Non-Lethal Self Defense; When just a little bit of pain is enough

 During a recent preparedness presentation on 72 hour bags I gave to the IT dept. at my work one of the questions that popped up at the end was, "What about guns and firearms?" This was a loaded question (no pun intended) if I ever heard one considering today's environment, but I provided a sufficiently, politically correct answer in my opinion. Explaining that I am firearms enthusiast and a "2nd Amendment proponent", I also clarified that "guns are not for everybody", regardless of the opinions of some folks out there. I then recommended some less-than-lethal alternatives for affective self defense without the need to put a (preferred) 3" hole in an attackers chest. 

However, non-or-less-than-lethal measures come with a training and proficiency requirement which, in some ways, is just as important as training and proficiency with a firearm. It's a shock to many people when I advise that just buying pepper spray or a stun gun and tossing it in your purse or vehicle's glove box is not sufficient. You need to intimately familiarize yourself with these items for them to be truly affective in a self defense scenario. Below I'll break down some of the pros and cons of the more common less-than/non-lethal self defense implements and strategies.

Disclaimer: Before pursuing any of these options, check local laws and regulations to ensure you remain within legal bounds when purchasing or carrying these items.

Also, please note that I'm not addressing the "bringing a knife to a gun fight" concept here. It's assumed that there is a power discrepancy between attacker and victim in which the protective tools and strategies listed below provide an equalizer for the victim's defense.

Pepper Spray

How can personal chemical warfare not be fun for the whole family? Pepper spray is one of the most common and readily accessible non-lethal options of self defense out there. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to find, even at your local Wal-mart or typical sporting goods store. Pepper spray comes in a wide variety of options. These include disabling compounds such as (literally) chili pepper extracts, and deployment methods such as an aerosol spray or gel stream.

Pros

Pepper spray canisters are very compact and can easily be attached to keychains or staged in purses. They're very easy to use with a small locking lever that's easily shifted into active status, and a simple push-button and aim process. Potency can vary, and some self defense instructors recommend upgrading to actual bear spray for maximum effectiveness against burly human beings.

Many versions of pepper spray also contain a dye that's visible only in ultraviolet light. This allows for quick identification of the attacker by law enforcement during their investigation after an assault. 

Cons

Dispersal, especially the aerosol kind, can be hazardous. Discharging pepper spray into the wind can easily blow back into the face of the victim rendering both them and the attacker helpless to the point it becomes a race to see who recovers faster and either escapes or continues the assault. 

Less expensive pepper sprays can be less affective and not adequately stop an attacker.

Stun Guns and Tasers

A good friend of mine was considering buying a stun gun for his petite, real-estate broker wife while we were at a prepper show one time. The vendor offered him 10% off if he but-briefly shocked himself with the gun. My friend (I'll call him "Larry"), who's an adventurous as well as frugal sort, started seriously considering it, pacing back and forth and asking me what I thought. Now I'm too old for such nonsense myself, so I tossed my hands up with a grin and stepped out of the situation to go shop for freeze-dried food. A few minutes later from across the vendor hall my son and I heard the easily recognizable pop pop of the stun gun along with Larry's yell of surprise. It wasn't long after when Larry was walking up to us with a slight limp and a self-satisfied smile at having saved 10% off his purchase.

Stun guns and tasers both provide an electric current through the body of an attacker, rendering said-attacker temporarily disabled so the victim can make their escape. 

Pros

I've seen 280lbs ex-cons go down instantly after getting stunned in the buttocks. Their explanation later was that they'd never felt such pain. Tasers and stun guns are also readily available in most States. Tasers come in a variety of deployment configurations, from wand-like devices so you can feel like Harry Potter (yelling Expecto Patronum! just adds to the satisfaction of sending your attacker to the floor in a writhing, quivering ball of flesh), to gun-type devices which work just like a firearm in a point-and-shoot feel.

Cons

Stun guns deliver their charge on-contact meaning you have to be up close and personal with your attacker to deploy. If you're that close to your attacker you're already losing, in my opinion. 

Tasers, which deliver their charge through two projected prongs, can avoid this, but those prongs must make contact with the attacker's skin to be affective. Heavy clothing such as a parka or even a heavy hoodie, or a mis-fire where one prong doesn't make contact with the attacker, voids the counter attack completely.

I've also heard of attackers who are in an altered state (read: drugged out and trippin'), can be completely unaffected by either tase or stunning. I've seen video of this where a very high woman was tased by police officers no less than four times in a McDonalds where she'd gone on a French Fry rampage. The tasing offered little to no affect in stopping the meth'ed out Karen.

Batons, Baseball Bats, and Bludgeoning Implements

Beating the ever-living shit out of someone who'd been trying to attack you a few minutes prior can be pretty satisfactory, but doing so can be harder and more dangerous than most people consider. This class of self protection weaponry considers anything from a fancy stick to improvised items. 

