, best place/s to
store equipment, etc....

EDUCATION
---------
* Knowledge of how to use the equiment
* American Survival Guide, monthly magazine
* Backpacking books
* Firearms training

COMMUNICATIONS
--------------
* Plan how to contact spouses, SOs, children, pets, etc.
o Handheld transmitter (i.e. "walkie talkie")
o CB radio
o Battery operated TV
o Ham radio
o Get involved with a community neighborhood preparedness
- Contact the Red Cross disaster services at 408/292-6242
- Start by inviting your neighbors over some evening. Tell them that you
are concerned about Earthquake Preparedness and would like to discuss how.
Have some brochures or handouts for them.

COPING
------
o Major factor in surviving is trying to return to as close a normal life
- Eating things you would normally eat
- Assigning chores to those who could handle tasks

Back from the holidays gearing up to start strong

2010-01-17T15:25:00.004-06:00

I am planning on devoting 8 hours a week to this blog, I have created a schedule to allow me to do research and share my experiences with you via this blog. I have not posted near as much as I would have liked in the past and with us trying to relocate and get our solar system up and going has been a challenge. But well worth it. I plan on spending time talking about raising rabbits for food, gardening and even blogging as I learn about permaculture. I am new to the gardening side but am a fast learner, so if there are any comments or suggestions please share. Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you all soon.

The Terry's

just took our first trip to our new land in Ok

2009-11-29T18:17:00.002-06:00

Well it has been a while, but we have been trying to get all of our ducks in a row. Today we drove to central Oklahoma and looked at our new land and future homestead. I will post pics and updates as we go along. I would like to thank anyone who reads this and second welcome any topic help I can get. I will keep posting on a more regular basis now that I have gotten the hard part out of the way. I am going to try and complete this project in a manner so that I can move in within a 12 month period.

Militia Groups popping up all across the US

2009-08-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

When you think it is just a bunch of talk.....

By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer – Wed Aug 12, 3:50 am ET Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Militia groups with gripes against the government are regrouping across the country and could grow rapidly, according to an organization that tracks such trends.
The stress of a poor economy and a liberal administration led by a black president are among the causes for the recent rise, the report from the Southern Poverty Law Center says. Conspiracy theories about a secret Mexican plan to reclaim the Southwest are also growing amid the public debate about illegal immigration.
Bart McEntire, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told SPLC researchers that this is the most growth he's seen in more than a decade.
"All it's lacking is a spark," McEntire said in the report.
It's reminiscent of what was seen in the 1990s — right-wing militias, people ideologically against paying taxes and so-called "sovereign citizens" are popping up in large numbers, according to the report to be released Wednesday. The SPLC is a nonprofit civil rights group that, among other activities, investigates hate groups.
Last October, someone from the Ohio Militia posted a recruiting video on YouTube, billed as a "wake-up call" for America. It's been viewed more than 60,000 times.
"Things are bad, things are real bad, and it's going to be a lot worse," said the man on the video, who did not give his name. "Our country is in peril."
The man is holding an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, and he encourages viewers to buy one.
While anti-government sentiment has been on the rise over the last two years, there aren't as many threats and violent acts at this point as there were in the 1990s, according to the report. That movement bore the likes of Timothy McVeigh, who in 1995 blew up a federal building in Oklahoma City and killed 168 people.
But McEntire fears it's only a matter of time.
These militias are concentrated in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and the Deep South, according to Mark Potok, an SPLC staff director who co-wrote the report. Recruiting videos and other outreach on the Internet are on the rise, he said, and researchers from his center found at least 50 new groups in the last few months.
The militia movement of the 1990s gained traction with growing concerns about gun control, environmental laws and anything perceived as liberal government meddling.
The spark for that movement came in 1992 with an FBI standoff with white separatist Randall Weaver at Ruby Ridge, Idaho. Weaver's wife and son were killed by an FBI sniper. And in 1993, a 52-day standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, resulted in nearly 80 deaths. These events rallied more people who became convinced that the government would murder its own citizens to promote its liberal agenda.
Now officials are seeing a new generation of activists, according to the report. The law center spotlights Edward Koernke, a Michigan man who hosts an Internet radio show about militias. His father, Mark, was a major figure in the 1990s militia movement and served six years in prison for charges including assaulting police.
Last year, officials warned about an increase in activity from militias in a five-year threat projection by the Homeland Security Department.
"White supremacists and militias are more violent and thus more likely to conduct mass-casualty attacks on the scale of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing," the threat projection said.
A series of domestic terrorism incidents over the past year have not been directly tied to organized militias, but the rhetoric behind some of the crimes are similar with that of the militia movement. For instance, the man charged with the April killings of three Pittsburgh police officers posted some of his views online. Richard Andrew Poplawski wrote that U.S. troops could be used against American citizens, and he thinks a gun ban could be coming.
The FBI's assistant director for counterterrorism, Michael Heimbach, said that law enforcement officials need to identify people who go beyond hateful rhetoric and decide to commit violent acts and crimes. Heimbach said one of the bigger challenges is identifying the lone-wolf offenders.
One alleged example of a lone-wolf offender is the 88-year-old man charged in the June shooting death of a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washingt

