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Massive far side sun explosion Tuesday
brekke - February 22, 2022 interesting article and more encouragement for digital preparedness and a backup communication plan. a local article and interviews a scientist from the Oregon Museum of Science Industry. This sunspot activity is from the same area that took out the satellites last week.
OMSI: Massive far side sun explosion could have been catastrophic
Read MoreUK media saying war by Wednesday
Bill Masen - February 22, 2022 Many UK media sources believe its going to kick off this week between Ukraine, Russia and Nato, the Daily Mail is saying WAR on wednesday. They report the costs of grain, animal feeds,natural gas, petrolium and diesel will go through the roof.
Internet may get jammed by military level hacking
and
GPS systems may be disrupted.
I would also redirect you to the thread about products made from oil and gas to see the likely impact on most of our daily essentials.
I’m filling all my fuel containers and treating it with Sta-bil, increased food stocks to the tune of £300 worth, stocked up on firewood, medical supplies and stored water.
I’m an old dude so I can opinion on this but this reminds me of the darkest days of the Cold War.
If it goes off who knows how it could spiral.
Read MoreNYT article on PNW tsunami threat
pnwsarahContributor - February 21, 2022 Hi all,
Just wanted to share this article from yesterday’s New York Times re: the tsunami aspect of the seismic hazard in the PNW and how communities are trying to prepare: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/tsunami-northwest-evacuation-towers.html
The article actually does a good job of explaining why a tsunami triggered by a Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake would be so destructive, touching not only on the oft-mentioned aspects of the hazard (e.g., the height of the wave; the arrival time) but also the fact that 12-20 minutes of lead time for evacuation does not get you as far (literally) on buckled, undriveable roads, and the fact that the coasts of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington have a lot of huge bays fronted by multi-mile-long, extremely low-lying sand spits that have been heavily developed and will literally be overtopped by the wave. (The article has tons of maps that illustrate this effectively.)
We’ll have to wait and see what happens after the votes on the various evacuation-tower-financing bond measures are cast, but it seems like there are some real signs that people in the affected communities are taking the threat seriously. It’s one thing when geologists at DOGAMI and the major research universities in the region offer journalists quotes about the number of thousands of people who will die; it’s another thing when a school superintendent says, “The fact of the matter is that if a tsunami occurs tomorrow, we are going to lose all of our children.” At least we’re (maybe) past the point where nobody in these communities is willing to confront the reality that they will not be able to evacuate.
I also read (too many of) the comments. It was interesting to see what wasn’t getting across/what people were confused about. For example, a lot of folks seemed to have a “these towers will never work!” reaction, but the Japanese have been building them for a while and there are engineering design guidelines for this type of structure. I’d really prefer a managed retreat strategy for a place like Ocean Shores than a bunch of expensive, ugly evacuation towers (especially since sea level rise will come for that town even if the tsunami holds off for a couple more centuries), but the former is so legally fraught and so much more costly that I just don’t see Washington, let alone Oregon, getting to it in a timely fashion. I suspect they’re going to let California figure it out first (with respect to climate change, i.e., not tsunamis), since California has money. That’s moving really slowly, though, so I feel like Oregon and Washington should maybe just invest in some towers in the meantime, you know?
Also, a lot of people were getting in “people shouldn’t live there!” arguments, and many of the people on Team People Shouldn’t Live There seemed to have the impression “there” consists of super wealthy communities where people with options have chosen to live because they “want an ocean view.” But a lot of the PNW coast is pretty economically depressed, and it’s less that people have chosen to live there than that they’re from there and it would be super challenging for them to relocate. Also, scientists didn’t really understand that these tsunami-generating mega-quakes could happen here until the 1990s, so of course people settled and built in dangerous places— they didn’t know they were dangerous!