Pros

There's almost no end to what can be improvised into a self-defense bludgeoning weapon. I've seen modified pipe wrenches, legs of broken tables, and souvenir baseball bats and everything in between. Extendable batons are easily concealed on one's person or in a vehicle, and come in a variety of size options to suit the defender's needs. It's also hard to not look totally cool flicking one of those baton's into action and taking a ready posture which may very well intimidate your way out of a confrontation. Of course this image is quickly ruined when you have to find a slab of concrete to bang the tip against to retract the baton afterwards.

Cons

Again, using a bludgeoning weapon to protect one's self means your attacker has already gotten dangerous close to you. You run the risk of the weapon being taken from you and used against you at that point. On that note using a baton or other bludgeoning implement, frankly, requires training to be affective. Wildly swinging to try to just keep someone away from you, again, runs the risk of having the weapon taken from you. Get trained! Most martial arts studios will help you with this (for a fee of course).

The expandable baton's are illegal in several states and municipalities so, again, check local laws and regulations before purchasing or training with one.

Martial Arts

Pros

As the saying goes, training trumps gear. The three types of weapons above to provide a physical advantage in a self-defense scenario, however they fail or be taken from you. Being able to affectively fight with your physical body grants you access to self defense at all times including those times when any other weapon is simply not allowed such as a court house or Federal building or such. Additonally most martial arts programs offer training with weapons as well, making you even more affective with the bludgeoning class of weapons above.

Cons

Being an affective martial artist is a non-stop endeavor. It requires constant practice and at least a modicum of physical agility and strength. It's very unrealistic, even dangerous, to take an 8 hour rape-prevention class and believe you're "ready" for if that time comes. I would argue that the choice to become a martial artist is more of a life-style commitment more than a brief practice.

Health issues and even age can seriously and quickly diminish one's ability to utilize martial arts as a self defense option as well.

Final Thoughts

There are other options regarding non/less-than lethal self defense but in my experience these are the most common, often times because they're the most affective. Training and familiarity of usage cannot be over emphasized. I've been known to buy two containers of pepper spray and discharge one to see how it's going to disperse. There many good videos on YouTube regarding using the different kinds of pepper spray and tasers. Watch, read, and learn and, in the end, you may opt for more than one or even all of these options. Diversity is a very good thing.

In the end walking around city streets with an AR-15 strapped to your back or even a .45 on your hip isn't always practical or, to some, ethical, however this doesn't mean you have to be a victim by any means. There are many other extremely effective options to protect ones self, your family, and your preparations, and with just a little research and education the right choice can be made for your personal situation and goals.

Peace. 

Prepping Styles; Military vs. Civilian

There are several different ways of categorizing preparedness styles and methods, but for this post I thought I'd break down the differences between a military-based vs a civilian-based style of prepping. So what do I mean by military-based and civilian-based prepping? In short it's emphasis on several factors I go into below. Also, please keep in mind that military-based does not necessarily mean it will be followed strictly by ex or current members of our great military. There are plenty of preppers out there with little-to-no actual military experience or service but who are like-minded in military methods or enthusiasts in the military ways. There's nothing at all wrong with this, it's just a particular approach to address preparedness.

The Civilian-based Approach

Disasters; What Are You Preparing For?

Typical civilian folks tend to prepare for weather events or limited man-made disasters such as chemical spills or nuclear reactor melt downs. Weather events are somewhat consistent or seasonal, however chemical or nuclear reactor-based events are more regional concerns. This type of approach targets short-term disruptions, anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks.

Logistical Considerations

Families and location of sheltering tend to be high on the list of priorities for civilian-oriented preppers. Preparing food, water, and medical stores for sheltering in place is the common strategy, and friends, family members, and neighbors are taken into consideration when planning is initiated. 

Security Operations and Communications

There's an openness of communication and sharing of preparedness plans within communities that could be affected by disasters in the typical civilian mentality. The sense of community awareness allows for ensuring other members of the local population are prepared for disasters as well.

The Military-based Approach

Disasters; What Are You Preparing For?

Current and ex-military members as well as preppers with more of a military mind tend to prepare against war-type activities and attacks against our country. EMPs or straight up military invasion, or acts of terrorism, either domestic or foreign, are among the events such military-minded preppers get ready for. The timeframes of disruption for these events tend to last into the years or decades so sustainability or pushing for a 'new normal' after the event is projected.

Logistic Considerations

Military oriented preppers trend more towards the lone-wolf psychology or toward militia-type organizations with other like-minded preppers. There's a sense of BYOA (bring your own ammo) among this approach with members only accepted if they add some tangible value to the group.

Gear, tools, and the idea of bugging out are given more emphasis under the idea of staying mobile and evasive from enemy forces. If a safe location is setup, it's done so with tactical, military advantage in mind.

