OT: Off grid, survivalists, preppers and other nutters.

[Foxs Mercantile]

Lots of buzz these days about going "off the grid" and
making yourself "Self sufficient."

They fly in the ointment about that goes back to what
Obama said about "You didn't make that."

Going off grid requires a huge infrastructure to make
all the stuff you need to do it. And requires the grid
and infrastructure to service and maintain it as well.

And then we have the "When the shit hits that fan" folks.
All this is your classic racist dog whistle shit. Because
the only "shit" you're going to be able to hole up and
survive is localized riots.

Hunker down for 1-3 weeks and it's over. The rest of the
world goes on, your precious grid and infrastructure is
still intact.

Example: How has the devastation in Puerto Rico affected
you? Hint, it hasn't. (Well unless you're in Puerto Rico)

So if the shit really hits the fan and they get their wish
of a total collapse of society, I have two questions.
1. Do you have 2-3 years worth of supplies stashed? That
includes gasoline, kerosene and diesel.
2. Just how long you think you'll survive when you encounter
a better equipped band of thieves intent on taking it away
from you?

[Peter Wieck]

Not to mention:

Antibiotics - when is the last time you knew someone who died of a mosquito bite? They also have a shelf-life.
Corrective lenses - not something one just makes.
Dietary supplements - a "complete diet" will be very difficult to achieve unless one is in a temperate climate, with a lot of protected land, clean water and a stock of protein sources (chickens/cows/farm-fish/whatever). Hunting (living off the land) is a necessarily nomadic life, and not done well in small groups. Alone, or many is what makes that lifestyle possible.

How many here know how to maintain bread-starter (sour dough)? Packaged yeast has a very short shelf-life.

Comes to it, how many here actually know how to prepare food 'from scratch'? No more shrink-wrapped fresh food from the market.

Keeping pets (which will be working animals now)? Vaccines?
Vaccines for your children?

The average life-span in the USA in 1900 was 49 years (meld of men ~48, and women ~50). In 1850 - about where you will be in terms of available sanitation, medicine, machine technology - was 38.4 years.

Some things to keep in mind: Unless one is in La Brae California, long gone are the days when petroleum rose spontaneously to the surface.

Know how to spin thread? Even know how to gin cotton? Much less weave? Got a loom?

Not suggesting that if it really hits the fan that nothing can survive. But, even marginal survival will be *WORK* - doing tasks that now are done by machines such as toilets, pumps, water heaters, thermostats, photo-cells - all those automatic bits are now manual-done-by-people bits - who actually have to think about it.

Those of us near major population centers - we will be toast in any case - and that may well be a blessing. Those (like Jeff (hee hee)) far away from civilization may actually survive long enough to regret it. Although Jeff's collection of "Stuff" will likely leave him far better equipped than most.

As a 65 year old guy with an artificial hip and -6 myopia (gradually improving with age) on two very weak pharmaceuticals - but life-enhancing, I am not a good candidate for the apocalypse. Even if I have all my teeth and have been cavity free since age 14.

End Rant.

[Peter Wieck]

Total aside - but right on-topic:

I am presently listening (BCD) to Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel in the car. By virtue of my wife having read it for her book group and that it is loosely interpreted as Science Fiction which I generally enjoy.

Not typically my style, but the entire question of "what happens when" is addressed well, even if a bit over-the-top in some small aspects.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/books/review/station-eleven-by-emily-st-john-mandel.html

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Jim Mueller]

What amuses me is the "survivalists" that get their "know how" from
dubious You Tube videos. Why not from a valid survival information
source like the U.S. Army Survival Manual? I have a copy of that even
though I am not a survivalist. I have learned things from it that are
useful even in present day city life.

[Foxs Mercantile]

Post by Jim Mueller
What amuses me is the "survivalists" that get their "know how" from
dubious You Tube videos. Why not from a valid survival information
source like the U.S. Army Survival Manual? I have a copy of that even
though I am not a survivalist. I have learned things from it that are
useful even in present day city life.

Because most survivalists hate the government.

The easiest way to spread bullshit on youtube is
claim "Banned, watch before the government takes
it down."

Suddenly, the nutters all going on and sharing
information on how to make bombs out of cat shit
and sawdust.

[Peter Wieck]

Post by Foxs Mercantile
Suddenly, the nutters all going on and sharing
information on how to make bombs out of cat shit
and sawdust.

I dunno, our big cat got into the smoked oysters the other day.

The results were definitely of weapons-grade quality.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[Me]

Post by Peter Wieck

Post by Foxs Mercantile
Suddenly, the nutters all going on and sharing
information on how to make bombs out of cat shit
and sawdust.

I dunno, our big cat got into the smoked oysters the other day.
The results were definitely of weapons-grade quality.
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Oh my goodness.