The other interesting thing in the comments is just seeing the range of reactions. Some people were like, “So much for visiting Oregon and Washington ever in my life!” While some PNW commenters’ reactions were more along the lines of, “I’m figuring I’ll probably just die when it hits and I’m okay with that.” Personally, I visit the coast all the time, but don’t like being out on those spits. My husband has wanted to explore a couple of them (at Tillamook Bay and the mouth of the Columbia) and I was totally jittery the whole time. I also haven’t spent a night in the tsunami inundation zone since 1996 and have no intention of ever doing so again.
So, I’m curious: Any PNWers out there have thoughts on any of this? (Or people from BC or Japan?) For those who aren’t PNWers, do you think we’re nuts to live here? 😀
Read MoreBloomberg and other media reporting China massively stockpiling food essential, War fears muted
Bill Masen - February 3, 2022 ByAdam Minter5 January 2022, 01:00 GMT
In recent months, food prices have hit 10-year highs, causing concern worldwide. Supply-chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, bad weather and a surge in consumer demand are among the factors responsible for the spike. So, too, is a lesser-known phenomenon: China is hoarding key commodities.
By mid-2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China will hold 69% of the world’s corn reserves, 60% of its rice and 51% of its wheat. By China’s own estimation, these reserves are at a “historically high level” and are contributing to higher global food prices. For China, such stockpiles are necessary to ensure it won’t be at the mercy of major food exporters such as the U.S. But other countries, especially in the developing world, might ask why less than 20% of the world’s population is hoarding so much of its food.
China has operated granaries for thousands of years. In imperial times, they served as a source of tax revenue and a means of managing bad harvests, natural disasters, and war. Their importance grew as China’s population soared, yet the state’s ability to manage them faltered. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, natural and political disasters brought hunger and starvation to millions. Outsiders referred to China as “the land of famine.” Political instability and revolution soon followed.
Mao Zedong and China’s Communist Party staked much of their credibility on “solving” hunger, but midcentury famines took the lives of tens of millions. President Xi Jinping, never one to criticize his own country, once remarked that many members of his generation still recall hunger. Those memories have informed Xi’s policies since the start of his regime. In 2013, just weeks after taking office, Xi endorsed a nationwide campaign to discourage people from wasting food. In 2020, the “clean-plate campaign” was resurrected as he called on Chinese to “maintain a sense of crisis about food security.”
That crisis isn’t just about having enough to eat. It’s about having enough food produced domestically to minimize reliance on anyone else. Two weeks ago, Xi told a high-level Communist Party meeting that “the food of the Chinese people must be made by and remain in the hands of the Chinese people.”
That won’t be easy. China’s inventory of arable land has been in decline for decades, nibbled away by urban development and soil contamination, and its farms are far less productive than counterparts in other countries. Efforts to boost productivity with policy incentives and technology investments are promising but unlikely to pan out for years.
So China is stockpiling. At home, the government is offering farmers a minimum price for their crops (which are then often stockpiled). In March, it raised the minimum price for wheat for the first time since 2014. Meanwhile, traders have taken advantage of a strengthening yuan to snap up grains at a feverish pace. China’s wheat imports surged 50% between January and July, compared to the same period of 2020.
The size and content of China’s commodity stockpiles is a jealously guarded state secret. But officials have been unusually open about the matter lately. In November, after a vaguely worded government missive about potential shortfalls this winter caused nationwide panic, agricultural officials announced that China had enough wheat stockpiled to last 18 months.
Other countries have been building up food reserves too, of course, especially as Covid-related disruptions persist. In June, the UN’s food agency warned that some low-income countries were likely to see food import costs jump as much as 20% for the year. Though the report didn’t single out any country for responsibility, China — as the world’s largest agricultural importer — certainly plays a crucial role.
Right or wrong, China has no intention of unwinding its stockpiles for the benefit of others. Nonetheless, there are steps it could take to help mitigate inflation. Most important, it should begin unwinding crop supports that raise domestic food prices beyond global ones. Meanwhile, a more open acknowledgement of China’s inevitable role in driving food inflation might encourage its leaders to work with others on food assistance to low-income regions.