Security Operations and Communications

Defense and strong communication are emphasized, more so than food and even sometimes water. Weaponry and load-outs are discussed and held most important for the more military minded, and secrecy and obscurification are key elements regarding one's preps or bugout locations.

Which One is Right For You?

Odds are....both. Blending both is not just common but necessary in my strong opinion. I've never been one to limit my options because it's critical to remain flexible and adaptable in any given disaster situation. When your life and the lives of those you care about are on the line there's no room for dogma. Bugging in is typically the most appropriate approach (civilian mentality) however when your home or shelter become unsafe you must be prepared to bug out to a safer location. In short, prepare for generalized disasters and watch the news (fairly and with strong filters) for any local events that could affect you.

Rarely are people truly alone any more. We have families and friends that are likely local, and, at times, we develop good relationships with our neighbors. We neither want these people to perish during a disaster, nor do we want them knocking on our door empty handed looking for handouts. Encouraging those we care about to prepare for disruptions before they strike while not tipping our hand at the same time is a fair balance.

Another blending example? Security operations. It's a personal choice of course, but I'm a proponent of firearms and having them at the ready should the need arise. Even a civilian-minded prepper should have a military-ish plan of protection should disaster strike and you need to defend your home and hearth...and family and pets.

Final Thoughts

Being prepared for a regionally realistic disruptive event is the goal, and the approach taken should factor in a variety of considerations. As such being too 'civilian' or being to 'militarialistic' can lead to severe gaps in your preparedness plan. Good preparedness includes appropriate levels of food, water, and medical supplies, realistic consideration regarding local friends, family, and neighbors, and an appropriate level of martial training to protect and defend against the less-savory people who are interested in your preps. There's no need to go all G.I. Joe cosplay for protection (though there's something to be said about the intimidation factor), and there's no need to starve or get dysentery by not considering bug-in options. Balance and adaptability are key in surviving any disaster.

Peace.

Swing and a Miss. When Disaster DOESN'T Strike

 Throughout the early part of the week of Monday 04/11/2022, the threat of severe weather was predicted for my area.. We started getting notifications though our CERT communication channels and through all of our early-warning weather apps that on Wednesday the 13th we were under a slight then enhanced chance of major weather including high winds, flood-capable rains, and a good chance of tornados. With an air of excitement and disaster-lust I went into full preparedness mode, charging batteries and even moving some critical electronics to our basement. Packs were checked and my CERT team notified of my schedule in case of deployment needs. 

Wednesday the 13th arrived with the timing of the severe weather being around the 1700 hour...and then at 0900 I received a text saying something to the effect that the severe weather chance had been down graded. The front powering the storms was 1.Farther south than anticipated and 2.Moving much faster than expected. A good friend of mine used to call this type of situation "Apocalypse Not". The weather petered out to nothing more than a few rain showers and we observed only a single lightening flash with no discernable thunder at that.

Suffice it to say it can be very frustrating and discouraging when you prepare for an event and it doesn't pan out. Time, money, and effort are put into the preparedness and it feels like all such things are wasted when there is not so much as a good thunderstorm. The feeling is contradictory in nature; on one hand we're waiting for, expecting, maybe even (disturbingly) looking forward to a severe, disruptive event, while on the other hand no one really wishes destruction of property or, more-so-still, loss of life. Based on those factors we should be happy and relieved if an anticipated disaster fails to manifest, but the emotional response is disappointment that at times can lead to some dangerous ways of thinking.

Most commonly when emergency management and weather services notify the public of impending events that do not occur, it erodes trust in those services in the whole Boy Who Cried Wolf mentality. The next time severe weather threatens, those same people won't take watches or even warnings as seriously as they should. That's a tough row to hoe, and steps typically need to be taken to mend that trust. In the case of the 13th, the local emergency management services actually put out an apology and an explanation of what happened to the predictive models. Communication like that helps to restore a bit of trust.

Steps should also be taken to level-set and add a dose of reality. Like I said, sometimes it just pays to remind people that a severe weather event always has the potential to take lives, damage property, and disrupt routines for days, weeks, even months. People should be grateful if weather tones down to be softer than expected. As the saying in finance goes, "past performance is not an indicator of future results."

Levels of Preparedness Equipment - Part 1; Bags and Knives

Nearly every prepper I know has a budget in which to purchase their gear across all the categories of preparedness. From firearms to heirloom seeds to bunkers buried deep in the ground, those preparing for a disaster or disruptive event need to carefully spend hard-earned dollars to leverage their priorities. Whether you have a budget of $1,000 or $1,000,000, what you buy and how much you spend can define your level of preparedness over all. Spending $10 on a knife that breaks the first time you use it as opposed to spending $125 on a knife that lasts you 30 years can mean the difference between life and death in a survival situation, but that has to be balanced with what you can afford. I've always said there's a fine line of benefit between having cheap gear and having no gear at all. A $10 knife that breaks after cutting a cord at least cut the cord before it failed, for instance. 