Prepper or Survivalist are they the same?

2009-08-11T20:01:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, they are very similar, a prepper is preparing for the unknown at a minutes notice, while a true survivalist lives in such a way that he is controlling his entire enviroment on a daily basis, I must admit that I am 80% prepper right now and only 20% true survivalist, I am however daily edging my knowledge and my way of life over to the true survivalist. Prepping is not a bad thing by any means, but prepping will only get you thru a short time. If you learn true survival skills, it will create a lifetime of food and shelter. Anyone with any ideas on how to help become a true survivalist, please chime in, I am in the process of setting up to do a weekly podcast from my home studio/office. One thing I would like to leave with you today is this. Chance favors a prepared mind.

the Texas survivalist

Senate voting on interstate ccl, good or bad?

2009-07-22T07:44:00.000-05:00

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 19 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Gun control and gun rights advocates are heading for another clash with a Senate vote on a measure that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry those hidden weapons into other states.

Backers, led by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., say truckers and others with concealed weapons permits should be able to protect themselves when they cross into other states. Opponents say the measure would force states with strict procedures for getting permits to accept permits from states with more lax laws.

The Senate has scheduled a vote Wednesday on the measure, which Thune offered as an amendment to a major defense policy bill. Under an agreement reached among Senate leaders, 60 votes will be needed to approve the amendment.

The vote comes a day after the Senate completed what is probably the most controversial issue connected to the defense bill, voting 58-40 to eliminate $1.75 billion in the $680 billion bill that had been set aside for building more F-22 fighters. President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates campaigned hard for removing the money, saying the Pentagon had enough F-22s and the money could be spent on more pressing defense needs.

The gun proposal would make concealed weapons permits from one state valid in other states as long as the person obeys the laws of other states, such as weapons bans in certain localities. It does not establish national standards for concealed weapons permits and would not allow those with permits to carry weapons into Wisconsin and Illinois, the two states that do not have concealed weapons laws.

"Law-abiding South Dakotans should be able to exercise the right to bear arms in states with similar regulations on concealed firearms," Thune said. "My legislation enables citizens to protect themselves while respecting individual state firearms laws."

National Rifle Association chief lobbyist Chris W. Cox said the last two decades have shown a strong shift toward gun rights laws. "We believe it's time for Congress to acknowledge these changes and respect the right of self-defense, and the right of self-defense does not stop at state lines," he said.

Gun control groups were strongly in opposition.

Concealed handgun permit holders killed at least seven police officers and 44 private citizens during a two-year period ending in April, according to a study by the Violence Policy Center. "It is beyond irrational for Congress to vote to expand the reach of these deadly laws," said the center's legislative director, Kristen Rand.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the bill would "incite a dangerous race to the bottom in our nation's gun laws." He said his own state, which has strict gun control laws, would have to accept concealed weapons permits from states such as Arizona, which issues permits to people with drinking problems, or Alaska, where people with violent misdemeanor convictions can get permits.