China’s evolution from famine to feast delivered hundreds of millions of people from hunger. As its economy and clout grows, it should seek to ensure that others can enjoy the bounty.
Read MoreIs anyone else seeing a meat shortage?
Donna Smith - January 23, 2022 This is my first time posting on the forum where I’m still a newbie at prepping and feel like I should listen more than talk at this point.
However, I haven’t seen anyone else mention about meat or grocery shortages, and I wanted to report what I saw at Kroger tonight in middle Georgia. There was literally no chicken left of any description – even the organic section was wiped out.
The beef and pork sections had some cuts available, but there were definite gaps where certain items had been cleared.
I didn’t think to check the rest of the store to see what else might be missing. Is anyone else witnessing these types of shortages? Or seeing any panic buying?
Read MoreDiet of meat needed for hunter-gather societies
Bob - December 4, 2021 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211108162208.htm
Good morning,
This link proved interesting, at least to me.
It says hunter gatherer societies were smaller than the others.
Read MoreInsulin for type 1 diabetics that does not need refridgeration created in India
Bill Masen - November 28, 2021 I honestly cannot remember if I posted this piece before so mods please delete if i have.
Scientists have developed an Insulin for type 1 diabetics that does NOT need refridgeration. Great news for Type 1 Preppers.
https://m.economictimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/scientists-develop-insulin-that-can-be-kept-without-refrigeration/amp_articleshow/86483438.cms
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/4406/Scientists-Develop-Insulin-That-Can-Be-Kept-Without-Refrigeration
Read MoreFood Price Warning. UK
Bill Masen - November 26, 2021 Shoppers have been warned by experts that the price of bread will continue to rise at UK major supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s.
The price of essential foods could also increase after wheat prices reached a nine-year high.
The cost of fuel and gas have already risen and it is likely the price of other amenities will be affected.
Why is the cost of bread rising?There is a high global demand for the staple wheat grain which is causing the price of bread to surge.
Bread prices have increased 26.7% over the past year.
Allied Bakeries, which owns Kingsmill, said the industry was “exposed to inflationary pressure in relation to the cost of flour, as well as the gas we use in our ovens and fuel for our delivery fleet.”
These factors are causing the cost of bread to increase.
Will other foods increase in price?Pasta prices have risen in recent weeks as food prices are globally at a 10 year high.
Wheat used for animal feeds has also increased in price, though not by as much as it is currently running at around 16.2% more than a year ago, trade journal The Grocer reported.
The soaring price of foods is due to rising fuel costs, the lorry driver shortage and higher wages to battle the recruitment crisis.
What’s been said?Gordon Polson, CEO of Britain’s Federation of Bakers, told The Grocer: “Energy pricing is also on the rise, while HGV driver shortages and recruitment are resulting in increased wage rates” causing food prices to rise.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation reported a “recent surge in agricultural input prices” in a review of the global food market.
“Higher prices of these inputs will inevitably translate into higher production costs, and eventually into higher food prices,” The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said.
Alice Jones, analyst with agricultural body AHDB, said: “Global wheat prices keep climbing each week on the back of supply concerns, and UK prices are following global trends.
“As long as global prices keep rising there is scope for domestic prices to keep rising.”
A version of this article originally appeared on NationalWorld.com
Read MoreUS / Canada logistics problems just got worse
Bill Masen - November 22, 2021 On top of the queues of ships lining many US and Canadian ports the floods along the US / Canadian border (around the SUMAS BC area). We now have massive disruption to the rail freight system.
Flooding has caused enough damage in the form of washed away tracks, overturned trains etc that this major line is going to be closed for weeks, thus compounding the already crippled supply chain.
Read MoreVideo, communities can go 100% off grid even in the far north.