Over time most prepper budget's grow and with greater funding comes the ability to afford better quality gear. Also, with the ability for online selling, such as on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay and others, we preppers can engage in virtual swap meets, selling our older gear and buying better stuff cheaper either new or as 'gently used'. With that in mind let's break down levels of new, store-bought prep gear based on what you can afford. 

For this installment we'll start with the most expensive components of your 72-hour kit - Bags and Knives. We'll cover home and vehicle prep kits in later segments. I may also delve into other gear such as water filtration systems and first aid kits later down the road. 

Disclaimer: I am not getting any 'kick back' for listing these items, and this post is in no way meant to be an endorsement of any company or product. The pricing I list for any individual item is as of the writing of this post, and sale prices are tagged with '(s)'. This list is also meant to be a 'basic' break down regarding bags and knives, and will not cover all aspects of either. It is meant to be a reference for those starting a preparation plan and 72-hour bag or those seeking to improve their existing plan or kit.

Bags

The actual bag packed for bugging out or evacuation is critical. At the lowest tier a bag must meet the following criteria.

1. Size; to accommodate three days worth of supplies and gear, a bag should not be smaller than 50 liters, and preferably 60 liters or even larger depending on the physical stature and athletic capability of the person hauling it.
2. Material; a bag should be made of a solid composition, such as a heavy nylon or milspec canvas in quality. The bag should be resilient enough to track through heavy brush and woodland or grind along brick and mortar buildings in an urban environment without tearing and spilling your supplies all over the ground.
3. Appearance; having a solid tactical, military-looking bag is all badass and such, but can draw unnecessary attention. It just screams, "Hey look, that guy has stuff," and can give the impression that you're a(n active) member of the military. I strongly sway towards a hiker's backpack that will call less attention to you.

Not only is your bag arguably the most important component of your 72 hour kit, it can likely be the most expensive. Pricing varies widely based on material and layout.

• Inexpensive: Walmart.com, Aibecy Hiking pack - $56.49.
• Mid-cost: Dicks Sporting Goods, High Sierra Pathway - $109.99
• Expensive: REI, Osprey Traverse - $229.00
• Richy-rich: REI, Osprey Aether Plus - $350.00

Other Considerations

Aside from the three required criteria above, backpacks come with a host of options to be considered, such as fit, weight distribution, expandability, and load-out configuration. When shopping for a bug-out bag with my fiancé, we went to REI to check out their selection. One thing I really like about REI is you can test the gear. They have weighted sacks you can use to simulate gear and load up your chosen backpack then you can try it on and see how it fits on your physical frame. I picked two packs within our budget and my fiancé snagged the cheapest one and headed to the checkout. I told her she needed to load it up with the weights and try it on to which she replied with a shrug, "Why, it's a backpack. They're all the same", but she headed to the table to load them up and try them anyway. I stepped away to shop for survival food and when I came back she had the other pack in her hand. "Yeah, this one feels a lot better with stuff in it" she admitted. Trying out a backpack and having a plan on how you want to load it can help with the decision on where those precious dollars go, too.

Knives

Having a good quality knife on hand cannot be over stated. Still, some of the best knives I've had throughout my life have cost me less than $50. One of those funny "psychological ironys" I've seen and experienced is spending $100 or more on a knife and not using it because "You don't want to mar it or mess it up," but the cheap $25 knife that you don't care as much about is the one you drop in your EDC and becomes your favorite because you use it every day.

In this section I'll break down knives and offer tiers for folder and fixed-blade options. For the fixed-blade options I required them to be full tang, but didn't go into other qualities (such as steel type, length, shape, etc) for the purpose of scope.

• Inexpensive: 
• Folder - Ozark Trail 3.25, $7.46
• Fixed - Ozark Trail "survival" knife, $18.73
• Mid-cost:
• Folder - Cabela's Function EXF-A, $19.99
• Fixed - Cabela's Expedition, $24.99
• Expensive:
• Folder - Gerber Sumo, $44.95
• Fixed - Gerber StrongArm, $74.95 (<Author's favorite)
• Richy-rich:
• Folder - Benchmade 535-3 Bugout Knife - $279.00
• Fixed - Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter, $234.00

Other Considerations

Even more than backpacks, knives come with extensive options and features all focused around intention. Blade shape, composition, and length all vary, as can handle and over-all weight. Other options of a knife purchase might include a good sheath and even accessories, such as ferro rods, that may come packaged with the knife itself. Depending on your knife budget, spending just a few more dollars may offer a considerable upgrade.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading is the key to maintaining and improving a solid preparedness posture, and everyone who has a preparedness plan should always seek to better their position through improving their gear. Regarding the conflict between the cheapest of gear and no gear at all, I believe in having at least the cheapest of gear. I'll work up from there.

Peace.