"Folks in Minot, N.D., and New York are going to have different conceptions about what's right for their locality," said Jim Kessler, vice president for policy at Third Way, a centrist think tank that supports gun rights. "In some states you have to show a real need" to get a permit, he said. "In other states you have to show that you can stand on two feet."

So far this year gun rights advocates have had the clear advantage in Congress. They managed to attach a provision to a credit card bill signed into law that restores the right to carry loaded firearms in national parks, and coupled a Senate vote giving the District of Columbia a vote in the House with a provision effectively ending the district's tough gun control laws.

House Democratic leaders, unable to detach the two issues without losing the support of pro-gun Democrats, abandoned attempts to pass the D.C. vote bill.

Living on a dead end road. good or bad?

2009-07-20T07:58:00.001-05:00

Dead end roads

Larry Jones, Democrat Columnist

Living out in the country on a dead end road may have the advantage of attracting less traffic, but I’m not too sure this is a positive thing. When you put a pencil to it, you have to consider for every car you see, you see it twice — once on the way down and again on the way back. With the recent surge in development of our rural parts during the past couple of decades, traffic is getting a bit contentious these days.

Back when I was a mere pup, there were only about a half dozen houses in all of Lazy Bend. This certainly limited the traffic, but it also had a somewhat of a negative effect on our technological advances. We didn’t have electricity until the 1950s, and Southwestern Bell didn’t get around to putting in phone lines until the 60s. When they did, they strung them from the Tri-County Electric Cooperative utility poles.

Everyone in Lazy Bend was on a single, eight-party line, and to call anyone locally was a bit tricky. You had to dial a unique number (not their regular phone number), hang up the phone and allow it to ring a few times before you picked up the receiver to see if anyone answered it — sorta like fishing. Also, everyone had a distinct ring which was a combination of long and short rings. When I retired from the Navy in the late 1980s, we still had this antiquated system in place, though Ma Bell had made a couple of improvements on it.

Today, out here in the rural hinterland, we still have our problems with infrastructure. While living in Florida over 30 years ago, I had cable television with HBO and pay-per-view movies. This option still isn’t available on the poor farm. If I want anything other than reception via an antenna, which is unwatchable, I have no option other than invest in an expensive satellite receiver and pay an exorbitant monthly service fee. This capability has only been available for about 15 years.

My most recent frustration has been with the availability of Internet service providers. Only a few years ago, my only internet access was a dialup connection to a long distance Metro-Mess phone number which was certainly not an option. Just over 10 years ago, a local number became available, but it wasn’t until about three years ago we were able to receive high speed wireless Internet.

While this is a wonderful alternative to dialup service, it is expensive, unreliable and very slow compared to the DSL connections of our urban counterparts. Yet, it allows rural residents to take advantage of online services, shop online and correspond via e-mail. I am very unhappy with my wireless provider, and if there was any alternative other than satellite Internet, which is even more expensive, I would dump them in a heartbeat. There seems to be absolutely no governmental oversight or regulation to protect customers.

I’ve read the Texas Dept. of Agriculture, along with the Public Utilities Commission, are getting some of President Osama’s stimulus money to look into expanding broadband Internet service to rural areas that are unserved or underserved parts of the state. I’m not holding my breath in expectation of any real progress.

Meanwhile, hardly a month goes by I don’t receive a notice from AT&T offering to switch me over to a combo package including home phone, cell phone, Internet and cable TV — all for a price little more than I’m currently paying for basic phone service.

There’s only one small glitch. They don’t come down dead end roads.

American Vet trying to show he's in distress gets flag taken away.

2009-07-11T11:31:00.000-05:00

WAUSAU, Wis. – An American flag flown upside down as a protest in a northern Wisconsin village was seized by police before a Fourth of July parade and the businessman who flew it — an Iraq war veteran — claims the officers trespassed and stole his property.

A day after the parade, police returned the flag and the man's protest — over a liquor license — continued.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is considering legal action against the village of Crivitz for violating Vito Congine Jr.'s' First Amendment rights, Executive Director Chris Ahmuty said.

"It is not often that you see something this blatant," Ahmuty said.