Bill Masen - November 17, 2021 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-59238305
Read MoreGoing Off-Road, money does not equate to common sense
Bill Masen - November 16, 2021 A good example of ” All The Gear, But No Idea” Big expensive truck based overland 4×4 expedition vehicle, and they chose to go cross country in the rainy season.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-59301237
Read MoreUS inflation at 31 year high
Bill Masen - November 10, 2021 U.S. inflation up 6.2% in October versus a year ago – the highest inflation since 1990. Inflation was up 0.9% in Oct. alone, a much higher increase than 0.4% in Sept. and 0.3% in August
These sort of figures cause preppers to look much closer at their supply and equipment levels, as well as their savings and investments.
Read More
Alaska facing record 12 feet of snow in 48 hours
Bill Masen - November 7, 2021 https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/alaskans-brace-for-a-record-12-feet-of-snow-in-two-days
For those of us who experience true bad winters at times, this freak of nature could be worth watching and learning from as one POSSIBLE consequence of climate change
Read MoreAustin,Texas DHS plan worth studying
Bob - November 6, 2021 https://www.governing.com/community/report-identifies-issues-in-austins-disaster-preparedness
Good morning,
Austin, Texas developed a plan that addresses the deep freeze and lose of much infrastructure.
Austin’s DHS and a consultant (Why the need for a consulting firm ?!) made some recommendations well worth studying.
Note “no crew members … knew how to operate a gear switch”. Before a prepper buys anything, do think of the required support system: basic field expedient repairs (even if used at home and not in field), spare parts (consider the spares as “merely” a cost of the main gadget, eg generator, being purchased) and tools/lubercants/related.
Under section titled “Shelters”, note “staffing shortfalls and availability of volunteers”. I’m posting this link not to single out and focus on Austin, Texas … it’s about the same here for private citizens …
Note recommendation: “identity a list of medical shelters and general shelters with durable infrastructure”.
All wheel drive emergency vehicles are far from being economical for year-round use. This specific subject is really a “it takes a village”.
Where do the Austin, Texas taxes go to ? Please be reminded by me this this link if from “governing.org” !
Does not * Hagerty Consulting* firm serve as a huge flare indicating the problem ?!
……
Would never have guessed roads could become useless without support.
Read MoreA British prepper supply store
Bob - November 6, 2021 https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/meet-cornwalls-survivalist-prepping-nation-6093283
Good morning,
Above article is about a prepper store.
Article has link to this store named “Prepper Shop UK”, owned and managed by Lincoln Miles.
At the store link’s section titled “Urban Essentials”, I have a copy of the Field Manual “First Aid For Soldiers”. This FM is somewhat outdated. The best book IMO featured is prepper medical care is Dr William Forgery, M.D.’s “The Prepper Medical Handbook”. Might still have a copy here. Of course, regardless of my opinion, Dr Forgery’s book is also somewhat outdated when focused to the current US medical scene.
I take due note that the Brit’s 50 cal ammo cans feature the newer HAZMAT label with number. This replaces the older “class C” label for small arms ammo (In US the 50 cal is still “small arms”).
I do recommend Lincoln Miles get some fire extinguishers for his inventories.
The prices appear to be real good.
Read MoreRussia cuts gas to Europe and amasses military on western borders
Bill Masen - November 6, 2021 Russia cuts gas to Europe and amasses military on western borders (msn.com)
Russia deploying large military forces to its western borders and has cut essential natural gas supplies to Europe. Basically Putin holds all the aces and the knock on effects could be catastrophic for Europe this winter.
Russia cuts gas to Europe and amasses military on western borders (telegraph.co.uk)
Read MoreMiddle Kingdom making itself a prepper nation
Bob - November 5, 2021 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59133027
Good afternoon,
This short article tells of China wanting families to stockpile some foods.
Of course some Chinese have always been preppers.
Read MoreUK media focusing on pan US shortages in stores
Bill Masen - November 5, 2021 Please ignore anything political in the DM article and focus on the logistical issues.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10094485/Biden-ridiculed-online-EmptyShelvesJoe-frustrated-shoppers-complain-shortages.html
EG this sort of detail rather than the political sniping.