End of the World Lessons from the Last Six Years

 As Things Once Were

Travel back in time a mere 10 years and I was watching episodes of Doomsday Preppers and scoffing at the majority of the semi-misguided preppers highlighted who were all preparing for some unlikely apocalyptic event. From nuclear war to an asteroid strike, or the most-referenced financial collapse of the United States, the people profiled on the program seemed almost obsessed and more than a little delusional when it came to the end of the world as we know it. I vividly recall one woman who was prepping for a pandemic and took great steps to purify and fortify her home against such an event.  

All-in-all most of the apocalyptic events people on the program were preparing for were all going to happen in the short term, and if you weren't prepared now it was too late; you were to become one of the many instant casualties when "x" apocalypse happened. The pandemic was going to happen within the next five years. The financial collapse and resulting social uprisings and government lock downs were all to happen within three to five years. An asteroid strike? - any time with just a few seconds notice. All of it seemed laughable....

And Now

...fast forward to today and some of those episodes and the preparations people were taking aren't all that laughable, nor unbelievable. In the last 5+ years we've lived through a very real global pandemic, severe social disruption caused by racial, political, and administrative tensions, and now, as of the writing of this post, a very real war between Russia and the Ukraine. Some of those people and the apocalyptic events they feared on Doomsday Preppers seem almost prophetic, now. However, that begs the question, how accurate were those who predicted and prepared for pandemic, social uprising, or even war? Let's get into a bit of detail surrounding just a few of the events which have occurred within the last five to six years.

1. 2016; Social and political division resulting from the results of a Presidential election.
2. 2019 - 2020; The start of the COVID-19 global pandemic and resulting shut down within the United States. Several protests are waged against mask and vaccination throughout the timeline of the pandemic.
3. 2020; the murder of George Floyd which triggered a wide-spread series of protests surrounding racial inequalities, most of which turned violent and resulted in looting.
4. 2020 - 2021; a hotly contested Presidential election steeped in conspiracy and culminating in violence framed in the events of January 6, 2021.
5. 2021; the resurgence of a highly contagious strain of COVID-19, Omicron, which dramatically rises infection numbers. Protests and other forms of threats against government and scientific officials around mask and vaccine mandates continue.
6. 2022; Russia invades Ukraine and elevates their nuclear readiness in response to global reaction against the invasion.

A Bit of a Disappointment - or a Dose of Reality?

The list above is pretty dramatic and impacting, and doesn't even cover all of what has transpired within the time frame, but these are the largest talking points when it comes to the last five to six years. Surely the sheer volume of events all rapidly occurring within this relatively small timeline is something to be concerned about, but how does this list compare to doomsday or SHTF/TEOTWAWKI proponents and their predictions?

I remember when the COVID-19 pandemic started in full swing and the U.S. went into lockdown there were several memes that hit the Interwebs mentioning, "I was promised a zombie apocalypse and all I got was "don't touch your face" and "wash your hands."" Where I live in central Indiana, we saw very few social protests or riots, and when the vaccine was announced and offered it showed that modern medical science had come through and provided an effective response to the pandemic. We were able to continue relatively stable and normal lives. Sure, we were secluded into working from home, myself and most of my friends on a permanent basis, but we were still able to take camping and hiking vacations, safely travel to Arizona and visit friends, and even expand our preparations and stocks under the threat of a diminished supply chain. 

Yes, there are disruptions. Yes there are extreme levels of stress that come from all of the factors listed above and more. However, despite each avenue a true apocalypse has failed to happen. People still go to work, spend time with their families, go to concerts and sporting events, and engage in all of the life tasks you'd expect even in the best of times, so how has this cumulative apocalypse failed?

A Swing and a Miss - several misses, actually.

1. Impact - Ten years ago it was claimed that the next pandemic would "kill millions". Citizens protesting both political and social issues claimed they would wreak havoc "across every state and in every neighborhood" until their voices were heard. It was also predicted that when supply chains would be disrupted people would start to starve in a 'matter of days' and that would lead to crimes of desperation on a scale never seen. Simply put, none of these came to pass. The COVID-19 pandemic did kill 5.97 million people (as of today), but compared to the 7.6 billion humans still populating this planet that number is pittance. The fact is that the impact of these apocalyptic events on the average human's life has been minimal.
2. Timeline - First I'd argue that the apocalypse just didn't measure up to the speed in which it was supposed to occur, and when events happen slow enough, we clever little humans can adapt and adjust to them quite nicely.  The U.S. economy did not fail in the three to five years as expected. Store shelves didn't empty after three days when the supply chain was disrupted as we were told they would. I'm still waiting for those "Chinese tanks" to come roaring down my street as I was promised would occur if the current President was elected. As of today the number of infections from COVID-19 are lower than they have been since the start, and they continue to decline, so even after two years of the pandemic we're not seeing bodies in the streets.
3. Location - At the time of this posting things are pretty bad in Ukraine and Russia, both. Canada and the U.S. are seeing protests by truckers who are upset about vaccination mandates required to move across the borders. These protesters have affected Ottawa in Canada and are expected to roll into Washington DC around the say of this posting, but what about the rest of the country, or even the rest of the world? Here in central Indiana we've seen a strong bump in gas and some grocery prices, but those are manageable, otherwise it's business as usual. The most impacting events are extremely regional, in other words, with disruptions and 'bumps' in normal daily life only occurring in relatively small pockets across the globe and the U.S. I'm sorry, but isn't the apocalypse supposed to affect each and every human on the planet, or at least the majority of us?