In mid-June, Congine, 46, began flying the flag upside down — an accepted way to signal distress — outside the restaurant he wants to open in Crivitz, a village of about 1,000 people some 65 miles north of Green Bay.

He said his distress is likely bankruptcy because the village board refused to grant him a liquor license after he spent nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

Congine's upside-down-flag represents distress to him; to others in town, it represents disrespect of the flag.

Hours before a Fourth of July parade, four police officers went to Congine's property and removed the flag under the advice of Marinette County District Attorney Allen Brey.

Neighbor Steven Klein watched in disbelief.

"I said, 'What are you doing?' Klein said. "They said, 'It is none of your business.'"

The next day, police returned the flag.

Brey declined comment Friday.

Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula said it was not illegal to fly the flag upside down but people were upset and it was the Fourth of July.

"It is illegal to cause a disruption," he said.

The parade went on without any problems, Kanikula said.

Village President John Deschane, 60, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said many people in town believe it's disrespectful to fly the flag upside down.

"If he wants to protest, let him protest but find a different way to do it," Deschane said.

Congine, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq in 2004, said he intends to keep flying the flag upside down.

"It is pretty bad when I go and fight a tyrannical government somewhere else," Congine said, "and then I come home to find it right here at my front door."

2009-07-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

Well the fourth of july is tomorrow and I work:(

2009-07-03T14:07:00.001-05:00

As you can tell I am not yet free of the ties of the workforce, but I am every day preparing for that time. I am one day closer to becoming truly free. I stopped today at a roadside military supply tent and bought a couple of new items (surplus) and have added some new items to my supply. I have been trying to learn new things and have run across a cache of military field manuals, so if you have one you need, I can probably get you a ebook copy. Just let me know.

a wiser man i've never found

2009-06-30T14:32:00.001-05:00

A wise old Indian Chief sat in his hut on the reservation, smoking a Ceremonial Pipe and eying two U.S. Government officials sent to interview him.
“Chief Two Eagles,” stated one official, “You have observed the white man for 90 years. You’ve seen his wars and his technological advances. You’ve seen his progress, and the damage he’s done.”

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The Official continued, “Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?”

The Chief stared at the Government Officials for over a minute and then calmly replied, “When white man found this land, Indians were running it.”

“No taxes.”

“No debt.”

“Plenty buffalo.”

“Plenty beaver.”

“Women did all the work.”

“Medicine man free.”

“Indian man spent all day hunting and fishing.”

“All night having sex.”

Then the Chief leaned back and smiled, “Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that.”

a great source for survival based on our past

2009-06-25T10:11:00.001-05:00

I recently found the old farmers almanac online at www.almanac.com it is a great source as to when to plant vegatables as well as giving you weather information. check it out. Many good things

running your cordless tools on your car battery.

2009-06-16T11:05:00.004-05:00

here is an article on how to run your 18 volt power tools off of your car battery.

http://www.wikihow.com/Run-an-18V-Ryobi-Tool-Using-a-Car-BatteryI have used this and it does work excellent, Thanks for looking at my blog

BT

a basic survival kit that we had in the Army.

2009-06-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

Food packets.
Snare wire.
Smoke, illumination signals.
Waterproof matchbox.
Saw/knife blade.
Wood matches.
First aid kit.
MC-1 magnetic compass.
Pocket knife.
Saw/knife/shovel handle.
Frying pan.
Illuminating candles.
Compressed trioxane fuel.
Signaling mirror.
Survival fishing kit.
Plastic spoon.
Survival manual (AFM 64-5).
Poncho.
Insect headnet.
Ejector snap.
Attaching strap.
Kit, outer case.
Kit, inner case.
Shovel.
Water bag.
Kit, packing list.
Sleeping bag.

A cornbread and pinto beans recipe

2009-06-16T10:20:00.002-05:00

Cornbread

2 eggs
2 cups milk
4 tbsp. cooking oil
2 cups cornmeal (grind fresh for best taste)
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
Beat eggs, milk and oil. Add dry ingredients and stir quickly and thoroughly. Bake for 50 minutes at 325 degrees.

Pinto Beans

2 cups of beans
8 cups of water
2 teaspoons of salt
2 teaspoons of pepper.