Read More
Fear, scary movies, our evolution; values to a prepper
Bob - November 3, 2021 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fear-can-be-fun-and-it-might-even-be-good-for-you
Good morning,
Had thought I posted this article several weeks ago. Apparently not. Redundancy better than neglect. Some forum member might need this info now.
Note: “When the fear subsides, … pleasure”.
Note: “stress hormones”.
Did not know about Oxytocin and hugging.
Note Dr Mendez’s “Risk takers … “.
Note: “., short-term fear can have psychological benefits … to practice controlling”.
Read MoreBrit article on Brit preppers
Bob - November 1, 2021 Good morning,
Per title, article tells of more acceptance of prepping after BREXIT.
Article mentions Mathias, West Virginia. This place next to Virginia and just north of George Washington National Forest. Since the forest is Federal land, it can be readily packed with Fed LEOs. The mentioned 50 cal machine gun is something “frowned upon”.
Reminder to forum members of the American upstart colonies: “torch” means in American English “flashlight”.
Read MoreMassive Facebook, Instagram / internet outage
Bill Masen - November 1, 2021 Its global FB and many other mass user sites have been down since 5PM GMT, nearly 5 hours out of action.
Read MoreCurrent global problems could worsen because of diesel shortage in China
Bill Masen - November 1, 2021 Some news agencies are taking an ever more closer interest in the economic problems in China, In some cities truckers are limited to 200 litres a time, but when you leave the cities people are waiting up to a week to refuel. This is having a major impact in china being able to meet its export obligations and even driving up food prices as well. The cost of fuel has doubled in some areas and one of the knock on effects is that Vegetables in some areas are now more expensive than meat.
https://www.wionews.com/world/due-to-fuel-shortages-china-rations-diesel-424700
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1237632.shtml
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59059093
Read MoreFox news ” Twitter boss reports likelyhood of hyperinflation
Bill Masen - October 27, 2021 Something to definately be monitoring fairly closely.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/twitter-ceo-jack-dorsey-hyperinflation-warning
Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has issued a cryptic warning that “hyperinflation” will “change everything.”
In typical Dorsey style, the social media CEO tweeted out his comment, saying that “it will happen in the US soon, and so the world.”
Hyperinflation is typically very high and accelerated inflation. Researchers have documented 57 cases of hyperinflation as of 2018, with the first recorded episode occurring between 1795 and 1796 in post-revolutionary France, according to The Economist.
Some economists and writers have looked at possible hyperinflation in the U.S. as early as March 2021 when the economy started to get back on track after an artificially depressed year due to lockdowns and immense restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic – policies that officials started reversing as vaccines became more available.
The term raises some grim images, with Venezuela the most recent example and Zimbabwe perhaps one of the most famous examples of hyperinflation.
“This is meme economics,” Bloomberg Businessweek wrote earlier this year.
“Fear of inflation – if not outright hyperinflation – helps explain the meteoric rise of Bitcoin,” the article argued. “It’s behind distrust of the Fed. And it feeds congressional opposition to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan.”
Indeed, Republicans have warned of inflation since the start of the summer when gas prices first started to tick upward and prices followed shortly after: consumer prices rose 5% over the 12 months between June 2020 and June 2021, The Associated Press reported.
This marked the largest one-year increase since 2008, and possibly the biggest since 1992 – excluding more volatile items such as food and energy.
Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said his constituents have “seen the higher prices on gas in particular, but also groceries and the cost to keep their businesses running.” Such voters, he said, “know, intuitively, that this is due to Democrats’ economic agenda and big spending plans.”
Prices have continued to trend upwards as an historic global shipping backlog delays the transport goods and services across the board, slowly driving up prices for everything from toilet paper to toys.
Gas prices in some have hit around $4.00 a gallon, such as in California, Hawaii and Nevada, according to AAA. Premium in these states is almost at $5 a gallon.
Read More