Huh. Friendly zombies. Who knew?

There are a few other disappointing factors, too. For instance since there are no zombies the satisfying activity of stabbing or decapitating shambling corpses as was promised is sadly missing. Severe mutations of heroic proportions as a result of nuclear radiation have also not occurred as expected. In short, despite all of the hype and anxiety by doomsday preppers, the apocalypse falls flat in several areas; it's just not as bad as what we were told it was going to be.

But...what's next?

Although I'm knocking the so-called TEOTWAWKI events experienced in the last five to six years as being nothing more than 'meh', I'm by no means underestimating what could come next, or even what could develop within the scope of these events going forward.  Here's a quick run down of what could come next that could make matters much worse and may, possibly, just live up to some of that lacking
hype...

1. 
   A new pandemic or a major resurgence in COVID-19; Although, as I said, numbers, fatalities, and infection rates surrounding the current pandemic continue to dramatically decline, all it would take is a new variant with Omicron's virility but a lot more lethal and we could start to see a sharp turn towards a true apocalypse. Additionally, just because COVID-19 is on the decline does not mean another pandemic level event couldn't kick off on COVID's heels; one which is far more lethal and viral than the one we just experienced and there are lot of solid scientific and medical reasons to support why that very think could happen. Viruses are like dictators; when one is eliminated or reduced it leaves a power vacuum ripe for the rise of another.
2. Renewed violence rooted in social or political events; At this point the United States continues to experience extreme lines of division and separation when it comes to it's citizens. Here in the year 2022, several federal level elections are occurring which could shift the balance of power and kick off additional protests and strengthen those divisions, and the next election year, 2024, is expected to be hotly contested with some of the anticipated candidates already laying groundwork around electoral fairness and equality. Depending on how things in those elections turn out, violent protests may emerge in late 2024 and beyond. Even without the harsh feelings surrounding elections, people are on edge regarding the rising gas and food prices as a result of the war between Russia and the Ukraine. Such things can continue to spur sporadic protests which could easily turn violent as a result of anger, frustration, and fear. 
3. Nuclear war; Yeah, this is the biggie, and it's an even greater possibility than I've seen in my past...and I was a teenager throughout the 1980s so I've seen some pretty frightening rhetoric around nuclear war in my life. The fact of the matter is, the invasion of the Ukraine isn't going as smoothly or quickly as expected by the Russian leadership. Ukraine is turning out to be more militarily resilient than anticipated. Couple that with the fact that 99% of the other countries on the globe are lashing out, in some fashion, against Russia for the blatant and unprovoked invasion and you have a very formidable super power backed into a corner by the rest of the world. Additionally that super power is currently being lead by someone who's been described as 'unstable' or 'off' in recent weeks and months, and that 'someone' also holds the keys to a massive nuclear arsenal. Plus, that 'someone' comes from a society and culture where it's considered very weak to back down or lose once you're fully committed to a task. All of that is a potent formula for a nuclear exchange which could escalate into Mad Max becoming a reality. 

Stress

On a side-note, the affects of stress in this day and age cannot be overstated. Stress causes people to lash out, act irrationally, break down and separate themselves from friends and family, follow irrational motivations and information, and even perform violence against their own country. The last five to six years have been stressful, to say the least, and although they've not lived up to the world-ending apocalyptic hype they've caused an enormous amount of stress among the people of the United States and the world in general. Dealing constructively or effectively with stress falls on a person's personality and skill in stress management...a skill set very few people have. Most of the time doomsday doesn't have to occur suddenly or affect everybody across the world...peoples reactions and responses to it can still be dramatic and unreasonable....which in turn leads to yet another stress factor in the form of social and cultural protest and violence. It's very much cyclical.

Final Thoughts

So, the apocalypses of the pandemic, political and social disruption, and even the most recent war have failed to end the world in the time or to the degree as promised. It's still a case where the next few years can be telling about TEOTWAWKI but if history is an indicator the pandemic will continue to diminish to the point it's no longer a pandemic, Russia will back down from it's aggression, and some more moderate politicians will step into the limelight and ease tensions throughout the United States to bring us back to being, well, united. And if not? Well, that's why we prepare; Hope for the Best. Prepare for the Worst.

Peace.