Sort beans, wash and soak overnight. Beans can be cooked on the stove top, over an open fire or in a Crock-Potcooking survival food or pressure cookersurvival food. If I am going to be home all day I prefer the open fire, gives the beans a unique taste not found with the other methods. The fastest and most covenant method is to use a pressure cooker.

Using basic foods saves money, having a supply on hand will guarantee you never go hungry - no matter how poor your are or bad the times, you will thrive.

Have any favorite recipes using corn or beans please share with us in the comments below. I would like to give thanks to www.thesurvivalistblog.blogspot.com for this recipe. He has a great blog check it out and see for yourself.

Food Storage prep

2009-06-07T10:18:00.001-05:00

Food Storage Prep

I received this information from a fellow blogger (www.thesurvivalistblog.blogspot.com) check out his awesome site lots of great information.

On average I get 30 – 50 emails a day which is great because I love hearing from you guys and gals, especially when you make my head swell with words of praise and agreement. A lot of readers are seeking advice on one subject or another and while I try to respond to everyone, I do get covered up some times and loose an email in the mess. If I fail to answer in a timely manner please be patient, I will likely catch up in a couple of days.

The most common inquiry relates to food storage. It seems there has been so much written on the subject that some are getting lost within the mountain of words and are confused as to the what, how and the how much. While I am not the authority on the study of food storage, I have gained enough expertise though my own efforts to respond intelligently to readers with sound solutions to their problems.

What to store

This is by far the most common question asked.

Wheat
This is the backbone of your survival diet. Wheat is nature’s longest storing seed, with an indefinite shelf life given proper conditions. The wheat can also be sprouted adding fresh greens to the diet even in winter. Put back 400 pounds per person.

Salt
While not a food but a mineral salt is none the less essential to the diet and individual health. Salt is also used in the preservation of food and animal products. Salt like wheat has an indefinite self life. Atleast 20 pound per person.

Honey
As a sweetener honey makes an unequalled contribution to the diet. Some think of it as a super food giving energy and renewed vitality. Being an extract from the plant kingdom, it is sure to contain numerous components which contribute to health. Honey like wheat and salt has an indefinite self life. At least 10 pound per person.

Powdered Milk
Most people turn their nose to even the thought of powdered milk, preferring whole milk from the supermarket shelf. Granted it does have a slightly different taste but it’s not unpleasant to drink, after a week or two it seems to “grow” on you. Studies have shown that fat-free powdered milk, when kept dry and reasonably cool, will store with little change in value for over 15 years. You need 60 pound per person.

Other Foods
After you get the basic four foods (wheat, sugar, powdered milk, and salt) in the needed proportions, it is a simple matter to add other foods as you get the extra money. Pinto beans, white rice, split peas, soybeans, dried green peas, whole corn and canned meats, fruits and vegetables can be added giving more variety to the diet. And don’t forget to include pepper, baking powder, baking soda, canned yeast, dried eggs, cooking oil, multivitamin and mineral as well as extra vitamin C caplets.

How to store
I store all my grains, beans and powdered milk in food grade plastic buckets. There is a lot of confusion and controversy over whether a bucket is food grade or not. A #2 inside a small triangle on the bottom of the bucket means it is made from HDPE plastic and is of food grade.

I bought mine from the local hardware store in the paint section. They also had them at the Wal-Mart but I prefer to buy from local business owners if possible. Sometimes they can even be gotten free from bakeries and restaurants, just be sure they only held food products not paint, chemicals or other things that can make you sick or dead.

Foods packed in oxygen don’t store as well as those in an oxygen free atmosphere. Oxygen absorbers (available from Nitro-Pak) remove the air from the enclosed container, leaving an atmosphere of 99% pure nitrogen in a partial vacuum.

Don’t open the bag of oxygen absorbers until ready to use because they will absorb oxygen from the surrounding air and become useless. Have everything ready to go before you open the package. Any unused absorbers can be stored put in a small canning jar until needed.

Be sure to have everything ready to go before you start. Then pore the food you are planning on preserving into the buckets a little at a time shaking each one as it is being filled to settle and distribute the contents. Fill each bucket to about ½ inch from the top and throw in three oxygen absorbers to each bucket of food.