Preparedness and Physical Fitness

 Well, I weighed myself the other day and topped out at just under 200 pounds. For me, that's heavy, very heavy. At my fatest I tipped the scales at 216 lbs. and my ideal weight is between 175 - 185 lbs. depending on muscle density. Needless to say I'm a little concerned, especially with the holiday season and it's accompanying food are fast approaching.

Being in good physical shape is a key element in the prepping lifestyle. This doesn't mean you need to run 5 minute miles or do 30 pull-ups with a 50# pack on your back, but you should be at a good and healthy weight with solid health habits. For a lot of people this is old-hat, but let's outline some of the benefits of a base-line level of health below.

Psychology

It's a proven fact that healthier people are happier people. A positive self image and an overall contentment lead to better moods even when life's other stressors threaten. Confidence and high self esteem abound when a person is over all more fit and healthy than not.

Prepping Affect

Having a positive outlook caused by knowing you're relatively healthy leads to better decisions and stronger confidence levels when preparing for disasters

Mentality

Eating right and exercising increase blood flow to the brain. In short, healthy people can think, reason, and deduce at faster levels. Healthier people are mentally sharper people. Now this doesn't mean healthier people are smarter people, but brain functionality in someone healthier is more responsive and extensive than in people who fail to maintain a healthy diet or exercise levels, and healthy folks inspired to, say, earn another college degree or vocational certification will do so at an easier pace.

Prepping Affect

Healthier preppers think more soundly and can address problems with disasters that threaten them in better ways. Thinking better leads to better, more affective preparedness.

Physiology

Of course this is the main benefit. Being healthier just leads to a better life, such as being able to walk up a flight of stairs or carry more groceries per-trip in from the car to the kitchen.

Prepping Affect

Whether you're bugging out with a 35# pack on, slinging cases of water into your pantry, or running from a hoard of zombies, preppers need to be able to actually do some physical labor, and being more on the fit side really helps.

Some helpful links

• This link includes an at-home shadow boxing workout (scroll down a bit).
• Fifteen minute video workout. Warning if you click this one - moderately annoying trainer ahead, but the workout is still nice and simple and affective.
• Top 25 at-home exercises.

Developing a Fitness Plan

As I recommend with everything else related to prepping, a fitness plan should be incremental and in easily consumed chunks of development. Smooth and steady wins the race, and the biggest mistake humans make when trying to get into shape is doing too much too fast. Start with the mentality that you just want to improve your current fitness level by one notch and go from there. Also, keep in mind that this is a base-line, simple plan. For those preppers already in good shape, this will probably be a little light for you. A nice simple plan should start with...

1. A healthy diet. Reduce snacks, including pop, and red meats, and increase healthier foods like fruits and vegetables. Notice I said reduce. I didn't say eliminate. You can still eat snacks and red meat, just don't eat that whole bag of chips or bacon for every meal. The key is moderation.
2. A fitness routine. We have an Echo Show (Amazon/Alexa device), and one of the cool routines it will show you is a 7-minute workout. It's nice and simple and doesn't need weights or even a lot of room to do. Seven minutes and you're done. Getting up and walking a mile outside is excellent cardio...as long as you do it at a good pace. Just remember, any additional activity inserted into your daily routine will help. Keep the mix varied, a combination of functional weight training and cardio; try to perform your routine the same time every day; take breaks from your routine, such as on weekends; and smoothly increase your routine as the exercises get easier.
3. Workout with others. Go to a gym with a friend, or better yet get your whole MAG (mutual assistance group) involved. Doing so allows you to encourage each other and be there for each other if someone starts to slip back into old, bad habits.
4. That which is measured is improved. Track your progress. ...but don't get discouraged. Measure your weight and how well you do with your routine each time you work out, but if you miss a day or miss a goal do not quit. I had a goal of being able to run a mile in under 8 minutes when I turned 50. I failed to do that, but I realize that's okay. I'm still in better shape than a lot of other 50 year olds and I'm going to keep that up. Blank days in your log or tracking software are more hiccups than failures. The important lesson there is that you do your routine the next day after the one you missed.

 

5.  Keep it up. It takes 3 months of performing an activity for it to become familiar, 6 months for it to become habit and a year for it to become part of your natural lifestyle. Another word on this topic - living healthy and exercising becomes easier over time so again, don't get discouraged.

Final Thoughts

A good fitness plan and healthy diet should be part of any preparedness plan, but they should also be realistic and achievable by the individual prepper. Having at least a base-line level of fitness is critical to being able to prepare for disasters and life-altering events. Be healthy, be safe, be happy.

Peace.

The Stigma of Preparedness

 Anybody who's been into the preparedness lifestyle for a decent length of time has had to deal with several stigmas and negative perceptions of the activity throughout the course of their journey. In this article I'd like to break down some of those stigmas, where they come from, and some discussion points to counter them.