Quickly put the lids on each bucket and pound shut by laying a board across the top and striking with a hammer or rubber mallet. After a few hours the absorbers will create a vacuum that will cause the lids on the buckets to “pop down” indicating a good seal and a proper atmosphere for long term storage. Be sure to label each with date, content and weight, written on the front with a permanent marker.

Where to Store
The next question is where to put all this food? Lack of space is the main drawback to living in a 26ft' travel trailer. Just about everything needs to be stored outside. Even in most homes and apartments living can get cramped as more crap gets brought in to fill the space. One option is to sell some of the stuff you don't use, maybe cleaning out a large closet and filling it with your stored foods. You will need to take a look at your personal situation and space available, storing your foods accordingly.

I have the bulk of my foods cached in my outbuilding behind my trailer. This may not be the idea set up but it is dry and shaded in the summer. I took a number of concrete blocks and laid a sheet of 4x8' ply board on top to form a platform to stack the buckets on keeping them off the ground. I would love to have a root cellar big enough to hold the bulk of my food storage, but for now I must deal with less than perfect.
Keep Surviving.

A local Vet ordered to remove Marine Corps Bumper Sticker

2009-06-02T11:34:00.002-05:00

maybe some of you remember this? The Army Creed

2009-06-01T22:20:00.003-05:00

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

Does this not still mean what it did the day you enlisted? FREEDOM is not FREE, it is earned by our Soldiers on the frontlines of these battles that we are told are needed to secure our freedom. I will protect MY Country, Some of these other countries do not want our help, or our way of life, so why force our beliefs on them, is that not taking away there freedoms.

a taste of crime in the city stealing from the needy

2009-06-01T20:18:00.002-05:00

here is a story that shows you how bad our economy has gotten just check out this link It speaks for itself http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1407923.html

places to find other survivalists

2009-06-01T20:02:00.002-05:00

I have been doing some searching and found that Myspace has alot of survivalists on there to network with, not that I want to use that site but at least it can put me in contact with others to help me learn more. What are your thoughts on where to find survivalists out there?

I am searching for new sites

2009-05-29T22:35:00.001-05:00

I am now searching for new sites for me to learn and share ideas with if you have a site and would like share its whereabouts I will come follow and ask that you do the same. Welcome and shoot me some advice

a online scanning site must see

2009-05-24T21:41:00.001-05:00

Check at the bottom of my blog and you will see a scanner to listen to. I listen to dallas but you can go to www.scanamerica.us and choose your local area. You will not be dissapointed

2009-05-24T08:54:00.001-05:00

Today I just bought 4 veggie plants for the first time, I bout one tomato, watermelon, squash, and Canteloupe. I have now started my first garden. If you have any suggestions please let me know

2009-05-23T22:07:00.001-05:00

This is the next book I would like to buy,if anyone has read it please tell me if it is worth the cost?

Survival Gear

2009-05-23T21:48:00.000-05:00

Ok, here are a few things to get started, I never thought there would be as much as there is and what to actually make priorities.

1. Food (there are many websites offering great deals on 1 year supplies).
2. Shelter (I suggest an RV of some type but a tent will do in a pinch).
3. Clothing (prepare for all types of weather both cold and hot climates).
4. First Aid (many types but I recommend a portable hospital as from www.cheaperthandirt.com
5. Protection and hunting ( I have a Remington Pump 12 Ga, and a Smith and Wesson model 686 Revolver chambered in .357). I would recommend a cheap .22 such as a Ruger 10/22 for small game. My handgun will work for large game.
Well I am going to expand on these over the next couple of days and break down each one and grow from here, any help is welcome.

2009-04-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, I am now in the process of creating my family survival gear checklist. I am planning on preparing for the next few years a little at a time, until my son graduates high school, then so that he can enjoy college, the wife and myself are going as they say (off the grid). Anyone who has already completed a list, please feel free to share your thoughts. I am not jumping into this lifestyle blind. I am doing my homework and making all necessary adjustments to make it a successfull transtion.I will post my list later this week, and see if anyone can help.