The History of Modern Day Preparedness

My research has led me to understand that modern day preparedness stems from the 1940's fear of atomic warfare. In those days people genuinely feared escalations with Russia and the Soviet Union would lead to atomic, and later nuclear, war. To prepare for such an event, American citizens turned to what British citizens did when the Nazi Germany air force bombed the English country side and London as a model; they built and stocked bomb shelters.

Public Opinion and Negative PR 

Over the next several decades from the 1960s to the 1990s, this concept of preparing for World War 3 led to the rise of the survivalist, especially during and after the events around the Vietnam War. The survivalist was an American civilian or ex-military individual who was concerned with not just WW3 but other events, some of which were rooted in anti-government conspiracy. During this time frame, however, the term survivalist received some extremely negative press that even the 1982 movie Rambo couldn't dissolve. Individuals such as Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) and, later, Timothy McVeigh , along with events such as Ruby Ridge and Waco, TX, solidified an extremely negative view of the survivalist and survivalist organizations throughout public opinion. Near the end of the 1990s and into the 2000s a rebranding occurred with preparation enthusiasts who were not as much into the extremist conspiracies typically associated with survivalists, labeling themselves preppers.

And for a few years the term prepper held a more rational angle around the preparedness movement, but that image failed to last too long. The Sandy Hook mass-murder performed by Adam Lanza, who acquired the firearms used from his mother who was tagged by the media as a prepper, and other similar events which occurred throughout the 2000s and 2010s, once more slated prepper as a negative term used to describe supposed-delusional individuals who prepared for disruptive events. The TV show Doomsday Preppers on the NatGeo channel exasperated this image further, seemingly marking anybody who participated in preparations as a bit off or "crazy" by targeting only the extreme side of the activity.

Today, even common American citizens with a healthy idea of preparedness can easily be branded as delusional or "paranoid" by others, friends and family members, who's perceptions of preppers have been skewed by previous events. This can be the case even though the American government, itself, promotes a healthy level of preparedness for every American citizen.

Countering the Stigmas

So, how do those of us into preparedness, who wish to promote the activity among our fellow friends, family, and American citizens, overcome the negative images and perceptions of the past? Let's address address some of the arguments and discussions for the negativity I've encountered, myself.

It's craziness and I don't want to be seen as nutz.

This argument is typically a direct result of the past events I detailed above and can be relatively easily countered by explaining to the person making it that a rational level of preparedness has nothing to do with either conspiracy nor doomsday. Just as having life insurance, car insurance, a spare tire in your vehicle, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in your home... are not irrational or 'crazy'. Having a base-line and rational preparedness plan is not either. 

If the person is still worried about what others may say about them, I'll advise them to simply not tell anybody else that they prepare (which is also good for security operations anyway). If they're really worried about what the Judgy McJudgerstons of the world think, then don't tell those folks that you prepare at all.

Emergency Services will help during any disaster

Not only can you point out the events around hurricane Katrina as a stumble for FEMA and other emergency services to respond effectively, but you can use the example of the response time of a police officer, fire, or EMT personnel in an immediate case of need. Despite the fact that FEMA and the CDC (as well as volunteer organizations) have drastically improved their emergency responsiveness during disasters and that first responders are all-too willing to assist during an immediate emergency, there's always the timeframe before these organizations and personnel can actually get to you during the unfolding of or after effects the emergency events. Think of a preparedness plan as gap insurance, similar to what you have when you purchase a new vehicle which covers depreciated value of the vehicle compared to what you actually owe. Being prepared yourself helps alleviate disastrous events before or until emergency services can get to you and, in some cases, can eliminate your dependency on emergency services altogether.

It's too expensive and I don't have the money to even start

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. This particular argument's pretty easily broken apart. An extra can of food each time you grocery shop, an extra case of water, etc... would cost very little. Explain to the other that you don't have to go from zero to a three year supply of food in one setting. Buying a little here and storing up a little there adds up quickly over time.

I don't have the space

This argument's a little harder to counter, especially if the person lives in a small house or apartment. Typically I refer them to online resources, such as apartmentprepper.com , or advise space-making options such as risers for bedframes and even a thorough cleaning of unnecessary items to make room for prepping supplies. I've found that encouraging cleanliness and an increase in organizational skills goes a long way in prepping within a limited space.

Final Thoughts

There are always people on the borderline of any activity who hesitate taking place in that activity due to misperceptions or certain stigmas around said-activity. Preparedness is no different and as an advocates of the preparedness lifestyle I strongly believe we should work to counter or break down those stigmas and negative perceptions. Being prepared for a disruptive event could save you or your family's life. If you're reading this I doubt I have to point that out, but for those friends, family, and fellow citizens who struggle with the sense preparedness makes and the negative perceptions that come with it, it can be a serious challenge to start a prepper plan. It's up to those of us who already prepare to help those borderliners overcome their fears and concerns around the activity, and encourage them to take those first steps.

Peace.